Print Media Review

DAILY GRAPHIC – THURSDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1.$30M LOAN FOR PRIVATE SECTOR – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an affiliate of the World Bank, is to make available $30 million towards the country’s private sector development.

The document for the fund, which will be assessed within the next three years, is currently being considered by the World Bank Board for approval.

Mr. Modou Njie, Regional Manager of African Project Development Facility (APDF), disclosed this in Accra yesterday when the Minister of Private Sector Development, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, met the executive of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) .

Mr. Njie also announced that Ghana was among eight countries in Africa to benefit from a $128 million IFC loan towards the development of the SMEs.



2. BID TO IMPROVE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE – PG. 3

The paper reports that, government is considering a proposal to improve the regulatory framework of traditional and medical practice in the country.

The proposal, when approved, will help establish a policy framework on the practice of traditional medicine in the country.

The framework will also include a bill that will establish an Alternative Medicine Practice Council, to regulate the practice of traditional medicine in the country.

Dr. Francis Osafo-Mensah, Eastern Regional Minister disclosed this in a speech, on behalf of the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, at Koforidua during the launch of this year’s Traditional Medicine Day, which fell on August 31.

3. IRS, POLICE MONITOR VEHICLE INCOME TAX – PG. 3

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, yesterday began a three-day joint enforcement and monitoring exercise to find out whether commercial drivers were complying with the new quarterly Vehicle Income Tax (VIT) stickers.

The exercise was undertaken at vantage points within the Accra and Tema metropolis.

It is intended to compel commercial drivers who have ignored the stickers to purchase them. Those who refuse to do so, will be arraigned before court.

4. SEVEN FIRMS SHOW INTEREST IN RAILWAYS – PG. 17 .

According to the paper, the government’s commitment to revamp the railway system, has received positive responses from international companies.

So far, seven foreign companies from Great Britain, South Africa, and Australia have shown interest in the project.

Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Railways, Ports and Harbours Minister disclosed this in an interview in Accra.

According to him, following the encouraging responses from the big railway firms, a bidders conference for the railway sector has been slated for September 20, 2003.

The conference, which is meant to bring together experienced stakeholders both local and foreign, underscores the important nature of the sector and puts responsibility on the government to ensure that suitable investors are selected for the job.

The government in anticipation of this task had designed a transparent bidding process to attract the right calibre of companies to be given the concession to manage the country’s railway system.

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL TIMES – THURSDAY, 1ST – 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. T-BILL RATES FALL AS ANNUALISED INFLATION HITS SINGLE DIGIT – PGS. 1 & 2

According to the paper, yields on popular short-term investment instruments have shown a steady decline in the past six weeks as annualized inflation has hit it’s lowest since September, 2002.

A survey conducted by the paper, shows the 91-day bill has gone down 11.6% as at today.

The 182-day instrument that offered a yield of 37.5% in July went down to 27.5% to 32.1%. These changes have finally established the normal yield curve that has long eluded the market.

These significant changes according to analysts follow the release of the latest inflation figures that showed a drop from 29.6% to 29%.

According to the paper, the July figures released by the Ghana Statiscal Service (GSS) earlier in the month showed that there has been a moderate rise in prices by just 0.7% from a high of 12.8% in February and has been in steady decline.

The latest figure corresponds to an annualized inflation change of 8.13%.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – THURSDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. SALE OF CHILDREN BY ORPHANAGES: PROBE STARTS – PG. 1

The paper reports that, the Department of Social Welfare has initiated an investigation into the alleged sale of children by some orphanages in the country.

Mr. E. K. Nketsiah, Deputy Director in charge of Child’s Right Promotion and Protection, of the department disclosed this in an interview with the paper in Accra.

According to him, if the allegations are found to be true, the orphanages will either be closed down or the operators will be prosecuted.

The issue came to light at a seminar in Accra on the Adoption Process in Ghana.

