Review Of TV Breakfast Shows

GTV BREAKFAST SHOW NEWSPAPER REVIEW

MODERATOR : KWAME WAJA

PANELISTS : KWESI PRATT

KUUKU WELSING-JONES

HIPC’s CRASH – CHOICES FACING THE NPP GOVERNMENT

INTRODUCTION

In the face of the failure of the HIPC initiative to achieve debt sustainability and to contribute significantly to poverty reduction in Ghana and elsewhere, attention is now being focused on alternatives to the neo-liberal framework provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and the Western counties. In this regard, work done by Mr. Akoto Ampow, a lawyer, political activist and co-ordinator of Jubilee 2000 (Ghana), is most instructive. – The Insight

Jones - The headline is wrong and inappropriate and I would like the editor to withdraw that story. I think the headline is misleading. It is a mischievous article to ridicule government on the HIPC initiative, which is alleviating poverty and underdevelopment in society. The NDC government in the past started the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) which benefited this country and which led to national development. The World Bank and IMF praised the NDC for the successful implementation of the SAP. It was a big credit to the government. Now the NPP has started with HIPC and I want Kwesi Pratt to give the Kufuor government more time to achieve their aims and objectives in a few years time. We must be patient and allow the HIPC initiative to materialise.

Pratt - The World Bank and the IMF experts and consultants are saying that the HIPC initiative in Ghana has failed to achieve poverty alleviation. HIPC has been a failure in 12 African countries because their debt stock has worsened. In Ghana, we have a weak cedi and exports and production levels are low. Jubilee 2000 is trying to draw attention to all these failures and advise the NPP government to boost industrialisation, increase exports, widen the tax net and engage in effective development and national reconstruction.

D.C.E. BEATEN UNCONSCIOUS OVER ALLOWANCES OF MASS COCOA SPRAYERS

INTRODUCTION

Sprayers undertaking the mass spraying of cocoa farms in the Juabeso Bia District of the Western Region, according to the payer, are reported to have attacked and severely injured the DCE, Benjamin Armah, after accusing him of delay in payment of their allowances. The Regional Minister, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, confirmed this to the paper yesterday, saying Mr. Armah has been admitted to the Bibiani Hospital as a result of the severe beatings he received at the hands of his assailants. - The Ghanaian Chronicle

Jones - I am worried about the way Mr. Armah was beaten mercilessly by sprayers because of delay in payment of their allowances. I think there is indiscipline in society and we should learn from the Vice President’s advice on indiscipline in society. It is an offence to beat somebody into a state of unconsciousness, so these men should be arrested by the police to face the law courts.

Pratt - The action taken by these men to defend their rights is justified because their allowances should not be delayed as a result of the arrogance of Mr. Armah who was deliberately delaying their money. These angry sprayers are suffering because of the high cost of living in the system. They are hungry and poor and they cannot pay their children’s school fees and hospital bills. Their action was due to anger and bitterness but in future, they should be cautious and patient in handling the delay in payment of their allowances.

METRO TV GOOD MORNING GHANA

MODERATOR : RANDY ABBEY

PANELISTS : ALFRED OGBAMEY

CAPT. JOEL SOWU

EDGAR WIREDU

CHOICE OF ANGLOGOLD INFORMED BY POSITIVE PROSPECTS – GOVERNMENT

INTRODUCTION

Government has stated that its decision to approve AngloGold for a merger with Ashanti Goldfields had been informed by the positive prospects it holds for the country, including the increase in the value of the Ghana’s share from $170 million to $340 million. - The Daily Graphic

Sowu - We should be careful AngloGold doesn’t dominate and exploit Ashanti because that merger is suspicious and risky. The merger is just like a marriage between a man and a woman: one day the powerful man will start beating his wife. We should be careful for the sake of fair play and justice.

Wiredu - We should wait patiently to allow parliament to decide on the AngloGold, Ashanti merger. The workers’ welfare should be cared for and the people in the Obuasi community should be protected from environmental degradation and pollution.

Alfred - Ashanti may benefit a lot in the merger so they should go ahead and increase gold production and inject more capital and modern equipment into Ashanti.

