Mills to seek nomination… as NDC flagbearer
Ministry pledges support for women's university
Fear of Konadu now waning…Mills: says he wants the Job
Sam Jonah to follow Peprah
SSNIT sues two partners in La Beach Hotel
Presidential pardon for Kwame Pianim?
Hewlett-Packard to set up technical university
Mills to seek nomination… as NDC flagbearer
The Daily Graphic reports in its top story that the Vice-President, Professor J.E A. Mills, has formally declared his intention to seek the nomination as the presidential candidate for his party in the forthcoming national congress of the NDC slated for April 28 and 29 at Ho, the Volta Regional capital.
The Vice-President made this known at a meeting with cadres and party activists of the NDC in Tamale at the weekend. The Graphic says that the gathering received Prof. Mills' declared intention with jubilation, singing of revolutionary songs amidst dancing and waving of handkerchiefs.
The paper says that the Vice-President who was moved by the show of support, reciprocated by smiling and saying "thank you, thank you, for your support". Present at the function were top NDC functionaries including Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu Presidential Adviser on Governmental Affairs, Dr Obed Asamoah Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Northern Regional Minister, Madam Faustina Nelson national vice chairperson of the party, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Deputy Minister of Education.
The Vice-President is reported as saying that before he took the decision, he sought the approval from God adding that in line with the NDC tradition, upon his approval, he would work hard to seek the mandate of the entire Ghanaian electorate.
To succeed in his campaign, the paper said that Prof. Mills asked for the support of all part members. The NDC presidential aspirant is quoted as saying that as an individual, he detests corruption, laziness and cheating.
He told the meeting that he is for accountability and his goal is to increase productivity and uplift the lot of the ordinary Ghanaian. The story says that the Vice-President thanked farmers, fishermen, students and workers for their dedication and commitment and the security personnel for the effort in maintaining peace and stability in the country.
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Ministry pledges support for women's university
In a second story, the Graphic writes in its centre spread that the Ministry of Education has reiterated its support for the establishment of a women's university in Ghana.
The paper says that the Minister of Education, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, made this known at a fund-raising ceremony in support of the Women University of Ghana Project.
The Minister said the educational reform programme has improved women's enrolment in schools, noting that between 1987 and 1997, female enrolment rose by 4.3 % at the primary level, 6.7% at the junior secondary school level while the senior secondary school enrolment went up by 20.1%.
He is reported as saying that Science, Technology and Mathematics Education {STME} clinics under the Girls' Education Unit, has helped to promote girls interest in science and mathematics, thereby making more girls qualify as doctors, engineers and scientists.
Mrs Matilda Fiadzigbey, chairperson of the Society for the Promotion of Tertiary Education in Ghana, said although the Ghana Education Service has adopted a number of strategies to increase female admission in tertiary institutions, facilities there are limited and hoped the project would bring the much needed facilities for female
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Return to top Ghanaian Chronicle
Fear of Konadu now waning…Mills: says he wants the Job
In a front-page lead story, the Ghanaian Chronicle also writes about the intention of Prof. John Atta Mills, the Vice-President to contest the NDC presidential slot at the party's upcoming congress at Ho in the Volta Region.
The Chronicle says that at last, the Associate Professor of Law and Vice-President of Ghana, Prof. John Atta Mills, has made an unequivocal declaration that he will seek the nomination for the presidency at the NDC Congress in April, this year. Professor Mills is said to have made the promise at a meeting with cadres of the Association of Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (ACDRs) in Tamale at the weekend, laying to rest months of speculation about his intentions.
According to the paper, over the last fortnight, the Vice-President, who had hitherto kept quiet about his intentions, fearing a Konadu candidacy, had taken courage after President Jerry Rawlings' reported emphatic repudiation of that "frightening" prospect.
The atmosphere at the packed GNAT Hall in Tamale was expectant as Prof. Mills declared, "I believe the time has come for me to make an unequivocal statement of my intention. "I have decided to take up the challenge and seek the nomination for the presidency of this great party, the NDC" he said.
He said the decision had come after a deep thought as he often does in periods of 'monumental challenges'. "I prayed and sought the guidance of my Lord so that I should come to the right decision, which will be to the good of our great NDC and the supreme interest of our dear nation".
The Vice-President is reported as saying that President Rawlings has placed enormous faith in him by declaring at Agona Swedru in the Central Region, in 1998, that he would back him if he were to seek the nomination of the party for the presidency.
