LATEST NEWS FROM GHANA, NIGERIA AND THE NETHERLANDS RAWLINGS CONFIRMS HE WILL STEP DOWN AS PRESIDENT IN 2000 (AND APPOINTS HIS SUCCESSOR)

KUFOUR FACES THE SACK (while J.H. Mensah is ready to take over)

Bijlmer disaster re-investigated

f 3,95 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian News ContentsGhanaian Newsrunner For many of us it is hard The Ghanaian Newsrunner serves the general public (you!) by bringing news from Ghana, to believe but J.J. has Nigeria and the Netherlands bi-weekly. finally announced this We are independent from any (political) organisation or movement in these countries. was his last term as President. Could we have that in writing, please? Fast, Reliable & Informative

More details on page 4. Poederooienstraat 66 1106 CK Amsterdam Netherlands Tel. 020-697.7764 If you don't like politics you perhaps Fax. 020-697.1978 GHANA shouldn't buy this issue because 4 Editor-in-Chief most other news-items are political Robert Bellaart ones. Sorry we can't help it that the Editor: Ghana & Nigeria political career of the flag-bearer of Franz van der Puye the NPP - mr. John Kufour - is at risk. Contributors: Ghana Possibly he will be replaced by the Samuel Sarpong Nana Bannerman current minority leader in Eric Ofori Parliament in the Presidential

Editor: The Netherlands elections of 2000. Ger Verhoeve

Contributors: Poor Rosemond Ofosuhen couldn't Elvis Iruh GOSSIP stand the mental abuse and cheating Pauline Boogaard 13 Franceska Paulin by her boyfriend any longer and put Lucia Jessurun his house on fire. Unfortunately she Anuschka Smeekes perished in the flames as well. Photography: The Netherlands Bert Verhoeff According to some people Nigerians are very Kuntu Jackson Amankwaa NIGERIA lucky to have Abacha as their leader at this Photography: Ghana 16 point in their countries political history. We ©B.I.S. however doubt whether former Deputy Head of State Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya - who has been Design and DTP B.I.S. sentenced to death - shares this view. Distribution DUTCH Amongst others you can read a very Nana Awuku (020-6.000.142) informative article which gives you insight 20 Subscriptions about the Oranjes. Yes, this is the family Ellen Owusu (020-6.977.764) who is responsible for those funny orange colours "polluting" the streets Advertising during these World Cup days. Robert Bellaart (020-6.977.764) Nana Awuku (020-6.000142) SPORTS The friendly between Holland and © Copyright Bellaart Information Services Nigeria on the 5th of June turned (Chamber of Commerce 240.926 Amsterdam) 25 out to be disappointing for lovers of No part of this publication may be reproduced in African football. Yet there are some any form without written permission of the above mentioned publisher. signs for optimism.

2 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner Ghanaian News LETTER-BOMB RIPS THROUGH NPP

...... Kufour faces the sack, Gen. - Secretary also on defensive grounds

THE EQUIVALENT of a letter bomb Professor Sai Disciplinary Committee must be has ripped through the executive body of convoked at once to go into the matter of our Ghana’s main opposition party, the New finances in 1996 thoroughly and recommend Patriotic Party (NPP) shaking the party’s appropriate sanctions.” epicentre and threatening to bring down most of the party’s main players. The party chairman to whom the letter was directed was asked to act as “failure to act For the first time in the on-going troubles may well result in the collapse of the party on within the party, fresh multiple allegations of your watch as chairman.” financial malfeasance and misconduct have put the future of Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, Meanwhile, Mr. Ala Adjetey has already NPP’s most visible and by far the most popular constituted a committee of national executive leader in real danger. members chaired by Mr. R.R. Amponsah to probe the allegations. The danger is traced to a powerful sub- mission made by Mr. Colin Essamuah, a loyal The call for the head of Kufuor and member of the party, calling for Kufuor’s Agyenim- Boateng is not an idle one. interdiction and suspension. In the words of The NPP’s 1992 Constitution is clear on Essamuah, the protagonist, it is dangerous in Mr. John Agyekum Kufour, facing the sack what should be done to party officials who having our 1996 Presidential candidate parade misbehave. as a leading member of this party.” According to Article 3, chapter 2 (ii): “A Also on the chopping block pending the Tommy Amematekpor okayed the Concordia member of the party shall cease to be a decision of the party’s disciplinary committee Ventures sales agreement, Kufuor has to be member by being expelled from the party on is Mr. Joseph Agyenim-Boateng, General- held liable for the debts. the grounds of misconduct; misconduct Secretary of the NPP who is accused of giving includes any act by a member which is out the party’s stamp to three members of the Essamuah and those who think like him dishonest, fraudulent or disloyal to the party party, described as Kufuor’s campaign team, in the party are asking whether the party stamp or is likely to produce discord in the party or to authenticate the purchase of the 55 Yamaha which was alleged to have been used and of bring it into disrepute”. motor- bicycles for the 1996 electioneering which the party General Secretary is said to campaign. be the legal custodian was not used to Other intriguing import of the letter were authenticate questionable deals behind the unfolding. On the face of it, the letter appears Both Kufuor and Agyenim-Boateng back of the party’s National Chairman, Mr. to be an innocuous, even well-meaning letter though deny any wrong-doing. Peter Ala Adjetey. from a concerned party activist, but the long In separate follow-up interviews, both The 19-paragraph letter is loaded with hand of an agent provocateur and a vicious Kufuor and Boateng described Essamuah’s more allegations, some of them Essamuah machiavellian is being seen by other informed allegations as a vicious propaganda to damage describes as “rumors in town”. commentators. them. They both said they welcomed any Colin (Panyin) Essamuah is the twin probe into what they described as unfounded, Among them was that Kufuor allegedly brother of Mr. Ernest (Kakra) Essamuah who and baseless allegations. withheld various sums of money paid by party loyalists overseas into his personal accounts is angling for the job of Joseph Agyenim- Essamuah’s charges flow from the instead of party chest. Boateng. He has made his intentions public. Concordia Ventures affairs in which the NPP Significantly, Kakra who is a lawyer in is defending an action initiated by Kudjawu Though there is no clear cut direct the respected law chambers of da Rocha, and Co., counsel for Concordia Ventures evidence of complicity on the part of Kufuor immediate past chairman of the NPP, is not a Limited to recover over 42billion in debts and Agyenim- Boateng, Essamuah’s letter co-author of this particular letter. arising out of the motorbikes provided for the which has so far reached no more than a December 1996 elections. handful of people within the party calls for the heads of Kufuor and Agyenim-Boateng. An Accra High Court will determine ..."Allegations against me are among other issues whether the NPP as a party In part, he said of Agyenim-Boateng: “As is liable, or whether Kufuor and his campaign a first step, Agyenim-Boateng must be politically motivated" team must be accountable as the NPP interdicted at once and an inquiry set up into contends. the overall administration of the party’s affairs in the interim.” The party maintains that since Kufuor’s Mr. J. A. Kufour, presidential candidate hand-picked campaign team of Alhaji Inusah, Continuing, he wrote: “The signatories of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 1996 to the agreement were and continue to be his general elections, has described allegations of (Kufuor) people and it is fair to assume that financial they acted under his instructions. The Continued on page 9

No 22, 8 June 1998 3 Ghanaian News Ghanaian Newsrunner of affected children, about 20 of them at Atuns and Otikrom could not be treated because their GHANA DISAPPOINTED parents could not afford the ¢500. The MP urged the District Assembly to ABOUT NIGERIAN make budgetary allocation to pay for the ALLEGATION TO treatment of poor yaws patients. The MP said a river of Bima which was damned during the construction of the DESTABILISE ABACHA Konongo-Agogo road has become a source of bilharzia in the area. He appealed to the Ghana expressed shock and two countries have had over a long period Ghana Highway Authority to open the dam disappointment at a Nigerian allegation that and the frequent consultations which have for the river to flow to save the people from the it was involved in a plot to destabilise the been taking place between high officials of the debilitating water-borne disease. government of General Sani Abacha. two countries." A Foreign Ministry statement said the The statement said government is taking allegation is without any substance or merit immediate steps to investigate the serious RAWLINGS SAYS and Ghana denies it unequivocally. It was allegation but had hoped that Nigeria would learnt that Alhaji Wadana, Special Adviser to have raised the matter through the normal HE WILL STEP General Sani Abacha at a press conference in high level consultations between the two DOWN IN 2000 Abuja, Nigeria, told the news conference that countries. It said within the framework of these Nigerian security had uncovered a plan consultations, the government of Ghana The international newsagency where some Americans had met with Nigerian would have expected that any concerns that Reuters reported that Rawlings said on dissidents in Ghana to plan to destabilise the Nigeria may have on issues which are likely Thursday June 4th he planned to step Abacha government. The plot said to have to disturb our brotherly relations, would have down in two years' time as required been hatched in an "Achimota Hotel in been brought to the attention of Ghana, constitutionally. through the existing channels. It said in the Northern Ghana" also implicated South Rawlings is barred by the meantime, it is the hope of the government that Africa. constitution from seeking re-election officials of the two countries would desist from The Foreign Ministry said Ghana views after serving out his second four-year making public statements that might mar not term, but speculation has been rife the allegation with particular regret and only the excellent relations between our two surprise given the excellent relations that our about his extending his hold on power. countries but also the larger interest of peace For example the Ghanaian Newsrunner and stability in the sub-region. reported in issue 21 about the persistant rumour that his wife Nana Konadu also has got presidential PRESIDENT MP WANT ambitions. In a BBC interview earlier this year his wife, Nana Konadu RAWLINGS ACTION ON Agyeman-Rawlings, did not rule out MALARIA her running for president if her REACTION: husband would ask her to do so. EPIDEMIC President Rawlings said "the ``We have got two more years to go -- not we...me! You have more than accusation might be due to misinformation, two years to go, I can assure you,'' mischief or the Nigerian authorities are The Member of Parliament for Asante Rawlings told security forces at a rally aware of something we are not aware of'. Akim North, has called on the minister of Healthand the Environmental Protection in the capital Accra. ``And I will play ' President Rawlings was responding Agency (EPA) to deal, as a matter of urgency, my part to support you when my time to concerns expressed by Right Rev Beeko, with the high incidence of malaria in the area comes, when I will have to step down,'' Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of caused by surface mining. he added. Ghana concerning the issues taking into The rally was to commemorate account good relations between Ghana and Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu who made Rawlings' first coup in 1979. Rawlings, Nigeria. the call attributed the high malaria incidence to water-filled large pots excavated during 50, was first elected in 1992 after The President said it is embarrassing to surface mining which have become breeding retiring from the air force with the rank go on air considering the relationship between grounds for mosquitoes. of flight-lieutenant that he has held the two countries, adding that it should have since first seizing power. Apart from having become a source of been brought to Ghana's attention. President Just before going to press the Rawlings said Ghana is not involved in any disease, the MP said the 300 feet deep pits also pose danger to the people, adding that last year ongoing speculations were put to rest such activity and said the Ghana government by a formal statement of Rawlings at is in touch with the Nigerian authorities to a number of people fell into the pits and died. another NDC rally on Sunday June 7th. give further information to nib the plot in the At this rally Rawlings declared his bud if it actually exists. He was speaking to the Chronicle after a support for Vice President J.E.A. Mills President Rawlings, who has consistently visit to his constituency last week. Baah- for the presidency of 2000. Rawlings opposed economic sanctions against Nigeria Wiredu mentioned towns particularly affected described Mills as intelligent, hard- at various international forums, said Ghana as Konongo Odumase, Atunsu, Nyaboe and working and a man of integrity. Patriensa. would never destabilise Nigeria and for that Mills has not yet announced his matter any neighbouring country. He called for the free treatment of yaws running mate for the 2000 elections but for patients who can't afford to pay. Even speculations already suggest that his though the ministry charges ¢500 for treatment running mate will be Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Kwasi Rawlings.

