The Ghanaian Chronicle

"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.