Print Media Preview For Oct 14

THE DAILY GRAPHIC – TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. “WE’LL PROCESS 40% OF RAW COCOA” – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, President Kufuor has stated that the country has targeted to process 40 per cent of her raw cocoa through foreign direct investment within short and medium term planning.

He, therefore, challenged cocoa researchers to develop appropriate communication, marketing and public relations strategies to show-case the numerous scientific break-through of the cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) particularly the high-yielding and quick-bearing hybrid cocoa and products derived from cocoa.

He threw the challenge when he opened the 14th International Cocoa Research Conference in Accra yesterday.

The one-week conference has brought together 10 international cocoa producing countries, which would have deliberations on topics, including agronomy, crop protection, transfer of knowledge and technology.

2. COURT FOR LAND CASES IN THE OFFING – PGS. 1 & 3

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice-President, has announced plans to establish a court system within the high court to deal expeditiously with land disputes in the country.

He said the alternative dispute mechanism would also be strengthened in an effort to reduce the volume of litigation that ended up in the courts.

He was launching the first phase of the Ghana Land Administration Project in Accra.

Nearly 36,000 land cases have been pending before the courts since 1994.

The situation has become a source of worry to both the government and civil society groups such that President Kufuor has expressed concern about the pervasive corruption in land acquisition and administration in the country.

3. VICE-PRESIDENT TO OPEN EXPO 2003 – PG. 3

The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, left Accra last night as the head of a four-member government delegation to London to perform the official opening ceremony of Ghana Expo 2003.

Ghana Expo 2003, which is on the theme “The Golden Age of Business - A Reality in Ghana” is being organised by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiatives.

Official statement issued in Accra, said the expo was expected to open on October 16, 2003 and close on October 19, 2003.

Other members of the delegation are Mr. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiative, Mr. Kwamina Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Development and Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr. Kwesi Abeasi.

4. BOEING TO ASSIST KNUST RUN COURSE IN AERONAUTICS – PG. 16

According to the paper, Boeing International Corporation has pledged support for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), to begin a new programme in aeronautical engineering with effect from August next year.

The move is aimed, among other things, at training more aviation experts in the country to meet the challenges in the aviation sector.

Ms Joan Robinson-Berry, Deputy Vice-President in charge of Technical Affiliations of Boeing announced this in Accra yesterday at a forum on the theme “Identifying and harnessing aerospace (aviation) education capabilities in West and Central Africa.”

Dr. Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport, who delivered the keynote address, said the government had injected about $112 million into the second phase of the Kotoka International Airport Development project, to bring the country’s biggest airport up to international standards.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. PRESIDENT INAUGURATES NEW DIC BOARD – PG. 3

According to the paper, a four-member board of Directors for the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) was yesterday inaugurated by President Kufuor, at the Castle, Osu.

It is under the Chairmanship of Mr. C.O. Nyanor, Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira.

Other members are Mr. Alan Kyematen, Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives (SPIs) Mr. Yaw Barimah, Minister of Employment and Manpower Development and Mr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.

2. CEPS REVENUE LEAPS THROUGH AUTOMATION – PG. 3

The paper reports that, the automation of only two collection points of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) this year has led to a big leap in its revenue.

According to the paper, after the first three quarters of the year, the service has already exceeded its target for the year.

It projected ?4,660 billion for the whole year but with three months to the end of the year, it has already earned ?4,870 billion, exceeding its target by ?170 billion.

Mr. Paul A. Nkansah, an Assistant Commissioner of CEPS in charge of Research and Monitoring disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra.

He attributed the increase to the automation of clearance at both the Tema port and Kotoka International Airport collection points.

The service, last year, collected a total of ?4,389 billion as against its target of ?4,331 billion when it had not automated its service, thus exceeding its target by only ?58 billion.

DAILY GUIDE – TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2003

NDC CREATES PANIC AT AIRPORT – AS RAWLINGS ARRIVES HOME – PGS. 1 & BK. PG.

The paper reports that, over two hundred and fifty supporters of the NDC, were on Sunday evening bussed for a fee of ?5000.00 each to welcome the party’s founder, Mr. Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu at the Kotoka International Airport.

However what was supposed to be a warm welcoming ceremony, turned out to be a confrontation between security personnel at the entrance of the KIA lounge and the predominantly Nima-Maamobi hired fans of the NDC.

According to the paper, a man suspected by the NDC crowd to be a security operative was assaulted in the process of video-taping a cross-section of the party supporters who were waiting the arrival of the former first couple aboard a British Airways aircraft from London.

THE GHANAIAN VOICE – MONDAY, 13TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. NPP DESERVES NO EXTENSION OF POWER – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, the National Organizer of the NDC, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo says NDC supporters should unite, close their ranks and net to allow any disgruntled politicians or group of persons to deceive them.

Speaking to the “Voice” in an interview at Ho, “the National Organizer said the NPP was given the four year mandate to prove its capability to salvage the nation from economic doldrums. However, it has proven to be very incompetent, with its members.

Hon. Ampofo, according to the paper, however advised the NDC supporters to work hard to win back political power in the 2004 general elections, adding that the NPP does not deserve any extension of time, since it has woefully failed to deliver according to their promises.

2. PREZ. SCORES HIMSELF HIGH … AND CRITICS SHED CROCODILE TEARS – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper says the President Kufuor has called on his critics to stop shedding tears because he is more concerned with corruption in the country than the crocodile tears they are shedding.

Speaking in an interview with Joy FM, last Friday, he stated that the NPP government was most far, the better government this country has had and “the best we have perhaps since independence”.

According to the paper, the President reminded his critics that they had their chance and every one saw what they did and disagreed with the perception that the NPP government’s (3) years in power, has seen high worse corrupt practice.

