26.03.99

The Statesman

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In what has been described as a mid-term review on the performance of the NDC, the electorate at Ablekuma Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, will go to the polls today in a by- election amid increasing accusations of NDC foul play and the sceptre of violence.

A Statesman report, ?Ablekuma Election Today? says the general secretary of the NPP, Mr. Dan Botwe last Wednesday protested to the Ghana Police about it?s alleged connivance with the ruling party, to discredit the party?s Parliamentary candidate Victor Okuley Nortey over a land case with which he has no connection.

According to the paper, the NPP?s Youth wing joined in the protest. Accusing that the NDC?s intention of using

?dirty tricks? such as buying voters ID cards for 20,000 cedis to be used by impersonators.

The report continues that the NDC is desperate to win the by- election to enable it to gain a two-thirds majority in Parliament and that in spite of the multiplicity of candidates an objective assessment of the campaigning shows that today?s contest is an NPP-NDC clash.

The report then goes into an analysis of the various candidates, Mr. Okuley Nortey-NPP, Mr. Ismail Bawa-NDC, Mr. Suleimani-Independent, Mr. Musa Nartey-PNC, and Hajia Faati Saraju-CP, and their chances of winning. In a concluding paragraph it says ?considering that all the contestants apart from Mr. Okuley Nortey are Northerners, they are bound to struggle for the large Northern vote with Mr. Bawa while the NPP candidate reaps maximum votes from the predominant southern electorate.? Adding whichever way one looks at it the election today is a tricky one but the situation on the ground favours an NPP win.

Otumfuo goes to Breman

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?Otumfuo goes to Breman? is another front-page headline in this issue of the Statesman. The story has it that a historic chapter in the Asante tradition was shut yesterday as the Krobea Asante Kotokohene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, embarked on a journey of no return with the internment of his mortal remains at the royal mausoleum at Breman near Essumaja.

According to the report, the lowering of Otumfuo?s casket into the grave to find a resting-place beside his ancestors signalled the end of an era when the history of the 15th occupant of the stool comes to be written. It must have also marked a disappointment for thousands of people whose determination to gain entry to the executive lounge in the Manhyia palace to catch a glimpse of the elegantly adorned body of the late Otumfuo proved futile. Throughout the four days that he laid in state, the queues of people wishing to file past the Asantehene and pay their last respects are said to have winded 4 kilometres at times.

Among the chiefs listed as having gone to the Ashanti capital from other regions was a delegation from the Okyeman council led by the head of the Oyoko clan, Osabarima Agyeman III, Asiakwahene, and Okyeman Nifahene. Others were the Okwapehene, Oseadeyo Addo Dankwa III, Denkyirahene, Odeefuo Boa Amponsem, Akwamuhene, Otumfuo Ansaa SasrakuVI, Oguahene Osabarima Kwesi Atta, Manya Krobotse, Nene Sackitey II, Gushiegu Naa B.A Yakubu and a Volta Region delegation led by Ekpekpewokpe Akpinifiaga Togbe Dagaddu VII.

The Chronicle

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Considered the leading private owned newspaper in Ghana, the Chronicle also carries what seems to be the story of the moment, the story of the burial of the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the choice of his successor.

?The Great King Finally goes to rest ... Behold, the New Asantehene ... Fresh Dramatic claimant surfaces? all herald the in-depth story filed on the front page of the Chronicle. The report says even as the tears and over running display of uncanvassed respect accorded the departed continued, the equally weighty matter of succession and it?s accompanying horse ? trading raged.

The Chronicle states ?the most dramatic entrant to the known front-liners is a Johnny ?just ?come- lately from the United States called Dr. Kwame Takyi 51, also known as Kwame Kusi.?

Dr. Takyi an alumnus of the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and the University of Pennsylvania, USA, majored in Engineering and Transportation Planning. He is presently the Director of Facilities and Equipment Planning at the New York City Transit Authority.

?The fresh new claimant? is believed to trace his lineage to the 'Asamni Kani' Royal Family, a direct descendant of Awuakyewa, whose children became the first and second Kings of the Asante dynasty. According to Asante folklore Awuakyewa?s mother, Ankyewa Nyame descended from heaven. The promoters of Dr. Takyi?s stake has it that the Great Osei Tutu, decreed that the son of his sister, Opoku Ware, should succeed him contrary to the wishes of Nana Serwa Sie, the head of the Obiri Yeboah family. This breached the succession line.

After the conjuring of the Golden Stool Osei Tutu is said to have ruled that only seven Kings should occupy the Golden Stool after which succession should revert to the Asaman Kani Royal line, which Dr. Takyi is said to belong to. The rule is called Asaman Kwadani according to Royal Folklore and that time is now.

However, The Chronicle claims to have it on unimpeachable Authority that by Wednesday night the name on her lips was that of her own son, Nana Kwaku Dua. The report concludes ?should she choose him it will be a departure from the norm and there has been only one instance in over hundred years of Royal Ashanti History that this has happened.?

Free Press

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The NDC candidate contesting in the Parliamentary bye- election of the Ablekuma Central Constituency, Mr. Ismail Safianu Bawa, the FRRE Press asserts, disappointed thousands of listeners and supporters of the party when he failed to turn up for a radio Gold show organised for contesting candidates last Wednesday.

