Welcome to Ghana Pundit: The Home of Politics and Intelligent Analysis

LATEST:

Grab the widget  Tech Dreams

Insist on Your Right to Education

Uneducated citizenry is like a pitch any game can be played on it. Illiteracy is what has given the politicians in Ghana the chance to fool so many people for so a long a time.

Friday, December 4, 2009

We may not be able to fulfill promises -– Haruna Iddrisu

Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications
Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications
The Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, says the NDC government is unlikely to fulfill its promises within this year, because of the very difficult and challenging economy the government inherited from its predecessor.

He was responding to critics of the government and expression of a lack of confidence in the President Mills’ administration by some leading functionaries within the NDC party.

Speaking on Citi Fm, he pointed out that though the “frustrated” party followers are at liberty to voice out their concerns, the verbal tirade directed at President Mills are misguided and needless, and attributed it to the breakdown of internal communication management within the party.

“It is the weak mechanism for managing internal problems, people are entitled to their opinions and views but to the extent that we are a collective body, we should have a way of dealing with many of these issues,” he stated.

Hon. Haruna Iddrisu also believes that the jostling and scrambling for positions of power within the party is a major contributory factor.

“I believe that the upcoming National Delegates Congress and people chasing for positions, may be a contributing factor, but the NDC has a responsibility now to focus on governance and also to deal with many of the concerns that have been raised particularly those that are legitimate…,” he cautioned.

According to him, though there are ways of managing internal party wranglings, he was “not too sure the party structures were being used exhaustively to deal with many of those issues raised.”



Source: Peacefmonline

Mills unfazed by criticism – Ayariga

President Atta Mills has been under criticism for not hitting the ground running as promised
President Atta Mills has been under criticism for not hitting the ground running as promised





The Presidential spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, says President Atta Mills is aware but unfazed by the recent incessant criticisms from some NDC bigwigs on his style of governance.

Former President Jerry Rawlings, Majority Leader in Parliament Alban Bagbin and MP for Nabdam, Moses Asaga joined the likes of Lower Manya Krobo MP, Michael Teye Nyaunu, and a former NDC presidential aspirant, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, to stoke the blazing fires by the opposition New Patriotic Party portraying the president as a non-performer.

Mr Ayariga confirmed on Peace FM’s kokrokoo on Thursday that President Mills “hears all these criticisms”.

He described President Mills as a “listening president” who would not discard genuine and constructive criticism; however, he noted, as human and fallible, the president sifts them and takes on board those that are “genuine and have basis” to correct his mistakes.

The Presidential Spokesperson maintained that the only “source of worry” to the president is the inappropriate medium the members used to express their concerns on government policies.

He said it was bad for those who have access to the presidency to directly state their accusations but rather choose to resort to the media. He could not fathom the rational behind their open criticisms and wondered “if there is any agenda or why?”

Mahama Ayariga also discounted perceptions that the president is under pressure and assured that those things would not distract the president's plans and policies for a better Ghana.

The Presidential Spokesperson also took a swipe at the media for “clearly misleading and misrepresenting” his recent press briefing, which sort to portray that President Mills has ceased to be a father for all, and reiterated that the president would not discriminate against any citizen.

He said during the press briefing, party members who are in government were only implored to “make space for party activists” and have regular interaction with them in response to complaints that they have been sidelined.


Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Bagbin: Parliament will sack ministers if…

Alban Babgin, Majority Leader
Alban Babgin, Majority Leader





The Majority Leader in Parliament says the House may be compelled to vote out ministers who flout certain decisions of the legislature.

Alban Kingsford Bagbin said Parliament, under Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution, has powers to censure “ministers of state for failure to behaving in a way that Parliament thinks can disqualify a minister of state.”

Mr Bagbin said this in reference to what he said has been the persistent failure of the Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour, to release funds approved by Parliament to government institutions like the Auditor General’s Department.

Mr. Babgin cautioned the Finance Minister on the floor when the MP commented on a statement by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase, Alhaji Mutaka M. Mubarak, on how to resource the Auditor General’s Department to enhance its performance.

The Majority Leader firmed his point even stronger in a later interview with Joy News’ Sammy Darko.

