Archive: Amanfoo in the News

There was hushed silence at an Accra Fast Track High Court, presided over by His Lordship, Justice Victor Ofoe last week when the Private Secretary to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, dropped a ‘bombshell’.

Andoh, giving evidence for the defendants in the on-going defamation suit between the Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonso II and Messrs Akwasi Mensah, Ben Ephson and Allied News Limited told the Court, “my Lord, the Otumfuo told me he invited the Mamponghene in the presence of the late Essumejahene and asked him about this petition.”

The petition the Otumfuo’s Secretary referred to was to the Asantehene and had alleged gross injustice and fraud on the part of the Mamponghene for receiving $30,000 (then ў264 million) from one Mrs. Rosina Mensah, in exchange for making her the queenmother of Mampong, which the Daasebre failed to do. The Mamponghene had sued for defamation over a story, based on the petition, published in the April 9, 2003 issue of the Daily Dispatch.

Mr Andoh, who was giving evidence under a court subpoena, was led in evidence by the defendant’s solicitor, Mr Kweku Paintsil, further told the Court that he has occupied that position for about two decades. Under cross-examination by the counsel for the plaintiff, Mr Andoh explained that although he was not present at the said meeting between the Asantehene and Manponghene and the late Essumejahene, he believed what he heard from the Asantehene that the Mamponghene had been informed about the petition against him (Mamponghene), alleging fraud.

The Court adjourned to April 28, to enable the Forensic Laboratory of the Ghana Police Service to finish a report on three different documents all bearing the alleged signatures of the Mamponghene.

In course of Mr Paintsil’s cross-examination of the Mamponghene of January 26, the issue of signatures cropped up. The Mamponghene had stated that the signature on the agreement allegedly acknowledging the receipt of the $30,000 was forged.

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Vice President leads govt delegation to Numapau's funeral

Essumeja (Ash), March 18, GNA- Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice President on Thursday led a government delegation to pay their last respect to the late Essumejahene, Odeneho Oduro Numapau II, at Essumeja in Ashanti.

Accompanying him were Mrs Theresa Kufuor, the First Lady, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport and other dignitaries.

Alhaji Aliu on behalf of the government, presented 10 million cedis and 12 cartons of assorted drinks to the bereaved family. The late Odeneho Numapau, otherwise known as Emmanuel Oduro Adiyiah, died at the age of 78. He was a chartered accountant and benkumhene of Asanteman and a former President of the National House of Chiefs.

He also served as a member of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD).

Odeneho Oduro Numapau died in August last year after a short illness.

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Government informed of the death of Essumejahene

Accra, March 11, GNA- Government was on Thursday formally informed of the death of Odeneho Oduro Numapau II, Essumejahene.

Barima Asumadu Sakyi II, Kumawuhene led a delegation that included the Agogohene, Nana Kwame Akuoko-Sarpong and the elders of Essumeja-Ashanti to inform President John Agyekum Kufuor of the death at the Castle, Osu. Barima Sakyi presented one carton of schnapps to the government as customs demands and said the body would be laid in state at Essumeja-Ashanti from Tuesday, March 16 to Thursday, March 18 before interment at the Essumeja-Ashanti Royal Mausoleum at mid-night of March 18.

President Kufuor said the late Oduro Numapau, was an illustrious son of Ghana who served his nation.

The late Oduro Numapau, 78, a Chartered Accountant by profession, was Omanhene of the Essumeja Traditional Area and Benkumhene of Asanteman and a former President of the National House of Chiefs. He also served as a member of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD). Nana Oduro Numapau died on August 22, last year after a short illness.

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Desist from request for admission favours - Vice Chancellor

Accra, Oct. 4, GNA - Ghanaians have been urged to desist from trooping into the University of Ghana during the admission period to ask for favours for their children and wards. Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said the misconception among the public that one needed to know or see an official of the University to be able to secure admission should seize forthwith. "I would like to re-iterate that admission to the University of Ghana is based on one's grades in comparison with the cohort of students of that year," he said.

Prof. Asenso-Okyere was speaking at this year's matriculation ceremony at which 7,101 students admitted to the University to pursue various degree and diploma programmes took their oath of allegiance to higher authority and the pursuit of academic excellence. A little over ten thousand out of 14,338 qualified applicants were offered admission, with only 7,101 registering for their programmes.

Prof. Asenso-Okyere said the admission process every year brings to the fore the need for the country to brainstorm on how to make tertiary education accessible. He cautioned students who come into the University with falsified results that they would be dismissed immediately. "We are going to be circumspect about the change of names and may ban it completely (except for women who get married and adopt their husbands family name as a way of stemming out the practice." He said, since the University did not have enough facilities to admit all qualified applicants, there was the need for students, parents and sponsors to seek alternative avenues for further studies and career development.

It is in this direction, the Vice-Chancellor said, that the University is to establish a Centre for Distance Education as a means to make University education accessible. Some of the programmes will be run in conjunction with other universities outside Ghana. He said quality education was necessary for national development and the universities had a prime role to play in providing the critically needed human resources in a knowledge-based economy. However, quality higher education, Prof. Asenso-Okyere said, needed to be paid for and appealed to students to realise its importance and desist from opposing any increase in fees. He expressed the hope that the students would help the University authorities by raising the current levels of fees, which he said, were grossly inadequate to be able to promote quality.

Currently, students pay an academic user fee of about 500,000 for humanities, less than 800,000 for Science and One Million cedis for medical and dental students. "We admit that there are cases of abject poverty and these people must be assisted if they can be identified." On the accommodation problem facing the University, Prof Asenso-Okyere said arrangements were advanced for the construction of the remaining three phases of the Jubilee Hall to provide accommodation for additional 2000 students as well as expand the International Students Hostel and the Graduate Students Hostel. The University is also working out the modalities with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust for the provision of additional accommodation for 3,000 students. He appealed to all stakeholders to help the University to improve and add to the lecture halls, laboratory space to ensure significant increase in students' admissions.

Professor Asenso-Okyere advised the students to take their studies seriously as they may be sacked or asked to withdraw from the University when they failed their courses. He cautioned students against indiscipline and warned that any students caught or identified to have infringed upon any hall or University regulation would be severely sanctioned. "We expect exceptionally good behaviour from the future leaders of the country."

The Chairman of the University Council, Dr Ishmael Yamson, urged the matriculants to show fortitude in the face of the numerous difficulties they face on campus.

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Mamponghene In Fresh trouble

Saturday, 04 October 2003 - The Standing Committee/Kingmakers of the Gyaase Council of Mampong Traditional Council have accused the Mamponghene, Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II, of autocratic rule.

They said that he hijacked the stool lands account and unilaterally elevated some stools without their consent.

The accusation was contained in a petition to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, by six of the eight Kingmakers dated August 18, 2003. The signatories were Nana Oti Owusu Afufie – Akwamuhene, Nana Kwaku Sarfo – Ejurahene, Nana Aye Kusi Boadum – Apaahene, Nana Oppong Gyamfi Agyeman –Kyidomhene, Nana Okofo Takyi Ampratwum – Senior Linguist and Nana Kofi Abunyewa I – Nintimhene. Nana Yaw Kodua – Krontihene and Nana Oduro Brobbey – Ankobeahene did not sign.

The petition states, “We members of the Standing Committee/Kingmakers of Mampong Gyaase Council of Mampong Traditional Council, humbly petition your majesty the Otumfuo for your sympathetic consideration and necessary remedial action on the following: that Nana Mamponghene has been operating stool lands accounts without the involvement of the Mampong Traditional Council; accounts in respect of moneys and revenues collected on plot allocation, sand and stone quarries, land royalties and leases are hidden from the Gyaase Council and accounts have not been rendered to the Gyaase Council on the last two annual fund raising rallies held in the name of the Gyaase Council.”

The chiefs elevated are Adikrofo, Kyiremfaso – Kyidomhene through Domakwahene, Aboutem, Akwamuhene, Adidwam – Krontihene, Daaho – Akwamuhene, Akrofoso – Krontihene who have sworn an oath of allegiance to him.

They said although Mprim Pampaso – Botasehene, Asaam – Gyaasehene, Kyekyewere – Krontihene and Benim – Akwamuhene have also been elevated they have not sworn the oath of allegiance to him.

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University of Ghana gets new Vice-Chancellor

GNA; Thursday, 03 October 2002

Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere on Tuesday took the oath of office as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon at a colourful induction ceremony and promised to initiate pragmatic programmes to address the challenges that confronted the University.

He called for positive innovations to enhance the operations of the University to enable it to compete effectively in the globalised economy and to win the confidence of the people. Prof Asenso-Okyere said: "I am seeking your concurrence to initiate an institutional programme to address problems and to transform the University to enable it tackle the challenges that confront it,"

He appealed to individuals, organisations and the government to support programmes aimed at improving conditions at the University. Prof Asenso-Okyere said such a change should include expediting decision making process, setting up effective and transparent administrative and managerial system.

