Ghanaian News

LATEST NEWS FROM GHANA, NIGERIA AND THE NETHERLANDS
RAWLINGS
CONFIRMS HE
WILL STEP
DOWN AS
PRESIDENT IN
2000
(AND APPOINTS HIS SUCCESSOR)
KUFOUR F
ACES THE SA
CK
FA
SACK
(while JJ.H
.H
.H.. Mensah is ready to take over)
Bijlmer disaster re
-investigated
re-investigated
No 22, 8 June 1998
f 3,95
Ghanaian Newsrunner
Contents
Ghanaian News
For many of us it is hard
to believe but J.J. has
finally announced this
was his last term as
President. Could we have
that in writing, please?
The Ghanaian Newsrunner serves the general
public (you!) by bringing news from Ghana,
Nigeria and the Netherlands bi-weekly.
We are independent from any (political)
organisation or movement in these countries.
Fast, Reliable & Informative
More details on page 4.
Poederooienstraat 66
1106 CK Amsterdam
Netherlands
Tel. 020-697.7764
Fax. 020-697.1978
Editor-in-Chief
Robert Bellaart
GHANA
4
Editor: Ghana & Nigeria
Franz van der Puye
Contributors: Ghana
Samuel Sarpong
Nana Bannerman
Eric Ofori
Editor: The Netherlands
Ger Verhoeve
Contributors:
Elvis Iruh
Pauline Boogaard
Franceska Paulin
Lucia Jessurun
Anuschka Smeekes
Photography: The Netherlands
Bert Verhoeff
Kuntu Jackson Amankwaa
Photography: Ghana
©B.I.S.
GOSSIP
Poor Rosemond Ofosuhen couldn't
stand the mental abuse and cheating
by her boyfriend any longer and put
his house on fire. Unfortunately she
perished in the flames as well.
NIGERIA
According to some people Nigerians are very
lucky to have Abacha as their leader at this
point in their countries political history. We
however doubt whether former Deputy Head
of State Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya - who has been
sentenced to death - shares this view.
13
16
Design and DTP
B.I.S.
Distribution
Nana Awuku (020-6.000.142)
Subscriptions
Ellen Owusu (020-6.977.764)
DUTCH
20
Advertising
Robert Bellaart (020-6.977.764)
Nana Awuku (020-6.000142)
© Copyright Bellaart Information Services
(Chamber of Commerce 240.926 Amsterdam)
No part of this publication may be reproduced in
any form without written permission of the above
mentioned publisher.
2
If you don't like politics you perhaps
shouldn't buy this issue because
most other news-items are political
ones. Sorry we can't help it that the
political career of the flag-bearer of
the NPP - mr. John Kufour - is at risk.
Possibly he will be replaced by the
current minority leader in
Parliament in the Presidential
elections of 2000.
SPORTS
25
Amongst others you can read a very
informative article which gives you insight
about the Oranjes. Yes, this is the family
who is responsible for those funny
orange colours "polluting" the streets
during these World Cup days.
The friendly between Holland and
Nigeria on the 5th of June turned
out to be disappointing for lovers of
African football. Yet there are some
signs for optimism.
No 22, 8 June 1998
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
LETTER-BOMB RIPS
THROUGH NPP
........
Kufour faces the sack, Gen. - Secretar
Secretaryy also on defensive grounds
THE EQUIVALENT of a letter bomb
has ripped through the executive body of
Ghana’s main opposition party, the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) shaking the party’s
epicentre and threatening to bring down most
of the party’s main players.
Professor Sai Disciplinary Committee must be
convoked at once to go into the matter of our
finances in 1996 thoroughly and recommend
appropriate sanctions.”
The party chairman to whom the letter
was directed was asked to act as “failure to act
may well result in the collapse of the party on
your watch as chairman.”
For the first time in the on-going troubles
within the party, fresh multiple allegations of
financial malfeasance and misconduct have
put the future of Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor,
NPP’s most visible and by far the most popular
leader in real danger.
The danger is traced to a powerful submission made by Mr. Colin Essamuah, a loyal
member of the party, calling for Kufuor’s
interdiction and suspension. In the words of
Essamuah, the protagonist, it is dangerous in
having our 1996 Presidential candidate parade
as a leading member of this party.”
Also on the chopping block pending the
decision of the party’s disciplinary committee
is Mr. Joseph Agyenim-Boateng, GeneralSecretary of the NPP who is accused of giving
out the party’s stamp to three members of the
party, described as Kufuor’s campaign team,
to authenticate the purchase of the 55 Yamaha
motor- bicycles for the 1996 electioneering
campaign.
Both Kufuor and Agyenim-Boateng
though deny any wrong-doing.
In separate follow-up interviews, both
Kufuor and Boateng described Essamuah’s
allegations as a vicious propaganda to damage
them. They both said they welcomed any
probe into what they described as unfounded,
and baseless allegations.
Essamuah’s charges flow from the
Concordia Ventures affairs in which the NPP
is defending an action initiated by Kudjawu
and Co., counsel for Concordia Ventures
Limited to recover over 42billion in debts
arising out of the motorbikes provided for the
December 1996 elections.
An Accra High Court will determine
among other issues whether the NPP as a party
is liable, or whether Kufuor and his campaign
team must be accountable as the NPP
contends.
The party maintains that since Kufuor’s
hand-picked campaign team of Alhaji Inusah,
No 22, 8 June 1998
Meanwhile, Mr. Ala Adjetey has already
constituted a committee of national executive
members chaired by Mr. R.R. Amponsah to
probe the allegations.
The call for the head of Kufuor and
Agyenim- Boateng is not an idle one.
Mr. John Agyekum Kufour, facing the sack
Tommy Amematekpor okayed the Concordia
Ventures sales agreement, Kufuor has to be
held liable for the debts.
Essamuah and those who think like him
in the party are asking whether the party stamp
which was alleged to have been used and of
which the party General Secretary is said to
be the legal custodian was not used to
authenticate questionable deals behind the
back of the party’s National Chairman, Mr.
Peter Ala Adjetey.
The NPP’s 1992 Constitution is clear on
what should be done to party officials who
misbehave.
According to Article 3, chapter 2 (ii): “A
member of the party shall cease to be a
member by being expelled from the party on
the grounds of misconduct; misconduct
includes any act by a member which is
dishonest, fraudulent or disloyal to the party
or is likely to produce discord in the party or
bring it into disrepute”.
The 19-paragraph letter is loaded with
more allegations, some of them Essamuah
describes as “rumors in town”.
Other intriguing import of the letter were
unfolding. On the face of it, the letter appears
to be an innocuous, even well-meaning letter
from a concerned party activist, but the long
hand of an agent provocateur and a vicious
machiavellian is being seen by other informed
commentators.
Among them was that Kufuor allegedly
withheld various sums of money paid by party
loyalists overseas into his personal accounts
instead of party chest.
Colin (Panyin) Essamuah is the twin
brother of Mr. Ernest (Kakra) Essamuah who
is angling for the job of Joseph AgyenimBoateng. He has made his intentions public.
Though there is no clear cut direct
evidence of complicity on the part of Kufuor
and Agyenim- Boateng, Essamuah’s letter
which has so far reached no more than a
handful of people within the party calls for the
heads of Kufuor and Agyenim-Boateng.
Significantly, Kakra who is a lawyer in
the respected law chambers of da Rocha,
immediate past chairman of the NPP, is not a
co-author of this particular letter.
In part, he said of Agyenim-Boateng: “As
a first step, Agyenim-Boateng must be
interdicted at once and an inquiry set up into
the overall administration of the party’s affairs
in the interim.”
Continuing, he wrote: “The signatories
to the agreement were and continue to be his
(Kufuor) people and it is fair to assume that
they acted under his instructions. The
..."Allegations against me are
politically motivated"
Mr. J. A. Kufour, presidential candidate
of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 1996
general elections, has described allegations of
financial
Continued on page 9
3
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
GHANA DISAPPOINTED
ABOUT NIGERIAN
ALLEGATION TO
DESTABILISE ABACHA
Ghana
expressed
shock
and
disappointment at a Nigerian allegation that
it was involved in a plot to destabilise the
government of General Sani Abacha.
two countries have had over a long period
and the frequent consultations which have
been taking place between high officials of the
two countries."
A Foreign Ministry statement said the
allegation is without any substance or merit
and Ghana denies it unequivocally. It was
learnt that Alhaji Wadana, Special Adviser to
General Sani Abacha at a press conference in
Abuja, Nigeria, told the news conference that
Nigerian security had uncovered a plan
where some Americans had met with Nigerian
dissidents in Ghana to plan to destabilise the
Abacha government. The plot said to have
been hatched in an "Achimota Hotel in
Northern Ghana" also implicated South
Africa.
The statement said government is taking
immediate steps to investigate the serious
allegation but had hoped that Nigeria would
have raised the matter through the normal
high level consultations between the two
countries. It said within the framework of these
consultations, the government of Ghana
would have expected that any concerns that
Nigeria may have on issues which are likely
to disturb our brotherly relations, would have
been brought to the attention of Ghana,
through the existing channels. It said in the
meantime, it is the hope of the government that
officials of the two countries would desist from
making public statements that might mar not
only the excellent relations between our two
countries but also the larger interest of peace
and stability in the sub-region.
The Foreign Ministry said Ghana views
the allegation with particular regret and
surprise given the excellent relations that our
PRESIDENT
RAWLINGS
REACTION:
President Rawlings said "the
accusation might be due to misinformation,
mischief or the Nigerian authorities
are
aware of something we are not aware of'.
' President Rawlings was
responding
to concerns expressed by Right Rev Beeko,
Moderator of the
Presbyterian Church of
Ghana concerning the issues taking into
account good relations between Ghana and
Nigeria.
The President said it is embarrassing to
go on air considering the relationship between
the two countries, adding that it should have
been brought to Ghana's attention. President
Rawlings said Ghana is not involved in any
such activity and said the Ghana government
is in touch with the Nigerian authorities to
give further information to nib the plot in the
bud if it actually exists.
President Rawlings, who has consistently
opposed economic sanctions against Nigeria
at various international forums, said Ghana
would never destabilise Nigeria and for that
matter any neighbouring country.
4
MP WANT
ACTION ON
MALARIA
EPIDEMIC
The Member of Parliament for Asante
Akim North, has called on the minister of
Healthand the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to deal, as a matter of urgency,
with the high incidence of malaria in the area
caused by surface mining.
Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu who made
the call attributed the high malaria incidence
to water-filled large pots excavated during
surface mining which have become breeding
grounds for mosquitoes.
Apart from having become a source of
disease, the MP said the 300 feet deep pits also
pose danger to the people, adding that last year
a number of people fell into the pits and
died.
He was speaking to the Chronicle after a
visit to his constituency last week. BaahWiredu mentioned towns particularly affected
as Konongo Odumase, Atunsu, Nyaboe and
Patriensa.
He called for the free treatment of yaws
for patients who can't afford to pay. Even
though the ministry charges ¢500 for treatment
of affected children, about 20 of them at Atuns
and Otikrom could not be treated because their
parents could not afford the ¢500.
The MP urged the District Assembly to
make budgetar y allocation to pay for the
treatment of poor yaws patients.
The MP said a river of Bima which was
damned during the constr uction of the
Konongo-Agogo road has become a source of
bilharzia in the area. He appealed to the
Ghana Highway Authority to open the dam
for the river to flow to save the people from the
debilitating water-borne disease.
RAWLINGS SAYS
HE WILL STEP
DOWN IN 2000
The international newsagency
Reuters reported that Rawlings said on
Thursday June 4th he planned to step
down in two years' time as required
constitutionally.
Rawlings is barred by the
constitution from seeking re-election
after serving out his second four-year
term, but speculation has been rife
about his extending his hold on power.
For example the Ghanaian Newsrunner
reported in issue 21 about the
persistant rumour that his wife Nana
Konadu also has got presidential
ambitions. In a BBC interview earlier
this year his wife, Nana Konadu
Agyeman-Rawlings, did not rule out
her running for president if her
husband would ask her to do so.
``We have got two more years to
go -- not we...me! You have more than
two years to go, I can assure you,''
Rawlings told security forces at a rally
in the capital Accra. ``And I will play
my part to support you when my time
comes, when I will have to step down,''
he added.
The rally was to commemorate
Rawlings' first coup in 1979. Rawlings,
50, was first elected in 1992 after
retiring from the air force with the rank
of flight-lieutenant that he has held
since first seizing power.
Just before going to press the
ongoing speculations were put to rest
by a formal statement of Rawlings at
another NDC rally on Sunday June 7th.
At this rally Rawlings declared his
support for Vice President J.E.A. Mills
for the presidency of 2000. Rawlings
described Mills as intelligent, hardworking and a man of integrity.
Mills has not yet announced his
running mate for the 2000 elections but
speculations already suggest that his
running mate will be Flight-Lieutenant
Jerry John Kwasi Rawlings.
No 22, 8 June 1998
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
J.H. JOINS THE RACE
The likes of Koi Agyare-Larbie, Dr. Kofi
Konadu Apraku and Alhaji Malik Mumuni
are considered to be just testing their pulse for
the 2005 elections.
Insider-source at the New Patriotic Party
(NPP) have hinted that Hon. Joseph Henry
Mensah, the Minority Leader, is all set to be
the biggest threat to incumbent Mr. Joseph
Agyekum Kufuor in the August primaries.
Although Mr. Mensah has not made his
intentions clear on the NPP presidential race,
party insiders say with amazing growth of
popularity, J.H. only needed a reminder from
his supporters on the need to lead the party in
the next millennium.
THE BIRTH OF
CONVENTION
The
National
Wor king
Committee (NWC) of the Nkrumahist
parties in unity has proposed a name
for their united Nkrumahist party. The
name is Convention Party (CP) with
its symbolic white cockerel on red
background.
Many politicians hold the conviction that
Mr. Mensah may declare his intentions in the
last hour, like he did in 1996.
The Minority Leader was the last
candidate to join the party’s presidential
primaries in the last elections. He came third
behind Professor Adu-Boahen and eventual
winner Mr. J.A. Kufuor.
Many were astounded by Mr. Mensah’s
performance because he returned so late from
exile, and was not very much known by the
rank and file of the party.
His powerful speech preceding the primaries, which demanded immediate takeover of power from the NDC, convinced those
who voted for him of his political potency.
With close aides of J.H. providing enough
hints about his presidential ambitions, the
August race is set to be narrowed between the
two men with family ties.
