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6 April 1999

Wed, 7 Apr 1999 Source: null

Daily Graphic

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“New Asantehene swears oath…He is Otumfuo Osei Tutu II”, says the Daily Graphic in a front-page headline. The accompanying story says Barima Kwaku Dua, Asantehene- elect, yesterday swore


the customary oath of allegiance to chiefs of the Kumasi Traditional Council. His stool name is Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The Graphic reports that Barima Kwaku Dua, holding the “Pomponsuo” sword in his right hand, he paid glowing tribute to his predecessors, extolled that greatness during conquests and other achievements and pledged to rule in truth, honesty and fairness to all. After the swearing-in, Otumfuo Osei


Tutu was made to sit on a silver-plated stool called “Dwete Asipim”. According to the paper, the ceremony was watched by thousands of people, including the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Yankah, the Minister of Tourism, Mr Mike Gizo, Deputy Asanti Regional Minister, Mrs Joana Appiah-Dwomoh, some paramount chiefs and the Managing Director of the Graphic Corporation, Mr Kofi Badu. Also present was the Catholic Bishop of Kumasi, the Right-Rev. Peter Akwasi Sarpong Otumfuo Osei Tutu succeeds the late


Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, who died last February 25, 1999 and who was interred on March 25, 1999. The new king is the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool from the era of “Opemsuo” Osei Tutu I.


In another front page story headlined: “Go back to work…Enrolled, Community nurses tell members”, the Graphic reports that the Enrolled/Community Health Nurses Association has stated categorically that its members are not part of the decision of the junior nurses to embark on an indefinite strike action. Accordingly, the association has appealed to all Enrolled and Community Health nurses who have been forced into the industrial action, to resume work immediately, the Graphic says, quoting a statement issued at Koforidua in the Eastern Region and signed by the National President of the association, Mr James Budu, and the Vice-President, Mr Joseph Homatekpor, after an emergency national executive committee meeting at Saltpond in the Central Region. According to the statement, the decision of the association is to enable the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to continue with the negotiations to ensure the early implementation of the payment of extra duty allowance to affected categories of staff within the health sector, including enrolled and community health nurses. Meanwhile, the paper says junior nurses of the Ghana Registered Nurses’ Association at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the Ridge Hospital in Accra, continue to be on strike, while senior nurses at the Koforidua Central Hospital are working hard to attend to patients at the hospital as a result of the strike action by junior nurses.

Ghanaian Times


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Reporting on the swearing of the “Great Oath” of Ashanti by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene-elect,


The Ghanaian Times says the new king swore the great oath of allegiance to the Kumasi Traditional Council at a moving ceremony at the Manhyia Palace amid tears and jubilation. The paper, in a front page account of the event, says hundreds of people watched him holding the tradditional sword “Pomponsuo” in the right hand as he pledged his loyalty to the chciefs of Kumasi, dedicated his service to the beloved nation and promised to to continue the good works of his predecessors. The Times says in the large crowd


At the forecourt of the palace, were ministers of state, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Yankah, MPs and other dignitaries, whose “kuntunkuni” cloths lent colour to the occasion. The paper says when the oath swearing was over, Otumfuo Osei Tutu sat in state for the Kumasi chiefs to swear before him, the great oath in turns. According to the paper, on Thursday, Otumfuo now Kumasihene, will observe the 40th


Day of the death of his late uncle, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. Otumfuo Osei Tutu will formally become Asantehene after his installation and enstoolment.

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In a second front page story captioned: “Ablekuma is still desolate” the Times reports that Ablekuma, an Accra suburb, has remained desolate four months after the killing of the two policemen, Constables Owusu Sekyere, alias “Kwaku Ninja” and Jerry Wornu, alias “Taller”. According to the paper, a visit to the town last week showed that the place was still abandoned by the inhabitants who fled in the wake of police operations to arrest those suspected to be involved in the killings. During the operations, the police burned down houses and kiosks, seized some items and arrested many people. The Times says last week, the few youngmen seen resting under some trees were mainly sand winners from other residential areas and one or two local youth. The paper says a resident, Mr Lawrence Nettey, told the Times on the current situation in the town, that many of the residents who ran away after the incident, were still afraid to return. He said the few who had so far returned, were facing acute accommodation problems because the houses which were burnt down or destroyed during the police action, had not been rebuilt. According to Mr Nettey, at the moment, the elders in the town were either in the hands of the police or in hiding since the case had not been closed.


