Nigeria on Thursday appointed a new spiritual head to lead the country's huge Muslim community, succeeding the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Maccido, who died in a plane crash at the weekend.
The secretary to the Sokoto State government, Maigari Dingyadi, announced in a radio broadcast that Maccido's younger brother, Muhammadu Sada Abubakar III, had been appointed to replace him.
The 50-year-old Nigerian army colonel becomes the 20th sultan since the establishment of the Sokoto caliphate in 1804 following an Islamic holy war.
Abubakar was among three people whose names were submitted to the government by a 10-member council of kingmakers.
President Olusegun congratulated the new sultan on Thursday.
"Obasanjo has received with delight the news of the emergence of Alhaji Mohammadu Abubakar as the new Sultan of Sokoto," the government said in a statement.
"On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, Mr President congratulates the new sultan and wishes him a successful reign," it added.
The sultan is the spiritual head of the more than 50 million Muslims in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with a population of around 130 million.
News from Ghana,the African Sub-Region and More!
2.11.06
Gbagbo accepts new UN peace plan for I Coast, appeals for calm
Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo said on Thursday he accepted a new United Nations plan giving sweeping powers to an unelected prime minister to try and achieve lasting peace and appealed for calm in the divided west African country.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a new peace plan giving Ivorian Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny sweeping powers to lead a one-year transition to long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.
Following disagreements within the Security Council, the UN resolution had to be watered down from an original version which specifically stated that Banny would have powers to appoint military and civilian officials, a clause which, it was felt, directly violated the consitution.
"I welcome and thank all the member states of the Security Council ... who rejected any possibility to subordinate the constitution of a country to a decision of an international organisation," Gbagbo said in a 10-minute address to the nation that was broadcast on state television.
"Our constitution will therefore remain in force," he added.
The firebrand leader asked "each and every one to remain calm and ... abstain from any demonstration ... so that nothing disturbs" the implementation of the peace process.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a new peace plan giving Ivorian Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny sweeping powers to lead a one-year transition to long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.
Following disagreements within the Security Council, the UN resolution had to be watered down from an original version which specifically stated that Banny would have powers to appoint military and civilian officials, a clause which, it was felt, directly violated the consitution.
"I welcome and thank all the member states of the Security Council ... who rejected any possibility to subordinate the constitution of a country to a decision of an international organisation," Gbagbo said in a 10-minute address to the nation that was broadcast on state television.
"Our constitution will therefore remain in force," he added.
The firebrand leader asked "each and every one to remain calm and ... abstain from any demonstration ... so that nothing disturbs" the implementation of the peace process.
Nigerian president replaces minister over plane crash tragedy
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday replaced but did not sack Aviation Minister Babalola Borishade, following a string of air crashes that have claimed hundreds of lives in recent months.
Borishade has swapped places with Culture and Tourism Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, the secretary to government, Uffot Ekaette, said in a statement.
Nigerian lawmakers had demanded the resignation of Borishade after the leader of the country's 50-million-strong Muslim community, two senators and 93 other people were killed when a Boeing 737 plane belonging to private airline ADC crashed on Sunday.
The accident, shortly after the aircraft took off from Abuja, was the country's third major civilian plane crash in little over a year.
The legislators pointed out that at least three fatal crashes had occurred under Borishade's watch and demanded his immediate resignation for "poor handling of the aviation sector".
The minister has blamed the pilot for the weekend crash, accusing him of ignoring advice from traffic controllers to abandon take-off because of bad weather.
Among those killed in the accident were the country's top Islamic cleric, Muhammadu Maccido, his senator son and a former president's son.
Police said the two black box flight recorders, one with audio from the cockpit and another with flight data, had been found and were being examined.
While Nigeria does not have the worst air safety record in Africa, nearly 1,200 people have died in more than 40 plane crashes since 1991. Accidents in December and October last year each claimed more than 100 lives.
Borishade has swapped places with Culture and Tourism Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, the secretary to government, Uffot Ekaette, said in a statement.
