Review Of PRINT MEDIA 4th August, 2003

DAILY GRAPHIC

1. $8.7M GRANT FOR ACCRA, K’SI TARTAN TRACKS – PGS. 1 & 3


The paper reports that, government is in the process of securing $8.7 million Spanish grant for the reconstruction of the tartan tracks of the Accra and Kumasi stadia.


Part of the money will also be used to improve facilities at the Winneba Sports College and selected senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.


President Kufuor announced this at the 28th awards ceremony of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) in Accra.


According to him, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports is also preparing a bill for the establishment of a national trust to fund sports development on a sustainable basis.


In all, 17 individuals and institutions were given awards for their outstanding achievements in various disciplines in sports and contribution to sports development.


2. 994 COMPUTERS ABANDONED. BOOKS, TOOLS ALSO LOCKED UP – PGS. 1 & 3


According to the paper, a total of 994 computers and their accessories imported in 1995 for distribution to educational institutions to enhance computer literacy among students have been abandoned in a warehouse in Tema.


Additionally, thousands of textbooks published locally for schools, worth several billions of cedis are locked up in another warehouse because the Logistics and Supplies Division of the GES does not have the ?70 million worth of fuel needed to distribute them to the districts.


Also at the warehouse are 270 boxes of technical equipment meant for schools in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Western, Central and Volta Regions.


This came to light when the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, paid a surprise visit to the two warehouses in Tema.


He was accompanied by the Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Ms Elizabeth Ohene.


3. OFFER TAX REBATE TO FIRMS – GUPS – PG. 3


The Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS) has called on the government to offer tax rebate to companies and organizations that support education in the country.

They contended that this would encourage more organisations to support education as is the case of sports.


This was contained in a communiqu? issued at the end of a national congress held in Accra.


The communiqu?, among others, called for emphasis on civic and moral education in the schools to support the Vice-President’s campaign against indiscipline.


It called on the government to amend the Ghana Education Trust Fund Act 581 to include all accredited private tertiary institutions since every Ghanaian pays the 2.5 per cent VAT into the GETFund.


4. “GOVT DETERMINED TO IMPROVE LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE – PG. 16


Government has given the assurance that its plans to transform the socio-economic lives of Ghanaians are on course and that it will not be prevented by any obstacle to deliver what it has promised the country.


Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, gave the assurance at a mini harvest at the Macedonia Methodist Church at Kwashieman in Accra.


He noted that the government is doing everything possible to move the country forward, saying all that is required of Ghanaians is to pray fervently for government to deliver the goals.


The Minister, who quoted Exodus 14:12-13 to support his points, urged Ghanaians to have confidence in the government because it is working hard to improve their living standards.


5. VEEP CALLS FOR CONTINENTAL UNION OF TRADITIONAL RULERS – PG. 16


Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has called for the formation of a Continental Union of African Traditional Leaders, with clear objectives to complement the development efforts of their home governments.


According to him, such a union must operate in an advisory capacity to provide guidance to social policy formulation to governments, other African regional bodies and the African Union (AU).


Alhaji Mahama made the call in an address read on his behalf during a mini durbar organised at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Ashanti Region as part of the African Traditional Leaders Conference, which also formed part of the sixth Pan-African Historical and Theatre Festival (PANAFEST 2003).

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – MONDAY, 4TH AUGUST, 2003

1. KNUST THINKS OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED – PG. 1


According to the paper, authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are working out a special dispensation for students from the country’s less endowed SSS to enter the university.

The objective is to minimize the unfair competition for admission between students from highly rated or popular schools and their colleagues from the less-endowed ones.


A brain-child of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwesi Andam, the scheme is expected to be implemented during the 2003/2004 academic year.


2. MINORITY WELCOMES GOVT ACTION ON NHIB – PG. 1


The Minority in Parliament has welcomed the government’s decision to hold wider consultations with stakeholders before the passage of the National Health Insurance Bill (NHIB).


A statement issued in Accra, stated the Minority’s intention to actively participate in the process of regional consultations and various processes that would lead to the establishment of the scheme.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – MONDAY, 4TH AUGUST, 2003

1. CIVIL SERVANTS IN SPENDING SPREE…BLOW ?300M IN 2001…WATER BILL GULPS ?65M….?271M SPENT ON MEETINGS – PGS. 1 & 3


The paper reports that, tension is mounting among the ranks of the Civil Servants Association of Ghana (CSA) over the spate of spending by the national executive.


Credible documents in possession of the paper show startling revelations of huge expenditures on a wide-range of items from members’ 1% monthly deductions from their salaries for the upkeep of the association. According to the paper, in 2001 alone, CSA’s expenditure ran into ?2.7 billion exceeding its estimates of ?2.4 billion by ?300 million and even though ?12 million was estimated for printing and stationary for that year, actual expenditure was ?88 million.


Conferences and meetings were said to have cost ?271 million instead of the estimated ?194m, water bills sucked ?65 million while the Accra offices were fumigated at the cost of ?35 million, legal fees ?44 million and documentation ?60 million.


2. HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE – ASHANTI CLEARS AIR - PGS. 1 & 3


The paper reports that, Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) Limited, has hit back at accusations of human rights abuses brought against it by the Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) saying the allegations are a gross misrepresentation and distortion of the facts with a malicious intent to tarnish her corporate image.


“The report lacks objectivity, sound factual basis and only seeks to champion the cause of the illegal miners and justify the illegal mining operations of the Sansu Youth on AGC Obuasi Mine concession”, Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Elaine Kwami told journalists in Accra.