The story headlined ?Ablekuma, day of Great decision ... NDC Candidate Runs Away From Talk show? states that although the CP candidate Hajia Saraji was also absent, most callers were much concerned and totally disappointed by the absence of the NDC candidate who is widely seen as one of the major contenders in the race.

His failure to turn up is reported to have been no suprise to a majority of the callers who accuse him of being known for such behaviour. According to them, Mr. Bawa is averse to public programmes, as he is not eloquent especially in the English language. They further accused that his tenure as MP of the area from 1992 ?1996 brought nothing beneficial to the constituency.

GRi../

Ghanaian Palaver

************** The Ghanaian Palaver splashes on it?s front page: ?Victory is Certain? a pronouncement attributed to the General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Mr. Huduu Yahaya.

Mr. Yahaya is said to have reiterated the ruling party?s stance that the greatest honour the people could pay the nation is for them to vote massively for Ismail Bawa, the NDC candidate, and gave the assurance that victory is already certain. He is said to have averred ?Allah (God) has already given the NDC candidate victory in today?s bye-election.

Mr. Sam Pee Yalley, general secretary of the Egle Party, partners of the NDC in the Progressive Alliance, said the Alliance is solidly behind Bawa and called on all supporters of the Egle Party to turn out early at their polling stations to cast their votes for Mr. Bawa.

Mr. Bawa on his part is said to have given a brief and confident speech in which he appealed to the electorate to remain calm and go peacefully about the voting process.

Meanwhile the Vice-President Professor John Atta Mills has addressed a ?mammoth rally? of the NDC at Russia Bus stop. Those present at the rally include Ms. Sherry Ayittey, Madam Faustina Nelson, both Vice Chair-persons of the NDC, among others, the paper said.

Daily Graphic

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?Girl Fifteen Tortured to Death?? is the horrifying lead story in today?s Graphic.

The Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service, the Graphic reports, is investigating the circumstances that led to the death of a 15-year old JSS student of the Osu Presby Girls Junior Secondary School in Accra.

Carmen Joe, also known as Maame Oye, was allegedly forced to undergo 150 frog leaps for not wearing a pair of socks to school two weeks ago. She died eight days later.

The story has it that Carmen, who was punished together with seven other girls, complained she was dizzy and general body weakness and fell down several times during the ordeal. The teacher, Mr. Isaac Obeng, who meted out the punishment, is alleged to have directed the other girls to help the deceased to her feet each time she fell until she finished the 150 leaps.

The next day, Carmen who lived with her aunt was reportedly too weak to perform any household chore. She however, had to go to school as examinations were in session. The story continues that she collapsed and was taken to her Grandmother?s house later in the day. Carmen?s grandmother Madam Felicia Ashrifie told the Graphic that she applied some ?Rub? ointment on Carmen?s thighs immediately she was brought to her.

?When her condition got worse the following day, I took her to the Swan Clinic where she was admitted and later referred to the Ridge Hospital where she was on admission until she died on the 19th of March at 2.30 am?

grand mother Ashrifie said.

The paper says a sobbing Madam Ashrifie said when Carmen was on admission at the hospital, her Aunt and other family members went to the school authorities asking to meet with the teacher who had meted out the punishment.

When this request was refused, she reported to the CID headquarters. Carmen?s body is at the Ridge Morgue awaiting an autopsy whose result Police hope will enhance their investigations.

GRi../

President Lauds Ghanaians in France

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The President, Flt Lt J.J Rawlings has commended Ghanaians in France for leading clean decent lives reports the Graphic.

The President claimed that his intelligence had informed him that there is a concerted effort by the Ghanaian community to encourage its members to desist from engaging in acts of drug trafficking and prostitution. President Rawlings who made the recommendation during an interaction with the Ghanaian community in Paris at Hotel de Crillion, was full of praise for them for their continued show of integrity in the day-to day activities in France.

Answering questions, President Rawlings is said to have stated that he will always be driven by what is good for Ghana, to act in truth to God and his conscience. He is said to have urged Ghanaians to defend what they believe in, in answer to a shouted question: ? how will you maintain the level of development after you leave office??

The report filed from France by a Graphic reporter says the discussion touched on a variety of issues including the development in communications infrastructure, Parliament, Education, the Economy, and the Private sector.

The Times

********* The whole front page of the Times is dedicated to the burial of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II,Asantehene and the succession to the throne of another King.

The most significant of these front-page stories, is one headlined ?Otumfuo Goes Home?. The story says a unique blend of state and traditional burial activities brought Kumasi, the seat of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, literally to a standstill before the revered monarch was finally laid to rest early this morning.

According to the Times, as the chiefs and people of Ashanti handed over proceedings to the state at a point, there was no doubt in anybody?s mind, that the man who will be remembered for his tact shrewd diplomacy, and tolerance, belonged to the nation and not just Asanteman. And the state played it?s part dutifully the report continues. The Vice-President, Professor Mills, and his wife Naadu, were there to pay their respects together with dozens of government people.

A representative from the Queen of England, delegations from Cote ?d Voire and Togo and other well meaning people from outside Asanteman also showed their respect for the great King by descending on Kumasi.