GHANA POLITICS CENTER

Supreme Court set out modalities for cross-examination

2013-04-20T09:18:00.001Z

The Supreme Court has set out a new mode for cross-examination of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the election petition case in which three leaders of the NPP are challenging the results of the 2012 General elections.

The eminent panel of judges in a letter copied to all parties in the election petition case directed the counsel for the first petitioner, Tony Lithur to list all duplicated pink sheets and send an electronic version of the lists to the court and to the petitioners.
The letter signed by the presiding judge W.A Atuguba says the new method is to expedite the hearing of the petition.
The following is the full version of the letter

MODE OF CONTINUATION OF CROSS-EXAMINATION OF 2ND PETITIONER ON PINK SHEETS
In order to expedite the hearing of the petition, the panel hereby directs that the cross-examination on the pink sheets be continued as follows:
1. Counsel for the 1st Respondent do list out the residue of the pink sheets in the manner here to be identified by him in his cross-examination of the 2nd petitioner which he claims were duplicated, in their mode and manner of generation and extent of their user by the petitioners for the purposes of proof of their petition.
2. The said list should be electronically served forthwith by counsel for the 1st respondent on all other parties.
3. At the resumed sitting on Monday, 22/04/2013 counsel for the 1st respondent may put the said list by way of further cross-examination to the 2nd petitioner for his response.
4. The said list can then be tended in evidence.
5. Counsel for the 1st respondent or any other party may bring along with him his or their copies of the pink sheets.
W. A. ATUGUBA PRESIDING JUDGE

Akufo Addo files supplementary affidavit in Kpegah suit

2013-04-19T18:42:00.001Z

XYZ News can report that former Presidential candidate Nana Akufo Addo has filed a supplementary affidavit at the High Court concerning a law suit filed against him by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice F Y Kpegah challenging the former main opposition Flagbearer’s qualification as a lawyer.

The 2012 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Candidate had earlier responded to the suit.

One of his Lawyers, Frank Davis entered an appearance on the former Attorney General’s behalf.

It is therefore not clear what has necessitated the supplementary affidavit on Nana Akufo Addo’s part.

However, XYZ News has learnt that the case is billed for hearing on Tuesday April 23, 2013.

Justice Kpegah filed the suit at the Accra High Court about a month ago accusing the 2012 Presidential candidate of impersonation.

He wondered why Nana Akufo-Addo was holding himself as a lawyer when, according to the former Acting Chief Justice, the former Presidential Candidate’s name was not on the roll of lawyers in Ghana.

In his statement of claim, the retired judge also accused former President John Agyekum Kufuor of complicity when, according to him, Mr Kufuor’s government knew or ought to have known that Nana Akufo-Addo was not on the roll of lawyers, but appointed him as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice who by the provisions of the 1992 Constitution must be a lawyer in good standing.

The statement said Nana Akufo-Addo never signed the matriculation book at the Law School which was evidence of enrolment in an institution and that the defendant was not known to have changed his name neither had he been installed anywhere in the country within the meaning of the 1992 Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act.

According to the statement, the defendant was impersonating one W.A.D. Akufo Addo who is on the roll of lawyers as number 1190.

It said claims by the defendant that he obtained his early education at Government Boys School and later Kinbu before proceeding to the UK for his Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates implied that he obtained his Ordinary and Advanced Certificates in the UK.

According to the statement, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo never took advantage of the provisions of the General Legal Council Act which enabled people like Mr R.J.A. Stanley Harvey of Grey’s Inn who was called to the English Bar in 1947 but was specifically called to the Ghana Bar in 1972 to enable him practice in Ghana.

The statement noted that no lawyer in Ghana worth his salt could say that if you were called to the English Bar you could automatically practice in Ghana without being called to the bar.

The plaintiff is therefore seeking a declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of the General Legal Council Act, Act 38 of 1960 (as amended) unless a person is called to the Bar in Ghana and his name entered in the Roll of Lawyers by the body mandated under the said Act 38 (as amended) to regulate the training and certification of persons after a prescribed course of study, that person cannot be deemed competent to practice law in any court of Ghana.

He is also seeking a declaration that the law firm established as Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co. at 67 Kojo Thompson Road, Adabraka, Accra is an illegal law firm and thus not competent to represent any party in litigation before any court in Ghana.

He is further seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from holding himself out as a lawyer competent to practice in the Ghanaian courts or anybody regarding him as such.

May The Wrath Of God Fall Upon All Those Who Mock At Me – Akua Donkor

2013-04-19T18:37:00.001Z

Failed presidential candidate for the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor has called on God to rain curses upon individuals who have made it a habit to make mockery of every move and step she takes.

Speaking on Okay FM, the GFP leader lamented that even though she hasn’t been educated like others have, she knows the word affidavits isn’t the name of a girl.

Madam Akua Donkor became the talk of town when some undisclosed individuals insinuated on various social media that she claimed during an interview that affidavits is a name of a Ghanaian lady by name Afi Davis.

Peeved at the prank which is being attributed to her, she raucously screamed that “some of your mothers haven’t been to school like me. It is by the grace of God some of you have been to school but it doesn’t mean I don’t understand the word ‘affidavits’. I know that word, I know it means taking an oath,” she said.

According to her, she finds it unethical to learn that some people have absolutely no respect for her and are quick to tarnish her image anytime she makes strides to help build Ghana.

She was quick to accuse Dr. Nduom and his party members of igniting the prank.

According to the GFP leader, her appearance at the Supreme Courts seems to prick the skin of Dr. Nduom who is scared to be exposed at the end of the proceedings.

Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Swearing With The Holy Qur’an...Imams Caution Bawumia

2013-04-19T18:35:00.001Z

Dr. Mahmud Bawumia, the running mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, the 2012 Presidential Flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has incurred the wrath of the top hierarchy of the Muslim Community over his decision to swear with the Holy Qur’an when he appeared before the Supreme Court as the Second Petitioner yesterday.

To the Muslim Ulama, the issues Dr. Bawumia was giving testimony to were not entirely firsthand information but rather, matters that were partly known to him or reported to him by second and third parties and so for him to appear before the court and swear with the Holy Qur’an to “say the truth and nothing but the truth” was in bad taste and sacrilegious.

They pointed out that he could incur the wrath of Almighty Allah if the information he is relying on in court turns to be false.

An eminent Islamic scholar close to a meeting of Muslim clerics convened to deliberate on the matter, disclosed to The Al-Hajj yesterday that in strict Islamic practice, for one to swear with the ‘Holy Qur’an’ means that whatever that person is going to say is nothing but the whole truth, and so for Bawumia to resort to swearing by the Holy Qur’an for a matter that he knows deep down his heart he cannot vouch for, save, for the sake of its political convenience was highly condemnable in the sight of our Maker, Allah.

Explaining further the concerns of the aggrieved Muslim leaders, the source rather suggested that he could have opted for the choice to affirm instead of swearing with the Holy Qur’an.

Dr. Bawumia, who together with the NPP 2012 flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and NPP Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey are seeking to overturn the declaration of President John Mahama as winner of the said 2012 elections, opted to swear with the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an when he mounted the witness box yesterday at the Supreme Court to lead evidence for the petitioners who have cited widespread irregularities during the conduct of the polls.

