Print Media Review

DAILY GRAPHIC – MONDAY, 6TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. PRESIDENT DUE HOME TODAY – PG. 17

President Kufuor is expected home today after a two-nation tour, which saw him address the 58th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, USA, and the just ended Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD lll) in Japan.

An official statement said President Kufuor was coming back with a renewed vigour to face the challenges of effective leadership aimed at forging business development partnership to the benefit of Ghanaians in particular and Africans in general.

2. NEW SALARY FOR POLY TEACHERS – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has approved a new salary structure for polytechnic lecturers in the country.

The new structure would take effect from this month. Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports announced this at the first congregation of the Koforidua Polytechnic.

Earlier reports monitored by the paper indicated that members of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike action with effect from today for what they termed the government’s negative attitude towards their demand for better conditions of service.

3. 6 COMPUTERISED COURTS TO START OPERATION – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, six High Courts in Accra, which have been fully computerized will go into operation this week.

Additionally, 19 new courts will be established in Accra to help decongest the backlog of cases in the courts and thus help in the quick dispensation of justice in the country.

Mr. Justice G.K. Acquah, the Chief Justice, announced this in his legal year message.

According to him, the number of circuit courts in Accra would also be increased and new ones established in other parts of the country.

4. UNIVERSITY OF GHANA TO OPEN CAMPUSES IN REGIONS – PG. 17

According to the paper, the University of Ghana, Legon, has initiated plans to open campuses in other regional capitals to bring university education to a large number of qualified applicants, especially working people.

Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who announced this, said if the Accra City Campus initiative worked out well, the university would open campuses in the regional capitals, using the facilities of the existing workers’ colleges.

He said since the university could not cope with the large number of applicants who sought admission every year, emphasis was being placed on distance education, adding that “a centre for Distance Education will be established soon to bring university education to the doorstep of many desirous persons.”

He was speaking at the 2003 matriculation ceremony of the University of Ghana.

He said the university would run an Executive MBA/MPA programme in the distance mode with the University of London from the next academic year.

Out of the 19,666 candidates who applied to the university, 10,235 of them had been offered admission and 7,101 of them registered.

Last year, 11,365 were offered admission but 8,289 registered.

THE ACCRA DAILY MAIL – MONDAY 6TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. HOPE FOR HIV/AIDS PATIENTS…?50,000 FOR ANTI – RETROVIRAL – PGS. 1 & 7

Government is to provide anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients at a cost of only ?50,000 a month.

A source at the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) told the paper that the amount represents 10% of the actual amount of ?500,000 or ?600,000 that would have been required by each patient per month.

According to the paper, the Ministry of Health would soon announce the initiative, which is at the final stages of preparation and says it would cover the care of six thousands AIDS patients over a period of three years.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – MONDAY 6TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. BILLIONS GONE WASTE UNDER KMA’S STREETLIGHT PROJECT – PG. 1

The paper reports that the KMA bid to improve the streetlight situation in the metropolis has proved unsuccessful following massive thefts of components of the project.

The over ?1 billion spent on repairs and replacement of streetlights in the Metropolis since last year has almost gone to the drain.

According to the paper, the Chief Electrical Superintendent of KMA, Mr. Paul Boakye, disclosed that a number of electrical cables worth over ?62 million have been stolen from poles at New Asokwa near Kumasi Sports Stadium alone over the past few months.

The paper states further that, recently at the new Bekwai road, ?5 million worth of cables were stolen with another ?3 million which was also stolen from along the pinanko road.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – MONDAY, 6TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. MOBILE BANKS TO PAY COCOA FARMERS – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, Government is working out a scheme to introduce mobile banks to pay cocoa farmers at the cocoa producing centres in the country.

Under this system, farmers would not need to travel long distances for their monies.

The long queues associated with the cheque system would also be a thing of the past, with the introduction of the scheme.

Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, announced this at this year’s regional farmers and workers awards at Sankore.

2. GT CUTS OFF MINISTRIES…THEY OWE ?8BN – PG. 1

The paper reports that, Ghana Telecom (GT) has disconnected telephone lines to the ministries, the nerve centre of Civil Service activities in the country.

They are said to owe GT over ?8 billion which had been outstanding for the past one year.

The affected institutions include the Ministries of Roads and Transport, Education, Youth and Sports, Health, Lands and Forestry and Mines.

Mr. Johnny Tetteh-Addy, General Manager, Corporate communication of GT, confirmed this to the paper, and explained that the action was taken after persistent failure by the affected ministries to honour their obligations.

3. LEGON BANS NAME CHANGING – PG. 1

The University of Ghana (UG), Legon, is to ban change of names by students of the University.

According to the paper, the University authorities suspect that some students come in with fake grades belonging to other people and later effect change of names to use their true names.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, dropped the hint at this year’s matriculation in Accra.

NETWORK HERALD – MONDAY, 6TH – 7TH OCTOBER, 2003

CPP USA TO SUPPORT CPP/NPP ALLIANCE – PGS. 1 & 3

A newly formed CPP-North America Branch had congratulated Mr. George Opersika Aggudey, on his election as the Party’s Presidential Candidate.