Nigerian lawmakers had demanded the resignation of Borishade after the leader of the country's 50-million-strong Muslim community, two senators and 93 other people were killed when a Boeing 737 plane belonging to private airline ADC crashed on Sunday.
The accident, shortly after the aircraft took off from Abuja, was the country's third major civilian plane crash in little over a year.
The legislators pointed out that at least three fatal crashes had occurred under Borishade's watch and demanded his immediate resignation for "poor handling of the aviation sector".
The minister has blamed the pilot for the weekend crash, accusing him of ignoring advice from traffic controllers to abandon take-off because of bad weather.
Among those killed in the accident were the country's top Islamic cleric, Muhammadu Maccido, his senator son and a former president's son.
Police said the two black box flight recorders, one with audio from the cockpit and another with flight data, had been found and were being examined.
While Nigeria does not have the worst air safety record in Africa, nearly 1,200 people have died in more than 40 plane crashes since 1991. Accidents in December and October last year each claimed more than 100 lives.
Bloody Coup In The Making
A coup in Ghana today will have bloody and heavy toll on innocent civilians as well as key opponents of the government, sections of the media and serving soldiers, a snapshot of a coup plot and a crush plan secretly prepared by the Ghana Armed Forces has revealed.
Secret documents obtained from the vaults of the Ghana Armed Forces(GAF) has revealed elaborate preparations towards a deadly and bloody assault on “dissidents” who may be plotting “subversive” attacks to overthrow the government using Radio Gold, a private radio station in Accra.
The revelation comes in the wake of claims from the Commander-In-Chief of the GAF; President John Agyekum that ex-President Rawlings is planning a coup to topple his government.
The Ghana Armed Forces documents prepared by the five Infantry battalion seen by The Enquirer indicates that the “dissidents are a mix of disgruntled politicians, political opponents of the Government of the day and disgruntled soldiers/ex-soldiers of the Ghana Armed Forces. The ex-Soldiers in particular, may have received additional training in raid and commando operations”.
The crush plan of the GAF also indicates that the dissidents may be wearing assorted cloths, carrying small arms, grenades, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), MG, explosives any booby traps. Their mode of communication according to the documents is through the use of Mobile phones and Motorola.
The coup crush also anticipates that the dissidents may be planning to carry out kidnapping, arson and sabotage with the intention of suing Radio Gold to propagate subversive information as a precursor to an overall aim of overthrowing the incumbent Government. According to the documents is meant to capture and control Radio Gold ‘as soon as possible.
The plan also makes medical provisions for civilian casualties as well as dropping of leaflets to warn residents in the Lartebiokorshie and its surrounding arrears such as Dansoman, Kaneshie and Mateheko.
In a detailed plan as to how to execute the counter offensive, the Armed Forces documents divided the execution in five phases which included among others Capture of FM station with task Forces reorganising into cut-off, Assault troops etc.
Phase 1: of the execution stage has to do with “mobilization and marry up of troops at 5BN, Phase 2: “movement to FRV/Dispersal point, Phase 3: Encirclement, Phase 4: Assault, Phase 5: Reorganization”The assault troops according to the plan would also be expected to use routes such as the “5BN-37 Military Hospital, Intersection-Ako Adjei Interchange-Nkrumah Circle-Obetsebi Lamptey Circle-Kaneshie Market-First traffic Light-left turn to Mataheko-Russia Junction-Lartebiokoshie/Kaneshie Road-Lartebiokorshie Basic School.”
Soldiers deployed to the battlefield would be expected to make deployment that would cordon off Radio Gold and block all access roads leading to the station in order to cut off re-supply to the dissidents.
The soldiers would then be expected to carry out arrests and detention of all escaping dissidents as well as control traffic. The Armed Forces pan also entails foot and mobile patrols as and when orders are given as well as be prepared to undertake any other tasks on order.
