Talk about stabilised cedi is false - GNP

It is the dollar which is falling in value with respect to the pound sterling and the Euro that is giving the semblance of stability to the cedi, Mr Kobina Amo-Aidoo, Interim National Chairman of Ghana National Party (GNP),said on Friday. He said the cedi could not be a stabilised currency as long as "we continue to ignore local manufacturing of goods".He said: "We have to change the language 'I sell this; I sell that to I make this I make that", adding that at present Ghanaians imported almost everything including matches and chewing sticks.Mr Amo-Aidoo, therefore, called on Ghanaians to totally reject the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2008 elections.Speaking to the GNA in Accra to correct an earlier misreport carried by the Agency, the Interim National Chairman said Ghanaians should by now realize the level of deceit and fake political agenda exhibited by both the NDC and NPP Governments and to take steps to halt the falsehoods being propagated by the two parties."I call on all Ghanaians to totally reject the NPP and their false propaganda designed to attract public attention and remain empty on the ground", he said.Mr Amo-Aidoo cited the implementation of he National Health Insurance Scheme and the Capitation Grant and said majority of Ghanaians were not benefiting from the programmes as were being taunted by the government's propaganda machinery.It said it took almost a year before one could obtain NHIS card while Ghanaian children in private schools were also not enjoying the so-called capitation grant and the school-feeding programme. He said the GNP could not look on unconcerned while the Government propagated falsehoods to the detriment of the people."The kids of Ghana, the children and the youth are the only delicate legacy for this nation and we cannot remain unconcerned as their lives are in very serious danger", he said.The GNP said there was the need for a transparent and decent political administration to provide basic social services to the people and that it was time for the nation to seriously rejuvenate its potentials and develop its resources to enhance the well being of the people. He said the GNP had developed a human centred social policy that would ensure the welfare of the citizenry and appealed to Ghanaians to totally reject both the NPP and NDC and vote for the GNP to ensure total liberation and freedom for the people.
Source:GNA

NPP is the only party that can defeat NDC in 2008 - Nana Akufo-Addo

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, an aspiring flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has observed that NPP was the only party that could defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and ensured it never returned to power. However, he pointed out that defeating the NDC posed a big challenge to the NPP because it would depend on its message, dynamic leadership and effective organization. Nana Akufo-Addo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, made the observation when addressing constituency and polling station executives from four constituencies in Ashanti at Obuasi. He appealed to delegates of the December Congress to vote for a flagbearer who could win the 2008 elections for the party. Nana Akufo-Addo said "NDC was serious and it would not be easy for the NPP in the 2008 elections. Three successive defeats would lead to its collapse therefore, they are really serious. We know NDC very well and their policies, we should not allow them to return to power". He pointed out that the December congress represented the party's future therefore, the delegates should look for a leader with a global vision. "I have all the qualities of that visionary leader and could lead NPP to victory in 2008. Let us be truthful that if indeed NPP wanted a leader for 2008, it is Nana Akufo-Addo," he added. Nana Akufo-Addo denied that he was proud and arrogant, "here I am, very simple and a small man". He said he played a key role in ensuring peace in Liberia and other troubled countries therefore, the assertion that his leadership would bring chaos and divisions in Ghana was not true.GNA

Ghana will introduce Digital broadcasting Next Year

Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant on Wednesday said digital broadcasting would be introduced in the country within the next two years.He was speaking at a consultative forum on public service broadcasting organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GNA), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and the KAB Governance Consult at Lagos Town near Takoradi.The forum was under the theme "Public Service Broadcasting in Ghana, The Way Forward".Mr Apenteng, who is also a honorary member of the GJA, said television and radio sets in use would have to be replaced because they cannot pick up transmission of the digital technology. He said digital broadcasting would make efficient use of the frequency spectrum and make broadcasting cheaper, apart from an increase in the number of broadcasters, there would be more specialised channels. Mr Apenteng said public service broadcasting is crucial for Ghana's development and national unity and the GBC is well placed to transform into a true public service broadcaster. He said the corporation and the National Media Commission should take the lead in this direction and engage the public in discussions on its role and relevance.Mr Appenteng proposed that the GBC be allowed to derive funds from a variety of sources to make it financially independent and free from government pressures.Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA, said the country needs public service broadcasting to nurture its democracy. He said the public should own the public service broadcasting and support it to perform its expected roles.Mr Kwasi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive Officer of KAB Governance Consult, said as broadcasting is an important tool in the development of nations, a public service broadcasting station should be truly independent of government's economic influence and commercial pressures. Ms Dela Folie, a representative of FES, said the FES would involve itself in activities that would empower the media to strengthen the country's democratic process. 10 Oct. 07
Source:GNA

Bartels Exposed Again?

