Print Press Review for January 19

DAILY GRAPHIC ? MONDAY, 19TH JANUARY, 2004

1. CREATION OF 30 NEW CONSTITUENCIES ? FARMER GOES TO COURT ? PG. 1

The paper reports that, Mr. Luke Mensah, a farmer in Sunyani, has filed a suit at the Supreme Court in Accra against the Attorney-General, seeking an interpretation of Article 47(1), (5), and (6) as well as Article 113 of the 1992 Constitution in respect of the creation of new constituencies in the country.

The suit was filed on his behalf by a Sunyani law firm, Asomah-Cheremeh and company of Henewaa Chambers.

The plaintiff is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining any group of people and any political party from doing or saying anything that purports to derail the effort of the Electoral Commission (EC) to include the 30 newly-created constituencies in the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in December.

According to the suit the plaintiff has taken action in his capacity as a Ghanaian and an eligible voter.

2. 9 PERISH IN ACCIDENT ? PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, 9 people died on the spot when a 16-seater Dodge bus on which they were travelling ran into a stationary articulated truck at Danteng junction near Nkawkaw, in the Eastern Region yesterday.

Seven other injured passengers, some in critical condition, are on admission at the Nkawkaw and the Atibie hospitals. The bus was travelling from Accra to Kumasi when the accident occurred.

The accident occurred at about 7.30 a.m., when visibility was poor owing to the foggy weather.

3. DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS GHANA ? PG. 16

The Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Per Stig Moller, will pay a four-day visit to the country starting from today.

While here, he will hold bilateral discussions with Foreign Minister, Nana Akufo Addo.

4. MARITIME WORKERS BEMOAN POOR PERFORMANCE OF TEMA SHIPYARD ? PGS. 16 & 17

The Maritime and Dock, Workers Union of the TUC has expressed grave concern about the continuing poor operational performance of the PSC Tema Shipyard, after the divestiture of the company.

It alleged that the authoritarian management style of the Malaysian administration of the company had contributed to the operational problems of the company resulting in poor working conditions of employees.

This was contained in a resolution adopted after the 48th session of the national executive council of the Maritime and Dockworkers Union of the TUC at Tema.

5. GES ANNOUNCES APPROVED FEES ? PGS. 16 & 17

The Ghana Education Service has approved fees for second cycle institutional for the 2003/4 academic year.

Official statement issued in Accra said, fees payable once a year should be ?265,000.

They include admission fees, ?25,000, school uniforms (two sets), ?140,000, house dress/attire ?50,000 and P.E. Kits, ?50,000.

The statement pegged the fees payable to day students at ?24,000 per term.

The breakdown is ?12,000 for examination, ?5,000 library fees, ?1,000 as SRC dues, ?2,000 for entertainment and ?4,000 as science resource centre fee.

For boarding students, the statement said they would pay a total of ?539,333 per term.

It said the government would pay a total of ?131,000 as subsidy for each student.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES ? MONDAY, 19TH JANUARY, 2004

1. NEW POST FOR SENIOR MINISTER ? PG. 1

Mr. J.H. Mensah, Senior Minister has been appointed Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, replacing Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom. An official statement issued in Accra said, the appointment was made by the President in consultation with the Council of State.

2. ?41.6 BN DZINDZIN-DODO-PEPESU ROAD PROJECT BEGINS ? PGS. 1 & 3

Reports say that, travel time from Southern sector of the country to the Northern part, is expected to be greatly shortened when the ?41.6 billion Dzindzin-Dodo-Pepesu road project is completed.

The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, cut the sod for the commencement of work at the weekend.

Jointly funded by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana, the Project is being undertaken by Messrs Top International Engineering Corporation with Messrs Associated Consultants as supervisors.

It is expected to be completed in 24 months.

3. PARLIAMENT RESUMES SITTING TOMORROW ? PG. 3

The paper reports that, Parliament resumes sitting tomorrow after a five-wee recess.

The opening is the climax of the Parliamentary Week which has featured a number of events.

The Week which begun on January 18, ends on January 25, 2004.

4. NMC: IT?S ILLEGAL TO STOP PHONE-IN PROGRAMMES ? PG. 3

The National Media Commission (NMC) has stated that it cannot support calls to cancel radio phone-in programmes this year in order to ease political tension in the country, as is being suggested in some quarters.

It said ?heeding the call would amount to muzzling the callers which would be censorship which simply is, examination to remove parts considered offensive, politically unacceptable or a threat to security?.

A press statement issued by the NMC said the constitution states unequivocally in Article 162(2) that there shall be no censorship in Ghana.

The statement added that in Article 21(1), ?All persons (which include phone-in-callers) shall have the right to (a) freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media.

?Consequently, the Media Commission, which is enjoined in Article 167(a) to promote and ensure freedom and independence of the media, cannot be part of any move, which is contrary to its constitutional obligations.?