J.H. is an in-law of J.A. Observers believe
J.H.’s declaration will have serious
repercussions on a Kufuor campaign which
has had serious setback within the last months.
J.H Mensah, Presidential aspirant
Malik Alhassan, a popular Northern loyalist
of the NPP who has also joined the party’s
presidential race.
The Ashanti Region which hitherto supported Prof. Adu-Boahen appears to support
their fellow Ashanti indegene J.A. Kufuor.
However, with a perculiar trait which
almost always looks out for people with the
potential to champion their cause rather than
ethnicity, many believe the articulate J.H., who
has been a constant torn in the flesh of NDC,
has a chance as equal as J.A. in Ashanti.
“If J.H. fails in Ashanti,” one J.H.
supporter boasted, “he will make up in the
Brong-Ahafo Region.”
The two men, it appears, do not enjoy
enormous support in the Eastern Region.
Mr. Kufuor won the last primaries on the
strength of his Northern popularity. With a
campaign team headed by Alhaji Inussah, J.A.
swept almost every Northern vote to beat
favorite Professor Albert Adu-Boahen.
As expected, the Eastern Region will be
split amongst Nana Akuffo Addo, Hackman
Owusu Agyemang and Prof. Adu-Boahen
whose third round appearance, political
analysts say, cannot be overruled.
A similar story would be hard to tell this
year. The fact is Mr. Kufuor is not likely to
enjoy absolute support in the North. His hold
on the North is likely to be broken by Mr.
The Central and Western Regions are
likely to be split amongst all contestants.
Yet with a dual background - a Brong and
a Fanti - J.H. might have a slight advantage
over the others.
The tribal factor will definitely be
exploited by all contestants.
Kufuor supporters have argued that, the
Volta Region remains his (Kufuor) World
Bank, notwithstanding Mr. Mensah’s
proficiency in the Ewe language.
Votes at the Greater Accra Region are also
likely to be split, although Kufuor’s close association with constituency functionaries make
him the favourite.
Nana Akuffo-Addo
No 22, 8 June 1998
turn with J.H. and J.A. as forerunners with
Nana Akuffo-Addo and Hackman OwusuAgyemang, as best outsiders.
Insiders say, with J.H. declaration being
only a matter of time, the race has turn another
This decision was taken at a
consultative forum in Accra attended
by members of the Supreme Council
of Elders, National Working Committee, Central Committees of the parties
in unity as well as representatives of
the Regional Working Committees.
A press statement signed by the
Chair man
of
the
Publicity
Committee, Mr. Mike Eghan, said
the forum also charged the Central
and Standing Committees to
consider the proposal and submit
their comments before May 31, 1998.
Last year the parties’ application
to register with the Electoral
Commission under the name
Convention People’s Party (CPP)
was turned down on the grounds that
it violated the Political Parties Law
under which the names of proscribed
political parties’ can’t be adopted.
The statement said the forum
asked the Supreme Council of Elders
to intervene and resolve the impasse
in the People’s National Convention
(PNC), adding it also recognized Mr.
Felix Amoah and other leaders of the
PNC who have resigned their
positions as members of the Working
Committee.
Speaking at the forum, the
Chairman of the Supreme Council of
Elders, Mr. Kojo Botsio, reiterated his
call to members of the parties to
commit themselves to the efforts at
unity.
Meanwhile, the Greater Accra
Regional Chairman of the PNC, Nii
Okoe Afotey, has also resigned from
the party over what he calls “the
machinations of some leading
members of the party against the
efforts to re-unite all Nkrumahist political parties.”
5
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
PNC CRISIS
DEEPENS
The crisis rocking the People’s National
Convention (PNC) since the death of its
chairman/leader, Dr. Hilla Limann, has taken
a new dimension with the resignation and
pull-out of the acting National Chairman and
leader and some leading members of the party.
Announcing the resignation and the
pull-out at a press conference in Accra, the
acting chairman/leader of the PNC, Mr. Felix
Amoah said their action has become
imperative, because of what he described as
extremely negative and dangerous forces for
the politic and development of Ghana.
His words: “I, as Acting National
Chairman and leader, together with many
leading members of the PNC including my
Deputy, Mr. Chris Zingah, the General
Secretar y, Dr. Nii Noi Dowuona and his
Deputy, Mr. Kwaku Yiborku Mr. Ben Ableta,
member of the standing committee and Mr.
Yao Yegbey, chairman of the Research and
Monitoring Committee, consider it as a matter
of principle to resign forth with our position
and from the PNC and make our humble but
instituted contribution to the development of
the United Nkrumahist party.”
The acting chairman/ leader therefore
called on true Nkrumahists to join the fold of
the new party. “We asked PNC elements
already elected into the working committee at
the national, regional and constituency levels
to be steadfast and continue to perform. We
call on the PNC grassroots to rally to the cause
of Nkr umahist unity when the party is
launched”, he said.
The pull out and resignation of the
leaders of the PNC according to the statement
read to Pressmen by the acting chairman was
as a result of some forces under the aegis of
Dr. Edward Mahama, the PNC presidential
candidate in the 1996 elections which have
sought to undermine the authority of the leadership, thus creating unnecessary crisis in the
party to pave the way for implementing their
hidden agenda.
Mr. Amoah also alleged that, there has
been a spate of unauthorized press statements
orchestrated by some leading members of the
party most of which have been directed at him
with a dubious intent of questioning his
credibility as a rallying point and unity within
the party. “Leading party members have
chosen to use statements in the press. This
diabolic scheme is the greatest height of
ingratitude especially to me, who as one of the
five founding architects publicly launched the
PNC on 29th May, 1992 and remains the only
cabinet Minister in the Third Republic to have
stood by Dr. Limann through thick and thin
in the National leadership of the party”, he
argued.
6
MINISTER TO BE DRAGGED TO
CHRAJ OVER ASSAULT
THE MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Mr. S.K. Boafo, has hinted that he would
drag the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Ohene Agyekum to the Commission on Human Rights
and Administrative Justice(CHRAJ) over the Minister’s conduct in the unprovoked beating of
a 25-year-old resident of the Constituency.
He told the Ghanaian Chronicle that he would initiate the action after he had received
the police report on the assault.
On Saturday, April 25, Agyekum apparently not happy that 25-year-old Yaw Brefo should
call a friend’s name ‘Osonoba’ in his presence, allegedly ordered his bodyguards (machomen)
to beat him unconscious.
Agyekum is said to have taken action on Brefo with the tact support of Nana Akwasi
Agyeman, the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Kumasi who took part in the brutality.
No 22, 8 June 1998
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
Realizing that the victim had fallen into
coma, Agyekum allegedly ordered Nana
Akwasi Agyeman and his group to leave the
victim to his fate.
He was subsequently picked up by some
good Samaritans and rushed to one Dr. Larbi’s
hospital of Pankrono, a suburb of Kumasi
where he was given first aid and later
transferred to Kufuor’s clinic owned by Dr.
Kwame Addo Kufuor, MP for Manhyia
constituency in Kumasi.
Sources close to S. K. Boafo, also
Minority Chief Whip in whose
constituency the incident took place told
Chronicle that on April 25, Agyekum
organized a clean up exercise around the
central market where they desalted
choked gutters, among others.
The source further said, Yaw Brefo, who
is a store-keeper called a friend whose name
is Osonoba to join him for their breakfast.
Chronicle further learnt that Minister
Agyekum who was around the area pounced
on the poor boy and after a short interrogation
on why he called that name “Osonoba”
handed him over to his machomen to be given
a VIP treatment.
Brefo was shaved clean and later given
several strokes of the cane on his back.
Not satisfied with the punishment meted
out to him, Brefo was again thrown into one
of the gutters where he was smeared with the
filthy mud and water. The assault on the
innocent trader has affected one of his eyes,
Chronicle has learnt.
Brefo told the Chronicle in a follow up
interview that but for the intervention of S. K.
Boafo, the police would not have recorded the
complaint let alone cause investigations when
the victim lodged a complaint.
THE GREAT SABAT FRAUD
BARELY THREE months after exposing
the multi-billion cedi scam in the Keta Sea
Defence project, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, New
Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament
for Ablekuma North and Shadow Minister for
Works and Housing has blown the whistle on
another serious fraud in the contract for the
divestiture of the Automotive and Technical
Services (ATS), a State-Owned Enterprise.
Bartels’ shocking disclosures of the fraud
which has already forced the Ministry of Trade
and Industry to abrogate the contract, detail
how tribal and political considerations
influenced the sale of the 5 billion cedi ATS
to Sabat Motors without a pesewa (cent) being
paid to the government.
Addressing a news conference in Accra
to draw public attention to the impasse
between the management of Sabat Motors and
the workers that led to the shutting down of
the company for the last two months, Bartels
said “...the way and manner ATS was divested
gives grounds for all the rumors of tribalism
and pressure for undue favor by top politicians
and army generals who all come from the same
tribe as the majority directors of Sabat Motors
and the top men of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC).”
The directors are Messrs. Nelson Sena,
Patrick Ahadzi, Dr. Paul Tabiri (who pulled
out) and Henry Evans Kwawu Tornye.
Giving a background to the sale, Bartels
said the R.T. Briscoe segment of ATS was
valued at over five billion cedis in 1995, but
the DIC agreed to a selling price of 3.7 billion
cedis because the workers also owned shares
in the company and the take-over of ATS was
worker-led.
Under the terms of the sale and purchase
agreement, the MP said, Sabat Motors was to
pay 10 per cent commitment fee followed by
payment of the balance of the 90 per cent four
months later. The Directors of Sabat Motors
were unable to pay the commitment fee and
two cheques which they issued for 300 million
cedis bounced.
According to Bartels, in spite of the failure
of the directors of Sabat Motors to pay the commitment fee, they managed to get the Lands
Commission to release the title deeds of 15 R.T.
Briscoe (which the government took over and
renamed it ATS) property released to them
without authorisation from the DIC. With
these documents, they secured a loan of 1.48
billion cedis from the Ghana Commercial
Bank to pay the DIC.
The MP disclosed that the directors also
persuaded a consultancy company to buy the
residence of the Managing Director of ATS for
$250,000 but they were paid $180,000 and 100
million cedis.
“With that amount, the directors of Sabat
Motors paid the DIC 370 billion cedis. So till
this time, when the DIC gave them control of
ATS, the directors of Sabat Motors had not put
in one pesewa of their own money,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industr y has recommended to the DIC to
abrogate the contract.
Continued from page 23
or less detailed program of government. Most
often this ‘formateur’, if he’s able to deliver a
complete result, becomes prime minister.
This time, however, soon 3 ‘informateurs’
succeeded ‘informateur’ De Vries. Apparently
this new episode has such a delicate character
that none of the 3 potential ‘purple’ coalition
partners should be excluded from the talks.
The outgoing prime minister Kok (Labour)
and ministers Zalm (Finance - VVD) and
Borst (Health - D’66) together are in charge of
the negotiations.
SILENCE
Fresh meats + African Products
Albert Cuyp market 133.
Tel 020-6624572
Kramer’s meatshop sells fresh meats and imported products
from Ghana. Strictly Premium quality at discount prices.
We put the Ghanaian flag in front of our shop to welcome you.
Beaf
Corned n f 22,50,1 big cans f 125,6 big ca
No 22, 8 June 1998
5,00
f
ns
kilo Vaiw Tails f 8,50
kilo Cow Ribs f 6,00
kilo Coat Meat f 7,50
kilo Go
After May 14 an almost complete silence
set in. The ‘informateurs’ only revealed they
were working on the formulation of the central
mission of the new government. Much more
wasn’t said. Then several newspapers started
to criticize the oligarchical behavior of this
small group of politicians. Subsequently, a few
‘bones’ were tossed to them, such as an
agreement on a new position of the mayor in
the Dutch political system, of conflicts about
a new tax system for the next century, of the
possibility of a new Ministry of Communication occupied by D’66, and of an agreement
on gay marriage and euthanasia. It all seemed
as if they were putting on a play convincing
the supporters of D’66 that their party did not
count for nothing. Indeed, the formation of a
new cabinet is a ritual. During the next weeks
the supporters of the VVD and the PvdA will
be canvassed till they all turn ‘purple’.
7
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
BIG BA
TTLE OVER
BATTLE
TSIKA
TA'S HOUSE
TSIKAT
...'Real owner appeals to CHRAJ
A plush house at Cantonments in Accra
has become a subject of controversy following
its occupancy by Captain Kojo Tsikata, former
head of National Security with responsibility
for foreign affairs.
The house, which has been renovated
twice since 1982 at a cost of several millions of
cedis, originally belonged to the flashy
Ghanaian business tycoon, Mr. Benny Eshun.
It was confiscated to the state in 1979 and
Mr. Eshun got intimidated that he fled the
country into exile.
When Captain Tsikata became Special
Adviser to the PNDC on security matters, he
grabbed the house as his official residence and
this brought up many moral questions about
its acquisition.
The major question which arises out of
the fact that Captain Tsikata took up residence
in a seized house is: should government
officials be allowed to use seized assets for their
own comfort?
If officials were allowed to grab seized
assets for their own use, what is the guarantee
that they will not just grab properties they
covert without any justification?
Captain Tsikata has lived in the house
since the early 1980s and his house-help is still
reported to be in residence.
Two years ago, many of Captain Tsikata’s
personal belongings, including carpets and
furniture, were moved out of the house and
allegedly shipped to Cape Town, South Africa,
where his wife Zonki lives.
Captain Tsikata, who allegedly spends
most of his time now in South Africa and the
Democratic Republic of Congo, lives at
Abelenkpe when he visits Accra from time to
time.
Insiders say that Mr. Benny Eshun made
a demand for the return of the house about
two years ago which was granted by the
government.
Mr. Eshun was housed in a government
bungalow next to Nana Konadu’s Ridge
residence pending the removal of Captain
Tsikata from his Cantonments house. Now,
Captain Tsikata is gone but the rightful owner
of his residence has still not been able to move
in.
Sources close to Mr. Eshun say he
suspects that the house is to be turned into the
official residence of the Minister of Security
Affairs.
STUDENTS STAGE
FIVE-HOUR PROTEST
Hundreds of Ghanaian students of the various tertiary institutions took to the streets of
Accra to protest against the payment of rent and the decision to link admissions to residential
accommodation.
When the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Rex
Owusu-Ansah, came out to receive the
resolution, they screamed at him “we want the
Speaker, we want the Speaker”.