He is quoted as pledging that there was no way he was going to fail President Rawlings, the mass of NDC followers and his numerous friends. The Chronicle said the excited audience lapsed into sombre mood of reflection when the Vice-President reached into his own depths and told them of his guiding principles in life.
"As an individual, I have certain principles. I detest corruption, I am for accountability, I despise laziness, I am against cheating I am time-conscious and my goal is to increase productivity and uplift the lot of the ordinary Ghanaian. I also believe in national unity and cohesion".
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Return to top The Ghanaian Voice
Sam Jonah to follow Peprah
The Ghanaian Voice, in a front-page screaming headline story, says that the Ashanti Goldfields Company {AGC} Limited, which has gone through some traumatic experience since its hedging policy failed in September, 1999, is now expected to have two deputy chairmen.
According to the Voice, the two will be made up of a Ghanaian and a European. The company will also soon meet to compose its board, following the 'resignation' of Mr Kwame Peprah, the former board chairman.
The story quotes sources in Accra as saying that one of the fall-outs from the new situation is that the government, which owns the 'golden share' in AGC, has been vindicated for the stoic stand it took not to go in for a loan that would have worsened the plight of the company. The paper says that as a solution to AGC's predicament, it is now believed that 50% of the Geita Mine in Tanzania, would be sold out and the proceeds used to top a small loan to buoy up the company. The Voice surmises that
with the disappearance of Mr Kofi Ansah, Mr Fred Ohene-Kena Mr Otoo and Mr Kwame Peprah from the AGC board, the only Ghanaian left is Mr Sam Jonah, who would pick the signals and beat a quick retreat before the imminent happens.
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Return to top The Ghanaian Times
SSNIT sues two partners in La Beach Hotel
In a front-page story, the Ghanaian Times reports that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has filed a writ at an Accra High Court against Hotel Investment Ghana Limited, owners of the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, and Lonrho Africa Hotels, the majority shareholders.
The Times says that SSNIT, which owns 45% of Labadi Beach Hotel (LBH), claimed that proceeds of two right issues, which were done by the hotel have been misapplied by Lonrho Africa Hotels.
The paper says that in an affidavit in support of the application, SSNIT contended the proceeds, which were to be used to reduce debts owed to the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) by Labadi Beach Hotel, were partly used on staff of Lonrho Hotel, who are managing LBH. Hearing of the case is fixed for February 25.
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Return to top The Dispatch
Presidential pardon for Kwame Pianim?
The Dispatch reports in a back-page story that there are increasing pressure being put on President Jerry Rawlings to grant a presidential pardon to Mr Kwame Pianim, a former leading member of the NPP, who recently resigned from the party.
The paper recalls that a Supreme Court ruling disqualified Mr Pianim from holding political office by virtue of his conviction by a Public Tribunal for attempting to overthrow the then PNDC government of Flt-Lt J.J. Rawlings.
The disqualification can only be overturned by a presidential pardon. According to the Dispatch, there are two schools of thought, one is that the pardon would be interpreted to mean that Mr Pianim resigned from the NPP in order to facilitate the granting of the pardon.
The other, the paper says, is that, the resignation is a possible first step for him to join the ruling NDC. The paper notes that as Mr Pianim said in a recent BBC interview, he had resigned from the NPP but not entirely from politics. It said his next political move remains to be seen.
The Dispatch says that prominent members of the Progressive Alliance have welcomed Mr Pianim's resignation and hinted that he would be welcome to join their fold.
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Return to top High Street Journal
Hewlett-Packard to set up technical university
The High street Journal reports that Hewlett-Packard (HP), a company that deals in computers and accessories world-wide, intends to establish a technical university in Ghana to train technicians and engineers to man its products.
In a front-page story the paper says that Mr Own Kemp, director of Financial Services Business Unit for Central and Eastern Europe and Africa and the Middle East, disclosed that the company is under represented in Africa, hence this business plan.
Mr Kemp is reported as saying that although the company shall currently support the service structure of their supplies through Computer Information Systems (CIS), local representatives of HP, there is the need to put in place a long-term measure to arrest the dearth of technical men in Ghana.
Mr Kemp is said to be in Ghana to attend a day's seminar organised by the company and CIS on the impact of the Internet on global financial services.
He is quoted as saying that apart from finance and telecommunications, HP is interested in the manufacturing sector, as well as the Ghana Stock Exchange. He said their presence in Ghana to update their knowledge of banking and Information Technology (IT) companies through seminars, is borne out of the fact that Hewlett-Packard is a global company. "This global example must be brought to bear on activities in the local market", he is quoted as saying.
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