GRi Press Review 11 – 04 - 2003
‘Abolish user fees in basic schools’
“A central role for the founder of the party in matters affecting it will, unfortunately, damage the image of the flagbearer and the electoral fortunes of the NDC in the 2004 polls,” he declared.
This was contained in a statement issued in
Dr Asamoah explained that “this, among other reasons, is why some of us are wary of attending amorphous meetings or press conferences organised for or by the founder”. The statement also said the absence of a collective involvement of the entire leadership in crucial decision-making is seriously undermining the party’s bid to fight and win the next presidential and parliamentary elections.
This ugly development, he said, was demonstrated during the recent by-elections in five constituencies, in which the party suffered painful defeats at the hands of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It accused supporters of the leader and flagbearer of the party, Professor John Evans Atta Mills of setting the agenda for party activities without the active involvement of pro-Botchwey forces, resulting in the marginalisation of party structures.
The statement said while unity at the top leadership will permeate the party generally, a change of attitude on the part of the pro-Mills elements is necessary to move the party forward.
“The pro-Botchwey forces have not committed any crime or breach any party rules by seeking and working for the flagbearership of Dr Kwesi Botchwey. They have only sought to deepen democracy in the party,” it said.
The statement suggested that apart from the hostility towards and marginalisation of pro-Botchwey forces, there is the need to undo the damage done through the intense mudslinging campaign waged against the chairman of the party in particular.
“I cannot understand those who treat this matter as a natural consequence of political campaigning to be forgotten as though it never happened,” it said. The statement added that the campaign of vilification has been aided greatly by persons operating from the office of the flagbearer and by certain high office holders of the party who support the flagbearer.
It said recently, the detractors of the national chairman picked on the poor performance of the party at the recent by-elections as a reference point for accusations of apathy against him and as a proof of his failure to discharge an alleged duty to assist the finance committee of the party to raise funds for party work.
The statement further stated that plans are already afoot to throw out of office pro-Botchwey Members of Parliament (MPs) and other office holders and, in particular, to secure resolutions of no confidence in the national chairman and to foster an early national congress to throw him out of office as if this will help fundraising or improve the chances of the party at winning elections.
“Some people refuse to learn lessons from the past, the effect of the haemorrhaging of the party starting with the disaffection of people like P.V. Obeng, Capt Kojo Tsikata and others, followed by the formation of the National Reform Party by Goosie Tannoh and other stalwarts.
Recently , we have witnessed the shockwaves sent through the party by the resignation of Kofi Asante, MP for Amenfi West, an episode that may be a prelude to others.,” it said.
“They want to induce a more massive exodus in the mistaken fanatic belief that they are the only true believers and fighters and that they can single-handedly nurse the NDC to recovery and victory. May God deliver us from these latter-day saints,” the statement added.
It denied that the national chairman is engaged in a power struggle with the founder stressing that this misconception accounts for the problems of the party. It said the basic problems facing the NDC are indiscipline and lack of funds, adding,” this is what needs to be addressed to move the party forward”. – Daily Graphic
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‘Abolish user fees in basic schools’
Ho (Volta Region)
The Programme Manager of GNECC, Alfred Kofi Appiah, made the call in an address at the opening of a summit on girls’ education to mark the Global Week of Action on Education in Ho on Thursday.
The summit was on the theme, “Opening the Doors of Learning for Girls.” It took the form of a mock parliament by female students drawn from senior secondary schools in Ho. It was jointly sponsored by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Oxfam of Great Britain.
Appiah argued that for now the GETFund is skewed in favour of tertiary education adding that, “Parliament should consider reviewing the formula on allocations from 0.5 per cent to 15 per cent for basic schools by the year 2005 to reverse the bias.”
This, he said, will support basic education extensively to bridge the yawning gap between rural and urban schools. Appiah said this year's global week is dedicated to the education of girls because out of the 115 million children not in school world wide, majority are girls.
He also said two-thirds of 862 million adults who cannot read and write are women, stressing that barriers to education such as cultural discrimination, poverty, child abuse, HIV/AIDS and conflict must be broken for girls to secure their rights to education.
Opening the summit, the Volta Regional Minister, Kwesi Owusu-Yeboah said intelligence alone cannot ensure success in life. He stressed that good character training and formation are equally essential for success in life and that children must be guided by adult to develop these virtues in order to achieve success in life.
He said recognition for the girl-child education by the government is manifested by the appointment of ministers for Primary and Girl-Child Education and Women and Children's Affairs.
Owusu-Yeboah said the National Scholarship Scheme that is being established to promote the education of girls is another testimony of the commitment of the government to the value of the girl child education.
He, therefore, charged District Director of Education and
District Education Oversight committees throughout the country to undertake the
selection of beneficiaries in an open and transparent manner. Present at the
function were, Mr Camera Boubacar, UNESCO Education
Specialist in
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Reacting to the invitation sent to Hon Ama Benyiwa-Doe MP for Gomoa West, over certain pronouncements she is alleged at an NDC rally on the state of the economy, Prof. Mills said the government should instead ban electioneering campaigns, if it does not want such statements to be made at political platforms.
He described as pathetic if people were going to be invited by the Police Criminal Investigation Department over statements they make on issues affecting the progress of the country. - Peacefmonline.com
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The company owns the
vessel which vamoosed out of the Saltpond Oilfields with nearly 74,000 barrels
of crude oil stored on it. According to one of the local radio station
bulletin, the plaintiffs claim that Ocean and Oil dishonestly appropriated the
crude oil belonging to the government of
In an application for the leave to issue the writ, the plaintiffs said the exercise of an owner’s lien by Ocean and Oil under the Time Charter Party Agreement, was unlawful and amounts to a dishonest appropriation of the oil cargo worth nearly two million dollars.
Lushann Eternit
wants the court to compel the defendants to return the crude oil and also to
pay in full, attendant losses incurred by the government of
The storage vessel carrying 73,701 barrels of crude oil, accumulated since trial production began in June last year at the Saltpond oilfields, mysteriously abandoned its moorings on 28 March.
The vessel, MT Asterias I, has
since not been sighted. An official statement issued in
It could not be exactly ascertained when the vessel left Saltpond but inconfirmed reports had it that it vanished from the Oilfields at about 10 am on Friday 28 March and reportedly headed for the eastern corridor, probably towards Nigeria or Cameroun.- The Ghanaian Times
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