8th January, 2015

The Daily Graphic congratulates the President on steering the affairs of the state, especially during these turbulent times. The paper however expresses worry about three issues and wants the president to pay attention to them. These are the high cost of living, the growing canker of corruption among public officers and the debilitating effects that ‘dumsor’ is having on the economy. The Daily Graphic hopes that as President Mahama enters the third year of his first term, he and his team will take the bull by the horn and rally the people to turn around the country's economic situation to restore hope to Ghanaians. 

The Ghanaians Times cautions Ghanaians against politicizing petroleum issues. It says the NPA under intense pressure reduced petrol prices by 10 percent which critics say falls below expectation. The Times says although it is justified for people to demand for further reduction, it is prudent for government to save from the windfall to offset the debt owed the Bulk Distribution Companies. It is therefore in the national interest to accept the temporary freeze on further reduction for a good cause. 

The Today Newspaper is worried about the incidence of fire outbreaks five days into 2015, especially with the first market fire recorded at the Achimota Market.  It raises concern about the fact that most of the markets in the country are built of wood. This coupled with poor renovation and illegal wiring has made them susceptible to fire outbreaks. The Paper hopes the Achimota fire is not the beginning of the many market fires to occur in 2015 as was recorded last year. The Paper is therefore calling on state agencies, especially district assemblies to assert themselves in what they are mandated to do in order to reduce fires.
 
The Heritage comments on a statement released by the coalition of Domestic Observers, CODEO on the observation of the pre-election environment ahead of the upcoming district assemblies and unit committee elections. The Paper says despite consistent and sustained campaign against multiple registrations, some miscreants still double in the act to rig elections. It says with the general elections in sight, the EC must hand over election fraudsters to the law enforcement agencies to deter others. The paper also calls for an intensive public education on election issues.
 
GBC