19-3-99

Statesman
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?Kumasi set for big funeral? is the banner headline of this edition of the statesman. The report has it that the night of Sunday March 21, 1999 is the start of an elaborate traditional funeral when the Krobea Asante Kotokohene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II is laid in state at the Manhyia Palace. Expectations are that a record crowd of mourners from accross the world will attend the four day programme. Among the notable individuals and institutions which have been formally invited and who may attend or be represented are the English Monarch, Queen Elisabeth II, the Zulu chief of South Africa, the Mossi King in Burkina Faso, all the paramontcies in Ghana and other monarchs worldwide.
According to the report, Thursday March 25 will be the climax of the funeral. There will be a memorial service at St. Cyprian?s Anglican Church which hosted a similar service for the former Asantehene the late, Nana Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II on June 4, 1970. The church service which will also witness ablend of Christianity and tradition, is also expected to be significant for its blend of the ancient and modern when the casket containing the mortal remains of the late Otumfuo draped in the Ghana flag will be conveyed by a gun-carrier to the Bantama Mausoleum by a detachment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
There newspaper states that at Bantama where a wreath-laying ceremony will take place with a 21 gun-salute as last tribute to the king of Asante who ruled and made a positive impact on Ghana for 29 years. From Bantama the casket will be handed over to the traditional rulers to perform the traditional rites. Meanwhile the ban on all funerals in Asante in honour of the departed Asantehene is expected to be lifted on April 8 when the entire funeral would have been finally concluded. GRi
Daily Graphic
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In its lead story, the Daily Graphic reports that the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) is reducing its investment support for maize production because 18 thousand tonnes that were produced last year is still shelved because there is no market for it. ?18,000 Tonnes Maize Locked Up? goes the banner headline story which said ADB has ruled out external markets uncompetitive. Dr. P.A. Kuranchie, Managing Director, says however that the bank is contacting public institutions to for their patronage of the maize to help recoup the investment.
The story quotes Dr. Kuranchie as saying that essential factors such as technology transfer, water management, improved planting materials and marketing be seriously considered since credit facilities are not the only panacea for improving production. The MD stressed the need to shield bankers from the risks involved in providing credit to farmers. ADB operates an Agricultural Nuclens Outgrower Programme under which credit facilities are granted to farmers. The Graphic reports in another front page story that Ghana is to receive a 100m dollar package from the World Bank to support its Public Sector Reform Programme whose package includes a shaping up to provide an enabling environment for public sector-led growth. Mr. Peter Harrold, World Bank Country Director for Ghana told a government re-invention workshop that the grant would be disbursed as soon as the reform programme takes off. The paper also reports of the Country Director commending Ghana for initiating its own reform strategy, saying, it is very likely to fit into the aspirations of the people.
Graphic Sports
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?GFA Hails Decision? and ?Black Stars play France, Argentina? are the two stories on the front-page of the Graphic Sports. In the first story, Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula, GFA Chairman, says it is much joy to him that Ghana is co-hosting the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations (CAF) claiming it will boost tourism as well as the image of the country. Alhaji Jawula is reportedly saying that the big soccer bonanza will also offer the nation an opportunity to recoup some of the billions of cedis sunk into the hosting of the Ghana ?99 Under 20 tournament.
The paper reports that the GFA Chairman described the co- hosting idea as a favour by CAF for reducing the number of venues needed to two instead of four. By the split decision, Ghana will host eight countries at two venues while Nigeria does the same for the 16-nation tornament. Ghana?s portion of the historic co-hosting includes that of preceding CAF Congress and an opening ceremony to be beamed world-wide while Nigeria the other country takes care of other ceremonies. The paper reports also that Ghana?s automatic qualification to the CAF Nations cup by co-hosting it, has resulted in a line- up of trial matches for the Black Stars to help to shape them up, in matches that include France and Argentina. The Black Stars will also do battle with the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Jamaica?s Reggae Boyz. The trials are slated between May and August this year.
Free Press
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The paper carries a front-page story with the heading ?Cure for Rawlings Ailment?? According to the story Prophet P.C. Mainoo who prophesied the death of General F.W.K Akuffo before it actually happened is out again with a letter to the press that he has discovered a cure for President Rawlings fever that attacked him during the celebration of the 31st December revolution. The paper added that, judging from the accuracy and timely of Prophet Mainoo?s prophecy on General Akuffo?s death, his words should be taken seriously. The prophets letter to the press and some individuals in authority stated some of the alleged crimes committed under the Presidents leadership as direct and indirect murders, indiscriminate abduction and the murder of the three high court judges and the retired army officer, the paper said. According to the paper, Prophet Mainoo could not however give an accurate diagnosis of the Presidents ailment, but insisted that serious prayers must be said for the president by all Ghanaians so that he will change his mind and render an apology to all who suffered the atrocities so that he can get a relief. The paper concluded that Prophet Mainoo?s appeal should be taken seriously because similar warning letters he wrote about the fall of General E.A. Kotoka and General J.A. Ankrah all came to pass. GRi
The Ghanaian Chronicle
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The paper carries a front-page story which reads ?CEPS bursts Kwatsons?. According to the paper, Kwatson Impex Limited, a Lebanese owned company has evaded duties and taxes totalling ?808 million. The paper added that this amount represents only one transaction by Kwatsons and wonders how much money the State many have lost over the years, because in this particular instance, they have evaded duties and taxes on video decks, television sets, Hi-Fi systems and wristwatches. The paper continued that it suspects the collusion of some CEPS officers, since they could not have been successful in their act without the consent of the officer who escorted the goods from Tema Port and the resident officer at the warehouse of Kwatsons. According to the paper, Dr. Charles Asembri, who until last week was the Commissioner of CEPS has slapped a 100% pecuniary penalty on the company bringing the overall total of indebtedness to ?1.616 billion.
The paper says, by Thursday afternoon, they learnt that Kwatsons had paid ?300 million of their debt and had applied for a rescheduling of the rest. due to the high cost of production which renders it internationally