Others were enhancing the incentive structure for all categories of hardworking staff, expanding information-communication technology and making the University more responsive to the needs of the wider society.

The Vice-Chancellor said the transformation was necessary to ensure that the University was able to meet the stiff competition that it faced from other public and private Universities.

Prof Asenso-Okyere said he would ensure that the University became a center for training people in management and administration. "The curricula of the University and mode of teaching have to be tailored in such way as to provide the skills and competencies needed by our graduates to solve the myriads of problems facing society today," he said.

Prof Asenso-Okyere said a major difficulty in the transformation process would be the willingness of people to change their mindset. He noted that the development of every country depended on education, and pledged to continue the good work of his predecessor.

Professor Addae-Mensah, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor expressed his gratitude to the University Community for its support that enable him to complete his six years administration.

The Chairman of the University Council, Dr Ishmael Yamson praised the achievements and contributions of Professor Addae-Mensah, saying they were beyond the normal call for duty. He asked him not to abandoned the University but be actively involved in its activities.

Born 55 years ago, Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere had his Primary education at Dunkwa Catholic Boy's School, secondary Education at Twenoboa Kodua Secondary School, Kumawu and Prempeh College, Kumasi.

He graduated with a BSC (Hons) in Agricultural Economics at the University of Ghana, Legon in 1973. He obtained his Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph, Ontario and a PHD in 1982 from the University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, specialising in Econometrics and

Price Analysis. Professor Asenso-Okyere had considerable experience in research and advocacy on economic development issues such as food and agriculture, health and nutrition and international trade policies.

He was until his appointment the Director of ISSER. Professor Asenso-Okyere has authored/co-authored 115 publications, papers, monographs, technical and consultancy reports. Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II, the Chancellor of the University, administered the oath of office.

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4 Prempeh students dismissed for forgery

GNA; 03 May 2002

Fifteen students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been sacked from the University for presenting forged results of their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) results, for admission for the 2001/2002 academic year.

This was contained in a release issued and signed by the Registrar of KNUST, Mrs. Sophia Quashie-Sam in Kumasi on Thursday. The release stated "In the course of verifying the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination results submitted by students for admission during the 2001/2002 admission exercise, it was detected that the 15 students overstated their grades." The release said further investigations confirmed that the SSSCE results presented by the 15 students were forged.

The affected students were: Omilana Robert, from Tema Secondary School and Vinyo George, Ghana Secondary School, both Mathematics students, Agbotse Richard Kojo, Tema Secondary School, Agyemang Edward, Pempeh College, Asiama Simon, Prempeh College, who were all offering the Building Technology programme.

The others are Agbangiba Victor Aziz, Achimota school, Addo Ernest Osanyoumo, Suhum Sec-Tech, both reading Industrial Art, Barnie Boakye Samuel, Kumasi High School, and Ablordepey Elizabeth Accra Girls Secondary School who were offering Fine Art.

The rest were, Amoako Boschi Bernard, St. Aquinas Sec. School, Darko Kwaku Patrick, former school unknown, but also offering Fine Art, Antwi Emmanuel, Technology Secondary School, Integrated Rural Art, Boafo Wilfred, Prempeh College, Agric. Engineering, Asiedu Yeboah Eric, Prempeh College, Medical Laboratory technology and Longdon-Acquah Bernard, Chemu Sec. School, who offers social science.

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Pharmacists: We're not against regulation of health practice

Accra, April 27, GNA - The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana on Thursday said it is in no way against the regulation of health practices in the country.

It has, therefore, called for the restructuring and reactivation of the Private Hospitals and Maternity Homes Board to ensure that existing and emerging unregulated practices, were streamlined in the interest of the wider public.

Mr John Arthur, President of the Society, who was speaking in Accra at a news conference, noted that there are problems facing the health care delivery system, but the solution calls for the concerted efforts of all health care providers.

The press conference served as a forum for pharmacists to react to some statements by Professor Agyeman Badu Akorsa, President of the Ghana Medical Association, against pharmacy practice in the country.

According to the President of the Society, Prof. Akorsa sought to give the impression that pharmacists could not dispense any drug without a doctor's prescription. "He also made other allegations against pharmacists," he said.

Mr Arthur said the press conference was to provide relevant information to the public so as to disabuse their minds and remove any confusion that might have been caused by the recent pronouncements by the Professor.

He said the pronouncement, "sought overtly or covertly to bring the image of pharmacy practice and pharmacists into disrepute." He said while other statutory regulatory boards have not been able to function, the Pharmacy Board and Pharmacy Council have at their respective periods effectively monitored and generally overseen the operation of private pharmacies and licensed chemical sellers.

"The Pharmacy Act 489 (1994) sets the legal framework for the training, registration, continuing professional development and practice of the pharmacists."

Mr Arthur said even though there are classifications of drugs to be sold without or with prescription, pharmacists worldwide are allowed by law to dispense "prescription only medicines" (POMs) by way of emergency treatment.

"Also as a matter of policy, pharmacists are allowed to dispense POMs without prescription in the treatment of specified conditions, which have public health implications such as the syndromic treatment of sexually transmitted diseases."

The President of the Society, appealed to Parliament to seriously consider removing VAT from all pharmaceutical raw materials to help bring down the cost of locally produced drugs.

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Pathology Department to start school for mortuary technicians

Accra, April 17, GNA - The Pathology Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is to establish a training school for mortuary technicians as part of a programme to upgrade the department and improve upon service delivery.

Professor Agyemang Badu Akorsa, Head of the Department, said when the school is set up, it would serve the whole of West Africa since there is no institution in the sub-region training people with scientific knowledge on how to handle dead bodies.

He said these trained personnel would replace mortuary attendants. Prof. Akorsa was speaking on Monday during a tour of projects at the hospital by Professor Kwaku Danso Boafo, Minister of Health, and some officials, including Dr. Henry Holdbrook-Smith, Chief Executive of the Hospital.

Prof. Akorsa said even though the building to house the school is not yet ready, some 30 technicians with Senior Secondary School Certificates would begin an 18-month training from September, this year, as a first step.

The course will lead to the award of a certificate, which will be upgraded to a diploma later. He said currently all mortuary attendants are untrained labourers with very little experience on how to handle dead bodies with dignity and relate to the bereaved families.

"Because most of these attendants are untrained, they are usually rude to bereaved families and do not take time to answer questions and they are usually drunk."

He stressed the need for the training of more pathologists since there are only eight in the country with none in the regional or district hospitals. The Chief pathologist said currently the mortuaries are congested since two or three bodies are piled on one another.

This, he added, creates more problems as the refrigerators break down and the bodies are not properly preserved. The tour took the Minster to various project sites, including the SSNIT and nurses flats, the Drug Manufacturing Units, Medical Block and Renal Dialysis Units.

At the SSNIT flats, Mr Edward Botchway, the Site Architect, told the Minister that four billion cedis would be needed to complete a six-block SSNIT flat, which is almost nearing completion.

"When completed, it is expected that some 90 families would be housed in it." Prof. Danso Boafo expressed satisfaction with the on-going projects and called on the contractors and SSNIT not to abandon the work on the SSNIT flats.

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Kufuor starts campaign for 2000 elections

By Chronicle - March 1, 2000

Contrary to false alarms and what critics regard as non-activity in the opposition front, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Mr. John Ageykum Kufuor, is currently campaigning on the quiet, scoring high marks in the rural areas.

He began his tour at Onwe Nkwanta in the Tano South Constituency where he made a brief stopover to interact with the people after exchanging greetings with the chief, Nana Kwadwo Mosi and his queenmother, Nana Comfort Ayiwa.

Before addressing a large number of people who had gathered at Brosankro Ankwanta, Mr. Kufuor and his entourage paid a courtesy call on the chief, Nana Kwadwo Ampnsa Ababio III. He also paid a similar call on the Zongo chief, Bukari Osumanu and the Imam, Adam Ibrahim.

At Tepa Junction, which was not on the day’s itinerary, Mr. Kufuor broke protocol when he stopped his Nissan Patrol car, alighted and entered all the chop bars to shake hands with the chop bar operators and their workers, as well as their clients who were enjoying their bush meat soup and fufu to the delight of every one. Passenger vehicles on their way to the Ahafo areas stopped to catch a glimpse of him. Some of the drivers and their passengers on seeing Mr. Kufuor came out of their vehicles to shake hands with them and pledged to vote for him in the general elections. Before his arrival at Ohianimguase, the chief of the town, Nana Asumadu Brempong, and his elders together with a large number of people had gathered to receive Mr. Kufuor and his entourage. At Duayaw Nkwanta,near Koforidua, the people gave Mr. Kufuor a rousing welcome and expressed their unflinching support for the NPP. On his part, Mr. Kufuor apologised to the people for his inability to visit the town during the 1996 campaign period, despite their massive preparation to receive him and thanked them for the hundred percent votes they gave to the NPP in 1996.

The town turned into a festive mood. They assured Mr. Kufuor of their unflinching support for the NPP and that they will win both the presidential and parliamentary elections this year as they did in 1996.