“The Auditor General is not subject to the direction or control of any person or any authority. Therefore if monies are approved by Parliament, the Minister of Finance is enjoined to release that money to the Auditor General for him to perform his duties,” he said.

Mr Bagbin indicated that, often times, Parliament “goes cap in hand begging for the release of his funds by the Ministry of Finance; that definitely is intolerable,” adding, “we would see Parliament implement this if our ministers fail to live up to expectation.”

The Auditor General’s Department he said audits over 7000 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Audit by the department has, over the years, unearthed several malfeasance in public records.

Meanwhile, Dr Duffour says although he disagrees with the assertions by the Majority Leader, he would remain tight-lipped on the issues for now and come out at an appropriate time.

Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview with Alban Bagbin.

Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Sammy Kufour tells Veep's men off

Ex-Ghana international, Samuel Osei Kufuor
Ex-Ghana international, Samuel Osei Kufuor
Ex-Ghana international, Samuel Osei Kufuor was on Tuesday, December 1, involved in a row with security personnel of the Vice President John Dramani Mahama in Accra.

The Vice President was on his way from his office for an official assignment.

Sammy Kufuor reportedly kept obstructing the Veep’s convoy with his car until he was asked by one of the Veep’s aides to pave way.

This incurred the wrath of the ex-Black Stars deputy captain who pointed his middle finger in the air and (according to the security men) chanted “f... off.”

The infuriated security men, according to the Vice President’s spokesperson, John Jinapor, attempted arresting him for questioning but the Vice President intervened and asked that Kufuor be left alone.



Source: Citifmonline.com

President Mills returns Wednesday, heads north for ‘Thank You’ tour


President Mills in a handshake with a Ghanaian resident in Trinidad and Tobago while Mr. D.S. Boateng looks on.
President Mills in a handshake with a Ghanaian resident in Trinidad and Tobago while Mr. D.S. Boateng looks on.
President John Evans Atta Mills is scheduled to leave the Trinidadian capital, Port of Spain, and head home after attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which took place between the 27th and 29th of November, 2009.

One of the high points of the Meeting is the election of Ghana to Chair the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group for a period of 2 years.

A statement issued by the presidency said Ghana has also joined the Commonwealth Group to take a common position on tackling the issue of Climate Change preceding the Climate Change Summit scheduled for Copenhagen in the second week of December.

Taking time off to interact with Ghanaians in Trinidad, President Mills pledged to pay serious attention to their major concern, which has to do with having a Consul General who will pay close attention to the welfare of Ghanaians.

His Excellency Presijavascript:openNewWindow('pix.asp',%20'PhotoGallery','900','800');dent Mills also spoke to the issue of his Better Ghana agenda and said that with Ghana sending the right signals to the investor community, there is every indication that Ghana’s economy will grow at an appreciable rate and also the fact that lots of infrastructure development will take place.

“I must admit that the first ten/eleven months have been quite turbulent but with the stabilization of the economy and the creation of necessary preconditions for economic take-off, I am assuring you that we will indeed build a Better Ghana”. The President said.

“The Mills Administration is committed to nothing but, investing in our people, expanding infrastructure, building a strong and resilient economy, and most importantly, operating in an open, honest, and transparent manner especially when it comes to the use of state resources” the President added.

President Mills and his team also held talks with the Petroleum Corporation of Trinidad & Tobago and Trinidad is pledging to assist Ghana develop local capacity (as is the case in Trinidad) to manage the nation’s oil resources.

Upon his arrival in Ghana, President Atta Mills will head for the Northern Region capital, Tamale, to participate in this year’s Farmers Day celebration, and stay on to embark on a Thank You tour of the Region.



Source: Koku Anyidoho
(Head, Communications)

Ghana: Another NDC MP hits at Mills


Michael Teye Nyaunu, Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo
Michael Teye Nyaunu, Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo

The Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, Michael Teye Nyaunu, who doubted Prof Mills' fitness to run as 2008 presidential candidate is questioning the ruling National Democratic Congress party's capacity to implement its 2010 budget policies.

Michael Teye Nyaunu is unhappy because, according to him, the Mills-led administration is running the government as though the party were new in government.

