New Nkrumahist party in the offing?

Barring any hiccups, Ghana's political arena is set to have a new member with the formation of a new political party aimed at providing an alternative based on the Nkrumahist tradition.

Officials of the yet to be named party told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday that the party would be built on Nkrumahist roots and become the unifying ground for all who positively crave for a more nationalistic, domestic-based philosophy to development.

'It will have an economy that has active roles for both the state and the private sector.'

The officials, who declined to be identified at this stage, said,

'It will fill the vacuum on the centre and left spectrum of Ghanaian politics to provide a positive alternative to the right leaning policies of the ruling NPP.'

Organization work for this group, according to the official, has been programmed to end in July of 2007 to give enough time for the wounds of the past 96 1992 to date - to be healed and understanding to be reached that will enable the middle to left of centre organization to unite those who want to avoid name.

The promoters of this organizational drive said they acknowledged the need for painstaking research to prepare its policy direction that would appeal to the ordinary Ghanaian as well as professionals and entrepreneurs who were yearning for a party that would put Ghanaians at the centre stage of opportunities in the country.

They said they were keen on building a mass political movement that were truly independent of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). They do not want to be a fragmented part of any other political organization.

=93By our hard work, we intend to build a firm place now and for the future in Ghanaian politics.=94

The promoters who spoke to the GNA said they had been engaged in quiet moves to reach people who would give the new organization credibility once it got off the ground.

=93For now, organizers 96 men and women - have been deployed throughout the 230 constituencies in the country to work the ground and determine the feasibility of launching a successful organization.=94 On how they intended to get to the masses since Ghanaians seemed to be tired of politics they said their foot soldiers were dedicated, proven political organizers who were determined and resolved to win recruits for the new organization.

They said so far, they had been encouraged by the reception given to them due to their non-confrontational stance to politics. =93They have been instructed to acknowledge contributions made by the NDC and the NPP in recent years to seek growth in Ghana. They are just selling their positive messages and promoting an alternative approach to development that is based on self-reliance and a preference to Ghanaian professionals and entrepreneurs while making way for the state to play a role in directly facilitating growth.=94

They say if their plans work, the new organization will attract known politicians while making big room for new people with alternative ideas that will broaden its appeal. This includes current and former

MPs, public servants, business owners and professionals. Another angle is to make significant inroads to recruit women and the youth to make the organization a truly national one with a broad base and appeal.

They declined to mention names of those behind the organizational strategy, indicating that a firm lid had been put on the identity of those giving a positive response to the recruitment process.

'Care is being taken to bring on board people with positive views on the political scene and those who have not been active participants in divisive politicking and to avoid those who have engaged in politics of exclusion through extreme ideological hard line views.

'The promoters are determined to keep working without the usual noise and claims of being on the ground and winning elections until the fundamental organization work is done,=94 they said. Source:
GNABarring any hiccups, Ghana's political arena is set to have a new member with the formation of a new political party aimed at providing an alternative based on the Nkrumahist tradition.

Officials of the yet to be named party told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday that the party would be built on Nkrumahist roots and become the unifying ground for all who positively crave for a more nationalistic, domestic-based philosophy to development.

'It will have an economy that has active roles for both the state and the private sector.'

The officials, who declined to be identified at this stage, said,

'It will fill the vacuum on the centre and left spectrum of Ghanaian politics to provide a positive alternative to the right leaning policies of the ruling NPP.'

Organization work for this group, according to the official, has been programmed to end in July of 2007 to give enough time for the wounds of the past 96 1992 to date - to be healed and understanding to be reached that will enable the middle to left of centre organization to unite those who want to avoid name.

The promoters of this organizational drive said they acknowledged the need for painstaking research to prepare its policy direction that would appeal to the ordinary Ghanaian as well as professionals and entrepreneurs who were yearning for a party that would put Ghanaians at the centre stage of opportunities in the country.

They said they were keen on building a mass political movement that were truly independent of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). They do not want to be a fragmented part of any other political organization.

=93By our hard work, we intend to build a firm place now and for the future in Ghanaian politics.=94

The promoters who spoke to the GNA said they had been engaged in quiet moves to reach people who would give the new organization credibility once it got off the ground.

=93For now, organizers 96 men and women - have been deployed throughout the 230 constituencies in the country to work the ground and determine the feasibility of launching a successful organization.=94 On how they intended to get to the masses since Ghanaians seemed to be tired of politics they said their foot soldiers were dedicated, proven political organizers who were determined and resolved to win recruits for the new organization.