Nana AkufoAddo, jointly with his running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and party Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey in their petition before the Supreme Court are requesting the court to annul 4,670,504 of the valid votes cast during the election involving 11,916 polling stations where the alleged irregularities took place.
The Court has since narrowed the essence of the petition to two, based on which they would give their ruling after parties in the case have advanced their arguments.

First of all, the court will establish whether or not there were statutory and constitutional violations, irregularities, omissions and malpractices in the 2012 general elections and then determine whether these could have affected the results of the election.

But, Dr. Bawumia’s use of the Holy Qur’an to swear on day 2 of the hearing of the 2012 election petition before the Supreme Court has not gone down with many Muslim clerics.

However, refreshing information reaching the Al- Hajj at the time of going to bed speaks of crunch meetings being organized by the Muslim leaders to evaluate the implications and the possibility of averting any calamity that could befall Bawumia following his use of the Qur’an to swear over a matter whose veracity, he could not completely and totally vouch for.

“He (Bawumia) is one of our own and therefore we are concerned about what happens to him after the incident”, a source told The Al-Hajj.

Throwing more light on the matter, two Islamic Clerics Sheikh Mohammed Bagaya and Ustaz Tahir admitted, high penalty awaits whosoever commits such a dangerous religious sacrilege but differ on the remedies.

Whereas Sheikh Bagaya believes that the possible dangers of such a crime could be averted if the culprit could fast for some prescribe period or feed orphans for some period of time, Ustaz Tahir indicated there could not be remedies for such a crime.

Source: Al-Hajj/Ghana

STATEMENT: NPP Officially Reacts To Kwame Pianim

2013-02-27T17:33:00.002Z

The NPP takes notice of the sentiments about the party expressed by Kwame Pianim in Africawatch magazine, which report has also been circulating in the local media.

The NPP is ready to accept results of any election no matter how bitter. It did so in 1992, 1996 and 2008. In 2008 for example, even though the party was the incumbent government and lost by the narrowest of margins, the party accepted the results. The party however disagrees with the results of the 2012 elections. As the law requires, we have submitted the basis of our disagreement in the form of a petition to the Supreme Court of Ghana.

Nana Akufo-Addo, after December 9 2012, has not held himself out as the leader of the NPP. Every official meeting of the party at the national level has been chaired by the National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

The petition before the Supreme Court is in the names of three individuals, including the Chairman of the NPP, because the rules governing petitions of this sort provide that the petitioners should be individual citizens. These three individuals are therefore acting in the name of the party. It should be trite knowledge that the vast numbers of the rank and file of the party fully support this action. Indeed it will amount to gross negligence and betrayal if NPP leadership took no action in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the Illegalities and malpractices that attended the conduct of the 2012 general elections.

The party's boycott of President Mahama's inauguration was not the decision of just the National Executives, but one taken by a full meeting of the National Council, which is the second highest decision making body of the party. The National Council is composed of the entire membership of the national executive committee, council of elders, founding members, ex- presidents, ex- vice presidents, ex- national chairmen, ex general secretaries, flagbearers, parliamentary leadership, 20 members of parliament, all regional chairmen, heads of the various directorates etc. The party's protest against the election results is not limited to the Supreme Court. The protest extends to other non violent, peaceful activities such as specific parliamentary boycotts.

Mr. Pianim may find disagreeable some people who speak for the party. If Mr. Pianim describes others as self appointed spokespersons, how will he describe himself as he also appears to be speaking on behalf of the NPP?

The NPP is not making a fuss about the court case. The court case is based on the most solid, in our view, of evidence. It does not seem that Mr. Pianim has availed himself of the details of this evidence.

The NPP has had various branding but no branding of the party can give anyone the impression that the party is a family stool to be inherited. It is trite knowledge that positions in the NPP are always keenly contested for. Indeed the NPP is the only political party in Ghana where over 100,000 people go to the polls to elect a flagbearer.

One cannot help but remember the conduct of Mr. Pianim in 1996, when Mr. Pianim's eligibility to contest NPP flagbearership elections was challenged in court. Mr. Pianim sought to hold the party to ransom by attempting to subject the party's congress to his fortunes in the court case. It is that kind of behaviour that suggests that one views positions in the party as inheritances.

Mr. Pianim calls for a rebuilding of the party. It is our humble view that the court challenge is a major part of rebuilding the party. Indeed the court case seeks to restore the greatest integrity in our electoral system. Hence it goes to the heart of Ghanaian democracy itself. We ask elders like Mr. Pianim to be part of the spirit of the party at this time by supporting the tremendous effort the party is making in court not only for itself but for Democracy in Ghana

......Signed......

Nana Akomea

NPP Communications Director

Rawlings to attend President Mahama's campaign launch

2012-10-03T04:42:00.000Z

President John Dramani Mahama is to kick-start his 2012 elections campaign in the Volta Region in Ho on Friday, October 5 at the Jubilee Park.

This will be preceded by the launch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party’s manifesto on Thursday, October 4 in Ho.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings and NDC gurus are expected to be at the launch.

Mr Simon Amegashie-Viglo, Regional Secretary of the Party, made this known to journalists on Tuesday.

He said President Mahama would inaugurate Ghana Education Trust Fund projects at OLA Senior High School and inspect other such projects at the Ho Polytechnic.

Mr Amegashie-Viglo said the manifesto, which would centre on transparent and accountable governance, strong economy for real jobs creation, investing in people and expanding infrastructure would deepen the Party’s commitment “to serve the people of Ghana”.

Mr Amegashie-Viglo said the manifesto would also outline the main targets of the NDC government for 2012-2016 and map out strategies for achieving those targets.

“Under the Better Ghana Agenda chapter two, the NDC Government under… John Mahama would deepen government’s commitment to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians in health, agriculture, education and the energy sectors,” Mr Amegashie-Viglo said.

President Mahama is billed to address rallies at Juapong, Asikuma, Peki, Kpeve, Dzolokpuita on Wednesday before the manifesto launch in Ho on Thursday.

After the campaign launch in Ho, President Mahama would address rallies at Kpetoe, Ave-Dakpa, Dzodze, Akatsi, Aflao, Keta, Dzelukorfe and Sogakofe.

>>> GNA

Sakara cautions EC over new constituencies

2012-10-03T04:39:00.000Z

The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the Convention People’s Party, Dr Abu Sakara is advising the Electoral Commission to proceed with caution regarding the creation of the additional 45 new constituencies which is expected to receive legal backing from Parliament.

According to him, there are a lot of issues pending such as the core definition of the boundary lines of constituencies as well as concerns about the timing of the event and the perceived advantage that it gives to a well resourced incumbent.

He said because of these, the EC needs to proceed with extreme caution in order to find political accommodation and compromise across the political spectrum.

“To suggest that we can simply go ahead without finding a compromise solution will be foolhardy, because we know how critical this election is, not just to the political parties but most importantly to Ghana and especially the Youth of the Country”.

“As far as Presidential votes are concerned, it doesn’t really matter at which polling or constituency they are; they are counted across the country to determine who wins, so they are not as affected by the ongoing concerns as the constituency votes that determine parliamentarians.