When Mr. Kufuor and his entourage led by the parliamentary candidate for Tano South, Mr. Adjei Yeboah, arrived at Techimantia at 8.15pm. the town was set agog.The crowd was uncontrollable, it took over twenty minutes for Mr. Kufuor to come out of his car. Addresing the crowd later he expressed his gratitude to the people for their continuous support for the NPP, and showed his acknowledgement for the useful work of the various Constituency Executives, for sustaining the tempo of the party: Mr. Kufuor advised the NPP supporters nationwide not to be disturbed by the fake defections of NPP supporters to the NDC, describing it as a communist inferior tactics.

Mr. Kufuor said the main pillar of an NPP Government under his administration would be rural development, based on modern and mechanised agriculture and business promotion to create more jobs for the youth.

On his part, Maj.(rtd) Courage Quashigah, the National Organiser of the party, attributed the nation’s present state of economic misery in the midst of abundant human and material resources to gross mismanagement, poor planning and administrative indiscipline.

To achieve economic independence, he called for good and pragmatic management and invited policy-makers to stand aside and take a hard and dispassionate look at the concept of management, with the view to appointing the right expertise to take charge of various sections of the economy,adding “it is only then that the nation will move forward to attain its economic goals.” Major Quashigah also revealed to the students that another aspect of the nation’s economic woes is that there is no proper criteria for assessing the performances of people in management positions and gave the assurance that an NPP Government will address all these lapses to bring efficiency into the system and called for their support and loyalty.

At the time of filing this report, Mr. Kufuor and his entourage had visited 62 towns and villages. According to Mr. Kwame Gyamfi, the Brong Ahafo Regional Campaign Manager of the NPP for Election 2000, Mr. Kufuor is scheduled to cover 75 percent of each of the twenty-one constituencies in the region.

Among those in the team were Madam Ama Busia, First National Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Joe Donkor, MP for Tano North, Mr. Kwadwo Adjei Darko, MP for Sunyani West, Mr. Alhaji Musa Bamba, MP for Wenchi East, Mr. Yaw Manu Balado, MP for Ahafo Ano South and a nine-member Regional Executive led by its Chairman, Mr. Yeboah Fordjour as well as some parliamentary candidates in the region.

Mr. Kufuor had earlier participated in a radio talkshow at the local BAR FM radio at Sunyani where discussions were centered on the economy, the chances of the NPP in election 2000, the president’s sessional address as well as other current events in the country.

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80% of Deaths in Ghana are preventable - Dr. Akosah

PANA - February 28, 2000

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Professor Agyeman Badu Akorsa, Chief Pathologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, in Ghana has said 80 percent of deaths that occur in the country are preventable. He said bacteria infection, hypertension, motor traffic accidents, cancers and tuberculosis which are the leading causes of deaths in that order, could be prevented through good dietary habits, education and effective private investment in health institutions by corporate bodies. Akorsa, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra. He said one of the biggest problems in the country is adult malnutrition and the lack of a healthy lifestyle among Ghanaians, such as undertaking simple exercises to keep healthy. Akorsa expressed strong sentiments about dietary habit of Ghanaians saying, "we drink oil." "People take in so much oily foods, little fruits and do not exercise. "As such even when one becomes ill, prescribed drugs become ineffective because the body is not strong and has been abused over a long period of time. "Besides, most people die from common infections because most of the antibiotics being sold on the markets are not only fake but some are of low quality bought cheaply from some Asian countries." Akorsa, who is also the National President of the Ghana Medical Association, said the association aims at increasing life expectancy by an additional 16 years, from the average of 56 years, through education and advocacy work. He expressed regret that most corporate bodies do not support health institutions. Citing, an example, he said these corporate bodied "forget that their chief executives and top men may have to visit the Cardio Centre for first aid emergency treatment before being sent abroad." Akorsa urged the private sector and churches to invest in a health fund to help the needy in times of ill health. He therefore called on churches to at least donate two collections in a year for health care delivery. The wealth of every nation is the health of its people and government should treat health as a priority even though it might be expensive, the GMA President said.

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Ghana faces acute manpower shortage in pathology - Dr. Akosah

PANA - February 25, 2000

Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - One of the specialised areas in medicine which is currently facing acute manpower shortage in Ghna is pathology.

Professor Agyeman Badu Akorsa, Chief Pathologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said currently there are only eight pathologists practising in the whole country.

"It is unfortunate that only eight of us have passed out of the medical school since 1969, and this is some 30 years ago." In an interview with the GNA in Accra Prof. Akorsa said the Korle-Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals should have at least 12 and eight pathologists respectively.

"Ideally, there should be at least one or two pathologists in each regional hospital and one in each district hospital." Prof. Akorsa, who is also the National President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), said presently, the association and the Pathology Department, routinely organise autopsy courses for doctors in the districts and regions so that they can, at least, undertake post-mortems to find out the causes of death.

"This is to ensure there would be adequate data on causes of deaths to boost service delivery." Prof. Akorsa said the work of a pathologist, though very important in health care delivery, is not glamorous and can be likened to that of filmmaking where the producer is not seen or known but the actresses and actors are seen.

He said currently eight people are studying pathology which he described "a miracle." "In the past, many medical people did not opt for that area because for years everything at the Korle-Bu mortuary was wrong. The place was lousy and filthy and this did not attract those in medicine to pathology.

Prof. Akorsa, who called for more investment in running the department, said the mortuary is an integral part of health care delivery. "At the moment, the whole department, including the mortuary, is being refurbished to make it more attractive.

"The pathologist is the doctor's doctor because he does the diagnosis and post-mortem and knows the causes of deaths in the country and this is crucial to making the right recommendation for effective treatments."

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NDC is the most arrogant, cruel, wasteful, incompetence and corrupt government ever -Kufour

By Independent - January 19, 2000

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) held a press conference on Thursday December 30th 1999 at the Accra International Press Centre during which the party’s Presidential Candidate Mr. J. A. Kuffuor reviewed the past year. Below is the text of his address:

Ladies & Gentlemen of the Press, 1999 is in many ways an exceptional year. It is not only the last year of the 20th Century, but also the last year of the second millennium of the Christian era. Significantly also the Christian festival of Christmas has this year coincided with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

But for the unfortunate, but perhaps predictable upset in our sister state, La cote d’Ivoire last week, 1999 could be said to be the year in which there has been universal acceptance of the principle, that change of government by military coup or other forms of violence should not be tolerated.

1999 has also been a year in which the scientific and economic miracles being wrought from the meteoric digital technology era moved apace, holding untold promise for the globalisation of development, knowledge and information.

The world in general is poised for great change in the coming year. And this should be a singularly joyous occasion for all. Unfortunately for most of us in Ghana. there is not much to be joyful about and no means with which to be joyful.

We are at the end of another difficult year, a year whose difficulties have been magnified by the lack of foresight and planning by a government whose only agenda seems to be to do all it can to stay in power; and to do as little as it can to govern well.

The government has been callous, unresponsive, arrogant and high handed. The year therefore witnessed strikes and protest demonstrations from many sectors of society; the doctors and nurses, transporters, contractors, civil servants and all the genuine opposition parties. Last but not the least, are the cocoa farmers of Ghana who have been so shabbily treated this year. many have still not been paid for their produce which they sold some three months ago. Rather their intelligence is being insulted by shameless propagandist of the N.D.C trying vainly to divert the farmers’ wrath by claiming that they cannot be paid until Kufour and the NPP sign their portion of their cheques. It is for more likely that their money has been mismanaged and misappropriated for such things as the illegal ‘leaving’ of a Presidential jet. We call on the government to pay the farmers now.

Inspite of this extreme misgovernment of Ghana by the MDC, I am here to urge the people not to lose hope. Indeed, I believe 2000 will be a hopeful year because I believe Ghanaians will give themselves the much needed change for the better through the ballot box next year.

Eighteen (18) years ago on the 31st of December, 1981 J.J. Rawlings stage a coup and usurped the government of this nation with the avowal to introduce accountability in to public life, eradicate corruption and give competent government.

After a hideous false start during which period much blood was needlessly and mercilessly shed, people were executed or jailed for so-called economic crimes and crimes against the state; properties of successful business men and women were confiscated; bank accounts over 50,000 cedis were frozen and this nation suffered the indignity of a curfew for two long years. After such a start the government, 15 years ago did a ‘U’ turn to embrace the IMF’s Structural Adjustment Policies and Economic Recovery’ Programme.

These I5 years of sacrifice and endurance by Ghanaians of the ERP and SAP have not paid the much touted dividend of social and economic growth and stability because of incompetent, visionless, prejudiced and corrupt management of these otherwise far reaching policies.

The initial MACRO-economic advances were negated by failure to ground them in a balanced micro-economic sponsorship.

The unplanned and unmanaged liberalisation of currency and trade killed off the budding private sector through the influx of competition for which it had not been prepared; rationalising public sector expenditure was indiscriminately pursued to the detriment of the private sector which was starved of access to credit.

