Print Media Review for 1st October

DAILY GRAPHIC – WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2003

1. NO CHILD SLAVERY … MINISTER WARNS NGOs TO STOP SPREADING FALSE NEWS – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, government has made it clear that there is no child slavery in the country.

It has, therefore, asked all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in the country and outside, who are committed to the development of the child, to desist from portraying that impression to the international community just to attract funds to satisfy their selfish interests.

Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, was speaking at the weekly meet-the-press series in Accra yesterday.

She described the move as erroneous and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the country and warned that, Cabinet would soon take a decision on the matter.

She admitted that the issue of child trafficking was real in the country but disputed the claim that the children were being used as slaves.

2. UNTRAINED TEACHERS TO BE ABSORBED – PG. 1

The paper reports that, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has decided to absorb all untrained teachers in the educational sector.

Such teachers will be issued with certificates and also encouraged to take up courses at the various teacher training institutions and universities.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the sector Minister disclosed this in an interview in Accra.

According to him, about 30,000 untrained teachers who had excelled and stayed in the classroom for more than a decade were going to be recognized.

Some of the untrained teachers had been teaching for the past 20 years.

3. FUNDING SECURED FOR ACCRA-YAMORANSA ROAD – PG. 21

The Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) yesterday signed an agreement with Taisee Corporation, a Japanese construction firm, in Japan for the commencement of work on the 41-kiometre Kasoa-Winneba portion of the Accra-Yamoransa road.

Mr. Eric Oduro-Konadu, Deputy Chief Executive of GHA, signed for the government, while Mr. Isao Nagashima, Deputy General Manager of Taisee signed for his corporation.

Taisee is the third largest construction firm in Japan.

The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin this month.

The project is expected to be completed by March 2005 and will cost $22m.

4. MRS AFFENYI-DADZIE, DZIEKPOR REPRESENT GJA ON NMC – PG. 21

The National Consultative Committee (NCC) of the Ghana Journalists Association, at a meeting on Friday nominated Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the association and Mr. Yao Dziekpor, Deputy Director TV on the Ghana Television to represent the GJA at the National Media Commission.

This was contained in an official statement issued by the GJA.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2003

1. SUSPECTS LOCKED UP FOR 10 YRS. THEIR CASES NEVER WENT TO COURT – PG. 1

The paper reports that, seven suspects have been on remand at the Sekondi Central Prisons between three and 10 years without their cases being tried.

These came to light when officials of CHRAJ paid a familiarization visit to the prison as part of its 10th anniversary celebration.

The male organs of three of the inmates have infections and sores on them. They are not receiving any medical treatment due to lack of a medical doctor or a nurse.

The conditions of most of the inmates were very deplorable, without mattresses and blankets, poor ventilation and poor toilet facilities in the remand cells serving 96 inmates.

2. “NRC MAY NOT FINISH ITS WORK ON SCHEDULE” – PG. 3

According to the paper, the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) may not be able to hear all the complaints so far received before the end of its mandated one-year term.

This is because the cases waiting to be heard within the four months remaining are more than the commission can handle within the period.

A statement issued by the commission, said that since it began its public hearing on January 14, 2003, the commission had received over 4,000 complaints out of which it had been able to hear only 1,364 in eight months with more cases waiting to be heard in only four months.

It explained that 682 persons appeared before it out of which 659 were heard in public and 23 in camera.

3. MINISTRY GIVES NEEDY WOMEN ?1,350BN FOR BUSINESS – PG. 3

According to the paper, the Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs has since last year, disbursed a total of ?1.350bn to needy women in the country under the micro-financing credit project.

Another ?1.7bn has been processed and will soon be disbursed to women as a revolving fund to support them in income-generating activities to enable them to cater for their children.

Mrs. Gladys Asmah, the sector Minister, announced these at the “meet-the-press” series in Accra yesterday.

According to her, the micro-financing project had impacted positively on the lives of women and their children.

She said, for instance, 10,000 women throughout the country had received funding to cultivate cassava while another 10,000 had also been given money to produce gari.

THE ACCRA DAILY MAIL – WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2003

1. KUFUOR, RAWLINGS – BRING THEM TOGETHER SAYS GBA PRESIDENT – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, the National President of the GBA, Mr. Paul Adu-Gyamfi has said the Association had noted with deep concern, mistrust, animosity and the unhealthy relationship existing between President Kufuor and ex-President Rawlings.

He, therefore, called on the council of state, religious bodies and other peace loving bodies in the country, to strive to bring them together in the interest of the nation, saying “the cat and mouse relationship existing between them does not auger well for our nascent democracy”.

Mr. Adu-Gyamfi also appealed to political parties and the electoral commission to ensure that the 2004 General Election are conducted in a peaceful and free atmosphere.