When the tempers died down, the
student leadership, led by Mr. Adam
Mohammed Amin, President of NUGS, went
into Parliament to submit their petition to the
Speaker.
In the resolution, the students reiterated
their call for the immediate resignation of the
Education Minister, Dr. Christina AmokaNuama for failing to manage the educational
system effectively.
The alleged that Dr. Amoako-Nuama
has never attended any meeting with the
NUGS and described certain comments
allegedly made by her as irresponsible.
The resolution also deplored the
persistent cut in tertiary education expenditure
which it said affects not only the provision of
facilities but also admission of students and the
working conditions of teaching and notteaching staff.
It called on government to suspend the
decision to make students pay rent and that of
linking
admissions
to
residential
accommodation until a national consensus is
reached on those issues. The students
entreated the parliamentarians to protect the
interest of Ghanaians whom they represent by
objectively debating the whole process of educational reforms.
Mr. Justice Annan, who addressed the
student leaders, commended the students for
their show of maturity by holding the
demonstration peacefully.
He gave an assurance that the House will
discuss the issues raised in the resolution and
find amicable solutions to them.
The students then continued their march
to the Ministry of Education where a copy of
the resolution was received by Dr. Ibn
Chambas and Mr. Kwabena Kyere, both
Deputy Ministers of Education.
The demonstrating students also called for the immediate resignation of the Education
Minister, Dr. Christina Amoako-Numa.
LEGON REACTS TO
ALLEGA
TION
ALLEGATION
The students, who initially planned to travel on buses and converge at Parliament House,
had to abandon the idea and began the protest march from the university when the police
barricaded the main entrance to the university.
The University of Ghana has said it is not
true that students are to be asked to pay two
million cedis per semester s fees.
The five-hour incident-free march was organized by the National Union of Ghana
Students NUGS).
In a statement issued in Accra and signed
by the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor J. K. A.
Amuzu, the university said notice was rather
given that subject to confirmation by the
academic council, payment for residential
facilities would be 240,000 cedis per head of
student per room of not more than four
occupants from the 1998/99 academic year.
Amidst brass band music and singing of “jama” songs, the students who wore red arm
and head-bands, carried placards, some of which read “Daddy J.J. is it cost-sharing or costshifting?”, “We are not workers to pay rent”.
Some drivers offered lifts to many students who could not make the journey on foot.
On reaching Parliament House, where they presented a resolution, the students initially
refused to heed the request of the police that only their leadership should enter the House and
present the resolution to the Speaker, Mr. Daniel Francis Annan.
8
It said this was at a joint meeting of the
executive committee and the residence board
on Wednesday May 27. It said the meeting
No 22, 8 June 1998
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
noted students’ concern about being called
upon to pay the 240,00 cedis a year at shourt
notice and indicated that the issue will be
borne in mind in the implementation of the
new policy.
NIGERIAN DEFRAUDS GHANAIAN
COUPLE OF 52.8M CEDIS
The statement noted that at 240,000 cedis
per an academic session of 32 weeks, expected
payment is of the order of 7,500 cedis a week
or about one thousand cedis a day.
The Police Striking Force have mounted a search for a Nigerian who allegedly defrauded
a couple of 52.8 million cedis and US$8,000 under the pretext of exorcising evil spirits in their
family.
“this is an amount with which students
must be familiar, as vacation residence fee is
of that order already” the statement said.
It said whilst the university’s costing, discounting for staff costs, shows 363,000 cedis
to be absolute minimum required from each
student for the halls to run, the university is
prepared to take the 240,000 which was
arrived at through discussions with the
Ministry of Education in the hope that the
difference can be obtained from other sources.
The statement said, in the course of the
meeting, the Inspector General of police (IGP)
Mr. Peter Nafuri, who was on campus to
discuss issues of security with the vicechancellor, was invited to share his concerns
with the meeting.
The IGP informed the meeting that
without formal notification, as required by
law, the police was aware that students were
proposing to hold a rally on Friday May 29.
According to the statement, the IGP
pointed out that while the students had the
constitutional right to hold a rally anywhere
in the country, the proposed venue for the rally,
the Novotel area in Accra, did not lend itself
to effective policing.
The statement said the IGP said he had
heard that the university had banned
demonstrations on campus, but if permission
could be given exceptionally for the rally to be
held on campus, an incident-free event could
be hoped for.
The suspect, Alhaji Sidi, cunningly convinced the couple that some bad spirits were
following them and if they were not exorcised as early as practicable,, they will be involved in a
road accident that will paralyze the wife for life.
Afraid of what had been revealed to them, the couple (name withheld by police) resident
at Osu in Accra parted with various sums of monies at different times for Alhaji Sidi to avert the
impending calamity but with time, he bolted.
According to Inspector Andy Vortia of the Regional Public Relations Unit, on January 20,
this year, Alhaji Sidi spotted the woman in traffic at Alajo and signaled her to stop.
When she stopped, he informed her that some evil spirits were to destroy her entire family.
Alhaji Sidi allegedly predicted a road accident that will leave her paralyzed for life and directed
her to contact him together with her husband at his house at Lashibi, near Tema. Convinced of
the Alhaji’s revelation the woman, on reaching home, narrated what had happened to her
husband and together, they went to the Alhaji’s house at Lashibi for assitance.
Inspector Vortia said the couple paid the Alhaji several visits and parted with six million
cedis, nine million cedis and 10 million cedis between January and April this year, invariably to
be used to buy various items to offset what was to happen.
At one instance, Alhaji Sidi asked the woman to see him alone in his house since the
spirits wanted to communicate with her directly. The woman however went with her husband
to the Alhaji’s house and this incurred his displeasure.
When his temper died down, he rattled some incantations, burnt incense and acted as if
he was destroying some spirits. He then demanded three cows and a ram, a white cloth, some
quantity of gold and collected 7.8 million cedis to be used to purchase the items which they
readily paid.
Inspector Vortia said Alhaji Sidi asked the couple to bring him 20 million cedis as a deposit
which will be refunded later and US$8,000 which will be used to purchase a special perfume
from Mecca that will ward off the spirits.
After sometime when the special perfume was not forthcoming, the couple approached
Alhaji Sidi who directed them to a colleague at Caprice Hotel near Alajo in Accra who gave
them the perfume wrapped in a special cloth and warned them not to open it until Alhaji Sidi
directed them to do so.
Continued from page 3
The couple, at that stage realized that Alhaji Side was out to dupe them and they
unwrapped the cloth, only to find an empty bottle. They rushed to the Alhaji’s residence and
his wife told them that her husband had traveled to Niger for the perfume.
impropriety levelled against him as “a
vicious fabrication” designed to dent his image
and reputation and ultimately undermine his
political career.
Presidential candidate of the party”, made
allegations of financial impropriety against the
1996 flag-bearer and other leading members
of the party.
“I wish to take this opportunity to assure
all Ghanaians that the letter containing the
said allegations was based on rumors and
viciousness and that there is no iota of truth in
it,” he contended.
In a further explanation of the issue, Mr.
Kufour who denied ever being issued a copy
of the letter containing the said allegations,
stated that he was only shown a copy of that
letter at the headquarters of the party on the
eve of a National Executive Council meeting.
Mr. Kufour was commenting on the allegations at a news conference at the Kotoka
International Airport on his arrival from a 10day private visit to the United Kingdom on
Sunday, May 31.
Mr. Colin Essamuah, a leading member
of the NPP in a letter to the Chairman of the
party, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey headlined: “The
Concordia Ventures Case: Ramifications and
the Necessity for interdicting the General
Secretar y and suspending the 1996
No 22, 8 June 1998
He said that in a chat with the chairman
of the party regarding the issue, he (Mr.
Kufour) demanded that his accuser be called
by the chairman to substantiate the allegations
to which the chairman obliged. He said he was
surprised that anyone who claimed that
anyone who claimed to be working for the
interests of the NPP would make such serious
allegations against him knowing well the implications it would have on the NPP.
Concerning the purchase of motorbikes
for the 1996 campaign responsibility which the
NPP is currently trying to deny in court, Mr.
Kufour pointed out that a campaign for power
in national general elections by a party such
as the NPP necessarily called for the
acquisition by the party of the requisite
logistics.
He contended that the bikes were
acquired in the name of the party and have
since their acquisition been used in
constituencies across the country in campaigns
for both the presidential and parliamentary
elections in 1996 and wondered why anyone
would now want to shift the burden of the debt
on him as candidate for the party.
“I regard this as a ploy to distract me the
important mission of leading the NPP to
victory in the next elections. I have been in
politics for 30 years and I wold not be distracted
by such vicious allegations” he asserted.
9
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
STRIVING TO END COLD WAR
By Sam Sarpong
Moving along the borders of these two
West African countries, Ghana and Togo, it is
difficult to believe they are two distinct
countries.
There has been low level of economic and
trade partnership between them and the two
leaders attributed this to the mistrust that has
long been part of their relationship.
Just one street separates Lome, the capital
of Togo and Aflao, Ghana's most easternmost
town. They are brothers with some natural
links. The local language Ewe is spoken by
both Ghanaians and Togolese in this border
region. And Ghana even supplies power to
Togo.
Both leaders have now pledged their
preparedness to forget the acrimonies that
characterised their relations in the past and
promised to foster friendship based on mutual
trust - a relationship that posterity would
remember them for.
The Togolese Ambassador to Ghana,
Assiongbor Folivi enthused about the fraternal
reunion, remarked, "we are witnessing the
triumph of dialogue and moderation which
alone can lead people to settle their problems
on long lasting basis."
Yet hidden behind this relationship, there
is a cold war that had plagued the two
countries for years.
Conflict between them had long been
rooted in the colonial experiment of cutting
across ethnic groups to carve countries.
The cleavage must have started from the
end of the first world war when Germany was
defeated. Togo, which was then under
German rule was divided between the French
and English. The French took the eastern part
called French Togoland and the British took
the part that is currently the present day Volta
region of Ghana.
In 1956, voters in British Togoland voted
to join the then Gold Coast which became
Ghana in 1957. When French Togoland
became independent in 1960, a movement
sprung up dedicated to the unification of the
former British Togoland with the people of the
Republic of Togo.
Some Togolese supported it but this did
not go down well with the Ghanaians.
Relations between Ghana and Togo hit a
record low when Togolese President,
Gnassingbe Eyadema overthrew the civilian
government of President Sylvanus Olympio
who died in the course of the coup of 1963.
As it is, when they are not squabbling
about migration across the common border,
they might be brawling about fleeing
dissidents. Their borders have been rigged
with cross-border smuggling and currency
trafficking , age-long plagues to economies of
both countries but more especially to Ghana.
Ever since Ghana's current President,
Jerry John Rawlings stepped onto the political
scene in 1979, he has also found Togo's
President Eyadema, an unyielding neighbour
and their differences have continued to
escalate with each passing day.
In 1985, relations between the two
slumped, following bombings at a time the
Ghanaian army was engaged in manoeuvres
just across the border with Togo.
10
President Eyadema of Togo.
In 1986, it again developed into a
bombshell following an uprising in Togo in
which the Togolese authorities blamed Ghana,
Burkina Faso and Mali.
Togo claimed the coup attempt was
masterminded from Ghana by Togolese
dissidents with Burkina Faso giving the
plotters further training before they finally
went to Togo for the onslaught. These
countries however denied any involvement.
Ghana on the other hand has often
accused Togo of supporting and aiding
dissidents bent on overthrowing Rawlings.
After painstaking efforts by the two
leaders, things now seem to be easing for them.
Rawlings visited Togo last year in his
position as the then Chairman of the
Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS).
Ever since, the seeds of discord and
malevolence have given way to reciprocal trust
and mutual understanding. Both leaders have
pledged to settle all their disputes through
peaceful means whether it is the issue of
refugees or issues on border security.
So when Eyadema visited Ghana from
May 12 -13 primarily to renew his
commitment to the quest for peace and seek
more avenues for economic co-operation , it
became apparent that their desire to forge
ahead is now being concretised.
"The two countries should forget the past
and ensure peace and stability for their
countries and peoples," Eyadema stated,
stressing that, "lack of frequent interaction
between us on matters of mutual interest in
the past did not help to establish cordial
relations."
But as if to take his `new found friend'
through democratic principles, Rawlings
stated at a dinner he hosted in Eyadema's
honour that "electoral systems which
guarantee equal opportunities for all to
participate in government are crucial for
public confidence and stable democracies on
the African continent."
Eyadema is often accused of putting
impediments in the way of outstanding
personalities who could have beaten him to the
race for the presidency in 1993. He is said to
have subtly prevented them from contesting
by coming out with some highly contentious
electoral laws.
Indeed, no one would doubt the
commitments of the two leaders in their quest
to forge ahead, but judging from the various
acts that they had played against each other
during their acrimonious times, it would be
ver y difficult for them to wipe off these
memories just at a go.
PHONE
FOR FREE
TO
GHANA?
CHECK OUT P
AGE 15
PA
FOR DET
AILS
DETAILS
No 22, 8 June 1998
ADVERTISEMENT
Ghanaian
News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
BY ORDER OF THE AMSTERDAM CITY COUNCIL
AMVEC AUCTION HOUSE PRESENTS COMING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY:
AUCTION, EVERYTHING MUST GO!!!!
Large assortment of household goods:
refrigerators, ovens, stoves, grills, microwaves,
washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, ironing
boards, blinds, lamps, vacuum cleaners, freezers
Large selection of smaller household items:
dinner services, glasses, kitchenware,
Tupperware, children’s toys, nintendo’s, irons,
kitchen equipment, knives, hairdryers, hot hair
rollers, toasters, coffee and espresso machines
Variety of household and office furniture:
tables, chairs, couches, 3 and 4 piece lounge
suites, cupboard, desks, single beds, double beds,
children’s beds, fold out beds, buggies, rugs,
mirrors
Hobbies and free time items:
CD’s, books, records, singles, games, fitness
equipment, BIKES, garden sets, tools, suit cases
Electronics:
videorecorders, CD-players, Stereo equipment,
amplifiers, keyboards, color televisions,
computers, satellite-receivers, camera’s,
telephones, answeringmachines
AMVEC OFFERS YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT ALL
THESE GOODS COMING FRIDAY (12TH OF
JUNE) FROM 09.00 AM TILL 18.00 PM AND
SATURDAY (13th OF JUNE) FROM 10.00 AM
TILL 15.00 PM.
