Posted to the web 16 April 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
Months of investigations into the activities and operations of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revealed underhand dealings and deliberate cover-up of a massive tax evasion by high-ranking officials of the revenue-collecting agency.
At the centre of the raging controversy is the Commissioner himself, Major Daniel Ablorh-Quarcoo (Rtd), at whose 'discretion' the nation is losing several billions of cedis.
An audit report commissioned by the Commissioner, covering the period of December 31st 2002-2006, into the books of Golden Gate Services limited, a private Stevedoring company, based in Tema, has revealed that the company owed the state to the tune of approximately ¢29billion in tax and penalty liabilities.
A copy of the audit report dated December 23rd 2007, and signed by the Deputy Commissioner In-Charge of Special Duties, D.T Acquaye, for the Commissioner, which is in the possession of The Chronicle, reveals massive tax evasion.
The audit report revealed that the company had underestimated its income to the IRS by a whooping amount of ¢42billion.
It therefore decided to include it in its revised tax computation for the respective years.
For the same period, the IRS noted differences in the company's Direct Cost in the areas of stevedore gear, plant hire expenses, repairs and maintenance, and miscellaneous, whilst it added back items under-listed under General and Administrative expenses which amounted to over ¢17billion.
This included foreign travels, telephone, marketing research, post and telecommunications, software expenses, safety and security.
The rest were in the areas of fuel and lubricants, travel and transport, electricity and water, bank charges, interest, fines and penalty.
In the case of Deferred Liabilities, the IRS said it was not provided with documentary evidence in support of the company's indebtedness to its Directors.
Though the money was supposed to have been paid to the Directors of the company, the Chronicle investigations revealed that there was no evidence to show that any of the Directors received the money. Sources have indicated that the company did not owe any of the Directors as the impression is being created.
The IRS was therefore unable to accept the liabilities of an amount of over ¢24billion as stated in the financial statements for the years under review. For this reason, it resolved to adjust and include it in its tax computation.
Much as the IRS agreed to the fact that in every business operations, there are some public relations, it noted in its report that "we are uncomfortable with the practice whereby at the end of the year, a huge portion of the expenditure is written-off to Suspense Account, and only relatively small portion is shown in the financial statements."
It was therefore compelled by prevailing circumstance to add back to profit, the write-offs in the years 2005-2006, which amounted to over ¢2billion.
Though the revenue collecting agency had no evidence of the company's Directors recommending the payment of Dividend in 2005 and 2006, available records indicated that the payments were made as Dividend to the tune of over ¢2billion.
The IRS thus imposed a 300% penalty for non-disclosure with a 10% tax, all amounting to over ¢1billion.
Further, the IRS detected an overstatement of the company's Salaries and Wages account in 2005, by over ¢373million and included it in its tax computation. Since the said account did not suffer tax, the IRS decided to subject same to tax at a marginal rate of 5%.
Contrary to the provisions of sections 3 and 83 of the Internal Revenue Act 2000, Act 592 as amended, Golden Gate Services limited failed to withhold taxes on payment for services rendered by third parties.
For that matter, the IRS computed the appropriate withholding taxes amounting to over ¢229million and added same to the company's tax liability in accordance with Section 88 of the Internal Revenue Act 2000, Act 519 as amended.
After the auditing, Golden Gate Services' total tax and penalty liability payable stood at approximately ¢29billion.
An interim audit report cited by The Chronicle and dated November 9th 2007, indicated that the company's tax and penalty liability was over ¢41billion but was later scaled down after final report.
In order to have its operational license renewed, the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA) asked the company to settle the indebtedness of its tax liability for the years under review.
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Friday, June 13, 2008
Shh! Mills Has Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Posted to the web 31 March 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
A doctor contracted by The Chronicle to diagnose Professor John Atta Mills has tearfully pleaded with Ghanaians to pray for the gentleman because he is undergoing extensive radiotherapy for the dreaded 'nasopharnygeal carcinoma'.
The diagnosis for this illness is very unpleasant.
The shattering peace of news has generated heated debate within The Chronicle newsroom necessitating a call to our veteran journalist who owns this title to discuss how The Chronicle should handle the news.
His take is that the Ghanaian electorate have the right to know what the health status of their potential President is, especially since the public interest consideration in a democratic system outweigh the need to keep such information under wraps. It overrides what his personal interest is.
'He is a lawyer, he will know and appreciate this. Its how you present it, by all means go ahead but present it in a sympathetic caring way,' counselled Kofi Coomson.