Re-deployment of underemployed public sector staff only swelled the unemployed ranks because the private sector had not been given the capacity to absorb them’ inflation was heavily fuelled by the over-dependence of the economy on imports especially in the light of the ever-weakening currency in the liberalised foreign exchange market. The politicisation of the bureaucracy with the attendant anti-social policy of the “winner takes-all” bred corruption and further debilitated the political economy.

Eighteen years of Ghana’s forty-two years of independence have been under the rule of Mr. Rawlings the PNDC and the NDC. In these eighteen years, Ghana has had the most arrogant, cruel, wasteful, incompetent and corrupt government this country’ has ever seen. With all the loans from the World bank, IMF and other sources and all the grants from generous donors, Ghana is still today practically bankrupt and holding out the begging bowl! A nation like ours which is richly endowed with natural resources and blessed with a population of hardworking and enterprising people, should not have fallen into this deplorable plight.

I do not need to repeat in detail the bad things you all know, but I will remind you of a few events which highlight the degeneration of our dear country.

Money for national projects diverted into private pockets; thoughtless wastefulness such as the purchase of a Presidential jet at the time the ‘government claims there is no money for vital sectors like education and health.

* unconstitutional expenditure of money without parliamentary approval.

* the steady fall in the value of the cedi and the continuous rise in the prices of a especially the tariffs on water and electricity.

* High unemployment

* urban and rural poverty; rise in crime like the yet unsolved gruesome serials murders of women in Accra and above all corruption in high and low places. It is so bad that President Rawlings has had to suffer the humiliation, to himself and to this nation of calling for outside help to cure the corruption.

He has asked the Commonwealth for help.

He has asked the World Bank for help.

The questions every serious Ghanaian must be asking now are these. First if after eighteen years. Rawlings and his governments - PMDC and NDC have failed to rid Ghana of corruption does it mean that those who were killed or exiled or robbed of their properties in the name of the revolution have died and suffered for nothing?

The obvious answer is yes; because Rawlings and his governments and Party the NDC. have over these years individually and collectively been more corrupt and enriched themselves a thousand times more than those they made to suffer in the name of the revolution.

Second, who is responsible for the corruption we have witnessed in this country between 1981 and 1999?

Who else but President Rawlings and his governments?

The so called 31st December revolution of which he and his cronies think they are entitled to be proud, has been a failure and a disaster for the people of Ghana. The 31st December 1981 must be seen as a day of shame and sorrow.

On the 31st December of this year, the last in the 20th century we must weep for those whose blood has been shed. We must weep for the orphans and the widows of the revolution. We must remember those who have been broken in body and mind; whose lives have been ruined by the seizure of their properties or the destruction of their businesses. We must weep but we must also pledge that all the sacrifices should not have been in vain. We must learn from our history.

On 1st January 2000 we begin a new century and a new millenium. For us in Ghana the challenges of the coming year are considerable. Let me mention two of them.

First there is the challenge of ensuring the survival of our constitution. The N.P.P is fully committed to the constitution, the rule of law and the multi-party democracy now established in our country. But there are still in Ghana people who are enemies of the constitution and of multi-party democracy.

To them I call on you, the people of Ghana, to say that the constitution has come to stay and we will all defend it.

The second challenge are the approaching presidential and parliamentary elections.

The way in which these general election are conducted next year will be a test of Ghana’s political maturity and stability. We must have elections which are fair and clean and we are hereby putting the Electoral Commission on notice to ensure this.

I call on the NDC to abandon any plans it has for rigging the election. If they try, they will be confronted and resisted by vigilant citizens who want to see true democracy firmly established in Ghana. Let us start the new millennium with elections the results of which all accept. Without clean and fair elections there can be no political and social stability. Let us learn from Liberia Sierra Leone and now La Cote d’Ivoire.

I congratulate you, the members of the fourth estate of the realm for what you have done and what you have sacrificed in the struggle to implant democracy into the country. You do so much, even as we are here today, Eben Quarcoo spent the season in prison, and we often seem to show so little gratitude.

However you are leaders in the collective struggle to develop our country I urge you to redouble your efforts. As we must all do.

At the time of our independence Ghana and South Korea, were according to the World Bank, economically on a par; similar population size, similar urban/rural split, level of literacy and per capita income of approx. US$450.00 at 1960 dollar values.

Today the situation is vary different. South Korea is an emerging industrial and technological economy with a per capita G.D.P of some US $2,000.00. Whilst Ghana is still a rain fed basic commodities and agricultural economy with a reduced per capita G.D.P of less than 400 of today’s US dollars. I tell this not to depress you further but to offer you and Ghanaians hope. What one country and one people have done, another can do. All we need are the vision, the policies and the right leadership.

I share with the NPP a vision of a prosperous Ghana brought about by policies that encourage the development of the entrepreneur, policies devoted to business promotion.

I share with the NPP a vision of a prosperous Ghana brought about by policies that fully integrate agriculture with rural development, policies that will transform our agriculture and move our farmers on from their current dependence on the whims of nature.

I pledge that an NPP government will provide a quality of leadership that will be the match of any other. That finally our country and our people will get the leadership they deserve. A leadership dedicated to their well being.

In the coming weeks we, the NPP will unfold our plans and preparations for the elections, we shall tell you what we hope to achieve for this nation and how we shall mobilise our human and materials resources for a better Ghana. We know that there are wounds to heal and there is damage to repair. Although the prospects are formidable we believe in the strength and resourcefulness of the people of Ghana, and with your support the NPP will undertake to heal wounds that can be healed and repair damage that can be repaired. For goodness sake, let us put the nightmare of the past eighteen years behind us and look forward with hope into the future; a future of an honest and competent and caring government, and a future of national stability and prosperity.

I and the NPP wish all the people the complements of the season and a New Year in which we shall see a change for the better.

God bless us all.

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KUFUOR: THE COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED BY BAD GOVERNANCE

By Ghana News Agency - August 8, 1999

Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, on Sunday accused the government of bad governance that has led to mass poverty and upsurge in criminal activities.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to give the NPP their mandate to reverse the trend, saying: "there is hope in the NPP. Just give us the chance in the 2000 elections and you will never regret it".

Mr Kufuor was addressing a rally of the NPP at Town Council Line's Red Park in Ablekuma Central where the party won a bye-election in March, this year, following the death of Mr C Crabbe, then NPP Member of Parliament.

"There are widespread poverty, unmerciful criminals and mass exodus of Ghanaians to other lands because we are still dealing with leaders who are unnationalistic and bankrupt of ideas.

"Our nation is in crisis, fellow countrymen; we need prayers and good leadership to prevent a disaster." Mr Kufuor said while a few privileged ones are enjoying, the majority of Ghanaians are reeling under poverty and hopelessness, adding: "the family unit, the last institution, which has survived all these years, is on the brink of disintegration".

He also rebuked the government for not stamping out corruption and for killing the local entrepreneurial spirit.

Mr Kufuor warned that under no circumstance would the party allow rigging and other forms of intimidation during the 2000 elections. "We think enough is enough, never again shall we sit idle for them to cheat us. We are ready for anything."

He called for the issuance of photo voter identity cards to all Ghanaians and a census to make the next general elections credible. Mr Kufuor urged all Ghanaians to resist any attempt at dividing them along tribal lines, "especially at this time when we have so much at stake".

Mr Samuel Odoi Sykes, National Chairman, denied that there is disunity in the party. He said it is the party's style to discuss issues that baffle people because "some cannot understand why we do not have a human god in our midst".

Mr Odoi Sykes said Mr Kufuor's running mate would be chosen at an undisclosed date through well-structured processes. Mr. Victor Okuley Nortey, Member of Parliament for the area called for the support of his constituents for the party.

"I stood on this same ground in March and promised to serve you if you gave me the opportunity. Now that you have given me the chance, I want to thank you and still ask you to support the party for good."

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AN INTERVIEW WITH J.A. KUFFUOR

By The Online Independent -August 5, 1999 -- Year 10 No. 58

Interview With J. A. Kuffuor
By Kabral Blay Amihere

Our editor, Kabral Blay Amihere, spoke to the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), at his residence over a number of issues.

Excerpts:

Kabral Blay Amihere (KBA). Thank you Mr. Kuffour for granting us this interview. The first issues that we will want to look at is that you were elected that Presidential candidate of the new patriotic party (NPP) over some six months ago, what have you been doing since?

John Agyekum Kuffour (JAK) we have been doing a lot . The party has set up a number of committees all preparing towards giving a good account in next year's presidential and parliamentary campaign and elections. The party is preparing to enable it acquit itself with distinction in next year's election and we are doing every thing possible to take the country along with us. We have lost one by-election and won another so it is one-all. That is some achievement because in Accra here the papers were speculating we were going to lose Ablekuma Central.

