Print Media Monitoring for 29th September

THE DAILY GRAPHIC – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. COCOA PRICE UNDER REVIEW – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, the Producer Price Review Committee of the COCOBOD is to meet to deliberate on a new producer price for cocoa.

The review will help to attain the 69 per cent target of the projected Free On Board (FOB) price the government intends to pay cocoa farmers.

Mr. Kwame Sarpong, Chief Executive of COCOBOD, gave the assurance when he addressed the 10th anniversary and annual general meeting of “Kuapa Kokoo’, a private licensed cocoa buying company in Kumasi.

According to him, the government would continue with its mass cocoa spraying programme to combat the spread of diseases and pests on cocoa farms.

He said the board had started implementing the cocoa high technology programme on a pilot basis in selected cocoa districts and that its success would help farmers to increase their yield per hectare and thereby increase incomes.

2. HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO GET ACCREDITATION – PGS. 1 & 3

The government is to institute a programme to give accreditation to health care facilities as part of its plans to regulate the NHIS.

Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Health Minister, disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf at the opening ceremony of the 10th national delegates conference of the Ghana National Chemical Sellers Association in Sunyani.

He, therefore, urged chemical sellers to avail themselves of the opportunity to play an important role in that direction due to their accessibility to majority of the population.

3. “PEDUASE LODGE MUSTN’T GO TO WASTE” – PG. 3

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice-President, has proposed a new assessment and valuation of the facilities and structures at the abandoned Peduase Lodge, to pave way for its rehabilitation.

He said considering the historical value of the edifice, the Lodge should not be left to go to waste and suggested that rehabilitation works on it be carried out in phases.

The Vice-President who inspected the structures on Saturday, proposed that ?2 billion should be allocated from the national budget for renovations and rehabilitation works.

4. MEASURES UNDERWAY TO MAKE COCOA PAYMENTS FRAUD-PROOF – PG. 20

The paper reports that, Bank of Ghana, in collaboration with the COCOBOD is developing strategies to improve and develop a fraud-proof payment system for cocoa purchases.

Consequently, the bank is studying the problems associated with the Akuafo Cheque system to eliminate fraud and ensure a credible payment system for cocoa farmers.

Mr. Emmanuel Asiedu Mante, First Deputy Governor of the BoG, announced this at the 15th annual general meeting of the Lower Pra Rural Bank at Shama in the Western Region.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. GHANA GIVEN FIRST CARDINAL – PG. 1

According to the paper, Archbishop Peter Appiah Turkson, Archbishop of Cape Coast, has been named cardinal by Pope John Paul ll.

The elevation was officially announced by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop George Kochery in Accra.

He is the first Ghanaian Catholic Bishop to achieve that feat.

Archbishop Turkson will have the title of “His Eminence.”

2. KNUST, WORLD’S 5TH BEST…IT’S THE FIRST IN AFRICA – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has been labelled as the best technical university in Africa.

It has also been rated the fifth best in the world after Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Professor Kwesi Akwansah Andam, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, announced this at this year’s matriculation in Kumasi.

The university admitted 4,861 students out of 11,386 who qualified for admission for the 2003/2004 academic years, which is only 36 per cent of the total number of applicants.

3. PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN TOKYO FOR TICAD – PG. 3

President Kufuor has arrived at the Japanese Capital of Tokyo for the third Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD).

The conference, which begins today, will be attended by 23 heads of state and governments from African and other world leaders.

It serves as a forum to discuss Japan’s policy on Africa and highlight the continent’s development issues.

NATIONAL DEMOCRAT – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER- 1ST OCTOBER, 2003

1. KUFUOR DISGRACES GHANA IN THE U.S. – PGS. 1 & 5

According to the paper, President Kufuor, who was scheduled to appear on a Voice of America (VOA) programme on Wednesday, failed to turn up after one hour without any official explanation for his absence.

NDC Western Regional Chairman, Nana Asamoah, has called on the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Ghana Ambassador in the US to explain to Ghanaians why the President failed to show up.

He said if the Foreign Minister and the Ghana’s Ambassador in US failed to offer Ghanaians any tangible reasons for President Kufuor’s inability to appear before the VOA programme within 48 hours, the NDC would be compelled to tell Ghanaians the truth about President Kufuor’s failure to show up.

