Print Media Monitoring for 25th September

DAILY GRAPHIC – THURSDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. SCHOOLS CRY FOR TEACHERS … OVER 43,000 PLACES NEED TO BE FILLED – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, a report compiled by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has indicated that there are vacancies for 43,876 qualified teachers in first cycle schools in the country.

The report states that primary schools need 13,133 teachers, while the junior secondary schools require 30,749 teachers.

The shortage of qualified teachers, coupled with the absence of motivation has contributed to the falling standard of education in first cycle schools.

Prof. Kobina Yankson, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, announced this at the 45th national conference of the Principals of Teacher Training Colleges at Berekum.

According to him, the vacancies, mostly in the rural and sub-urban areas, were partially filled with 24,000 untrained teachers while 20,000 vacancies were still unfilled.

He disclosed that on the average, about 6,283 new teachers graduated from the 38 training colleges each year as compared with an average of 5,904, who went on study leave during the same period.

2. DANIDA TO PROVIDE WATER IN 4 REGIONS – PG. 1

According to the paper, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) yesterday signed a $55 million agreement with the Ministry of Works and Housing to provide potable water for about 500,000 people in four regions in the country. The beneficiary regions are Volta, Eastern, Greater Accra and the Central Regions.

Alhaji Idris Mustapha Ali, Minister of Works and Housing, indicated that the agreement was just the first phase of the project, adding that by January, next year, the project would have begun.

The Danish Ambassador, Mr. Flemming Bjork Pedersen, said DANIDA intended to take a back seat and not meddle in the decision-making processes involved in the project.

He said the $55 million was a grant and expressed the hope that with the guidance of the ministry and the Government of Ghana, the money would be put to the use it was intended.

3. WORKERS IN PROTEST MARCH …AGAINST 2.5 PER CENT DEDUCTION – PG. 20

According to the paper, TUC yesterday went on a poorly patronized demonstration in Accra and other regional capitals to protest against what it called “government’s unilateral decision to use workers’ two and a half per cent contribution to the SSNIT fund as seed money for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)”.

The demonstrators, who wore red bands and chanted war songs, also held placards some of which read “Establish lottery for NHIS,” We have the right to control SSNIT money”, “find a better source of finance,” “President must consult” and “2.5 per cent is workers money, not government money.”

One of the reasons for the demonstration was that the labour front was not fully consulted on the NHIS including its benefits. However, earlier in the day, Mr. Kwesi Adu-Amankwah, the Secretary-General of the TUC admitted on an Accra FM station that the TUC received ?200 million from the government to enable it to sensitise its members at the national, regional, and district councils of labour on everything about NHIS including its benefits.

4. “DIALOGUE IS THE BEST OPTION”

Mr. Seidu Bazunu Issaka, President of the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG), has called on the leadership of the TUC to use dialogue and not demonstration to get government to rescind its decision to use two-and a half per cent of workers contribution to fund the NHIS.

According to him, yesterday’s demonstration by a section of workers was not necessary since enough avenues of dialogue had not been explored by the leadership of the workers to have the matter properly resolved.

He was speaking in an interview with the paper in Accra.

DAILY GUIDE – THURSDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. PLOT TO BREAK JAIL – PEPRAH WHISKED AWAY – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

The paper reports that, former Finance Minister in the NDC regime, Mr. Kwame Peprah, who is serving a four-year prison term at the Nsawam Medium Prison for causing financial loss to the state but was transferred to the Ho Prison last month, was yesterday whisked away suddenly to the Sekondi Prison, for security considerations.

A highly-placed source told the paper that the State was forced to transfer Mr. Peprah, because of intelligence reports that some people are seriously planning to let him escape from prison custody and possibly settle him in exile.

The paper says as at yesterday, when the latest transfer took place, Mr. Peprah was being treated for malaria at the Ho Government hospital.

At the Sekondi Prison, the paper learnt that new arrangements would be made for him to have further treatment for his malaria.

NATIONAL DEMOCRAT – THURSDAY, 25TH – 28TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. GOV’T TO BAN TUC AGAIN? – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, the government’s inability to tolerate dissent views has seen her behind close door activities to suffocate and weaken the TUC as well as instigate the formation of new labour organization to rival the TUC.

This is because the government and the TUC are currently in arms against each other over the governments resolve to use 2?% of workers SSNIT contribution to fund the NHIS.

The paper recalls the poor government – labour relations that prevailed during the Busia regimes where strikes were the order of the day.

Busia government proved incapable of resolving labour disputes except by repression hence the invidious act of banning the TUC under a Certificate of Urgency in Parliament.