4 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner Ghanaian News

turn with J.H. and J.A. as forerunners with Nana Akuffo-Addo and Hackman Owusu- J.H. JOINS THE RACE Agyemang, as best outsiders. The likes of Koi Agyare-Larbie, Dr. Kofi Insider-source at the New Patriotic Party Konadu Apraku and Alhaji Malik Mumuni (NPP) have hinted that Hon. Joseph Henry are considered to be just testing their pulse for Mensah, the Minority Leader, is all set to be the 2005 elections. 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, THE BIRTH OF party insiders say with amazing growth of popularity, J.H. only needed a reminder from CONVENTION his supporters on the need to lead the party in The National Working the next millennium. Committee (NWC) of the Nkrumahist parties in unity has proposed a name Many politicians hold the conviction that for their united Nkrumahist party. The Mr. Mensah may declare his intentions in the name is Convention Party (CP) with last hour, like he did in 1996. its symbolic white cockerel on red The Minority Leader was the last background. candidate to join the party’s presidential J.H Mensah, Presidential aspirant This decision was taken at a primaries in the last elections. He came third consultative forum in Accra attended behind Professor Adu-Boahen and eventual by members of the Supreme Council winner Mr. J.A. Kufuor. Malik Alhassan, a popular Northern loyalist of the NPP who has also joined the party’s of Elders, National Working Commit- Many were astounded by Mr. Mensah’s presidential race. tee, Central Committees of the parties performance because he returned so late from in unity as well as representatives of exile, and was not very much known by the The Ashanti Region which hitherto sup- the Regional Working Committees. rank and file of the party. ported Prof. Adu-Boahen appears to support their fellow Ashanti indegene J.A. Kufuor. A press statement signed by the His powerful speech preceding the pri- Chairman of the Publicity maries, which demanded immediate take- However, with a perculiar trait which Committee, Mr. Mike Eghan, said over of power from the NDC, convinced those almost always looks out for people with the the forum also charged the Central who voted for him of his political potency. potential to champion their cause rather than and Standing Committees to With close aides of J.H. providing enough ethnicity, many believe the articulate J.H., who consider the proposal and submit hints about his presidential ambitions, the has been a constant torn in the flesh of NDC, their comments before May 31, 1998. has a chance as equal as J.A. in Ashanti. August race is set to be narrowed between the Last year the parties’ application two men with family ties. “If J.H. fails in Ashanti,” one J.H. to register with the Electoral J.H. is an in-law of J.A. Observers believe supporter boasted, “he will make up in the Commission under the name J.H.’s declaration will have serious Brong-Ahafo Region.” Convention People’s Party (CPP) was turned down on the grounds that repercussions on a Kufuor campaign which The two men, it appears, do not enjoy has had serious setback within the last months. it violated the Political Parties Law enormous support in the Eastern Region. under which the names of proscribed Mr. Kufuor won the last primaries on the As expected, the Eastern Region will be political parties’ can’t be adopted. strength of his Northern popularity. With a split amongst Nana Akuffo Addo, Hackman campaign team headed by Alhaji Inussah, J.A. The statement said the forum Owusu Agyemang and Prof. Adu-Boahen asked the Supreme Council of Elders swept almost every Northern vote to beat whose third round appearance, political favorite Professor Albert Adu-Boahen. to intervene and resolve the impasse analysts say, cannot be overruled. in the People’s National Convention A similar story would be hard to tell this The Central and Western Regions are (PNC), adding it also recognized Mr. year. The fact is Mr. Kufuor is not likely to likely to be split amongst all contestants. Felix Amoah and other leaders of the enjoy absolute support in the North. His hold PNC who have resigned their on the North is likely to be broken by Mr. Yet with a dual background - a Brong and positions as members of the Working a Fanti - J.H. might have a slight advantage Committee. over the others. Speaking at the forum, the The tribal factor will definitely be Chairman of the Supreme Council of exploited by all contestants. Elders, Mr. Kojo Botsio, reiterated his call to members of the parties to Kufuor supporters have argued that, the commit themselves to the efforts at Volta Region remains his (Kufuor) World unity. Bank, notwithstanding Mr. Mensah’s proficiency in the Ewe language. Meanwhile, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the PNC, Nii Votes at the Greater Accra Region are also Okoe Afotey, has also resigned from likely to be split, although Kufuor’s close as- the party over what he calls “the sociation with constituency functionaries make machinations of some leading him the favourite. members of the party against the Insiders say, with J.H. declaration being efforts to re-unite all Nkrumahist po- litical parties.” Nana Akuffo-Addo only a matter of time, the race has turn another

No 22, 8 June 1998 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 Secretary, 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 Nkrumahist 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 lead- ership, 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 MINISTER TO BE DRAGGED TO orchestrated by some leading members of the party most of which have been directed at him CHRAJ OVER ASSAULT with a dubious intent of questioning his credibility as a rallying point and unity within THE MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Mr. S.K. Boafo, has hinted that he would the party. “Leading party members have drag the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Ohene Agyekum to the Commission on Human Rights chosen to use statements in the press. This and Administrative Justice(CHRAJ) over the Minister’s conduct in the unprovoked beating of diabolic scheme is the greatest height of a 25-year-old resident of the Constituency. ingratitude especially to me, who as one of the He told the Ghanaian Chronicle that he would initiate the action after he had received five founding architects publicly launched the the police report on the assault. PNC on 29th May, 1992 and remains the only cabinet Minister in the Third Republic to have On Saturday, April 25, Agyekum apparently not happy that 25-year-old Yaw Brefo should stood by Dr. Limann through thick and thin call a friend’s name ‘Osonoba’ in his presence, allegedly ordered his bodyguards (machomen) in the National leadership of the party”, he to beat him unconscious. argued. 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.

6 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner Ghanaian News Realizing that the victim had fallen into coma, Agyekum allegedly ordered Nana THE GREAT SABAT FRAUD Akwasi Agyeman and his group to leave the victim to his fate. BARELY THREE months after exposing payment of the balance of the 90 per cent four the multi-billion cedi scam in the Keta Sea months later. The Directors of Sabat Motors He was subsequently picked up by some were unable to pay the commitment fee and good Samaritans and rushed to one Dr. Larbi’s Defence project, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament two cheques which they issued for 300 million hospital of Pankrono, a suburb of Kumasi cedis bounced. where he was given first aid and later for Ablekuma North and Shadow Minister for transferred to Kufuor’s clinic owned by Dr. Works and Housing has blown the whistle on According to Bartels, in spite of the failure Kwame Addo Kufuor, MP for Manhyia another serious fraud in the contract for the of the directors of Sabat Motors to pay the com- constituency in Kumasi. divestiture of the Automotive and Technical mitment fee, they managed to get the Lands Services (ATS), a State-Owned Enterprise. Commission to release the title deeds of 15 R.T. Sources close to S. K. Boafo, also Bartels’ shocking disclosures of the fraud Briscoe (which the government took over and Minority Chief Whip in whose renamed it ATS) property released to them constituency the incident took place told which has already forced the Ministry of Trade and Industry to abrogate the contract, detail without authorisation from the DIC. With Chronicle that on April 25, Agyekum these documents, they secured a loan of 1.48 organized a clean up exercise around the how tribal and political considerations influenced the sale of the 5 billion cedi ATS billion cedis from the Ghana Commercial central market where they desalted Bank to pay the DIC. choked gutters, among others. to Sabat Motors without a pesewa (cent) being paid to the government. The MP disclosed that the directors also The source further said, Yaw Brefo, who Addressing a news conference in Accra persuaded a consultancy company to buy the is a store-keeper called a friend whose name residence of the Managing Director of ATS for is Osonoba to join him for their breakfast. to draw public attention to the impasse between the management of Sabat Motors and $250,000 but they were paid $180,000 and 100 Chronicle further learnt that Minister the workers that led to the shutting down of million cedis. Agyekum who was around the area pounced the company for the last two months, Bartels “With that amount, the directors of Sabat on the poor boy and after a short interrogation said “...the way and manner ATS was divested Motors paid the DIC 370 billion cedis. So till on why he called that name “Osonoba” gives grounds for all the rumors of tribalism this time, when the DIC gave them control of handed him over to his machomen to be given and pressure for undue favor by top politicians ATS, the directors of Sabat Motors had not put a VIP treatment. and army generals who all come from the same in one pesewa of their own money,” he said. tribe as the majority directors of Sabat Motors Brefo was shaved clean and later given and the top men of the Divestiture Implemen- Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and In- several strokes of the cane on his back. tation Committee (DIC).” dustry has recommended to the DIC to Not satisfied with the punishment meted abrogate the contract. The directors are Messrs. Nelson Sena, out to him, Brefo was again thrown into one Patrick Ahadzi, Dr. Paul Tabiri (who pulled of the gutters where he was smeared with the out) and Henry Evans Kwawu Tornye. Continued from page 23 filthy mud and water. The assault on the or less detailed program of government. Most innocent trader has affected one of his eyes, Giving a background to the sale, Bartels often this ‘formateur’, if he’s able to deliver a Chronicle has learnt. said the R.T. Briscoe segment of ATS was complete result, becomes prime minister. valued at over five billion cedis in 1995, but Brefo told the Chronicle in a follow up the DIC agreed to a selling price of 3.7 billion This time, however, soon 3 ‘informateurs’ interview that but for the intervention of S. K. cedis because the workers also owned shares succeeded ‘informateur’ De Vries. Apparently Boafo, the police would not have recorded the in the company and the take-over of ATS was this new episode has such a delicate character complaint let alone cause investigations when worker-led. that none of the 3 potential ‘purple’ coalition the victim lodged a complaint. partners should be excluded from the talks. Under the terms of the sale and purchase The outgoing prime minister Kok (Labour) agreement, the MP said, Sabat Motors was to and ministers Zalm (Finance - VVD) and pay 10 per cent commitment fee followed by Borst (Health - D’66) together are in charge of the negotiations. SILENCE After May 14 an almost complete silence Albert Cuyp market 133. set in. The ‘informateurs’ only revealed they Fresh meats + African Products Tel 020-6624572 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 Kramer’s meatshop sells fresh meats and imported products small group of politicians. Subsequently, a few from Ghana. Strictly Premium quality at discount prices. ‘bones’ were tossed to them, such as an agreement on a new position of the mayor in We put the Ghanaian flag in front of our shop to welcome you. the Dutch political system, of conflicts about a new tax system for the next century, of the possibility of a new Ministry of Communi- cation occupied by D’66, and of an agreement kilo Vains f 5,00 on gay marriage and euthanasia. It all seemed as if they were putting on a play convincing Corned Beaf kilo Cow Tails f 8,50 the supporters of D’66 that their party did not 1 big can f 22,50,- count for nothing. Indeed, the formation of a kilo Cow Ribs f 6,00 new cabinet is a ritual. During the next weeks 6 big cans f 125,- the supporters of the VVD and the PvdA will kilo Goat Meat f 7,50 be canvassed till they all turn ‘purple’.

