THE DAILY GRAPHIC – FRIDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. COCOA PRICE UP AGAIN – PGS. 1 & 3

The producer price of cocoa has been increased to ?9 million per metric tonne or ?562,500 per bag of 64 kilogramme gross or ?270,000 per load with effect from yesterday.

The new increase, the fifth to be made since 2001, moved the price of the crop from ?8.5 million per metric tonne or ?531,250 per bag of 64 kilogrammes gross as of October 2002, representing 69 per cent of the FOB price of the product.

Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning announced this at a meeting with the press in Accra yesterday.

The new price constitutes about 55 per cent above the producer price being paid in Cote d’Ivoire.

Meanwhile an amount of ?341 billion has been approved for the continuation of the diseases and pest control programme otherwise called “Mass Cocoa spraying exercise”.

The exercise, intended to sustain the 40,000 jobs created for the youth since the inception of the programme, would involve the control of capsid and black pod diseases in all the six cocoa growing regions of the country.

2. MINISTERS REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR SALT INDUSTRY. – PG. 3

According to the paper, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives (PSI) Mr. Alan Kyerematen, and Minister for Private Sector Development, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, have reaffirmed the government’s support for the development of the salt industry within the context of the President’s Initiative on salt.

The assurance was made at a meeting with salt producers and processors in Accra.

Official statement issued in Accra, said the meeting was called to discuss problems that had in recent times emerged and become a source of concern to salt producers.

3. DAGBON TO HOLD ELECTIONS – PG. 13

The paper reports that, district level elections in the four districts of the Dagbon area where the President lifted the state of emergency recently will be held within the next one month.

Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development disclosed this in Parliament in reaction to concerns raised by the Minority on the exclusion of people from the Dagbon traditional area from the Interim Management Committees that ran the assemblies in areas affected by the State of emergency.

4. OKYEMAN ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION WINS AWARD – PG. 16 & 17

The Okyeman Environment Foundation has won this year’s International Green Apple Environment Award in the United Kingdom.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held at the House of Commons in London, on November 6, 2003.

Established about three years ago, the Okyeman Environment Foundation is aimed at preserving and protecting forest resources, which are currently under indiscriminate exploitation.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – FRIDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. 17 NGOs TO PAY ?250M. THEY USED GRANTS FOR WRONG PURPOSES – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, a total of 17 Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community-based Organisations (CBOs) have been ordered by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) to refund monies totaling ?250 million they collected from the Commission for HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.

The order by the Commission followed a discovery that they failed to use the funds for the purposes for which they were solicited.

Prof. Sakyi Awuku Amoa, Director-General of the Commission, disclosed this in an interview with the paper in Accra.

2. SIAMESE TWINS DELIVERED AT SALTPOND – PG. 1

The paper reports that, 25-year-old fishmonger from Kormantse near Saltpond, Miss Elizabeth Sarbah, also known as Maame Nyaaba, on Monday gave birth to Siamese twins at Saltpond Government Hospital.

The babies, the third born of the woman, are joined at the stomach, have three legs and one anus.

Dr. Frederick Vormawor, the Medical Superintendent, explained that there was a problem with the development of the foetus and some parts got fused, leading to the Siamese twins.

“When such a thing occurs, it is the medical experts who rectify it,” he said and cautioned against infusing superstition onto it.

3. ‘AMEND ACT 449 TO GIVE NMC MORE BITE’ – PG. 3

Mr. Nutifafa Kuenyehia, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), has called for an amendment to ACT 449 establishing the commission in order to give the NMC greater authority to become more effective.

He stressed the need for such a move to give more clout to the decisions of the Commission.

He was speaking at a press Conference on the 10th anniversary of the Commission.

He also called for a debate on the issue of having full-time chairman and members for the NMC who should be well resourced to be able to carry out their functions more efficiently.

According to the paper, the present 18-member Committee ends its three-year term on Monday, October 27th 2003.

4. CAF BOSS TO VISIT GHANA – PG. 8

Mr. Issa Hayatou, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will arrive in Accra in the first week of November this year to hold discussions on the way forward for football in Africa with the political and sporting leaders in Ghana.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister Of Education, Youth and Sports disclosed this during a meeting with members of the eight sub-committee of the CAN 2008 Ghana Bid in Accra.

GHANA PALAVER – FRIDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. HIPC FAILING AFRICA – IMF – PGS. 2 & 6

The paper reports that, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has admitted that the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiatives is failing Africa.

According to the paper, the admission has come after the NPP Ministers, led by President Kufuor, had consistently maintained that the HIPC had come as a Panacea to all Africa’s economic ills.

The paper states further that, last July 8, although the Minister of Finance, Mr. Osafo Maafo, admitted that the country’s debt had jumped almost 50 per cent, within the past two years – from ?41 trillion to ?64 trillion, the Government still claimed that the economy was on course.