AUCTION DAY: Monday the 15th at 10.00
During the viewing days we are happy to
inform you about our auction rules.
Bidding starts at NFL 5,00 !!!
AMVEC, Wilgenweg 2, Amsterdam-Noord
(phone 020-6342859, mobile 06-53174969)
Amvec Auction is located near the Renault garage in
industrieterrein 5 in Amsterdam-Noord. Take the ferry behind
the Central Station. From the ferry it's a 10-minutes walk. Turn
left to direction Mosplein. Turn left at the round-about to the
direction "Industrieterrein 5".
Don’t miss this opportunity to BUY VERY CHEAP, excellent deals for export to GHANA!
No 22, 8 June 1998
11
GOSSIPNews
Ghanaian
Ghanaian Newsrunner
'I AM PREGNANT'
..."You're not", says boyfriend
Kobena Nenyi, a fisherman at Winneba
had been insisting for 18 months that his
girlfriend was not pregnant. But Elizabeth
Donkor, alias Akua Kakraba, a fishmonger,
stood her ground: “I am pregnant.”
behavior for 12 months r in default serve six
months imprisonment with hard labor.
Additional, the court advised that if she still
insists she is pregnant, she can pursue a civil
suit rather than assault.
Not even a medical doctor’s diagnosis
that Akua Kakraba was carrying a fibroid in
her belly would convince her and she kept on
insulting Nenyi in public whenever there was
an opportunity.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Samuel
Asiedu said Akua and Nenyi became friends
in early 1996. Two months later, Akua told
Nenyi she was pregnant.
On May 2, this year, during the Aboakyir
Festival, Akua Kakraba stormed her estranged
boyfriend’s house and, in the presence of
Nenyi’s family and other onlookers, assaulted
him, claiming that he was responsible for her
pregnancy.
Nenyi, who could not stand the embarrassment, reported the assault to the Winneba
police who arrested Akua.
Akua was said to have harassed Nenyi
over the last one-and-a-half years with the
claim that she was pregnant by him and
refused an abortion, insisting on delivering
whatever is in her stomach.
Akua appeared before the Winneba
Community Tribunal on May 6, charged with
assault and she was bonded to be of good
12
However, for one-one-a-half years, there
was no sign of the pregnancy growing so Nenyi
decided to seek medical assistance.
He therefore took Akua to the Klimovic
Hospital at Winneba for examination but
when the doctor was about to attend to her,
she vanished and later made a report to an
uncle, a prominent contractor at Winneba.
According to the prosecutor, the uncle decided that she should be taken to Korle Bu
Teaching Hospital in Accra for further
examination.
Akua was therefore taken to the hospital
and after medical examination it was detected
that the accused was not pregnant but rather
she was suffering from fibroid.
They came back to the uncle with the
report. This time Nenyi, who had had enough
of Akua’s harassment, decided to call it quits.
So the uncle, after deliberations,
concluded that Nenyi pacifies Elizabeth with
one hundred.
Nenyi paid the money but still Akua
insisted that she was pregnant and for that
reason anywhere she met or set eyes on him,
rained insults on him.
Chief Inspector Asiedu told the packed
tribunal of a similar complaint the police
received against the accused in 1995.
He said in this instance the complaint,
Kofi Donkor, who came to the police station
weeping bitterly, narrated how the accused had
pestered his life anytime she set eyes on him.
However, the issue was amicably resolved at
the police station.
Akua, who was present at the court, in
her defence, pleaded guilty with explanation,
stressing that she is still pregnant and very
much determined “to bring forth whatever is
in her womb for Nenyi.”
She explained that she has been a victim
of abuse by men who sometimes had sex with
her at the beach.
“This time I was eager not to let Nenyi
have his way in view of the fact that he has
been frustrating me since I became pregnant,”
she lamented.
No 22, 8 June 1998
GOSSIPNews
Ghanaian
Ghanaian Newsrunner
WOMAN DIES
UNABLE TO PAY
HOSPITAL BILLS
Cash-strapped Margaret Addo, 40,
allegedly shy to tell others about her inability
to raise money to dress her wounds at the
hospital kept it a secret to herself and died 10
days later.
She was said to have died one week after
she was wounded in the eye during a fight with
a neighbor.
SHY TO BE SEEN
EATING DEAD GOAT
A young who is standing trial for
allegedly stealing a goat from Jumapo has
denied the charge and claimed that he picked
the carcass at a refuse dump at Asokore.
He said he took the animal to the bush
to prepare it at dawn because “I was ashamed
of being ridiculed for eating a dead goat”.
Her body has been deposited at the Korle
Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting
autopsy while the neighbor who allegedly
wounded her, Isaac Shaibu, is on the run.
Kwaku Ahinkan told the court that he
found the dead goat at a refuse dump at dawn
when he had gone there to ease himself
because there are no toilet facilities in his
house.
A source at the Weija police station
alleged that on April 10, this year, Margaret
was in the house when Shaibu went there very
angry and demanded to know why she was
always insulting him.
Ahinkan is in the dock with Kwaku
Aboagye for stealing a goat from Jumapo for a
feast on October 29, last year when they were
arrested by the Asokore watching committee.
This resulted in a quarrel during which
Shaibu was said to have mercilessly beaten
Margaret who sustained varied injuries on the
eye and parts of the body.
Margaret, still unable to comprehend
what was happening, went and lodged a
complaint with the Weija police where she was
given a medical form to attend the hospital but
she was unable to do so.
A week later, the source said Margaret
was found dead in her room covered with a
cloth.
Aboagye has been on bail since last November, but Ahinkan, who was granted bail
in the sum of five hundred thousand, has
found it very difficult to get a surety to stand
for him. His father is said to have claimed that
Ahinkan has been a nuisance to the family for
which he has even struck off his name from
his will.
The Asokore watchdog committee said
because of complaints from residents about
increasing thievery in the area, they mounted
WOMAN MURDERS NEPHEW IN
COLD BLOOD
A 35-year-old woman of Abesim n the Brong Ahafo Region has murdered her nini-yearold nephew in cold blood while he was asleep and attempted to commit suicide afterwards.
Janet Arhin allegedly killed the boy, Attah Kwabena, with a sharp cutlass at about 2 am
while Janet, together with her 72-year-old mother, Yaa Anane and the deceased were sleeping
in the room.
She also inflicted cutlass wounds on her mother and brother, Arhin Ishadrak, when the
two attempted to disarm her. She was however overpowered by some residents in the area and
sent to the Sunyani District police Station where she has been placed in police custody pending
further investigation.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) P. Yalley, Janet in her caution
statement to the police, said she was awakened in her sleep by a big mouse in the room so she
reached out for a cutlass and killed it.
She said soon after she killed the mouse, it turned out to be her sister’s son she was living
with.
patrols. During one such patrols at dawn, they
smelt the burning scent of an animal skin in
the bush.
Chief Inspector Evelyn Addo,
prosecuting, said two members of the
committee went close to the bush where the
scent was coming from and they saw Ahinkan
and Aboagye working on the animal at about
4 am and called for support to arrest them.
She told the tribunal, chaired by Mr.
Senyo Dzemefe, that when some members of
the committee got to the scene Aboagye had
bolted with the meat while Ahinkan was found
covering the blood and dropping of the animal
with palm branches.
The prosecution said Ahinkan pulled out
a knife and attempted stabbing one Akyaw, a
member of the committee but he was
overpowered and arrested. Unfortunately for
Ahinkan, the intestines of an animal fell from
his pocket when he was taking out the knife.
Ahinkan later told the police that it was
Aboagye was later arrested.
A new date for the hearing is to be announced later.
FRUSTRATION
DRIVES WOMAN,
40, TO COMMIT
SUICIDE
A 40-year-old woman, Madam
Rosemond Ofosuhene, was burnt to death
when she was trapped in a house she
deliberately set on fire at the Awudome Estates
in Accra on May 12, this year.
The house belongs to Mr. George
Herbert, a boyfriend of the deceased.
Narrating the stor y, a source at the
Kaneshie Police Station said that Rosemond
and Mr. Herbert were in a relationship for a
long time now but any time she asked him to
see her parents to perform the marriage rites,
he refused with the explanation that he was
already married and could not take on a second
wife.
Mr. Herbert’s wife is said to be currently
out of the country.
ASP Yalley said Janet cut the boy several times with the sharp cutlass and even as he
wailed for help, she did not stop until he died. He said Janet’s mother who was in the room,
raised an alarm for help and some tenants rushed to the room to find the boy in a pool of blood.
The source said early this year, Rosemond
raised the marriage issue again and Mr.
Herbert warned her not to talk about the issue
again or they forget entirely about the
relationship.
They managed to disarm her and sent her to the police station. ASP Yalley said Janet will
be arraigned before court.
It said on May 11, this year, around
Continued on page 14
No 22, 8 June 1998
13
GOSSIPNews
Ghanaian
Ghanaian Newsrunner
ACCUSED IMPLICATES
WITNESS
Wisdom Mensah who is accused of defrauding several people by false pretence,
implicated two witnesses in a case at a
Koforidua circuit tribunal.
Wisdom claimed at the court that one of
the witnesses used part of the proceeds of the
deal to engage in gold business while the other
was his accomplice who also benefited from
the booty.
And before Wisdom could descend from
the dock, the tribunal, chaired by Mr. Senyo
Dzamefe, ordered that the two witnesses,
Kwasi Bimpong and Bismark Asare, be
arrested immediately because he suspected the
accused and the witnesses to be in a syndicate.
However, following pleas from the prosecution that the two are principal witnesses in
the case, they were freed.
Prosecuting, Chief Superintendent Rose
Bio, said Wisdom, who claimed to be an
accounts clerkwith the cargo section of KLM
Royal Dutch Airlines, in March last year,
visited Koforidua and introduced himself as
an agent contracted by one Hackman and
Debrah to recruit hands for the airline.
She said based on this representation,
Wisdom contacted Bismark to find intrested
personnel for him and asked the prospective
employees to pay between eighty thousand
cedis and one hundred thousand cedis each
to facilitate the processing of their application
letters.
Bismark, the prosecutor said, contacted
84 persons who expressed interest in the deal
and contributed over eight million cedis which
he handed over to the accused.
Chief Superintendent Bio said when
Wisdom collected the money, he left for Accra
with the promise to secure them the jobs by
September, but Bismark got to know later the
representation made by the accused was false
and he started a search for him.
The court was also told that Wisdom contracted Bimpong to collect monies from
Bismark and prospective applicants in Accra
and Bimpong allegedly succeeded in collecting
twenty-four million cedis on behalf of
Wisdom.
Wisdom, however, denied ever collecting
eight million and 24 million cedis from
Bismark and Bimpong respectively. He said
the two gave him some money which was less
that the figures they were quoting. He also
claimed that each applicant paid 50 million
cedis.
Bimpong gave two letters to the court
which he claimed were written to him by
Wisdom for two of the applicants purported
to have been signed by the general mangers of
KLM and American Airlines.
The letter from KLM was purported to
have been signed by one D. Hackman,
General Manager, and addressed to one
Kwaku Nortey which said “in the light of your
successful completion of six months probation,
we can confirm your status as a full-time
employee at the cargo section on a gross salary
of 120,000 cedis per month payable from
September 15, 1997.”
The other letter from American Airlines
was also purported to have been signed by its
General Manager and addressed to one Isaac
Mills also on a salary of 150,000 cedis per
month from the same time.
The case has been adjourned until
further notice.
Continued from page 13
Herbert’s house at Awudome Estates and
threatened she was going to burn down his
BMW car.
Mr. Herbert managed to drive Rosemond
away and made a formal complaint to the
Kaneshie Police.
According to the source, when Mr.
Herbert, accompanied by the police returned
from the police station, they saw smoke coming
out of his house. When they drew closer to the
rooms, they heard somebody screaming for
help.
The thickness of the smoke made it
difficult for the police to enter the room so they
called in the Fire Service.
When personnel of the Fire Ser vice
arrived and put out the fire, they saw the body
of Rosemond which was completely burnt.
Property worth millions of cedis was also
destroyed.
The body has since been deposited at the
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Mortuary for
autopsy.
WANTED:
ADVERTISING AGENT
In view of its ever increasing
popularity the Ghanaian
Newsrunner wishes to outsource
some of its business to an
Advertising Agent. The
Advertising Agent should be
registered at the Chamber of
Commerce and is to manage the
advertising sales to Ghanaianowned companies in Holland .
High commission offered. For
inquiries phone 020-6977764 and
ask for the publisher.
Fast like the leopard
According to the prosecutor on October
22, last year, Wisdom went to Koforidua to look
for more people swindle but he was arrested
and detained at the Mobile Force charge office
where he was said to have attempted to escape
but was re-arrested.
The accused, the prosecution claimed,
admitted the offence but said he had handed
over the money to one Hackman, supposedly
the general manager of KLM.
Chief Superintendent Bio said when
officials of KLM were contacted, they admitted
having a worker there by name Hackman, but
he denied having sent Wisdom to recruit
people for the airline.
14
No 22, 8 June 1998
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
HELP THE GHANAIAN NEWSRUNNER AND
PHONE FOR FREE
TO GHANA
Yes. You have read it correctly. You can phone for free to Ghana - or any
other country - if you help the Ghanaian Newsrunner.
You can truly help the Ghanaian Newsrunner by giving us the names and
addresses of Ghanaian people you know. Friends, family, acquaintances,
collegues at work. It doesn't matter as long as these people could be interested
in reading your favorite magazine.
We will send an introductory copy of the Ghanaian Newsrunner to the persons
which you introduced. Introductory means free. If the person likes the
magazine it would be wunderfull. We always like to welcome new subscribers
and new readers. It is no problem if the person which you introduced is not
interested. By all means we are very gratefull for introducing the Newsrunner
to your friends, collegues and relatives.
We will express our gratitude by mailing you a free Belgeld card worth 20
(twenty) guilders. With this Belgeld card you can phone to Ghana or any
other country, whenever you want from the privacy of your home. Instructions:
1
Fill in your own name, address and phonenumber.
2
Fill in 10 different and correct addresses of Ghanaians living in the
Netherlands. Please do not give addresses abroad.
3
Send the form in a stamped envelope to: Ghanaian Newsrunner,
Poederooienstraat 66, 1106 CK Amsterdam
Note: You may also specify only 5 addresses. In that case we will send you a
phonecard worth 10 guilders.
