The Independent
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A front-page story of the Independent says Mr Osei Kyei Mendah-Bonsu, MP for Old Tafo Suame has detected an intended fraud at the Ministry of Youth and Sports running into millions of cedis.
According to the story, the MP, who said he made a careful examination of the Ministry?s 1999 budget submitted to Parliament, discovered that there were distortions, misapropriations and indefensible figures regarding amounts to be spent on the Ministry for the 1999 financial year.
Mr Mensah ?Bonsu, therefore decided to spill the beans when the Minister for Youth and Sports moved that the House approved the sum of 22,456 billion cedis being the Ministry?s budget for the year 1999.
The paper says in his analytical presentation which defied all doubts from even NDC MPs, Mr Osei Mensah-Bonsu revealed, for instance, that the Ministry in its estimates for 1999, had budgeted for three photocopiers putting the cost at 93 million cedis, meaning that one photocopier should cost the Ministry about 31 million cedis.
According to the paper, Mr Mensah-Bonsu again revealed that the Ministry had also budgeted for eight PCs at a cost of 56 million cedis, which means that one PC is to cost the Ministry an incredible 7 million cedis.
Ghana Palaver
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The Paper carries a banner headline ?Bet on Good Candidate?. According the story, the first lady and the leader of the 31st December Women Movement, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has called on all the electorate in the Ablekuma central to vote massively for Ismail Bawa, the NDC candidate, in the March 26 bye elections
According to the paper, she said this at the Soko Mabruku Park in the Ablekuma Central constituency when she addressed a mammoth rally of NDC supporters.
Mr. Basha Harsey, the constituency and regional vice chairman of the NDC, called on the people to go to the polling stations early and vote for Ismail Bawa to correct their mistake of voting for NPP in 1996. The rally was well attended by ministers of state and some Parliamentarians of the party.
The Guide
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?Ablekuma bye-elections NPP leads? is a story on the front- page of the paper. According to the story, the NPP candidate, Mr Victor Okuley Nortey is believed to be clearly ahead of all the candidates contesting for the vacant seat.
The paper says when it sampled opinion last week within the constituency, Okuley Nortey topped followed by the NDC candidate, Ismail Bawa.
All indications are that Nortey of the NPP has already won the election with a very comfortable majority, the paper said.
According to the paper, the Greater Accra regional assistant coordinator of the Reform Movement, Mr Shakespeare Dodoo in an interview, expressed optimism that the Reform Movement will capture the seat come March 26.
Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times :
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Kumasi stands still.?
The two papers each show two different pictures of President Jerry John Rawlings as he arrived at the Palace to pay his last respects to the departed king. The first picture of the Graphic shows the President signing the book of condolence at the head of the government delegation that accompanied him. Underneath it is a picture of a sea of mourners, all the in the obligatory ?kuntunkuni? that turned out to file past the body. The pictures in the Times show President Rawlings in an embrace with Nana Osei Bonsu, Mamponghene, and acting Asantehene. The other picture is of a procession of chiefs with umbrellas raised over them, as they make their way towards the body.
According to the Times, thousands of mourners from all over the country called to pay their last respects to the departing occupant of the Golden Stool who will be finally laid to rest on Thursday, March 25.
It says, it was a refreshing thought and a consoling scene as President Rawlings joined thousands of people to mourn the memory of the beloved king who endeared himself to the hearts of Ghanaians and all those who came into contact with him.
The paper says, the entry of President Rawlings accompanied by Nana Konadu the first lady into the stunned city brought the otherwise mournful Ashanti Regional capital to its feet.
The Graphic on its part says, the President and his entourage, which included his mother, Madam Agbotui, on arrival, went to the executive lounge where the Asantehene is laid in state to pay their last respects. They followed it up by signing the book of condolence opened in honour of the departed king.
The paper says, President Rawlings then exchanged greetings with Asanteman council and the chiefs assembled.
It says the Mamponghene, Nana Osei Bonsu the Second, Bantamahene, Baffour Awuah the Fifth, and Baffour Amoateng, senior linguist of the Otumfuo, welcomed the President and his delegation. Togbe Tamakloe, the acting Awomefia of the Anlo traditional council, who spoke on behalf of the President, described the Otumfuo?s death as a great loss to Asantes and the nation at large.
Both papers report in separate pages of the arrest of Captain James Owoo who is alleged to be involved in a 1994 coup plot to the government.
The stories say Captain Owoo who fled to Sierra Leone, form where he was arrested, following the abortive attempt will be tried for treason soon.
GRi.../
The Crusading Guide
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The banner headline of the paper reads: Tug of war over reform.? The accompanying story says it is now clear that two reform Movements (RM) are operating on the political scene, one led by Goosie Tanoh which has severed all links with the ruling NDC and other by Sam Garba which is still tied to the NDC.
The quotes Mr Garba as saying that the goals that were set by the original RM did not seek to translate the RM into a political party as is now being claimed by the faction led by Goosie.
According the paper, Mr Garba who accused his former colleagues of hurrying out of the NDC, said the RM had met on 23rd January to formulate a strategy for a 28th January showdown with the national executive committee of the NDC to resolve their grievances but his former colleagues failed to turn up. According the paper, Mr Garba who accused his former colleagues of hurrying out of the NDC, said the RM had met on