Troops of the Armed Forces would also disarm explosives and clear booby traps and mines as well as rescue hostages.
Coup In The Making …No Sweat
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces document has already began generating controversy within the intelligence community with sharp differences in opinion on the meaning and spirit of the documents.
Whilst sections say the documents suggests conclusively that a real and imminent coup looms on Ghana, senior security officers within government have told The Enquirer that the Armed Forces is only using the crush plan as a guideline for dealing with a coup if it occurs.
“Its part of the Ghana Armed Forces’ routine training in preparation for any eventuality” a senior security officer told The Enquirer.
The officer who did not want to be quoted indicated that around this time of the year (getting to Christmas), the security services are always on the alert “because most coups take place around this time of the year.”When told that the document is conclusive and even names specific radio stations as potential casualties, the officer insisted that it was a routine training guideline.
But other security analysts say the document suggests a “real threat and a real counter plan.”Even though the Security analyst admitted that the Armed Forces conducts drills of that nature, this particular documents crosses the border of a “routine” drill.
“Coming in the wake of recent pronouncements from the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces that there is a coup, I think this real”
The Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Kufuor recently said thee is a coup plot against his government and the mastermind is good old Jerry Rawlings, the two time coup maker who also returned the country to constitutional democratic rule after his exploits.
Source:
The Enquirer
Secret documents obtained from the vaults of the Ghana Armed Forces(GAF) has revealed elaborate preparations towards a deadly and bloody assault on “dissidents” who may be plotting “subversive” attacks to overthrow the government using Radio Gold, a private radio station in Accra.
The revelation comes in the wake of claims from the Commander-In-Chief of the GAF; President John Agyekum that ex-President Rawlings is planning a coup to topple his government.
The Ghana Armed Forces documents prepared by the five Infantry battalion seen by The Enquirer indicates that the “dissidents are a mix of disgruntled politicians, political opponents of the Government of the day and disgruntled soldiers/ex-soldiers of the Ghana Armed Forces. The ex-Soldiers in particular, may have received additional training in raid and commando operations”.
The crush plan of the GAF also indicates that the dissidents may be wearing assorted cloths, carrying small arms, grenades, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), MG, explosives any booby traps. Their mode of communication according to the documents is through the use of Mobile phones and Motorola.
The coup crush also anticipates that the dissidents may be planning to carry out kidnapping, arson and sabotage with the intention of suing Radio Gold to propagate subversive information as a precursor to an overall aim of overthrowing the incumbent Government. According to the documents is meant to capture and control Radio Gold ‘as soon as possible.
The plan also makes medical provisions for civilian casualties as well as dropping of leaflets to warn residents in the Lartebiokorshie and its surrounding arrears such as Dansoman, Kaneshie and Mateheko.
In a detailed plan as to how to execute the counter offensive, the Armed Forces documents divided the execution in five phases which included among others Capture of FM station with task Forces reorganising into cut-off, Assault troops etc.
Phase 1: of the execution stage has to do with “mobilization and marry up of troops at 5BN, Phase 2: “movement to FRV/Dispersal point, Phase 3: Encirclement, Phase 4: Assault, Phase 5: Reorganization”The assault troops according to the plan would also be expected to use routes such as the “5BN-37 Military Hospital, Intersection-Ako Adjei Interchange-Nkrumah Circle-Obetsebi Lamptey Circle-Kaneshie Market-First traffic Light-left turn to Mataheko-Russia Junction-Lartebiokoshie/Kaneshie Road-Lartebiokorshie Basic School.”
Soldiers deployed to the battlefield would be expected to make deployment that would cordon off Radio Gold and block all access roads leading to the station in order to cut off re-supply to the dissidents.
The soldiers would then be expected to carry out arrests and detention of all escaping dissidents as well as control traffic. The Armed Forces pan also entails foot and mobile patrols as and when orders are given as well as be prepared to undertake any other tasks on order.
Troops of the Armed Forces would also disarm explosives and clear booby traps and mines as well as rescue hostages.
