The Daily Graphic
Poor show
Tragedy at Tamale
The Dispatch
More on NDC sex scandal - MP dares DCE
3 billion cedis market abandoned
The Public Agenda
Economic crises deepens
Shake up at GAFCO
The Ghanaian Democrat
Troublesome polling agents to face the law.
State Media have rolls in development... John Mahama
Nurses resume work today
Rawlings has no power to sack me.. Judicial secretary throws challenge
to court
The cedis blazing odyssey ...Govt. throws up hands in defeat?
Heavier sales volume fuels bigger profits for Unilever Ghana
Imposition of 0.5 %ECOWAS Levy on imports begins in Ghana
Poor show… WAEC unhappy with students’ performance in English,
Mathematics
It has now been established that most candidates perform poorly in
English, Mathematics and the Sciences in examinations conducted by the West
Africa Examination Council (WAEC), reports the Daily Graphic in its banner
story.
According to the story, a statement from the International Final Awards
and Examiners Appointment Committee of WAEC said the situation does not augur
well for national development and need immediate remedy to reverse the trend.
The report says the three subjects are the basic disciplines for the
planned technological advancement envisaged in the Vision 2020 Programme of
Ghana in the same vein as Gambia's Vision 2020 and Nigeria's Vision 2010.
It continued that the poor performance in English is particularly
worrying because it would be impossible for any candidate to do well in
examinations if English Language as a medium of expression, is not mastered.
The WAEC committee is said to have called for a return to the policy of
placing emphasis on lexis and structure as well as promoting reading as a habit
among pupils and students.
More../
Tragedy at Tamale
In another front-page story, the Graphic says one person was shot and
wounded in Tamale during the celebration of the Bugum (Fire) Festival of the
Dagombas at the weekend.
The incident is said to have taken place during a procession, which
forms part of the festival.
According to the story, the festival, which started at about 9 pm witnessed
a swarm of celebrants bearing torches and parading the principal streets of the
town amid drumming, dancing and intermittent firing of musketry.
It says as the procession moved towards Las Hotel in one of the suburbs,
a young man on a motorbike with a lady pillion passenger, attempted to weave
out of the crowd to town.
The Graphic says it was at that moment that an overjoyed celebrant
aimed his musket at them and fired, injuring the lady in the process.
The celebration is reported to have continued all the same despite the
accident.
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More on NDC sex scandal - MP dares DCE
The Dispatch says there has been a sudden twist in the sex scandal
involving the NDC Member of Parliament for Avenor, Hon. Doe Adjaho and the
District Chief Executive (DCE) of Akatsi, Mrs. Victoria Nazzah-Gidiglo.
The Dispatch, carrying the story on its front page says the MP,
answering questions on an alleged 'torn
dress and torn pair of pants' in an interview with the paper 'dared' the DCE to
present any evidence she has to the Police.
The paper recalls a seven-page petition by Mrs. Nazzah-Gidiglo to the
first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings in which Hon. Adjaho was accused of
the assault on March 27, 1999 to which the MP was later reported to have
denied, claiming it was the DCE who rather was the culprit.
The Dispatch says it got in touch with Mrs. Kwami, mentioned as a
witness in the matter on phone on Friday and she said, "if Mr. Adjaho says
it is not true, that's up to him. Investigators have been here and I have
spoken to them. At the appropriate time, I will come out publicly."
The Dispatch says the DCE said very little when she was similarly
reached but gave the explanation that she was sick and would give details when
her health improves.
More../
3 billion cedis market abandoned
In another front-page story the Dispatch reports that a quarrel between
some power brokers in the Akatsi District have virtually grounded administrative
activities resulting in the neglect of a 3 billion cedi modern market for the
area.
According to the story, the strategically located market was started in
1996 when President Rawlings cut the sword for work to begin.
It says, barely a year after, a greater part of the project was
completed that could have been used, but it was rather abandoned and is now
overgrown with weeds.
The Dispatch says its visit to the market revealed that both stores and
stalls have been completed with the former locked up.
It said its investigations revealed that a rift between the MP for the
area, Honourable Doe Adjaho and the district administrators has led to a halt
in executing other phases of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and ASIP
project.
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Economic crises deepens
The banner story of Public Agenda says a sense of hopelessness and
alarm has gripped the country as the economy takes a dip for the worse in the
early stages of an election year.
The story quotes the cedi which begun the year with a value of 3,600
for the US dollar to be now selling for 4,500 and even higher against the US
currency.
The story says a clear manifestation of the crises has been the
continual rise in prices.
The Agenda recalls the four-time upward adjustment of fuel price last
year that put people's budgets under undue pressure and an astronomical price
rise in the product on 19 March this year at a time when Parliament was raising
the Road Fund Levy on petrol from 150 cedis to 230 cedis per litre.