2. I HAVE NO GIRLFRIEND…DEPUTY MINISTER DECLARES – PGS. 1 & 5

The paper reports that, Mr. Asamoah Boateng, Deputy Information Minister, has told ADOM FM, a private radio station in Tema that he has no girlfriend and has not been paid his salary by the government for the past three months and lives alone in Ghana.

He was reacting to the paper’s recent publication that a Deputy Minister in the government whose wife and children live in London has bought a brand new BMW for his 19 years old girlfriend.

3. KWAME PEPRAH IS DYING – PGS. 1 & 5

Reverend Kwaku Oduro, 56, and a teacher at Akumsa-Domase, near Nkoransa, has appealed to the government to release former Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwame Peprah, from prison due to ill health.

He made the appeal through the GNA at Nkoransa.

Rev. Oduro contested for the Brong Ahafo slot of membership of the Council of State in 1996 and 2000 but lost.

PUBLIC AGENDA – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER - 5TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. GJA PRESIDENTIAL RE-RUN ON FRIDAY – PG. 1

According to the paper, the entire membership of the Ghana Journalists Association will go to the polls on October 3, 2003, to elect a new President for the association.

Three candidates have filed their nominations to contest for the re-run Presidency.

They are Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, former Deputy Editor of the Mirror and veteran journalist of several years standing, Ransford Tetteh and Breda Atta-Quayson, both of the Graphic Communication Group Limited.

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL TIMES – MONDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER - 5TH OCTOBER, 2003

CIVIL AVIATION CUTS AIRLINE CHARGES – PGS. 1 & 2

The paper reports that, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has hinted that it is reviewing downward its charges on commercial flights operating in the country.

This move is to enable more commercial flights to operate domestic shuttle in the country.

The aviation authority hopes to cut its air charges by about 20% to attract more airlines into the country’s aviation industry.

Already it has reduced its lighting charges for domestic operator, Citylink that commenced business last week.

Nii Adu Baddoo, Deputy Managing Director of GCAA said these while speaking at an inaugural ceremony of both Citylink and Antrank Air in Accra.

The paper also learnt that government would review the aviation fuel tax, which adds a lot to the cost build up of airlines and often reflects in the high fares.

THE GHANAIAN VOICE – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

1. EC SLAMS PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE…DESCRIBING IT AS ILLEGAL – PGS. 1 & 3

Electoral Commission (EC) says Government’s appointment of a procurement Committee to supervise the purchase and supply of electoral materials for both Voters’ Registration Exercise and 2004 General Election is a complete violation of an entrenched provision in the 1992 Constitution.

A statement by the Commission called on all stakeholders to resist the establishment of the committee.

Quoting, Article 46 of the Constitution, “Except as provided in the Constitution or in any other law not inconsistent with the Constitution, in the performance of its functions, the EC, shall not be subject to the direction and control of any person or authority.”

This provision, according to the statement, is restated in section 7 of Act 451 of 1993. It explained that the appointment of such committees was the sole prerogative of the Commission “the action of government, in our view is a complete violation of an entrenched provision in the Constitution.

THE INDEPENDENT – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

DEMO TO ROCK JASIKAN OVER JAK’s APPOINTEE – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

According to the paper, the Jasikan District is set to be rocked with two demonstrations over the nomination of Solomon Kwadwo Donkor as the DCE for the area.

A group identified as the Progressive Citizens of Buem in a letter dated September 22 called on all progressive citizens of Jasikan to participate in a peaceful demonstration at Jasikan tomorrow, Tuesday, September 30, 2003.

A release by the group categorically stated its disappointment over the nomination of Mr. Donkor as DCE for the Jasikan area, saying “… confirmation of Mr. Donkor would amount to the sale of our identity and an insult to the integrity of our chiefs”.

Jasikan sources say a section of the people and some chiefs are against Mr. Donkor’s nomination as DCE because talk is rife that in the area that a Presidential Aide, Tommy Amemetekpor worked it for him to the extent that contrary to laid down convention, Solomon Donkor never routed his application through the district executive of the NPP.