Coup In The Making …No Sweat
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces document has already began generating controversy within the intelligence community with sharp differences in opinion on the meaning and spirit of the documents.
Whilst sections say the documents suggests conclusively that a real and imminent coup looms on Ghana, senior security officers within government have told The Enquirer that the Armed Forces is only using the crush plan as a guideline for dealing with a coup if it occurs.
“Its part of the Ghana Armed Forces’ routine training in preparation for any eventuality” a senior security officer told The Enquirer.
The officer who did not want to be quoted indicated that around this time of the year (getting to Christmas), the security services are always on the alert “because most coups take place around this time of the year.”When told that the document is conclusive and even names specific radio stations as potential casualties, the officer insisted that it was a routine training guideline.
But other security analysts say the document suggests a “real threat and a real counter plan.”Even though the Security analyst admitted that the Armed Forces conducts drills of that nature, this particular documents crosses the border of a “routine” drill.
“Coming in the wake of recent pronouncements from the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces that there is a coup, I think this real”
The Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Kufuor recently said thee is a coup plot against his government and the mastermind is good old Jerry Rawlings, the two time coup maker who also returned the country to constitutional democratic rule after his exploits.
Source:
The Enquirer
1.11.06
Phone companies pay 56.83 million dollars as license fee
An amount of 56.83 million dollars was realised as license fee from cellular phone operators as at December 29, 2005, Prof. Michael Ocquaye, Minister of Communications told parliament on Tuesday when the House reconvened for the last session for the year.
"The National Communications Authority has since monitored the payment of the amount by the operators to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning," he said.
The Minister was responding to a question from Mr Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South.
The MP had asked for how much was paid as licensing fee by cellular phone operators in the country and how the fee was disbursed. Responding to another question from Mr Iddrisu on the number of expatriates working with the Ghana Telecom Company (GT) and how much each of them was paid per month, the Minister said there could be only 11 expatriates at GT presently.
"Mr Speaker, GT had 25 expatriate staff.Under a new management service agreement concluded on 25 October, 2006 the maximum number of skilled expatriates staff who could be at post has been reduced to eleven.
"With regard to the contract fee payable to each expatriate staff, the Ministry has requested the Board of GT to compile the details and the Chairman of the Board has promised to deliver by 15 November 2006," he added.
Prof Ocquaye, in answer to another question, told the House that 251 out of 485 schools representing 52 per cent have been provided with telecommunication services.
Mr. Joseph Labik, member for Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, had asked about how far the programme on extending telecommunication services to all towns and secondary schools had gone and when two schools in his constituency would benefit from
the programme.
The Minister said where telephone facilities have been provided in towns but had not yet been extended to the secondary schools in the town, a connection system known as the "last mile solutions" would be pursued to get them connected.
Earlier, Mr Boniface Gambilla, Upper East Regional Minister, told the House that the creation of the Talensi/Nabdam district and the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and the determination of the boundary of the two administrative areas along the Tongo-Beo electoral area was one of the major factors that contributed to a conflict between two communities in the Talensi Nabdam district in the Upper East Region.
The Minister was responding to a question on findings of a committee set up last year to look into the Tongo-Beo communal clash and what was being done to resolve the conflict.
He said the committee had completed its investigations and submitted its report.
He said among the findings was that the area was sitting on a time bomb, which could explode
if immediate solution was not found. The Minister said he had set up a three-member committee to sensitise the people in the area by applying "accepted traditional norms for conflict resolutions using aspects of their culture."
"The committee is also mediating with the two communities to resolve all minor differences before the main committee's recommendation can be implemented."
"A meeting of all opinion leaders, the chief of Tongo-Beo, the Chief of Gonno and all their elders with the youth of the two communities is planned to takeoff in November to prepare the ground for the implementation of the committee's recommendation," Mr Gambilla said.
"The National Communications Authority has since monitored the payment of the amount by the operators to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning," he said.
