29 March 1999

?Daily Graphic,? ?Ghanaian Times? and the ?Africa Sports?

Monday, 29th March, 1999

The back pages of the Daily Graphic and the Ghanaian Times capture sports news on matches played in the Africa clubs championship and the domestic soccer league over the week- end. ?Kotoko go through? says the Graphic which also reports a 6-0 win by Accra Hearts of Oak of over Sony Ela Nguema of Equitorial Guinea on Sunday. Hearts, the story says, scored three goals in each half to secure a one-eighth berth in this year?s CAF Champions League on a 9-0 aggregate, having netted three times without reply against Nguema at their own backyard a fortnight ago.

Dare-devil, Ishmael Addo, nicknamed Shamo Quaye, fired three past Epul Estani Slao, in goal for Nguema while Ben Acquaah (1) and Osei Kuffour (2) ensured that Epul picked the balls from his net six times. The story from ?Africa Sports? says Hearts will meet Villa Sports of Uganda in the next round.

Fabulous Asante Kotoko is reported by the Graphic as having played gallantly against Ndzimba F/C which secured them a qualification to the next stage of the Africa cup Winners Cup competition, despite losing 1-2 in a match which Godwin Ablordey reportedly emerged tops.

Kotoko, adopted a 2:5:3 formation to neutralize the Gabonese in a match that traveled 15 more minutes into injury time, canceled a second half lead by their opponents through live- wire, Prince Adu Poku, who first chested an Opoku Ware?s free kick before firing past Ndzimba?s golie in the 79th minute.

During time added on, Ndzimba?s Wilfred is reported to have atoned, for an earlier penalty miss when he scored to put his side 2 ? 1 up but that could not save them from burying themselves in the coffin they brought the stadium apparently for Kotoko?s interment.

Charles Taylor red-carded, two goals in a three minutes blitz are the woes of Accra Great Olympics which saw them bowing out of this year?s CAF Cup. The Graphic reports that Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso scored in the 87th minute and on the stoke of time to end the dreams of the Dade boys on a 4-3 aggregate, in their second leg match played at Ouagadougou. Oly won the first match in Accra 3-2.

?The Times? and the ?Africa Sports? reports a further deepening of troubles for Obuasi Goldfields in the local league. ?Goldfields fall again? said the two papers who reported a third successive defeat for the miners, this time against unfancied Tano Bofoakwa at Sunyani.

King Faisal puts the breaks on Okwahu, beating them 2-0 at Kumasi, while Power F/C managed a 1-0 win over visiting Afienya United when Nathan Quarshie drove home a 50th minute cracker. Dawu Youngsters stunned All Blacks 1-0 with Hasaacas and GHAPOHA settling for a draw.

Ghanaian Times

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The paper has a story on the front page which reads ?Europe obliged to cancel Africa?s debt.? According to the story, President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has stressed that the cancellation of Africa?s debt is an obligation on the European countries.

According to the paper, President Rawlings made this known to newsman in Paris, France after holding bilateral meetings with President Chirac of France. The paper added that the two-hour meeting, held behind closed doors at the State- House, was the climax of the visit of President Rawlings? investment tour to that country.

President Rawlings discussed areas France could be of assistance to African countries such as in conflict resolution and management, and also appealed for the cancellation of some of Africa?s debts to enable the continent to be on her feet in order to enter the next millennium with confidence.

The paper added that African countries were beginning to appreciate the need to stand up to multi-national corporations which often dictate to their leaders and end up corrupting them. It said President Rawlings explained that the new trend of globalisation had brought in its wake competition among the multi-national corporations and some in their anxiety to gain strong-hold, end up in unethical activities to the detriment of developing countries. The paper concluded that, President Rawlings assured the World that, Africa is beginning to wake-up and stand its grounds making things change for the better.

Chronicle

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?NPP smells victory in year 2000 after Ablekuma blitz: Mills Can?t fly. Rawlings? exit spell doom for NDC,? is the headline of the Ghanaian Chronicle. The paper claims that ?the absence of President Rawlings at the polling grounds and the lack of pizzazz in NDC?s flagbearer Professor Atta-Mills, produced electoral results at Ablekuma last Friday that indicated what the year 2,000 elections would be like.?

In the electoral area which was picked up by President Rawlings in 1996 with the NPP losing 45 of the 106 polling booths, the NPP turned the figures round and won more than 83 of the 106 polling stations, capturing the usually pro-NDC Ayigbe towns (Ewe settlements) along the way, reports the Chronicle. According to the Chronicle both Presidential candidates, Mr. J.A. Kufuor and Professor Atta-Mills worked the ground intensely with the NDC throwing in everything they had into the contest. One NPP spokesperson Honourable Kwamena Bartels is said to have exulted ?We know how to beat the NDC now and we are convinced that 2,000 is in the bag.?

Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey described as the ?generalissmo? (NPP Greater Accra Chairman) was commended for ?brilliantly directing and winning the ?Battle of Ablekuma?. The Chronicle comments ?if Rawling absence drained the NDC electoral machine his spouses? entry into Ablekuma to campaign on behalf of the NDC candidate Mr. Ismail Bawa was a kiss of death?.

It claims that Mrs Rawlings speech loaded with threats on the campaign grounds was a major turn-off for the residents in the area who openly identified with her, husband?s message and legacy of ?positive defiance?. According to the report, the residents openly declared: ?They (NDC) can stop the road construction. We are now going to vote in reaction to the first Lady?s threats.?

The Dispatch

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Rawlings should apologise ? Kufuor, reads the headline of the Dispatch. The paper quotes Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, NPP flagbearer as asking President Jerry John Rawlings to ?come out openly to apologise for what might have gone wrong,? in the adoption and killing of three High court judges and one retired army officer in 1982 and his support for a probe into the killings. Concerning the relationship with Nana Akuffo-Addo Mr Kufuor is reported to have said that it was cordial and they both engaged in a healthy rivalry during the race for for the NPP leadership.