GTV BREAKFAST SHOW NEWSPAPER REVIEW

MODERATOR : KWAME WAJA
PANELISTS : GORDON ADJEI
SEIDIK BUGRI

NPP IS DEAD IN HO CENTRAL – PARTY WARNED NOT TO ADVANCE ANY FINANCES FOR 2004 ELECTIONS

INTRODUCTION

A leading member of the NPP in the Volta Region, Seth Ohene-Frimpong, has cautioned the leadership of the party not to be swollen headed with the current economic achievement in the country and concentrate on delivering the 2000 electioneering promise to the citizenry. – The Ghanaian Voice

Adjei - Ho Central is an NDC stronghold and Mr. Seth Ohene-Frimpong should not waste money and other resources in that constituency. The “World Bank” is for the NDC and I would advise the NPP to forget about the constituency. They should not invest too much money in Ho Central because there are only a few NPP supporters in that area.

Bugri - Mr. Dan Botwe and his team should forget about the Volta Region and concentrate their resources in other areas in order to win more parliamentary seats. The Volta Region is for the NDC and it would be advisable not to waste the party’s money in that area.

718 RETIRED PREMATURELY IN CONTRAVENTION OF ’92 CONSTITUTION

INTRODUCTION

The Police Administration has admitted that it wrongfully retired 718 police officers between 1993 and 1994. It has, therefore, submitted a computerized list of all the affected officers to the Accra High Court, where the affected officers have sued the IGP and the Attorney-General for wrongfully retiring them, and it is expected to come up with the total entitlements of the plaintiffs at the next adjourned date. – Daily Graphic

Adjei - The policemen were retired prematurely, so they have the right to go to court to demand their end-of-service benefits due them. They must address the problem constitutionally. The court must study the case for proper interpretation, assessment and judgement.

Bugri - I will not comment much on the case because the matter is still before court.

TEMA MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS TEMA WEST MP FOR ‘SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION’

INTRODUCTION

The Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) at its sitting on Tuesday condemned Mr. Abraham Osei-Aidooh, MP for Tema West, for spreading false information to tarnish the image of the assembly”. – Ghanaian Voice

Adjei - The MP for Tema west is creating more trouble for the TMA. He has refused to attend meetings of the assembly but he always collects allowances monthly. I think all 4 MPs have been criticised by the assembly for refusing to be committed to the development of the municipality. And the media has strongly criticised the assembly for corruption and mismanagement of funds and projects in the various constituencies.

NDC GURU’S DEFECTION – IT’S OPPORTUNISM, SAYS NPP MP

INTRODUCTION

A leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP), has described as “a typical example of political opportunism and hypocrisy ,” the decision by a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in the erstwhile NDC government, Mr. Peter Wiafe Pepra, to join the NPP. -The Daily Dispatch

Bugri - I think politicians in this country should stop these cross carpeting to winning parties because the public will see them as opportunists and stomach politicians who want something for their families. The NDC members should respect their leadership and abide by their political beliefs. Principle should be applied and they should not be running to the NPP because of monetary gains.

Adjei - The NDC members who have cross-carpeted to the NPP should not be accepted and they should be regarded with scorn and suspicion. I think Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe is right in attacking Vincent Assiseh as a traitor who wants to destroy the NDC. It is very strange to see the former Publicity Secretary trying to work his way into the NPP and disgracing and humiliating his own people. The NPP should not tolerate him or even accept him in the party. He has started making moves to penetrate the NPP with his lies and bad comments about the NDC. We should look at him with fear and suspicion.

METRO TV GOOD MORNING GHANA

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

90% GOODS ON MARKET SMUGGLED – DEP. MINISTER

INTRODUCTION

Mr. Kweku Agyemang-Manu, Deputy Minister of Finance, has disclosed that about 90 percent of goods on the market are uncustomed. He mentioned watches, drugs, spirits, cosmetics, jewellery and textiles as some of the most smuggled goods. – The Ghanaian Times

Alfred - The CEPS targets are not realistic. They claimed to have achieved their annual target by June. More incentives must be provided to all the revenue generating organisations in the country. We should generate more revenue but we should not increase taxes. Most people are over-burdened with taxes and that is affecting their businesses and income.

Owula - Ghana has got a very large border along Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire. A lot of goods are smuggled into the country without customs officials seeing them. Nzemaland is a smuggling zone just as Aflao. We should intensify patrols on unapproved border check points in order to arrest smugglers.

Baako - I am amazed that 90% percent of goods are smuggled into Accra and the big cities for sale. Most of these smugglers are rich and goods like jewellery and garments are smuggled into the country. Smugglers pay bribes in order to clear their goods at the Tema harbour and Aflao border check points. Perfumes, diamond rings and textiles are smuggled through the Aflao border to Accra for quick sales. CEPS can make more money if these smugglers are forced to pay more taxes to government.

AGRIFEX’03 OPENS IN ACCRA

INTRODUCTION

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President, has opened the second edition of the Ghana International Food and Agriculture Trade Fair (AGRIFEX’03) at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra. The fair, which is on the theme, “Processing and Packaging Ghana’s Rich Agricultural Products for Food Security and Export”, is aimed at educating farmers to see agriculture as a big-time business on national and international markets. – Daily Graphic

Baako - We should encourage people to produce goods locally. We should increase production and improve upon the packaging of food items to attract international demand.

Owula - We should add value to our agricultural produce. The Vice President opened the AGRIFEX 2003 Fair and Hon. Courage Quarshiga was around to assist him. We should encourage people to patronise made-in-Ghana goods and this will make our local industries progress rapidly.