“We are not moving fast as if we are new in government; we have been in government before…How long do you take your time, how long do you take time; we are 11 months old now… what time do you have to take? A woman gives birth by nine months,” Mr Nyaunu said in response to a question.

He dismisses perceptions that the ruling government still has three years to spend in government and hints strongly that the NDC effectively has only two years more to rule the country as the last year is an election year and there is nothing one can to do.

“This is the time you have to prove your mettle,” he told Joy News’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Sammy Darko.

Sounding rather proverbial, the displeased MP said “for you to see that a market day on Wednesday will be very thriving, you can see it Tuesday evening.”

The MP also sounded unconvinced about the commitment of the government to develop the country as he tells Joy News, “I have not seen it yet. I thought we would hit the ground running but it is not so as now.”


Story by Fiifi Koomson, Benard Saibu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

NPP polls expert predicted Mills victory in Election '08: Arthur Kennedy


Prof. Mills and Nana Akufo-Addo
Prof. Mills and Nana Akufo-Addo


This is one of the revelations in a new book by a leading member of the party, Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy –Chasing The Elephant Into The Bush - The Politics Of Complacency.

Popularly known as Arthur K, he tells in his book that two days after the inauguration of the Campaign Team, he and others attended a meeting called by Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chairman of the Team. The meeting was to lay the groundwork for better collaboration.

Arthur K continues: “A few days into the campaign, I called Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku (Director of the Campaign Team) about an issue and he indicated that he was not happy that ‘you are running to Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey on everything. I am watching that.’ I was stunned. I thought we were a team and that dealing with Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey would not be a problem. … Sometimes, people were excluded from meeting without explanation. Once, Boakye-Agyarko was asked not to join a meeting by the Campaign Committee, Seratu, who claimed to be acting upon Dr. Apraku’s instruction. Dr. Apraku was very hard-working but not collegial.”

In the first week of July 2008, Arthur K and others met Prof. Larry Gibson, an African-American law professor in Maryland, who also doubled as a political strategist. Prof. Gibson was reported to have helped elect Mrs. Eileen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Mr. Marc Ravelomana of Madagascar.

By August 2008, Prof. Gibson had reviewed various opinion polls and had told the NPP Campaign Team that Nana Akufo-Addo would not get an outright majority and in the run-off. Prof. Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would win.

This is how Arthur K wrote it: “Later, in conversation, Larry told me he had informed Nana Akufo–Addo in one of their early meetings that he was waiting for the completion of a survey that would measure his favorability and disapproval ratings against that of Professor Mills. According to Larry, he then asked Nana Akufo-Addo who he thought would be more popular. Nana Akufo-Addo, according to Larry felt he would be more popular than Professor Mills. When the results came in, Professor Mills was slightly more popular than Nana Akufo-Addo. However, the NPP was more popular than the NDC.

Reviewing the polls, he indicated that Nana Akufo-Addo would win the first round but would not get an outright majority and that the second round would be too close to call. There were 27% of the voters who claimed to be undecided. Later, Larry started referring to them as ‘Undeclared’ rather than ‘Uncommitted’. However, when pressed further, he said he would give the second round to Prof. Mills by a whisker. On support, he indicated that we were strong in Ashanti, Eastern and Brong Ahafo and nearly even in the north but were not doing well at all in Volta, Central and Greater Accra.

He indicated that we should write off the Central and Greater Accra regions. On this, virtually the entire group disagreed with him. We all agreed that conceding those regions would be tantamount to conceding defeat in the elections.”


Source: The Daily Dispatch

NDC Activist Warns: Rawlings Can Overthrow Mills


The President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has been strongly cautioned to tighten his security detail around him to avoid being ousted by former President Jerry John Rawlings.

Speaking on Accra based radio station yesterday, Osei Yaw Nketia popularly known as Dr Asemfofro, staunch NDC member, who was buside himself with anger warned that former President Mr Rawlings “is a dangerous man who can stage a coup to overthrow sitting President Mills.”

He premised his caution to President Mills on the basis that Mr Rawlings in 1981 staged a coup and overthrew Dr Hilla Limann, in 1981 after Ghanaians had elected Dr Limann in a national election.

