Yes
I Have 6 Houses, Hotel etc.
NDC
Would Not Impose Candidates
These
MPs Talk
The
Djentuh Demolition
NPP
marks Ablekuma Central Victory
Police
Vow To Hunt Mataheko Murderers
The
Ghanaian Times reports in a front page story that Reverend Father Henry
Frimpong, the catholic priest who was, on Sunday, prevented from organising a
healing session at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra has denied reports that
his teachings were against the doctrines of the Catholic Church.
He
explained, in an interview with the paper that the healing session was to
enable Catholics have a personal approach to prayer and to remain in the church
without having to seek healing from else where.
The
story says thousands of people, Catholics and non-Catholics, were prevented
from participating in a healing session organised at the Cathedral by Fr
Frimpong in the afternoon.
The
entrance to the Cathedral was said to have been locked but worshipers, standing
outside the gates and on the streets, continued praying until the session time
was over.
It
says the presence of police personnel prevented the worshipers from entering
the church.
Fr
Frimpong said that, even though many Catholics were Christians, they did not
understand the teachings of Christ. In addition, the Saints and the Virgin Mary
had been over emphasised in the Church, he added.
“We
need to go a little further to touch the people. People are sick, they need
deliverance through the power of the Holy Spirit and they must understand the
teachings of Christ,” the paper quoted him as saying.
According
to Fr Frimpong, the authorities of the church only recognised the work of the
priest as celebrating the mass, Listening to confessions and baptising the
people.
“We
must conduct constant healing services for the members of the church,”
More./
The
Ghanaian times in a second front-page story reports that 681 farmers in nine
communities in the Asante-Akim South, have lost their cocoa, food and cash crop
farms through bushfires this year.
Mr
James Boadi Danquah, District Chief Executive of the Asante-Akim South,
disclosed this when he opened a three-day workshop at Juaso on the preparation
of a disaster plan to provide a blue print for the effective management of
disaster in the district.
The
workshop is being organised by the district office of the National Disaster
Management Organisation (NADMO) with
support from the Ghana Red Cross Society, and attended by representatives of
government agencies and institutions, women’s groups and religious bodies.
GRi../
The
Ghanaian Chronicle in a front-page story says that some of executives of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tamale have expressed disgust at what
they perceive as an orchestrated attempt to marginalise the North in the bid
for the party’s Presidential candidacy.
According
to the paper, the executives say if the position of vice president is not
accorded the North in the coming elections, there may be crises in the party.
The
executives are said to have noted with deep concern that Dr Obed Asamoah,
Minister of Justice, is striving to dabble in a position that should be the
bona fide right of the North, in line with implicit party arrangements.
Alhaji
Salpawuni Alhasan, Executive member of the Chogo-Tishugu Constituency in Tamale
and spokesman for the executives, is reported to have said in an interview with
the Ghanaian Chronicle that “the country has got to a stage where we think the
North should be given the chance.”
He
is said to have given various reasons for the North’s demand and asked all the
Zongos to ignore Obed’s insidious schemes.
More../
In
another front-page story, the Ghanaian Chronicle reports that Mrs Djentuh, the
woman whose son is in trouble after an affair with the first daughter of the
first family, made available documents to TV3, and the Chronicle, showing that the venue of the demolition
action that the court order referred to was in Teshie Agblisa, a couple of
miles away from Mrs Marian Osuillivan Djentuh’s estate.
The
paper also has it that the Nungua Wulomoi (Chief) has also gone on record to
back the authenticity of Mrs Djentuh’s document stating categorically that he
actually signed for his subjects who sold the lands for the woman.
NPP
Member of Parliament and lawyer, Mr Koi Larbi had earlier on told the Chronicle
and other news papers that the action was backed with court order, and
continued to make substantial allegations against the woman, alleging in
telephone interviews with the Chronicle that the woman had exploited her
contacts with the military in her land matters.
The
paper says the police also followed up with a press conference disassociating
the First Family’s name from the demolishing of the Djentuh’s estate and stated
that the action was legitimate.
GRi../
The
Daily Graphic reports that The SSB Bank Limited is paying a total of 16.6
billion cedis representing 41 percent of the net profit tax for the year to its
30,382 shareholders.