"Adding to the shockwaves, VAT has been increased from 10 to 12.5
per cent", adds the paper.
According to the story, the cause of the crises has become a matter of
dispute with government officials seeking cover under external factors while
critics blame the government for ineptitude and irresponsible spending.
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Shake up at GAFCO
The Agenda has another front-page story that says three top ranking
managers of the Ghana Agro-Food Company (GAFCO) have been dismissed for resisting
change in the management style of the company.
The paper gave the names of those dismissed as Special Projects
Manager, A.B. Asemota, a German, Administration and Marketing Manager, T.C. Okolie
and Electrical Manager, Godwin Adoyi who are both Nigerians.
The story further says GAFCO's Managing Director, M.K. Zetzsche has
also resigned while the Company's Internal Auditor, Claudia Downes, an
Argentine has not reported for work since the others were sacked.
The Agenda says although the M.D. claims health reasons for his action
he is said to have resisted changes in management style of the company
introduced on 3 January 2000.
The story also named Hannah Tetteh-Kpoda, Legal, Public Affairs and
Human Resource Manager to have been relieved of the Human Resource portfolio.
The story says the dismissals and the MD's resignation were confirmed
by Mr. H.D. Baehr executive chairman of the company, when the paper contacted
him.
The Agenda quotes Baehr as saying, "modernisation needs a special
character from people" adding, "We have an obligation to (the) government
and other shareholders and so we had to sack them."
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Troublesome polling agents to face the law.
The Deputy Chairman (Operation) of the National Electoral Commission,
Mr. David Kangah has warned that polling agents of political parties who create
confusion or through their actions at polling stations cause trouble would be
dealt with ruthlessly, reports the 'The Ghanaian Democrat' on its front-page.
Mr. Kangah is quoted by the Democrat as saying that polling agents have
no right to prevent any citizen from either registering when the voters
register re-opens or from casting his or her vote in the December elections.
He is reported as saying that the under 1992 constitution, everyone has
the right to choose who he or she thinks is fit to govern the state during
elections, stressing that no one should take such rights away from any
citizen.
Mr. Kangah, according to the story said for this reason, any contesting
political party that trains people purposely to come and identify persons with
the aim of either preventing them from voting or registering to vote would be
taken care of by the law of the land.
According to the Democrat, the Deputy Chairman said if any party agent
feels he has any cause to believe that "the person coming to register is
either below the voting age of 18 years or not a Ghanaian, (he) must fill a
complainant form which will then be forwarded to the commission's oversight
committee for scrutiny”.
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State Media have roles in development... John Mahama
The Ghanaian Times quotes the Minister of Communication Mr. John Mahama
as saying, “the State owned media cannot be the mouthpiece of the government
all the time, but “ we are still in a dispensation where they need to
disseminate the policies and programmes of (the) government”.
He is reported to have said this when he proposed a toast in honour of
retired Editors of the New Times Corporation at what was described as, the
first ever Editors Night organised by the Corporation on Friday.
According to the story, Mr. Mahama called on the state owned media to
change their outlook and adopt a new democratic one that would help in the
country’s development. The paper reports Mr Mahama as saying that it was good the
nation had a strong and vibrant independent press but said a free and
independent paper should not always be critical of government “there must be a
balance somewhere”.
Mr. Mahama is said to have further asked media practitioners to be
guided by traditional norms while practicing, stating that they should take
cognisance of the society in which they operated.
He commended staff of the New Times Corporation for their hard work
while promising to ensure that the Corporation had the requisite equipment to
help it turn around.
More../
Nurses resume work today
In another front-page story the Times reports that Junior nurses at the
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital are expected to resume normal work this morning,
following their two–week strike to back their demand for the payment of
Additional Duty Hour Allowances.
The paper says the striking nurses decided to call off the strike at a
meeting held in Accra last Friday.
The story continues that last Friday, the Minister of Employment and
Social Welfare, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni at a news conference in Accra pointed
out that in as much as the junior nurses had genuine difficulties that needed
to be addressed, there could be no discussions or negotiations until they
returned to work.
The Times says, the strike action paralysed activities
at the country’s leading hospitals resulting in the premature discharge of
patients as well as increasing pressure on other hospitals.
The nurses put down their tools on 3 April saying that all other nurses
in the Greater Accra Region had been paid their allowances for the period
August to December 1999 excerpt theirs.
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Rawlings has no power to sack me.. Judicial secretary throws challenge
to court
The chronicle writes in its lead story that, President Jerry John
Rawlings’ directive for the removal of the Deputy Judicial Secretary from the
Judicial Service for alleged ”high degree of incompetence in the discharge of
his duty” has been challenged.
The Judicial Secretary Mr. Nicholas Charles Agbevor refused to
countenance the order given last month and filed a writ at the Supreme court
days after the order challenging the President’s power to dispense of his
specific services.
