The top story of the Daily Graphic says investigations into the murder of the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, GJA, Samuel Ennin, have taken a dramatic turn with the Attorney-General’s Department saying it cannot go ahead with the prosecution of the two suspects who are in custody. This is because fresh evidence links a journalist to the murder. A Chief State Attorney, William Pobee, told the paper that the wife of the slain GJA Regional Chairman had alleged during investigations that she had seen the said journalist whose name was not disclosed with the suspects two days before her husband was killed. That was after the woman had seen the pictures of the suspects, Kwame Ayew and Sheriff Kabore in the newspapers after their arrest last year.
Also highlighted by the Graphic is a statement by the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin that the best parting gift Ghanaians can give to President Kufuor in December is a resolve to make the general elections peaceful, free and fair. He made the call at the launch of a book, “the royal Akyem Kingdom – the new frontier” at the banquet hall in Accra. The paper shows President Kufuor in a tete-a tete with the Okyehene.
The Ghanaian Times gives front page treatment to the visit by Ministers and New Patriotic Party, NPP National Executives to the surviving victims of the Dompoase accident. In a picture story, the paper show the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former Minister of State, A.E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister and Party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu consoling one of the victims in bed. Inserted is a picture of the nine-month-old baby girl who escaped death being carried by the biological mother. The grandmother who was bringing her to Accra did not survive the accident. Also given prominence by the Times is a call by a Supreme Court Judge, Mr. Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey for a Special Court at the Circuit level to try cases of armed robbery, narcotics and armed conflicts. The paper gives banner headline to the Buipe chieftaincy conflict which it says has claimed two lives.
The statement by a founding father of the Convention Peoples Party, CPP, F.A. Jantuah, calling for the removal of Dr. Nduom as the party’s presidential candidate is given front page treatment by the Accra Daily Mail. The paper also gives prominence to a statement by Ghana’s Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe describing as misguided assertions that the NPP would not be increasing its votes in Ashanti because the presidential candidate is Akyem.
The Enquirer reports that French Intelligence has captured top Ghanaian politicians on video in secret meetings with International drug barons. The source of the paper’s story is the latest edition of Africa report, a magazine of international repute that focuses on the continent.
The Insight carries as its lead a story which highlights a clear case of neglect at the Kpong farms. The farms were established by the Volta River Authority, VRA, at an estimated cost of US$40 million.
EDITORIALS
The Ghanaian Times says the menace of armed robbery must be tackled ruthlessly, adding that many Ghanaians now live in fear of terrorists parading in the name of armed robbers. The paper urges government to look again at equipping the police once more, especially now that the economy is showing signs of robustness. The Times encourages every citizen to wake up to his or her responsibility of alerting the police at the sniff of any robbery.
The Public Agenda congratulates the government of Japan on giving Ghana a US$3 million grant to improve food security and peace in Northern Ghana. The paper says though it is a good gesture, this money could have been channeled through other areas for development rather than conflict resolution. The Public Agenda urges the people in the North, especially Bawku and Dagbon to take a cue from this and help themselves.
The Daily Graphic uses the occasion of Father’s Day to remind Ghanaians to once again go back to the time tested values of good parenting to ensure a disciplined society. The paper asks fathers who shirk their duties leaving mothers alone to provide for the economic needs of their children to be responsible and be a beacon of hope for the youth.
The Daily Searchlight believes it is only fair that the media take caution when publishing issues that affect national security. It calls on the Enquirer newspaper to listen to the concerns expressed by the National Media Commission. To the Searchlight, it is necessary that the media consider the negatives side of their reportage to balance the public’s right to know in order to safeguard the national interest.