The NMC also stated that it was erroneous to assume that phone-ins were limited to only political issues, adding that, certainly issues covered in phone-in programmes varied widely from politics to socio-economic matters adding that the liberty of the people to freely comment on such issues could not be curtailed.

NETWORK HERALD ? MONDAY, 19TH-20TH , JANUARY, 2004

PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE ON 30 CONSTITUENCIES ? PG. 1

The EC says it would submit to Parliament this week, a Legislative Instrument on the creation of the 30 additional constituencies in spite of the public outcry against it.

The Commission says it would not allow its work to be decided by Public opinion and insisted that any person or group of persons who think the Commission is acting utravires by recommending the creation of 30 additional constituencies to seek clarification from the Supreme Court.

Mr. Henry Okyne, Public Affairs, Director of the Commission, who confirmed this to the paper, said, ?until this is done, as in the case of the thumb print ID cards, the Commission would go ahead with preparations towards the creation of the 30 constituencies.?

Meanwhile, government has already released 80 billion cedis to the EC, which the chairman said had enabled them to place orders for registration materials.

THE ACCRA DAILY MAIL ? MONDAY, 19TH JANUARY, 2004

DAGBON ? THE NPP?S BIG CHALLENGE ?. ? PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, the death of the Ya-Na has been politicized with such entrenched passions that if care is not taken, during the campaign period violence will flare up which would spill over to other Dagomba communities outside the traditional area.

It says in the closing days of 2003, an incident in Accra though seemingly of interest to only Dagombas occurred which goes a long way to underscore this fear.

At a wedding ceremony of one of the daughters of the late Ya-Na, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu was invited as was Alhaji Abdul-Kadr Tahir, the Dagomba Chief of Accra.

When the Accra Dagomba Chief arrived at the wedding ground, one Dr. Yawuzah Gomda approached him violently questioning his presence at the wedding of their daughter.

Dr. Yawuwah?s name came to public light when the Ya-Na was killed in 2002 and Dagbon was polarized between the ?Abudu Gate and Andani Gate?.

Reports again reaching the paper says there are plans by some Andanis to mobilize support for the NDC sympathizer, Dr. Yawuzah.

However, the most influential Andani Gate opinion leader, lawyer Ibrahim Mahama is not an NDC and therefore not in favour of the Andanis giving the NDC a bloc vote.

According to the paper, the NPP has already been dragged in the Abudu-Andani family feud and the party?s electoral fortunes in this most important part of Ghana?s electorate may eventually hinge on how many Abudus vote for it and how many Andanis vote against it.

The biggest test for the NPP administration however would be how to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in Dagbon during this election year and prevent the country going the way of Liberia, Sierra Leone among others.

DAILY GUIDE ? MONDAY, 19TH JANUARY, 2004

MAYHEM AT DEMOCRACY FORUM RAWLINGS MEN ATTACK YAHAYA. CLUBS, STONES STICKS USED VICTOR SMITH, KWESI PRATT, TONY AIDOO, RIAD, ET MENSAH, KOFI WAYO WERE PRESENT - PGS.1 & 2

According to the paper, the auditorium and immediate environs of the Teachers Hall (GNAT Hall) in Accra, last Friday were, turned into a theatre of war with people grabbing anything they could lay hands on to go after ?the enemy?.

The paper says that, they wrenched chairs, got hold of (sticks), cement blocks and anything they could grab to go after a certain Yahaya who had been identified as one of the regular callers into radio stations, and fond of making uncharitable remarks about former President Rawlings.

The attack is believed to have been instigated by Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. Editor of the ?The Insight?, Mr. Victor Smith, Special Assistant to former President Rawlings, Hon. E. T. Mensah, MP for Ningo/Prampram, Dr. Tony Aidoo, former Deputy Minister of Defence following remarks they made after Yahaya had asked a question at a function organised by a group calling itself the Movement for Democratic Change.

THE INDEPENDENT ? MONDAY, 19TH JANUARY, 2004

2. CAMPAORE?S CASTLE IN GHANA - PG.1 & BK.PG.

According to the paper, the Burkinabe President, His Excellency, Blaise Campaore, is building a multi million dollar mansion in Ghana.

The building, which is sited at Krobo-Nsi, near Senya Bereku, in the Central Region, close aides of the Burkinabe leader have hinted, ?will serve as the private residence of President Campaore after retiring from the presidency?.

Independent values put the conservative estimate of the castle-like mansion, which is only about 40 per cent complete at ?30 billion.

The mansion has seven security posts, a towering fence wall, three staff bungalows and five master bedroom each fitted with Jacuzzi and dressing rooms.

A source close to the building contractor, Enterprise Traveaux Tabchoury, Ghana limited, disclosed that there were as many as 300 workers hired for the construction of the mansion, which had been reduced to a skeletal staff of about 10.