“This is really where the problem is and this is why we are saying that a political accommodation that reaches a compromise across the political parties should be sought’.

Dr Sakara indicated that the Political accommodation will be to look at the possibility that will reach a compromise where we could keep the results of Presidential votes across all the constituencies and perhaps look to postpone parliamentary voting in some particular constituencies where there is contention or dissatisfaction over timing.

“That is really the issue and we are saying that we should consider it seriously. We agree that nobody should encumber the electoral commission in it work but we also are aware that common sense must prevail” Dr Sakara said.

“There is already high tension and there is a perception of abuse of incumbency by this unprecedented number of constituencies created in a particular election. This also creates significant room for concern that the outcome of the election might be affected by the first march that the opposition parties would have to undertake in order to be able to complete preparation and compete in all of these newly created constituencies. Where we are now, we hope that voices of reason will prevail and that some kind of political accommodation can be found. It is not enough to simply say because there is a legal backing for it that we should simply procede without recourse to addressing the legitimate concerns that people have raised."

>>Myjoyonline.com

'In All My Years As A Parliamentarian, I've Never Been This Sad'

2012-10-03T04:35:00.001Z

Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislative Committee (SLC), Hon Osei Kwame Prempeh says he is hugely disappointed with the decision by the Majority caucus to reject the committee’s report on Constitutional Instrument (CI) 78.

Osei Kwame Prempeh believes the Majority Caucus only cared about their partisan interest instead of the general good of the whole nation, describing their decision as shameful.

On Monday, Parliament, by a Majority vote of 81 to 56, rejected the recommendation of the Committee for the annulment of the proposed CI 78, which is to give legal backing to the creation of some 45 new constituencies because it was fraught with mistakes. The legislature is made up of 228 members.

The report, which was laid before the House last Friday indicated that 26 electoral areas created under LI 1983 had been omitted whiles 22 non-existing electoral areas have been introduced.

The Majority’s decision means, the Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) Instrument 2012 (C.I 78) would mature latest by Wednesday.

Speaking on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning show on Tuesday October 2, 2012, the Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo MP, who was also a former Deputy Attorney General during the erstwhile Kufuor administration said as he was reading the report which was drafted not only by the Minority but by both sides, “they were only making noise and for the first time in my life and my long years of serving in parliament, I felt sad”.


	Hon Osei Kwame Prempeh

To him, what was more surprising was the behavior of members of the SLC from the majority side who played a key part in the preparation and adoption of the report by the committee.

“In all my years of serving in parliament, I have never been this sad like yesterday (Monday). Seeing accomplished MPs who are astute lawyers, turn the whole report upside down because of their selfish political interest was very sad. What was heartbreaking was the attitude of the MPs from the Majority side of the House who are part of the committee…after discovering the errors in CI 78 and agreeing that the committee should call for the annulment of the CI, these colleagues, after the report was laid before the House lied just for political expediency,” he noted.

He added that it was embarrassing for people described as honorables to stand on the floor of the House, look truth in the face and lie against their conscience.

He pointed out that the NPP is not against the creation of new constituencies, but simply wants the right thing to be done at the right time.

“…the NDC is creating the impression that the creation of new constituencies automatically means development which is erroneous because, it is rather additional cost at this time...it is clearly obvious that when you are an MP in the Minority, you can have your say but the Majority will always have their way,” Hon Osei Kwame Prempeh glumly said.

Source: Beatrice Adepa Frempong/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

President Mahama to kick-start campaign in VR on Friday in Ho

2012-10-03T04:30:00.000Z

President John Dramani Mahama is to kick-start his 2012 elections campaign in the Volta Region in Ho on Friday, October 5 at the Jubilee Park.

This will be preceded by the launch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party’s manifesto on Thursday, October 4 in Ho.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings and NDC gurus are expected to be at the launch.

Mr Simon Amegashie-Viglo, Regional Secretary of the Party, who made this known to journalists on Tuesday.

He said President Mahama would inaugurate Ghana Education Trust Fund projects at OLA Senior High School and inspect other such projects at the Ho Polytechnic.

Mr Amegashie-Viglo said the manifesto, which would centre on transparent and accountable governance, strong economy for real jobs creation, investing in people and expanding infrastructure would deepen the Party’s commitment “to serve the people of Ghana”.

Mr Amegashie-Viglo said the manifesto would also outline the main targets of the NDC government for 2012-2016 and map out strategies for achieving those targets.

“Under the Better Ghana Agenda chapter two, the NDC Government under… John Mahama would deepen government’s commitment to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians in health, agriculture, education and the energy sectors,” Mr Amegashie-Viglo said.

President Mahama is billed to address rallies at Juapong, Asikuma, Peki, Kpeve, Dzolokpuita on Wednesday before the manifesto launch in Ho on Thursday.

After the campaign launch in Ho, President Mahama would address rallies at Kpetoe, Ave-Dakpa, Dzodze, Akatsi, Aflao, Keta, Dzelukorfe and Sogakofe.

Meanwhile streetlights in Ho have been decorated with NDC paraphernalia.

Source: GNA

PPP Is Only Engaging In Media Politics…Mark My Words, They Won’t Make Any Impact In 2012 - Adenta MP

2012-07-24T04:13:00.001Z

The NDC MP for Adenta, Hon. Kojo Adu-Asare has described the Progressive People Party (PPP) as not having any strong base at the grass-roots level and only interested in engaging in media politics.

To him, the PPP is no threat to the electoral fortunes of the NDC as a political party for one to worry about.

The Adenta MP was reacting to comments by Ishmael Kwesi Longdon, a member of the PPP’s Communication Team on Peace FM’s flagship programme ‘Kokrokoo’.

The PPP activist had earlier stated on the same platform that the ruling party should concern itself with addressing the needs of Ghanaians and improve on bettering the lot of the masses instead of slugging it out with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) over who owns a campaign slogan.

After quibbling ceaselessly over a litany of issues not excluding the payment of judgment debts, the two frontline political parties are set for a collision course over who owns the rights of a slogan.

Whiles the NDC claims “People Matter, You Matter” belong to them based on the social democratic credentials of the party, the NPP insists the slogan is their bonafide property and has for a year now been the title of their 2012 Manifesto, chosen after personal interactions held with the suffering masses.

Speaking to the issue on “Kokrokoo”, Kwesi Longdon said Ghanaians are simply fed up with the constant back-and-forth between the NDC and the NPP, and the country impatiently expects some positive transformation in the political arena with the PPP, the next perfect choice to bring about that needed revolution.

But in a sharp riposte, the NDC MP scoffed at the portrayal of Dr Nduom’s PPP as a credible third force in Ghanaian politics. According to him, the PPP will always struggle for recognition alongside the two dominant political parties; the NDC and NPP.

Contributing to discussions on the programme, the Adenta MP said he doubts whether Ghanaians will settle for just any party and therefore does not consider the PPP as making any meaningful impact in the December electoral polls.