Some participants of the seminar alleged that there had, been instances when children were sold in some cases for paltry sum of about ?50,000 at Kokrobite in the Greater Accra Region.

Some of the children were also abused by the officials, while others were sent outside the country to engage in prostitution and other forms of hard labour.

2. 4 HEARTS FANS JAILED – PG. 1

According to the paper, four supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting club were yesterday jailed 18 months each for assaulting a police officer and a student after last Sunday’s match between Hearts and Asante Kotoko in Accra.

Three of the convicts pleaded guilty to conspiracy, assault and unlawfully causing damage to a Police light Armour car.

The fourth was also convicted for carrying offensive weapons to a public place with the intent of causing harm or bodily injury.

The Court, presided over by Mrs. Ivy Heward-Mills, convicted them on their own plea.

3. COCOBOD SECURES $650M FOR COCOA PURCHASE – PG. 3

The Ghana Cocoa Board has secured a 650 million dollar loan from the Barclays Bank PLC, Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Standard Chartered Bank and NATEX Banques Populaires to purchase cocoa for the 2003/2004 Cocoa Season.

The loan, the highest in the history of the board, was arranged by the four banks and is repayable within a year.

The loan is the eleventh successive loan facility provided by the participating international financial banks in the syndication.

A similar syndication arrangement last year, raised 420 million dollars. These were contained in a press statement issued in Accra by the Ghana High Commission in London.

THE INDEPENDENT – THURSDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

TONY AIDOO SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE: ANOTHER COUP LOOMS ACCUSES KUFUOR OF IMPORTING TAXI DRIVERS & WATCHMEN TO RULE GHANA – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

Dr. Tony Aidoo, former Deputy Minister for Defence, has warned the government that another June 4th uprising will soon hit the country.

He has therefore warned: “NPP should better watch on”.

According to him “things that necessitated the June 4th uprising” are being perpetrated by the government.

But after judging the mood of NDC faithful, which clearly suggested their abhorrence for military insurgency, Dr. Aidoo tried Albeit unconvincingly to explain that “this time around the people are fed up with guns and the only weapon to kick out NPP away is the thumbs of the electorate”.

He was addressing an NDC rally at Jackson Park in Kumasi on Tuesday.

He also accused the government of having “imported taxi drivers and night watchmen to rule this country.”

NETWORK HERALD – WEDNESDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. BIMBILLA’S CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTE – PGS. 1 & 3

The Bimbila chieftaincy dispute, which appears to have ended in the courts, is far from over.

According to the paper, though an uneasy calm hovers over the town, indigenes say all is far from all right and that it is only a matter of time before the situation degenerates into a big conflict. The situation is not helped by inaccurate media reports about the two gates clashing over the Bimbilla skin.

Currently, Bimbilla has no chief but two members of the same gate are both claiming ownership of the Bimbilla skin. One was partially enskinned only to be arrested by the police. The other was allowed to enskin himself too, but opposing faction disrupted the process.

The courts decided that Nakpa Naa Abdulai Salifu Dawuni instead of one Dasana Andani should be made Bimbilla Naa.

The Bimbilla chieftaincy dispute is quite complicated with bizarre political undertones.

THE INSIGHT – WEDNESDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2003

ACCUSED. NDUOM BLAMES WEREKO-BROBBY AND ALLEGES FINANCIAL LOSS – PGS. 1 & 3

Energy Minister P.K. Nduom has supported claims that VRA CEO Charles Wereko Brobby “did not follow laid down procurement procedures in taking the decision to rent the SRP” (Strategic Reserve Plant).

In a letter to the President, Dr. Nduom also held up the findings of Ministerial probe, that the Board of Director of the VRA did not play the role required of it in the rental (of the SRP) process and did not participate effectively in the decision making process.

The letter quotes the ministerial committee as believing that “VRA is incurring unnecessary significant rental cost even as the SRP’s implementation continues to be delayed.