According to Dr Asemfofro, Mr Rawlings is still thirsting to become the President of this country even though he has served his term as President of Ghana. He wondered what Rawlings was able to achieve under his 19 years rule of this country, arguing that “his 19 year of Ghana was distasteful and nothing to write home about.”

“Rawlings demonstrated his burning desire to become President again of this country, the next day, January 8, 2001; he handed over power to former President John Agyekum Kufuor,” recounted Dr Asemfofro.
The die-hard NDC activist therefore asked Mr Rawlings to “shut up and allow President Mills to rule this country.”

He said Professor Mills was not elected as President of Ghana by Mr Rawlings but by the good people of this country, adding that his day-to-day disparaging comments and insults of President Mills was “shameful and disgraceful.” In the opinion of Dr Asemfofro, former President Rawlings must bow down his head in shame, describing him as “someone who does not respect him.”

He argued that the mere fact that Rawlings is the founding member of the NDC does not give him the leeway to be persistently chastising and disgracing President Mills. “Mr Rawlings must understand that in terms of age Professor Mills is older than him and in the area of academics he [referring to former President Rawlings] is nowhere near Professor Mills.

Professor Mills is a learned Professor whose academic laurels far outweigh what Mr Rawlings has,” Dr Asemfofro noted. Against this background, Dr Asemfofro told Mr Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings to learn to show respect and decorum towards President Mills and refrain from their constant verbal attacks against the President.

Dr Asemfofro advised Mr Rawlings to take a cue from past President like Bill Clinton of USA, Olushegun Obasanjo of Nigeria among others and learn to conduct himself in the way and manner these former presidents have behaved.

“We can all see the way former US President Bill Clinton and Nigerian President Olushegun Obasanjo have conducted themselves, why can’t former President Rawlings take a cue from these people and learn to conduct himself in such manner,” quizzed Asemfofro.

Although is an ardent fan of Mr Rawlings, Asemfofro observed that he abhors him for his persistent castigations of Prof Mills. “Mr Rawlings should respect himself so that we can also respect him and anything sort of that we who are even his fans will never respect him,” asserted Dr Asemfofro.

The NDC, he stressed, can stand on its two legs without the assistance of Mr Rawlings, adding that if former President Rawlings wishes to leave the part he can go and nobody will prevent him from taking that decision.

Dr Asemfofro also descended heavily on Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Majority leader, describing him as somebody who was following Mr Rawlings blindly. “Mr Bagbin did not help matters when instead of telling and asking Mr Rawlings in the face to stop his continuous repudiation of President Mills, he also stirred the hornet nest by blindly supporting him (Mr Rawlings),” he indicated.

Following his submissions on radio, Dr Asemfofro indicated that he would not be surprised if Mr Rawlings will hire thugs and direct them to take his life from the face of the earth. In the estimation of Dr Asemfofro, President Mills was given a four-year mandate to turn the fortunes of the Ghanaian economy, and that he was confident that the President will execute that mandate with diligence.

However, he added that if after the four years Ghanaians are not satisfied with the performance of Prof. Mills, Ghanaians in their own wisdom will give the presidency to another person and not former President Rawlings.

Source: Today

Alleged Meeting With JJ; National Security Speaks To PEACEFM

National Security Adviser, Brigadier General (rtd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, has denied holding any meeting with other security heads and former president Jerry John Rawlings on the murder of the former Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Roko Frimpong.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Tuesday and signed by James Agyenim- Boateng, Deputy Minister for Information, stated that neither Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah nor the National Security Coordinator Colonel (rtd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey had ever been invited by the former President to any meeting to discuss the Roko Frimpong murder.

“No security meeting has ever been held at the Jubilee House, part of which now houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” it said.

The statement cautioned the media against the increasing tendency to knowingly and deliberately peddle falsehood with the intention to frame up people, especially government officials and members of the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“To make up a story knowing very well that there’s no iota of truth in it, and presenting it to the public in the manner that the tabloid did, cannot be said to be good journalistic practice.”

Government says it hopes the new National Media Commission (NMC) will be effective in performing its constitutional role by ensuring that the media work to enhance the country’s development “rather than fan trouble through deliberate falsehood”.

“This definitely is a matter that government will be forwarding to the NMC for action, but we do not think that our newspapers and other media outlets should be engaging in this kind of journalism,” the statement said.