“…let me be candid, I don’t think the PPP is a party that anybody should worry about because they are not on the ground. They are simply engaged in media politics. With my little experience in politics, NDC will pull through the 2012 elections and it will be proof of my assertions…Most often when they (PPP) even talk, we don’t want to respond because we know what will transpire in the end. In 2008, when Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom was flagbearer of the CPP, he harped on about having registered 1million card-bearing members, but when the electoral results trickled in, what did we see?…PPP is nowhere on the ground. Granted that they have the right to also comment (on issues) as Ghanaians and we will take it in good faith, but to present themselves as being credible with the aim of making any impact in Ghanaian politics, I don’t see it happening. Mark my words!...It is not about eloquence at IEA or clarity of diction, and so we beg them to keep quiet...,” Hon Adu Asare said.

Source: Rebecca Addo-Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

NDP T-Shirts, Stickers Out

2012-07-24T04:10:00.002Z

Even before the issuance of an Electoral Commission (EC) certificate to commence political business, the National Democratic Party (NDP) has taken delivery of large stocks of the party’s logo embossed T-shirts and expensive looking car stickers.

Last week, Daily Guide chanced upon samples of the afore-mentioned party paraphernalia which an insider of the grouping described as evidential of the party’s seriousness.

The sticker, as shown in the accompanying picture, depicts a white pigeon with a Gye Nyame symbol to its beak against a red background. The main colours are red, green and black with the motto of the party, Justice, Unity, Peace and Progress at the bottom.

Party functionaries are confident of receiving their certificate from the EC sometime this week and as they put it “when we do we would move to another phase in our operations.”

The NDP is suspected to be a party of the Rawlingses although the former first couple has not announced its association with it directly or otherwise. The former first couple has for now kept everybody in suspense preferring to remain mum about their relationship with the yet-to-be outdoored party.

Some National Democratic Congress (NDC) members such as Deputy Information Minister Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto have sought to downplay the survivability of the party with Ablakwa particularly describing it as stillborn.

Their application for a certificate was stalled earlier when their colours were said to be in conflict with the NDC’s by the EC.

Source: A.R. Gomda

Weeds grow; rodents feast at Flagstaff House

2012-07-18T04:52:00.003Z

Sections of the Flagstaff House which is supposed to be the seat of government have been taken over by weeds.

This is in spite of the 100 thousand Ghana cedis expended by government on the renovation and fumigation of the Flagstaff House.

Joy News’ Francis Abban visited the House and reported one end of the edifice has been left unattended to.

According to him, weeds have grown wild at the Vice presidential wing of the proposed seat of government.

The portion may well be a breeding place for rodents

Some passers-by he spoke to were not the least impressed with the state of the edifice.

They stated that even if the sitting president and his vice are not ready to move into the edifice, it should at least be maintained.

Myjoyonline.com

Nana Addo Sees A ‘Bitter Ghana’ Because Of No Cocaine Trade – Tony Aidoo

2012-07-12T16:56:00.005Z

Head of Evaluation and Oversight Unit at the Office of the President, Dr. Tony Aidoo, has opined that flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo and members of the opposition party keep whining...

...about Mills’ “Better Ghana” having turned into a “Bitter Ghana” simply because the current business environment is not conducive for trading in “cocaine”.

According to him, Ghana will continue to be an unattractive destination for the illicit drug trade under President Mills; and feels no pain for those who are no longer benefitting from the trade.

Dr. Aidoo added that the President’s avowed stance to clamp down on those engaged in the illicit drug trade, led to the strengthening of state institutions fighting against the trade.

Speaking on 60 Minutes, a segment on Radio Gold’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Dr. Tony Aidoo said, the NPP’s lamentations about economic hardships, does not come to him as a surprise, stressing that Nana Addo’s campaign platform sing-song that there “is no better Ghana Agenda, the better Ghana Agenda has failed…the I care for you policy has failed”, can be attributed to the fact that “our environment is not more or less dominated and manipulated by armed robbers and cocaine dealers”.

“How can Nana Akufo-Addo ever believe that there would be a Better Ghana…because the environment created today is not conducive for cocaine trade; because we don’t have a situation where there is money laundering where people who sell cocaine will then bring the proceeds in the form of expensive high performance cars…All those who used to benefit from those kinds of conditions are definitely going to…say there is no ‘Better Ghana’ but ‘Bitter Ghana’. Of course bitter, because their nefarious activities have been curtailed...,” he said strongly.

According to the former Deputy Defence Minister in the NDC 1 regime, most Ghanaians are desirous of a “decent environment” to live in which President Mills has provided and was hopeful that majority of the electorate will reject Nana Addo’s bid for the presidency.

Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Betty Mould-Iddrisu settled Isofoton SA with $400,000 – Matthew Opoku-Prempeh reveals

2012-07-12T16:48:00.001Z

The Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has revealed that former Attorney-General Betty Mould-Iddrisu sanctioned the payment of some $400,000 as out of court settlement to Isofoton SA even before she could set up a committee to verify whether Isofoton deserved any money.

He was speaking on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana current affairs show.

Mr. Opoku-Prempeh said after the former A-G had made the payment, she then set up a committee to look into whether Isofoton deserved further payment, and the committee’s report indicated that Isofoton SA did not deserve any payment, but Betty Mould-Iddrisu did not make any effort to retrieve the $400,000.

The MP said when Martin Amidu took over as Attorney-General, he took the Isofoton case back to court for the court to determine whether Isofoton contract was an international contract, and if it was, whether it had Parliamentary approval.

Matthew Opoku-Prempeh said if the Isofoton contract was indeed an international contract but did not have Parliamentary approval then it was illegal and Isofoton does not deserve money from Ghana.

He said copies of documents covering the payment Betty Mould-Iddrisu ordered for Isofoton and all the related documents are in the possession of the NPP, and they would go public with them soon.

The MP wondered why Betty Mould-Iddrisu was so quick to do settlements and recommend payment of huge moneys to individuals and institutions without due diligence.

He said the fact that under her watch, government lost more than 13 court cases against individuals and institutions indicate either there are deficiencies at the A-G’s department, or there was deliberate connivance between some people in power and external forces to do the country in.

Isofoton garnishes MOFA account

Deputy Minister of Information, James Agyenim-Boateng

Meanwhile Deputy Minister of Information, James Agyenim Boateng has also revealed that Isofoton SA ‘garnished’ an account belonging to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to influence the government to expedite action on the payment of its $1.3million judgement debt.

The Deputy Minister said Isofoton SA took advantage of the previous Farmer’s Day celebrations to garnish that account so MOFA could not use the money to celebrate the day.

But he noted that the account that Isofoton garnished was specifically dedicated to Ghana-Japan cooperation, so the Japanese government is currently in court seeking redress on whether Isofoton has the right to garnish that particular account.

“That case will be determined on Friday – but the substantive case about the breach of contract with Isofoton is not in court,” he said.

James Agyenim-Boateng also made the statement on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana to defuse claims that the Isofoton judgement debt case is in court, saying that it is rather the Japanese government that has taken Isofoton to court over the garnishing of Ghana-Japan cooperation account.