As things turned out, we put all our opponents down. When all of them were lumped together they did not measure up

KBA: That is just one by-election

JAK: And then the other too, if you look at the figures critically and you know the grounds of Lambussie, you see that inspite of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning we came up better in terms of percentages and also in overall term you see that the NDC lost quite a margin. People say perhaps it was due to poor turnout of voters but let me tell you those of us who worked in the field , saw that the people there to arguments and the fact that the place is a stronghold of the NDC also counted. Do not forget that close to six or seven ministers of state come from that area. It was a seat that was occupied by an NDC man who had won by a huge margin in the last election and had died rather sadly. There was a lingering sympathy for the cause of the NDC but inspite of that we closed the gap

KBA: Let us put the two by-elections aside and look generally at your preparation. You have disclosed that since the congress you have been actively working towards election 2000. When you look at your preparation so far, how confident are you that come 2000, the NPP will win?

JAK: I am very confident as I have already told you. We are thinking through problems. When we talk about problems confronting the nation now you will see that we are going to give real alternatives, alternatives that entail an indepth analysis of problems which has not been the case with the incumbent.

The incumbent is only fumbling through with problems. We want to put a stop to that and it is because of our desire to think through before turning the problems around , that we have given the impression that the NPP is keeping quite. We are not keeping quite but treating the problems so seriously. If you are talking education, we do not want to be just a flipper. We want to see how this problem can be grappled with together with that of unemployment and others

KBA: Before you touch on unemployment and others how different do you think a government of the NPP will be from that of the NDC or the other parties?

JAK: We will be radically different from the NDC. We will be a very thinking and doing government. I do not see this government as thinking. It is an adhoc sort of government. They are always overtaken by events from the energy crisis through the way they handed the wages problem , through to the law and order situation we are now in. Look at every sector of government and you will see that this is not a government that is on top of the problems confronting the nation. I am telling you, we will come in and from scratch people will know that these are people who have thought ahead and through problems

KBA: Let us take the issues one after the other. Law and order. What do you think are the underlying causes of the breakdown in law and order, armed robbery and the rest?

JAK: When you look critically you will see that the NDC was born out of lawlessness. Their leader is on record for preaching democratisation of violence wherever this high-sounding idea came from, it is bizzare. Democratisation of violence, it means if somebody picks a gun, you also pick a gun. As things are now, it seems people are picking up guns against people who do not have access to guns to democratise the violence. Naturally, the problem is compounded as it is. Lawlessness is rife and there is no effective way to check it. Take the Mataheko serial killings, there is no trace of the criminals to bring to book.

Its happening all over the place AK 47 is all over Ghana. AK 47 is an assault weapon and for that matter police and military issue. It is not something that we buy on counters or anywhere in shops, but people have access, private people and they are causing mayhem all over the country. So on law and order, I will say, the leadership which is obviously enamoured with bad thoughts should be held accountable for the breakdown.

KBA: If your party should win the next election, you will certainly inherit a big problem. How are you going to tackle those problems?

JAK: We are going to tackle it by enhancing the capabilities of the regular law enforcement agency, the police, for one. They should be out there to discover the arms caches so government will remove these caches and also the caches should be returned to where they belong - the armouries. Private people should not have access to assault weapons like AK 47 which is now all over the place.

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GHANA BANK GOVERNOR CALLS FOR CHECK ON MONEY

By Pan African News Agency - August 2, 1999

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The third regional workshop on money laundering and other financial crimes in the West African Sub-Region opened in Accra Monday with a call on the international community to co-operate and strengthen the capacity of developing economies to check money laundering.

The governor of the Bank of Ghana, Kwabena Duffuor, said if the war against money laundering must be won, financial and security authorities in Africa must be strengthened to keep abreast with changes in banking legislation, practices and the growing sophistication of methods used by launderers.

"The scourge of money laundering does not respect geographical boundaries, race, ideology or the level of economic development," he told the four-day workshop that has brought together more than 70 top and middle-level financial managers and security personnel from West Africa to brainstorm on ways to curb the crime.

Duffuor warned that if not well checked, money laundering and other economic crimes would whittle away the gains made through long years of economic restructuring in Africa.

Buttressing his assertion on the enormity of the "pandemic disease," the governor said money laundering is estimated at more than 500 billion dollars a year globally.

This, he said, is equivalent to 1,500 times the aggregate external trade of Sub-Saharan Africa.

"What is more, money laundering is 162 times the combined gross domestic product of Sub-Saharan African countries."

Duffuor said a sudden burst of "criminal money" flowing through a financial centre may create an illusion of success or growth and a short-term boost to national savings.

Duffuor said money laundering undermines the efficacy of monetary policy through arbitrary inflation and deflation of money supply and distortion of resource allocation in the economy.

"It is volatile: here today, gone tomorrow. It moves in response to changes in legislation on bank disclosure and financial regulation."

Kathryn Dee Robinson, US Ambassador in Ghana, said high level economic crime is an important issue which should be of global concern.

"It has become a global issue and it needs absolute cooperation and support from governments, security and financial institutions to fight this menace."

She said the workshop is timely against the background of the economic integration of West African countries as well as various reforms taking place in the region.

Robinson said the workshop would broaden the consciousness of participants of the nature and current trends of the problem.

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KUFUOR LAMENTS OVER VOLTA REGION

By The Online Independent - July 27, 1999 -- Year 10 No. 55

By Kabral Blay-Amihere

The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, John Agyekum Kufuor has expressed his personal concern and that of his party about the poor rate of development in the Volta Region and has promised an NPP government will redress the imbalance and stagnation.

Speaking to The Independent, in an exclusive interview at his Accra residence last Tuesday, a very relaxed but concerned Kufuor, said he has in the course of his travels nationwide and in the Volta Region lamented about the poor state of development in the region, the poor road network that makes travel in that part of Ghana an agonizing experience.

He blamed the Rawlings government for the stagnation and neglect of infrastructural development in the region, adding his government will do things for the people of that region and other parts of Ghana.

Referring to the Keta Sea Defence project, he said this was one example of the NDC's lack of commitment to the people of the Volta Region.

"We shall not encourage contracts that enable a few Ghanaians to punish people, contracts that enable billions of cedis to be diverted, to be stolen when the people want change in their living conditions", he said.

According to Mr. Kufuor NPP's concern about the Volta Region is not just political gimmick to break the cycle of NPP defeats in the two last national elections. He said an NPP government stands committed to bring social services and progress to all regions in the country without discrimination.

In the exclusive interview that covered a wide range of issues, Mr. Kufour said the NPP was poised for victory in the next elections.

"The people of Ghana want change and that change can only come through the NPP."

"It is about time the NDC was stopped from its perennial fumbling and mismanagement of the nation," he said.

Referring to Professor John Atta, Mills, who many political observers predict will be the flagbearer of the NDC, Mr. Kufuor said: "Mills may have all the advantages of an incumbency but has the disadvantage of he to stand as the presidential candidate of a party whose mandate is ending."

Mr. Kufuor promised the NPP will campaign in a style that will make Ghanaians of all political shades accept it as the party for change.

Whilst he did not state any categorical position on the possibility of an alliance with any of the opposition parties, he did not dismiss that prospect, adding philosophically that "in politics one should hesitate in saying never unless on the issue of principles". We shall take every measure and step that will bring Ghanaians relief and change in the year 2000.

On the state of unity in the NPP, he said the party at the top and bottom is united and poised for the battle ahead and added that the NPP has on the quiet been putting their campaign machinery and strategy in place.

Asked about the Reform Party, he welcomed the party into the democratic culture and said the birth of the Reform Party was a protest about the absence of democracy in the NDC. "It has also broken the myth that the NDC is a monolitic party. The Reformists have clearly shown the cracks in the NDC," he said.

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DUFFUOR RE-LAUNCHES HEART CAMPAIGN

By Ghana Review International, May 19, 1999

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May '99

Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ghana Heart Foundation (GHF), on Tuesday night re-launched the fund-raising campaign for the Heart Fund saying they failed to meet the target for last year.

"This year the target remains unchanged at 2.4 billion cedis and I appeal to the general public to contribute only 200 cedis a month to enable us meet the target," he said at a press conference.

If the target is achieved about 200 needy, patients will have heart surgery free of charge within the year. Dr. Duffuor said the Heart Fund (HF) is not in the position to bear the full cost of operations for needy people since donations are far below expectation.

He noted that last year only 7,500 out of the expected one million individuals and a number of corporate bodies donated 861 million cedis out of the expected 2.4 billion cedis into the fund.

Dr. Duffuor, who is also the Governor of the Central Bank, said between January and May this year, only 320 million cedis had been donated by individuals and corporate bodies.

This, he said, is a little above one-third of the expected amount needed.

Dr. Duffuor explained that the promise of the NCC to offer free operation was based on the premise of its appeal for one million Ghanaians to donate 200 cedis each every month. This would have amounted to 200 million cedis a month and 2.4 billion cedis a year.

He said due to inadequate funds, 117 million cedis was used to sponsor only up to 50 per cent of the cost of operation for 31 needy persons last year. Some individuals, organisations and Churches have threatened to stop donating to the fund because the GHF could not fully bear the cost of operation of their members and workers.

