Print Press Review For October 17

THE DAILY GRAPHIC – FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. UN URGED TO TAKE OVER OPERATIONS IN COTE D’IVOIRE – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, President Kufuor, has urged the UN to take over the peace-keeping operations in Cote d’Ivoire to sustain the peace and stabilization process in that country.

He also requested the European Union to provide the much needed financial support for the political and financial development of Guinea Bissau.

President Kufuor made these suggestions when a delegation from the European Union called on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra.

The delegation, led by Mr. Alfredo Mantica, the Italian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, was at the Castle to hold discussion with the President on peace and security in West Africa as part of a three- day tour of selected countries in the sub-region.

2. GUINEA-BISSAU LEADER IN FOR TALKS – PG. 16

The interim President of Guinea Bissau, Mr. Henrique Perreira Rosa, arrived in Accra yesterday on a day’s visit to Ghana.

Mr. Rosa, who is leading a nine-member delegation later held a meeting with President Kufuor at the Castle, Osu

He was met on arrival by Nana Akuffo Addo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS.

3. MINISTRY WORKING OUT STRATEGY TO ENSURE FOOD SECURITY – PG. 16

The paper reports that, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, is working out a strategic plan to facilitate land preparation, harvesting and processing of food, to ensure food security in the country.

The ministry is also collaborating with research scientists and the private sector to increase the production of crops, livestock and fish.

Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), the Sector Minister was speaking at a flag raising ceremony to mark this year’s World Food Day in Accra.

According to him, a mechanisation centre to ensure the success of the strategy would be established.

4. “IMPLEMENT PROTOCOLS ON ARMS CONTROL” – PG. 17

According to the paper, participants at a two-day workshop on the misuse of Small arms have called on West African countries to implement the international protocols on arms control, to end the numerous conflicts, which are retarding the development of the sub-region.

This was contained in a communiqu?, issued at the end of the International workshop on small arms in Accra.

The communiqu? also called on the EU, to facilitate the realizations of goals of the NEPAD.

5. POWER CHEAT EXPOSED…HE FACES PROSECUTION. PG. 1

Mr. N. Khatri, an Indian national resident in Takoradi, who succeeded in cheating the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) of ?24.5 million through illegal connection has been apprehended in an operation mounted by the company.

Mr. Khatri, who is the proprietor of Shalimar Restaurant in Takoradi, was caught using two air conditioners in his house, which were not connected to the main meter.

Mr. Jonathan Asante, Western Regional Co-ordinator of the Loss Control Unit of the ECG disclosed this to the paper in Takoradi.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. ON AGC BOARD’S DECISION …GOVT SEEKS ADVICE – PG. 1

According to the paper, government has instructed its advisors to analyse the decision of the Board of Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) to recommend to its shareholders, the merger offer by AngloGold.

Official statement issued by the Ministry of Information, said the advisors should examine all issues relevant to the state in AngloGold’s offer and submit a final report to government as soon as practicable.

The report would be studied to enable the government to reach a decision on the issue.

2. TOR STOPS UNLEADED FUEL PRODUCTION DEC – PG. 1

The paper reports that, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is to cease the production of leaded petrol by December this year. It will then commence with the production and supply of unleaded petrol as from January next year.

“Lead has always been added in the production and refinery of petrol since the establishment of TOR in 1960, but having realized that the substance is poisonous and not environmentally friendly, TOR has decided to eliminate it from the production line.”

Mr. Emmanuel Abankwah, a chemist at TOR was speaking at a symposium on “Chemistry and the Industry” organised by the KNUST branch of the Chemical Students Society in Kumasi.

According to him, Parliament had already passed legislation for the change to unleaded petrol and a notice served on TOR directing it to cease production of all leaded petrol by December 2003.

EU ASSISTS AUDIT SERVICE WITH ?9BN EQUIPMENT – PG. 3

The European Union Technical Support has donated equipment worth ?9 billion to the Audit Service at a ceremony in Accra.

They include 460 lap-top and desktop computers and 1,050 audit manuals.

At the same ceremony, 77 auditors who had completed a training programme in modern audit techniques were presented with certificates.

