Summary From Phone-Ins & TV Shows

ADOM FM PHONE-INS

PEACE FM PHONE-INS

GTV BREAKFAST SHOW NEWSPAPER REVIEW

FAKE VOTER IDs ON SALE

INTRODUCTION
The Sunyani District Electoral Officer, Anthony Oppong, is among three people helping the Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Command in their investigation into an alleged sale of fake voters’ identity cards. The others are Cecilia Pomaah, a typist, and Franklin Asumah, a customs officer at Gonokrom in the Dormaa District. They were interrogated and later granted police enquiry bail last Thursday. – The Ghanaian Times

Antwi - The Electoral Commission officials are collaborating with criminals in town to print fake voter ID cards to be sold to people who want to get GSM phone cards. Without the cards you cannot get the cards from GSM.

Baako - These officials making the fake ID cards should be stopped now. The government is going to print new ID cards for the public to be used for the 2004 elections.

PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT STUNS MEDIA

Prince Abraham Ayi, 44, an aspiring independent presidential candidate, yesterday left newsmen in doubt about his credentials and credibility at a press conference to announce his candidacy for next year’s elections. – The Ghanaian Times.

Antwi - Most journalists are suspicious of his educational background and experience in politics. Prince Abraham Ayi went forward as a presidential aspirant because he was confident he would convince Ghanaians to vote for him. Most journalists harassed him with questions but he ran away to join a taxi and went away. Some people said he had been suffering from high fever. I think we should investigate his identity.

25 LEGON STUDENTS REPEATED

The University of Ghana, Legon, has asked 25 level 300 students offering Bachelor of Science (BSC) to repeat at the same level for poor academic work. – The Ghanaian Times

Baako - There are many major problems facing the University of Ghana, Legon. The lecture halls are crowded and students lack adequate accommodation. The problems facing the university should be addressed to enable students study well for their examinations.

Antwi - University education is very expensive and we should address that problem now. The government should reduce these expensive university fees.

KUFUOR, BEWARE OF NDC

President John Agyekum Kufuor and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) government have been advised to be wary of the ability of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to quickly re-organise and form a formidable party, capable of winning the 2004 elections. – The Daily Dispatch

Baako - NPP officials have started quarrelling among themselves. There is a power struggle among the MPs and some constituency members. President Kufuor should start advising his party members to stop the power struggle.

METRO TV GOOD MORNING GHANA

WE WILL MAKE POSTINGS ATTRACTIVE – VICE PRESIDENT ASSURES TEACHERS

INTRODUCTION

Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has said that the government was making frantic efforts to extend electricity and potable water to rural communities and construct houses there to attract teachers there to work. – Daily Graphic

Wiredu - We are not handling our teachers well in this country. The Ministry of Education is engaged in discriminative selection of teachers in the regions. Graduate teachers in the country have been ignored. The awards are valueless because television sets and radio sets are not important to the teachers. They must put more value to the awards in future. I think government should improve upon the conditions of service of all teachers in the country. Awarding only 41 teachers in the country is selective discrimination and an injustice to the other teachers. I was happy when President Kufuor presented his former teacher with a parcel on his birthday. That is in the right direction for teachers in the country.

Darko - In the UK, teachers are properly rewarded. We should start something in Ghana. The best teacher was given ?200 million. That money cannot build a house at Adenta but I believe it could buy a house in the district.

Alfred - It is good the Ministry of Education is helping teachers to improve their standard of living in the country. These awards should be extended to all categories of teachers in the country.

MUSEVENI DEFENDS DECISION TO FLY DAUGHTER

INTRODUCTION

Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, has defended a decision to fly his daughter to Europe in the Presidential jet in order to deliver her baby. The media and opposition saw this as a clear example of wasting state resources. But Uganda’s President has now written to defend his action.

Alfred - The President of Uganda should have left long ago to make way for a new President but he is a dictator and will continue to exploit the people. He is exploiting the people of Uganda to achieve his selfish interest.

CHRIS ASHER UNDER FRAUD INVESTIGATION IN THE US

INTRODUCTION

National Reconciliation Commission and New Patriotic Party hero, Chris Asher Jnr., is the man who, if the rule of law were to be operating in Ghana under Kufuor’s NPP government, should have been in prison to complete his 10-year jail sentence for insurance fraud, should have been tried for escape from lawful custody and should have been facing a murder charge for a murder he is accused of having committed sometime in 1982. – Ghana Palaver

Alfred - The NRC should not be blamed for allowing Chris Asher to be moving about. The police don’t want to arrest him. I think Chris Asher should be arrested but the NPP government will not arrest him. He was legally jailed and he is alleged to have killed one Mr. Ofori Atta.

Wiredu - We have a lot of irresponsible people in the country. The NRC should arrest Chris Asher because they have the authority.

Darko - Chris Asher is a criminal who has engaged in insurance fraud and was jailed for 10 years. His offence has nothing to with the PNDC regime. The NRC has granted immunity to Chris Asher, so we cannot arrest him to continue with his jail sentence.

RANDGOLD – ASHANTI TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES

INTRODUCTION

The lingering anxiety of employees of Ashanti Goldfields Company and other stakeholders over their status in the event of a Randgold- Ashanti Goldfields merger has been laid to rest. The Chief Executive Officer at Randgold, Dr. Mark Bristow, has announced that workers will not be retrenched. – The Daily Dispatch

Alfred - As a nation that has a golden share in Ashanti, we should invite a company like Rangold to expand AGC. We need investors to expand AGC so the best company should be invited to do business with AGC to make it profitable. We should take a critical look at the Rangold in order to do business with them.