No 22, 8 June 1998 7 Ghanaian News Ghanaian Newsrunner When the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Rex Owusu-Ansah, came out to receive the BIG BATTLE OVER resolution, they screamed at him “we want the Speaker, we want the Speaker”. When the tempers died down, the TSIKATA'S HOUSE student leadership, led by Mr. Adam ...'Real owner appeals to CHRAJ Mohammed Amin, President of NUGS, went into Parliament to submit their petition to the Captain Tsikata has lived in the house A plush house at Cantonments in Accra Speaker. has become a subject of controversy following since the early 1980s and his house-help is still its occupancy by Captain Kojo Tsikata, former reported to be in residence. In the resolution, the students reiterated head of National Security with responsibility their call for the immediate resignation of the Two years ago, many of Captain Tsikata’s for foreign affairs. Education Minister, Dr. Christina Amoka- personal belongings, including carpets and Nuama for failing to manage the educational furniture, were moved out of the house and The house, which has been renovated system effectively. twice since 1982 at a cost of several millions of allegedly shipped to Cape Town, South Africa, cedis, originally belonged to the flashy where his wife Zonki lives. The alleged that Dr. Amoako-Nuama Ghanaian business tycoon, Mr. Benny Eshun. has never attended any meeting with the Captain Tsikata, who allegedly spends NUGS and described certain comments It was confiscated to the state in 1979 and most of his time now in South Africa and the allegedly made by her as irresponsible. Mr. Eshun got intimidated that he fled the Democratic Republic of Congo, lives at country into exile. Abelenkpe when he visits Accra from time to The resolution also deplored the time. persistent cut in tertiary education expenditure When Captain Tsikata became Special which it said affects not only the provision of Insiders say that Mr. Benny Eshun made Adviser to the PNDC on security matters, he facilities but also admission of students and the a demand for the return of the house about grabbed the house as his official residence and working conditions of teaching and not- two years ago which was granted by the this brought up many moral questions about teaching staff. its acquisition. government. It called on government to suspend the The major question which arises out of Mr. Eshun was housed in a government decision to make students pay rent and that of bungalow next to Nana Konadu’s Ridge the fact that Captain Tsikata took up residence linking admissions to residential residence pending the removal of Captain in a seized house is: should government accommodation until a national consensus is officials be allowed to use seized assets for their Tsikata from his Cantonments house. Now, reached on those issues. The students Captain Tsikata is gone but the rightful owner own comfort? entreated the parliamentarians to protect the of his residence has still not been able to move interest of Ghanaians whom they represent by If officials were allowed to grab seized in. assets for their own use, what is the guarantee objectively debating the whole process of edu- that they will not just grab properties they Sources close to Mr. Eshun say he cational reforms. suspects that the house is to be turned into the covert without any justification? Mr. Justice Annan, who addressed the official residence of the Minister of Security student leaders, commended the students for Affairs. 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 STUDENTS STAGE find amicable solutions to them. The students then continued their march FIVE-HOUR PROTEST to the Ministry of Education where a copy of the resolution was received by Dr. Ibn Chambas and Mr. Kwabena Kyere, both Hundreds of Ghanaian students of the various tertiary institutions took to the streets of Deputy Ministers of Education. Accra to protest against the payment of rent and the decision to link admissions to residential accommodation. The demonstrating students also called for the immediate resignation of the Education LEGON REACTS TO Minister, Dr. Christina Amoako-Numa. ALLEGATION The students, who initially planned to travel on buses and converge at Parliament House, The University of Ghana has said it is not had to abandon the idea and began the protest march from the university when the police true that students are to be asked to pay two barricaded the main entrance to the university. million cedis per semester s fees. The five-hour incident-free march was organized by the National Union of Ghana In a statement issued in Accra and signed Students NUGS). by the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor J. K. A. Amuzu, the university said notice was rather Amidst brass band music and singing of “jama” songs, the students who wore red arm given that subject to confirmation by the and head-bands, carried placards, some of which read “Daddy J.J. is it cost-sharing or cost- academic council, payment for residential shifting?”, “We are not workers to pay rent”. facilities would be 240,000 cedis per head of Some drivers offered lifts to many students who could not make the journey on foot. student per room of not more than four occupants from the 1998/99 academic year. 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 It said this was at a joint meeting of the present the resolution to the Speaker, Mr. Daniel Francis Annan. executive committee and the residence board on Wednesday May 27. It said the meeting

8 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner Ghanaian News 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 NIGERIAN DEFRAUDS GHANAIAN borne in mind in the implementation of the COUPLE OF 52.8M CEDIS new policy.

The statement noted that at 240,000 cedis The Police Striking Force have mounted a search for a Nigerian who allegedly defrauded per an academic session of 32 weeks, expected a couple of 52.8 million cedis and US$8,000 under the pretext of exorcising evil spirits in their payment is of the order of 7,500 cedis a week family. or about one thousand cedis a day. The suspect, Alhaji Sidi, cunningly convinced the couple that some bad spirits were “this is an amount with which students following them and if they were not exorcised as early as practicable,, they will be involved in a must be familiar, as vacation residence fee is road accident that will paralyze the wife for life. of that order already” the statement said. Afraid of what had been revealed to them, the couple (name withheld by police) resident It said whilst the university’s costing, dis- at Osu in Accra parted with various sums of monies at different times for Alhaji Sidi to avert the counting for staff costs, shows 363,000 cedis impending calamity but with time, he bolted. to be absolute minimum required from each student for the halls to run, the university is According to Inspector Andy Vortia of the Regional Public Relations Unit, on January 20, prepared to take the 240,000 which was this year, Alhaji Sidi spotted the woman in traffic at Alajo and signaled her to stop. arrived at through discussions with the Ministry of Education in the hope that the When she stopped, he informed her that some evil spirits were to destroy her entire family. difference can be obtained from other sources. 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 statement said, in the course of the the Alhaji’s revelation the woman, on reaching home, narrated what had happened to her meeting, the Inspector General of police (IGP) husband and together, they went to the Alhaji’s house at Lashibi for assitance. Mr. Peter Nafuri, who was on campus to discuss issues of security with the vice- Inspector Vortia said the couple paid the Alhaji several visits and parted with six million chancellor, was invited to share his concerns cedis, nine million cedis and 10 million cedis between January and April this year, invariably to with the meeting. be used to buy various items to offset what was to happen. The IGP informed the meeting that At one instance, Alhaji Sidi asked the woman to see him alone in his house since the without formal notification, as required by spirits wanted to communicate with her directly. The woman however went with her husband law, the police was aware that students were to the Alhaji’s house and this incurred his displeasure. proposing to hold a rally on Friday May 29. When his temper died down, he rattled some incantations, burnt incense and acted as if According to the statement, the IGP he was destroying some spirits. He then demanded three cows and a ram, a white cloth, some pointed out that while the students had the quantity of gold and collected 7.8 million cedis to be used to purchase the items which they constitutional right to hold a rally anywhere readily paid. in the country, the proposed venue for the rally, Inspector Vortia said Alhaji Sidi asked the couple to bring him 20 million cedis as a deposit the Novotel area in Accra, did not lend itself which will be refunded later and US$8,000 which will be used to purchase a special perfume to effective policing. from Mecca that will ward off the spirits. The statement said the IGP said he had After sometime when the special perfume was not forthcoming, the couple approached heard that the university had banned Alhaji Sidi who directed them to a colleague at Caprice Hotel near Alajo in Accra who gave demonstrations on campus, but if permission them the perfume wrapped in a special cloth and warned them not to open it until Alhaji Sidi could be given exceptionally for the rally to be directed them to do so. held on campus, an incident-free event could be hoped for. 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 Continued from page 3 his wife told them that her husband had traveled to Niger for the perfume. impropriety levelled against him as “a Presidential candidate of the party”, made Concerning the purchase of motorbikes vicious fabrication” designed to dent his image allegations of financial impropriety against the for the 1996 campaign responsibility which the and reputation and ultimately undermine his 1996 flag-bearer and other leading members NPP is currently trying to deny in court, Mr. political career. of the party. Kufour pointed out that a campaign for power in national general elections by a party such “I wish to take this opportunity to assure In a further explanation of the issue, Mr. as the NPP necessarily called for the all Ghanaians that the letter containing the Kufour who denied ever being issued a copy acquisition by the party of the requisite said allegations was based on rumors and of the letter containing the said allegations, logistics. viciousness and that there is no iota of truth in stated that he was only shown a copy of that it,” he contended. letter at the headquarters of the party on the He contended that the bikes were eve of a National Executive Council meeting. acquired in the name of the party and have Mr. Kufour was commenting on the al- since their acquisition been used in legations at a news conference at the Kotoka He said that in a chat with the chairman constituencies across the country in campaigns International Airport on his arrival from a 10- of the party regarding the issue, he (Mr. for both the presidential and parliamentary day private visit to the United Kingdom on Kufour) demanded that his accuser be called elections in 1996 and wondered why anyone Sunday, May 31. by the chairman to substantiate the allegations would now want to shift the burden of the debt to which the chairman obliged. He said he was on him as candidate for the party. Mr. Colin Essamuah, a leading member surprised that anyone who claimed that of the NPP in a letter to the Chairman of the anyone who claimed to be working for the “I regard this as a ploy to distract me the party, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey headlined: “The interests of the NPP would make such serious important mission of leading the NPP to Concordia Ventures Case: Ramifications and allegations against him knowing well the im- victory in the next elections. I have been in the Necessity for interdicting the General plications it would have on the NPP. politics for 30 years and I wold not be distracted Secretary and suspending the 1996 by such vicious allegations” he asserted.

No 22, 8 June 1998 9 Ghanaian News Ghanaian Newsrunner STRIVING TO END COLD WAR

By Sam Sarpong Moving along the borders of these two There has been low level of economic and West African countries, Ghana and Togo, it is trade partnership between them and the two difficult to believe they are two distinct leaders attributed this to the mistrust that has countries. long been part of their relationship. Just one street separates Lome, the capital Both leaders have now pledged their of Togo and Aflao, Ghana's most easternmost preparedness to forget the acrimonies that town. They are brothers with some natural characterised their relations in the past and links. The local language Ewe is spoken by promised to foster friendship based on mutual both Ghanaians and Togolese in this border trust - a relationship that posterity would region. And Ghana even supplies power to remember them for. Togo. The Togolese Ambassador to Ghana, Yet hidden behind this relationship, there Assiongbor Folivi enthused about the fraternal is a cold war that had plagued the two reunion, remarked, "we are witnessing the countries for years. triumph of dialogue and moderation which alone can lead people to settle their problems Conflict between them had long been on long lasting basis." rooted in the colonial experiment of cutting across ethnic groups to carve countries. President Eyadema of Togo. But as if to take his `new found friend' through democratic principles, Rawlings The cleavage must have started from the In 1986, it again developed into a stated at a dinner he hosted in Eyadema's end of the first world war when Germany was bombshell following an uprising in Togo in honour that "electoral systems which defeated. Togo, which was then under which the Togolese authorities blamed Ghana, guarantee equal opportunities for all to German rule was divided between the French Burkina Faso and Mali. participate in government are crucial for and English. The French took the eastern part public confidence and stable democracies on Togo claimed the coup attempt was called French Togoland and the British took the African continent." the part that is currently the present day Volta masterminded from Ghana by Togolese region of Ghana. dissidents with Burkina Faso giving the Eyadema is often accused of putting plotters further training before they finally impediments in the way of outstanding In 1956, voters in British Togoland voted went to Togo for the onslaught. These personalities who could have beaten him to the to join the then Gold Coast which became countries however denied any involvement. race for the presidency in 1993. He is said to Ghana in 1957. When French Togoland have subtly prevented them from contesting Ghana on the other hand has often became independent in 1960, a movement by coming out with some highly contentious accused Togo of supporting and aiding sprung up dedicated to the unification of the electoral laws. former British Togoland with the people of the dissidents bent on overthrowing Rawlings. Republic of Togo. Indeed, no one would doubt the After painstaking efforts by the two commitments of the two leaders in their quest leaders, things now seem to be easing for them. Some Togolese supported it but this did to forge ahead, but judging from the various not go down well with the Ghanaians. Rawlings visited Togo last year in his acts that they had played against each other Relations between Ghana and Togo hit a position as the then Chairman of the during their acrimonious times, it would be record low when Togolese President, Economic Community of West African States very difficult for them to wipe off these Gnassingbe Eyadema overthrew the civilian (ECOWAS). memories just at a go. government of President Sylvanus Olympio Ever since, the seeds of discord and who died in the course of the coup of 1963. malevolence have given way to reciprocal trust As it is, when they are not squabbling and mutual understanding. Both leaders have about migration across the common border, pledged to settle all their disputes through they might be brawling about fleeing peaceful means whether it is the issue of PHONE dissidents. Their borders have been rigged refugees or issues on border security. with cross-border smuggling and currency So when Eyadema visited Ghana from trafficking , age-long plagues to economies of May 12 -13 primarily to renew his FOR FREE both countries but more especially to Ghana. commitment to the quest for peace and seek Ever since Ghana's current President, more avenues for economic co-operation , it Jerry John Rawlings stepped onto the political became apparent that their desire to forge TO scene in 1979, he has also found Togo's ahead is now being concretised. President Eyadema, an unyielding neighbour "The two countries should forget the past and their differences have continued to GHANA? and ensure peace and stability for their escalate with each passing day. countries and peoples," Eyadema stated, In 1985, relations between the two stressing that, "lack of frequent interaction slumped, following bombings at a time the between us on matters of mutual interest in Ghanaian army was engaged in manoeuvres the past did not help to establish cordial CHECK OUT PAGE 15 just across the border with Togo. relations." FOR DETAILS

10 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner GhanaianADVERTISEMENT News BY ORDER OF THE AMSTERDAM CITY COUNCIL AMVEC AUCTION HOUSE PRESENTS COMING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: AUCTION, EVERYTHING MUST GO!!!! Large assortment of household goods: Large selection of smaller household items: refrigerators, ovens, stoves, grills, microwaves, dinner services, glasses, kitchenware, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, ironing Tupperware, children’s toys, nintendo’s, irons, boards, blinds, lamps, vacuum cleaners, freezers 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 Hobbies and free time items: suites, cupboard, desks, single beds, double beds, CD’s, books, records, singles, games, fitness children’s beds, fold out beds, buggies, rugs, equipment, BIKES, garden sets, tools, suit cases mirrors