The Deputy also read a number of documents to buttress his claim that Chief of Staff at the Presidency under the NPP government, Mr. Kojo Mpiani unilaterally and illegally abrogated the legitimate Isofoton SA contract and ordered MOFA to transfer the contract to two other Spanish companies, Elecnor and Incatema Indema.

He said the Spanish government wrote a formal letter to the then Minister of Finance, the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu and complained about the illegality, and also declared their intention to sue the Ghana government in Ghana, as well as Elecnor and Incatema Indema in Spain, but nothing was still done about it.
Adom News/Ghana

Was the return to democracy worth it? Tony Aidoo asks

2012-07-12T16:40:00.005Z

Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency, Dr Tony Aidoo is expressing doubts as to whether returning to democracy in 1992 after a decade of military rule was a worthy decision.

In Tony Aidoo’s view, many Ghanaians at various levels of the social and political strata had taken the democratic dispensation as a license to act with impunity.

He was speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Thursday in regard to the raging judgment debt saga.

Dr Tony Aidoo, who once said at a certain point in the Kufuor administration that Ghana was ripe for 10 coups, said the mounting crisis of piling judgment debts was “an indictment of not only successive governments, but of the 4th Republic. We may just as well sit down and query the issue, was it worth going democratic because democracy since 1992 appears to be the license for impunity, for indiscipline, for gross dissipation of public funds without regard to the interest of the general public.”

He said the nation had been caught in this quagmire of judgment debts “because of a general attitude of indiscipline” and that “people have taken [it] for granted…that democratic freedoms represent unbridled freedom to do what you like.”

According to him, some of the debts had grown to gargantuan proportions because public officials willfully ignored judicial decisions.

In some cases the judgment debts arose out of acts, misdeeds and malfeasance of persons paid to protect the public purse, he lamented.

The nation, he said, must reconcile its political differences and see the bigger picture of the threat to the country’s sovereignty which the debts represented.

Tony Aidoo endorsed calls for a “public inquiry into both the causation of the indebtedness, into acts that have allowed the indebtedness to develop from moulds into mountains and the processes by which these debts are being disposed of.”
Ghana | Myjoyonline.com|Malik Abass Daabu

United Front Party suspends two executives but both fight back

2012-07-12T10:10:00.000Z

Two officials of the United Front Party (UFP) are contradicting each other over the purported dismissal and suspension of two other activists of the party.

National Chairman, Nana Agyenim Boateng has put out information to announce the sacking of party Communication Director, Listowel Kusi-Poku for misconduct.

A statement copied to the Electoral Commission, also suspends Women Organizer, Mary Awusi, for non-performance.

It says while Madam Awusi had been unable to mobilize women for the party since assuming office, Mr. Kusi-Poku is cited for verbal misconduct.

Nana Agyenim Boateng explained the decision was in line with the party’s constitution.

“Ever since we elected Mary as our women's organizer she has not been able to organize any of the women in this country. When we wrote to her asking of why she is not performing she tore the letter. With Listowel, I signed for his appointment and he uses abusive language on me and some other executives which contravene the rules of the party so he is sacked”, he stated.

However the two dispute the action and they appear to enjoy support from party flag bearer, Akwasi Addae Odike, who has also rubbished the National Chairman’s claims.

Mr. Addae says the party had taken no such decision, though he admitted Nana Agyenim Boateng had suggested it.

“Per our constitution the flag bearer is the leader of the party after congress and as far as I am concerned, Mary Awusi is the Women's Organizer and Listowel Kusi-Poku still remains the Communication Director. The party has not released any document of dispelling anybody”, he asserted.
James Alfred Hemans/Nhyira Fm/Kumasi

NDC executives defect to "Nana Konadu Party"

2012-07-12T10:08:00.001Z

About 150 branch executives of the ruling National Democratic Congress in the New Juaben South Constituency of the Eastern Region, have crossed carpet to the newly formed National Democratic Party.

The branch executives were drawn from 60 branches in the constituency and are expected to pull more of the NDC members who are dissatisfied with the performance of the Mills-Mahama administration.

A spokesperson of the group and the branch chairman for upper Roman Catholic Primary School at Koforidua Srodae, Paul Boakye Agyapong popularly known as King Paul told Adomonline.com that, “the end of the NDC is the beginning of the NDP”.

He noted that, the group had no option than to put their shoulders to the wheel to support the NDP and save Ghana from the poor and abysmal performance of the Mills-Mahama administration.

He said the principles of June 4th that is probity, accountability and social justice which formed the basis for the formation of NDC, had been betrayed by leadership of the party.

“Some of us are in the NDC because we share in the vision and mission of President J.J Rawlings, the NDC has lost its value and principles, we no longer have integrity, corruption and propaganda is the order of the day for NDC. I’m sorry we cannot go down with them. We will join NDP and redeem the lost value our leaders died for”. King Paul noted.

He said they will mobilize more members in the New Juaben South Constituency and present a parliamentary candidate who will partner the flagbearere and canvass for massive vote for the NDP.
Ghana/Adomonline.com/Maxwell Kudekor

Jake's bungalow case deepens PNC cracks

2012-06-09T04:05:00.003Z

The leadership of the People’s National Convention (PNC) is divided on the party's decision to assist the plaintiffs reverse a Supreme Court ruling in favour of New Patriotic Party chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

The PNC at a news conference in Accra, Wednesday chaired by the General Secretary, Bernard Monah, promised to support Deputy Ministers, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of the Information Ministry and Dr. Omane-Boamah of the Sports Ministry with a team of legal experts to enable them apply for a review of the Supreme Court decision.

The two deputy ministers claimed the NPP chair abused his office and corruptly acquired a state bungalow he occupied and prayed the court to declare the sale of the state property null and void.

But the court threw out their case, stating the two presented no evidence to back their accusations against the respondent.

The PNC leadership has expressed its discontent with the ruling with Mornah promising that the party will assist the two plaintiffs in seeking a judicial review.

But the youth wing of the PNC has disassociated itself from the decision arguing that there are more pressing issues confronting the party than fighting for an opponent.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, the National Youth Organizer of the PNC, Abu Ramadan described the statement as “irrelevant and unnecessary” especially ahead of a crucial election in December.

According to him, the party should focus on mapping up strategies to gunner more support from its stronghold to improve its electoral fortunes.

Abu Ramadan wondered why the PNC has not issued a statement on the conflict situation in the three northern regions and is rather seeking the interest of government.

“As a party that is perceived to be a northern party, we should be seen to be prescribing solutions to the problems up north to resolve the tribal conflicts” he said.

The PNC youth leader indicated that, the youth in the Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions are unhappy with the party's position and called on the national leadership to rescind the decision.

“The youth of the party are saying the statement is irrelevant and very unnecessary to the party [hence] should be thrown into the garbage” he added.

Abu Ramadan urged the PNC to come out with an official position on the security situation in the three northern regions to strengthen its strong support base.
Myjoyonline.com|Adwoa Gyasiwaa

Government rubbishes Nana Addo spy allegations

2012-06-09T04:00:00.002Z

The New Patriotic Party is accusing government and national security of spying on its flagbearer Nana Akufo Addo.

According to aide of the NPP flagbearer, Mustapha Hamid, six national security operatives were hell bent on sitting in a private meeting between the NPP flagbearer and the Danish Ambassador to Ghana and Foreign Minister at the Movernpick Hotel in Accra.