"We should not expect that as soon as one puts 200 cedis into the fund then the GHF is obliged to pay for the full cost of heart surgery for the donor in need."

Dr. Duffuor assured the public that members of the board of the trustees would exploit other sources of revenue and make use of the health insurance scheme that the government would soon launch.

Dr. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Head of the NCC, said despite inadequate funds, only five patients died after being diagnosed last year.

He dismissed rumours that donations meant for operations are used in furnishing the NCC, saying that the centre does not account to the administration of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital "thus we use the revenue we generate to develop the centre."

Dr. Frimpong-Boateng noted that heart and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for about 12 million deaths globally every year, saying about six million people die of CVDs in the developing world alone.

Records at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital confirm this trend, he said adding that currently more deaths occur through CVDs than through infectious diseases.

"The World Health Organisation has therefore declared CVDs as the number one public enemy and an emerging epidemic".

He noted that while governments of developing nations are committed to promoting other emerging sectors of their economies, they give very little attention to the emerging epidemic.

Dr. Frimpong-Boateng therefore called on the government to commit more money to train experts and to educate the public against CVDs "if we are to change the current trend."

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KUFUOR GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE ...

Rawlings Must Own Up

He and his Government are ill-equipped to solve problems they have created

By Ebo Quansah

Culled from Ghanaian Chronicle

THE NEW PATRIOTIC Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, has invited the President and his ruling National Democratic Congress Government to own up to the fact that they are ill-equipped to solve the myriad of problems confronting the nation to enable the good people of Ghana advise themselves on the next line of action.

"This government can't solve the many problems they have created. Let them own up and let the people advise themselves," Kufuor told the Chronicle in an extensive interview that virtually amounted to his manifesto for the next Presidential elections.

He said the economy was suffering from stunted growth as a result of long years of mismanagement, lack of consultation and pursuant of policies that have little bearing on the country's comparable advantage.

"I tell you, personally, that the economy is suffering from stunted growth and abnormal development as a result of long years of mismanagement occasioned by lack of wholesale appreciation and the necessary articulation of its various component sections within definite time span to achieve harmonious development. So even though there is boast of good economic performance, the people in Ghana at large are still in disarray and suffering untold hardship from a debilitating currency to endless rising cost of living to maddening unemployment with no prospect of solution."

Mr Kufuor said the problem was worsened by lack of credit for business ventures and seriously dislocated social services and health delivery and poorly performing agriculture and uncompetitive manufacturing sector.

"When you have used all these statistics and you are told that the economy is performing at four percent growth and you go unto the streets and jubilate, then you are being invited to a treat in a fool's paradise. The situation is very critical especially viewed against the backdrop of globalization of the market."

Offering his solution to the problem, Mr. Kufuor recommended leadership of vision and competence and effective communication with the people to awaken the body politic to the realities of the current world economic order and how Ghana fits in.

"This is the way to shock the people to awaken to perform to their potential. The solution lies with harnessing all natural and human resources and their management. We need to conscientise the people to the realities of our problems and how to solve them. When you have prepared the people well then you offer them a package of effective rural development and modern agriculture."

He said the time has come when this nation would have to make a conscious effort to modernise agriculture. But since most Ghanaian farmers could not afford the necessary machinery the government ought to help by working out packages to bring in the technology and the necessary machinery.

"It is in the interest of Government to bring all stake-holders -government, farmers, agricultural extension service officials, agro-based industrial conglomerate as well as finding markets for products. This holistic approach cannot originate from the farmers. It has to originate from Central Government."

On the industrial front, Mr Kufuor asked for the encouragement of joint-ventures, transfer of technology, effective technical management and motivation to reduce corruption and waste to the barest minimum.

In all these, the NPP flag-bearer would like to see the state providing the necessary support and direction "with deep appreciation that the market will not only be Ghana but the whole globe. Competitiveness is the word, he told the Chronicle.

He hoped access to venture capitals would not be mere lip-service but real to enable the entrepreneur to take his or her rightful place in terms of equity by corporate entity.

" When the NPP talks of private sector being the engine of growth, it is not lip-service. It is real. A government formed by the NPP will look at itself very critically to ensure that the Structural Adjustment Policy yields its necessary rewards for the economy in terms of efficiency and output."

He said under his government the public sector would behave as a productive partner to the private sector to benefit the economy. "They will be two sides of a whole."

Mr Kufuor was saddened by the events leading to the closure of universities which he said was the result of government failure to implement the Price Waterhouse Report on public sector wages.

"The universities crisis is not an isolated problem. Doctors went on strike, nurses did the same and now the universities have closed down because workers are on strike."

He said the problem could only be solved through the collective efforts of all Ghanaians bringing pressure to bear on government to be alive to its responsibilities.

"This government is so adamant that pressure is the only means of awakening it. It is the collective efforts of all of us that can save us. It is the future of Ghana that is at stake. The NPP sees the problem as stemming from Government shielding the Price Waterhouse Report."

He said the NPP had made several demands on government to implement the report without success. "It is as if the government is insensitive to the high cost of living. That is why various sectors of the work-force are embarking on strikes. All of us should co-ordinate our efforts to force government to abandon the contempt with which it treats the people.

He was concerned about the creeping dictatorship in the body politic in the constitutional dispensation.

"We are supposed to live in a regime of rule of law in which the sovereign law is the Constitution. But at every turn we find that the President and his government display arbitrary exercise of power as if they are above the law. Accountability is a much used word by the President. But evidence on the ground clearly is that accountability has very little value to this regime."

Book a date with Kufuor in the Chronicle on Monday and read about what the NPP Presidential candidate thinks of Rawlings, the dictatorial tendencies of his reign, the destruction of Alhaji Yusif's hotel through the problems in the NPP and how they are being solved.

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OSAGYEFUO KUNTUNKUNUNKU II TO BE BURRIED ON AUGUST 16

By A.C. Ohene Kyebi,

The Chronicle, Friday, April 12, 1999

OSAGYEFO KUNTUNKUNUNKU II, who died on March 17, this year, will be buried on August 16.

At a meeting at Kyebi, the Okyeman Council announced that families in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area who want to perform funeral rites for their departed relations can do so between now and the first "Ohum" festival in June after which a ban would be placed on all funerals.

The acting President of the Council, Osabarima Kena Ampaw II, has denied rumours that the Council had already placed a ban on all funerals, stressing that the ban would come into force after June.

According to the acting president, four committees: finance, protocol and publicity, ritual as well as works and housing had been set up to prepare for the August funeral.

Sources at the Ofori Panin Fie explained that the Okyeman Council feels it a duty to organise a funeral whose magnitude would equal the Asantehene's or get close to it.

"The issue is that they were both great kings. And Osagyefo was not only a king but president of the National House of Chiefs and a member of the Council of State", one chief stressed.

To be able to marshal sufficient logistics for the programme, the Okyeman Council has roped into the committees many of its prominent sons and daughters in the country. Names that Chronicle has gathered have been assigned duties include the former Chief of Defence Staff-General Okine, former Inspector General of Police - S. S. Omane and Brigadier Twum Barima. Others are Dr. Seth Twum, a lawyer, Justice Forster, an appeal court judge and Nana Opponhene, a retired geological survey department boss. Politicians were not left out: Mines and Energy Minister - Ohene Kena, Deputy Minister for Tourism - Owuraku Amofa and Council of State member, Mrs. Mercy Owusu Nimo have also been assigned roles.

The nine Akyem members of parliament under the leadership of Minister of State Akuamoah Ofosu Boateng and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo have also been tasked to perform certain duties and seek sponsorship, Ahenfie sources concluded.

According to the acting chairman of the Traditional Council, the Castle would be formally informed about the demise of Osagyefo Kuntunkununku by this weekend. That had been delayed because of the first couple's visit to Europe recently, it was learnt. And it is expected that the Castle would offer substantial assistance to Okyeman in the burial of their king.

Even so, the cost involved is expected to be so high that Osabarima Kena Ampaw's Council has extended invitations to Akyem citizens abroad and to all sympathisers to assist Okyeman in the burial. His female counterpart, Nana Korkor Daah Mansah, has also said she is marshalling the support of all queenmothers in the traditional area to complement the efforts of the chiefs and committees.

She extended an invitation to all religious bodies in Ghana to pray for peace and co-operation to reign in the Akyem Traditional Area till they are able to install a new chief.

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KUFUOR IN ISRAEL

By The Online Independent

Apr. 6, 1999 -- Year 10 No. 23

The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra last week for Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Mr. Kufuor, who will spend 10 working days, was invited by some Ghanaian citizens and friends to spend the Easter holidays with them.

Mr. Kufuor is expected to meet NPP members and supporters in the Holy Land where he is expected to brief them on development in the party.

Mr. Kufuor will also visit Jerusalem and other Holy places in Israel before returning home.

