Rawlings descends heavily on NPP

Former President Jerry Rawlings has accused the NPP government of masterminding the enstoolment of Francis Nyonyo Agboada as Awoamefia of Anlo, a situation he says is illegal. The former president also accused the Kufuor-led administration of consistently corrupting the chieftaincy institution.

Speaking at fundraising rally of the National Democratic Congress in Akatsi in the Volta Region, Mr Rawlings said the government, in a desperate attempt to hold on to power, had dabbled in the Anlo chieftaincy crisis by supporting Torgbui Sri. He cited the Dagbon chieftaincy conflict as well as the Ga chieftaincy clashes as examples of the government’s complicity in protracted chieftaincy conflicts in the country. (Play the attached audio to listen to former President Rawlings).

The occasion was also used to launch an ID card for NDC party members. The former President said the government was preparing to rig the polls using the ROPAL and urged supporters to be resolute and stand against it.The New Patriotic Party had planned a similar rally in the same district on Sunday. More later.

Ohene Djan Stadium opens...As Ransford Osei Makes History

President J.A. Kufuor on Sunday commissioned the refurbished multifunctional Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, venue for the opening and final games of the Ghana CAN 2008.Without mincing words, the President demanded high professionalism of managers and engineers of the facility and urged them to adopt the best management practices to keep the stadium in good shape at all times.He said the immediate use of the stadium will be the hosting of the Ghana 2008 tournament and reminded all of the immense cultural, economic, social and political opportunities that come with hosting the tournament.

“With the anticipated hundreds of thousands of guests who will visit Ghana for the tournament, the tourism sector will also receive the needed boost leading to further growth of our economy. Government is committed to providing such state of the art stadia in all the regions of Ghana to afford every citizen equal opportunity in taking part in sporting activities.”The President also took the opportunity to wish Premier League side, Accra Hearts of Oak a happy anniversary on the occasion of the 96th year celebrations.

Ghana’s goal scoring prodigy, Ransford Osei of the national Under 17 side, the Black Starlets, registered his name as the first player to score at the new Stadium in a memorial match against the Togolese Under 17 side.He converted a 12 minute penalty to give Ghana the lead and added two more in the second half before Togo pulled one back. Another Starlet, Richard Ampong sealed victory with Ghana's fourth.

Eschew influence in the selection process of chiefs-Kufuor

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday counseled kingmakers to resist all forms of influence in the selection of chiefs to vacant stools and skins to help end the spate of succession disputes. Otherwise, he said, the dignity, relevance and the place of the Chieftaincy Institution in the country could be endangered beyond repairs.

President Kufuor, who was addressing a colourful durbar of chiefs at the Centre of National Culture in Kumasi to round off the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC 2007), said it was the hope of the Government that findings of the current research into “succession to stools and skins” would provide insights that would help all stakeholders to make informed decisions on succession issues in the future.

“Meanwhile, I urge Nananom to take advantage of the structures created by the 1992 Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act of 1971, in the resolution of chieftaincy disputes that afflict this country and sometimes threaten to derail its development.” Additionally, he said, as custodians of culture, they must promote the eradication of cultural practices that were injurious to the dignity and rights of individuals, particularly, women and children. President Kufuor noted that good governance and the rule of law, in the traditional setting, were known in principle, to refer to fairness, justice and protection of the vulnerable including women, children, the aged and the physically challenged.

“Nowhere was the concern for sanitation and environment more keenly in evidence than the traditional setting. This is why all our Constitutions have recognized the Chieftaincy Institution.” He said it was however, sad, that in practice, with regard to human rights, especially rights of women, widows and the girl child, not all aspects of the nation’s culture reflected the spirit and letter of the Constitution. Touching of the exhibition of items from various cottage industries at the NAFAC, he said, it was a confirmation of the potential of the cultural sector, which must engage the chiefs and District Assemblies as they sought ways of generating employment and growing the national economy.

He also used the occasion to whip up support for the Ghana 2008 Football Tournament and said all should work to make it memorable. This should be one of the nation’s finest moments, he added. “This is a tournament that will attract thousands of football fans and tourists to the country.

It will also have over a billion TV viewers around the world.” President Kufuor called on all Ghanaians, irrespective of gender, ethnic, religious or political affiliation to pray for the success of the tournament and in particular for the national team, the Black Stars The 10-day event showcased the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the country and had, as its theme: “50 Years of Cultural Integration and National Development.” The celebration of the next edition of NAFAC in the year 2009 would be held in Tamale.GNA

Act firmly to stop drug and alcohol abuse – President Kufuor

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday expressed concern about the increasing reports of drugs and alcohol abuse among students and called on school authorities to be more vigilant and act firmly to stop the menace. Narcotic drugs use, he said, was not only criminal but could be potentially injurious to health.

President Kufuor, was addressing the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Kumasi Academy, a Senior High School, established by the Baptist Mission. He encouraged the country’s students to be wary of the onslaught of alien influences that contravened cherished values of the society.

To survive the complex world outside the walls of the school, he said they needed to individually reflect and prepare on how to lead responsible lives that would enable them to play significant roles in nation building. President Kufuor mentioned human resource development as one of the three-pronged priorities of the Government and said it was on the basis of this that it was doing everything to fully implement the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).

He also outlined measures it had put in place to promote quality education, focusing on the teaching of science and technology and the mastery of Information, Communication Technology (ICT). He said, he was impressed with the high number of professionals the School has turned out over the years, who were playing critical roles in the nation with some of them serving in the Government. He also congratulated the founders for their vision and all those whose contributions had brought the Institution to its present high level. President Kufuor announced a support package for the school, including the building of a girls dormitory block, bungalows for tutors, a bus and the provision of a security wall to ward off criminals.

Besides, the Aboabo-Parkoso road, running in front of the school, has also been awarded on contract and he directed the Regional Minister to ensure that the project was delivered on schedule. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, in an address read for him said quality education was not just about academic excellence but also high levels of morality. The Education Fund he has set up would therefore, have achieved its objective, if education succeeded to mould the quality of life of the people. Nana Boakye Debra-Ansah, Asokore-Mamponghene, appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reserve a quota of high school admission to localities where the schools were sited.

The Headmaster, Mr. Alex K. Conduah, said there was an urgent need for the expansion of the facilities at the school to cope with the growing student population. He praised the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for the immense support it was giving to the school and said the association had already provided it with an administration block, a 38-seater bus, a computer laboratory and a staff bungalow.GNA