2. GHANA EXPO-VISA DEALS SUSPECTED – PGS. 1 & 8

The paper says the just-ended Ghana Expo in London, meant to promote trade between Ghana and Britain, has scored the highest point in Visa racketeering, tarnishing the image of the country.

According to the paper, with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll, alone, leading a field of over 200 businessmen and some leading NPP members, collecting some other 500 businessmen behind them, the latest information is that most of the participants of the “fair”, have lost track with British, immigration officers and obviously jumped into thin air.

The paper also states that one is yet to see the number, which will return home, weighed against the departure number.

THE STATESMAN – FRIDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

NDUOM FOR ENERGY LAUNCH IN UK. – PG. 3

According to the paper, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister for Energy, has been invited by the UK Government to participate in the launch of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).

A release issued by the British High Commission in Accra yesterday, said the Minister would be in the UK between October 23-24.

The release said the REEEP brings together government, business and other stakeholders with the aim of fostering international collaboration to accelerate the market growth of modern renewable and energy efficiency technologies.

FREE PRESS – FRIDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

MINISTER DIVERTS RELIEF ITEMS – PG. 1 & BK. PG.

The paper reports that, contrary to the government’s agenda of zero-tolerance for corruption, some of its Ministers continue to exhibit corrupt practices that are uncharacteristic of democratic pluralism and counter-productive to the electoral victory of the ruling NPP in the next general elections.

According to the paper, a classic example of corruption in ministerial circles is the alleged diversion of relief items by Hon. Mustapha Iddrisu Ali, Minister of Works and Housing and MP for Gupkegu-Sabongida constituency in the Tamale municipality of the Northern Region to his campaign “ware house.”

The relief items were sent to Tamale in connection with the recent clash between NPP and NDC supporters that resulted in destruction of property and lost of lives in Tamale.

WEEKEND AGENDA – FRIDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

MENTAL HEALTH DELIVERY IN CRISIS - PGS. 1 & 5

Head of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Joseph Bediako Asare, says mental health delivery in the country is in crisis.

He blamed inadequate professional staff, inadequate remuneration, lack of space and other working tools among others for the deteriorating standard of psychiatric care.

He warned that if measures were not put in place to salvage the situation, Ghana would have to import mental health professionals from other countries at a higher cost.

“If we do not declare mental health a hazardous and priority area and adhere to strict advice that we are giving, then at some point in time, Ghana would have to import specialists and nurses.”

Dr. Asare was speaking in an interview with the paper following the launch of the World Mental Health Day in Accra last week.

According to him the problems of mental health delivery in the country are numerous.

“How can the Accra Psychiatric Hospital with a patient population of over one thousand in 23 wards be managed by a little over 100 professionals nurses and very few psychiatrists with about 70 percent of them on contract appointments” he asked.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

TRAGEDY UPON TRAGEDY, INTERDICTED COPS FACE NIGHTMARE…THEIR FATE TO BE DETERMINED EARLY NOVEMBER – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper says as the five interdicted police officers face nightmares three months after being acquitted of manslaughter charges in connection with the May 9 stadium disaster, those to determine their fate to recall them or not-seem gripped by indecision.

According to the paper, neither Interior Minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman nor Inspector General of police, Nana Owusu Nsiah could give an inkling of the likely outcome of consultations between the police establishment and the government on the matter in response to the paper’s inquries.

Intelligence information picked up by the paper, also, indicates that by the close of the first week of next month, the five officers may know whether they are going to be kicked out of the service or remain at post after the next Police Council meeting said to be scheduled to take place on today, Friday, October 24.

THE INSIGHT – FRIDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2003

1. KUFUOR’S RESIDENCE…WORKERS CHALLENGE AUDIT REPORT ON RENOVATION – PGS. 1 & 6

Workers of the Prestige Department of the Public Works Department (PWD) who worked on the renovation of the President’s private house are up in arms, the paper reports.

They have challenged the special audit report on the renovation and made fresh allegations, which undermines earlier claims by Kwamena Bartels, Minister for the Private Sector Development.

According to the workers, the renovation cost the tax payer more than the ?41 million claimed by Mr. Bartels.

They say the cost of labour, mosquitoes netting, change of doors and special fittings were not included in the cost estimates.

The workers also insist that no materials were stolen or diverted from the President’s house.

2. NRC MAN MISSES POINT – PG. 1

According to the paper, when NRC Executive Secretary Dr. Ken Attafuah said that his commission had requested Ghana diplomatic mission to look for captain Kojo Tsikata in Southern Africa, he was not speaking the whole truth.

The fact is that Captain Tsikata has been resident in Accra for the last six years.

Indeed he has not abandoned his residence in Accra since he resigned as Head of National Security.

Although he has been traveling abroad for some private enterprises, Captain Tsikata’s whereabouts have always been known by the police and other security services, the paper reports.