Later in an exclusive interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on PEACEFM’s “Kokrokoo”, the National Security Adviser, Brigadier General (rtd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah said there is “absolutely no truth in what the newspaper wrote.”

“…the last time I met the former president was about a month ago…I have only been to the Jubilee House once…but this story is not true…if I had been there, it would have been different, but I don’t even pass by the building when I’m heading to my office…the story is 100% lies…there are a number of things I don’t engage in, chiefly among the things I don’t do is telling lies. I don’t lie, even if it will lead to my death I always tell the truth…this is not the first time some newspaper have carried publications which are totally false….i support press freedom…but it’s not fair and proper to indulge in fibbing, especially knowing very well that you are not telling the truth…,” the security capo said to Sefa Kayi.

Source: Peacefmonline with some information from Ministry of Information

Oil, our last hope; Deputy Energy Minister declares


Amidst soaring expectation of an oil boom in the country, Ghanaians have been asked to remain cautious because the short-term production of about 120,000 barrels of crude oil from the Jubilee Fields beginning from next year will not have any significant impact on the national economy.

According to a Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Kwabena Donkor, oil, however, provided a long-term opportunity for the country to free itself from the shackles of poverty. According to him, Ghana had blown several opportunities in the past to emerge out of poverty but it could not afford to blow the latest opportunity that the oil find presented.

"We dare not fail, posterity will not forgive us if we treat the oil and gas haphazardly and blow the opportunity," he said at a World Bank-organised oil and gas conference in Accra Monday. The workshop, which was on the theme, "Potential impact of oil and gas for Ghana", formed part of the Development Dialogue Series under the auspices of the World Bank.

While urging the nation to take full advantage of the oil find, Dr Donkor cautioned that it would be a big mistake to consider the oil and gas resource as an enclave of the national economy. According to him, the short-term production of about 120,000 barrels from the Jubilee Fields would not have any significant impact on the economy, adding that it was important to manage the high expectation of the people regarding the revenue to be accrued from the oil production.

He said it was on that basis that the government was putting in place measures to link the oil industry to agriculture, such as using gas for the production of fertiliser to boost agricultural production. Dr Donkor said there were many negative examples in the oil and gas industry in neighbouring African countries that Ghana could learn from and so the country would have no excuse to repeat those mistakes.

He said Ghana's democratic credentials had soared in recent times, adding that the world was looking up to the country to set good examples in the oil and gas industry as well. He advised Ghanaians to let their intentions about the oil and gas resource go beyond parochial and political interests.

He said the government's commitment to transparency in the management of the oil industry went far beyond just the revenue to be accrued, pointing out that it was committed to promoting local content of at least 80 per cent in all areas.

He said the Ministry of Energy was working to amend legislation on the petroleum sector, such as the Petroleum Production and Exploration Law, with the view to meeting the challenges that the industry posed. Dr Donkor said the amendment also sought to strengthen the regulatory authority, indicating that it was important to have one regulatory authority for the industry. Furthermore, he said, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), was being strengthened financially to enable it to undertake petroleum exploration on its own.

The World Bank Country Director, Mr Ishac Diwan, said oil had been a curse for many countries but expressed optimism that Ghana had the chance to break away from that negative path. He said it was important for Ghana to know the dangers the industry posed in order to find ways of dealing with them. He said there was the need for broad consultation on how the' oil revenue would be spent, since the risk of not spending the money properly was very high. He said although gas presented enormous job opportunities, the major challenge was that Ghana had very little experience in the industry.

A Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, gave the assurance that the government would ensure transparency in the disbursement of the oil revenue. He said it was the responsibility of the government, civil society and all stakeholders to manage the high expectations of the people about the oil find.

