Kufuor is noted for such loose talk -JAM

President Kufuor’s comments at the weekend that former President Rawlings was scheming to overthrow his government caught the attention of former Vice President Evans Attah Mills, who dismissed the allegation, saying it had no basis.

Attah Mills said it was unbecoming of President Kufuor to cast aspersions at his opponents and never bothering to substantiate them.

"Kufuor is noted for such loose talk," Atta-Mills said

"He says things that he cannot substantiate. We're tired of him crying wolf where there's none."

Mills said Kufuor ought to check his utterances if he wanted to be taken seriously, otherwise very soon no one would listen to him when he speaks.

The claim also drew in the NDC’s National Organiser, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo who posited that President Kufuor was deliberately throwing mud at the former President and the NDC to cover up for his party’s shortcomings. Former President Rawlings is not in the country and would be expected to react to the charges.

Cost of Gas Pipeline Project up 10%

Officials of the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCO) on Tuesday said the initial cost of the project had risen sharply in view of the rising cost of energy equipment arising from the recent hikes in crude oil prices.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency after a stakeholders' forum in Accra, Mr Jack Derickson, Managing Director of WAPCO, said 93the three months delay in completing the project would result in about 10 per cent marginal cost in the original figure of 500 million dollars=94. He said the major works left were the construction of the compressors at the Lagos end of the project and issues bordering on research and monitoring.

The major items now are the upcoming civil works at Alagbado and Lagos Beach Compressor Station (LBCS), completion of mainline welding and burial and commencement of tie-ins.

"We also intend to receive major equipment including compressor modules at site and piping at Alagbado and LBCS are working at getting manufacturers of items for installing the compressors at the Nigerian end of the project as well as complete trenching works in Takoradi and Tema."

The Research and Monitoring Stations are to be built in Tema and Takoradi, and hydro-testing of pipeline followed by the inauguration of the pipeline and other facilities.Asked if the foundation members were willing to pick up the extra bills, Mr Derickson said it was something they were working on and did not expect any hiccups.

Presenting an update on the extent of construction offshore, Mr Barth Nwagboso, Project Director, said the installation of the 20-inch mainline from Takoradi in Ghana to Badagry in Nigeria was completed last April. The lateral pipelines in Cotonou, Lome and Tema have also been completed.


"What is ongoing now is the sub-sea tie-ins and pre-inauguration of the offshore pipelines and trenching works in Takoradi and Tema. Ms Michelle Cowherd of the Environmental Unit commended the collaboration with the various Environmental Protection Agencies in the four countries saying further studies were being conducted for baseline noise and air quality assessment within nine months of the issuance of permits.

She said construction and post-construction monitoring was ongoing noting that WAPCO had responsibilities to ensure that construction was done in accordance with environmental and social commitments among other things. 24 Oct. 06

Gospel musicians spike allegations of consulting fetish priests

The United Gospel Musicians Association (UGMA) on Tuesday expressed concern about allegations in the media that gospel musicians consulted fetish priests and priestesses to facilitate the sale of their songs.


The Association challenged radio presenters making the allegation to come out and name
those they claimed had consulted fetish priests and priestesses or apologise to Christians for the false allegation.

Mr Ernest Kwesi Ennin, General Secretary of UGMA, told a press conference in Accra that the reports had created anxiety among gospel musicians and Christians as a whole.

"The reports have the potential of adversely affecting the promotion and sale of gospel music and shall affect the impact of gospel music," he said.
Mr Ennin said consulting fetish priests contradicted the Christian faith and noted that members of UGMA relied spiritually on God and were motivated by Him in composing, recording, producing and marketing of their music.

Use language to promote peace, unity--ACP Yakubu advises Media personnel

The Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jonathan Yakubu on Tuesday called on media personnel to promote peace, unity and the nation's young democracy by working in conformity with professional ethics.

Addressing a press conference at Tema on recent publications, comments and contributions that are gradually creating tensions and anxiety in the society, the ACP advised media personnel against the use of derogatory remarks that have the tendency to create anxiety and tension. He noted that often times, certain programmes and phone-in callers make uncomplimentary remarks about personalities holding high offices, "which is unfortunate."

ACP Yakubu noted that the Police and the Media work in collaboration with a lot of challenges facing the two institutions and this require that care be taken in order to promote
the development of democracy, rule of law and socio-economic development of the nation.
Referring to section 208 of the criminal

code which stipulates that one commits an offence for publishing, reproducing a statement, rumour
or report to cause fear, alarm and disturb the peace and cautioned journalists against flouting it in their own interest.

He said the police have a duty to protect and defend the hard won democracy being presently enjoyed and warned that "we as a police organisation will not sit down unconcerned for the freedoms of speech and expression enshrined in the constitution to be abused or violated".


To this end, Mr Yakubu advised media personnel to be circumspect in their reportage and how they handle publications, contributions, phone-in calls in the discharge of their duties by crosschecking of facts in order not to embarrass and abuse the rights of people.