The Minister was responding to a question from Mr Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South.
The MP had asked for how much was paid as licensing fee by cellular phone operators in the country and how the fee was disbursed. Responding to another question from Mr Iddrisu on the number of expatriates working with the Ghana Telecom Company (GT) and how much each of them was paid per month, the Minister said there could be only 11 expatriates at GT presently.
"Mr Speaker, GT had 25 expatriate staff.Under a new management service agreement concluded on 25 October, 2006 the maximum number of skilled expatriates staff who could be at post has been reduced to eleven.
"With regard to the contract fee payable to each expatriate staff, the Ministry has requested the Board of GT to compile the details and the Chairman of the Board has promised to deliver by 15 November 2006," he added.
Prof Ocquaye, in answer to another question, told the House that 251 out of 485 schools representing 52 per cent have been provided with telecommunication services.
Mr. Joseph Labik, member for Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, had asked about how far the programme on extending telecommunication services to all towns and secondary schools had gone and when two schools in his constituency would benefit from
the programme.
The Minister said where telephone facilities have been provided in towns but had not yet been extended to the secondary schools in the town, a connection system known as the "last mile solutions" would be pursued to get them connected.
Earlier, Mr Boniface Gambilla, Upper East Regional Minister, told the House that the creation of the Talensi/Nabdam district and the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and the determination of the boundary of the two administrative areas along the Tongo-Beo electoral area was one of the major factors that contributed to a conflict between two communities in the Talensi Nabdam district in the Upper East Region.
The Minister was responding to a question on findings of a committee set up last year to look into the Tongo-Beo communal clash and what was being done to resolve the conflict.
He said the committee had completed its investigations and submitted its report.
He said among the findings was that the area was sitting on a time bomb, which could explode
if immediate solution was not found. The Minister said he had set up a three-member committee to sensitise the people in the area by applying "accepted traditional norms for conflict resolutions using aspects of their culture."
"The committee is also mediating with the two communities to resolve all minor differences before the main committee's recommendation can be implemented."
"A meeting of all opinion leaders, the chief of Tongo-Beo, the Chief of Gonno and all their elders with the youth of the two communities is planned to takeoff in November to prepare the ground for the implementation of the committee's recommendation," Mr Gambilla said.
Ministry petitioned on sale of DC 10 and DC 9 Aircraft
A United States Aviation Company, CSDS Aviation Incorporated, has petitioned Ministry of Aviation over a decision by the official liquidator of Ghana Airways to stop the sale of two aircraft to the company.
Miss Gloria Akuffo, Minister of Aviation, in response to a question, told Parliament on Wednesday that it was expected that the parties involved in the sale of DC 10 and DC 9 aircraft would overcome the disagreement and conclude the deal within a month.
She was answering a question on what immediate steps the Ministry is taking to ensure that the two Ghana Airways aircraft currently parked in the open at the Kotoka International Airport did not deteriorate beyond repairs.
Ms Akuffo said Ghana Airways Company Limited had been in liquidation since June 22, 2005, and the Registrar of Companies, the Official Liquidator, advertised for the sale of the assets of the company including the aircraft and related equipment in the local and international press.
She said the liquidator received five bids from five companies, including CSDS Aviation, Lux Aerospace SA Luxembourg and Thameside Aero Space Limited, UK.
Ms Akuffo said CSDS Aviation Incorporated of USA, emerged winner and was offered the chance to purchase the two aircraft.
"The official liquidator accepted the offer of CSDS Aviation Inc of US of 820,000 dollars for the aircraft. CSDS made a deposit payment of 50,000 dollars leaving the balance of 770,000."
"The parties however could not agree on the inclusion of a clause requiring CSDS Aviation Inc. to insure the aircraft leading to a rescission of sale by the official liquidator and a refund of the deposit of 50,000 dollars to CSDS Aviation Inc.," Ms Akuffo added.