Bartels' Letter GENERAL LEASING Document
Contrary to claims by Interior Minister, Kwamena Bartels that he was not involved in the process that resulted in the selection of her daughter's company, investigation by the Enquirer has proved otherwise.
Caught and confronted with his own hand writing, Bartel's explanation for his role in supervising the award of over ¢4 billion to his daughter's budding company is that "the letter he wrote for the facility to be extended to his daughter is just "only administrative" statement.
(The Enquirer publishes on its front page Bartels’ letter saying his Ministry has awarded the facility to his daughter as well as a letter from the fund managers to his daughter, and company documents of Stay Sweet Sugar Industries on page 4)
But a member of the selection committee has told The Enquirer that "What does my man Bartels mean that the writing of the award letter to his daughter by his Ministry was only administrative, the selection process too is also a bureaucratic, administrative process. It is not a scientific research, neither is it a space exploration process. If one selects and another signs, we are all doing the same thing. We are all contributing to one process. In Bartel's case, he went the extra mile and coached his daughter and son-in-law and supervised the administrative process which led to the conclusion of the award for his facility." the member said.
The member of the committee which selects companies that have applied to benefit from the government's Ghana Private Sector Development Fund-Italian Credit has said he does not recollect that Bartel's excused himself from the selection process for his daughter, adding that even the revelations from his "own mouth about events" culminating in the award of the 4 billion cedi facility to his daughter is shocking "to some of us"
The member said, Kwamena Bartel's conduct in this matter is a betrayal of his own government.
"Let somebody do this to us and let's chase them for trying to sabotage our efforts, not Bartel's himself, the man who pioneered the project. The painful thing is that now we are all going to be lumped into one basket, some of us worked hard, I just can't believe him" The committee member said
The member noted that for a man who pioneered the Italian credit, he should have been the one to ensure that companies which benefit are credible enough so that we can all celebrate the success.
Interestingly, out of the three processes which eventually led to the selection of Bartel's daughter's company, it has been confirmed that Kwamena Bartels participated in at least two, yet he claims he excused himself. Kwamena Bartels is under the Enquirer's investigation for sprinkling over ¢4 billion from the Ghana Private Sector Development Fund on her a daughter's company, called Stay Sweet Sugar Industries.
Source:Enquirer

Ghana Will Have a New Economy Under JAKE

JAKE OTANKA Obetsebi-Lamptey, a presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the country needs new economy with new pillar of growth to develop and lead the policies that will generate jobs, jobs, jobs, saying the economy we have was good when Ghana was 10 million people. Today, we have 22 million and we will have 44 million in 20 years.
According to him, “we need a new economy with new pillars of growth.

To develop and lead the policies that will generate jobs, jobs, jobs, we need a President who thinks ‘outside the box’ and has productive private sector experience to be able to reform and restructure the economy; to develop the sectors and industries that will provide productive jobs for our young people”.
Addressing a section of party members in Accra, he said the greatest challenge facing Ghana today and tomorrow is the aspirations of the young people for a decent and productive life.
He observed that the country already faces high levels unemployment, saying year, more than 300,000 young people will leave schools and universities to seek jobs. Next year another 300,000 plus and so on, year after year.

Add to these, those who are going to school.“We must generate jobs, jobs, jobs for our youth: this is the greatest challenge facing our nation. These are young people who will lose patience with the democratic process and as in South America, they will return to the ‘Junior Jesuses’ and the dictatorships”.Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey who said that President Kufuor has stopped the rot and built a platform, which the next President must build on it, believes that he is the right and preferred person to lead the country to realise its full dream.The former Tourism and Diasporan Relations Minister appealed to the party members to look at his track record which he described as very enviable, so that they will have no doubt about his capabilities of taking the nation to the “Promise Land”.

“As the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, I worked with my constituencies. I know the pressures on constituency and regional executives. I understand what needs to be done for them to get to work even harder for our own government. As a Minister, I stood for and was re-elected as Regional Chairman. I did this to send a signal about how close I believe party and government must be”, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey maintained.He added; “after six years in office we must continue to build the party into the natural party of governance. The party that will entrench the NPP’s vision of Ghana as ‘a property owing democracy’.

We need to have the party and the government working more even closely together. We need to professionalize the party and make it into a viable institution and not just a club”.He stated that there are three attributes that the delegates should look out for when voting, and that each of the areas, they should look at the track record of the candidates to be sure they can deliver on any promises they make.He said they should vote for President of Ghana and not President of NPP, a President who will build a more prosperous Ghana, as well as a President who will professionalize and institutionalise the NPP.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey who is very confident of emerging as the flag bearer of the NPP at its extra-ordinary congress slated for December 22, remaindered members of the party not to be over confident, and that they must not assume that their flag bearer will automatically become President of Ghana, stressing that, in 2004, after only one term, with an incumbent President and better resourced than they had ever been, they still got only 52.5 percent of the Presidential vote and 51.5 percent of the Parliamentary vote.“We need a candidate who can galvanize our supporters and then reach the floating voters and the non NPP voters.