They said so far, they had been encouraged by the reception given to them due to their non-confrontational stance to politics. =93They have been instructed to acknowledge contributions made by the NDC and the NPP in recent years to seek growth in Ghana. They are just selling their positive messages and promoting an alternative approach to development that is based on self-reliance and a preference to Ghanaian professionals and entrepreneurs while making way for the state to play a role in directly facilitating growth.=94

They say if their plans work, the new organization will attract known politicians while making big room for new people with alternative ideas that will broaden its appeal. This includes current and former

MPs, public servants, business owners and professionals. Another angle is to make significant inroads to recruit women and the youth to make the organization a truly national one with a broad base and appeal.

They declined to mention names of those behind the organizational strategy, indicating that a firm lid had been put on the identity of those giving a positive response to the recruitment process.

'Care is being taken to bring on board people with positive views on the political scene and those who have not been active participants in divisive politicking and to avoid those who have engaged in politics of exclusion through extreme ideological hard line views.

'The promoters are determined to keep working without the usual noise and claims of being on the ground and winning elections until the fundamental organization work is done,=94 they said. Source:
GNA

October Salaries delay

The Controller and Accountant-General's Department on Friday announced that salaries for this month, which were to be paid on October 25, 2006 have been delayed.

A statement Mr Christian Sottie, Controller and Accountant General signed said the delay was due to management units on the old Payroll Processing System (IPPD 1) which were being migrated onto a new Oracle Human Resources Management System (IPPD 2).

"Efforts are being made to pay salaries by Tuesday 31st October 2006," Mr Sottie said and appealed to all staff whose salaries were processed at the Controller and Accountant-General's Department to bear with them.

Robbers confess to attacking Mzbel and friends

Three people, who were suspected to have robbed and raped Mzbel, the popular Hip-life musician and his female dancers on Thursday confessed to the Police in Accra to have taken part in that dastardly act.

The suspects are Emmnauel Agozie, 26; Munkiala Tahiru 25 and Kennedy Agbozo, 18.
Briefing the media about the general crime situation in the capital, Assistant Commissioners of Police, Mr Douglas Akrofi Asiedu, Regional Police Commander, said the suspects were arrested last Sunday upon a tip-off by the victims after they were spotted at the La Beach.


According Emmanuel Agozie, a suspect who narrated the incident to the media at the Police station, he said it was one Joe, who is on the run that took the three of them at midnight of that day to the house of the musician at New Gbawe.


He said when they got to the place it was Joe who entered the room and spent sometime there and later came out with one of the female dancers, who begged him not to do anything to her.
He said they made away with foreign currencies, a laptop and a digital camera.


In another development three persons suspected to have robbed one Ibrahim Kombian, a businessman, raped and defiled his daughters at Pokuase-Amanfrom, were also picked up by the Police.
The suspects were Yusif Mohammed; Abdul Basheed Musah and Kofi Yeboah while the Police have mounted an intensive search for a fourth suspect only known as Daddy, who is on the run.
ACP Akrofi Asiedu said the suspects took away four mobile phones, jewelleries and some assorted drinks from the house of the victim.


He said a few days after the incident, Kofi Yeboah; a taxi driver was identified and arrested as one of the suspects, who perpetrated the shameful act.
He said he later led the Police to arrest the two other suspects.


Meanwhile, the Police patrol team at Osu, Accra also arrested a gang of suspected mobile phone snatchers.The suspects are Frank Apau 23; Adu Kwabena, 22 and David Klottey, 18.


The Regional Police Commander said the suspects attacked and attempted to snatch mobile phones from their victims, who were returning from a nightclub last Tuesday at 0100 hours, when the Osu Police patrol team chanced upon them and arrested them.


A search conducted on them revealed a cutlass, a toy gun and an axe.
ACP Akrofi Asiedu gave the assurance that the Police and the Military had jointly devised operational strategies to tackle crime in Accra and its environs.


He expressed the hope that when the strategies become fully operational the robberies would reduce.

Jerry John Rawlings fear NPP will use force to stay in power after 2008

Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday rejected the perception that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was for the Asantes while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was for the Ewes.
He said there were Ewes, who were members of the NPP just as some Asantes could be found in the NDC and it was, therefore, wrong for anyone to say that this or that party belonged to this or that ethnic group.
Former President Rawlings was answering questions at a press conference in Accra to respond to accusations by President John Agyekum Kufuor that he was looking for money to destabilise the country.
He said: "Ghanaians should not allow tribalism to divide us. Don't allow yourselves to be divided. Don't allow I am an Asante, he is an Asante or he is Ewe to be used to fool us."
He said what was wrong was wrong and what was right was right and that he would continue to speak the truth and that the development of the nation was anchored on transparency, accountability and justice.
Former President Rawlings said it was sad that the NPP Government, which was wooing investors, should be the same government to be shouting about imaginary violent change of government.
He said "destroying the credibility of the country can lead to destabilization and that after the Black Stars had performed creditably in the 2006 World Cup to put Ghana high in the World it was rather sad that they (Stars) only came back home to meet cocaine scandals.
Vowing that he would not stage any coup d'etat again Former President Rawlings, who had successfully staged two coups, said it did not take foreign money or money to buy arms from abroad to stage a coup and that all that was needed to stage a coup were in the country.
"The guns are in Ghana and there are some in President Kufuor's house since he is the President."
He said it was sad that President Kufuor should be using a coup scare to frighten Ghanaians and to make them live in a state of panic and that "when the government itself was faced with panic situation through its own activities then it puts fear into Ghanaians".
Former President Rawlings said power was sweet and that it was difficult to relinquish and that his fears was that if the NPP were defeated in Election 2008 it (NPP) might use "brute force to stay in power".