“The committee finds that the VRA has as at May 31, 2003 incurred rental cost of about $10 million and could be obligated to making payments of $1,375,000 a month.

Dr. Nduom said he has discussed and considered the conclusions and recommendations of the committee’s report and recommends that government should accept to reconstitute the Board of Directors due to their inability to manage longsimmering industrial dispute and their inability to exercise appropriate oversight control over the actions of the CEO and overall policy making.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – THURSDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. VOLTA NPP POWER GAME ENDS WITH MUCH DISENCHANTMENT - PGS. 4 & 5

The paper reports that, the Volta regional delegates conference of the NPP, has taken place at the St. Theresa’s Training College at Hohoe, and that it was a congress with a difference, with many District Chief Executives and other people attending it.

According to the paper, the enthusiasm that was ignited earlier in the day quickly evaporated like morning dew.

The paper states that there were also allegations of fat envelopes, being given to the candidates.

Meanwhile, at the end of the day, Mr. Lord Commey, National Organizer of the NPP, managed to return to Accra with a list of nine names.

2. GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS WITH AIDS CASH WARNED – PGS. 4 & 5

The paper reports that, the Shama Ahanta East Metro HIV/AIDS Focal persons, Mr. Jacob A. Nitamoah, has given a stern warning that funds released by the Ghana AIDS Commission to groups and individuals to fight the AIDS pandemic in the country are for the state, therefore, any group or individuals caught to have misappropriated even a fraction of it would be hauled before court.

Speaking at the HIV sensitization workshop organized for workers of the Metropolitan Assembly in Sekondi, Mr. Nitamoah said the current rate of infection, it is estimated that about one million Ghanaians would be living with the HIV by the end of the year 2005.

He therefore advised those who have benefited from the AIDS Fund to help the government fight the spread of the disease, to be circumspect in the execution of their programmes and also ensure sound and prudent financial management practices to avoid falling foul to the law.

2. US BUSINESSMEN TO STORM ACCRA – PG. 5

The paper reports that, a contingent of more than 50 American investors and businessmen will storm the capital city to explore business opportunities when Ghana plays host to a major international business conference and exhibition in February, next year.

In addition to the American private sector business delegation, several American government representatives, including those from the executive office of the President of the United States, are programmed to participate.

The four-day business, investment and development opportunity conference and exhibition, will also bring together several countries in the West African sub-region.

THE STATESMAN – THURSDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. $15M AMA SCANDAL RAWLINGS, MILLS & EDDIE ANNAN ACCUSED – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

The paper says the controversial waste management contract between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the City and Country Waste Limited (CCWL) has been long cancelled, but ramifications from it are reverberating all the way to the doorsteps of the leader of the NDC.

According to the paper, there are strong indications that the contract which saddled the AMA with mountains of unpaid debts was allegedly pushed down the road of causing financial loss to the long arms of former President Rawlings, his wife and the former Vice-President and NDC Flagbearer, John Evans Atta-Mills, with the alleged connivance of the Masai “Warrior”, Eddie Annan.

2. ANGLO TREATS JOURNALISTS TO FREE SOUTH AFRICA TRIP – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

As the scramble for Ashanti Goldfields heats up between AngloGold and Randgold, the $8b South African gold producer, AngloGold, is treating a host of top Journalists from Ghana to a weeklong working tour to South Africa.

The junketing team, that left on Monday, included the Editor of the “Daily Graphic”, Yaw Ayeboafo, the Managing Editor of “The Independent, Egbert Faibille Jnr., the Managing Editor of the “Accra Mail”, Harruna Attah, Dr. Niyi Alabi of “Choice FM” and Kwame Sefa Kayi of “Peace FM”.

According to the paper, whilst in Johannesburg, the thoroughbred Ghanaian Journalists are lodging at the luxurious Protea Wanderers Hotel in Sandton, with all expenses generously catered for by AngloGold. They are expected back home on Friday.