We need a candidate who knows how to win a general election. In both of these areas, I say please consider me. As two times, successfully campaign manager, especially in 2000 when so many doubted that we could win, I know how to devise and implement a winning strategy. I did it for JAK, I can do it for JAKE”, he emphasised.
Source:Benjamin Konadu Arthur - The Heritage

President's Whereabouts Revealed At Last!

Never went to Canada ...

Was in London to "tie up a few things" ...

NDC citing President for contempt of parliament

Members of parliament from Ghana's opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party are citing President John Kufuor for contempt of parliament for failing to explain to both parliament and to Ghanaians his whereabouts with his widely publicized, but aborted foreign trip.

The NDC claims came after a persistent refusal by the president's office to explain his whereabouts, especially as the country faces floods that threaten a loss of lives and property. The NDC concludes that President Kufuor has not only deceived parliament, but also imperiled the people of Ghana.
From the capital Accra opposition Member of Parliament Haruna Iddrisu tells reporter Peter Clottey that President Kufuor did not adhere to the country's constitution.

"Ghana is governed by the constitution, and article 59 of the constitution imposes an obligation on the president of Ghana. The president is mandated to notify the speaker of parliament in writing when he wants to leave the country. Under the standing orders of parliament, any misleading information is contemptible.

What we are aware off, the president never went to Canada, yet no official explanation has been given as to his whereabouts between the periods that he should have been in Canada, and to the extend that no official explanation have been given, and his whereabouts is unknown. We only can conclude strongly that he deceived parliament, and he deceived the people of Ghana, and that to me is contemptible," Iddrisu pointed out.

Iddrisu agreed that although there is a possibility of the president's plan suddenly changing, he is obligated by law to explain his whereabouts. "Yes, but he owes Ghanaians a duty and the standard of care in explaining his whereabouts. To the extend that he does not explain where he was, I think that one would want to cite him for contempt for giving misleading information to the speaker of parliament and to the people of Ghana," he said.

Iddrisu said the opposition party would know its next line of action to take when the president or his officials fail to respond to their request. "Our constitution is clear on it (going against the constitution), we are for now demanding an official explanation from him and from his spokes people. If he refuses, then we would know the next line of action. But we are clear in our minds that his conduct is in contempt, and a breach of the privilege of parliament," Iddrisu noted.

Meanwhile, the government has dismissed the opposition's claim as unfounded and misleading. From the capital Accra, Ghana's deputy minister for information Frank Agyekum tells reporter Peter Clottey the president's whereabouts are not clandestine. "It is true that the was an announcement that the president was supposed to go to Canada and then onwards to the UN. But what happened was that, at the last minute the trip to Canada was aborted because he was supposed to sign an agreement with the Alkan group of companies.

But the MOU (memorandum of understanding) to that wasn't finished before he set out for the trip. So when it came to his notice we thought it wasn't worth it having to do the trip anymore. The president then was in the UK in London and he took the opportunity then instead of coming back home to tie up a few things and then move on to the UN because he was supposed to address the UN," he said. Agyekum agreed that the presidency should have come out with a statement to explain the president's whereabouts, but he denies the president's whereabouts have been shrouded in secrecy.

"Yes, perhaps a statement should have been issued immediately to explain the circumstances and we regret that, that wasn't done. But that was not because the president was trying to hide anything or anything clandestine was taking place. It's just that well, in this world sometimes tings do not work the way you want them to, but that is the explanation,"" Agyekum noted.
Clottey Interview With Haruna Iddrissu
Listen to Clottey Interview With Haruna Iddrissu
Clottey Interview With Frank Agyekum
Listen to Clottey Interview With Frank Agyekum

NPP holds unity rally Today

Asamankese in the Eastern Region will on Sunday play host to the myriad of flagbearer aspirants of the ruling New Patriotic Party, where a rally has been scheduled.

Party executives, including leader President J.A. Kufuor, Chairman Peter Mac Manu, General Secretary Nana Ohene Ntow, National Organiser, Lord Commey and Regional Chairman, Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng are all expected to grace the rally under the theme, 'Moving forward in Unity', which seeks to offer a common platform for all the about 18 aspirants.

The party intends to officially outdoor the aspirants, each of who is allocated five minutes to propagate his presidential campaign message to the huge crowd expected to be at the Asamankese Methodist Park venue of the rally.The aspirants are Nana Akufo-Addo, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Dan Kwaku Botwe, Boakye Agyarko, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Alan Kyerematen, Kofi Konadu Apraku, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, Mike Oquaye, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, and Arthur Kennedy. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, is the latest to declare an interest in the race to lead the NPP to Elections 2008.

He has already picked nomination forms.The Eastern Region was also the host of a similar rally when in 1998, the party descended on Nkawkaw to introduce its then six aspirants, including President Kufuor.