Electronics: AMVEC OFFERS YOU THE OPPOR- videorecorders, CD-players, Stereo equipment, TUNITY TO HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT ALL amplifiers, keyboards, color televisions, THESE GOODS COMING FRIDAY (12TH OF computers, satellite-receivers, camera’s, telephones, answeringmachines 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 GhanaianGOSSIP News Ghanaian Newsrunner They came back to the uncle with the report. This time Nenyi, who had had enough 'I AM PREGNANT' of Akua’s harassment, decided to call it quits. So the uncle, after deliberations, ..."You're not", says boyfriend concluded that Nenyi pacifies Elizabeth with one hundred. Kobena Nenyi, a fisherman at Winneba behavior for 12 months r in default serve six had been insisting for 18 months that his months imprisonment with hard labor. Nenyi paid the money but still Akua girlfriend was not pregnant. But Elizabeth Additional, the court advised that if she still insisted that she was pregnant and for that Donkor, alias Akua Kakraba, a fishmonger, insists she is pregnant, she can pursue a civil reason anywhere she met or set eyes on him, stood her ground: “I am pregnant.” suit rather than assault. rained insults on him. Not even a medical doctor’s diagnosis Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Samuel Chief Inspector Asiedu told the packed that Akua Kakraba was carrying a fibroid in Asiedu said Akua and Nenyi became friends tribunal of a similar complaint the police her belly would convince her and she kept on in early 1996. Two months later, Akua told received against the accused in 1995. insulting Nenyi in public whenever there was Nenyi she was pregnant. an opportunity. He said in this instance the complaint, However, for one-one-a-half years, there Kofi Donkor, who came to the police station On May 2, this year, during the Aboakyir was no sign of the pregnancy growing so Nenyi weeping bitterly, narrated how the accused had Festival, Akua Kakraba stormed her estranged decided to seek medical assistance. pestered his life anytime she set eyes on him. boyfriend’s house and, in the presence of However, the issue was amicably resolved at He therefore took Akua to the Klimovic Nenyi’s family and other onlookers, assaulted the police station. him, claiming that he was responsible for her Hospital at Winneba for examination but pregnancy. when the doctor was about to attend to her, Akua, who was present at the court, in she vanished and later made a report to an her defence, pleaded guilty with explanation, Nenyi, who could not stand the embar- uncle, a prominent contractor at Winneba. stressing that she is still pregnant and very rassment, reported the assault to the Winneba much determined “to bring forth whatever is According to the prosecutor, the uncle de- police who arrested Akua. in her womb for Nenyi.” cided that she should be taken to Korle Bu Akua was said to have harassed Nenyi Teaching Hospital in Accra for further She explained that she has been a victim over the last one-and-a-half years with the examination. of abuse by men who sometimes had sex with claim that she was pregnant by him and her at the beach. refused an abortion, insisting on delivering Akua was therefore taken to the hospital whatever is in her stomach. and after medical examination it was detected “This time I was eager not to let Nenyi that the accused was not pregnant but rather have his way in view of the fact that he has Akua appeared before the Winneba she was suffering from fibroid. been frustrating me since I became pregnant,” Community Tribunal on May 6, charged with she lamented. assault and she was bonded to be of good

12 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner GhanaianGOSSIP News WOMAN DIES SHY TO BE SEEN UNABLE TO PAY HOSPITAL BILLS EATING DEAD GOAT Cash-strapped Margaret Addo, 40, A young who is standing trial for patrols. During one such patrols at dawn, they allegedly shy to tell others about her inability allegedly stealing a goat from Jumapo has smelt the burning scent of an animal skin in to raise money to dress her wounds at the denied the charge and claimed that he picked the bush. hospital kept it a secret to herself and died 10 the carcass at a refuse dump at Asokore. days later. Chief Inspector Evelyn Addo, He said he took the animal to the bush prosecuting, said two members of the She was said to have died one week after to prepare it at dawn because “I was ashamed committee went close to the bush where the she was wounded in the eye during a fight with of being ridiculed for eating a dead goat”. scent was coming from and they saw Ahinkan a neighbor. and Aboagye working on the animal at about Kwaku Ahinkan told the court that he 4 am and called for support to arrest them. Her body has been deposited at the Korle found the dead goat at a refuse dump at dawn Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting when he had gone there to ease himself She told the tribunal, chaired by Mr. autopsy while the neighbor who allegedly because there are no toilet facilities in his Senyo Dzemefe, that when some members of wounded her, Isaac Shaibu, is on the run. house. the committee got to the scene Aboagye had bolted with the meat while Ahinkan was found A source at the Weija police station Ahinkan is in the dock with Kwaku covering the blood and dropping of the animal alleged that on April 10, this year, Margaret Aboagye for stealing a goat from Jumapo for a with palm branches. was in the house when Shaibu went there very feast on October 29, last year when they were angry and demanded to know why she was arrested by the Asokore watching committee. The prosecution said Ahinkan pulled out always insulting him. a knife and attempted stabbing one Akyaw, a Aboagye has been on bail since last No- member of the committee but he was This resulted in a quarrel during which vember, but Ahinkan, who was granted bail overpowered and arrested. Unfortunately for Shaibu was said to have mercilessly beaten in the sum of five hundred thousand, has Ahinkan, the intestines of an animal fell from Margaret who sustained varied injuries on the found it very difficult to get a surety to stand his pocket when he was taking out the knife. eye and parts of the body. for him. His father is said to have claimed that Ahinkan has been a nuisance to the family for Ahinkan later told the police that it was Margaret, still unable to comprehend which he has even struck off his name from Aboagye was later arrested. what was happening, went and lodged a his will. complaint with the Weija police where she was A new date for the hearing is to be an- given a medical form to attend the hospital but The Asokore watchdog committee said nounced later. she was unable to do so. because of complaints from residents about increasing thievery in the area, they mounted A week later, the source said Margaret FRUSTRATION was found dead in her room covered with a cloth. DRIVES WOMAN, 40, TO COMMIT SUICIDE WOMAN MURDERS NEPHEW IN A 40-year-old woman, Madam Rosemond Ofosuhene, was burnt to death when she was trapped in a house she COLD BLOOD deliberately set on fire at the Awudome Estates A 35-year-old woman of Abesim n the Brong Ahafo Region has murdered her nini-year- in Accra on May 12, this year. old nephew in cold blood while he was asleep and attempted to commit suicide afterwards. The house belongs to Mr. George Janet Arhin allegedly killed the boy, Attah Kwabena, with a sharp cutlass at about 2 am Herbert, a boyfriend of the deceased. while Janet, together with her 72-year-old mother, Yaa Anane and the deceased were sleeping in the room. Narrating the story, a source at the Kaneshie Police Station said that Rosemond She also inflicted cutlass wounds on her mother and brother, Arhin Ishadrak, when the and Mr. Herbert were in a relationship for a two attempted to disarm her. She was however overpowered by some residents in the area and long time now but any time she asked him to sent to the Sunyani District police Station where she has been placed in police custody pending see her parents to perform the marriage rites, further investigation. he refused with the explanation that he was According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) P. Yalley, Janet in her caution already married and could not take on a second statement to the police, said she was awakened in her sleep by a big mouse in the room so she wife. reached out for a cutlass and killed it. Mr. Herbert’s wife is said to be currently She said soon after she killed the mouse, it turned out to be her sister’s son she was living out of the country. with. The source said early this year, Rosemond ASP Yalley said Janet cut the boy several times with the sharp cutlass and even as he raised the marriage issue again and Mr. wailed for help, she did not stop until he died. He said Janet’s mother who was in the room, Herbert warned her not to talk about the issue raised an alarm for help and some tenants rushed to the room to find the boy in a pool of blood. 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 GhanaianGOSSIP News Ghanaian Newsrunner

Continued from page 13 ACCUSED IMPLICATES Herbert’s house at Awudome Estates and threatened she was going to burn down his WITNESS BMW car. Mr. Herbert managed to drive Rosemond Wisdom Mensah who is accused of de- The court was also told that Wisdom con- away and made a formal complaint to the frauding several people by false pretence, tracted Bimpong to collect monies from Kaneshie Police. implicated two witnesses in a case at a Bismark and prospective applicants in Accra According to the source, when Mr. Koforidua circuit tribunal. and Bimpong allegedly succeeded in collecting Herbert, accompanied by the police returned twenty-four million cedis on behalf of from the police station, they saw smoke coming Wisdom claimed at the court that one of Wisdom. the witnesses used part of the proceeds of the out of his house. When they drew closer to the deal to engage in gold business while the other Wisdom, however, denied ever collecting rooms, they heard somebody screaming for was his accomplice who also benefited from eight million and 24 million cedis from help. the booty. Bismark and Bimpong respectively. He said The thickness of the smoke made it the two gave him some money which was less And before Wisdom could descend from difficult for the police to enter the room so they that the figures they were quoting. He also called in the Fire Service. the dock, the tribunal, chaired by Mr. Senyo claimed that each applicant paid 50 million Dzamefe, ordered that the two witnesses, cedis. When personnel of the Fire Service Kwasi Bimpong and Bismark Asare, be arrived and put out the fire, they saw the body arrested immediately because he suspected the Bimpong gave two letters to the court of Rosemond which was completely burnt. accused and the witnesses to be in a syndicate. which he claimed were written to him by Property worth millions of cedis was also Wisdom for two of the applicants purported destroyed. However, following pleas from the pros- to have been signed by the general mangers of ecution that the two are principal witnesses in KLM and American Airlines. The body has since been deposited at the the case, they were freed. Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Mortuary for The letter from KLM was purported to autopsy. Prosecuting, Chief Superintendent Rose have been signed by one D. Hackman, Bio, said Wisdom, who claimed to be an General Manager, and addressed to one accounts clerkwith the cargo section of KLM Kwaku Nortey which said “in the light of your WANTED: Royal Dutch Airlines, in March last year, successful completion of six months probation, visited Koforidua and introduced himself as we can confirm your status as a full-time ADVERTISING AGENT an agent contracted by one Hackman and employee at the cargo section on a gross salary Debrah to recruit hands for the airline. In view of its ever increasing of 120,000 cedis per month payable from popularity the Ghanaian She said based on this representation, September 15, 1997.” Newsrunner wishes to outsource Wisdom contacted Bismark to find intrested The other letter from American Airlines some of its business to an personnel for him and asked the prospective was also purported to have been signed by its Advertising Agent. The employees to pay between eighty thousand General Manager and addressed to one Isaac Advertising Agent should be cedis and one hundred thousand cedis each Mills also on a salary of 150,000 cedis per registered at the Chamber of to facilitate the processing of their application month from the same time. Commerce and is to manage the letters. advertising sales to Ghanaian- The case has been adjourned until owned companies in Holland . Bismark, the prosecutor said, contacted further notice. High commission offered. For 84 persons who expressed interest in the deal inquiries phone 020-6977764 and and contributed over eight million cedis which ask for the publisher. 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 Fast like the leopard and he started a search for him. 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 Newsrunner Ghanaian News HELP THE GHANAIAN NEWSRUNNER AND PHONEPHONE FORFOR FREEFREE TTOO GHANAGHANA 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

