Talk about stabilised cedi is false - GNP

It is the dollar which is falling in value with respect to the pound sterling and the Euro that is giving the semblance of stability to the cedi, Mr Kobina Amo-Aidoo, Interim National Chairman of Ghana National Party (GNP),said on Friday. He said the cedi could not be a stabilised currency as long as "we continue to ignore local manufacturing of goods".He said: "We have to change the language 'I sell this; I sell that to I make this I make that", adding that at present Ghanaians imported almost everything including matches and chewing sticks.Mr Amo-Aidoo, therefore, called on Ghanaians to totally reject the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2008 elections.Speaking to the GNA in Accra to correct an earlier misreport carried by the Agency, the Interim National Chairman said Ghanaians should by now realize the level of deceit and fake political agenda exhibited by both the NDC and NPP Governments and to take steps to halt the falsehoods being propagated by the two parties."I call on all Ghanaians to totally reject the NPP and their false propaganda designed to attract public attention and remain empty on the ground", he said.Mr Amo-Aidoo cited the implementation of he National Health Insurance Scheme and the Capitation Grant and said majority of Ghanaians were not benefiting from the programmes as were being taunted by the government's propaganda machinery.It said it took almost a year before one could obtain NHIS card while Ghanaian children in private schools were also not enjoying the so-called capitation grant and the school-feeding programme. He said the GNP could not look on unconcerned while the Government propagated falsehoods to the detriment of the people."The kids of Ghana, the children and the youth are the only delicate legacy for this nation and we cannot remain unconcerned as their lives are in very serious danger", he said.The GNP said there was the need for a transparent and decent political administration to provide basic social services to the people and that it was time for the nation to seriously rejuvenate its potentials and develop its resources to enhance the well being of the people. He said the GNP had developed a human centred social policy that would ensure the welfare of the citizenry and appealed to Ghanaians to totally reject both the NPP and NDC and vote for the GNP to ensure total liberation and freedom for the people.
Source:GNA

NPP is the only party that can defeat NDC in 2008 - Nana Akufo-Addo

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, an aspiring flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has observed that NPP was the only party that could defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and ensured it never returned to power. However, he pointed out that defeating the NDC posed a big challenge to the NPP because it would depend on its message, dynamic leadership and effective organization. Nana Akufo-Addo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, made the observation when addressing constituency and polling station executives from four constituencies in Ashanti at Obuasi. He appealed to delegates of the December Congress to vote for a flagbearer who could win the 2008 elections for the party. Nana Akufo-Addo said "NDC was serious and it would not be easy for the NPP in the 2008 elections. Three successive defeats would lead to its collapse therefore, they are really serious. We know NDC very well and their policies, we should not allow them to return to power". He pointed out that the December congress represented the party's future therefore, the delegates should look for a leader with a global vision. "I have all the qualities of that visionary leader and could lead NPP to victory in 2008. Let us be truthful that if indeed NPP wanted a leader for 2008, it is Nana Akufo-Addo," he added. Nana Akufo-Addo denied that he was proud and arrogant, "here I am, very simple and a small man". He said he played a key role in ensuring peace in Liberia and other troubled countries therefore, the assertion that his leadership would bring chaos and divisions in Ghana was not true.GNA

Ghana will introduce Digital broadcasting Next Year

Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant on Wednesday said digital broadcasting would be introduced in the country within the next two years.He was speaking at a consultative forum on public service broadcasting organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GNA), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and the KAB Governance Consult at Lagos Town near Takoradi.The forum was under the theme "Public Service Broadcasting in Ghana, The Way Forward".Mr Apenteng, who is also a honorary member of the GJA, said television and radio sets in use would have to be replaced because they cannot pick up transmission of the digital technology. He said digital broadcasting would make efficient use of the frequency spectrum and make broadcasting cheaper, apart from an increase in the number of broadcasters, there would be more specialised channels. Mr Apenteng said public service broadcasting is crucial for Ghana's development and national unity and the GBC is well placed to transform into a true public service broadcaster. He said the corporation and the National Media Commission should take the lead in this direction and engage the public in discussions on its role and relevance.Mr Appenteng proposed that the GBC be allowed to derive funds from a variety of sources to make it financially independent and free from government pressures.Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA, said the country needs public service broadcasting to nurture its democracy. He said the public should own the public service broadcasting and support it to perform its expected roles.Mr Kwasi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive Officer of KAB Governance Consult, said as broadcasting is an important tool in the development of nations, a public service broadcasting station should be truly independent of government's economic influence and commercial pressures. Ms Dela Folie, a representative of FES, said the FES would involve itself in activities that would empower the media to strengthen the country's democratic process. 10 Oct. 07
Source:GNA

Bartels Exposed Again?

Bartels' Letter GENERAL LEASING Document
Contrary to claims by Interior Minister, Kwamena Bartels that he was not involved in the process that resulted in the selection of her daughter's company, investigation by the Enquirer has proved otherwise.
Caught and confronted with his own hand writing, Bartel's explanation for his role in supervising the award of over ¢4 billion to his daughter's budding company is that "the letter he wrote for the facility to be extended to his daughter is just "only administrative" statement.
(The Enquirer publishes on its front page Bartels’ letter saying his Ministry has awarded the facility to his daughter as well as a letter from the fund managers to his daughter, and company documents of Stay Sweet Sugar Industries on page 4)
But a member of the selection committee has told The Enquirer that "What does my man Bartels mean that the writing of the award letter to his daughter by his Ministry was only administrative, the selection process too is also a bureaucratic, administrative process. It is not a scientific research, neither is it a space exploration process. If one selects and another signs, we are all doing the same thing. We are all contributing to one process. In Bartel's case, he went the extra mile and coached his daughter and son-in-law and supervised the administrative process which led to the conclusion of the award for his facility." the member said.
The member of the committee which selects companies that have applied to benefit from the government's Ghana Private Sector Development Fund-Italian Credit has said he does not recollect that Bartel's excused himself from the selection process for his daughter, adding that even the revelations from his "own mouth about events" culminating in the award of the 4 billion cedi facility to his daughter is shocking "to some of us"
The member said, Kwamena Bartel's conduct in this matter is a betrayal of his own government.
"Let somebody do this to us and let's chase them for trying to sabotage our efforts, not Bartel's himself, the man who pioneered the project. The painful thing is that now we are all going to be lumped into one basket, some of us worked hard, I just can't believe him" The committee member said
The member noted that for a man who pioneered the Italian credit, he should have been the one to ensure that companies which benefit are credible enough so that we can all celebrate the success.
Interestingly, out of the three processes which eventually led to the selection of Bartel's daughter's company, it has been confirmed that Kwamena Bartels participated in at least two, yet he claims he excused himself. Kwamena Bartels is under the Enquirer's investigation for sprinkling over ¢4 billion from the Ghana Private Sector Development Fund on her a daughter's company, called Stay Sweet Sugar Industries.
Source:Enquirer