Not unexpectedly, the director of Communications of candidate Mills dismissed this reporter's enquiry about Mills, waving off any suggestion that Professor Mills is sick. He insisted that he is 'in the best of health.
But Mr Anyidoho's remarks is a far cry from the Professor's own admission that 'Yes, Atta Mills is suffering from the nose, Yes, Atta Mills is receiving medical attention for his eyes.'
Additionally, the NDC flagbearer has gone on record to say that he has gone to China and South Africa to seek treatment for his illnesss, an indication of the extent he has travelled to keep the nature of his illness from public gawking.
The caution that The Chronicle doctor is raising is to keep the usually teetotal celibate Mills from the punishing schedule of a nationwide campaign which could exacerbate his medical condition, especially in July, when the full panoply of the NPP swings into action, with all 16 presidential candidates' metal brigade combining to take the entire country in one bomb fire of a campaign.
'His left eye is dropping now, symptomatic of the effect of the radio therapy on the rather aggressive cells that are attacking the left eye lobe,' suggested the doctor. WORSENING
It is now official that the health condition of the Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills keeps growing from bad to worse.
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, is a type of cancer originating in the nasopharynx, the uppermost region of the pharynx or "throat", where the nasal passages and auditory tubes join the remainder of the upper respiratory tract.
On his recent tour of the Eastern Region, it emerged that Mills was so far gone that he could not clearly identify Hon. Nyaunu, though he was close to him until Nyaunu mentioned his name to him.
Mills' illness differs significantly from other cancers of the head and neck in its occurrence, causes, clinical behavior, and treatment.
The worsening condition of his health, coupled with the problem of finding resources to run the NDC campaign machine is why Mills has been frequently visiting his 40 year old nephew, Kojo Mills, who happens to be the Chief Executive of the multi-billion-rand Shanduka Group, a gargantuan money black empowerment vehicle.
This goes to confirm the fear of the NDC MP for Lower Manya Krobo, Micheal Teye Nyaunu, who had earlier raised concerns about his flagbearer's health. There was near exchange of blows among some NDC MPs in Parliament when the MP suggested that the party's flagbearer be removed on account of his alleged poor health.
According to Hon Nyaunu, The NDC presidential candidate needed no medical officer to pronounce that he was terribly sick; pointing out that Prof Mills could not withstand the rigours of the campaign.
"Whether we like it or not, we are going into the race like wounded tigers, and we cannot allow a sheep to lead lions into such a battle. I'm afraid for my party," he warned.
The revelation incurred the wrath of other NDC parliamentarians around, including Enoch Tei Mensah (Ningo/Prampram), Moses Asaga (Nabdam) and Abukari Sumani (Tamale North), who virtually traded insults with Nyaunu for daring to speak his mind.
Nyaunu's bombshell immediately sparked off controversy in the party, with the leadership calling for a crisis meeting to douse the raging inferno which if not well managed, could further polarize the party.
But for the intervention of Richard Quarshigah, an ardent NDC member, the verbal scuffle that ensued could have degenerated into a brawl.
A statement issued after a meeting held later in the evening condemned the MP for his comments.
Charles Takyi-Boadu
A doctor contracted by The Chronicle to diagnose Professor John Atta Mills has tearfully pleaded with Ghanaians to pray for the gentleman because he is undergoing extensive radiotherapy for the dreaded 'nasopharnygeal carcinoma'.
The diagnosis for this illness is very unpleasant.
The shattering peace of news has generated heated debate within The Chronicle newsroom necessitating a call to our veteran journalist who owns this title to discuss how The Chronicle should handle the news.
His take is that the Ghanaian electorate have the right to know what the health status of their potential President is, especially since the public interest consideration in a democratic system outweigh the need to keep such information under wraps. It overrides what his personal interest is.
'He is a lawyer, he will know and appreciate this. Its how you present it, by all means go ahead but present it in a sympathetic caring way,' counselled Kofi Coomson.
Not unexpectedly, the director of Communications of candidate Mills dismissed this reporter's enquiry about Mills, waving off any suggestion that Professor Mills is sick. He insisted that he is 'in the best of health.
But Mr Anyidoho's remarks is a far cry from the Professor's own admission that 'Yes, Atta Mills is suffering from the nose, Yes, Atta Mills is receiving medical attention for his eyes.'
Additionally, the NDC flagbearer has gone on record to say that he has gone to China and South Africa to seek treatment for his illnesss, an indication of the extent he has travelled to keep the nature of his illness from public gawking.