1

2 ,

f10 3

4

5

6

7

f 20 8

9

10

No 22, 8 June 1998 15 Ghanaian News Ghanaian Newsrunner malicious reports circulated about the polls, they were free Nigerian Envoy On Fate Of and fair and the turn-out was impressive, given the situation in which the elections were conducted. Detainees “Over 70 percent of the electorate turned out. Those who reported a low turn-out of 20 percent merely stayed in The fate of former Nigerian deputy head of State, one place at eight o’clock in the morning and concluded Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya and others convicted of plotting that the turn-out was low. to overthrow the government recently will be decided by the Provisional Ruling Council and its decision will “They did not base their assessment on the day-long be in the best interest of the country, the Charge time frame that the exercise lasted,” he added. Besides, he d’Affaires of the Nigerian embassy in Senegal, Sani said, the polls “were recognised by international observers Saulawa Bala, said. including Americans who monitored them from many points inside the country.” Diya and five other top officials of the Abuja military government were sentenced to death by a On the accusation that the transition programme was military tribunal in April for their part in the plot. The being manipulated to elect Abacha as a civilian president verdict drew sharp criticism from some Western in August, Sani wondered if it was possible to force or countries and human rights organisation. manipulate thousands of representatives of five political parties to adopt Abacha as their candidate. “And if they did But Sani says there were no ethnic or personal so on their own volition, who arewe to question the wish of considerations in the trial. “In this case, an investigation the people?”, he asked. panel was set up which established that the people had a case to answer. Then a panel was established to try “I think Nigerians are very lucky to have him as leader them. “Some were found guilty and those who had no at this point in the country’s political history,” the envoy case to answer were acquitted and asked to report to their added. duty posts immediately,” he added. The envoy said the convicts were defended by lawyers and have a right of appeal, contrary to the Commuters Stranded As Bus standing practice in which such matters were handled in purely military tradition. Owners Withdraw Vehicles Asked to comment on whether the men would get a reprieve from the ruling council headed by Gen. Hundreds of commuters in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic Abacha, the envoy said “whatever decision is taken will hub, were left either stranded at bus stops or trekked to their be in the best interest of Nigeria”. destinations Monday as bus owners withdrew their vehicles from the roads. As a result, workers and pupils reported “This is the prerogative of the Head of State Gen late to their destinations, while others simply returned home Sani Abacha who I know is first and foremost a after waiting for long hours at the bus stops. nationalist who has always tried to defend the territorial integrity and unity of Nigeria. Members of the Lagos State Bus Owners Association, whose vehicles, popularly called ‘’Molues’’ handled some “So I am sure the action he is going to take will be 70 percent of the total road passenger traffic in the city of in the best interest of Nigeria and if it is in the best six million people, said they were protesting incessant interest of Nigeria to pardon the offenders, definitely harassment by touts. Gen. Abacha will do that,” he said. The association said in a statement that the touts, Sani noted that contrary to what people have been suspected to be members of the National Union of Road made to believe, there are currently no political prisoners Transport Workers, collected illegal tolls, which often forced in the country of some 104 million people. “What you commercial transporters to hike fares. In addition, it accused have are people convicted of specific offenses through the touts of manhandling 10 of its drivers in the past one the due process of law,” he said. week. One such person is former head of State, Gen. Mini-buses and another mode of transportation Olusegun Obasanjo who was sentenced to death over known as the ‘’Oluwole’’ buses, had a field day but were an abortive coup plot in 1995. The sentence was unable to cope with the volume of passengers. The situation commuted to life imprisonment following appeals from is compounded by petrol scarcity that has hit Lagos and African and Western countries. other parts of the country in the past four weeks. Millionaire politician, Moshood Abiola, is in The fuel crisis, blamed on inadequate supply, has detention awaiting trial for treason after he declared persisted in oil-producing Nigeria despite assurances by himself president in 1994. This followed the annulment the authorities. The Lagos-based African Independent a year earlier, of presidential polls he was set to win by Television reported that a group of touts cashed in on the former President Ibrahim Babangida, until then his situation by molesting motorists and chanting anti- friend and close associate. government 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 It said that police had to use tear gas to disperse the observers say is Abacha’s response to a plea made by Pope demonstrators. John Paul II during his recent visit to the country. 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 Ghanaian News Carrington finally left Nigeria Oct. 1997 after Legal Battle Over Abacha’s a troubled four-year tenure, during which Nigerian Adoption Shifts To Appeal officials accused him of being responsible for Washington’s hostile attitude toward Abuja. He Court denied the accusation. The legal battle over the controversial adoption of Nigeria’s military ruler, Sani Abacha, as consensus The U.S. has imposed limited sanctions on presidential candidate by the country’s five political parties, Nigeria over democracy and human rights issues. has shifted to the Court of Appeal at the instance of one of But the frosty diplomatic relations have not affected the presidential aspirants, Tunji Braithwaite. their economic ties, with the U.S. still buying almost 50 percent of Nigeria’s total oil production. Braithwaite, a Lagos lawyer, had presented himself as a presidential candidate for the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). But this party, along withthe other four, Ecomog Explains Delay In adopted Abacha as sole candidate for the Aug. 1 presidential Liberation Of Sierra Leone poll. The election are supposed to mark the last stage of Gen. Abacha’s plan toreturn the nation to democratic rule Oct. 1. The commander of the West African intervention force (Ecomog), Maj. Gen. Timothy Braithwaite took the case to court last week, where Shelpidi, has said rains have slowed down efforts his attorney, Rotimi Williams, argued that Abacha’s to liberate the remaining two districts in Sierra adoption was illegal and unconstitutional. Leone still held by forces loyal to ousted junta leader Maj. Johnny Paul Koromah. At the resumed hearing Tuesday at the appeal court in Lagos, Nigeria’s solicitor-general, Tochukwu He told reporters that the force needed Onwugbufor, challenged the court’s jurisdiction to the hear logistics to enable it deal decisively with the the case. He cited several authorities, including the fact that situation in Sierra Leone. The subregional force the government had already named a constitutional court restored to power President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah charged with such matters. in March following his ouster in May 1997. Although Abacha has neither accepted nor rejected Shelpidi said efforts were on to arrest Koromah the offer by the political parties to succeed himself, his and that ‘’the dissidents have run short of adoption has provoked a fierce national debate. ammunition and supplies and have resorted to attacking innocent civilians.’’ Apart from Braithwaite, several other prominent citizens, including radical lawyer Gani Fawehinmi and ‘’The unfortunate thing about this incident is Mohammed Yusuf, another GDM presidential aspirant, that they have unleashed a lot of atrocities on have challenged Abacha’s adoption in separate suits. innocent villagers, seizing their livestock, foodstuff, raping women and at times ripping pregnant Local pro-democracy groups and individuals have women open to know the sex of the baby,’’ he added. criticised the adoption. A group of eminent Nigerians, including second republic Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Instead of sparing the children, he noted, ‘’the have urged the infantry general to reject the offer by the dissidents amputate their legs and arms. We expect parties. the international community to condemn such barbaric acts.’’ Some Western countries, notably Britain and the United States, have also denounced the move by the parties, He appealed to the international communiity which they claim flawed the transition programme. to assist Ecomog solve its logistic problems, saying the troops needed assistance in the form of vehicles, In an unrelated development, a Federal High Court helicopters, fuel and spare parts to enhance their in Lagos has ordered the Nigerian government to pay one mobility as well as assist disarmament and efforts million naira (about 12,000 U.S. dollars) as damages to an to cordon off remnants of rebel troops. Shelpidi said official of the opposition National Democratic Coalition Ecomog had liberated 80 percent of the Sierra (Nadeco), for the disruption of a reception Sept. 1997 in Leonean territory and was working relentlessly to honour of former UnitedStates Ambassador to Nigeria secure the remaining areas from incessant attacks Walter Carrington. from the rogue troops. The Nadeco official, Ayo Adebanjo, told the court that security agents broke in and disrupted the party in ::::::::::::::::::LATEST:::::::::::::::: downtown Lagos. ‘’One’s home is regarded as his castle. Ghana says its investigations have revealed When a man is being pursued from the market, he runs to that a U.S.-based Non-governmental organization his house and if he is attacked, then he is forced to the wall. organised a workshop for some Nigerian political groups in Accra on May 6-8. The state-owned The court frowns at the arbitrary repression and illegal Graphic newspaper on Saturday June 6 quoted the executive action,’’ said Judge Dan Abutu, who gave the Minister of State for National Security, Kofi Totobi ruling Tuesday in favour of Adebanjo. Abutu also ordered Quakyi, as saying that Abuja was probably citing the defendants to refrain from further interfering in the the workshop as the basis for its accusation that applicant’s premises. Ghana was involved in a plot to destabilise Nigeria. It was not immediately clear if the government Quakyi said the workshop was held in a hotel in intended to appeal the judgment. The incident, which Accra but stressed that no official or agency of elicited an official protest from Washington, aggravated the government was involved in planning or organising already strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the event. He said Ghana would not allow its its former ally. territory to be used for any unfriendly act against Nigeria or any other country in the sub-region.

No 22, 8 June 1998 17 GhanaianDutch News 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 non- commercial 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 WHO IS COVERING WHAT? Dutch team. THETHE CHANGING CONTINUING APPEARANCE STORY OF OF THE A SMALLEL AL-CR NATIONASH • Since early May the Netherlands is free of swine fever. Since At least 43 people were killed after months of ’98 now make a parliamentary February 4, ‘97 a total of 11 million the EL Al-freighter 4X-AXG penetrated inquiry, or at least a parliamentary pigs have been slaughtered( see: into Groeneveen and Kruitberg on investigation, increasingly likely. Newsrunner 18). Despite massive October 4, 1992. This part of the tragic HEALTH PROBLEMS protest by pig breeders Dutch truth is more or less undisputed. But parliament recently endorsed almost 6 years after the disaster it is still Early spring ’98 the general public was measures to reduce the number of not fully known what else went up in reminded of the mysteries still surrounding the pigs in the Netherlands with 20% flames and why. Moreover, after all these El Al-crash by startling disclosures and turbid • On May 26 the first young years new testimonies and new questions responses by authorities. First as a result of a herrings were brought ashore in keep cropping up. contested examination by the Swedish firm Biospectron of excrements of involved Bijlmer Scheveningen, near The Hague. NEW INVESTIGATIONS The festive welcome of the fishing residents and firemen. The tests showed fleet is the official starting signal of “How is this possible when there are abnormal concentration of uranium and the new season, beginning on May usually five or six copies made of each zirconium. Later the Bijlmer ‘Visie 27, when the ‘Hollandse nieuwe’ is consignment note?” wrote NRC-Handelsblad Foundation’ who had commissioned the on sale throughout the country. By on October 4, `97, exactly 5 years after the examination publicly regretted the certainty now most of the herring, crash. That same evening TV-newsmagazine with which the results were presented. considered as a typical Dutch NOVA showed fragments of consignments Although the findings were disputed, they product, is caught by Danish, notes that were not included in the official nevertheless answered their purpose. They Norwegian, Swedish and Scottish investigation report. Furthermore, two former ensued a growing realization that health fishermen. There are only a few El Al-employees declared they’d sometimes problems of Bijlmer-residents, members of Dutch fishing boats left that bring forged consignment notes. And, this beats salvage teams and KLM-employees might in ‘Hollandse nieuwe’. everything, one of the civil servants who have been underestimated until that moment. • The Public Prosecutor in headed the judicial investigation after the Minister Els Borst of Public Health promised Groningen demanded rather severe crash was also the officer responsible for to speed up the intended study. consignment notes on the eve of the disaster! jail sentences for two suspects of A few days later the Amsterdam Medical violence, theft, rampage and arson When shortly afterward MP Van Gijzel Center, the AMC, stepped up pressure to end during the riots in the Oosterpark- (PvdA) put Minister of Transport Jorritsma the ongoing uncertainty concerning the cargo neighborhood in Groningen last (VVD) on the spot, she promised parliament of the crashed El Al-freighter. The hospital year (see: Newsrunner 19). The a new investigation. She warned, however, in said they would only carry out the study after court sentenced them to 240 hours advance that officials would never be able to it has become clear what has been the contents of forced labor and a half year answer all existing questions. The new special of the plane. For the time being they would suspended imprisonment. investigative commission, headed by a member only draw up an interim inventory of health • Average fortune per Dutch of the Council of State, Hoekstra, is expected complaints. These days a notice appears in household is rapidly increasing. to report late June / early July ‘98. The all relevant media asking to report to a Over the last ten years their assignment is rather limited: it should come complaints center the health problems which average fortune doubled to fl. up with a report on the failed proceedings of are possibly related to the El Al-crash (editor: 200.000,-. This jump is largely due the initial investigation into the consignments see page 6 for the notice) to the rise in prices of houses and notes and what the lessons could be for the the upward movement of the stock future. exchange. Remarkably enough this is not considered as inflation. The Subsequent events during the first