Describing the act as an “embarrassment” Hamid said the government is still yet to fully understand the true meaning of democracy and the underlining principles of freedom of movement and of assembly.

He said the meeting which was at the instance of the Danish counterparts was to find out how the NPP flagbearer is working towards promoting peace in the upcoming general elections.

Hamid said the party experienced a similar treatment in 2000 when then candidate Kufuor was prevented from meeting some Italian diplomats.

But the government has been quick with a rebuttal.

A Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Joy News no such incident happened.

According to him, the NPP cooked and fabricated the whole incident to divert attention from the internal wrangling within the NPP.

He wondered why it is only the NPP complaining of such an embarrassing act when indeed it was a tripartite meeting and the two parties could easily have registered their disappointment.

“We are totally surprised about this new allegation which has been cooked and concocted by the NPP,” he said.

He said the NPP must give some credit and intelligence to the national security, adding if they wanted to listen into the conversation they could easily have wired the place without resorting to this “kindergarten” tactic.

“It never happened; it is a figment of the imagination of Mustapha Hamid and those who are concocting this claim,” he charged.

But the aide to Nana Addo in a reaction said “it is only a liar who will say his witness is dead.”

He dared the media to conduct their own independent investigation to ascertain the veracity of the allegation.

He said under no circumstance will the NPP fabricate such an incident involving dignitaries such as the Danish Foreign Minister and Ambassador.

He explained the said security operatives first approached the Danish counterparts and wanted to be part of the meeting, a proposal the diplomats turned down.

The meeting however went ahead, without the operatives but with Nana Addo pledging his unalloyed support for peace in the December election.

Joy News and Myjoyonline.com will follow up on this incident and will update both listeners and readers.
Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah

Amidu to Mills: Dare me and I'll expose you

2012-05-30T16:51:00.000Z

Sacked Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Martin Amidu, has dared President J.E.A Mills' administration to publish a letter he wrote in January 2012 exposing "unconstitutional" activities of certain individuals including the President, else he will expose them if they continue to tarnish his reputation.

Mr. Amidu said the "ignorant" government communication team are resorting to lies to bring down his image, but he will continue to fight unconstitutional activities as he is known for since the PNDC era.

His comments follow a latest statement he has issued explaining the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.

Read below the full statement issued by Mr Amidu.

WHY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU IS NOT USING GOVERNMENT OR PARTY CHANNELS FOR HIS ADVOCACY FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY: BY MARTIN A. B.K. AMIDU

The purpose of this statement following immediately after my opinion of 28th May 2012 stating that the President’s executive judgment in the matter of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Okudzeto Ablakwa and Omane-Boamah against the Attorney-General (Jake Obetsebi-Lampety voluntarily applied and was joined as additional Defendant) is to answer the accusations and spins on why I am not directing my criticisms in-house to the Government or the NDC. The Government spin since I left office has been that I am a disgruntled smokescreen being used by the NPP against the Government.

I assumed that the confidential and trusting relationship that existed between the PNDC, NDC1, and NDC2 and its appointees in open and frank criticism of policies and conduct of in-group members still existed in the President Mills Government. Several happenings in the present Government made me to realize that honest and sincere criticisms have the appearance of being accepted only for schemes and plans to destroy the integrity of the critic to be hatched. (I will skip giving the several examples). By my nature I just cannot refuse to give my honest and sincere opinion on a matter should anyone ask for it. It was in these circumstances that the President demanded a written report from me as the Attorney-General on the afternoon of 23rd December 2011 after his press interview with Radio Gold. The Deputy Attorney-General had written that the Government had no defence to the action that was why it settled. He is still at post. I had discovered a letter dated 9th December 2010 which gave the appearance that the Attorney-General’s office ordered the payment against the President’s instructions.

After studying the available file on the Woyome case I discover to my disappointment that there was no contract and there could not have been a contract upon which to ground a cause of action and locus standi in the plaintiff against the Government. Secondly at the time the plaintiff filed his writ there was no written and signed settlement agreement between the plaintiff and the Attorney-General let alone for it to be filed in Court. Yet the plaintiff’s claim was upon letters from the Attorney-General to the Minister of Finance to pay the plaintiff. Consequently, in a preliminary ten page report to the President in my letter D45/SF.173/10 dated 6th January 2012 I stated professionally what I had discovered, including the names of each person I suspected to be implicated in the case. The letter was copied to the Chief of Staff and the National Security Co-ordinator. The NDC press, however, continued to attack my integrity to the enjoyment of the Government and Party. I, therefore, decided to tell the public in my press release of 11th January 2012 of my perspective so that I am not hanged without being heard.

In a reliable and trusting association or group where the ideals and purposes of the association or group are respected and obeyed no group member ought to use any outside channels to address or correct in-group mistakes or wrongs that are likely to affect the objects of the group. But where the leadership in the association instead of taking criticisms in private in good faith, spins the criticism to within both the group members and to the public to discredit and defame the genuine critics, conflict studies and resolution theory and practice grants a right to put the association back to its original ideals through sub-group and public tacit bargaining. If you were just a pretender who joined the group for other motives than its objects, then you just leave the group. If you are really a committed member of the group’s objects you do not leave it to those who are breaking the ground rules of trust in accepting genuine criticisms but use every means to return the group to its original objects to achieve the cherished principles and ideals.

On the 12 January 2010 the President invited me to his office for a meeting on my press release in the presence of others. We agreed that one other and myself were to workout a solution. Then from no where the President calls me at 7.05 pm the same day to meet him in his office with Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu the next morning. I attended the meeting with Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu at which there were others present. It was in the course of the meeting of 13th January 2012 that I told the President (citing examples) that he had been interfering in the execution of my functions as the Attorney-General under Article 88 of the Constitution and, therefore, I had resigned from his Government forthwith. I asked for permission to leave to submit my formal resignation letter to him within one hour. I was told to wait because the meeting had not concluded.

The meeting was later adjourned to 3 pm to enable Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Capt (Rtd.) Kojo Tsikata and other elders of the Government and Party to join the meeting. Initially I said that after my oral resignation, I did not think I could be obliged to attend the 3pm meeting and that I would rather I sent in my resignation letter. I changed my mind from not attending the 3 pm meeting upon persuasions from two of the persons present both of whom I considered very good friends, (one of then in addition to his age I had great respect for when we worked together when I was a PNDC Deputy Regional Secretary). When I returned at 3pm I waited until about 3.30 pm when a very respectable former Member of the PNDC and mentor came from the President’s office and took me to the conference room for a discussion and persuaded me to go to the Court and retrieve the GH¢ 51million for the Republic of Ghana. This was an old man who has mentored almost every former PNDC appointee and how could I have refused his plea to rescind my decision not to work for the President again, particularly when he had authorized me in very strong and assuring words to go and collect the money for theRepublicofGhana. He asked me to go straight to my office to begin working on the case and that I did not need to go back to the Presidency as he would handle that.

