RAWLINGS WEEPS ON CNN OVER PLIGHT OF SOMALIS

Former President Jerry John Rawlings could not hold back his tears as he broke down in the midst of a live interview on CNN, over the suffering of the many Somalian people.
The United Nations has declared famine in the horn of Africa comprising of Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia due to lack of rains in the past two years.
Ex-President Rawlings was recounting his experience on the ground, to CNN’s International Desk Programme hosted by Aysha Sesay today.
Mr. Rawlings who was being interviewed via satellite from a base in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, broke down in tears when he started narrating how he saw a 5 year old child who looked so much like a one-and-a-half year old due to the severity of the situation.

He stated that the African Union has done remarkable well to help solve the situation in Somalia. According to him, tens of thousands of Somalis are feared dead in the world's worst famine in a generation.
The African Union High Commission to Somalia stated that the fact that the nation has been hit by famine shows just how grave the situation has become.
He explains that it is time for the world to help.

UG SUSPENSION CAN INFLUENCE COURT JUDGEMENT-LAWYER

A constitutional Lawyer, Osei Kwadwo says the disciplinary punishment minted out to the six university students for allegedly molesting Amina Haruna they claimed to be a thief at the University of Ghana can influence court judgment.
He argued that the university’s action prejudices the court judgment, stating that the school should have assisted in investigations rather than immediately issuing punishments.
He however stated he does not expect the court to be influence by the University’s decision.
Lawyer Osei Kwadwo added that the University decision to punish the six students is lawful which should be tolerated.
But he emphasized that it has a tendency to influence the court decision on the case.

KOFI WAYO SAYS ECG MUST GIVE OUT PREPAID METERS FREE

A Board Member of the Energy Commission, Kofi Wayo says the Electricity Company of Ghana must give out prepaid meters for free.
He stress that the ECG does not have the right to charge people for pre-paid meters because they have been heavily subsidized by government.
Mr. Wayo therefore urged the public to resist the sale of prepaid meters.
He says the Commission will soon meet with the ECG to deliberate on the issue.

The Member of Parliament for Jirapa in the Upper West region, Dr Francis Bawaana Dakura appealed to the ECG to allow the prepaid meters to go for sale on the market so that people have easy access to them instead of going to ECG offices.
Dr. Francis Bawaana Dakura who is also a member on the Energy Commission explains that the ECG has monopolised the sale of the prepaid meters which makes it easier for them to exploit the people.

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EX-GRATIA TOPS CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW ENTRIES

The Public Relations Officer of the Constitutional Review Commission, Paa Kow Acquaye has disclosed that issues topping the list of entries for constitutional review include Ex-gratia and members of Parliament serving as Ministers of state.
He explains that most people were concern with the terms, conditions and the total package for ex-statesmen in the country.
He states that the commission has received about 80,000 suggestions from Ghanaians home and abroad.
Paa Kow Acquaye stress that the commission will be ready to submit their entries to the President through Parliament by the end of August.
He commended various political and civil society groups who have taken the initiative to collate views from the public for onward submission to the commission.
Story: Samuel Mantey/Adomonline.com/Ghana

CONSTITUTION SHOULD NOT GIVE SPECIFIC ROLES TO FORMER PRESIDENTS-EXPERT

The Head of Graduate School of Leadership and Governance at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Dr Kwaku Osei Akom says it not necessary to give special constitutional roles to former Presidents.
He explains that former Presidents are statesmen which mean that they are ready to serve under any capacity for the development of the nation.
Dr Osei Akom stated that due to the partisan nature of Politician in the country it will be difficult to give specific roles in the constitution to former Presidents if another party wins power.
He added that the US democracy is different from the ‘dirty politics’ practiced in Ghana so if the US former presidents are given roles it will be difficult to practice it in Ghana.

Dr Kwaku Osei Akom says rather former Presidents should be given huge ex-gratia so that they can embark on any projects they may wish to perform.
He states that if the former Presidents are comfortable they will be able to contribute to the development of the nation.