GYE NYAME CONCORD – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

CRISIS HITS ACHIMOTA SCHOOL. TEACHERS SLEEP IN CLASS AND COOK MARKS FOR STUDENTS *** POOR PERFORMANCE IN BECE WHILES TEACHERS FRATERNISE WITH FEMALE STUDENTS … PG. 1 & BK. PG.

According to the paper, parents and guardians of Achimota complex school, specifically the JSS, have withdrawn their wards from the school following sustained bickering and acrimony between the headmistress and some teachers, which have resulted in abysmal academic performance of the pupils in the BECE over the past four years.

Other parents have also threatened to withdraw their wards.

This follows their alarm on September 21, when the headmistress of the school, Mrs. Dorothy Vanderpuye in reaction to exposure by the chairman of the PTA on events within the school at an annual General Assembly, blamed the academic decline on the teachers.

According to the headmistress, some teachers in the school “cook” marks for their favourite pupils in terminal reports to create the impression that those students are academically good.

She disclosed that some teachers spend ample time using school hours to fraternize with the female students. “Even some of the teachers sleep in the class room” she said.

A male science teacher however blamed the headmistress for not taking action on the culprits and making it appear that all the teachers are in league with the culprits.

THE ACCRA DAILY MAIL – MONDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2003

KOFI ANNAN INSULTED – GHANAIAN IN NZ RALLY TO HIS DEFENCE – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, the Ghanaian Association of New Zealand, has reacted with dismay the racial slur cast on the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan by Paul Holmes, a broadcaster during his morning radio show on News talk ZB on Wednesday, 24 September, 2003.

Mr. Holmes described Mr. Annan as a “cheeky darkie” adding “it is all very well giving a darkie that secretary general’s job … we are not going to be told how to live by a Ghanaian” are very distasteful President of the Ghanaian Association of New Zealand, Mr. Emmanuel Ntreh, said that Mr. Holmes comments are very insulting not only on the UN Secretary-General but on all Ghanaian.

It is indeed very disappointing for a person of Mr. Holmes calibre to use such inflamed comments to put across his difference of opinion on an issue, which had nothing to do with race or nationality.

They have promised to make a formal complaint on this matter to the appropriate authorities.

NETWORK HERALD – MONDAY, 29TH – 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2003.

1. GOVT’S GOODWILL IS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE – JAK – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, President Kufuor has announced that his government would pursue its policies relentlessly and prudently to sustain the massive goodwill, which the country has enjoyed from the International community.

He said “To us, this is a vote of confidence in the government’s reform policies” adding that Ghana’s reforms would be carefully regulated so as to generate a high degree of confidence, employment, savings and taxes as a way of ensuring economic growth.

An official statement issued in Accra said President Kufuor, who was attending the 58th UN General Assembly, was addressing a gathering at the Columbia University in New York.

In outlining Ghana’s financial sector reforms, he said, it is Ghana’s objective to become the financial hub of the W/Africa Sub-Region.

2. THE DYING METRO MASS BUSES SYSTEM – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper’s follow-up on the performance of the Metro Mass Transport System after the news that about 50 of the buses have broken down seem to suggest that nothing has changed.

According to the paper, the issues of lack of routine maintenance as a result of the non-availability of mechanics who understand the workings of the buses and spare sparts has resulted in 30 more buses being grounded in Accra, Tamale, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi and about 300 drivers and conductors abandoning their post due to poor conditions of service.

Headquarters officials at the Government Technical Training Center (GTTC) at Kaneshie who the paper spoke to explained the exodus of workers primarily to pathetic conditions of service and the age of the buses that were freely donated to the government by its Italian counterparts barely a year ago.

3. KMA PREFER AKWASI AGYEMAN TO JUMA – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, Mr. Kofi Jumah, CE of the KMA whose assembly passed a vote of no confidence in him, are now cursing their stars just because they cannot cope any longer with his style of administration characterised by nepotism, conflict of interest and lack of transparency.

Today, disaffected staff and many people in the metropolis have concluded that compared with his predecessor, Nana Akwasi Agyeman was an angel and his administration was at least better than what they are being fed.

Some workers who spoke to the paper on strict conditions of anonymity cited the case of the Assembly’s Director of Finance, Mr. Edward Boateng whose refusal to “kowtow” to unjustifiable demands of Mr. Jumah to grant employment to his cronies has resulted in his transfer.