Hugo Chavez sponsors coup in Ghana?

I thought it was funny when I first heard it. Prez Kuffour at it again. Then I told a diplomat who had not hear it yet. His response " who advises this president at all". I went home smiling thinking it was one of those things people say when they mout political platforms.

But as I laid on my bed starring at the ceiling many ideas came to mind. I remembered a Ghanaian businessman telling me on a flight what happens when they hear the word "coup". They think about their investments and how much they stand to loose when that eventually happens.

To cut it to the core, coups are not good news to anyone. Not the country, not the investors not the potential investors and not the continent.
We have had these in the past, all proved to be empty threats.

Rawlings have been equivocal in his comments (That I know) but on coups he has said many times that he has no interest in doing that again. I have heard off record, a comment by one of Rawllings' confidants that "prez kuffour will not be dignified with a coup".


I hope the president will focus on running Ghana and stop this pranks. We are many years behind and we can't afford to be doing this.
Comment:- by Isaac TETTEH blog owner

Accra Air Force base to house hanger for US regional aircraft

The Accra Air Force Base is to house a new hanger for the US Embassy's C-12 aircraft that would provide regional support for its mission in Ghana and 26 other embassies in West and Central Africa.

The aircraft was attached to the US missions in Dakar and Monrovia and until 2004 it was based in Abidjan, La Cote d'Ivoire. A new operating location had to be found for it after the deterioration of the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire.

The Ghana Government and the Ghana Air Force provided the space to park and maintain the aircraft when it arrived in Accra in early 2004 until a proper hanger was built for it.

The aircraft, capable of flying 1,200 miles - about five and half hours in the air - depending on its mission, can carry about eight passengers.

At a short ceremony at the Air Force Base in Accra on Thursday to unveil the project, Ms Pamela Bridgewater, US Ambassador in Ghana, said the construction of the hanger represented the commitment of both countries to bilateral relations as well as their joint goal of promoting stability and cooperation in the West Africa Sub-Region and throughout Africa.

She extended the US Congress's appreciation to the Ghana Air Force for providing such support and expressed appreciation to the Government of Ghana for giving the C-12 a new home.

Air Vice-Marshal Joseph Boateng, Chief of Air Staff of the Ghana Air Force, also expressed appreciation to the governments of the Ghana and the US for bringing the militaries of both countries together.

He said the Ghana Air Force enjoyed the training support from the US and expressed the hope that such cooperation would continue into the future.

JAK Defends JJ Coup Allegations

President John Agyekum Kufuor has strongly defended allegations of a coup plot he made against former President Rawlings, at a by-election rally in the Offinso South Constituency at the weekend.

The President has also dismissed criticisms that the platform on which he spoke about such a sensitive national issue was improper.

His Spokesperson, Mr Andrew Awuni in an interview said, the President indeed has impeccable security reports, linking Mr Rawlings to renewed attempts to truncate the nation's 14-year-old democratic experiment through the barrel of the gun and that he has no regrets for making the matter public at a political rally.

Over the weekend, President Kufuor directly accused his predecessor of seeking financial help from an unnamed oil rich nation to topple his government.

It was the first time the President made any such allegation against Mr Rawlings, whose public utterances have been cited by some powerful New Patriotic Party (NPP) guns as synonymous to treason.

Mr Awuni said President Kufuor is confident that the nation’s security personnel are willing and ready to protect and defend nation’s constitution and security at all times. Meanwhile, Mr Fifi Kwettey, a spokesperson to the former President has declared that his boss does not need external funding in order to stage yet another successful coup d’ tat a in the country.

Fifi Kwettey told newsmen that Mr Rawlings has no intension of destabilizing the democratic dispensation he helped establish in 1992, instead, the good people of Ghana would themselves topple the NPP regime through a democratic election in the 2008 elections.

Critics of Mr Rawlings say his public utterances about perceived hardship in the country these days and alleged massive bribery and corruption in the government of the NPP are similar to those he made prior to his second successful coup which overthrew the Liman regime.

His critics have used this as basis to conclude that Mr Rawlings is a a serious threat to national security.
Source:Citi FM