From Rawlings' Office---NDC Running Mate

RE-NDC RUNNING MATE

It has come to the notice of the founder of the NDC, former President, that certain newspapers have made it their preoccupation to publish lies about the NDC and attribute such lies to him. One of such newspapers is The Point , which, in its last Friday’s edition published that ‘Rawlings okays Betty Mould as Mills’ running mate’. The founder would like to assure the party faithful that, the said publication is absolutely false and should be disregarded.

The founder has also indicated that the leadership is not unaware of the overwhelming Choice of the masses and wish to assure all the party faithful that the flag-bearer will at the opportune time, in consultation with the party’s council of elders and other appropriate organs of the Party, announce a running mate who will reflect that desire of the masses across the length and breath of the nation

Source: Victor Emmanuel Smith (Special Assistant and Director of Public Affairs)

Archbishop Condemns Condoms

MOST REV. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi has condemned the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He deflated the notion that usage of condom was the best option to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, stressing that the development was rather encouraging people, especially innocent youth, to indulge in premarital sex.

This lamentable development, according to him, was the major cause of the spread of the disease and the reported cases of teenage pregnancies in society.

Most Rev. Sarpong, who was speaking at the 2nd National Delegate’s Congress of St. Theresa of the Child Society of the Catholic Church in Kumasi last Saturday, cited abstinence from sex as the best option to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

He urged the people to lead lives worthy of emulation to help bring down the reported cases of HIV/AIDS to the barest minimum.

“If you are married, stick to your partner and if you are not married, do not engage in sex because it is a sin in the sight of God,” he stressed.

The Archbishop charged people in authority to be bold and speak against premarital sex among the youth, adding that it was a dangerous development which could impact negatively on the country in future.

“Pastors, chiefs, politicians and all those in authority should speak against fornication and adultery since it is the prime cause of HIV/AIDS pandemic.”

Most Rev. Sarpong also took a swipe at those engaged in human trafficking, and called for a stop to the practice, noting that the act, bedsides being sin in the sight of God, was also morally wrong. “How can a human being sell his fellow human being in this 21st century?” he queried.

The programme was under the theme “Creating the Culture of Peace at Home, Workplace and in the World”.

In her remarks, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Chief Executive, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), urged parents to train their children in the fear of God so they would grow up to be responsible and law abiding citizens.

She as well advised parents to serve as role models to their children, insisting that parents had vital roles to play in directing the future of their children.

Madam Appiagyei entreated residents in the metropolis to ensure good sanitary conditions, advising them to paint their houses to beautify the city ahead of the Ghana 2008 football tournament.

Source: Daily Guide

NPP delegates cautioned against propagandist tactics

Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, on Saturday cautioned party members to watch out for attempts that might be made to cause friction among the aspirants in the last days of campaigning for the December congress.

"As the congress draws nearer some self-seeking politicians both within and outside, in collaboration with some media practitioners, are bent on discrediting the congress by peddling falsehood in the media against some of the aspirants.'' "We must be vigilant, protect the integrity of the Danquah/Busia political tradition and ensure that we come out of congress more united for the bigger battle ahead,'' Prof Frimpong-Boateng told newsmen in Sunyani after interacting with potential delegates in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

He said any ''untoward action or inaction emanating from the congress would be difficult to manage within 12 months. Prof Frimpong-Boateng appealed to the delegates to elect him as the NPP's presidential candidate for Election 2008. "A visionary leadership with self accomplished track record, unblemished testimony, ability to attract floating voters which is very crucial for our victory in Election 2008 and Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng is the man the people are rooting for."

The NPP presidential aspirant said he was a visionary leader since he had the capacity to deepen good governance and stimulate socio-economic growth. He appealed to the delegates to protect their pride that made it possible for the party to win the 2000 and 2004 elections and avoid selling their conscience in the forthcoming NPP national congress. "We have done it before and we shall collectively do it again," he said and expressed optimism that despite the large number of NPP presidential aspirants, the party would emerge from the delegates' congress more solid and united.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng said the achievements of the party, which had won national and international acclaim, needed to be consolidated by an action-oriented youth with vim and experience like him. "Mind you, the corporate achievements chalked by the party for mother Ghana did not manifest from the toil of any one person but the collective prudence of party apparatchiks." He appealed to the media to be circumspect, and avoid being the agents of retardation of the nation's progress. "Your role is very unique in strengthening and deepening our democracy but that role can be abused if you allow others to remotely control you with some few cedis."

Prof Frimpong-Boateng said it was unacceptable that about 80 percent of inputs into agriculture, education and health are from foreign sources. He said it was a shame that a major thrust of the nation's economic policy was to try as much as possible to attract foreign investors. ''Good as foreign investments are, we just cannot sit down and think that without confronting our problems ourselves we can still be prosperous,'' he said.GNA

Kufuor @Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting

Heads of states listen to closing remarks made by Ghana's President John Kufuor (R) at the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting (CHOGM) final session in Munyonyo November 25, 2007.