According to the paper, the North America Branch also congratulated the newly elected CPP Executives and wished the party’s leadership the Best of Luck in the 2004 elections and beyond.

However, the CPP-North America Branch says it will support an (Alliance of CPP/NPP) anytime such an alliance becomes necessary to prevent the return of Ghana’s traumatic past and to protect and preserve the country’s democracy. THE INDEPENDENT – MONDAY, 6TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. DIRTY DEALS AT KUMASI GIS – PG. 1 & BK.PG.

Indepth investigations conducted by the paper into activities of the Ashanti Regional Office of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Kumasi has revealed shocking details about deals in the acquisition of Ghanaian passports.

The paper discovered that some officials of the Kumasi office of the GIS are alleged to have introduced a system known as “Express System” in the acquisition of passports.

According to the paper, it found out that under the system, any one wishing to acquire passport within shortest possible time has to pay a huge amount ranging from 1.5m to 2.5m cedis depending on the number of days one wants the passport.

2. MINISTER & CHIEF OF STAFF ACCUSED! – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

From the abortive Nationwide takeover of Ghana Airways, the man at the centre of what has now come to be known as the “Ghana Airways saga”, has come full circle and is bent on succeeding where he first failed.

According to the paper, the Minister of Transport, Dr. Richard Anane, is still calling the shots despite the threat of resignation from the Chief Executive of the company, Philip Owusu, over the Minister’s intransigence in overlooking a recommendation by the board of directors of the company, to appoint one Brian Davies, a man credited with the lifting of Kenya Airways from the doldrums.

The paper’s investigations have also revealed that, the Minister, is almost set to scuttle moves to restructure the operations of Ghana Airways, because Brian Davies, although recommended by the board of directors of Ghana Airways, is not someone of his choosing.

THE GHANAIAN VOICE – MONDAY, 6TH – 8TH OCTOBER, 2003

ASUMAH BANDA CRITICIZES GOV’T TAXATION … IT IS KILLING BUSINESSES – PGS. 1 & 3

Alhaji Asumah Banda, owner of Antrak Air, a new Regional and Sub-Regional Airline, has called on government to immediately do something to reduce taxation in the country.

He said the tax system is seriously grinding businesses to a halt and forcing investors to recoil into their shell. Alhaji Banda was speaking on Joy FM “Front Page” programme when he was asked about the way forward for the suffocating Ghana railway system.

He said he believes investors would be interested to invest in the country if government does something about its taxation.

“It is just too much to bare and no investor will venture into investing in such a circumstance” he said.

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL TIMES – MONDAY, 6TH – 12TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. FOREIGN INVESTMENT GAIN 21% IN HALF YEAR – PGS.1 & 2

The paper reports that, Ghana attracted almost US $80m foreign investments during the first half of 2003, up 21% over the US $65m inflows during the first half of 2002.

According to the paper, this marks the first time since year 2000 that quantum of half-year investment registered with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has actually rose.

The Investment Commitments for the first half of 2003 comprised $54.95m in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and $23.91m in local currency, spread across 74 projects.

This is lower than the 138 projects registered during the corresponding period of 2002, and is sharply down from the six-month peak of 171 projects recorded in the first half of 2001.

2. BANKS FALL SHORT OF BoG ORDER ON FEES – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, banks operating in the country have failed to meet the 30-day ultimatum by BoG to revise their fees and charges downward.

As the deadline of September 30, 2003 passed, none of the 17 banks had announced reduced rates.

A member of the Ghana Association of Bankers, who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity said, the ultimatum had to be handled with caution to enable the banks adjust appropriately to the new regulatory direction.

Dr. Asiedu Mante, Deputy Governor of BoG, made public few weeks ago that the Central Bank had given banks operating in the country an ultimatum to revise their schedule of fees and charges to reflect standard banking practices.

The notice is the latest phase of an unfolding campaign by the Central Bank to sensitise the banking climate and improve the flow of financial resources to the productive sectors of the economy.

GYE NYAME CONCORD – MONDAY, 6TH – 12TH OCTOBER, 2003

CONTINUING SAGA OF GHANA’S TROTRO IN THE SKY – GHANA AIRWAYS HIRES ANOTHER CONSULTANT – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

The paper says in what credible sources have interpreted as a wasteful largesse of hiring consultants without utilizing their expertise, Ghana Airways recently contracted another international consultant at what insiders say was an astronomical fee, to determine its fate.

Mr. Brian Davies, an International aviation expert with the speed wing group that once managed Ghana Airways who is credited with the revival of Kenya Airways is the latest consultant contracted to diagnose the illness of the troubled carrier after over 10 years of such experts have seen their proposed solutions jettisoned overboard.

The paper’s investigations revealed that Davies arrived at the plush white Avenue office of the struggling airline about a month ago to undertake what was officially termed “a diagnostic study” from September 1.

His consultancy fee was however kept hushed-up, though sources say it’s on the high side.

The current CEO of the airline, Mr. Philip Owusu told the Joy FM radio station, Saturday morning that Davies is expected to submit his proposed solution within the next two weeks.