Name
Address
Postcode + City
Phone
Sender
f 10,
1
2
3
4
5
6
f 20
7
8
9
10
No 22, 8 June 1998
15
Ghanaian News
Nigerian Envoy On Fate Of
Detainees
The fate of former Nigerian deputy head of State,
Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya and others convicted of plotting
to overthrow the government recently will be decided
by the Provisional Ruling Council and its decision will
be in the best interest of the countr y, the Charge
d’Affaires of the Nigerian embassy in Senegal, Sani
Saulawa Bala, said.
Diya and five other top officials of the Abuja
militar y government were sentenced to death by a
military tribunal in April for their part in the plot. The
verdict drew sharp criticism from some Western
countries and human rights organisation.
But Sani says there were no ethnic or personal
considerations in the trial. “In this case, an investigation
panel was set up which established that the people had
a case to answer. Then a panel was established to try
them. “Some were found guilty and those who had no
case to answer were acquitted and asked to report to their
duty posts immediately,” he added.
The envoy said the convicts were defended by
lawyers and have a right of appeal, contrary to the
standing practice in which such matters were handled
in purely military tradition.
Asked to comment on whether the men would get
a reprieve from the ruling council headed by Gen.
Abacha, the envoy said “whatever decision is taken will
be in the best interest of Nigeria”.
“This is the prerogative of the Head of State Gen
Sani Abacha who I know is first and foremost a
nationalist who has always tried to defend the territorial
integrity and unity of Nigeria.
“So I am sure the action he is going to take will be
in the best interest of Nigeria and if it is in the best
interest of Nigeria to pardon the offenders, definitely
Gen. Abacha will do that,” he said.
Ghanaian Newsrunner
malicious reports circulated about the polls, they were free
and fair and the turn-out was impressive, given the situation
in which the elections were conducted.
“Over 70 percent of the electorate turned out. Those
who reported a low turn-out of 20 percent merely stayed in
one place at eight o’clock in the morning and concluded
that the turn-out was low.
“They did not base their assessment on the day-long
time frame that the exercise lasted,” he added. Besides, he
said, the polls “were recognised by international observers
including Americans who monitored them from many
points inside the country.”
On the accusation that the transition programme was
being manipulated to elect Abacha as a civilian president
in August, Sani wondered if it was possible to force or
manipulate thousands of representatives of five political
parties to adopt Abacha as their candidate. “And if they did
so on their own volition, who arewe to question the wish of
the people?”, he asked.
“I think Nigerians are very lucky to have him as leader
at this point in the country’s political history,” the envoy
added.
Commuters Stranded As Bus
Owners Withdraw Vehicles
Hundreds of commuters in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic
hub, were left either stranded at bus stops or trekked to their
destinations Monday as bus owners withdrew their vehicles
from the roads. As a result, workers and pupils reported
late to their destinations, while others simply returned home
after waiting for long hours at the bus stops.
Members of the Lagos State Bus Owners Association,
whose vehicles, popularly called ‘’Molues’’ handled some
70 percent of the total road passenger traffic in the city of
six million people, said they were protesting incessant
harassment by touts.
Sani noted that contrary to what people have been
made to believe, there are currently no political prisoners
in the country of some 104 million people. “What you
have are people convicted of specific offenses through
the due process of law,” he said.
The association said in a statement that the touts,
suspected to be members of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers, collected illegal tolls, which often forced
commercial transporters to hike fares. In addition, it accused
the touts of manhandling 10 of its drivers in the past one
week.
One such person is former head of State, Gen.
Olusegun Obasanjo who was sentenced to death over
an abortive coup plot in 1995. The sentence was
commuted to life imprisonment following appeals from
African and Western countries.
Mini-buses and another mode of transportation
known as the ‘’Oluwole’’ buses, had a field day but were
unable to cope with the volume of passengers. The situation
is compounded by petrol scarcity that has hit Lagos and
other parts of the country in the past four weeks.
Millionaire politician, Moshood Abiola, is in
detention awaiting trial for treason after he declared
himself president in 1994. This followed the annulment
a year earlier, of presidential polls he was set to win by
former President Ibrahim Babangida, until then his
friend and close associate.
The fuel crisis, blamed on inadequate supply, has
persisted in oil-producing Nigeria despite assurances by
the authorities. The Lagos-based African Independent
Television reported that a group of touts cashed in on the
situation by molesting motorists and chanting antigovernment slogans at Abule Egba, on the outskirts of Lagos
Monday morning.
The Abuja government released 140 prisoners
including human rights activists and journalists in what
observers say is Abacha’s response to a plea made by Pope
John Paul II during his recent visit to the country.
It said that police had to use tear gas to disperse the
demonstrators.
Asked to comment on the credibility of legislative
elections held on 25 April, Sani said contrary to the
16
No 22, 8 June 1998
Ghanaian Newsrunner
Legal Battle Over Abacha’s
Adoption Shifts To Appeal
Court
The legal battle over the controversial adoption of
Nigeria’s militar y r uler, Sani Abacha, as consensus
presidential candidate by the country’s five political parties,
has shifted to the Court of Appeal at the instance of one of
the presidential aspirants, Tunji Braithwaite.
Braithwaite, a Lagos lawyer, had presented himself as
a presidential candidate for the Grassroots Democratic
Movement (GDM). But this party, along withthe other four,
adopted Abacha as sole candidate for the Aug. 1 presidential
poll. The election are supposed to mark the last stage of
Gen. Abacha’s plan toreturn the nation to democratic rule
Oct. 1.
Braithwaite took the case to court last week, where
his attorney, Rotimi Williams, argued that Abacha’s
adoption was illegal and unconstitutional.
At the resumed hearing Tuesday at the appeal court
in Lagos, Nigeria’s solicitor-general, Tochukwu
Onwugbufor, challenged the court’s jurisdiction to the hear
the case. He cited several authorities, including the fact that
the government had already named a constitutional court
charged with such matters.
Although Abacha has neither accepted nor rejected
the offer by the political parties to succeed himself, his
adoption has provoked a fierce national debate.
Apart from Braithwaite, several other prominent
citizens, including radical lawyer Gani Fawehinmi and
Mohammed Yusuf, another GDM presidential aspirant,
have challenged Abacha’s adoption in separate suits.
Local pro-democracy groups and individuals have
criticised the adoption. A group of eminent Nigerians,
including second republic Vice President Alex Ekwueme,
have urged the infantry general to reject the offer by the
parties.
Some Western countries, notably Britain and the
United States, have also denounced the move by the parties,
which they claim flawed the transition programme.
In an unrelated development, a Federal High Court
in Lagos has ordered the Nigerian government to pay one
million naira (about 12,000 U.S. dollars) as damages to an
official of the opposition National Democratic Coalition
(Nadeco), for the disruption of a reception Sept. 1997 in
honour of former UnitedStates Ambassador to Nigeria
Walter Carrington.
The Nadeco official, Ayo Adebanjo, told the court that
security agents broke in and disr upted the party in
downtown Lagos. ‘’One’s home is regarded as his castle.
When a man is being pursued from the market, he runs to
his house and if he is attacked, then he is forced to the wall.
The court frowns at the arbitrary repression and illegal
executive action,’’ said Judge Dan Abutu, who gave the
ruling Tuesday in favour of Adebanjo. Abutu also ordered
the defendants to refrain from further interfering in the
applicant’s premises.
It was not immediately clear if the government
intended to appeal the judgment. The incident, which
elicited an official protest from Washington, aggravated the
already strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and
its former ally.
No 22, 8 June 1998
Ghanaian News
Carrington finally left Nigeria Oct. 1997 after
a troubled four-year tenure, during which Nigerian
officials accused him of being responsible for
Washington’s hostile attitude toward Abuja. He
denied the accusation.
The U.S. has imposed limited sanctions on
Nigeria over democracy and human rights issues.
But the frosty diplomatic relations have not affected
their economic ties, with the U.S. still buying almost
50 percent of Nigeria’s total oil production.
Ecomog Explains Delay In
Liberation Of Sierra Leone
The commander of the West African
intervention force (Ecomog), Maj. Gen. Timothy
Shelpidi, has said rains have slowed down efforts
to liberate the remaining two districts in Sierra
Leone still held by forces loyal to ousted junta leader
Maj. Johnny Paul Koromah.
He told reporters that the force needed
logistics to enable it deal decisively with the
situation in Sierra Leone. The subregional force
restored to power President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah
in March following his ouster in May 1997.
Shelpidi said efforts were on to arrest Koromah
and that ‘’the dissidents have r un short of
ammunition and supplies and have resorted to
attacking innocent civilians.’’
‘’The unfortunate thing about this incident is
that they have unleashed a lot of atrocities on
innocent villagers, seizing their livestock, foodstuff,
raping women and at times ripping pregnant
women open to know the sex of the baby,’’ he added.
Instead of sparing the children, he noted, ‘’the
dissidents amputate their legs and arms. We expect
the international community to condemn such
barbaric acts.’’
He appealed to the international communiity
to assist Ecomog solve its logistic problems, saying
the troops needed assistance in the form of vehicles,
helicopters, fuel and spare parts to enhance their
mobility as well as assist disarmament and efforts
to cordon off remnants of rebel troops. Shelpidi said
Ecomog had liberated 80 percent of the Sierra
Leonean territory and was working relentlessly to
secure the remaining areas from incessant attacks
from the rogue troops.
::::::::::::::::::LATEST::::::::::::::::
Ghana says its investigations have revealed
that a U.S.-based Non-governmental organization
organised a workshop for some Nigerian political
groups in Accra on May 6-8. The state-owned
Graphic newspaper on Saturday June 6 quoted the
Minister of State for National Security, Kofi Totobi
Quakyi, as saying that Abuja was probably citing
the workshop as the basis for its accusation that
Ghana was involved in a plot to destabilise Nigeria.
Quakyi said the workshop was held in a hotel in
Accra but stressed that no official or agency of
government was involved in planning or organising
the event. He said Ghana would not allow its
territory to be used for any unfriendly act against
Nigeria or any other country in the sub-region.
17
Dutch News
Ghanaian
News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
DUTCH NEWS IN BRIEF
• The football match between
Nigeria and the Netherlands in the
Amsterdam Arena offered an
opportunity to protest against the
violation of human rights in Nigeria.
Amnesty International, the trade
union FNV, Pax Christi, Novib and
other organizations held several
demonstrations. Dutch public
television
refused
a
noncommercial spot depicting a
Nigerian goal keeper being
executed in his goal.
They
considered the spot too violent.
The commercial stations, however,
did broadcast the message.
Because of the protests the
Nigerian team first did not want to
play. Dutch officials were able to
convince them that all this was part
of the Dutch constitutional right of
freedom of speech. The match
ended with a 5-1 victory of the
Dutch team.
• Since early May the Netherlands
is free of swine fever. Since
February 4, ‘97 a total of 11 million
pigs have been slaughtered( see:
Newsrunner 18). Despite massive
protest by pig breeders Dutch
parliament recently endorsed
measures to reduce the number of
pigs in the Netherlands with 20%
• On May 26 the first young
herrings were brought ashore in
Scheveningen, near The Hague.
The festive welcome of the fishing
fleet is the official starting signal of
the new season, beginning on May
27, when the ‘Hollandse nieuwe’ is
on sale throughout the country. By
now most of the herring,
considered as a typical Dutch
product, is caught by Danish,
Norwegian, Swedish and Scottish
fishermen. There are only a few
Dutch fishing boats left that bring
in ‘Hollandse nieuwe’.
•
The Public Prosecutor in
Groningen demanded rather severe
jail sentences for two suspects of
violence, theft, rampage and arson
during the riots in the Oosterparkneighborhood in Groningen last
year ( see: Newsrunner 19). The
court sentenced them to 240 hours
of forced labor and a half year
suspended imprisonment.
• Average fortune per Dutch
household is rapidly increasing.
Over the last ten years their
average fortune doubled to fl.
200.000,-. This jump is largely due
to the rise in prices of houses and
the upward movement of the stock
exchange. Remarkably enough this
is not considered as inflation. The
18
WHO IS COVERING WHAT?
THE
CONTINUING
STOR
Y OFOF
THE
EL AL-CR
ASH
STORY
AL-CRASH
THE
CHANGING
APPEARANCE
A SMALL
NATION
A t least 43 people were killed af
after
ter
the EL Al-freighter 4X
-A
XG penetrated
4X-A
-AXG
into Groeneveen and Kr uitberg on
October 4, 1992. This part of the tragic
tr uth is more or less undisputed. But
ter the disaster it is still
almost 6 years af
after
not fully known what else went up in
flames and why
ter all these
why.. Moreover
Moreover,, af
after
years new testimonies and new questions
keep cropping up.
NEW INVESTIG
A TIONS
INVESTIGA
“How is this possible when there are
usually five or six copies made of each
consignment note?” wrote NRC-Handelsblad
on October 4, `97, exactly 5 years after the
crash. That same evening TV-newsmagazine
NOVA showed fragments of consignments
notes that were not included in the official
investigation report. Furthermore, two former
El Al-employees declared they’d sometimes
forged consignment notes. And, this beats
everything, one of the civil ser vants who
headed the judicial investigation after the
crash was also the officer responsible for
consignment notes on the eve of the disaster!
When shortly afterward MP Van Gijzel
(PvdA) put Minister of Transport Jorritsma
(VVD) on the spot, she promised parliament
a new investigation. She warned, however, in
advance that officials would never be able to
answer all existing questions. The new special
investigative commission, headed by a member
of the Council of State, Hoekstra, is expected
to report late June / early July ‘98. The
assignment is rather limited: it should come
up with a report on the failed proceedings of
the initial investigation into the consignments
notes and what the lessons could be for the
future.
months of ’98 now make a parliamentary
inquir y, or at least a parliamentar y
investigation, increasingly likely.
HEALTH
HEAL
TH PROBLEMS
Early spring ’98 the general public was
reminded of the mysteries still surrounding the
El Al-crash by startling disclosures and turbid
responses by authorities. First as a result of a
contested examination by the Swedish firm
Biospectron of excrements of involved Bijlmer
residents and firemen. The tests showed
abnormal concentration of uranium and
zirconium. Later the Bijlmer ‘Visie
Foundation’ who had commissioned the
examination publicly regretted the certainty
with which the results were presented.
Although the findings were disputed, they
nevertheless answered their purpose. They
ensued a growing realization that health
problems of Bijlmer-residents, members of
salvage teams and KLM-employees might
have been underestimated until that moment.
Minister Els Borst of Public Health promised
to speed up the intended study.