18 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner GhanaianDutch News News GHOST FLIGHTS Justitie proclaimed a temporarily silence, the news agency GPD got hold of the interim DUTCH NEWS IN BRIEF Newspaper De Telegraaf published on report of Vrakking and his letter to Jorritsma April 6,’98 an article on an extra flight in the and Sorgdrager. The report quoted average real disposable income is night immediately after the El Al-crash from Amsterdam police officers testifying they had fl. 46.700. On January 1, ’98 there Schiphol to Israel by a plane of UPS (United met 6 men who said to be members of the were 185.000 millionaires, while 5% Parcel Service) commissioned by El Al. UPS- Israeli secret service Mossad. It seems that the of the richest households owned spokesmen said they’d been surprised by the mystery will not be solved by normal means. 47% of the national wealth. Of the special treatment of the plane on Ben Gurion Already one of the detectives hinted that the 6.5 million households in the Airport near Tel Aviv. Again MP Van Gijzel investigation will not be rounded off with clear Netherlands 931.000 households (PvdA) asked for a parliamentary cut conclusions. The report is expected half are in debt. investigation, but the liberal coalition partners June. • During the month of June the VVD and D’66 decided to wait for the outcome Ministry of Transport and the of the investigations by the Hoekstra- INQUIRY National Technological Institute commission. Nevertheless, parliament did During this same period uncertainties as (TNO) will test various computer decide to set up a special study group to systems that should decrease the prepare an official parliamentary to what the EL Al-plane exactly carried were not lifted. Several companies declared they number and length of traffic jams investigation. Before the summer recess the and accidents. A new stretch of new elected parliament will have to decide on could no longer retrieve the house airway bills. El Al however produced again a series of these motorway between Alphen aan de such an investigation after hearing this Rijn and Leiden has been equipped parliamentary study group. airway bill’s. Still, 29.000 kilos, one quarter of the cargo, remains unaccounted for. And with magnetic strips. Professionals Next obscurity was the removal of data again Minister Jorritsma told parliament that and another 1000 drivers chosen from their official register by the Aviation the plane did not carry hazardous substances. from the general public will have a Security Service (LVB) of flights in the Shortly afterwards the TV-news program chance to test 30 computerized Amsterdam area during the night of the Zembla showed an American customs cars with several systems. One disaster. Witnesses declared they’d seen a document listing a few kilo’s of ingredients for system influences speed and chopper with no lights dropping 5 or 6 bullets, shells and percussion caps. The Dutch distance to the car in front. A cruise mysterious men in white suits who searched Ministry of Transport got hold of this control system will be tested as well the area during 10 to 12 minutes and swiftly document as early as December ’92. The as an advisory system responding disappeared again with a few objects. Rumors fuzziness continues. to the rhythm of traffic lights. A go round they were members of the Mossad, fourth system couples a second car the Israelian secret service. In response to the The commission investigating the to the one in front. Opponents say LVB, the National Aviation Service (RLD) feasibility of a parliamentary inquiry or all this is feasible from a said they knew of at least one police helicopter. investigation should report before June 26. technological point of view, but Schiphol Airport, for their part, declared they Meanwhile members of parliament declared traffic jams can only be avoided by knew of at least 8 helicopters. Again, instead the inquiry should include the position of El investing this sort of genius and of answers more questions were evoked. Al in the Netherlands. Probably, it was said, money in modern public - read El Al has special permission for transporting coordinated and comfortable - weapons, munitions and nuclear and other transport. MORE CONFUSION hazardous substances. And probably El Al has • The ecumenical consecration on to comply with special rules, but what these May 30 in a Protestant church in At the same time new testimonies kept rules are remains for now unclear. The Apeldoorn of the wedding of Prince public attention focussed on this group of men commission also said they’d like to hear the Maurits, nephew of Queen Beatrix, in white colored protective suits, ’space suits’, Dutch security services. This could put Mr. and radiant Marilène van den Broek, who were perceived on the scene of the Hoekstra in an awkward position. Mr. daughter of former Dutch Minister calamity. Who were they? And what were they Hoekstra is expected to come up shortly with of Foreign Affairs Hans van den doing there? Did they recover secret parts of an explanation of why the initial investigation Broek (CDA) and now Princess , the cargo or even vanished with the cockpit into the consignments notes got stuck. At the unexpectedly provoked quite some voice recorder? The Ministry of Transport time of the crash Mr. Hoekstra was as high controversy. The Dutch royal family always denied the existence of these people. ranking civil servant member of the special adhere to the Dutch Reformed Now Minister Jorritsma said they’d been relief committee reporting directly to the prime Church. The Van den Broek-family workers of the Red Cross. Alas! The Red Cross minister on the secret and security services. is Roman-Catholic. To the great immediately declared their workers were all Nothing has been proved yet and that, indignation of Roman Catholics clearly identifiable by orange helmets and red Princess Margriet, sister of Queen crosses on their sleeves. And Jorritsma had to precisely that, is the problem. Some observers claim that all the fuss is created by a small Beatrix, unexpectedly went to the agree with a new investigation that would Holy Communion and received the establish once and for all the identity of the number of troublemakers who will settle for any ‘truth’, as long as they get substantial Holy Host. Former Queen Juliana, ‘men in white suits’. Within a few days the now Princess, and her husband Amsterdam Chief Public Prosecutor J. financial benefits out of the affair. This might be a motive in some cases. But even if so, the Prince Bernard followed their Vrakking met the request of Jorritsma: daughter. It was an unprecedented “There’s no proof whatsoever of Israeli sloppy handling by Dutch authorities of the disaster justifies an in-depth investigation. By gesture, indeed. But what followed removing things from the scene”, he declared, left non-religious Dutch bewildered. “testimonies proved they were members of the now Dutch authorities are checkmated by their own implausible stories. Dutch parliament is Conservative Roman-Catholics Amsterdam health and medical service GG & protested, because Roman- GD.” Again alas! An outraged spokesman of not Snow White, but who else could come closer to the truth, even if El Al has nothing Catholic rule exclude non-Roman- the Amsterdam fire brigade declared: “Our Catholics from the Holy men did see men in white suits who certainly to hide? After all, only a small circle of intimates seems to be implicated. The next Communion. Conservative were not members of the GG & GD. They members of the Dutch Reformed surely can tell the difference.” The Amsterdam weeks will bring us more news on the guts of Dutch parliament and democracy. Church also regretted that the royal Public Prosecution had to expand their family did not respect official investigations. While the Ministerie van liturgy.

No 22, 8 June 1998 19 GhanaianDutch News News Ghanaian Newsrunner

BUSINESS AND ROYAL DUTCH FINANCE • Ajax issued 4,95 million shares at a rate of 25 guilders each, yielding SECURITIES 125 million guilders. These shares represent 27% of all shares; 73% PART ONE - THE ROYAL remains in the hands of the club. ABN Amro, the bank accompanying MACHINERY RENOVATED the operation, said shareholders would profit from the sale of Early 1998 Queen Beatrix celebrated her Before we sketch the remarkable presence of broadcasting rights, merchandising sixtieth birthday ‘ in private’. Yet, during three the Dutch royal family in Dutch society during and the training and selling of days in a row the whole Dutch nation could these last months, we start with some players. Ajax-shares attracted witness on television the coming and going twentieth-century royal background great interest and were 15 times (just sidewalk and entrance shots) of royal information. over-subscribed, but the expected celebrities from all over the world. This last value-explosion failed to occur. The half year hardly a day went by without royal rate of issue was 32,50, but the news: a speech, a birthday, health problems, WILHELMINA, JULIANA, price now fluctuates between 26 the announcement of an engagement, BEATRIX and 27 guilders. commemorations, political consultations after • Dutch-British Unilever (food, general elections, royal exhibitions, royal The Dutch Royal Crown is beverages, personal care, house biographies, a mysterious royal case discovered constitutionally curtailed and stripped of care, etc.) reported over the first during the restoration of the tomb of William concrete power. Still, the Dutch Royal Family, quarter of ’98 an explosion of profits of Orange in Delft, the unavoidable rumors the House of Orange, has a distinct presence by 60% to 1439 million guilders. about the amorous activities of the Prince-Heir in Dutch society. Each successive Dutch and, late May, the first royal wedding since 23 monarch (during this twentieth century there • KLM Airlines recorded over ’97 the years. were only queens due to the caprices of nature) highest net profit ever: 2.2 billion radiated a specific approach and style, guilders.. The sale of KLM’s interest The ecumenical wedding ceremony of originating in personal character, historic in the American airliner Northwest Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène aroused circumstances and an intelligent assessment accounts for 1.6 billion. Profits the indignation of Catholics and Protestants. of risks and chances. The transition to a from normal activities over ’97 also renewed and updated royal approach became resulted in a record figure: 811 strikingly clear when Queen Beatrix took over million guilders compared with 109 from her mother, the now Princess Juliana. million in ’96. • PCM, publisher of books and Queen Juliana, Dutch head of state from major Dutch newspapers such as 1948 till 1980, personified and perhaps still ‘de Volkskrant’, ‘NRC Handelsblad’, embodies the modest, unassuming, sometimes ‘Algemeen Dagblad’ and ‘Trouw, obstinate and even snug mother of the nation. With her you could, as it were, cry your heart saw profits over ’97 increased with out and have a glass of sherry. On Christmas 50% to 54 million guilders. Eve she personally served the royal household • NBM-Amstelland (building chocolate milk. And every year, on her industry) takes over Wilma (house- birthday, she and her growing family waved building). The new combination will from the steps of the Soestdijk Palace to a be by far the largest building group seemingly endless parade of admirers from all in the Netherlands with a turnover over the country and nearly all walks of life. of 5.19 billion guilders and 9600 employees. Still, twice during her ‘reign’ the monarchy was shaken. First in 1956, after • Ahold (Albert Heijn-supermarkets, Juliana searched for unconventional outside Etos, Gall & Gall, Jamin, Schuitema) Queen Wilhelmina. Head of state from help for her physically impaired youngest once again expands abroad. For 5.4 1898 to 1948. Mother of Princess Juliana. daughter. She fell under the spell of an billion guilders Ahold bought the influential faith healer. The affair almost American Giant Food- brought about a constitutional crisis and in the supermarkets. With these end the faith healer had to leave the royal court. additional 176 supermarkets (28.000 employees) Ahold now The second crisis came in 1976, when owns over 1000 supermarkets in her husband Prince Bernhard was discredited the USA. Ahold aims at doubling after it became known he had tried to influence their ’97 turnover to 100 billion the government choice for a specific fighter guilders in 2002. plane, in the process touching a large sum for • Two other Dutch supermarket- his intermediary services. The Prince was chains will merge: De Boer Unigro stripped off all his military functions. Still, (Spar, A-markt and Super De Boer) Queen Juliana and her husband were and still are extremely popular and beloved. Juliana and Vendex Food Groep (Edah, Princess Juliana and her husband prince Basismarkt, and Konmar). With a represented a sort of easygoing interregnum Dutch market share of 24% the new Bernard. Princess Juliana - the mother of between her rigid mother Wilhelmina and her combination will remain queen Beatrix - was head of state from disciplined daughter, the present Queen 1948 till 1984. Beatrix.

