Military High Command cautions Rawlings

Ghana’s Military High Command on Friday said the Ghana Armed Forces would continue to be loyal to the state and government of the day as the case was during the rule of former President Rawlings, a statement from the Military High Command said on Friday.

"We have no other option than to team up with other security services to protect the integrity and stability of our dear nation as well as the democratic dispensation being enjoyed by all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations, ethnicity and religious beliefs".


The statement was in response to a press conference the former President held on Thursday in Accra when he reacted to certain allegations President John Kufour made against him at a rally at Offinso in the Asahanti Region.


It said the High Command had noted the comments the former President made that, “he expects the Commanders to go to the Minister and tell him that his policies or other directives are not favourable to the military and cannot work hence he should change them” or words to that effect.


The statement signed by Colonel E. W. K. Nibo, Director of Public relations, Armed Forces said, “The Ghana Armed Forces would like to appeal to the former President to stop drawing it into the political utterances that appears to be the order of the day anytime he has a bone to pick with the government.


“He should allow the military to do its work as enshrined in the constitution of our dear country just as it did for him in the past". The statement expressed concern that, "such statements coming from him as a former Commander-in-Chief tend to undermine the Command, discipline, esprit de corps, teamwork and professionalism of the Armed Forces, which do not augur well for peace and stability of the country."


In as much as the former President is entitled to his opinion, the Military High Command finds it unfortunate that as a former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, such comments should be coming from him, since he is very familiar with the code of conduct of the military".


The High Command of the Armed Forces “respects him as its former Commander in Chief and would therefore expect his comments about the military to be circumspect by urging the military to continue to do the good work it has been doing rather than subjecting it to public ridicule, contempt and embarrassment", the statement said.
GNA

Total Petroleum Ghana and Total Ghana Limited merge

Shareholders of Total Petroleum Ghana Limited (formerly Mobil Oil Ghana Ltd) and Total Ghana Limited at separate meetings on Friday approved the merger of the two companies, Mr. Felix Majekodunmi, Managing Director of Petroleum Ghana Limited announced on Friday in Accra.


Mr Majekodunmi told a press conference that as part of the merger agreement, Total Ghana Limited would be put into members’ voluntary liquidation and the whole of its undertaking and assets will be transferred to Total Petroleum Ghana Limited.


Total Petroleum Ghana Limited would thus issue new shares to the shareholders of Total Ghana Limited in line with the rights of the shareholders in the liquidation. Mr Majekodunmi said the merged company’s name will be Total Petroleum Ghana Limited and would remain quoted on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The merged company will occupy a leadership position in Ghana with an estimated market share of 28 per cent and a network of 225 service stations across the country.


“Synergies derived from rationalization of depots administrative and marketing operations will increase efficiency, reduce operating cost, consequently increasing profitability and shareholder value,” Mr Majekodunmi said.
He stressed that the benefits of the synergies would enable Total Petroleum Ghana Limited to competitively satisfy the ever challenging and increasing needs of its customers whilst putting safety first at all times. Touching on redundancies as result of the merger, Mr Majekodunmi said 46 employees had been affected because of the rationalization of assets and operations of the two companies.


Management and representatives of staff of both companies, he said, had amicably negotiated redundancy packages of the affected employees, a package which had received the approval of the Labour Department of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment for implementation. Mr Majekodunmi reiterated Total Petroleum Ghana Limited commitment to providing quality products, reliable and efficient service to its customers.


Besides, he said, the merged company would continue to be alive to its corporate social responsibilities while contributing positively to the economic growth of the country. Mr Majekodunmi was upbeat about the performance of the shares of the new company, saying once the results of the synergies began to manifest it would push share prices up. Total occupies a strong position in Africa with downstream operations in over 58 countries with about 3,800 branded service stations and shares in seven refineries.
GNA

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