3. IS ANDREWS AWUNI CHASING A WILD GOOSE? – PG. 3

The 2004 President and Parliamentary elections is drawing near and politicians as usual have started to undo one another.

The paper reports that, one of such political bickering has started in the Bongo District in the Upper East Region. The Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Andrew Awuni is bent on unseating the incumbent and highly favoured, Hon. Albert Abongo for the Parliamentary seat of the Bongo constituency.

According to the paper, the Deputy Minister is therefore doing all he can to win the minds of the people of Bongo whether by political crude or crook, so that come 2004, he could win their confident to vote for him.

But the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, Hon. Abongo believes the Deputy Minister is living in the dark and probably chasing his own image instead of the Parliamentary seat.

THE EVENING NEWS – MONDAY, 13TH OCTOBER, 2003

NRC HITS BACK AT OBED ASAMOAH – PG. 1

The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) has hit back at Dr. Obed Asamoah, National Chairman of the NDC saying it has not lost focus on its mandate as being alleged by him and his party. According to Ms. Annie Anipa, Director of Public Affairs of the NRC, if Dr. Asamoah has full appreciation of the commission, he would not have made those unfavourable comments.

She said, she was not surprised about Dr. Asamoah’s statement because previous utterances from the NDC carried the same perceptions.

Reacting to the NDC Chairman’s view that the commission’s findings had been premature, she said, “perhaps it is because Dr. Asamoah does not understand the work of the commission very well. They have decided not to understand it. The NDC chairman does not appreciate things that are going on at the commission, that is why”.

THE STATESMAN – TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2003

6 GCB BOARD MEMBERS POCKET ?2BN FOR 4 MONTHS WORK – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, six members of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Commercial bank (GCB) paid themselves a total of ?2,015,000,000 (about $230,000) for making themselves judge and jury in an inquiry which took 130 days to conclude, even though a similar inquiry by the Bank of Ghana took only 6 weeks.

Each of the five members of the sub-committee of the GCB board received a sitting allowance of ?2.5m per diem, while the Board chairman took ?3m daily throughout the period.

Thus each member took home, net of tax, at least ?325m while the Chairman went home ?390,000,000 to the good.

This ?2bn figure does not include the usual perks of meals, drinks, transport and 15% withholding Tax.

However, according to the paper, industry insiders are questioning the competence of the Board in allocating to itself a forensic investigation expected to be done by trained auditors, instead.

GHANAIAN PALAVER – TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. THE ETHNIC AGENDA CONTINUES … “NATIONAL CITIES PROJECT” DIVERTED TO KUMASI – PGS. 1 & 5

The paper reports that, President Kufuor’s, NPP government has since its assumption of office systematically and consistently carried a niche for himself as the most ethnically inclined, and nepotic regime that this nation has ever had.

According to the paper, one of the most blatant and despicable ethnic acts of the NPP which is likely to send shock waves through the body politic is the revelation that a nationally conceived project-the “National cities Project”-aimed at redeveloping and revamping the nation’s major cities has been converted, re-engineered, re-packaged and re-designated as the “City Development Project” for Kumasi alone, with consultancy being provided by “Maya Tech”, an International Consultancy Group, for which Prof. Fred Owusu Boadu is the Chief Economist and Chief Research Officer.

2. PRESS FREEDOM, NPP STYLE … RADIO GOLD PRESENTERS HAULED TO CASTLE … FOR DARING TO QUESTION KWABENA-AGYEPONG “RUDELY” – PGS. 1 & 8

The paper says, for daring Presidential Press Secretary Kwabena Agyepong on the air without alerting him to the nature of the questions to be asked or the other participants in the discussion, three Radio gold presenters found themselves at the hands of President Kufuor’s “media monitors” last Thursday.

According to the paper, at the Castle, the three faced a two-panel interrogation team made up of Mr. Owusu Bempah of the office of the Presidential Press secretary Kwabena Agyepong and another person whose identity was not revealed.

THE INDEPENDENT – TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2003

OPERATION “SAVE GHANA AIRWAYS FROM COLLAPSE” … KUFUOR BLASTS CHIEF OF STAFF - BOARD GIVEN A WEEK’S ULTIMATUM – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

The paper reports that, President Kufuor has rapped Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani for what is described as interference in the administration of the beleaguered national carrier, Ghana Airways.

At a meeting with the board of directors of the airline last Friday at the Osu Castle, President Kufuor is reported to have expressed angst with trusted aide Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani for various acts of interference and for also being kept in the dark about events concerning the airline.

According to the paper, this follows an accusation made against the chief of staff by some members of the board at the meeting.

THE DAILY DISPATCH – TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2003

TOP GCB OFFICIALS SACKED OVER ?17BN – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

According to the paper, eight members of staff of the Ghana Commercial Bank have been dismissed for various acts involving over ?18.5bn.

Another senior official has his appointment terminated.

The eight according to the paper, include Kwabena Dapaah-Siakwan, a former deputy Managing Director (Finance/Administration) on gross misconduct for the over payment of #1,251,035 (?17.6bn) to Express Funds International.

Another staff, Kwame Kodua Afriyie was also dismissed for the same reason.

The appointment of Mr. James Frempong was terminated, effective August 27, 2003.

The six others who were dismissed “for gross misconduct” effective August 27,2003 for fraudulent withdrawals involving the Fundsnet system totalling ?972.843,000 (?972m) were Messrs Emmanuel Kweaku Ackon, Edward Kweaku Ampere, Herbet Adum Opare. Seth Nii-Nmai Adotey, George Kwesi Anatsui and Mrs. Mercy Yeboah-Perbi.

A statement by the GCB said” the decisions taken by the board were based on the role played by each staff member in matters investigated by the Special audit and Finance Committee”.