He made his call at the 2003/2004 National Annual Conference of the GBA at Elmina.

2. VRA: NDC WEIGHS IN – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, the NDC caucus in Parliament has said it deplores the manner in which the government had so far handled the crisis at the Volta River Authority (VRA) describing it as poor and appalling.

The Minority said the government was more obsessed with the personality of Dr. Wereko-Brobby than focusing on the real issues of managerial, technical and contractual improprieties and financial losses that had led to unreasonable high electricity tariffs.

A statement signed by Mr. S. P Adamu, Minority Spokesman on Energy, described the resignation of Dr. Wereko-Brobby and the suspension of some Directors as selective justice and wondered what the Directors did that called for the sanctions against them while Dr. Brobby as the then Chief Executive was absolved from blame.

THE INSIGHT – WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2003

1. HAS NDUOM LIED? – PGS. 1 & 4

The paper reports that, many were shocked, when Dr. Kwesi Nduom, Minister for Energy told Peace FM last week that there has been no financial loss at the VRA.

All those who have read Dr. Nduom’s own letter to the President dated June 17, 2003 began wondering if they were hearing right.

According to the paper, this is because in that letter Dr. Nduom had specifically informed the President that financial loss had occurred at the VRA and recommended that the “Government should institute a technical and financial audit into the rental of the strategic Reserve Plan with a view of determining responsibility for the delays and avoidable cost to the VRA”.

2. ANOTHER LIE EXPOSED – PG. 1

The paper reports that, the impression created by propagandists of the Government that the leadership of the TUC was given ?200m to persuade workers to accept the two and a half per cent from their SSNIT contribution is false.

According to the paper, in a conversation, Mr. Adu Amankwa, Secretary-General of the TUC told the “Insight” that government gave the congress ?200m to enable it consult with workers.

He said initially, the TUC had asked for ?230m to pay for the accommodation, travel and transport allowance as well as the organization of consultative fora throughout the country.

He stated further that in view of the disagreements over the deductions, the TUC and government agreed that there was the need to hold further consultations on the matter.

THE EVENING NEWS – TUESDAY, 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

GLOOMY FUTURE FOR UW CHILDREN – PG. 1

According to the paper, the future of many children in the Upper West Region is in jeopardy as a result of growing irresponsibility on the part of many parents in the region.

At the moment, several of the children cannot find enough food to eat let alone consider their rights to education and health care delivery.

According to the paper, out of 150 cases registered by CHRAJ in the region, this year, as many as 42 were related to child neglect.

This revelation came to light during an interaction between the media and officials of CHRAJ.

The paper’s investigations have also confirmed that the Department of Social Welfare recorded as many as 40 cases related to child neglect and maintenance in the Wa District alone, this year.

According to the Regional Director of CHRAJ, Mr. Brutto, if parents did not turn over a new leaf, be more responsible and attend to the needs of their children, there would be no hope for many children in the region.

THE STATESMAN – WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2003

OTUMFUO, SAVE ASHANTI – PG. 2

Kwasi Agyemang of Kumasi seem to be skeptical about the proposed merger talks of Ashanti Goldfields and its two bidders, Randgold and AngloGold which basically means the gold of the English.

In a letter to the editor, Mr. Agyemang who does not see why AGC should sacrifice its independence and hundred years of history, admitted that if it is true that before AGC can expand and develop, it needs to merge with a company with better credit rating then it makes sense, but both bidders appear to have that good credit rating.

Ashanti also have 100 years of experience so why should it merge with a company that would see the Ashanti name disappear?

He further questioned that what is the guarantee that Government of Ghana can safeguard the nations interest if it only have 2% of the new company and the golden share is of little use.

Kwasi Agyemang therefore appealed to His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to save Ashanti from disappearing.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – WEDNESDAY 1ST OCTOBER, 2003

VOLTARIAN WON’T VOTE AGAINST NDC, SAYS PRESSURE GROUP – PG. 12

According to the paper, NDC Ho-based pressure group that preferred to be called the Concerned Citizens Association of Ghana has cautioned that it will be wishful thinking for any political party to believe that voltarians would vote against the party in any future elections.

This is because “the rocks that made the region the “World Bank” of the NDC are still strong”, according to a press statement by the group.

The group very confident of NDC’s indomnitability in the region, challenged the NPP, daring the President to stand elections as assembly member at any electoral area within Dzodze, whether he can win a mere 100 votes.

The challenge apparently, is in reference to the Regional Deputy Minister Kofi Dzamesi’s confidence of annexing the Ketu North Parliamentary seat from the NDC member, Modestus Ahiable in 2004.