2. Information Minister Exposes Deputy – Minister! PGS. 1 & 3

The paper says following its front-page story about the Deputy-Minister who has bought a BMW value at ?200 million for his 19 year old girl friend, the Minister for Information, Nana Akomea has revealed that the deputy – minister in question has not been paid for the past five months since he took up the appointment in government.

Though the paper did not name the deputy-minister in question, Nana Akomea told “Radio Gold” that he gathered the name of the deputy-minister in question from the grapevine.

He said the deputy-minister in question had worked outside Ghana for some time and therefore had his own money and car and wonders what was wrong if the deputy minister shared his car with his 19 year-old girl friend.

The paper promises to name the deputy-minister soon after winding up its investigations.

THE GHANAIAN VOICE – THURSDAY, 25TH – 28TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. DIPLOMATIC UPROAR…AFRICAN AMBASSADORS ANGRY WITH FOREIGN MINISTRY – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, African Ambassadors accredited to the country are unhappy with the manner in which some of their colleagues are being maltreated.

They believe that what is happening to the Beninoir Ambassador, Mr. Pierre Sadeler and some of his colleagues such as Malian Ambassador and Niger Ambassador undermines the spirit of Africa unity and good neighbourliness.

Sources close to the Ambassadors disclosed to the paper that ECG have been harassing the Ambassadors of the above mentioned with power supply problems without passing through normal diplomatic channels to resolve grievances if there was any.

They complained that as representatives of their countries, no one has the power to just enter their residences without permission.

ECG officials, however, have always gone against this simple courtesy and treated the ambassadors as any ordinary citizen.

They further accused the Foreign Ministry of not taking any concrete action to solve the problem that occurred between ECG officials and the Beninoir Ambassador adding the foreign Ministry is not treating the African Ambassadors with respect.

2. A SUICIDE SQUAD FOR MILLS HEAD? – PGS. 1 & 6

The paper reports that, Prof. Mills, NDC flagbearer was nearly crashed to death at the weekend by a reckless driver who carelessly crossed him during his tour to the Volta Region.

The driver who was using a double-cabin pick-up and three other occupants ran away after the incident and have since not been arrested. Prof. Mills had gone to address rallies in the Biakoye, Hohoe North, Buem and Hohoe South Constituencies.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – THURSDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. PRESIDENT ADDRESSES UN … WE NEED FAIR TRADE – PGS. 1 & 3

President Kufuor yesterday addressed the 58th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in New York.

He called for fair trade competitions between the advanced and developing countries of the world.

He said globalization, which was fast engulfing the world, would be inimical and disastrous to the developing nations if the process was not properly and sensitively managed.

He noted that most African countries were limited to exporting raw materials and agricultural commodities because of their current stage of development.

According to him, unless the developed parts of the world removed subsidies on their agricultural and mineral sectors, Africa cannot be competitive in the process of globalization.

According to the paper, President Kufuor later held closed door meetings with Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of UN and President Bush.

2. VEEP RALLIES SUPPORT FOR HIV/AIDS VICTIMS – PG. 3

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice-President, yesterday called for mass mobilization of funds to cater for people living with the HIV/AIDS virus.

He noted that national funding had become critical in order to reduce the current level of HIV infections by half by the year 2015 as projected.

He was launching the ADRA/USDA HIV/AIDS prevention education and services in Accra.

The programme, which had the theme: “Social mobilization for HIV/AIDS prevention – a role for informal groups” was aimed at increasing knowledge about sexually transmitted infections and increase safer sex behaviours, including abstinence from extra-marital sex.

3. POLICE COMPLAIN ABOUT LACK OF PROMOTION – PG. 3

The paper reports that, a number of aggrieved policemen in the country have expressed their disaffection with the Police Administration because of delays in their promotions.

The personnel, with the ranks of Chief Inspector of Police downwards, say that some of them had been in their current positions for between six and 12 years.

Some say their morale has been dampened while others say they are fed up with the system and are thinking about resigning from the service.

They have, therefore, appealed to the IGP to, as a gesture of goodwill, come to their aid and resuscitate their dampened spirits.

THE INDEPENDENT – THURSDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. SALT WAR LOOMS AS BRAZILIANS INVADE LOCAL INDUSTRY; PRODUCERS CRY FOUL AND VOW TO FIGHT – PG. 1 & BK. PG

The paper reports that, an intense with rather dogged battle with very high stakes is raging between local salt producers and the Secretariat of the President Special Initiative (PSI) on salt over the granting of rights to a Brazilian company, Nigeria-based Union Dicon, for the importation of salt into the country.

The paper’s enquiries have revealed that Messrs. Union Dicon, one of the leading importers of salt on the Nigerian market, have initiated moves to obtain land at the Takoradi Harbour to import salt from Brazil for re-bagging and subsequent re-export to Cote d’ivoir.