A few days later the Amsterdam Medical
Center, the AMC, stepped up pressure to end
the ongoing uncertainty concerning the cargo
of the crashed El Al-freighter. The hospital
said they would only carry out the study after
it has become clear what has been the contents
of the plane. For the time being they would
only draw up an interim inventory of health
complaints. These days a notice appears in
all relevant media asking to report to a
complaints center the health problems which
are possibly related to the El Al-crash (editor:
see page 6 for the notice)
Subsequent events during the first
No 22, 8 June 1998
Dutch News
Ghanaian
News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
GHOST FLIGHTS
Newspaper De Telegraaf published on
April 6,’98 an article on an extra flight in the
night immediately after the El Al-crash from
Schiphol to Israel by a plane of UPS (United
Parcel Service) commissioned by El Al. UPSspokesmen said they’d been surprised by the
special treatment of the plane on Ben Gurion
Airport near Tel Aviv. Again MP Van Gijzel
(PvdA) asked for a parliamentar y
investigation, but the liberal coalition partners
VVD and D’66 decided to wait for the outcome
of the investigations by the Hoekstracommission. Nevertheless, parliament did
decide to set up a special study group to
prepare an official parliamentar y
investigation. Before the summer recess the
new elected parliament will have to decide on
such an investigation after hearing this
parliamentary study group.
Next obscurity was the removal of data
from their official register by the Aviation
Security Ser vice (LVB) of flights in the
Amsterdam area during the night of the
disaster. Witnesses declared they’d seen a
chopper with no lights dropping 5 or 6
mysterious men in white suits who searched
the area during 10 to 12 minutes and swiftly
disappeared again with a few objects. Rumors
go round they were members of the Mossad,
the Israelian secret service. In response to the
LVB, the National Aviation Service (RLD)
said they knew of at least one police helicopter.
Schiphol Airport, for their part, declared they
knew of at least 8 helicopters. Again, instead
of answers more questions were evoked.
MORE CONFUSION
At the same time new testimonies kept
public attention focussed on this group of men
in white colored protective suits, ’space suits’,
who were perceived on the scene of the
calamity. Who were they? And what were they
doing there? Did they recover secret parts of
the cargo or even vanished with the cockpit
voice recorder? The Ministry of Transport
always denied the existence of these people.
Now Minister Jorritsma said they’d been relief
workers of the Red Cross. Alas! The Red Cross
immediately declared their workers were all
clearly identifiable by orange helmets and red
crosses on their sleeves. And Jorritsma had to
agree with a new investigation that would
establish once and for all the identity of the
‘men in white suits’. Within a few days the
Amsterdam Chief Public Prosecutor J.
Vrakking met the request of Jorritsma:
“There’s no proof whatsoever of Israeli
removing things from the scene”, he declared,
“testimonies proved they were members of the
Amsterdam health and medical service GG &
GD.” Again alas! An outraged spokesman of
the Amsterdam fire brigade declared: “Our
men did see men in white suits who certainly
were not members of the GG & GD. They
surely can tell the difference.” The Amsterdam
Public Prosecution had to expand their
investigations. While the Ministerie van
No 22, 8 June 1998
Justitie proclaimed a temporarily silence, the
news agency GPD got hold of the interim
report of Vrakking and his letter to Jorritsma
and Sorgdrager.
The report quoted
Amsterdam police officers testifying they had
met 6 men who said to be members of the
Israeli secret service Mossad. It seems that the
mystery will not be solved by normal means.
Already one of the detectives hinted that the
investigation will not be rounded off with clear
cut conclusions. The report is expected half
June.
INQUIR
Y
INQUIRY
During this same period uncertainties as
to what the EL Al-plane exactly carried were
not lifted. Several companies declared they
could no longer retrieve the house airway bills.
El Al however produced again a series of these
airway bill’s. Still, 29.000 kilos, one quarter
of the cargo, remains unaccounted for. And
again Minister Jorritsma told parliament that
the plane did not carry hazardous substances.
Shortly after wards the TV-news program
Zembla showed an American customs
document listing a few kilo’s of ingredients for
bullets, shells and percussion caps. The Dutch
Ministr y of Transport got hold of this
document as early as December ’92. The
fuzziness continues.
The commission investigating the
feasibility of a parliamentar y inquir y or
investigation should report before June 26.
Meanwhile members of parliament declared
the inquiry should include the position of El
Al in the Netherlands. Probably, it was said,
El Al has special permission for transporting
weapons, munitions and nuclear and other
hazardous substances. And probably El Al has
to comply with special rules, but what these
rules are remains for now unclear. The
commission also said they’d like to hear the
Dutch security services. This could put Mr.
Hoekstra in an awkward position. Mr.
Hoekstra is expected to come up shortly with
an explanation of why the initial investigation
into the consignments notes got stuck. At the
time of the crash Mr. Hoekstra was as high
ranking civil servant member of the special
committee reporting directly to the prime
minister on the secret and security services.
Nothing has been proved yet and that,
precisely that, is the problem. Some observers
claim that all the fuss is created by a small
number of troublemakers who will settle for
any ‘truth’, as long as they get substantial
financial benefits out of the affair. This might
be a motive in some cases. But even if so, the
sloppy handling by Dutch authorities of the
disaster justifies an in-depth investigation. By
now Dutch authorities are checkmated by their
own implausible stories. Dutch parliament is
not Snow White, but who else could come
closer to the truth, even if El Al has nothing
to hide? After all, only a small circle of
intimates seems to be implicated. The next
weeks will bring us more news on the guts of
Dutch parliament and democracy.
DUTCH NEWS IN BRIEF
average real disposable income is
fl. 46.700. On January 1, ’98 there
were 185.000 millionaires, while 5%
of the richest households owned
47% of the national wealth. Of the
6.5 million households in the
Netherlands 931.000 households
are in debt.
• During the month of June the
Ministry of Transport and the
National Technological Institute
(TNO) will test various computer
systems that should decrease the
number and length of traffic jams
and accidents. A new stretch of
motorway between Alphen aan de
Rijn and Leiden has been equipped
with magnetic strips. Professionals
and another 1000 drivers chosen
from the general public will have a
chance to test 30 computerized
cars with several systems. One
system influences speed and
distance to the car in front. A cruise
control system will be tested as well
as an advisory system responding
to the rhythm of traffic lights. A
fourth system couples a second car
to the one in front. Opponents say
all this is feasible from a
technological point of view, but
traffic jams can only be avoided by
investing this sort of genius and
money in modern public - read
coordinated and comfortable transport.
• The ecumenical consecration on
May 30 in a Protestant church in
Apeldoorn of the wedding of Prince
Maurits, nephew of Queen Beatrix,
and radiant Marilène van den Broek,
daughter of former Dutch Minister
of Foreign Affairs Hans van den
Broek (CDA) and now Princess ,
unexpectedly provoked quite some
controversy. The Dutch royal family
adhere to the Dutch Reformed
Church. The Van den Broek-family
is Roman-Catholic. To the great
indignation of Roman Catholics
Princess Margriet, sister of Queen
Beatrix, unexpectedly went to the
Holy Communion and received the
Holy Host. Former Queen Juliana,
now Princess, and her husband
Prince Bernard followed their
daughter. It was an unprecedented
gesture, indeed. But what followed
left non-religious Dutch bewildered.
Conservative Roman-Catholics
protested, because RomanCatholic rule exclude non-RomanCatholics
from
the
Holy
Communion.
Conservative
members of the Dutch Reformed
Church also regretted that the royal
family did not respect official
liturgy.
19
Dutch News
Ghanaian
News
BUSINESS AND
FINANCE
• Ajax issued 4,95 million shares at
a rate of 25 guilders each, yielding
125 million guilders. These shares
represent 27% of all shares; 73%
remains in the hands of the club.
ABN Amro, the bank accompanying
the operation, said shareholders
would profit from the sale of
broadcasting rights, merchandising
and the training and selling of
players. Ajax-shares attracted
great interest and were 15 times
over-subscribed, but the expected
value-explosion failed to occur. The
rate of issue was 32,50, but the
price now fluctuates between 26
and 27 guilders.
• Dutch-British Unilever (food,
beverages, personal care, house
care, etc.) reported over the first
quarter of ’98 an explosion of profits
by 60% to 1439 million guilders.
• KLM Airlines recorded over ’97 the
highest net profit ever: 2.2 billion
guilders.. The sale of KLM’s interest
in the American airliner Northwest
accounts for 1.6 billion. Profits
from normal activities over ’97 also
resulted in a record figure: 811
million guilders compared with 109
million in ’96.
• PCM, publisher of books and
major Dutch newspapers such as
‘de Volkskrant’, ‘NRC Handelsblad’,
‘Algemeen Dagblad’ and ‘Trouw,
saw profits over ’97 increased with
50% to 54 million guilders.
•
NBM-Amstelland (building
industry) takes over Wilma (housebuilding). The new combination will
be by far the largest building group
in the Netherlands with a turnover
of 5.19 billion guilders and 9600
employees.
• Ahold (Albert Heijn-supermarkets,
Etos, Gall & Gall, Jamin, Schuitema)
once again expands abroad. For 5.4
billion guilders Ahold bought the
American
Giant
Foodsupermarkets.
With these
additional 176 supermarkets
(28.000 employees) Ahold now
owns over 1000 supermarkets in
the USA. Ahold aims at doubling
their ’97 turnover to 100 billion
guilders in 2002.
• Two other Dutch supermarketchains will merge: De Boer Unigro
(Spar, A-markt and Super De Boer)
and Vendex Food Groep (Edah,
Basismarkt, and Konmar). With a
Dutch market share of 24% the new
combination
will
remain
20
Ghanaian Newsrunner
ROYAL DUTCH
SECURITIES
PART ONE - THE ROYAL
MACHINERY RENOVATED
Early 1998 Queen Beatrix celebrated her
sixtieth birthday ‘ in private’. Yet, during three
days in a row the whole Dutch nation could
witness on television the coming and going
(just sidewalk and entrance shots) of royal
celebrities from all over the world. This last
half year hardly a day went by without royal
news: a speech, a birthday, health problems,
the announcement of an engagement,
commemorations, political consultations after
general elections, royal exhibitions, royal
biographies, a mysterious royal case discovered
during the restoration of the tomb of William
of Orange in Delft, the unavoidable rumors
about the amorous activities of the Prince-Heir
and, late May, the first royal wedding since 23
years.
The ecumenical wedding ceremony of
Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène aroused
the indignation of Catholics and Protestants.
Before we sketch the remarkable presence of
the Dutch royal family in Dutch society during
these last months, we start with some
twentieth-centur y royal background
information.
WILHELMINA,
TRIX
BEATRIX
BEA
JULIANA,
The Dutch Royal Crown is
constitutionally curtailed and stripped of
concrete power. Still, the Dutch Royal Family,
the House of Orange, has a distinct presence
in Dutch society. Each successive Dutch
monarch (during this twentieth century there
were only queens due to the caprices of nature)
radiated a specific approach and style,
originating in personal character, historic
circumstances and an intelligent assessment
of risks and chances. The transition to a
renewed and updated royal approach became
strikingly clear when Queen Beatrix took over
from her mother, the now Princess Juliana.
Queen Juliana, Dutch head of state from
1948 till 1980, personified and perhaps still
embodies the modest, unassuming, sometimes
obstinate and even snug mother of the nation.
With her you could, as it were, cry your heart
out and have a glass of sherry. On Christmas
Eve she personally served the royal household
chocolate milk. And ever y year, on her
birthday, she and her growing family waved
from the steps of the Soestdijk Palace to a
seemingly endless parade of admirers from all
over the country and nearly all walks of life.
Queen Wilhelmina. Head of state from
1898 to 1948. Mother of Princess Juliana.
Princess Juliana and her husband prince
Bernard. Princess Juliana - the mother of
queen Beatrix - was head of state from
1948 till 1984.
Still, twice during her ‘reign’ the
monarchy was shaken. First in 1956, after
Juliana searched for unconventional outside
help for her physically impaired youngest
daughter. She fell under the spell of an
influential faith healer. The affair almost
brought about a constitutional crisis and in the
end the faith healer had to leave the royal court.
The second crisis came in 1976, when
her husband Prince Bernhard was discredited
after it became known he had tried to influence
the government choice for a specific fighter
plane, in the process touching a large sum for
his intermediary services. The Prince was
stripped off all his military functions. Still,
Queen Juliana and her husband were and still
are extremely popular and beloved. Juliana
represented a sort of easygoing interregnum
between her rigid mother Wilhelmina and her
disciplined daughter, the present Queen
Beatrix.
No 22, 8 June 1998
Dutch News
Ghanaian
News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
RO
YAL AMBITION
ROY
Grandmother Queen Wilhelmina (18801962) ascended the throne in 1898. As a strong,
ambitious and authoritarian woman,
determined and sturdy, she felt rather
frustrated by the limits of royal action which
the Dutch constitution imposed. Wilhelmina
cherished the reminiscence of the 16-th and
17-th century grandeur of the Netherlands. In
vain she searched for support to restore this
former glory, turning her country again in a
strong nation. The spirit of the time left her
without major allies in Dutch society. The
exceptional circumstances of the Second World
War however allowed Queen Wilhelmina to
play the prominent role she always thought
was hers. From London she put courage into
a despairing Dutch people, helped organizing
Dutch resistance and in fact replaced the weak,
incompetent Dutch government in exile.
During the war she acquired her status of diehard resistant to Nazi-Germany. A few years
after having recaptured her countr y she
stepped down, disappointed that traditional
Dutch compromising and prudential coalition
government was reinstalled. In 1962 an
impressive white-colored funeral procession
escorted her remains from The Hague to Delft,
where she was buried in the royal crypt. The
ceremony was one of the first national events
Dutch people could watch on the then swiftly
growing number of black and white television
sets.
HER
ALDING NEW TIMES
HERALDING
It seems as if Queen Beatrix resembles
her grandmother. Unlike her mother Juliana,
who could take care of her crown and kingdom
as a matter-of-course, Queen Beatrix
estimated her throne and crown needed new
input. Details of her inner considerations
remain unknown, but it could very well be
that she assessed her era as one in which the
natural foothold of Her Crown would
diminish if she did not take a more active
stand. After all, the dramatic national
circumstances of the Second World War and
the acquired authority of her grandmother
would inevitably ebb away, gradually being
outstripped by new facts and phenomena in
Dutch society.