20 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner GhanaianDutch News News ROYAL AMBITION continuity of the Dutch nation and of the Dutch throne, she stood firm and she decided BUSINESS AND Grandmother Queen Wilhelmina (1880- to leave as little as possible to chance. 1962) ascended the throne in 1898. As a strong, FINANCE ambitious and authoritarian woman, considerably smaller than Ahold determined and sturdy, she felt rather (with a 40% market share). RIGGING UP frustrated by the limits of royal action which Management said the merger the Dutch constitution imposed. Wilhelmina On 30 April 1980 Queen Beatrix should guarantee a firm position on cherished the reminiscence of the 16-th and succeeded her mother Juliana. The investiture the Dutch market as starting point 17-th century grandeur of the Netherlands. In took place at a special plenary session of both of expansion abroad. After the vain she searched for support to restore this Houses of the States General in the New merger the new company has a former glory, turning her country again in a Church at Dam Square in Amsterdam. Long turnover of 12 billion guilders and strong nation. The spirit of the time left her before she had the royal organization employs 12.000 people. without major allies in Dutch society. The investigated in view of a more up-to-date • Philips sold her music and movie exceptional circumstances of the Second World approach. While her mother lived and worked War however allowed Queen Wilhelmina to subsidiary PolyGram to the in the white Soestdijk Palace in the leafy center Canadian beverage and play the prominent role she always thought of the Netherlands, relatively far away from was hers. From London she put courage into entertainment group Seagram. The the government center, Beatrix took up transaction of Philips’s 75% shares a despairing Dutch people, helped organizing residence in The Hague. There she had a Dutch resistance and in fact replaced the weak, is worth 21 billion guilders. With the couple of palaces restored in former splendor: purchase Seagram’s Universal incompetent Dutch government in exile. Huis ten Bosch as private residence and the During the war she acquired her status of die- Studios will hold a 23% market Noordeinde Palace near parliament as share in the worldwide music hard resistant to Nazi-Germany. A few years working palace. At the same time the splendid after having recaptured her country she industry with Sony Music in second palace and classical gardens of Het Loo, where place at 16%. Philips president stepped down, disappointed that traditional her grandmother Wilhelmina had spent her Boonstra said that with this sale the Dutch compromising and prudential coalition last years, were completely restored. government was reinstalled. In 1962 an restructuring of the company is impressive white-colored funeral procession Meanwhile the new Queen re-organize completed. The deal yielded escorted her remains from The Hague to Delft, her royal offices along lines of discrete directors and managers of where she was buried in the royal crypt. The functionality, efficiency and job rotation. PolyGram at one go 120 million ceremony was one of the first national events Within a few years the new, well-oiled royal guilders due to the options they Dutch people could watch on the then swiftly enterprise started radiating an aura of hold in the company. growing number of black and white television professional skill. • British law requires disclosure of sets. the salaries of top business executives. Dutch law, however, is HERALDING NEW TIMES ROYAL MACHINERY less democratic. But now we know It seems as if Queen Beatrix resembles Approximately 800 people serve, directly also the salaries of the Dutch her grandmother. Unlike her mother Juliana, or indirectly, the House of Her Royal Majesty executive colleagues of British- who could take care of her crown and kingdom the Queen. 300 officials surround her full- Dutch conglomerates such as as a matter-of-course, Queen Beatrix time: the Master of Ceremonies, secretaries, Unilever and Shell. Mr. Herkströter estimated her throne and crown needed new advisors, court-ladies, stablemen, the Lord (Shell-president) received 3.3 input. Details of her inner considerations Chamberlain, filing clerks and researchers, million guilders plus 950.000 remain unknown, but it could very well be the Grand-Master, domestic help and financial guilders worth of options. Unilever- that she assessed her era as one in which the assistants. Then there is a special section of president Tabaksblat received 3 natural foothold of Her Crown would the military police, 300 members strong, million guilders plus 1.5 million diminish if she did not take a more active guarding the royal palaces and other buildings. worth of options. stand. After all, the dramatic national Another special service of 120 functionaries • Half of the remaining 900 smaller circumstances of the Second World War and looks after the personal security of members groceries will disappear within the the acquired authority of her grandmother of the royal family and diplomats. Royal coming 8 years due to tough would inevitably ebb away, gradually being services are also accomplished by a large competition and because outstripped by new facts and phenomena in number of government departments. Core of successors are quite often lacking. Dutch society. the enterprise is the Cabinet of the Queen, Most of these shops are small family And indeed, the smoke bombs thrown where 31 officials supervise the endless stream businesses. by protesters during the ceremonies of her of information, of official government • Dutch official unemployment fell documents (yearly the Queen signs at least marriage in 1966 with the German diplomat to 318.000 persons, the level of July 7000 documents) and of royal appointments. Claus von Amsberg heralded new times: ’81 after which a major recession set Facilitated by this machinery the Queen and traditional respect for hierarchy and authority in. Some observers said that this her family manage to attract quite some media was swiftly dwindling. The riots in the streets means a reversal of the attention. of Amsterdam underlined the fact that her continuously increasing structural claim to the Dutch throne was more or less unemployment. Since the early historic, but not as ‘natural’ as it was for her sixties unemployment after each mother. SCATTERED REPUBLICAN recession was higher than before. VOICES Moreover, she most likely estimated the These observers, however, ignore rather ambiguous European integration and A recent opinion poll showed a support that now the number of disability- the withering away of national frontiers as a of 82% for Queen Beatrix and the monarchy. allowances, unemployment potential undermining of her position. Well- Still, critical voices cannot be suppressed. benefits and social security educated and thoroughly trained and prepared payments is far higher than in ’81. for her vocation, a vocation to guarantee the The Dutch juggling with statistics is deceiving. Continued on page 27

No 22, 8 June 1998 21 GhanaianDutch News News Ghanaian Newsrunner POLITICS TIPTOEING • 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 TOWARD PURPLE II services and facilities by ‘linking’ various data banks of, for example, PURPLE COALITION PARTNERS NEGOTIATE BEHIND THE SCENES the social service, language Senior coalition partners PvdA (Labour) schemes and the partial repeal of assigned courses and the national health and VVD (free-market Liberals) campaigned rights of unemployed and disabled people. service. There are a few as if the general elections on May 6 were an Labour endorsed most of these measures and exceptions: illegal persons remain inconvenient but statutory required ritual. subsequently suffered a dramatic defeat in entitled to legal assistance, to Possible pitfall was a disastrous loss of junior ’94. But they managed to retain some of her medical assistance in cases of coalition partner D’66 (center-left Democrats). traditional image as defender of the welfare acute danger, while their children PvdA and VVD even made appeals to the state. The CDA, however, could not succeed till the age of 18 will not be electorate ‘not to forget D’66’. And indeed, to profile their newly acquired social views excluded from educational D’66 losses were dramatic but not as fatal as and overtake Labour at the left side. Their services. According to a recent predicted. They retained 14 of their 24 seats new views on social policies were study at least 40.000 illegal persons and did not dropped below 12, which was their unconvincing and their conservative stands live in Rotterdam, The Hague, self-declared electoral bottom line for joining on immaterial issues failed to mobilize Amsterdam and Utrecht. ‘At least’ a second ‘purple’ coalition government. The support. the researchers reported, but they three governing ‘purple’ coalition partners said at the same time the real figure together even gained 5 seats. probably stands at 80.000. The study is exemplary for the Dutch CDA UPS AND DOWNS confusion concerning illegal On the left side of the political inhabitants. The problem seems Major surprise was that the Christian Democrat CDA lost for a second time, after spectrum the leftist-environmentalists unsolvable. Authorities know that GroenLinks and the socialist SP were far the policies are not practicable, losing in ’94 their position as biggest party and handing in no less than 20 of their 54 seats. more successful flanking Labour. while more and more people are GroenLinks saw their number of seats go up forced to go underground and quite This time they lost another 5 seats, slipping down to 29. What used to be the pivotal from 5 to 11. The socialists won 3 seats and often end up in criminal circles. now control 5. Labour, headed by prime The researchers admit they can’t governing majority party is now clearly drifting. This erosion not only reflects the minister Wim Kok, interrupted their steady come up with a solution. In fact, downfall since ’89, when they still had 52 they count more or less on the self continual secularization of the Netherlands and a crumbling away of conservative stands seats. This time they made up for some of regulating forces within the several their losses. Gaining 8 seats they now control ethnical communities. towards immaterial issues such as euthanasia and homosexuality. It also throws back the 45 and remain biggest party. The other • Much of the European decision- confusion as to what Christian Democrats major coalition partner, the free-market making is usually hidden from consider as ‘social’. It was the CDA who, in Liberals (VVD) headed by Frits Bolkestein, public view and attracts little public the eighties, initiated privatization, the perpetuated their steady growth and went up attention. The European Summit slimming down of the Dutch social security from 31 to 38 seats. The SGP, forming with early May in Brussels was covered RPF and GPV the traditional ‘small christian by Dutch media as if it were an parties, won 1 seat and together they ended 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 The 3 'informateurs' meet with negotiators of the 3 purple coalition partners (photo B. Verhoeff)

22 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner GhanaianDutch News News up with 8 seats. In contrast, the smaller parties together’. The Christian morning paper representing the special interests of the elderly Trouw headed: ‘Winner Kok can continue POLITICS disappeared just as swiftly as they showed up with Purple’. This is what the Dutch call in parliament in ’94. Last and least: the ultra- ‘consensus’: general agreement on an overall rightist Centrum Democraten (CD) lost all outlook, which should allow to work out the Champions League in the their 3 seats. details later, preferably in back rooms without Amsterdam Arena, Schiphol said the general public looking over their the airport could not receive the shoulders. PvdA and VVD were delighted, approximately 90 non-reported extra charter flights carrying the CHESS-BOARD patting junior party D’66 encouragingly on the back. supporters of Real Madrid and Dutch society nourishes a number of Juventus. As to soothe the national essential and fundamental values, but there’s and international fuss the Dutch cabinet came with a emergency no such thing as ‘the will of the people’. This FIRST WARNINGS has always been a construction. In a two-party measure: the extra charters were system in which one of the two dominant GroenLinks and SP mindfully pointed classified as exceptional flights, parties almost by definition conquers an out that never before the leftist or progressive normally used to registered military absolute majority a program of government parties together had so many seats, a total of flights and planes of heads of state. primarily results from preceding internal party 75, exactly half of all seats. But what is left or At the same time the Ifalpa, the deliberations. In a multi-party system, such progressive these days? Earlier Labour-leader international organization of airline as the Dutch, a program of government results and prime minister Wim Kok called pilots, put Schiphol on their black from the numerical force of the parties and the GroenLinks an irritating nuisance (‘a list for presumed security risks. ensuing negotiations. The process is a tricky jamming station’), while the SP was The decision was taken on the basis one, especially since normally more than one considered as a bunch of negative no-voters. of information provided by the combination of parties can make up a majority The SP for their part trumpetted around that Dutch member-organization VNV. in parliament. In other words: the party under Wim Kok the Labour-party had become They consider the Schiphol having the option to chose between several prey to neo-liberalism and had carried out package of measures to minimize potential coalition partners has an advantage. policies reinforcing the split between the have’s noise nuisance as a serious risk and the have-nots. factor. GroenLinks and SP agreed on the • Dutch-Surinam relationships SIDE REFLECTIONS conclusion that the election results show an continue to be distorted by the much disputed past of former So, consuming and commenting the growing support of a ‘more social’ government program. This time Labour-leader Kok shared Surinam army leader Desi Bouterse. incoming results during the evening of Bouterse is under suspicion of large election day, politicians swiftly made some this interpretation by his leftist competitors. Liberal VVD-leader Bolkestein immediately scale drugs trafficking and money quick calculations figuring out their margins laundering. Last summer Dutch of maneuver. First observation in this case was stepped in, demanding a ‘detailed’ government program. This would be the best Minister of Foreign Affairs Hans van that D’66 still qualified as potential Mierlo (D’66) nearly escaped a government party. Secondly: the combined way to avoid the risk of his coalition partners PvdA and D’66 searching on ‘open’ issues motion of non-confidence by Dutch gains of PvdA and VVD made D’66, unlike in parliament after it turned out he had ’94, dispensable for a parliamentary majority. parliamentary support as to impose measures against the will of the VVD. Consequently put a stop to the arrest of Bouterse Third conclusion was that VVD (38 seats) and by the Brazilian authorities. In the CDA (29) could not put together a majority: some newspapers headed: ‘Coalition talks will be tough’. end, Van Mierlo was able to the VVD has no other option than ‘purple II’. convince parliament that the Fourth wisdom was that Labour, as only major attempt to arrest Bouterse would party, had more than one option. In case the probably have ended in a legal talks on a second purple government would FORMATION fiasco. In March, however, the break down, they still would have alternative Dutch newsweekly ‘Elsevier’ options to govern. With the CDA, for instance Already the next day party leaders looked up ‘shelter within the walls of the royal palace’, published the story that Bouterse (PvdA + CDA + D’66 = 88 seats), or even in has an incriminating file on Van combination with Groenlinks (PvdA + CDA as NRC-Handelsblad rightfully commented on the traditional procedures. As usual the Mierlo. Hans van Mierlo - in 1982 + GroenLinks = 85 seats). Not that these Minister of Defense - would have options are self-evident, but in case of dire need Queen again plays her central part in the formation of the new government. First she known of plans to kill opponents of it is always convenient to hold some trump a planned military coup, but he was cards. consulted the Speakers of the two Chambers of Dutch parliament and the Chairman of the unable to prevent the massacre. Council of State. Then she received the party Van Mierlo considered the leaders. The next day she appointed the allegations libelous and demanded INITIAL CONSENSUS former MP and President of the influential rectification. The Dutch Ministry of Justice continues her That evening, with results coming in Social and Economic Council, Klaas de Vries (Labour) as ‘informateur’. This is the investigations and enables lawyers from all over the country, last doubts were to hear anonymous witnesses via removed quickly. Politicians, journalists and traditional procedure: first one or more ‘informateurs’ to explore possibilities and radio connections with distorted other opinion leaders took up their job to voices. By mistake, however, the fabricate a more or less accepted interpretation obstacles for a new coalition, in this case a coalition between PvdA, VVD and D’66. All ministry divulged the names of two of the elections results. Including the anonymous witnesses. Justice observations and comments the following day this is usually done in full discretion if not secrecy, leading to an advice to the Queen, would like to hear Bouterse in in newspapers, on television and on radio- Surinam between June 15 and 26. stations one major conclusion was shared by followed by the royal appointment of a ‘formateur’. He should come up with a more Hans van Mierlo met on May 27 with almost everybody: the electorate sanctioned a Surinam President Wijdenbosch second purple government. The liberal who made a stop in the Netherlands newspaper NRC-Handelsblad analyzed: on his way from Malaysia to ‘PvdA and VVD condemned to govern Continued on page 7 Surinam.