According to the story, he is seeking a declaration from the Supreme
Court that the order is unconstitutional and at variance with article 151 of
the constitution relating to the President’s powers for the removal of Judicial
Service officers.
The paper states that in his sworn affidavit Mr. N.K. Kudjawu, counsel
for Abevor, contended that the President has no power or authority to remove an
official of the Judicial Service without regard to article 151 of the
constitution.
The lawyer is said to have indicated that he would be using statutes
governing the Judicial Service (Judicial Service Act 1960(CA. 10) the Judicial
Service Regulations 1963,L11319) as well as six witnesses to argue his case.
The paper further reports that Mr. Agbevor said allegations were made
against him which later appeared in the Ghanaian Times on 6 March, 1997,
detailing incidents of nonpayment of sitting allowances for tribunal members.
He said an audit investigation was set up by the Chief Justice but at
“no time was he given an opportunity to appear before any committee or Judicial
Council” for his defence to be heard.
According to the Chronicle, Agbevor’s counsel explained that since the
coming into force of the Constitution, the Chief Justice is the sole authourity
to remove staff from office.
More../
The cedi’s blazing odyssey ...Govt. throws up hands in defeat?
In another front page story, the Chronicle reports that Mr. Amoasi
Andoh, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Employers’ Association has confirmed
that the GEA has conveyed an emergency meeting this week over the flaming cedi
which causing panic among its members in the manufacturing and other industries.
The Chronicle says Hon. Kwamena Bartels, the investigating MP for
Ablekuma on Friday pleaded with the Speaker through the Daily Graphic to
reconvene Parliament to take an emergency action on the cedi.
The Central Bank, the story says, is under pressure and the Japanese
government has refused to grant the nation debt forgiveness for Ghana and the
controversial issue of the nation accepting the HIPC status with its attendant
relief.
The paper states that across the nation, the price of goods, triggered
by the exchange fallout, shot up at steep gradient never experienced before,
causing disruptions in budgets of households.
The paper further writes that on Friday the first of what should be a
series of public demonstrations of outrage and horror burst out in Accra and
Cape Coast with bakers threatening to dilute the quality of their bread to levels
that should have harzadous health implications for consumers.
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Heavier sales volume fuels bigger profits for Unilever Ghana
The High Street Journal reports that Unilever Ghana has increased its
pretax profit by eight percent. The paper says the giant consumer products
conglomerate was able to do this in 1999 when its sales volume growth hit 18.1
per cent that is 21.542 billion cedis. The pre tax profit for the previous year
had been 20.023 billion cedis.
According to the Journal an important fact for shareholders is that
profit after tax rose even further by 13percent to reach 14.803 billion, up
from 13.091 billion in the previous year.
Both dividend per share and net assets per share have gone up by 13%
and the Board of Directors is consequently proposing a 13% increase in dividend
per share at this years annual general meeting scheduled for 26 April.
The paper says this will bring dividend per share up to 195 cedis from
173cedis a year earlier, on earnings per share of 237cedis and 209 cedis in
1999 and 1998 respectively.
Describing this as “a strong performance” Unilever Ghana’s chairman,
Ishmael Yamson, went on to explain that this was achieved through the value
pricing as a result of competitive costs, deeper market penetration, especially
in the rural areas.
More../
Imposition of 0.5 %ECOWAS Levy on imports begins in Ghana
The customs excise and preventative service (CEPS) last Monday began
the imposition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) levy
on imports originating from third countries (that is, non-member states of
ECOWAS), reports the High Street Journal in another front-page story.
The paper says it has learnt that although the implementation date was 10
April, CEPS did not actually begin the half percentum (0.5%) imposition until 12
April. On that day, importers and clearing agents were briefed upon the
Commissioners orders.
It continues that the goods, which fall outside the scope of the
community levy, include products of ECOWAS –origin, such as approved industrial
products, unprocessed goods and traditional handicrafts. Others are goods
manufactured or obtained from member states but which do not satisfy ECOWAS
rules of origin and goods originating from third party countries cleared for
home consumption in a member state and re-exported to another member state.
The community levy is a baby of ECOWAS heads of state to generate
revenue for financing the activities of ECOWAS. The levy was endorsed by
fifteen heads of state, excluding Ahmed Ould Minnih of Mauritannia under
Protocol A/PI/7/96 at Abuja, Nigeria.
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The Accra Mail
However, the cost of the biopsy was 50, 000 cedis, which she could not
afford, as such did not return. The Accra Mail continues that barely three
months later, she had to return, now with all the insides of her mouth rotted
away with nothing even the best of them (Doctors) at Korle Bu can do.
The report concludes that this woman was condemned by her inability to
pay and the executioner ready to finish her off is what many Ghanaians now call
Cash and Carry.
GRi../
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