The Ghanaian Voice


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“Kwaku Dua confers with contestants”, says the Ghanaian Voice in a front page banner. The paper says


a day after his endorsement by the Kumasi Traditional Council as their new chief, Nana Kwaku Dua, the Asantehene-elect, moved swiftly to consolidate his position and tried to clear the rift that afflicted the race to the “golden stool”. The Voice quotes Manhyia sources as saying that Nana Kwaku Dua spent Wednesday morning talking to the other contestants who failed to get the nod of the Asantehemaa. According to the sources, the contestants pledged their support to the Asantehene-elect for the benefit of Asanteman. The paper says at the time its reporter leftKumasi, the only contestant Nana Kwaku Dua had not talked to was Nana Akwasi Agyeman, chief executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), who was said to be still aangry with the choice of Nana Kwaku Dua. According to the Voice, Bishop Akwasi Sarpong, the Catholic Bishop of Kumasi, has been approached to prepare the grounds for Nana Kwaku Dua’s “eyeball to eyeball” meeting with Nana Akwasi Agyeman, who threw in everything to get the nomination.

The Statesman


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The Statesman in a front page story says Mr Kwame Abasi, a 34-year-old patient who could not pay for a surgical operation conducted on him by the Holy Family Hospital at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, is currently receiving treatment from the Bole Hospital after being dumped in his village by the Holy Family Hospital in a bid to retrieve their money. The paper says Dr Henry Atawura, the Bole District Medical Officer, who conducted the press to see the patient, expressed shock and displeasure at the behaviour of the hospital authorities, describing it as “ungodly and inhuman”. He called for a proper investigation into the matter which he said was against the ethics of their noble profession. According to the Statesman, Dr Atawura assured the police that the government has set aside a package for truly poor people who cannot afford the cost of treatment.


The Ghanaian Chronicle


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“It’s all over for me – JJ…There will be no reversal”, reads a front page headline in the Ghanaian Chronicle. The accompanying story says President Jerry Rawlings has stated that the impression being created by certain people that he will hand over power to his wife, Nana Konadu, is baseless. The paper reports the President as saying this is being spread to create animosity for the First Lady, because of the good work she is doing with her 31st December Women’s Movement, which he said is at the forefront of women’s emancipation. According to the Chronicle, the President has pledged to respect the constitution and step aside when his tenure of office ends in the year 2000. “The time has come for us to step aside for others to take over. There will be no reversal of this decision”, he was quoted as saying last week while addressing Political Science students of the University of Bordeaux, during his state visit to France.

The Chronicle in a second front page story says Dr Isaac Takyi, one of the seven claimants to the Golden Stool of Asante, who was put forward by the Asaman Ekuona Royal family, has said that his clan is out to seek justice but not to foment trouble. “We don’t want to cause trouble. We want justice”, Dr Takyi is reported as saying in an interview. The Asaman Ekuona Royal family has filed a petition at the Chieftaincy Tribunal of the National House of Chiefs to restrain the Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Serwaa Kobi Ampem II, from nominating a successor to the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II from the “Oyoko” clan. Dr Takyi, the paper says, indicated that his clan is out to correct an anomaly that has persisted for far too long and set the records of Asante history straight. He decried the unusual haste which has characterised the process of nomination and approval of Nana Kwaku Dua as the Asantehene-elect. Dr Takyi, the Chronicle says, claimed that not all the Kingmakers had met to approve the Asantehemaa’s nomination.


Public Agenda


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The Public Agenda reports that officials charged with collecting taxes from traders engaged in the cooking oil trade in the Western Region, have turned the trade into a personal gold mine and millions of cedis may be vanishing into private pockets even if the revenue generating agencies manage to achieve or exceed their targets. In a front page story headlined “Gov’t loses over 400 million cedis in oil deals”, the Public Agenda says a visit to the Jomoro District about a month ago, showed widespread malpractice over import duty and sales tax on imported “Dinor” oil and coconut oil. The paper says a prohibitive tax on imported Dinor oil currently exists to discourage the importation of the product and protect similar products such as “Frytol” which is manufactured locally. It says a similar tax also exists on imported copra to protect local producers, but indications, however, are that the imported oil still finds its way in great quantities into the country due to malpractice in the administration of these taxes. The Public Agenda says revenue that should accrue to the government from taxes including penalties, is also diverted into private pockets.

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