This
brings the dividend per share to 240 cedis, which according to the paper
represents a 20 percent rise in dividends paid to shareholders in 1998.
Speaking
at the 20th annual general meeting of shareholders in Accra
yesterday, Mr Francis E.Y. Attipoe, chairman of the bank’s board, said the
increase in dividends payments represents a generous move by the board of
directors to protect shareholders’ returns against inflation.
The
paper reports Attipoe as saying that despite the downturn in the economy in the
second half of the year, the board of directors, management and staff through
prudent and strategic planning and administration, managed to keep the bank on
its desired focus.
SSB
Bank Limited, one of the state-owned banks divested in 1995 has since its
divestiture, been recording impressive performances resulting in positive
returns on shareholders investment.
Mr
Attipoe said although the bank’s profit of 60.1 billion cedis on ordinary
activities before tax showed a slight decline of about three percent compared
with the 61.8 billion cedis achieved in 1998, the level of the net profit after
tax of 40.2 billion cedis was an improvement on the 1998 position of 29.9
billion cedis.
“Consequently,
earnings per share increased from 421 cedis to 580 cedis with shareholders’
funds also rising by 32.6 billion cedis to 122.9 billion cedis from 90.3
billion cedis” the paper quoted him as saying.
On
the performance of the bank’s shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Mr.
Attipoe said the share price fell from 2250 cedis at the beginning of the year
to 1984 cedis in December 1999, a decrease of less than 12 percent.
“In
comparison, the GSE All Share Index dropped by about 14 percent, reflecting the
general bearish outlook on the market as a whole in 1999” he said.
More../
In
another front-page story, the Daily Graphic reports that intermittent downpour
on Sunday disrupted the smooth take-off of the two-week National Population and
Housing Census.
The
rainfall, which started around 10 p.m. on Sunday, continued to the early hours
yesterday, virtually paralysing what was expected to be a momentum take-off,
the paper said.
Due
to the downpour, the ringing of church bells, blowing of horns among others to
signify the beginning of the exercise did not come on whiles the enumerators
and field supervisors of the exercise could not locate each other in some
places.
At
the Accra Neoplan Station where about 40 enumerators were expected to converge
to count people at the station at 12 midnight, none except the field supervisor
was found walking up and down in search of the enumerators around 1.30 a.m.
The
paper says the situation at the Takoradi Station at Kaneshi, Bukom Square at
James Town and the Golden Tulip Hotel, which was earmarked as one of the major
hotels where people in transit were to be counted, was no different.
At
Cape Coast in the Central Region, the paper reports that census officials had
to brave the chilly rainy night to undertake the exercise.
However,
reports from other regions say the exercise took off successfully.
GRi../
Yes
I Have 6 Houses, Hotel etc.
The
Guide in a front-page banner reports that investigations monitored by it’s
scouts in the Asunafo District in the Brong Ahafo region says the District
Chief Executive {DCE}of the area, Mr Solomon Opoku Gyamera has claimed
ownership of all the assets he is believed to have acquired within seven years
of his reign as DCE.
The
paper says the assets are up of seven mansions, a set of musical instruments
and a standing band called the ' the spiders', an Opel Vectra saloon car with
registration no. BA 46 Q and a number of undeveloped plots.
According
to the story the DCE made this known at a committee sitting chaired by Nana
Agyei Ababio with Mr Agyei Arhin as secretary and Nana Duodu and Nana Krobea
Asante as Members.
The
paper says the committee set up by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister Mr David
Osei Wusu, was surprised to hear the DCE putting the price value of his rest
house complex at Anansekrom which has a boys quarters of five rooms at 12
million cedis.
According
to the story, another shocker was the price the mansion at Ananwoma Gardens,
comprising five rooms and an uncompleted storey building, he gave as 8 million
cedis.
The
paper says the committee, not satisfied with the value of Mr Opoku Gyamerah’s
properties asked him to go and come back with a more truthful account of all
his assets.
However,
when the committee mete urgently on 6 February 2000, instead of the scheduled
11 February, the DCE admitted owning a number of plots at Goaso and also gave
the following estimates, Anansekrom hotel complex, 16 million and the Opel
Vectra saloon 3 million.
He
however denied owning a house at Goaso, says the paper.
The
DCE, according to the story is also alleged to have impregnated a 16-year student.
