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.

Eddie Annan meets six constituency executives in C/R at Winneba

Mr. Eddie Anan, one of the aspirants flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party and his campaign team have met with six constituency executives in the Central Region at Winneba to explain his plans and programmes to them. The executives were drawn from Agona East and West, Gomoa East and West, Effutu and Awutu-Senya constituencies.

Mr. Annan in his 10-point plans and programme, said when elected as the flag bearer of the party, he would, among other things, offer decisive leadership and work hard to enable the party take away power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

He said, he would unite all factions of the party and work towards increasing members of party, create economics freedom for Ghanaians and create jobs in the country.

Mr. Anane appealed to followers of the party to vote for him to become the flag bearer of the party and also urged them to remain united and continue campaign for more supporters to enable it come back to power in the 2008 elections.

He said, he is the only dynamic and marketable aspirant to lead the party to power, adding that his administration would practice all inclusive government. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency later, he said when given the mandate to rule the country he would tackle unemployment problem in the country that had led to the high rate of corruption.

He added his voice to calls on members of National Association of Graduates Teachers (NAGRAT) to return to the classrooms while government was finding solution to their grievances.Mr. Eddie Anan, one of the aspirants flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party and his campaign team have met with six constituency executives in the Central Region at Winneba to explain his plans and programmes to them.

The executives were drawn from Agona East and West, Gomoa East and West, Effutu and Awutu-Senya constituencies. Mr. Annan in his 10-point plans and programme, said when elected as the flag bearer of the party, he would, among other things, offer decisive leadership and work hard to enable the party take away power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

He said, he would unite all factions of the party and work towards increasing members of party, create economics freedom for Ghanaians and create jobs in the country.
Mr. Anane appealed to followers of the party to vote for him to become the flag bearer of the party and also urged them to remain united and continue campaign for more supporters to enable it come back to power in the 2008 elections.

He said, he is the only dynamic and marketable aspirant to lead the party to power, adding that his administration would practice all inclusive government. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency later, he said when given the mandate to rule the country he would tackle unemployment problem in the country that had led to the high rate of corruption.

Change socio-economic discrimination of the north - CYAUR

The Concerned Youth Association of Upper Regions (CYAUR), is to hold a demonstration in Bolgatanga, against what it called "the Economic Discrimination" against the three regions in the northern part of the country.

In a statement issued in Accra at the weekend, it said all efforts must be done to bridge the "yawning" socio-economic gap between the north and south. The CYAUR described the socio-economic inequality gap between the north and south as "alarming and unimaginable" and noted the unfair disbursement of the HIPC Funds, the exclusion of the two Upper Regions from the Millennium Challenge Account Funds and the absence of any Presidential Special Initiative in the three regions as some of the factors for the demonstration.

The statement signed by Mr. Ayorogo Adongo Bismark, President and Mr. Konnuba Joseph Kam-saamba, Secretary both of CYAUR explained that the demonstration, which should have been held on the 27th of October this year had to be postponed to 13th November following appeals of people from the area in the Diaspora to enable them to take part.

It stated that even though traceable to the colonial government's policies that deliberately denied people of the area development for the purpose of reserving them as a source of cheap labour for cocoa farms and the mines in the south, governments after independence in 1957 should have reversed the "colonial legacy" with "a high sense of patriotism and nationalism".

The Association called on all sons and daughters of northern Ghana to do away with their political colours and unite to champion the course of the area, saying, "political parties will come and go, but northern Ghana will continue to exist".

It said that to prevent politicians from making capital out of the exercise, efforts were being made to prevail on the three Regional Ministers and MPs from the northern part of the country to lead the demonstration

The CYAUR appealed to Ghanaians not to see the intended protest as a struggle between the south and the north and said all that it was seeking for was "Equity", adding that, "all northerners, both home and abroad, civil society organizations, human rights advocates, the clergy and all well meaning Ghanaians who support even development of the country should join them in their quest for socio-economic justice.