The NPP presidential candidate was seen off at the Kotoka International Airport by some NPP stalwarts led by the deputy Minority

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ACTING ASANTEHENE

The Online Independent

If anybody says that Africans were uncivilised before the white man came, that person will be advertising his ignorance.

Just take a critical look at our traditional system of inheritance and succession, and if it is not amazing, mind-boggling and evidence of high culture, then something should be amiss.

When the founding fathers of Asanteman laid the foundations of their nation, they laid down time tested rites and practices.

According to Asante custom, the occupant of the Golden Stool is the head of their nation, as Asantehene, who is overlord of all Asante lands and peoples.

What happens when the Asantehene dies in war or in bed or he travels? Who takes charge as Asantehene?

For an answer, the founding fathers laid down the rule that whoever will be occupying the Silver Stool at Mampong should carry on as the Asantehene, until a befitting royal candidate from the Oyoko clan in Kumasi is nominated, selected, enstooled and outdoored as Asantehene

And so, custom continues unabated. The news from Kumasi is that since Otumfuo the Asantehene has crossed the river, the present occupant of the silver stool at Mampong, Nana Osei Bonsu II, a barrister-at-law and Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, is now the Acting Asantehene just like Vice-President Al Gore of the USA, or the Crown Prince of Wales in any of the monarchies.

I hear the burial of the late king will be on March 25. I bet Kumasi will be turned upside down.

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THE KING IS GONE! Succession sets tongues wagging

The Online Chronicle

Volume 7, No 67 - Monday, March 1, 1999

IT IS A routine that had come to be part of his life as he reached the evening of his career. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, had gone to bed for a siesta at 3pm with instructions that he should be woken up at 5pm, if he was not already up.

At 3 pm, on Thursday, February, 25, 1999, the traditional head of Ashanti went to bed for his normal siesta. Like the obedient servants of the king, the valets went to inform the Asantehene that the time he gave them was up. This time, there was no response. Otumfuo had joined his ancestors.

Rumours of the Asantehene's death had done the rounds previously without substance. About three years ago, Otumfuo Opku Ware returned from treatment abroad and expressed serious concern about rumours that he had died in London.

Last year, Asantehene fell ill and was rushed to London for treatment, reportedly paid for by the government. On his return, he thanked the Government for coming to his aid. While in London for treatment, rumours did the rounds that the Asantehene had died.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware was enstooled Asantehene on Monday, July 27, 1970. He ruled for 29 years.

According to custom, the Mamponghene, Nana Osei Bonsu, who traditionally takes charge of the Golden Stool in the absence of the Asantehene, will act as the regent until a new king is installed within 40 days.

The Mamponghene is expected to formally announce the death of the Asantehene today. He will also announce funeral arrangements for the Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

Known in private life as Matthew Poku, Otumfuo Opoku Ware held several public positions bnefore his enstoolment. He was Ambassador to Italy, when his uncle, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh went to the village and was recalled home to lead his people. He assumed the reigns as Asantehene on July 6, 1970 until his coronation on July 27, three weeks after becoming the Asantehene.

Inspite of traditional practice that the Asantehene should not live without a wife, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II did not re-marry when his wife died about three years ago because of his devotion to Christianity.

He celebrated the silver jubilee of his ascension to the Golden Stool with a grand durbar at the Kumasi Sports Stadium attended by the world media.

Previously, he had organised a durbar in New York to celebrate "Ashanti- Land of Gold."

Otumfuo Opoku Ware II was reportedly rebuked by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council in 1979 for failing to execute the 16 mile Kumasi-Offinso Road as a contractor. Many Asantis were disappointed that their king had to do contractual job when he had access to unlimited resources as Asantehene.

Politically, the Asantehene did not officially declare his interest in any political party but many of his subject were ill-at peace with the late Otumfuo's close collaboration with the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and its successor regime, the National Democratic Congress of President Rawlings.

There was a pervading perception among many Ashantis that he did not provide the needed leadership to resist what the Provisional National Defence Council when the council allegedly victimised Ashantis at the onset of the coup d'etat of December 1981.

Sources indicated that was why Ashantis were nostalgic about the reign of his predecessor, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, who reportedly stood up against to the dictatortial tendencies of the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

One of his last act as Asantehene, was the appoinment of Mr Herbert Mensah, Country Director of M-Net as chairman of the Board of Directors of Kumasi Asante Kotoko football Club.

The Ashanti royal inheritance is matrilineal. The Ashanti Queen Mother, Afia Kobi is expected to nominate one of the late Asantehene's nephew for approval by the king makers. One character that is likely to feature in the process is Nana Akwasi Agyeman, the Kumasi Metropolitan chief Executive.

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KUFUOR BEATS MILLS IN POLL

The Online Independent

By Kabral Blay-Amihere

New Patriotic Party Presidential candidate, John Agyekum Kufuor, should be a happy man if he believes in call-in polls conducted by FM stations in Accra.

One call-in poll conducted by VIBE FM last Tuesday, the day Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan, saw him doing so well that if presidential elections were conducted that day in Accra he would have beaten possible presidential candidates.

The call-in poll conducted by the popular talk show host, Kwesi Sintim Misa, on Tuesday morning on VIBE FM asked listeners a straightforward question: WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR AS PRESIDENT OF GHANA IF ELECTIONS WERE HELD TODAY?

He gave as the list of the candidates, Mr. Kufuor, who has already been elected as the NPP presidential candidate; Professor John Atta Mills, the anointed heir apparent of the DECISION-MAKER of the National Democratic Congress, President Rawlings; Dr. Edward Mahama of the Peoples National Convention; and Dr. Wereko Brobby, the presidential candidate of the United Ghana Movement.

Callers were expected to state the reasons for their votes. To avoid any criticisms of being a managed affair, the host and VIBE kept only one telephone line.

In an earlier poll during the NPP presidential elections, Kufour followers had accused the host and the radio station of bias.

When it was all over after 113 listeners had called in to vote within 50 minutes, Kufuor stood towering high, the giant that he is physically among all the other candidates.

The breakdown of the votes are as follows:

J.A. Kufuor 70; 62%

John Atta Mills 24; 21%

Edward Mahama 7; 6%

Charles Wereko Brobby 3; 2.7%

Nine voters, representing 8 per cent of the voters said that they would not vote for any of the four candidates. Two said that they would vote for Goosie Tanoh of the Reformed Movement if he were a candidate.

Those who voted for Kufuor cited many reasons for their support. “He is the most dynamic. He is politically matured. He is a peacemaker. He is democratic. He is God-fearing. He has wisdom. He is obedient, humble and a good man. He is a gentleman. He has the qualification. He is the greatest of all the candidates. He is dynamic and level-headed”, they said.

For the supporters of Mills, they saw him as more dynamic than Kufuor, more abreast with current issues and therefore good for continuity, intelligent and level-headed.

The three people who opted for Dr. Wereko Brobby see him as “articulate, enthusiastic and pragmatic and charismatic while those who rooted for Dr. Mahama said he is “good and articulate and stands firm after all he is going through.

Whilst host Kwesi Sintim Misa kept referring to the poll as a fun game and unscientific, political observers think otherwise and believe that the various political parties will take it serious.

Even the Kufuor camp who had during the NPP presidential race accused VIBE of bias when a similar poll favoured Nana Akufo Addo will be pleased with last Tuesday’s poll and build their fortunes on it.

It is pertinent to note that whilst the figure 113 is so infinitesimal and might not be representative of the whole country, particularly rural Ghana, the verdict is one that party strategists cannot ignore.

One social scientist was quick to point out that the so-called high rating of President Clinton in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky affair is often based on random sampling of just a 1000 Americans.

KSM had no hand in selecting the callers which means that the VIBE poll is something that represents the pulse of urban residents.

An NPP insider said the party is happy with the verdict of the listeners of VIBE but said that the party has to work to consolidate its urban strength and our real work is in the country side where the NDC through political patronage and its incumbency has some edge”, he said.

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GOVERNOR CALLS FOR VIBRANT AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Culled from Ghana WorldWide

Accra, Nov 25, - Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Wednesday said a permanent solution to Ghana's inflation problem would be to revisit the agricultural sector policy.

"The agricultural sector remains an area in which further work will have to be done to transform current farming methods into highly productive systems that will be responsive to market conditions". Dr Duffuor said this in Accra at an end-of-year business luncheon organised by the Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

In a 21-page address which was described as a "foretaste of the 1999 budget" by those who attended the luncheon, the Governor said the generally downward trend in inflation this year is mainly due to the effective monetary policy of the central bank.

Inflation, he said, had fallen to 17.4 per cent by the end of September from 20.8 per cent at the beginning of the year.

He explained that the pattern in inflation in Ghana reflected seasonal agricultural sector problems which have become more serious as a result of poor weather conditions.

This year, for instance, the Governor emphasised, food inflation has been generally higher. According to him, pressures from inadequate food supplies pushed inflation up to 20.3 per cent in March and 23. 1 per cent in April.

However, through the tight monetary policy of the Bank, inflation declined to its lowest level since December 1992.