NHIS TAKES OFF JANUARY

INTRODUCTION

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will become fully operational from January next year. Already the Legislative Instrument (LI) which will give the scheme the requisite legal backing is being worked out. - The Daily Graphic

Alfred - The National Health Insurance Bill has received parliamentary approval and President Kufuor has signed it. The scheme will be enforced in January 2004 but amendments can still be made.

Wiredu - Hon. Asamoah Boateng should realise that there are problems in the NHIS and we should be cautious with its implementation. We should look at the scheme critically and discuss it with labour groups to agree on all the issues.

Sowu - All Ghanaians must support the National Health Insurance Scheme to make it work effectively. Integrated approach to health delivery should be established with minimum fees approved by the Ministry of Health. The private health centres are charging too much and the ministry should regulate their activities.

60,000 LAND CASES AT SUPREME COURT

INTRODUCTION

Mrs. Georgette Francois, an Accra-based lawyer, has disclosed that the Supreme Court has over 60,000 land cases pending before it. - The Ghanaian Times

Wiredu - There is a law on land cases in this country, and lawyers or solicitors cannot circumvent the law. I think Parliament should amend some of the laws on land issues to make it very easy to judge cases. A parcel of land is sometimes sold to about two or more people. People should start going to jail for cheating prospective landowners or tenants. There are about 60,000 land cases in the courts did the Judicial Service should fast track them to reduce congestion.

Alfred - There are land cases in the high and circuit courts because of systemic problems. Solicitors should be blamed for the adjournment of land cases. They must fast track these 60,000 land cases to settle them amicably.

Sowu - The Regional House of Chiefs should demarcate land boundaries in their respective districts. We must start sending cheats to jail because our landowners are selfish and greedy. They continue selling stool lands to two or more people.

DCE BEATEN UNCONSCIOUS OVER ALLOWANCES OF MASS COCOA SPRAYERS

Sowu - This is a straight-forward assault on the District Chief Executive so the police should investigate the matter and jail the criminals involved in the matter. The DCEs should delegate their jobs when going on leave or sick leave and hand over property to the next officer in command.

Wiredu - The DCE was absent because he was ill and he was in hospital. The people have not been paid so they were angry and bitter and charged on the DCE. There was money at the bank to pay them so these workers were furious and they charged on the DCE for their pay.

Alfred - People should be paid for work done monthly. The absence of the DCE should not stop monthly payment or allowances due these hard workers. Cocoa spraying job is difficult and expensive. The workers should be paid in time.

TV 3 MORNING TV

MODERATOR : GABRIEL BOSOMPEM

PANELISTS : NANA OBIRI YEBOAH

SUSAN DONKOR

PHASE OUT SHIFT SYSTEM IN SCHOOL

INTRODUCTION

The President’s Committee on Review of Education Reform in Ghana has asked the government to put in place measures for the gradual phasing out of the shift system in basic education in the country within the next five years. - Weekend Agenda

Obiri - Teachers get tired after the first shift. Teachers work effectively during the morning shift but during the afternoon, they become tired and cannot perform well. We should abolish the shift system.

Susan - The shift system is practised in the public schools. The private schools are efficient. They have good teachers, better books and an excellent teaching atmosphere. We should improve upon the public school system by giving them modern books.

Obiri - We don’t have first-degree holders in the system to teach in the senior secondary schools. We should start recruiting teachers from the University College of Winneba to teach in the public schools.

VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS ARE NOT FOR DROP-OUTS

INTRODUCTION

The headmistress of the School of Domestic Science and Catering at Kotobabi in Accra, Mrs. Boye, has dispelled the notion that vocational training is fit only for school drop-outs, especially girls. – The Ghanaian Times

Susan - Women should not marry before attaining the age of 18 years. They need good basic education to understand primary health care and overcome the problem of poverty.

Obiri - Fixing the age of consent at 18 years helps to control childbirth and population explosion. Girls who drop out from school due to pregnancy should be encouraged to go back to school after childbirth.

PARLIAMENT RATIFIES NON-SURRENDER PACT WITH U.S.

Obiri - Ghana is a HIPC country and we need money and resources from the USA to improve our economy.

Susan - It is a bi-lateral agreement between Ghana and the USA to protect US citizens from appearing at the International Criminal Court. I support the idea of government establishing friendship with the USA.

Obiri - America will give us $40 million dollars a year to support the Ministry of Defence.