Receiving the donation, the Auditor-General, Mr. Edward Dua-Agyemang, said that his outfit was working towards becoming one of the leading supreme audit institutions in the world by the year 2010.

THE STATESMAN – FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2003

AFARI-GYAN’S DOLLAR ACCOUNT EXPOSED. AUDITOR-GEN QUERIES EC FUNDS IN PRIVATE ACCOUNT – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, a recent investigation undertaken by the Auditor-General into financial affairs of the EC has uncovered a dollar account controlled by Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman and Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, Deputy Chairman of operations of the Commission.

The Stanchart account is held in the name of a private organization, Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA). The two EC bosses are the signatories to the bank account. But, the Auditor-General with overriding responsibility for the financial management of all institutions of state has tried for almost a year to get to the bottom of the account but apparently with little co-operation from the two men at the centre of the dollar account.

THE ACCRA DAILY MAIL - FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2003

CHIEF DISPUTES NKRUMAH’S ORIGIN – PGS. 1 & 3

Nana Aduku Addai IV, Divisional Chief of Nsien and a former policeman has taken the issue of the rightful hometown of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana to the National Reconciliation Commission.

The Chief also queried why Nkrumah was buried at Nkroful which he argued is not the deceased’s hometown.

According to him, the first president was a native of Nsien and a Wassa.

He said the historical fact about Dr. Nkrumah’s hometown could be cross checked from his own autobiography, which he wrote in 1957.

He said although Nkrumah was born in Nkroful that does not make him a native of that town.

DAILY GUIDE – FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2003

BOMBSHELL AT NRC SOLDIERS TOOK GOLD TO RAWLINGS – PG. 1 & BK. PG

Mr. Joseph Appeadu Siaw, the eldest son of the late J.K. Siaw, proprietor of Tata Brewery yesterday told the NRC, that some soldiers, led by Flt. Lt. Odoi swooped on his father’s resident in Accra and collected some gold pots and other valuables which they claimed they were taking to the then Chairman Rawlings of the AFRC.

This according to him, occurred on June 20, 1979.

The soldiers according to him, said Rawlings was going to use the proceeds from the sale of the gold to defray an alleged amount of money Mr. Siaw was supposed to have paid to the state through taxation.

Some of the items the soldiers made away with included a gold wrist-watch, some unspecified amount of foreign money including one hundred and fifty pounds, five hundred thousand cedis and signed Barclays Bank booklets which the family gathered were all cashed.

FREE PRESS – FRIDAY, 17TH –23RD OCTOBER, 2003

THE YENDI MURDER ISSUE REVISITED WITNESS CHALLENGES GOVT…BRING INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATORS – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

According to the paper, the principal witness in the Yendi murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani has thrown a challenge to the government to bring into the country, Scotland Yard investigators as it did in the issue of the serial killing of women to identify the culprits.

The witness whose name is being withheld for security reasons was speaking in an interview with the paper at his hideout.

According to him even though he was pressurised to testify before the Wuaku Commission, he declined because he felt the Commission was set to protect the perpetrators.

THE WEEKEND HERITAGE – FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2003

TEACHERS THREATEN TO QUIT SSNIT –PGS. 1 & 3

Teachers in the country will stop contributing to the SSNIT Pension Scheme, if SSNIT money is taken to part-finance the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Mr. Kwame Amo-Dako, President, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) who issued the threat in Accra said GNAT “rejects any attempt by government” to make any incursion into workers’ contribution to SSNIT.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – FRIDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2003

GHANAIR TO RESTORE IMAGE … GETS BACK BETTER SHAPED DC10 NEXT MONDAY – BK. PG.

Ghana Airways will finally take delivery of its DC10 aircraft, which has been sitting in the US, latest by Monday, October 20, 2003.

Mr. Philip Owusu, Chief Executive of the Airline disclosed this to the paper in a telephone interview in Accra.

According to him, the aircraft was in a better shape.

He said another aircraft would soon be acquired as a backup to the DC10 to avoid the frequent flight cancellations and delays that had become synonymous with the airline.