"While the availability of agricultural sector credit is an important determinant of the sector's performance, we believe that the sector's problems are multi-dimensional and agricultural strategy should embrace all aspects of the problems," Dr Duffuor said.

In particular, the lack of credit facilities for agriculture should not be analysed in isolation of issues relating to land titles and land ownership, choice of technology and post-harvest losses.

These problems, he said, must be dealt with in the medium to long-term period.

Dr Duffuor said without the tight monetary policy adopted by the Bank which provided a strong anchor for prices during the year, inflation could have been higher.

He said the decline in inflation enabled interest rates to decline and allowed the Central Bank to mop up more liquidity.

The Governor described the decline in the 91-day treasury bill rate from 40 per cent to 26.93 per cent and the average lending rates for manufacturing from 44.2 per cent to 41 per cent, as positive developments in the economy.

He, therefore, advised the banks to reduce their lending rates so as to derive maximum benefits from the declining trend in interest rates.

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ADANSIHENE RETURNS HOME

Culled from Ghana WorldWide

Accra, Ghana, Oct. 21, - A two-man delegation from the Adansi Traditional Council led by its chief, Daasebre Nana Ofori Agyeman the second, returned home on Wednesday after a month-long visit to the United States and Canada.

The visit was at the invitation of Adansiman citizens in the two countries. The other member of the delegation was Nana Okofo Tabiri Agyei the third, Dompoasehene. Speaking to newsmen, Nana Agyeman described the visit as "highly successful", saying it offered them the opportunity to brief Adansi citizens on government's policies and investment opportunities.

Nana Agyeman said he appealed to them to mobilise investors to come to Ghana. He said he urged them to unite and uphold the dignity of Adansiman and contribute cash and in kind to supplement government's efforts in developing the area. Of particular importance are the Adansiman hospital at Fomena which needs completion, and school buildings.

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KUFUOR SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE VICTORY

Culled from Ghana WorldWide

Sunyani, Ghana, Oct. 25, - Night life in Sunyani Saturday received a considerable boost when supporters of re-endorsed NPP flag bearer, Mr J.A. Kufuor, took to the streets and drinking bars and celebrated his victory deep into the night.

Singing the popular religious song, "Aba Mu Awie, Aba Mu Awie", the teeming supporters, backed by horn-tooting cars, poured into the streets and drinking spots in a carnival-like fashion, turning the town into one big "party yard" soon after the official results were released.

Full of joy that their man has beaten the five other contestants in the presidential race of the party at its just-ended national delegates conference, the supporters could not help but chant "thank God, common sense has triumphed over money", as they celebrated. The official result which was announced at about 2100 hours after a seven-hour-long voting and counting period, gave Mr Kufuor, who was the party's 1996 flag bearer, 1,286 votes, representing almost 65 per cent of the total votes cast.

Nana Akufo Addo, his fiercest rival, had 628 votes which is 31 per cent of votes cast with Dr Kofi Apraku receiving 52 votes. The remaining aspirants, Mr Kwame Kodua, Mr Malik Alhassan Yakubu and Mr J.H. Mensah, minority leader had eight, seven and three of the total votes cast respectively. Nine votes were rejected and seven other delegates did not vote.

Based on the intensity of applause given to the various aspirants as they entered the conference hall, it was predicted that Mr Kufuor might win with some difficulty as the ovation given him and Nana Akuffo Addo were almost equal.

So when word began to go round during the counting of the ballots that Mr Kufuor was leading with a comfortable majority, his supporters burst into celebrations as popular religious songster Yaw Sarpong's "Wa Ye Awie" boomed in the background.

Soon after the official announcement of the results and the acceptance speech of Mr Kufuor, his supporters, drowned in joy, jammed the adjoining streets of the conference hall and nearby bars to celebrate.

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SHOWDOWN AWAITS DELEGATES IF KUFUOR LOSES PRIMARIES

By Andrew Edwin Arthur Jnr., Cape Coast,
The Online Independent

The youth and opinion leaders here in Cape Coast have warned that should Mr. J.A. Kufuor, one of the President aspirants of the new Patriotic Party lose the party’s primaries, the Cape Coast NPP delegates to the October congress should not return to Cape Coast.

Disclosing the warning to the Cape Coast constituency executives, the constituency chairman, Mr.. Frank Hutchful said, the rank and file of the NPP are voting for Mr. Kufuor, thus the warning that should Mr. Kufuor lose the flagbearership, the Executives and delegates should remain in Sunyani, the venue of the NPP October conference.

Mr. Hutchful on behalf of the executives assured Mr. Kufuor that, the Cape Coast constituency would give him nine out of the ten votes from the constituency. During his tour of the Central Region, Mr.. J.A. Kufuor told the delegates that, his experience in the 1996 campaign has ut him in good stead to campaign effectively and to also counteract the machination of the NDC. He said, if voted to lead the party, he would in consultation with the National Executives work out the most strategic plan to win the 2000 elections.

With two years to prepare for the elections, Mr.. Kufuor assured the party under his leadership would be able to obtain adequate logistics to fight and win the 2000 general elections.

Mrs. Gladys Asmah, MP for Takoradi and a member of Kufuor’s campaign team noted that, the year 2000 is very crucial to the NPP and as such, the October congress would be a deciding actor for the future of the nation. She said, it would be wrong for anyone to misinterpret Mr. Kufuor’s gentlemanly behaviour as weakness, describing him as a soft-spoken gentleman who is very brilliant, intelligent and hard-working.

The Central Regional Organiser of the NPP who went round with Mr. Kufuor, Alhaji A.M. Gibrine urged the delegates to put their ears on the ground and listen tot he wishes of the people and vote for the people’s candidate.He said this would make easier, the campaign for the candidate after the congress, advising that, no delegate should allow himself to be influenced by money.

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GOVERNOR WARNS RURAL BANKS

From The Online Independent
From Isaiah Asante Hayford, Kumasi,

The Bank of Ghana has identified a number of unprofessional banking practices in the rural banking and has consequently decided to take stringent measures to ensure improved management skills and instill financial disciple in the system. These sentiment were contained in a speech read on behalf of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Dufour by Mr. Asiedu Mantey at the 11th annual general meeting of shareholders and the commissioning of new bank premises at Jamasi on Saturday, July 11, 1998.

Dr. Dufour explained that the Central Bank must rescue such banks to demonstrate total commitment and development of the rural banking sector, as a vehicle for economic development and sustainable growth. This strategic plan, he noted, has worked to perfection in other developing countries. "We strongly believe that with excellent managerial policies, dedication and integrity, the objective can also be successfully achieved in Ghana", he assured. He said it is even disheartening to note that credit granted by some rural banks are skewed in favour of a few urban customers, while small borrowers, especially farmers in the catchment area, are utterly neglected.

"It is also not worthy that even director of most banks obtain loans without following laid down rules and regulations and this is the plight of our rural banking system today", the Governor lamented. The governor advised the management of all rural banks that fine buildings per se don't determine the performances of the banks. rather it is the performance of the staff and sound management, especially the quality of services rendered to customers and general public that make new buildings meaningful.

"We want this new building to be a testimony of proven professional banking, high integrity and rising public confidence, the new premises should mark a departure from all unprofessional banking practices, mis-application of funds, fraudulent practices and above all neglect of the rural economy. "I would strongly like to appeal to Nananom and the opinion leaders in the communities to rather educate their people not only to patronize their rural bank but also to reopening their loans promptly so that funds could be recycled for the benefit of all. I also expect the banks to draw up appropriate plans and planned strategies for the recovery of loans in all forms", Dr. Dufour asserted.

The Central Bank Governor lamented about the poor performance of most of the rural banks. According to the Governor, out of 132 rural banks in the country only 60 could be classified as satisfactory. He said that only 92 banks have been submitting returns regularly to the Central Bank, thus making it very herculean task to supervise and monitor their operations. "Of late most rural banks have also been hiding behind agencies to operate"brouches" in urban area, thus abandoning their obligations to the rural communities", he disclosed.

Dr. Duffour said the Central Bank is still committed to the development and growth of an efficient rural and community banks as an integral part of the banking system in Ghana. Baffour Appiah Dankwa III the President of the Association of rural Banks, Ashanti chapter, in his speech said the earlier conception that Rural Bank were "father Christmas" doling money here and there without regard to proper banking practices have now giving way to a more business like approach, with the maximization of profits as a cardinal principle has given the wrong impression that the rural banks have deserted the rural areas for the urban centres and the cities thereby defeating the aims and objectives of the concept.

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NPP LEADERSHIP RACE GETS HOTTER

From Joy FM News Desk

The race for the leadership of the New Patriotic Party, NPP took another turn with the official officially announcement by Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, at the weekend asking members of the party to give him the mandate to be the NPP presidential candidate for the year 2000 general elections. Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku is MP for Offinso North and the minority Spokesperson on Finance and Economic Planning. Addressing the executive members of the NPP in the Greater Accra Region