Rawlings refutes allegations of a coup plot

Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday denied soliciting for funds to stage a coup d'etat in Ghana and said he had never and would never solicit for funds to stage a coup in Ghana. Former President Rawlings was reacting to allegations made against him by President John Agyekum Kufuor at separate rallies at Abofour and Kokote to round off the parliamentary by-election campaign of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Offinso South Constituency on Sunday.

In a speech read on behalf of Former President Rawlings by Mr Victor Gbeho, a Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, he said he did not know where the allegation was coming from. He said the allegation was so wild that it did no credit to the country’s intelligence service, “which has been under pressure to manufacture stories to discredit the NDC Party".

Former President Rawlings said as far as his recent trips abroad was concerned, the media had widely reported his speeches in Euskirchen and Hamburg in Germany and at the South Bank University in London to convince Ghanaians that he was not on a coup trip.

"I have noticed over a period that President Kufuor has developed the habit of attacking me personally whenever his administration is in trouble and so I am not surprised at this recent attack." Former President Rawlings said President Kufuor had targeted him and his family for prosecution but he would not be intimidated and would continue to expose the wrong doings of his government.

President Kufuor had said he was not happy about the behaviour of Former President Rawlings, adding that he and his government had no time for him now but would reply him at the appropriate time. He said Former President Rawlings did not want to hear the success story of the NPP and was using various avenues to discredit his government.

He expressed concern about the negative attitude of Ex-President Rawlings destroying the good image of the NPP government abroad; begging for funds to destabilise the country and finding loopholes to divide the people at the local level.

Premier League frozen because of a court injunction

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has acknowledged the receipt of a court Interlocutory injunction restraining the FA from continuing with the One Touch Premier League competition.

A statement issued and signed by Mr Kweku Ampim Darko, Deputy General Secretary of the GFA copied to the GNA Sports said the Association received the Interlocutory court injunction on Tuesday, October 24, from an Accra High Court.


The statement said that the Premier League has therefore been suspended with effect from the Eighth Week.
It said the FA will communicate any development on the league as and when it becomes necessary.
The statement said it is therefore informing all Clubs and stakeholders accordingly of the court injunction and the new directive.

JAK's Accusation Of JJ is true - Ntow

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party has backed President Kufuor’s comments at the weekend that former President Rawlings was scheming to overthrow his government.

In an interview with an Accra-based radio station, JoyFM, Ntow said Kufuor’s comments were true and ought to be taken seriously.

President Kufuor told supporters of the NPP at a rally in the Offinso South Constituency at the weekend that former President Rawlings recently tried soliciting financial support from an unnamed, oil rich country to topple the NPP administration.

He said the government would not antagonize the former President first, but if he attempted anything nasty, he would be dealt with appropriately.

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.