EU to provide 5.96bC for micro project in 13 districts
Politics must not divide us…says Prof. Mills
Opposition has double tongue – Rawlings
Adjei-Mensah lies about water scandal
Ghana’s $100m rice feast…Western diplomat expresses frustration
EU to provide 5.96bC for micro project in 13 districts
The Daily Graphic reports in a front-page story that the European Union (EU) would this year, provide 5.96 billion cedis to Ghana in support of a number of micro projects in all the 13 districts of the Northern Region. The money is said to be the highest to be given to a region by the EU, and the region, for the first time, is enjoying the facility.
The Graphic says that the funds will be used to provide improve clinics, water and sanitation projects, schools, abattoirs and markets in the rural areas of the beneficiary districts. The project manager of the EU, Dr Kwaku Osafo, is reported to have announced this at the launch of the 50 EU micro project programme in the Northern Region, at an impressive ceremony at Tamale over the weekend.
The story quotes Dr Osafo as saying that the Tamale Municipal Assembly will be allocated 775 million cedis, East Gonja 625 million cedis, West Gonja 325 million cedis, East Mamprusi 660 million cedis and West Mamprusi 375 million cedis.
The rest are, Tolon/Kumbungu 465 million cedis, Gushiegu/Karaga 340 million cedis, Nanumba 470 million cedis, Yendi 365 million cedis, Savelugu/Nanton 475 million cedis, Zabzugu/Tatale 310 million cedis and Saboba/Chereponi 320 million cedis.
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Return to top The Ghanaian Times
Politics must not divide us…says Prof. Mills
In its top story, the Ghanaian Times reports that the Vice-President, Prof. John Atta Mills, has appealed to Ghanaians not to get divided because of political differences and petty squabbles. Rather, he said, "we should invest in peace to bring about development to Ghana".
The Vice-President made the appeal at an NDC rally at Zangina Tong, Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, last week. The Times says that Prof. Mills pointed out that the government abhors lies, character assassination and vain promises. It stands for truth, hard work, peace and stability, he said, adding that "without these, there will be no development".
Prof. Mills is reported as saying that it behoves every Ghanaian to invest in peace so as to bring development, instead of embarking on "pull-him-down attitudes". He said that "the only party, which always has the interest of the citizenry at heart is the NDC".
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The Dispatch
Opposition has double tongue – Rawlings
The Dispatch in its lead story says that President Jerry Rawlings used the opportunity of the visit of a delegation of Sefwi chief, led by the Omanhene of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Nana Okumdom II, last Wednesday, to pour some deep-seated anger at the opposition and the private media.
He is said to have described utterances by some opposition politicians as "double fork tongue" and certain contracts awards as "some foolish nonsense". The Dispatch reports the President as saying that some of the opposition politicians have already embarked upon their political campaign and whenever they go to his region (Volta Region), they would point to their people how "their own son has neglected them.
They see me as Head of State of the Volta Region. I’m a Ghanaian, first and foremost. This of course, takes root in their mind. But in that man’s area of so-called origin, Ashanti, this same Head of State has done their roads and everything".
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Adjei-Mensah lies about water scandal
The Public Agenda reports that the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr I.K. Adjei-Mensah, misrepresented and obscured key facts when he addressed a hastily conveyed press conference in Accra last Friday on the controversial water sector privatisation deal that the NDC government has struck with Azurix.
The paper in a front-page banner headline story, says that at the press conference, the Minister, fronting for an embattled government, read out a statement impressive more in length and crafty presentation than in how it addressed key issues about the agreement.
The story says that the Azurix scandal acquired a new lease of public life following a story in the "Ghanaian Chronicle" of March 1, 2000, which drew an angry response from President Jerry Rawlings. The Public Agenda says that the questions about the deal were, however, first raised by this paper on 6th September 1999, when it broke news of the deal, adding that even then, the Ministry issued a denial.
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Ghana’s $100m rice feast…Western diplomat expresses frustration
In its lead story, the Accra Mail notes that day after day, week after week, mixed reactions on the performance of Ghana’s economy keep pouring in from local and foreign sources.
The paper says that the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Ole Blicher-Olsen, is the latest to comment n the state of Ghana’s economy. The Accra Mail says that and it was not a flattering one, as he made the shocking revelation that Ghana imports rice to the tune of $100 million annually when she has the capacity to produce the crop in large quantities for local consumption.
Mr Olsen is reported as saying that in contrast, Niger, a land-locked West African country, produces rice scientifically for local consumption and still has reserves for export to neighbouring countries. "Why should Ghana be importing rice?". He is quoted as asking.
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