And indeed, the smoke bombs thrown
by protesters during the ceremonies of her
marriage in 1966 with the German diplomat
Claus von Amsberg heralded new times:
traditional respect for hierarchy and authority
was swiftly dwindling. The riots in the streets
of Amsterdam underlined the fact that her
claim to the Dutch throne was more or less
historic, but not as ‘natural’ as it was for her
mother.
Moreover, she most likely estimated the
rather ambiguous European integration and
the withering away of national frontiers as a
potential undermining of her position. Welleducated and thoroughly trained and prepared
for her vocation, a vocation to guarantee the
continuity of the Dutch nation and of the
Dutch throne, she stood firm and she decided
to leave as little as possible to chance.
RIGGING UP
On 30 April 1980 Queen Beatrix
succeeded her mother Juliana. The investiture
took place at a special plenary session of both
Houses of the States General in the New
Church at Dam Square in Amsterdam. Long
before she had the royal organization
investigated in view of a more up-to-date
approach. While her mother lived and worked
in the white Soestdijk Palace in the leafy center
of the Netherlands, relatively far away from
the government center, Beatrix took up
residence in The Hague. There she had a
couple of palaces restored in former splendor:
Huis ten Bosch as private residence and the
Noordeinde Palace near parliament as
working palace. At the same time the splendid
palace and classical gardens of Het Loo, where
her grandmother Wilhelmina had spent her
last years, were completely restored.
Meanwhile the new Queen re-organize
her royal offices along lines of discrete
functionality, efficiency and job rotation.
Within a few years the new, well-oiled royal
enterprise started radiating an aura of
professional skill.
RO
YAL MA
CHINER
Y
ROY
MACHINER
CHINERY
Approximately 800 people serve, directly
or indirectly, the House of Her Royal Majesty
the Queen. 300 officials surround her fulltime: the Master of Ceremonies, secretaries,
advisors, court-ladies, stablemen, the Lord
Chamberlain, filing clerks and researchers,
the Grand-Master, domestic help and financial
assistants. Then there is a special section of
the militar y police, 300 members strong,
guarding the royal palaces and other buildings.
Another special service of 120 functionaries
looks after the personal security of members
of the royal family and diplomats. Royal
ser vices are also accomplished by a large
number of government departments. Core of
the enterprise is the Cabinet of the Queen,
where 31 officials supervise the endless stream
of information, of official government
documents (yearly the Queen signs at least
7000 documents) and of royal appointments.
Facilitated by this machinery the Queen and
her family manage to attract quite some media
attention.
S CA
TTERED
CATTERED
V OICES
REP
UBLICAN
REPUBLICAN
A recent opinion poll showed a support
of 82% for Queen Beatrix and the monarchy.
Still, critical voices cannot be suppressed.
Continued on page 27
No 22, 8 June 1998
BUSINESS AND
FINANCE
considerably smaller than Ahold
(with a 40% market share).
Management said the merger
should guarantee a firm position on
the Dutch market as starting point
of expansion abroad. After the
merger the new company has a
turnover of 12 billion guilders and
employs 12.000 people.
• Philips sold her music and movie
subsidiary PolyGram to the
Canadian
beverage
and
entertainment group Seagram. The
transaction of Philips’s 75% shares
is worth 21 billion guilders. With the
purchase Seagram’s Universal
Studios will hold a 23% market
share in the worldwide music
industry with Sony Music in second
place at 16%. Philips president
Boonstra said that with this sale the
restructuring of the company is
completed. The deal yielded
directors and managers of
PolyGram at one go 120 million
guilders due to the options they
hold in the company.
• British law requires disclosure of
the salaries of top business
executives. Dutch law, however, is
less democratic. But now we know
also the salaries of the Dutch
executive colleagues of BritishDutch conglomerates such as
Unilever and Shell. Mr. Herkströter
(Shell-president) received 3.3
million guilders plus 950.000
guilders worth of options. Unileverpresident Tabaksblat received 3
million guilders plus 1.5 million
worth of options.
• Half of the remaining 900 smaller
groceries will disappear within the
coming 8 years due to tough
competition
and
because
successors are quite often lacking.
Most of these shops are small family
businesses.
• Dutch official unemployment fell
to 318.000 persons, the level of July
’81 after which a major recession set
in. Some observers said that this
means
a
reversal
of
the
continuously increasing structural
unemployment. Since the early
sixties unemployment after each
recession was higher than before.
These observers, however, ignore
that now the number of disabilityallowances,
unemployment
benefits and social security
payments is far higher than in ’81.
The Dutch juggling with statistics is
deceiving.
21
Dutch News
Ghanaian
News
POLITICS
• On July 1 the so-called ‘Coupling
Law’ (‘Koppelingswet’) will come
into force. The law aims at locking
out illegal persons from all sorts of
services and facilities by ‘linking’
various data banks of, for example,
the social service, language
courses and the national health
service.
There are a few
exceptions: illegal persons remain
entitled to legal assistance, to
medical assistance in cases of
acute danger, while their children
till the age of 18 will not be
excluded
from
educational
services. According to a recent
study at least 40.000 illegal persons
live in Rotterdam, The Hague,
Amsterdam and Utrecht. ‘At least’
the researchers reported, but they
said at the same time the real figure
probably stands at 80.000. The
study is exemplary for the Dutch
confusion concerning illegal
inhabitants. The problem seems
unsolvable. Authorities know that
the policies are not practicable,
while more and more people are
forced to go underground and quite
often end up in criminal circles.
The researchers admit they can’t
come up with a solution. In fact,
they count more or less on the self
regulating forces within the several
ethnical communities.
• Much of the European decisionmaking is usually hidden from
public view and attracts little public
attention. The European Summit
early May in Brussels was covered
by Dutch media as if it were an
international football match, with
players only showing up after the
game to announce and justify the
result. As expected, the European
leaders of government, including
French head of state Jacques
Chirac, went ahead with the
creation of one common European
currency, the Euro. Dissension
arose once again as to who would
become the first president of the
new European Central Bank:
Dutch candidate Wim Duisenberg
or French candidate Jean-Claude
Trichet. The politicians came up
with one of these inimitable
European
compromises:
Duisenberg became first president
under promise to step down during
his term giving his place to Trichet.
Afterwards the compromise gave
cause to conflicting if not
incompatible interpretations.
• Pressure to accommodate
Schiphol Airport intensifies. Early
May, two weeks before the final of
22
Ghanaian Newsrunner
TIPTOEING
TOWARD PURPLE II
PURPLE COALITION P
AR
TNERS NEGOTIA
TE BEHIND THE SCENES
PAR
ARTNERS
NEGOTIATE
Senior coalition partners PvdA (Labour)
and VVD (free-market Liberals) campaigned
as if the general elections on May 6 were an
inconvenient but statutory required ritual.
Possible pitfall was a disastrous loss of junior
coalition partner D’66 (center-left Democrats).
PvdA and VVD even made appeals to the
electorate ‘not to forget D’66’. And indeed,
D’66 losses were dramatic but not as fatal as
predicted. They retained 14 of their 24 seats
and did not dropped below 12, which was their
self-declared electoral bottom line for joining
a second ‘purple’ coalition government. The
three governing ‘purple’ coalition partners
together even gained 5 seats.
CD
A
DA
Major surprise was that the Christian
Democrat CDA lost for a second time, after
losing in ’94 their position as biggest party and
handing in no less than 20 of their 54 seats.
This time they lost another 5 seats, slipping
down to 29. What used to be the pivotal
governing majority party is now clearly
drifting. This erosion not only reflects the
continual secularization of the Netherlands
and a crumbling away of conservative stands
towards immaterial issues such as euthanasia
and homosexuality. It also throws back the
confusion as to what Christian Democrats
consider as ‘social’. It was the CDA who, in
the eighties, initiated privatization, the
slimming down of the Dutch social security
schemes and the partial repeal of assigned
rights of unemployed and disabled people.
Labour endorsed most of these measures and
subsequently suffered a dramatic defeat in
’94. But they managed to retain some of her
traditional image as defender of the welfare
state. The CDA, however, could not succeed
to profile their newly acquired social views
and overtake Labour at the left side. Their
new views on social policies were
unconvincing and their conservative stands
on immaterial issues failed to mobilize
support.
UPS AND DOWNS
On the left side of the political
spectr um the leftist-environmentalists
GroenLinks and the socialist SP were far
more successful flanking Labour.
GroenLinks saw their number of seats go up
from 5 to 11. The socialists won 3 seats and
now control 5. Labour, headed by prime
minister Wim Kok, interrupted their steady
downfall since ’89, when they still had 52
seats. This time they made up for some of
their losses. Gaining 8 seats they now control
45 and remain biggest party. The other
major coalition partner, the free-market
Liberals (VVD) headed by Frits Bolkestein,
perpetuated their steady growth and went up
from 31 to 38 seats. The SGP, forming with
RPF and GPV the traditional ‘small christian
parties, won 1 seat and together they ended
The 3 'informateurs' meet with negotiators of the 3 purple coalition partners
(photo B. Verhoeff)
No 22, 8 June 1998
Dutch News
Ghanaian
News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
up with 8 seats. In contrast, the smaller parties
representing the special interests of the elderly
disappeared just as swiftly as they showed up
in parliament in ’94. Last and least: the ultrarightist Centrum Democraten (CD) lost all
their 3 seats.
CHES S-BOARD
Dutch society nourishes a number of
essential and fundamental values, but there’s
no such thing as ‘the will of the people’. This
has always been a construction. In a two-party
system in which one of the two dominant
parties almost by definition conquers an
absolute majority a program of government
primarily results from preceding internal party
deliberations. In a multi-party system, such
as the Dutch, a program of government results
from the numerical force of the parties and the
ensuing negotiations. The process is a tricky
one, especially since normally more than one
combination of parties can make up a majority
in parliament. In other words: the party
having the option to chose between several
potential coalition partners has an advantage.
SIDE REFLECTIONS
So, consuming and commenting the
incoming results during the evening of
election day, politicians swiftly made some
quick calculations figuring out their margins
of maneuver. First observation in this case was
that D’66 still qualified as potential
government party. Secondly: the combined
gains of PvdA and VVD made D’66, unlike in
’94, dispensable for a parliamentary majority.
Third conclusion was that VVD (38 seats) and
CDA (29) could not put together a majority:
the VVD has no other option than ‘purple II’.
Fourth wisdom was that Labour, as only major
party, had more than one option. In case the
talks on a second purple government would
break down, they still would have alternative
options to govern. With the CDA, for instance
(PvdA + CDA + D’66 = 88 seats), or even in
combination with Groenlinks (PvdA + CDA
+ GroenLinks = 85 seats). Not that these
options are self-evident, but in case of dire need
it is always convenient to hold some trump
cards.
INITIAL CONSENSUS
That evening, with results coming in
from all over the country, last doubts were
removed quickly. Politicians, journalists and
other opinion leaders took up their job to
fabricate a more or less accepted interpretation
of the elections results. Including the
observations and comments the following day
in newspapers, on television and on radiostations one major conclusion was shared by
almost everybody: the electorate sanctioned a
second purple government. The liberal
newspaper NRC-Handelsblad analyzed:
‘PvdA and VVD condemned to govern
No 22, 8 June 1998
together’. The Christian morning paper
Trouw headed: ‘Winner Kok can continue
with Purple’. This is what the Dutch call
‘consensus’: general agreement on an overall
outlook, which should allow to work out
details later, preferably in back rooms without
the general public looking over their
shoulders. PvdA and VVD were delighted,
patting junior party D’66 encouragingly on the
back.
FIRST W
ARNINGS
WARNINGS
GroenLinks and SP mindfully pointed
out that never before the leftist or progressive
parties together had so many seats, a total of
75, exactly half of all seats. But what is left or
progressive these days? Earlier Labour-leader
and prime minister Wim Kok called
GroenLinks an irritating nuisance (‘a
jamming station’), while the SP was
considered as a bunch of negative no-voters.
The SP for their part trumpetted around that
under Wim Kok the Labour-party had become
prey to neo-liberalism and had carried out
policies reinforcing the split between the have’s
and the have-nots.
GroenLinks and SP agreed on the
conclusion that the election results show an
growing support of a ‘more social’ government
program. This time Labour-leader Kok shared
this interpretation by his leftist competitors.
Liberal VVD-leader Bolkestein immediately
stepped in, demanding a ‘detailed’
government program. This would be the best
way to avoid the risk of his coalition partners
PvdA and D’66 searching on ‘open’ issues
parliamentary support as to impose measures
against the will of the VVD. Consequently
some newspapers headed: ‘Coalition talks will
be tough’.
FORMA
TION
FORMATION
Already the next day party leaders looked
up ‘shelter within the walls of the royal palace’,
as NRC-Handelsblad rightfully commented
on the traditional procedures. As usual the
Queen again plays her central part in the
formation of the new government. First she
consulted the Speakers of the two Chambers
of Dutch parliament and the Chairman of the
Council of State. Then she received the party
leaders. The next day she appointed the
former MP and President of the influential
Social and Economic Council, Klaas de Vries
(Labour) as ‘informateur’. This is the
traditional procedure: first one or more
‘informateurs’ to explore possibilities and
obstacles for a new coalition, in this case a
coalition between PvdA, VVD and D’66. All
this is usually done in full discretion if not
secrecy, leading to an advice to the Queen,
followed by the royal appointment of a
‘formateur’. He should come up with a more
Continued on page 7
POLITICS
the Champions League in the
Amsterdam Arena, Schiphol said
the airport could not receive the
approximately 90 non-reported
extra charter flights carrying the
supporters of Real Madrid and
Juventus. As to soothe the national
and international fuss the Dutch
cabinet came with a emergency
measure: the extra charters were
classified as exceptional flights,
normally used to registered military
flights and planes of heads of state.
At the same time the Ifalpa, the
international organization of airline
pilots, put Schiphol on their black
list for presumed security risks.
The decision was taken on the basis
of information provided by the
Dutch member-organization VNV.
They consider the Schiphol
package of measures to minimize
noise nuisance as a serious risk
factor.
• Dutch-Surinam relationships
continue to be distorted by the
much disputed past of former
Surinam army leader Desi Bouterse.