In an eight Fact Finding Mission report covering the periods between 1994 and 2002, Mrs. Kwami, alleged that the claim by WACAM that brutalities are often unleashed on Sansu people who were legitimately engaged in small-scale mining activities is false.


“It should be clearly understood that the so-called illegal mining activities that WACAM seek to champion are nothing more than organised crime as there is no area on our entire concession including Obuasi Township where small-scale mining is permitted” Mrs. Kwami stressed.

THE INDEPENDENT – MONDAY, 4TH AUGUST, 2003

1. ESSEKU DRAGGED TO COURT : OVER SALE OF LAND TO BURKINABE PRESIDENT, OTHERS – PG. 1 & BACK PAGE


According to the paper, the Ebusuapanyin of Krobo-Nsi near Senya Breku, in the Central Region has dragged Mr. Harona Esseku, NPP’s National Chairman, to court and is challenging his authority to sell a portion of land to His Excellency Blaise Campoare, President of Burkina Faso, and other people who also bought portion’s of land around the area.

Ebusuapanyin Seleem Ishak who instituted the court action is the head of the Asona family of Krobo-Nsi.


In a related development, the head of the Amartey Safo Anona family of Senya Breku also known as Kroboano, Nenyi Kobina Andowu and two of his elders, have also dragged Mr. Esseku and nine others to a Cape Coast High Court, over the sale of land in the area. The nine others have been listed in the paper and the case adjourned to October 27th 2003.


2. 12 NPP CONSTITUENCIES THREATEN DEMO – PG. 1 & BACK PAGE


The paper reports that, supporters and activists of the NPP in 12 out of 17 constituencies in the Central Region led by the constituencies executives have threatened to organised a massive demonstration in the region if the Regional Minister, Mr. Issac Edumadze is removed from office.


They said they are aware of the machinations of certain disgruntled individuals who have constituted themselves into so-called power brokers in the region who claim to have contacts at the Castle especially the President’s Office rooting for the removal of Mr. Edumadze.


Central Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP, Mr. Adjei Baffoe, disclosed this at Twifo-Praso during the one-day working visit of the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Captain (Rtd) Nkrabea Effah Dartey.


3. PEPRAH TRANSFERED TO KETE KRACHIE – PG. 1 & BACK PAGE


The paper has gathered that former Finance Minister, Mr. Kwame Peprah, has been transfered to the Kete Krachi prisons in the Volta Region.


Sources at the Nsawam Medium Prisons said Peprah was taken to Kete Krachi because of what sources described as total break down in security arrangement at the Nsawam Prisons.


However, the paper found out that some human rights activists who have been visiting inmates at the Nsawam Prisons and are shockingly being used by operatives of the NDC in luring condemned serial murderer, Charles Quansah to say that he (Quansah) knows the 15 Cabinet Ministers whose names have been mentioned by former President Rawlings to be involved in the gruesome murder of women in the country.


According to the paper, with heat on former President Rawlings to disclose the names of Cabinet Ministers involved in the serial murder of the 34 women, it can disclose that jiltery Rawlings faithful are prepared to go the extra mile by whatever means necessary to exonerate their leader, Rawlings.


Another investigation revealed that the other NDC functionaries such as Sipa-Yankey and Ibrahim Adam, might be transferred to other prisons centres in the country.

THE ACCRA DAILY MAIL – MONDAY, 4TH AUGUST, 2003

1. CHIEF DIRECTORS APPOINTED – PG. 3


According to the paper, the Head of Civil Service has announced the appointment of seven Chief Directors bringing to 11 the number of Chief Directors in the Civil Service.


They are: - Timothy Larweh Ogum, Office of the Head of Civil Service; Mr. Christian Atiemo, Office of the President; Mr. Kojo Amoako, Ministry of Employment and Manpower Development and Mr. Joseph Donkor Issacher, Office of the Vice-President.

The rest are Mrs. Regina Ayerko Apotsi, Ministry of Justice, M. E. M. Quaye, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, and Mr. Paul Ofori Agyiri, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.


Four others already in office are Mr. K. Owusu-Baah, Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Mr. Edwin Barnes, Ministry of the Interior; Mrs. Bridget Katsriku Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City and Mr. Kofi Sekyiama, Ministry of Information.


The statement noted that the full complement of 24 Chief Directors would be appointed in due course.

NETWORK HERALD – MONDAY, 4TH - 5TH AUGUST, 2003

KETA SEA DEFENCE UNDER THREAT – PG. 1


The paper reports that, high tidal waves have in the past 10 days displaced about 70 people at Azizadzi, Sorku and Horvi, all small communities east of Keta in the Volta Region.


According to the paper, the GNA counted 15 houses, which were deep in water, with some walls destroyed and some compounds flooded.


The Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, which is handling the Keta Sea Defence Project had, meanwhile dug a trench beneath the street to allow the flood waters to empty into the Lagoon on the opposite side.


The general feeling among people in the area was that, on completion of the project, tidal waves could turn to be higher and more destructive along the coast east of Keta, towards Denu-Aflao.

DAILY GUIDE – MONDAY, 4TH AUGUST, 2003

HAWA FOR PRESIDENT – PG. 1 & BK. PG.


The MP for Bawku Central, Hon. Hawa Yakubu, has announced her intentions to contest for the Presidential ticket of the NPP in 2008.


She was speaking to the paper while emplaning at the KIA last week evening.


The MP hinted that the time was ripe for a female to become the President of Ghana and therefore, she was ready to take up the challenge in 2008 when President Kufuor’s term comes to an end.