"The status quo that northerners are hewers of wood and drawers of water and the feeling that northern Ghana is an economic desert, destitute of mineral wealth and other precious resources is a big fallacy and must be challenged and changed by all northerners," the statement said.

The Concerned Youth Association of Upper Regions (CYAUR), is to hold a demonstration in Bolgatanga, against what it called "the Economic Discrimination" against the three regions in the northern part of the country.

In a statement issued in Accra at the weekend, it said all efforts must be done to bridge the "yawning" socio-economic gap between the north and south. The CYAUR described the socio-economic inequality gap between the north and south as "alarming and unimaginable" and noted the unfair disbursement of the HIPC Funds, the exclusion of the two Upper Regions from the Millennium Challenge Account Funds and the absence of any Presidential Special Initiative in the three regions as some of the factors for the demonstration.


The statement signed by Mr. Ayorogo Adongo Bismark, President and Mr. Konnuba Joseph Kam-saamba, Secretary both of CYAUR explained that the demonstration, which should have been held on the 27th of October this year had to be postponed to 13th November following appeals of people from the area in the Diaspora to enable them to take part.


It stated that even though traceable to the colonial government's policies that deliberately denied people of the area development for the purpose of reserving them as a source of cheap labour for cocoa farms and the mines in the south, governments after independence in 1957 should have reversed the "colonial legacy" with "a high sense of patriotism and nationalism".


The Association called on all sons and daughters of northern Ghana to do away with their political colours and unite to champion the course of the area, saying, "political parties will come and go, but northern Ghana will continue to exist".

It said that to prevent politicians from making capital out of the exercise, efforts were being made to prevail on the three Regional Ministers and MPs from the northern part of the country to lead the demonstration

The CYAUR appealed to Ghanaians not to see the intended protest as a struggle between the south and the north and said all that it was seeking for was "Equity", adding that, "all northerners, both home and abroad, civil society organizations, human rights advocates, the clergy and all well meaning Ghanaians who support even development of the country should join them in their quest for socio-economic justice.


"The status quo that northerners are hewers of wood and drawers of water and the feeling that northern Ghana is an economic desert, destitute of mineral wealth and other precious resources is a big fallacy and must be challenged and changed by all northerners," the statement said.

Prez Not Obliged To Publish Probe Reports

A retired Supreme Court judge, Justice George Lamptey, says the President is not obliged to make public the report of any committee or commission of enquiry that he sets up.

Similarly, the Constitution does not support suggestions that the President should act on reports of committees set up by the ministries, he said.

Justice Lamptey was addressing a seminar on Continuous Professional Development for some professional bodies in Accra on Thursday. It was on the theme, ‘Promoting the Public Interest - The Role of the Lawyer’.

He said that a commission or committee of inquiry set up by the President was only expected to present its report to the President who would in turn, issue a white paper on it. "These reports are not for public consumption and so he is not expected to hold a press conference to announce the recommendations to the public."

Justice Lamptey also spoke on vetting of ministers. He said rather than subjecting government appointees to the rigours of parliamentary vetting, Ghanaians should perhaps be looking at amending the Constitution to make it possible for the President’s appointees not to go through such procedures.

"He pointed out that after the President appoints the ministers, Parliament spends about two months selecting and dropping people and, therefore, delaying the actual time needed to commence serious government business."

Justice Lamptey also described as unjustifiable, criticisms that the President travels too much.

He noted that Ghana’s constitution has made the President assume the roles of both Head of State and Head of Government, as well as the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Thus, given the numerous functions of the President, he said, it was to be expected that the President will perform such important roles by visiting other countries for the mutual benefit of all Ghanaians.

"When do we say the President is performing his duties as Head of State and when do we see him performing the role of Head of Government?" he questioned.

The chairman for the occasion, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, also a retired Supreme Court judge, appealed to professionals in the country to come out of their shells and comment on issues of national interest.

"There are too many ‘experts’ on every issue in Ghana, but the real experts who should set the records straight keep quiet," he complained.

The seminar was organized by the Association of Certified Accountants and other accounting bodies. Representatives from the legal, medical, accounting and engineering fields presented papers on topical issues.