Source: Daily Graphic

Arrest and detention of four soldiers: Wives demand answers from AG & BNI


Wives of the four soldiers of the 64 Infantry Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) who were recently arrested by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) in collaboration with the Defence Intelligence (DI) of the Ghana Armed Forces are up in arms against the Director of the BNI and the Attorney-General, challenging the basis for the ‘unlawful’ detention of their spouses.
The better halves of the four detained soldiers in a suit filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, challenged the A-G and the BNI boss to produce "the bodies" of the said Sergeants Michael Arthur and Richard Somuah as well as Corporal Charles Ankomah and Emmanuel Antwi in court tomorrow and "state the grounds for their detention by the bureau of national investigations without recourse to their constitutional rights under the 1992 constitution’’.
Counsel for the embattled soldiers, Joe Aboagye Debrah, who confirmed these recent developments to The New Crusading Guide, stated that what the BNI had done was of no consequence in law, adding that ‘You may be holding them for subversion or murder but you must still bring them to a court of competent jurisdiction and present your case for the court to determine.’
Madam Felicity Arthur on behalf of her husband and wives of the other soldiers, upon advice of her counsel stated in an affidavit that ‘’under Ghana’s 1992 constitution, more particularly Article 33 thereof and pursuant to Habeas Corpus Act, 1964 (act 244),the applicants herein now detained at an undisclosed location can and do hereby apply for an order of Habeas Corpus directed against the Director of the Bureau of National Investigation and the Attorney General to produce the soldiers and state the reason for their detention without authority or sanction from any court of competent jurisdiction.In her statement of affirmation, Madam Arthur said that “the continued incarceration and detention of our spouses by the bureau of national investigations and/or any other state institution or body without recourse to law is a breach of the 1992 constitution, more particularly articles 12 and 14 thereof’’.
Readers will recall that the Tuesday, November 24, 2009 edition of The New Crusading Guide in a story headline: “Arrest & detention of four soldiers… A case of alleged subversion or murder?’’ confirmed the arrest and incarceration of the four soldiers for their alleged role in the 2007 murder of Mr. Rokko Frempong, a former Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Commercial Bank.

Story by Samuel Frempong/ The New Crusading Guide Newspaper

National Security Adviser denies meeting JJ



National Security Adviser, Brigadier General (retd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, has rebutted a media report that his outfit held a meeting with some security heads and former president Jerry John Rawlings on the murder of the former Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Roko Frimpong.

The Today newspaper alleged in its Monday, November 30 2009 edition that the former president and the security capos held a three-hour meeting on Thursday, November 26 2009 at the Jubilee House (presidential palace) to deliberate on the murder of Mr Frimpong and possibly elicit from the four ex-commandos arrested in connection with the act what might have motivated their action.

However, a statement issued by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Tuesday stated that neither Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah nor the National Security Coordinator Colonel (retd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey had ever been invited by the former President to any meeting to discuss the Roko Frimpong murder. “No security meeting has ever been held at the Jubilee House, part of which now houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” it said.

The government says it would petition the National Mediation Commission about the publication.The statement cautioned the media against deliberately peddling falsehood with the intention to frame up people, especially government officials.“To make up a story knowing very well that there’s no iota of truth in it, and presenting it to the public in the manner that the tabloid did, cannot be said to be good journalistic practice.”

According to the statement, the government also challenged the new National Media Commission (NMC) to be effective in performing its constitutional role by ensuring that the media work to enhance the country’s development “rather than fan trouble through deliberate falsehood”.“This definitely is a matter that government will be forwarding to the NMC for action, but we do not think that our newspapers and other media outlets should be engaging in this kind of journalism,” the statement said.

Later in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, a Deputy Minister for Information, James Agyenim-Boateng, reiterated that there is “absolutely no truth in what the newspaper did”.

Nevertheless, the Editor of the Today newspaper, Richmond Keelson, insisted the story was accurate, “I still stand by” it.

He maintained that stating the time, date and venue of the said meeting gives credence to the story, adding he would not sit somewhere and cook a story.

Mr Keelson noted that the government is not happy with the publication because of “serious backlash” it received.He also welcomed the decision by the government to drag the paper to the NMC, “[I am] not the least worried or scared”.
Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Ghana Pundit Headline News

E-mail subscription

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Pan Africa News

Graphic Ghana

MYJOYONLINE.COM

Peacefm Online - News with a vision

The Times - World News

The Times - Africa News

Pambazuka News :Emerging powers in Africa Watch

AfricaNews - RSS News

The Zimbabwe Telegraph

BBC News | Africa | World Edition

Modern Ghana

My Blog List

R.I.P.

R.I.P.

AfriGator

AfrigatorAfrigator