24Newsbureau

Energy expert to take over GIA?

2006-04-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

Energy expert and former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA) Dr Charles Wereko Brobby is to be appointed as the substantive CEO of the Ghana International Airlines (GIA).

According to the Heritage investigations he is a keen insider in the current happenings at the airline and government is preparing him to take over the leadership of the airline.

Meanwhile, the national carrier risks being thrown out of its Silver Star towers office.

According to the Heritage newspaper the airline is perching (squatting) at where it is in the Silver Star towers and Mary Greens lade information services, real owners of the offices could ask it to vacate if the confrontation and misunderstanding with GIA-US continues.

Mary Greens lade information services is said to be owned by the embattled Vice President of the airline, Sammy Crabbe.Documents available to the Heritage newspaper with the signature of former Vice President of the airline, Albert Vitale suggest that the airline is allowed to squat in the offices of the Silver star towers simply because it has secured an agreement with the Mary Greens lade Information Services for it to provide some services to the airline based on the joint ownership agreement.

Mary Greens lade Information Services is a subsidiary organization of one of the shareholders of GIA-USA, LLC and with the collapse of the agreement and the daily harassment of its owners, the company is likely to sever ties with the airline and subsequently ask it to vacate the Silver Star towers it currently occupies.

Source: The Heritage

Former Head of State In Ghana Attacks International Press

2006-04-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

Former president Rawlings has accused the government of paying journalists to cover up its misdeeds.

Speaking to the BBC, he repeated his claim that the international media has also been biased with its reportage on Ghana.

These are excerpts of the interview he had with Network Africa host Victor Silver on BBC

Rawlings: I am not an angel but for heavens sake I do respect morality

Victor: Talking about respect, what is the relationship between you and the present head of state in Ghana?

Rawlings: I’ve said it and I am going to say it again, that man and I are diametrically opposed in our political philosophy, economical and our social philosophies, I don’t want to sound ungracious…

Victor: You think he did not respect you enough because there was a time that I remember you said you were not accorded the respect that one should give to a former head of state.

Rawlings: I never said so

Victor: It was reportedRawlings: Well people report all kinds of things in Ghana.

The good numbers of media personnel are paid by Kufuor’s regime to misinform and disinform the international community.

And you better listen to me chief that its not only the ones in Ghana, BBC, okay, CNN, SKY etc have all participated in suppressing the impunity, some of the deceit, some of the nasty things going on in my country in order to hoist and fly the flag of Ghana as a good example for the rest of Africa so that other African governments can tale a cue from us in Ghana.

Victor: So what you think the government of Ghana should not be the example for other African countries to copy?

Rawlings We should be but there is a lot of wrong going on in Ghana.

Ghana's Information Minister Fired

2006-04-28T05:14:00.000-07:00

Ghana’s information minister, Dan Botwe is one of five ministers to suffer President Kufuor’s recent cabinet reshuffle of reducing his government from the present 88 minister to 60

The minister confirmed to JOYNEWS that the President has asked him to step aside as he reshuffles his government.

Dan Botwe has always not been a favourite on the Kufuor administration list owing to his opposition to President Kufuor’s bid in the past when the NPP was in opposition.

Castle Sources say Education minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, Attorney General Ayikoi Otoo, NEPAD Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Environment and Science Minister, Christine Churcher and Energy Minister, Prof. Mike Ocquaye have all been removed.

The sources say Foreign Affairs Minister Nana Akuffo Addo has been maintained.Papa Owusu Ankomah has been removed from the Interior ministry.

Castle sources say President Kufuor is determined to down size his administration from 88 to about 70.

JOYNEWS castle sources say Joe Ghartey has been elevated to the post of Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Kwamena Bartels has been moved from the Private Sector Development & PSI to Information, while Deputy Sports minister O.B. Amoah has also been elevated to the Local Government and Rural development ministry.

The fate of Charles Bintim is currently unknown. Meanwhile castle sources say Presidential Spokesman and Press Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong on Thursday decided to ‘opt out of office’ or resign.

There are however indications that he may grab a new and ministerial post.

Source: Joyonline