The top story of the Business Week says government is considering mortgaging the untapped crude oil at Cape Three Points as one of the numerous options in the wake of the soaring price of crude oil on the international market. This means government will trade off a quantity of crude oil from a reputable oil firm and pay back when it commences actual production in 2010.
The Daily Graphic gives banner headline to a statement by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ghana, Rev. Professor Elom Dovlo urging Ghanaians especially politicians to engage in constructive dialogue rather than brawl towards nation-building. Rev. Professor Dovlo was preaching the sermon at the 26th Remembrance Day Service held Monday at the Ridge Church in Accra for the three High Court Judges who were murdered in July 1982. The paper shows some of the dignitaries at the function including the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey, Chief Justice Georgina Wood, Mr. Justice Atuguba, Justice Darteh-Baah and Mr. Justice Anim Yeboah, all Supreme Court Judges. Still with the Graphic, the paper reports the death of a 360-year-old man Emmanuel Borketey Boye in BNI cells. Boye is alleged to have committed suicide weaving his cell dress into a rope and using it to hang himself. Also highlighted by the paper is a reshuffle effected by the police administration as part of measures to strengthen the service. According to the changes, some of which take effect from the 4th of this month, the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwaku Opare Addo will move to the Ashanti Region while DCOP James Oppong-Boanuh, Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander takes over in Accra. ACP Seth Charles Oteng, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander moves to Brong Ahafo and a lot more.
The lead story of the Searchlight says a high ranking member of Ghana’s Parliament has defended the excessive spending by politicians in their quest to win political power saying he would be prepared to sell his mother for money to campaign. The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Freddy Blay is quoted as saying that he loves politics so much and therefore would spend much money as possible to campaign to retain his seat.
The Chronicle gives prominence to a statement by the immediate past Metropolitan Chief Executive for the KMA, Maxwell Kofi Juma announcing his intention to boycott meetings of the Assembly. Mr. Jumah alias Kofi Ghana who is the MP for Asokwa and doubles as Deputy Minister for local government told listeners of Fox FM, a local radio station in Kumasi that though he is an ex-officio member, he cannot afford to be part of the assembly because their deliberations are useless.
The refusal of NDC flagbearer, Professor Atta Mills to receive the national honours conferred on him by President Kufuor is the top story of the Daily Guide. The story goes with the caption Mills dodges awards, Martyrs day.
EDITORIALS
As the country marks the 48th anniversary of its attainment of republican status today, the Daily Graphic urges Ghanaians to recognize the sacrifices that were made, which involved the loss of precious lives and work hard to jealously guard against any attempt intended to draw the country back. The paper urges Ghanaians to work together as one people with a common destiny, regardless of ones political affiliation.
The Daily Searchlight congratulates officials of the Cape Coast Motor Traffic and Transport Unit, MTTU, on arresting the drug barons on Sunday. The paper also commends the Central Regional Police Commander, Rose Atinga-Bio and the policemen on duty for refusing the $5,000 bribe offered them by the suspects. The Searchlight doubts whether other police officers in the same position would have been able to resist the temptation offered by the suspects.
The Chronicle also commends the Central Regional Police arrests and calls on government to provide scan machines at all entry point of the country. To the paper, it is important for government to introduce sniffer dogs at selected barriers and random checks on vehicles. These moves the paper believes is the only sure way to fight the drug trade.