She said CSDS had since petitioned the Ministry and the matter was being investigated and expected that the issue would be resolved soon. Ms Akuffo said if the sale was concluded under the proposed sale and purchase agreement the aircraft would be dismantled and cleaned up in line with environmental safety measures and other regulations during the evacuation process.
She said should the parties however fail to resolve their differences then the official liquidator would initiate negotiations with one of the other offers among the list of bidders.
GNA
Miss Gloria Akuffo, Minister of Aviation, in response to a question, told Parliament on Wednesday that it was expected that the parties involved in the sale of DC 10 and DC 9 aircraft would overcome the disagreement and conclude the deal within a month.
She was answering a question on what immediate steps the Ministry is taking to ensure that the two Ghana Airways aircraft currently parked in the open at the Kotoka International Airport did not deteriorate beyond repairs.
Ms Akuffo said Ghana Airways Company Limited had been in liquidation since June 22, 2005, and the Registrar of Companies, the Official Liquidator, advertised for the sale of the assets of the company including the aircraft and related equipment in the local and international press.
She said the liquidator received five bids from five companies, including CSDS Aviation, Lux Aerospace SA Luxembourg and Thameside Aero Space Limited, UK.
Ms Akuffo said CSDS Aviation Incorporated of USA, emerged winner and was offered the chance to purchase the two aircraft.
"The official liquidator accepted the offer of CSDS Aviation Inc of US of 820,000 dollars for the aircraft. CSDS made a deposit payment of 50,000 dollars leaving the balance of 770,000."
"The parties however could not agree on the inclusion of a clause requiring CSDS Aviation Inc. to insure the aircraft leading to a rescission of sale by the official liquidator and a refund of the deposit of 50,000 dollars to CSDS Aviation Inc.," Ms Akuffo added.
She said CSDS had since petitioned the Ministry and the matter was being investigated and expected that the issue would be resolved soon. Ms Akuffo said if the sale was concluded under the proposed sale and purchase agreement the aircraft would be dismantled and cleaned up in line with environmental safety measures and other regulations during the evacuation process.
She said should the parties however fail to resolve their differences then the official liquidator would initiate negotiations with one of the other offers among the list of bidders.
GNA
31.10.06
Load shedding will be suspended between Nov 1-5th
The Ministry of Energy on Tuesday announced that the load shedding programme should be suspended from November 1-5 in support of the National Immunization Days.
"In order to support the immunization programme this year and also to ensure that the health delivery targets of government are met, government has decided that the current loan shedding programme should be suspended from November 1-5," a statement signed by Mr S.Q. Barnor for the Minister of Energy said.
The statement said the load shedding programme would resume on November 6.
About six million children under five years of age are targeted to be immunized against polio during this year's National Immunisation Days (NIDs) scheduled from November 1-5.
During the same period, about 5.065 million children from nine months to
59 months are expected to be immunized against measles while Vitamin A Supplement would also be administered.
In addition, 2.1 million free insecticide treated nets (ITNs) would be presented to children under-two to boost the survival of millions of children for the fight against malaria.
This year's NID is an Integrated Child Health Campaign aimed at reducing under-five mortality rate by two-thirds by the year 2015.
GNA
"In order to support the immunization programme this year and also to ensure that the health delivery targets of government are met, government has decided that the current loan shedding programme should be suspended from November 1-5," a statement signed by Mr S.Q. Barnor for the Minister of Energy said.
The statement said the load shedding programme would resume on November 6.
About six million children under five years of age are targeted to be immunized against polio during this year's National Immunisation Days (NIDs) scheduled from November 1-5.
During the same period, about 5.065 million children from nine months to
59 months are expected to be immunized against measles while Vitamin A Supplement would also be administered.
In addition, 2.1 million free insecticide treated nets (ITNs) would be presented to children under-two to boost the survival of millions of children for the fight against malaria.
This year's NID is an Integrated Child Health Campaign aimed at reducing under-five mortality rate by two-thirds by the year 2015.
GNA
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