PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ghana: Economy, politics dominate Ghanaian media
Accra, Ghana (PANA) – The continuing debate on the health of Ghana’s economy and this weekend’s national delegates’ conference of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) dominated the media this week.
“Veep calls for forum on economy,” was the headline of a story in the state-owned Graphic newspaper which reported that Vice-president Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur had proposed a national forum on the economy to find the best way to resolve the current economic difficulties.
Such a forum should involve all stakeholders and be devoid of partisan considerations to brainstorm on the challenges, he said at the inauguration of a multi-purpose rice processing plant at Sogakofe in the Volta Region.
Mr Amissah-Arthur said the forum would involve stakeholders, such as civil society organisations, the media and political parties to exchange ideas on how to put the economy back on track.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times newspaper, reporting the same event under the headline “Let’s discuss economic challenges dispassionately”, said the vice president called for dispassionate discussions of the challenges facing the economy stressing that the partisan debate and the blame game were not helping the country.
According to him, the debate should not be which government caused what but the focus should be how to find solutions to the complex economic challenges.
“There is danger that the discussions can deteriorate into a partisan debate which does not augur well for the nation. We need to avoid turning the debate of the future of our economy into a discussion between pressure groups that either issue ultimatums or seek confrontations,” he said.
“NPP set for Conference,” was the headline the Ghanaian Times on this weekend’s delegates’ conference of the NPP.
The newspaper said barring any unforeseen circumstances, the conference would take place at Tamale Sports Stadium on Saturday to offer the opportunity to the 5,265 delegates to decide the fate of the 44 aspirants vying for eight national executive positions in the party.
It said the contestants had arrived in Tamale, trying to convince the delegates to vote for them.
Some of the delegates were meeting secretly and strategising on how to throw their weight behind their favourites, the newspaper said.
The Ghanaian Times in another story said according to the ground rules, the party had outlawed camping of delegates and inducement in the form of bribery.
The party said only accredited delegates and officials would be allowed entry into the stadium while all campaign activities were expected to end at 1700 GMT on Friday 11 April.
“Afoko’s letter stirs controversy ahead of national delegates’ conference in Tamale,” was a headline of the Graphic on Friday.
It said with less than 24 hours to the national delegates’ conference of the NPP, various controversial issues appeared to be taking centre stage.
It cited the timing of a letter written to the party’s election committee by Mr Paul Afoko, a contestant in the chairmanship race, and media reports that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) were investigating Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, the incumbent General Secretary, who is seeking re-election, and said these appeared to be brewing factionalism in the NPP ahead of the conference.
The Graphic said Mr Afoko wrote a letter to the NPP election committee on Wednesday seeking clarification relating to what the party’s constitution specified concerning the composition of the Electoral College.
However, some media organisations, in their interpretation of the letter, claimed Mr Afoko wanted Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2008 and 2012 presidential and vice presidential candidates, to be stopped from voting.
But Mr Afoko, at a news conference, denied ever stating in the letter that the two personalities should be stopped from casting their ballots.
The NPP Member of Parliament for Suhum, Mr Opare Ansah, said he had embarked on a last-minute campaign to vote out the current executive members.
Mr Ansah said the party needed new faces to take it to victory in the 2016 elections after losing two elections in 2008 and 2012.
The Graphic also reported that contrary to the provisions of the NPP constitution, various groups and individuals were endorsing their preferred candidates for the nine executive positions.
“Vote for efficient candidates, Akufo-Addo advises delegates,” was the headline of another story in the Graphic.
It said the 2008 and 2012 flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, had appealed to delegates to vote for “efficient candidates” who could collectively work to enhance the image and fortunes of the party in every region.
In a goodwill message to the conference, he declared, “Our task in Tamale on April 12, 2014 is simple but critical: To choose a team of capable national officers who will lead us as a united force to recapture power in the 2016 general election. The NPP rank and file deserve a leadership which will provide, with urgency, a clear and credible strategic plan for achieving this purpose.”
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, who has declared his intention to contest for the party’s nomination as presidential candidate for the third time, this weekend marks an important milestone in the history and future of the NPP, and, therefore, urged the party to have a peaceful, free and fair election.
Alan Kyeremanten, a fierce rival of Nana Akufo-Addo, in his message described the conference as an opportunity to elect “competent leaders” to lead the party to victory in 2016.
He said having lost two consecutive elections and the historic presidential election petition at the Supreme Court, the party needed qualified leaders to work for a resounding victory.
Meanwhile, nine NPP supporters were shot and wounded on Thursday night while they were partying ahead of the conference.
The Graphic said fear had gripped residents of Tamale as well as visitors preparing for the conference after the shooting carried out by unknown gunmen.
According to Northern Regional Police, the activists were having fun when the unidentified gunmen in an unregistered taxi cab opened fired on them.
