Electronic Media Monitoring: TV Shows

GTV BREAKFAST SHOW

 MODERATOR	 -	JOJO GRAVES WOODE
 PANELISTS	 -	GEORGE SARPONG
 SEIDIK BUGRI

JUDGE SUGGESTS SOLUTION TO LAND DISPUTES SEIZE THEM ALL

INTRODUCTION

Mr. Justice Allan Brobbey, a Supreme Court Judge, has called on the government to take over all lands in the country which are under dispute. He has also asked the government to compel litigants in land cases to explore all possible settlements by the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) before going to court. - The Ghanaian Times

Bugri - Most chiefs and elders are in the business of selling stool lands to two or more people in order to get more money. Some of these people should be sent to court for fraud. Every court has about 60 land cases. The courts should speed up cases in order to deal with the criminals involved in land disputes in the country.

Sarpong - The Judicial Service should be very hard on criminal landowners. They should be prosecuted. Many people are getting rich from land sales. Most of these land owners have lawyers and solicitors who defend them in court to win all land cases. The Lands Commission should be re-organized to handle land cases in a transparent manner.

AGC BACKS ANGLO-GOLD

INTRODUCTION

The Board of Directors of Ashanti Goldfields Company has recommended to shareholders to accept a 1.4 billion dollar all-share offer from South African mining giant, Anglo-Gold, over a rival bid from London-based Randgold Resources. The new bid for Anglo-Gold values AGC’s share at 10.97 dollars each, with each Ashanti shareholder receiving 29 new Anglo-Gold shares for every 100 Ashanti shares. – The Ghanaian Times

Sarpong - The private media has played an important role in publicizing Anglo-Gold and Randgold bids for AGC. We should take into consideration the social relevance of this agreement to the people of Ashanti. We should make sure this agreement is in the best interest of the people. Experienced and qualified engineers should be employed to manage Ashanti to benefit the people of Obuasi and Tarkwa mines.

Bugri - The Anglo-Gold agreement will increase investment in Ashanti and more employment opportunities will be created for the people. These investors should create an excellent environment for the people. Some journalists went to South Africa to study Anglo-Gold’s mining operations and they realized that an excellent project has been established in that country. They were given free accommodation and allowances to promote the image of Anglo-Gold of South Africa.

POLICE RAID TONY AIDOO’S RESIDENCE

INTRODUCTION

Police officers, numbering 17, in the early hours of yesterday, raided the Weija home of former Minister of Defence, Dr. Tony Aidoo, and retrieved an unlicensed pistol from him. The police asked him to report to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Headquarters at 11 a.m. yesterday. – Evening News

Bugri - Dr. Tony Aidoo was once a Deputy Minister of Defence, so he should have understood the law better and licensed the pistol in his house. He should be arrested and granted bail for possessing an illegal weapon.

METRO TV GOOD MORNING GHANA

 MODERATOR	-	RANDY ABBEY
 PANELISTS	-	OWULA MANGOTEY
 ALFRED OGBAMEY
 KWEKU BAAKO

AGC BACKS ANGLO-GOLD

Owula - The merger between Ashanti and Anglo-Gold has been endorsed and we must look forward to a prosperous future for the two partners. Anglo-Gold should go ahead and invest in Ashanti and create jobs for the people and ensure an excellent environment in Obuasi and other mining areas.

Alfred - The government must look at the Anglo-Gold agreement to determine whether it will benefit the people of Ghana. The government may have some interest in that agreement but we should allow Sam Jonah to take a decision on investment in Ashanti.

Baako - I think Randgold are disappointed. The government is not obliged to do business with Randgold. I think Randgold is a good company and AGC has made a big mistake by rejecting Randgold. We should have invited Randgold into Ashanti because they have experienced people to do the job.

POLICE RAID TONY AIDOO’S RESIDENCE

Owula - Mr. Tony Aidoo should just renew the license for his gun and let us have peace of mind for this nation. We should stop making so much noise about the search conducted on Tony Aidoo’s residence because he violated the law and he will be dealt with accordingly.

Baako - There are many laws in the country protecting the citizens of the land. Tony Aidoo should known that he cannot keep an unlicensed gun in his house. His house was searched and a weapon was found. He should just submit himself to investigations into illegal weapons in his house. He was an NDC member and he was once a defence minister, so he should understand the law better. The rules were followed and he should be arrested.

CEPS TOP SHOTS UNMASKED! THEY CAUSED THE DIVERSION AND STEALING OF RICE AND SUGAR WORTH OVER ?4 BILLION IN TRANSIT TO MALI

INTRODUCTIN

The Crusading Guide’s investigations with the Burkinabe Customs over the diversion of 15 trucks of rice and sugar worth over ?4 billion in transit to Mali, indicate that officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Ghana, connived in the diversion and further loss of the goods belonging to a Malian company, GOCM, Bamako. – The Crusading Guide

Owula - It is good that the Crusading Guide is publishing stories on corruption and embezzlement of state funds. The reporter is doing a good job to expose corruption in Customs, Excise and Preventive Service. He should be compensated.

Alfred - Diversion of goods in transit to Burkina Faso has been going on in this country for a long time and it is good that journalists are exposing this evil practice by CEPS officials. Millions of cedis are going into private hands. CEPS officials should stop this corruption and generate more revenue for the nation.

JAKE, BARTELS, VEEP & CO CLEARED BY AUDIT REVIEW!

INTRODUCTION

After what seemed to be a protracted controversy surrounding the renovation of the Castle and government bungalows a couple of years ago, the final audit report, which emanated from investigations into allegations of fraud, has exonerated Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the then Chief of Staff and currently Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Hon. Kwamena Bartels, former Minister for Works and Housing and now heading the Private Sector Development Ministry, Vice President Aliu Mahama and the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey. – Crusading Guide

Baako - A committee was set up to audit the accounts on the renovation of the Castle and official residences of ministers and MPs. The Auditor-General’s Department has completed its job and they submitted all their findings to the various institutions. There was no financial loss to the state. The Auditor-General should monitor the contract to see to its successful completion.

Owula - The Ministry of Information holds press briefings every Thursday at the ISD Conference Hall and I think journalists who have questions on the renovation of the Castle should ask the minister. The Information Services Department should have a database for gathering information on the national economy.

Alfred - I think I should critically analyze the Auditor-General’s Report on the renovation of the Castle before I can make any meaningful contribution on the subject. The special assistants at the Ministry of Information should always be informed and available to explain issues on the economy to the people.