It was upon this understanding that I got my staff and myself to start working from that evening of 13th January 2012 through Saturday and Sunday to have the application for amendment filed on the morning of 16th January 2012 for me to attend the Court that morning. On the night of 15th May 2012 my old mentor confirmed that the President had agreed to my going to the Court the next day in person to argue the case. I was in Court in person and the Statement of Case together with the accompanying application and my single minded determination to retrieve the Gargantuan GH¢51 million for the Republic of Ghana is now known to all. The opponents of the case within Government panic at my efforts and put pressure on the President. I never saw the President again to date.
So on the morning of 19th January 2012, three days after I went to start the process of retrieving the money, the Daily Graphic, a Government mouth piece, falsely published that I had gone on my knees at the meeting of 13th January 2012 to plead not to be dismissed. It was also falsely alleged in other NDC newspapers that I failed to mention the names of Ministers I had made allegations against in my press statement. Mahama Ayariga and Felix Owusu Kwakye and others were on air the same day stating that I either had to mention those involved or would be dismissed.

How could one blame them when they were not privy to my official interim report to the President dated 6th January 2012 in which each person I suspected to be implicated was named. It would have been unethical for me to have put names in my press statement when the President had also announced to the whole world that the Economic and Organized Crime Office was to submit a report to him on the same matter. They had been fed false and “spin” information from the Castle.

At 12.55pm on the same day 19th January 2012 the President sent a special bearer to me in my office with a letter in which he stated that he had relieved me of my post as Attorney-General with immediate effect. I had been in Government for over 21 years and knew that in spite of the persuasion by my old PNDC mentor and another elder PNDC colleague in Government that I not resign, the Government could be buying time to have the last say on its own terms. Northern Ghanaian culture, however, insists on respect for well behaved elders so I had no option than to obey the two elders and wait beyond 13th January 2012.

But in accordance with northern Ghanaian tradition and custom I briefed Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, as the most Senior Northerner in the Government on the morning of 14th January 2012 on what transpired at the meeting of 13th January 2012 and the persuasions from his colleague elders and my acceptance to hold on. I also told him of my suspicions of what was in stock for the north, some of which have come to pass.

The hard working professional staff of the Attorney-General’s office that had very close working relationship with me will confirm that we reckoned that the Government was buying time to discredit me. It, therefore, came as no surprise to me when the Chief of Staff who was part of the meeting of 13th January 2012 hypocritically issued a press statement to the effect that I had misconducted myself as a Minister.

I accordingly sent him a reply on 20th January 2012 and dared him to publish my reply to him and my letter of 6th January 2012 to the public. He has cowardly refused to make any of them public. In view of the deceit and betrayal I have gone through in the hands of the President, how does any one expect me to trust that the Government would not again put further spins on any advice I give it or any information I pass over to it on probity, accountability and transparency discretely. That is why I have chosen to exercise my constitutional right to freedom of speech and also to defend the Constitution in my advocacy for integrity in Government openly and in the public domain.

I joined the PNDC Government, became a foundation member of the NDC and later reluctantly became the Vice Presidential candidate of the NDC in 2000. I challenge anybody to show me one public criticism, orally or in writing, which I made in public to the media about the PNDC or the NDC under President Rawlings. But I criticized the PNDC and NDC Governments of President Rawlings very vigorous within by written memoranda and letters. Indeed I was transferred from Bolgatanga to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in January 1986 to prevent me from carrying out my written intention of resigning on account of my objection to happenings in the region. Evidence abounds of my other written advocacy for probity, accountability and transparency through in-house channels for all the period I served under former Chairman and later President Rawlings.

I addressed one particular letter to His Excellency, Flt. Lt Jerry John Rawlings, President of the Republicof Ghana, and copied it only to the late Rt. Rev. Bishop Lucas Abadamloora, Bishop of Navrongo/Bolgatanga Dioceses on 3rd June 1999 on the subject matter: “THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY, JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS AND RELATED NATIONAL ISSUES”. I delivered the Bishop’s copy to him personally at his residence in Bolgatanga on 4th June 1999 and prepared to be sacked. Former President Rawlings has to date never spoken to me about the letter even though he could not have been pleased with it. I send herewith very reluctantly as an attachment my letter of 3rd June 1999 because no living person is adversely mentioned in it and it is in the public interest that the public knows my record in defending the independence of the judiciary and fighting for probity.

The Great Leader that former President Rawlings was, he told me once in the presence of Mr. Ebo Tawiah and Nana Ato Dadzie in the latter’s office why he refused to terminate my appointment when a PNDC Member who is now helping President Mills called for my dismissal after he had addressed a letter to me as Martin Amidu, Attorney-General’s Department, Accra without any salutation indicating that he was writing to me as a subordinate officer. In my reply to the PNDC Member I stated that because he had written the letter to me in my personal capacity as a citizen of Ghana, I was also replying to him in his personal capacity as a citizen. I then wrote that as a citizen of Ghanahe had no single right above my equal citizenship of Ghanato write to me in the manner he did. President Rawlings explained that when a subordinate person is bold enough to write the truth as I did to the PNDC Member a good manager ought to know that penalizing the subordinate officer would affect loyalty to the Government. I suspect that those same leadership qualities and understanding of human beings made him to act upon the contents of my letter of 3rd June 1999 without ever talking to me about it to date.

It was only at the Catholic Cathedral in about 2002 or so but on the day of Emefa Kpega’s wedding that a former President of the Ghana Bar Association brought to my notice that the late Chief Justice Abban had informed and shown him the contents of my said letter of 3rd June 1999 on the judiciary. I was surprised because in spite of my criticism of the late Chief Justice Abban in the letter he remained on very friendly terms with me until his death. I had the privilege even after leaving office in January 2001 to visit him with the late Alhaji Yakubu Dramani a week before his unfortunate demise. I surely was at his funeral; and I cherish his magnanimity and tolerance of the strong views I expressed about him.

There are several excellent reasons why I count myself very lucky to have left President Mills’ Government. When one reads my letter No. XE337/09/8 dated 27th July 2011 for instance one cannot fail to see that it was a letter of resignation (I have deliberately left out the subject matter). I had stated my resignation in the last sentence but I then realized that without giving three months notice I would have to pay my three months salary in lieu, so I cancelled the sentence. I do not therefore have any reasons for bitterness against the Government for exiting it because my letter of 27th July 2011 contained ample notice that I was in the wrong place. The betrayal of trust in not telling the public the truth surrounding my alleged exit is what has made it difficult for me to call the Government’s attention to my views. The Executive of NDC has not to date even found out from me what happened between the Government and myself leading to my exit so I cannot volunteer information to it.

The President has been my long standing personal friend before he joined the public service at the Internal Revenue Service. He knows what I told him we should do to win his second term hands down. I am a foundation member of the NDC who sees conflict as offering an opportunity for dialogue, peace-making and reconciliation within an atmosphere that restores trust and confidence. We appear to be engaged in a dialogue of the deaf otherwise the Government and the NDC ought to have known by now that all those foundation members criticizing the Government are indeed genuinely calling for reforms in the Government to enable it win elections hands down. I am not a traitor.

By Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Ketu-South MP cries foul ahead of primaries

2012-05-26T03:10:00.001Z

The Member of Parliament for Ketu-South in the Volta region, Albert Ziga has said a win for the Deputy Minister of Finance, Fiifi Kwetey in the upcoming primaries, will be a problem for the constituency.

On Saturday, May 26, six persons including Hon. Kwetey will be contesting to unseat the Ketu-South MP.

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, Mr. Ziga, however, says the deputy minister’s move to contest in the primaries while still at post is unconstitutional and will not go down well with people of Ketu.

“It seems he has been given a higher backing by government because over the years no public servant can contest in the primaries while still at post,” he said.

He accused the deputy finance minister of using ‘government machinery’ to influence the elections.

“Since 3pm, he [Kwetey], some of the deputy ministers as well as his close friends are running around in this town,” he accused.

“They have camped the delegates in a house and are refusing anyone to speak to them. But he can never win the elections; that will be a problem for some of us.”

Hon. Ziga, however, stated that he did not feel threatened by any of his contenders.

By Kwakyewaa Owusu-Nyantakyi/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

'Gov’t Flouts Supreme Court Ruling; Takes Back Jake's Bungalow'

2012-05-25T00:27:00.001Z

The Government of Ghana has rescinded its decision to sell the Ridge property to the National Chairman of New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, flouting a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday, May 23 in favour of the former minister.

According to a statement titled Government Will Not Sell Property To Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and signed by the Minister of Information, Fritz Baffour, government said it has decided not to sell the state property in the interest of the people of Ghana.

"In the supreme interest of the people of Ghana, and taking cognizance of the Supreme Court ruling in the matter of Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey's immoral acquisition of a State Property he occupied as a Minister of State, cabinet at its sitting today, Thursday May 24, 2012, has decided not to sell the said property”.

The statement adds that "the property in question thus continues to remain the property of the State.”

"Cabinet has also decided that no political appointee should ever be allowed to engage in any such unacceptable transaction."

The Supreme Court in a 6:3 majority verdict Tuesday dismissed a suit by two deputy ministers, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Dr. Omane Boamah challenging Jake's acquisition of the property situated at No. 2 Mungo Street, Ridge.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, the suit against Jake Obetsebi Lamptey does not border on conflict of interest and should have been taken to the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for proper interpretation.

The court added that the plaintiffs failed to establish that due process was not followed in the acquisition of the bungalow by Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

Source: peacefmonline.com

Gov’t is deliberately delaying the prosecution of Woyome – Former AG: A Rejoinder by Martin A. B. K. Amidu

2012-05-24T16:49:00.001Z

A former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin Amidu, has expressed fear that some National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team members, whose business is to meddle in the affairs of the A-G’s department could undermine the prosecution of the infamous Alfred Agbesi Woyome case.

Mr. Amidu in a rejoinder to Citifmonline.com to support a claim by his former colleague, Ayikoi Otoo, about the seeming delay in prosecuting Mr. Woyome, said the Director of Public Prosecution’s office should be given a free hand to handle the case.

“What I fear is the so called “NDC Legal Team” some of whose members unethically make it their business to meddle in the professional affairs of the office of the Attorney-General while at the same time acting as lawyers for clients whose interest are opposed to those of the Republic,” Mr. Amidu said in the rejoinder titled "Gov’t is deliberately delaying the prosecution of Woyome – Former AG: A Rejoinder by Martin A. B. K. Amidu.

He added: “I have every confidence that if the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is given a free hand to direct the police investigations, the resulting police docket will be solid for prosecution.”

The former A-G, who fell out with the Mills-led administration over the same Woyome case in which a judgment debt of GhC51 million was awarded the NDC financier, suggested that the Director-General of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has to “build a docket from the scratch.”

“The case to the best of my knowledge is complex and could lead to others being charged for prosecution as well. The Police cannot just rely on the report and materials supplied by EOCO without taking their own statements and going through the requisite motions. EOCO has the capacity, if left alone, to assist the Police to trace assets and do many other helpful things for the Police,” he pointed out.

Mr. Amidu said if the trial of the case does not commence as scheduled on the next adjourned date on June 4, it will “definitely create the impression that government is deliberately buying time by pushing the trial to after the legal vacation in October and thus avoid the conclusion of the trial before the elections in December.”

“But I also have an additional worry from Hon. Otoo’s. I hope the Director of Public Prosecution’s Office will have a free hand to review the docket professionally and advice the Attorney-General,” he added.

Mr. Amidu revealed that when the case first broke he “insisted on Mr. Prosper Agblor, the Director-General/CID, and his very able professional staff being allowed to investigating this matter for possible criminal prosecutions. The President told me to allow the Economic and Organized Crime Office to investigate the case and submit a report first. The Government’s inexperienced faction supporting Mr. Woyome did not want any type of police criminal investigations and surprisingly had their way.

“The subsequent decision to allow the Inspector-General of Police and his Director-General/CID to arrest and investigate Alfred Agbesi Woyome, and Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh was clearly a victory for Ghana resulting from the intense pressure from the overwhelming public agitation against any cover up of the scandal in the circumstances of my exit from office.”

By Kent Mensah & Umaru Sanda Amadu/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

NPP has no campaign message - Veep

2012-05-24T16:48:00.001Z

The Vice President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has fired a salvo at the New Patriotic Party (NPP), accusing the main opposition party of resorting to lies to campaign because they lack a clear message.

Speaking at a ceremony at the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) headquarters to announce an official merger with the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), the Vice President said lies will not win the December elections for the NPP.

He was optimistic the Mills-led administration will secure a second-term judging from ongoing development projects scattered across the country.

“Our opponents have no message,” Mahama declared. “I was watching the TV and an advert that must have been cleared by the highest body of the party said Kufuor bought Ford vehicles of 3.5 and Atta Mills has come to buy Ford Explorers of 5.7. That is obviously not true because the vehicles Atta Mills is using were inherited from the NPP.”

He added: “So how they could have cleared that advert knowing that it is clearly an untruth, I don’t understand. They also said Atta Mills sleeps at the Flagstaff House and moves to the Castle in the morning. If that is the message our opponents have then it is actually laughable.”

The Vice President also urged the party members not to stoop to the level of the NPP. According to him, the NDC has delayed in launching its 2012 campaign because they are conducting opinion polls to assess concerns of the people.

By Citifmonline.com/Ghana

NDC, DFP merger is an illegality - Kofi Adams

2012-05-24T16:44:00.002Z

The suspended General Secretary of the NDC, Kofi Adams has served notice to the party that it would be committing an illegality if it co-opts any members of the now defunct DFP as executive members.

He adds that the decision contravenes sections of the party’s constitution.

Kofi Adams told Citi News the party has already co-opted enough members into the executive as required by the party’s constitution at both the Regional and National Level.

“The constitution states clearly the number of people that can be called to onto the executive. It also states clearly who can attend NEC meetings among others and so to add them on, which will exceed the accepted number of people on the executive council, is an illegality.” He said.

Kofi Adams added that the founder was not in full knowledge of the union of the NDC and DFP.

“It was news to him that this merger was on going. Members of the executive council of the NDC who approved it failed to inform Mr. Rawlings who is also the chairman of the party council,” he added.

By Citifmonline.com/Ghana