No 22, 8 June 1998 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 Ghanaian Newsrunner GhanaianSPORTS News 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 Jaap Stam (Oranje) against Oliseh (photo Guus Dubbelman) actions. Then however Hasselbaink scored at close range after a pass from Overmars. After this the Nigerian defence was shattered and EDITORIAL: allowed Overmars and Patrick Kluivert - both players appeared to be in perfect shape - to score two goals each. Kanu made one HUMAN RIGHTS countergoal from a penalty after a foul by Dirk Bogard. SCORED TWICE The disappointing results were not totally unexpected because the Nigerians lost in a It's a classic dilemma. Should we Because of this Amnesty International similar manner against the Grasshoppers (4- allow politics to interfere with sports or produced a tv-commercial in which an 0) and Yugoslavia (3-0). Despite the presence should we keep sports "clean" from African keeper gets executed in front of of starplayers such as Kanu, Finidi and political interventions? his goal. This tv-commercial was not Babangida it appears coach Milutinovic has broadcasted on NL 1,2,3 because of its Many of us feel something like a serious problems of transforming technically alledged violent nature but the sports boycot against Nigeria only hurts competent individuals into a winning controversy about it created a lot of innocent sportsmen who just want to machine. publicity. Goal 1 for the human rights. excel in their sport and don't want to get involved with "politics". The military During the match between Nigeria regime won't be affected. But do such and Holland many activists protested "innocent" sportsmen really exist? visibly for the media in the Arena against the abuse of human rights in Nigeria. Let us look for example at Kanu, one Goal 2 for the human rights. of Nigeria's best players. It is quite possible that Kanu is only interested in As long as the general public is his professional career. It is also possible unware or indifferent about the situation that he is a fanatic supporter of Abacha in Nigeria there is little hope that the just like it is possible that he opposes Western governments take effective Abacha. Whatever his opinion is, the actions against Gen. Abacha. An oil world will never know for sure because boycot won't be imposed in the current there is no freedom of speach in Nigeria. climate of ignorance and indifference. Kanu has got the right to be in favor Friday's friendly match created or against Abacha or to be simply some of the much needed publicity for indifferent and he also got the right to the human rights situation. The real express his opinion freely. However if winner from this match was the daughter Kanu speaks against Abacha, he (and of the winner of the 94 elections Abiola his family) will be harassed, detained, who has since been detained. tortured or even killed. No matter how rich, successfull and respected Kanu She was in the Arena to seek publicity for her detained father and got might be, in essence he has to be silent. it: her photo on the left made it to the Many Dutch people are ignorant frontpage of the Volkskrant. This was an about the political situation in Nigeria . encouraging aspect of a disastrous match.

No 22, 8 June 1998 25 GhanaianSPORTS News Ghanaian Newsrunner SPORTSIKE QUATEY'S TITLE DISPUTE: GOLDFIELD’S WOES WBA TO DECIDE JUNE 8 DEEPEN Obuasi Goldfields’ returned to their The hearing will involve the Ringcraft ‘field’ of nightmares’, the Accra Sports and their boxer, Ike Quartey, on one against Stadium, to taste another embarrassing defeat the Acaries Brothers, managers of the at the hands of their newly-established bogey challenger, Andrei Pestryaev, on the other. side, Accra Great Olympics, who grounded In connection with the hearing, officials them 3-1. of Ringcraft and Ike Quartey will left for New The defeat could jeopardize the position York on Friday June 5. of coach Ibrahim Sunday. Some of the club’s The new development dispels rumors directors have already started hinting that the circulating in boxing circles that Ike was over job of the coach could be on the line as their the weekend stripped of the WBA patience seems to be running our after a series welterweight crown for failing to defend it last of poor results since he took over. May 15 against the Russian. Barely a minute after a close save in the The Ike-Pestryaev bout has generated a 20theminute, the game was lifted by an lot of controversy following bungling and individual brilliance when Charles Taylor fumbling antics by the French promoters, the turned full-circle and bent the ball into the far Acaries Brothers. right corner of he post for the match opener. It would be recalled that the bout was Goldfields began the second half more scheduled by the Acaries Brothers for last May fiercely with the introduction of Joe Okyere 15, a date which was inconvenient to Ike’s and Kamara Dini who put pressure on camp who wanted it in June. Olympics’ defence which was marshaled by skipper Odartey Lawson. WBA CHAMPION IKE QUARTEY Even though Acaries stuck to their guns Like a carbon copy of the first half, the The World Boxing Association (WBA) to have the bout on May 15, it was only two home side struck again when Emmanuel has fixed June 8 for hearing of the Ike Quartey- days to the bout that they dispatched plane Aidoo ran for a loose ball and coolly tapped in Andrei Pestryaev mandatory title bout dispute. tickets to Ike and his managers. the second goal past on-rushing goalkeeper The hearing will take place in New York The Acaries also failed to meet certain Osei Kwadwo, whose poor timing exposed the with the WBA boss, Gilberto Mendora, conditions demanded by Ringcraft for post. presiding. accepting the bout which the Acaries won the purse did to promote in French. Five minutes later, Goldfields’ resilience This was contained in a letter dispatched paid off when Ivorian international Brahima to the Ringcraft Promotions and Management Kone slammed in their only goal after Syndicate by the WBA boss last Saturday. Princeton Owusu-Ansah headed Boakye’s corner. But Olympics put the game beyond the visitors’ when Amui Quaye drilled in the final SWEDRU GOES GAY nail in the coffin for the miners in the 80th ...As All Blacks beat Kotoko 2-0 minute. A two man move between Taylor and Raja saw the latter meandering his way The entire Swedru township was thrown into wild celebrations when local side, All Blacks, through a number of tired-looking Goldfields brought Kumasi Asante Kotoko down to earth wit a commanding 2-0 victory in their grudge legs for Taylor to further expose the flat- league match at the Swedru Sports Stadium last Sunday. looking Goldfields. This victory served a dual purpose: a refreshing revenge for their first round 1-0 loss in OKWAWU TRIUMPH 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. A well-organized Okwawu United con- tinued with their recovery at home when they The stadium witnessed perhaps one of the heaviest attendance in many years when beat Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs 2-0 in their numerous Kotoko supporters began pouring in early in the day. ABC league match played at Nkawkaw. Dwarfs' capatain, Osei Kuffour, who was ear- The home side opened up fiercely and made the first attempt at scoring after two minutes lier in the 21sit minute shown yellow card for of play when Baba Adamu’s shot missed target. But six minutes later, their efforts were rewarded rough play, was sent off in the 27th minute for when center forward Alhaji Shaibu capitalized on a rebound after Kotoko’s goalkeeper Michael dissent by Tamale-based class one referee, Abu failed to make a first-time save of a free-kick taken by Yaw Berko. Ibrahim Iddrisu. Other Dwarfs players who After some fierce exchanges, All Blacks defender Kenneth Ababio sneaked from nowhere attracted the yellow card for rough play were and blasted home the second goal which caught Abu wrong footed just on the half-hour mark. right-full back Victor Antwi, inside right Rashid Iddi and central defender Philip After this, the two sides began playing it hard after which Kokoto played their cards by Oguaa. After playing goalless in the first half, bringing on Constant Mantey for Abu and Osei Bonsu replacing Kalilu Dramani. Okwawu were rewarded in the 52nd minute when inside right and goal-getter Opoku After lifting their game to salvage at least a point, Kotoko were just six minutes away from Sampene scored from a goal-mouth melee. an embarrassing defeat when fortune smiled on them after an All Blacks defender handled the After this goal, Okwawu took control and ball in the penalty box for a spot kick. carried the game to their opponents and de- Surprisingly, Emmanuel Ampiah’s kick hit the crossbar to seal their doom. servedly scored their second goal through substitute Kennedy Amponsah.

26 No 22, 8 June 1998 Ghanaian Newsrunner GhanaianSPORTS News

Joe Ansah for left winger Emmanuel Adjorgu HEARTS LIFT JUNE FOUR CUP and Kofi Owusu respectively in the 75th minute. But it was Kotoko who equalised two UNDER FLOODLIGHTS. minutes later from Essuman Dadzie's header. During the penalty shoot outs, Rober Saba, Accra Hearts Oak beat arch rivals five minute and wasted three corner kicks. Emmanuel Armah, Joe Ansah, Eben Dida, Kumasi Asante Kototo 7-6 on penalties to lift Kotoko nearly set the stadium ablaze in the Charles Allotey, Amankwah Mireku and Sani the June four anniversary trophy in a special sixth minute when player-maker Prince Adu- Wahab scored for Hearts, while Emmanuel soccer match played at the Accra Sports Poku cleverly beat central efender Jacob Nettey Ampiah, Victor Aidoo, Polo, Godwin Ablorde Stadium on Thursday June 5. Scores at the and laid on a good pass to striker Essuman Adu-Poku and Osei Bonsu netted for Kotoko. end of regulation 90 minutes was 1-1. Dadzie who blasted it off the body of on- Sakyi (Hearts), Dadzie and Emmanuel Badu rushing goalie Eben Dida. of Kotoko wasted their kicks. The match, the first to be played under the newly-installed 3.5 billion cedi Four minutes later Hearts' inside left Yaw floodlights, formed part of the activities Sakyi had a golden opportunity to put his side Continued from page 16 marking the 19th anniversary celebrations ahead but his final shot after a move with striker Osumanu Amanu went straight to of the June four uprising. President Jerry John Some say the monarchy is far too expensive (the goalkeeper Mike Abu. Nettey was shown the Rawlings, who had earlier watched the total budget is estimated at approximately 100 first yellow card by TogoleseFIFA referee commissioning of the floodlights by Mr E. T. million guilders). A more substantial objection Ekoue-Toulan Kouevi in the 21st minute. Mensah, Minister of Youth and Sports, is the heredity of the position. Nobody, not presented the anniversary trophy to skipper He was immediately replaced by veteran even the Queen, is able to explain the rationale Nii Noi Dowuona of Hearts amidst cheers defender Emmanuel Armah. Sakyi shot of the right to become head of state because of from the over capacity crowd. Hearts into the lead in the 43rd minute birth. through a spot-kick after he had been brought Supported by vice-president Professor But this, one observer recently wrote, down by Kotoko's hard-tackler Victor Aidoo. John Atta Mills, President Rawlings explains precisely the popularity of the Kotoko brought on ex-Hearts attacker decorated the 22 players of both teams with institution: at the end of the twentieth century Godwin Ablorde and Mohammed Polo for medals. In addition to the trophy, Hearts we’ve landed in a culture in which we don’t right winger Abdulai Mustapha and left full received a 20-inch television set and a deck appreciate something anymore because it is back Samuel Bakai respectively to start the while Kotoko also had a 20-inch television beautiful, but because it reminds us of second half. Sakyi nearly increased the tally set, all donated by Philips Electronics, something that used to be beautiful. The for Hearts in the 55th minute after swapping contractors of their floodlights monarchy , pre-eminently, satisfies this passes with Amadu but his final touch from yearning for the irrational and for nostalgia. Kotoko kicked off on a fast note after the close range was saved by goalie Abu. pre-match inspection led y President Rawlings Besides, it’s your perfect family: they’re always but it was Hearts who took control in the first Hearts brought on Robert Saba and there, but they need no looking after.

No 22, 8 June 1998 27 Ghanaian News Ghanaian Newsrunner

28 No 22, 8 June 1998