More./
NDC
Would Not Impose Candidates
In
another story on the page three of the paper says the central regional
secretariat of the National Democratic Congress{NDC}says it would not interfere
in the selection of parliamentary candidates for this year's election of
constituency executives.
According
to it the Regional Chairman of the Party Mr Kofi Mintah made this known when he
visited the Twifu Hemang- Lower Denkyira and Upper Denkyira constituencies last
week.
He
said his outfit is only interested in the selection of a candidate who would be
acceptable to the electorates and urged members to demonstrate their support
for Prof. Mills.
GRi../
These
MPs Talk
The
Independent in a front page story says as a follow up to a story carried last
week by it that some Members of Parliament do not contribute during discussions
in the House, it decided to highlight members who make regular contribution to
debates.
Displaying
their pictures and publishing the names of those whose pictures didn't appear,
the paper reports that those whose names have appeared have spoken at least 30
times during the last three years, drawing it source from the official
publication of parliament, the Hansard.
Among
some of the pictures published were that of two deputy Ministers Rebecca Adotey
of Ministry of Communications and Simon Abinja of Mine and Energy, Christine
Churcher, Nana Akufo Addo, Kojo Armah, Theresa Tagoe, Ken Dzirasah, J.E.K
Abeka, John Kwaku Ackah, S.P Adamu and E.K.D Adjaho.
The
rest are Kwabena Adjei, Eugene Atta Agyapong, Modestus Ahiable, Abraham Osei
Aidoo, Nana Akomea, Steve Akorli, Nana Akufo Addo and a host of others.
GRi
The
Djentuh Demolition
The
Crusading Guide says in a front-page story that Mrs O' Sullivan Djentu an
estate developer whose buildings were recently razed to the ground under a
court order has denied a chain of allegations levelled against her by Mr Koi
Larbi, member of parliament for Akropong on one hand and Numo Adjei Kwanko II,
the Osabu and Ayiku Wulomo, chief Priest of Kle Musum Quarter and Tsie We
family of Teshie on the order.
The
paper stated that Mrs Djentu firmly rejected the allegations levelled against
her by Koi Larbi, counsel for Numo Adjei Kwako II and Company to the effect
that she had resorted to the use of armoured cars and soldiers from the Castle
and from 64 Infantry Regiment to put up her building.
“When
people want to tell lies they forget that the persons they are telling all
these lies about, have also got some brains and mouth. I have never engaged any
soldier to protect my land, secondly, I have never engaged anybody to beat up
anyone at my site”.
GRi
NPP
marks Ablekuma Central Victory
The
Statesman reports on last Sundays New Patriotic Party's {NPP} rally at Sabon
Zongo, which marked the one year anniversary of the election of Victor Okuley
Nortey as MP for Ablekuma Central.
According
to the paper the rally also served as the occasion to inaugurate the Sabon
Zongo branch of the NPP Nasara club, which attracted top party executives
including Ama Busia, First vice chairperson, Dan Botwe General Secretary,
Kwamena Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North, Albert Ken Dapaah MP for Afigya Sekyere
West and a host others.
According
to the story Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the
party commended the people of Ablekuma Central for supporting the growth of
democracy in Ghana by entrusting the constituency to Okuley Nortey Okuley.
Nortey
in his address, attributed the suffering of Ghanaians to the failure of the NDC
government to wake up to its responsibilities.
The
paper reports Dan Botwe saying that the time has come to bid the NDC farewell,
suggesting that the slogan for the NPP this year, should be “ NDC, we go change
you this year”.
More../
Police
Vow To Hunt Mataheko Murderers
In
another story, the paper reports that the Inspector General of Police {IGP}Mr
Peter Namfuri has assured Ghanaians that the Police are doing everything
possible to get to the bottom of the Mataheko -Dansoman murders.
“We
have not given up in despair and no matter how long it takes, we will use the
professional skill and expertise at our disposal to ferret pieces of valuable
clues and evidential materials which will lead to the identification, arrest
and protection of the culprits” the paper quotes the IGP as saying.
It
says that the IGP gave this assurance when he opened the 34th Cadet
Officers' Course at the Police College in Accra.
On
the 2000 general election, the IGP stated that the peculiarities of the
election will undoubtedly impose formidable operational challenges on the
police.
GRi../