Sources at the GPHA have confirmed that Union Dicon had approached them already and the Authority has offered them a Timber shed at Takoradi Port and was only waiting for a confirmation of their acceptance of the offer.

Whilst local salt producers maintain that the development is set to kill local initiative in the salt industry and further reduce the capacity of local salt investors to optimize the country’s salt winning potential, PSI coordinator on salt project, David Kobina Oppong thinks otherwise.

He confirmed to the paper that, three Brazilian firms have expressed intent to establish salt dependent chemical industries and would need regular supplies of high grade salt which is not available in the country judging from the quality of salt produced locally.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – THURSDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. AGITATION AT SHAI/OSUDOKU NPP FRONT – DEPUTY ATTORNEY-GENERAL WON’T ALLOW ARREST OF SUSPECTS PARTY MEMBERS WANT HER NOMINATION NULLIFIED –PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, the Deputy Attorney-General and Ms. Gloria Akuffo the Dangme West DCE, K. T. K. Agban are on a collision course over who becomes the NPP candidate for Shai/Osudoku in the 2004 Parliamentary elections.

Their differences are being fueled by a perception that Ms. Akuffo is thwarting moves by the DCE to get the police to arrest suspects in an attempted murder of a policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Addo.

The fracas began when the paper reported of the existence of a “Kangaroo” court at Asutsuare chaired by a carpenter, S. K. Akpo.

A letter dated September, 2003 and signed by the Ms. Akuffo to the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the NPP with copies to the General Secretary, Dan Botwe and her opponent, Mr. Agban were construed as intended to block the course of justice.

The letter stated that, “the object of this plot is to prevent these persons from participating in the impending primaries to elect a Parliamentary candidate for our party in the constituency”.

She therefore said she had done everything within her means to restore peace and stability in the area and any arrest on the basis of this plot is likely to ignite disturbances in the area, which might be more aggravating than the past.

The paper learnt that two days later, 18 polling station agents in the constituency petitioned the General Secretary of the party to nullify the candidature of three contestants including Ms. Akuffo, Messrs Daniel Dugan and Samuel Ayertey, adding that any contestant who wished to file his or her nomination for selection as a candidate should be somebody well known within the constituency and for that matter must be marketable to the electorate.

2. ROT EXPOSED AT MANYA KROBO ?7 BILLION CONTRACTS CAUSE STIR & DCE IN BRIBERY SCANDAL & ASSEMBLYMEN SCRAMBLE FOR CONTRACTS – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, evidence bordering on naked bribery, misappropriation of public funds, theft and willfully causing financial loss to the state is unfolding at the Manya Krobo District Assembly, which puts to further test the credibility of the government’s proclaimed zero tolerance for corruption.

The paper says it has in it possession documents that point to a virtual scramble over the disbursement of project funds totalling, over ?7bn in the last two years.

Assembly members and other officials who have turned themselves into contractors, have become beneficiaries of project contracts in total violation of the local government regulations.

Those involved in the scandal are five topmost officials of the assembly labeled in local circles as “The big five” – the DCE, District Coordinating Director (DCD), District Planning Officer (DPO), the District Finance Officer (DFO) and the District Engineer in charge of Public Works Department (PWD) who have reportedly awarded contract running into billions of cedis, without due regard to L.I.1606 of the local government act.

Meanwhile, a report by the sub-committee following a tour of some projects in the districts on August 12-13 speaks of some startling revelation of malfeasance at the administration in the award and execution of contract.

The 14-member committee listed 26 areas of concern in the report and recommended that “all projects, whose documents were called for in this report, should be suspended until the documents are tended for perusal and scrutiny”.

THE STATESMAN – THURSDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

ANGLOGOLD IS “STEALING” ASHANTI. ANGLOGOLD WANTS ASHANTI ?3.5 TRILLION CHEAPER AND BLACK BOSSES FEAR JOB LOSSES – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

The board of Ashanti Goldfields Company yesterday confirmed receipt of a formal merger offer from Randgold Resources, details of which have not changed since the indicative proposal announced in August.

A London money manager says that in the current gold bull market AngloGold was “stealing” Ashanti. Yet, the South African gold producer this week expressed a marked unwillingness to raise its offer, which is currently 7% lower than Ashanti’s worth, despite Obuasi’s enviable rich resources below the 1 km level.

The paper has also identified anxiety at the top crass of the Accra-based gold producer that many of the Ghanaian’s holding top positions in Ashanti could lose their jobs to their white counterparts in AngloGold or Randgold after a merger.

Ashanti, according to the paper, is the only world gold producer headed by black people.

AngloGold, for example, a company built on the back of black miners, does not boast of one single black face at its top management level despite being based in South Africa.

Industrial analysts see AngloGold’s desire to further diversify from South Africa as a way to escape from the fast encroaching black empowerment movement.