No arrests have been made and the police are investigating.
-0- PANA MA 12April2014
“Veep calls for forum on economy,” was the headline of a story in the state-owned Graphic newspaper which reported that Vice-president Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur had proposed a national forum on the economy to find the best way to resolve the current economic difficulties.
Such a forum should involve all stakeholders and be devoid of partisan considerations to brainstorm on the challenges, he said at the inauguration of a multi-purpose rice processing plant at Sogakofe in the Volta Region.
Mr Amissah-Arthur said the forum would involve stakeholders, such as civil society organisations, the media and political parties to exchange ideas on how to put the economy back on track.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times newspaper, reporting the same event under the headline “Let’s discuss economic challenges dispassionately”, said the vice president called for dispassionate discussions of the challenges facing the economy stressing that the partisan debate and the blame game were not helping the country.
According to him, the debate should not be which government caused what but the focus should be how to find solutions to the complex economic challenges.
“There is danger that the discussions can deteriorate into a partisan debate which does not augur well for the nation. We need to avoid turning the debate of the future of our economy into a discussion between pressure groups that either issue ultimatums or seek confrontations,” he said.
“NPP set for Conference,” was the headline the Ghanaian Times on this weekend’s delegates’ conference of the NPP.
The newspaper said barring any unforeseen circumstances, the conference would take place at Tamale Sports Stadium on Saturday to offer the opportunity to the 5,265 delegates to decide the fate of the 44 aspirants vying for eight national executive positions in the party.
It said the contestants had arrived in Tamale, trying to convince the delegates to vote for them.
Some of the delegates were meeting secretly and strategising on how to throw their weight behind their favourites, the newspaper said.
The Ghanaian Times in another story said according to the ground rules, the party had outlawed camping of delegates and inducement in the form of bribery.
The party said only accredited delegates and officials would be allowed entry into the stadium while all campaign activities were expected to end at 1700 GMT on Friday 11 April.
“Afoko’s letter stirs controversy ahead of national delegates’ conference in Tamale,” was a headline of the Graphic on Friday.
It said with less than 24 hours to the national delegates’ conference of the NPP, various controversial issues appeared to be taking centre stage.
It cited the timing of a letter written to the party’s election committee by Mr Paul Afoko, a contestant in the chairmanship race, and media reports that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) were investigating Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, the incumbent General Secretary, who is seeking re-election, and said these appeared to be brewing factionalism in the NPP ahead of the conference.
The Graphic said Mr Afoko wrote a letter to the NPP election committee on Wednesday seeking clarification relating to what the party’s constitution specified concerning the composition of the Electoral College.
However, some media organisations, in their interpretation of the letter, claimed Mr Afoko wanted Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2008 and 2012 presidential and vice presidential candidates, to be stopped from voting.
But Mr Afoko, at a news conference, denied ever stating in the letter that the two personalities should be stopped from casting their ballots.
The NPP Member of Parliament for Suhum, Mr Opare Ansah, said he had embarked on a last-minute campaign to vote out the current executive members.
Mr Ansah said the party needed new faces to take it to victory in the 2016 elections after losing two elections in 2008 and 2012.
The Graphic also reported that contrary to the provisions of the NPP constitution, various groups and individuals were endorsing their preferred candidates for the nine executive positions.
“Vote for efficient candidates, Akufo-Addo advises delegates,” was the headline of another story in the Graphic.
It said the 2008 and 2012 flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, had appealed to delegates to vote for “efficient candidates” who could collectively work to enhance the image and fortunes of the party in every region.
In a goodwill message to the conference, he declared, “Our task in Tamale on April 12, 2014 is simple but critical: To choose a team of capable national officers who will lead us as a united force to recapture power in the 2016 general election. The NPP rank and file deserve a leadership which will provide, with urgency, a clear and credible strategic plan for achieving this purpose.”
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, who has declared his intention to contest for the party’s nomination as presidential candidate for the third time, this weekend marks an important milestone in the history and future of the NPP, and, therefore, urged the party to have a peaceful, free and fair election.
Alan Kyeremanten, a fierce rival of Nana Akufo-Addo, in his message described the conference as an opportunity to elect “competent leaders” to lead the party to victory in 2016.
He said having lost two consecutive elections and the historic presidential election petition at the Supreme Court, the party needed qualified leaders to work for a resounding victory.
Meanwhile, nine NPP supporters were shot and wounded on Thursday night while they were partying ahead of the conference.
The Graphic said fear had gripped residents of Tamale as well as visitors preparing for the conference after the shooting carried out by unknown gunmen.
According to Northern Regional Police, the activists were having fun when the unidentified gunmen in an unregistered taxi cab opened fired on them.
No arrests have been made and the police are investigating.
-0- PANA MA 12April2014