Bouterse is under suspicion of large
scale drugs trafficking and money
laundering. Last summer Dutch
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hans van
Mierlo (D’66) nearly escaped a
motion of non-confidence by Dutch
parliament after it turned out he had
put a stop to the arrest of Bouterse
by the Brazilian authorities. In the
end, Van Mierlo was able to
convince parliament that the
attempt to arrest Bouterse would
probably have ended in a legal
fiasco. In March, however, the
Dutch newsweekly ‘Elsevier ’
published the story that Bouterse
has an incriminating file on Van
Mierlo. Hans van Mierlo - in 1982
Minister of Defense - would have
known of plans to kill opponents of
a planned military coup, but he was
unable to prevent the massacre.
Van Mierlo considered the
allegations libelous and demanded
rectification. The Dutch Ministry of
Justice
continues
her
investigations and enables lawyers
to hear anonymous witnesses via
radio connections with distorted
voices. By mistake, however, the
ministry divulged the names of two
anonymous witnesses. Justice
would like to hear Bouterse in
Surinam between June 15 and 26.
Hans van Mierlo met on May 27 with
Surinam President Wijdenbosch
who made a stop in the Netherlands
on his way from Malaysia to
Surinam.
23
Ghanaian News
Ghanaian Newsrunner
Uitzendorganisatie
is looking for temporary staff
Requirements:
* Residence permit
* Work permit
We can provide a lot of fulltime jobs, also for
longer times. For example as Production-workers.
Are you interested?
Pass by our office or phone us for an
appointment.
BBB, Zijdelrij 2, Uithoorn, tel. 0297-560171
To reach us by bus:
Amsterdam Central Station: bus 170,
stop: Shopping center “Zijdelwaard”,
from there it is a 5 minutes walk.
Net die paar B’tjes meer
24
No 22, 8 June 1998
SPORTSNews
Ghanaian
Ghanaian Newsrunner
DUTCH HUMILIATES NIGERIA: 5-1
It will be almost impossible to find
Nigerians or for that matter Ghanaians who
didn't watch the training match between the
Dutch and Nigerian national teams on Friday
6th of June. Thousands of supporters from
both countries were present in the Arena
stadium which is located at the border of
Amsterdam South East, a township with a
large number of inhabitants from West Africa.
Even more spectators were glued in front of
their televisionsets sharing an enormous
tension and .... deception.
What had promised to be a showcase of
the potential of the Nigerian team to win the
World Cup turned out to be a big deception.
Although the Nigerians were rated higher
than the Dutch, it were the Dutch who exposed
the Nigerian eagles as a bunch of lame ducks.
During the first 28 minutes the Nigerian
team managed to brush of the various Dutch
attacks with sometimes forcefull defensive
actions. Then however Hasselbaink scored at
close range after a pass from Overmars. After
this the Nigerian defence was shattered and
allowed Overmars and Patrick Kluivert - both
players appeared to be in perfect shape - to
score two goals each. K anu made one
countergoal from a penalty after a foul by Dirk
Bogard.
The disappointing results were not totally
unexpected because the Nigerians lost in a
similar manner against the Grasshoppers (40) and Yugoslavia (3-0). Despite the presence
of starplayers such as K anu, Finidi and
Babangida it appears coach Milutinovic has
serious problems of transforming technically
competent individuals into a winning
machine.
Jaap Stam (Oranje) against Oliseh (photo Guus Dubbelman)
EDITORIAL:
HUMAN RIGHTS
SCORED TWICE
It's a classic dilemma. Should we
allow politics to interfere with sports or
should we keep sports "clean" from
political interventions?
Many of us feel something like a
sports boycot against Nigeria only hurts
innocent sportsmen who just want to
excel in their sport and don't want to get
involved with "politics". The military
regime won't be affected. But do such
"innocent" sportsmen really exist?
Let us look for example at Kanu, one
of Nigeria's best players. It is quite
possible that Kanu is only interested in
his professional career. It is also possible
that he is a fanatic supporter of Abacha
just like it is possible that he opposes
Abacha. Whatever his opinion is, the
world will never know for sure because
there is no freedom of speach in Nigeria.
Kanu has got the right to be in favor
or against Abacha or to be simply
indifferent and he also got the right to
express his opinion freely. However if
Kanu speaks against Abacha, he (and
his family) will be harassed, detained,
tortured or even killed. No matter how
rich, successfull and respected Kanu
might be, in essence he has to be silent.
Many Dutch people are ignorant
about the political situation in Nigeria .
No 22, 8 June 1998
Because of this Amnesty International
produced a tv-commercial in which an
African keeper gets executed in front of
his goal. This tv-commercial was not
broadcasted on NL 1,2,3 because of its
alledged violent nature but the
controversy about it created a lot of
publicity. Goal 1 for the human rights.
During the match between Nigeria
and Holland many activists protested
visibly for the media in the Arena against
the abuse of human rights in Nigeria.
Goal 2 for the human rights.
As long as the general public is
unware or indifferent about the situation
in Nigeria there is little hope that the
Western governments take effective
actions against Gen. Abacha. An oil
boycot won't be imposed in the current
climate of ignorance and indifference.
Friday's friendly match created
some of the much needed publicity for
the human rights situation. The real
winner from this match was the daughter
of the winner of the 94 elections Abiola
who has since been detained.
She was in the Arena to seek
publicity for her detained father and got
it: her photo on the left made it to the
frontpage of the Volkskrant. This was an
encouraging aspect of a disastrous
match.
25
Ghanaian
SPORTSNews
IKE QUATEY'S TITLE DISPUTE:
SPORTS
WBA TO DECIDE JUNE 8
The hearing will involve the Ringcraft
and their boxer, Ike Quartey, on one against
the A caries Brothers, managers of the
challenger, Andrei Pestryaev, on the other.
In connection with the hearing, officials
of Ringcraft and Ike Quartey will left for New
York on Friday June 5.
The new development dispels rumors
circulating in boxing circles that Ike was over
the weekend stripped of the WBA
welterweight crown for failing to defend it last
May 15 against the Russian.
The Ike-Pestryaev bout has generated a
lot of controversy following bungling and
fumbling antics by the French promoters, the
Acaries Brothers.
It would be recalled that the bout was
scheduled by the Acaries Brothers for last May
15, a date which was inconvenient to Ike’s
camp who wanted it in June.
WBA CHAMPION IKE QUARTEY
The World Boxing Association (WBA)
has fixed June 8 for hearing of the Ike QuarteyAndrei Pestryaev mandatory title bout dispute.
The hearing will take place in New York
with the WBA boss, Gilberto Mendora,
presiding.
Even though Acaries stuck to their guns
to have the bout on May 15, it was only two
days to the bout that they dispatched plane
tickets to Ike and his managers.
The Acaries also failed to meet certain
conditions demanded by Ringcraft for
accepting the bout which the Acaries won the
purse did to promote in French.
This was contained in a letter dispatched
to the Ringcraft Promotions and Management
Syndicate by the WBA boss last Saturday.
SWEDRU GOES GAY
...As All Blacks beat K
otoko 2-0
Kotoko
The entire Swedru township was thrown into wild celebrations when local side, All Blacks,
brought Kumasi Asante Kotoko down to earth wit a commanding 2-0 victory in their grudge
league match at the Swedru Sports Stadium last Sunday.
This victory served a dual purpose: a refreshing revenge for their first round 1-0 loss in
Kumasi as well as a feather in the cap of ex-Kotoko Chief Executive, George Aduse-Poku
(Georgido) who is now in the camp of All Blacks as a director.
The stadium witnessed perhaps one of the heaviest attendance in many years when
numerous Kotoko supporters began pouring in early in the day.
The home side opened up fiercely and made the first attempt at scoring after two minutes
of play when Baba Adamu’s shot missed target. But six minutes later, their efforts were rewarded
when center forward Alhaji Shaibu capitalized on a rebound after Kotoko’s goalkeeper Michael
Abu failed to make a first-time save of a free-kick taken by Yaw Berko.
After some fierce exchanges, All Blacks defender Kenneth Ababio sneaked from nowhere
and blasted home the second goal which caught Abu wrong footed just on the half-hour mark.
After this, the two sides began playing it hard after which Kokoto played their cards by
bringing on Constant Mantey for Abu and Osei Bonsu replacing Kalilu Dramani.
After lifting their game to salvage at least a point, Kotoko were just six minutes away from
an embarrassing defeat when fortune smiled on them after an All Blacks defender handled the
ball in the penalty box for a spot kick.
Surprisingly, Emmanuel Ampiah’s kick hit the crossbar to seal their doom.
26
Ghanaian Newsrunner
GOLDFIELD’S WOES
DEEPEN
Obuasi Goldfields’ returned to their
‘field’ of nightmares’, the Accra Sports
Stadium, to taste another embarrassing defeat
at the hands of their newly-established bogey
side, Accra Great Olympics, who grounded
them 3-1.
The defeat could jeopardize the position
of coach Ibrahim Sunday. Some of the club’s
directors have already started hinting that the
job of the coach could be on the line as their
patience seems to be running our after a series
of poor results since he took over.
Barely a minute after a close save in the
20theminute, the game was lifted by an
individual brilliance when Charles Taylor
turned full-circle and bent the ball into the far
right corner of he post for the match opener.
Goldfields began the second half more
fiercely with the introduction of Joe Okyere
and K amara Dini who put pressure on
Olympics’ defence which was marshaled by
skipper Odartey Lawson.
Like a carbon copy of the first half, the
home side struck again when Emmanuel
Aidoo ran for a loose ball and coolly tapped in
the second goal past on-rushing goalkeeper
Osei Kwadwo, whose poor timing exposed the
post.
Five minutes later, Goldfields’ resilience
paid off when Ivorian international Brahima
Kone slammed in their only goal after
Princeton Owusu-Ansah headed Boakye’s
corner.
But Olympics put the game beyond the
visitors’ when Amui Quaye drilled in the final
nail in the coffin for the miners in the 80th
minute. A two man move between Taylor and
Raja saw the latter meandering his way
through a number of tired-looking Goldfields
legs for Taylor to further expose the flatlooking Goldfields.
OKWAWU TRIUMPH
A well-organized Okwawu United continued with their recovery at home when they
beat Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs 2-0 in their
ABC league match played at Nkawkaw.
Dwarfs' capatain, Osei Kuffour, who was earlier in the 21sit minute shown yellow card for
rough play, was sent off in the 27th minute for
dissent by Tamale-based class one referee,
Ibrahim Iddrisu. Other Dwarfs players who
attracted the yellow card for rough play were
right-full back Victor Antwi, inside right
Rashid Iddi and central defender Philip
Oguaa. After playing goalless in the first half,
Okwawu were rewarded in the 52nd minute
when inside right and goal-getter Opoku
Sampene scored from a goal-mouth melee.
After this goal, Okwawu took control and
carried the game to their opponents and deservedly scored their second goal through
substitute Kennedy Amponsah.
No 22, 8 June 1998
SPORTSNews
Ghanaian
Ghanaian Newsrunner
HEARTS LIFT JUNE FOUR CUP
UNDER FLOODLIGHTS.
Accra Hearts Oak beat arch rivals
Kumasi Asante Kototo 7-6 on penalties to lift
the June four anniversary trophy in a special
soccer match played at the Accra Sports
Stadium on Thursday June 5. Scores at the
end of regulation 90 minutes was 1-1.
The match, the first to be played under
the newly-installed 3.5 billion cedi
floodlights, formed part of the activities
marking the 19th anniversary
celebrations
of the June four uprising. President Jerry John
Rawlings, who had earlier watched the
commissioning of the floodlights by Mr E. T.
Mensah, Minister of Youth and Sports,
presented the anniversary trophy to skipper
Nii Noi Dowuona of Hearts amidst cheers
from the over capacity crowd.
Supported by vice-president Professor
John Atta Mills, President Rawlings
decorated the 22 players of both teams with
medals. In addition to the trophy,
Hearts
received a 20-inch television set and a deck
while Kotoko also had a
20-inch television
set, all donated by Philips Electronics,
contractors of their floodlights
Kotoko kicked off on a fast note after the
pre-match inspection led y President Rawlings
but it was Hearts who took control in the first
No 22, 8 June 1998
five minute and wasted three corner kicks.
Kotoko nearly set the stadium ablaze in the
sixth minute when player-maker Prince AduPoku cleverly beat central efender Jacob Nettey
and laid on a good pass to striker Essuman
Dadzie who blasted it off the body of onrushing goalie Eben Dida.
Four minutes later Hearts' inside left Yaw
Sakyi had a golden opportunity to put his side
ahead but his final shot after a move with
striker Osumanu Amanu went straight to
goalkeeper Mike Abu. Nettey was shown the
first yellow card by TogoleseFIFA referee
Ekoue-Toulan Kouevi in the 21st minute.
He was immediately replaced by veteran
defender Emmanuel Armah. Sakyi shot
Hearts into the lead in the 43rd minute
through a spot-kick after he had been brought
down by Kotoko's hard-tackler Victor Aidoo.
Kotoko brought on ex-Hearts attacker
Godwin Ablorde and Mohammed Polo for
right winger Abdulai Mustapha and left full
back Samuel Bakai respectively to start the
second half. Sakyi nearly increased the tally
for Hearts in the 55th minute after swapping
passes with Amadu but his final touch from
close range was saved by goalie Abu.
Hearts
brought on Robert Saba and
Joe Ansah for left winger Emmanuel Adjorgu
and
Kofi Owusu respectively in the 75th
minute. But it was Kotoko who equalised two
minutes later from Essuman Dadzie's header.
During the penalty shoot outs, Rober Saba,
Emmanuel Armah, Joe Ansah, Eben Dida,
Charles Allotey, Amankwah Mireku and Sani
Wahab scored for Hearts, while Emmanuel
Ampiah, Victor Aidoo, Polo, Godwin Ablorde
Adu-Poku and Osei Bonsu netted for Kotoko.
Sakyi (Hearts), Dadzie and Emmanuel Badu
of Kotoko wasted their kicks.
Continued from page 16
Some say the monarchy is far too expensive (the
total budget is estimated at approximately 100
million guilders). A more substantial objection
is the heredity of the position. Nobody, not
even the Queen, is able to explain the rationale
of the right to become head of state because of
birth.
But this, one obser ver recently wrote,
explains precisely the popularity of the
institution: at the end of the twentieth century
we’ve landed in a culture in which we don’t
appreciate something anymore because it is
beautiful, but because it reminds us of
something that used to be beautiful. The
monarchy , pre-eminently, satisfies this
yearning for the irrational and for nostalgia.
Besides, it’s your perfect family: they’re always
there, but they need no looking after.
27
Ghanaian News
28
Ghanaian Newsrunner
No 22, 8 June 1998