The caution that The Chronicle doctor is raising is to keep the usually teetotal celibate Mills from the punishing schedule of a nationwide campaign which could exacerbate his medical condition, especially in July, when the full panoply of the NPP swings into action, with all 16 presidential candidates' metal brigade combining to take the entire country in one bomb fire of a campaign.
'His left eye is dropping now, symptomatic of the effect of the radio therapy on the rather aggressive cells that are attacking the left eye lobe,' suggested the doctor. WORSENING
It is now official that the health condition of the Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills keeps growing from bad to worse.
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, is a type of cancer originating in the nasopharynx, the uppermost region of the pharynx or "throat", where the nasal passages and auditory tubes join the remainder of the upper respiratory tract.
On his recent tour of the Eastern Region, it emerged that Mills was so far gone that he could not clearly identify Hon. Nyaunu, though he was close to him until Nyaunu mentioned his name to him.
Mills' illness differs significantly from other cancers of the head and neck in its occurrence, causes, clinical behavior, and treatment.
The worsening condition of his health, coupled with the problem of finding resources to run the NDC campaign machine is why Mills has been frequently visiting his 40 year old nephew, Kojo Mills, who happens to be the Chief Executive of the multi-billion-rand Shanduka Group, a gargantuan money black empowerment vehicle.
This goes to confirm the fear of the NDC MP for Lower Manya Krobo, Micheal Teye Nyaunu, who had earlier raised concerns about his flagbearer's health. There was near exchange of blows among some NDC MPs in Parliament when the MP suggested that the party's flagbearer be removed on account of his alleged poor health.
According to Hon Nyaunu, The NDC presidential candidate needed no medical officer to pronounce that he was terribly sick; pointing out that Prof Mills could not withstand the rigours of the campaign.
"Whether we like it or not, we are going into the race like wounded tigers, and we cannot allow a sheep to lead lions into such a battle. I'm afraid for my party," he warned.
The revelation incurred the wrath of other NDC parliamentarians around, including Enoch Tei Mensah (Ningo/Prampram), Moses Asaga (Nabdam) and Abukari Sumani (Tamale North), who virtually traded insults with Nyaunu for daring to speak his mind.
Nyaunu's bombshell immediately sparked off controversy in the party, with the leadership calling for a crisis meeting to douse the raging inferno which if not well managed, could further polarize the party.
But for the intervention of Richard Quarshigah, an ardent NDC member, the verbal scuffle that ensued could have degenerated into a brawl.
A statement issued after a meeting held later in the evening condemned the MP for his comments.
POLICE VOW TO HALT BRIBERY
By Charles Takyi-Boadu Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Police Administration and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service are strategising to take a firm action to redeem its image of the perception as a corrupt Institution. It has promised to arrest and prosecute bribe givers and takers alike, since it directly contravenes the constitution of the Republic.
In an exclusive interview with The Chronicle in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Commander of the MTTU, Superintendent Addison Campbell said “if any policeman is caught in the act of extortion, he or she will be dealt with as per the Police service Act.” The offender would also be prosecuted at the law court.
According to her, it is high time Ghanaians came to the realisation that both the giver and the taker of bribe are equally guilty before the law, hence the need to put a stop to such practices.
This was in reaction to series of allegations against some officers and men of the Police, especially those personnel in the MTTU who engage in corrupt practices such as taking bribes from defaulting drivers and suspects to let them off from the courts and the full rigours of the law.
Though some of the officers and men of the Police Service are trying strenuously to safeguard and redeem the image of the service, a few unscrupulous ones are still engaged in unwholesome practices which continue to be a border to several other Ghanaians and the Police service itself.
After months of investigations, The Chronicle discovered that some Policemen, especially those in the MTTU had devised new methods to arrest and impound vehicles which flout traffic regulations. These policemen hide behind shops for drivers and vehicles to either park or offload passengers at spots marked as ‘no parking’ areas in order to affect their arrest.
Instead of making their presence felt by the roadside to ward off recalcitrant drivers, the policemen choose to hide and allow them to flout the law and then arrest them.
However, some uniformed policemen who threaten to process and arraign offending drivers before court; such drivers are seen back on the road a few minutes later. Some of the police personnel operate on the Achimota-Mallam highway, Kwame Nkrumah circle and in the Central Business area of Accra.
From the accounts of some of these drivers, the police sometimes arrest them and their mates, only to collect money from them and then release their impounded vehicles.
But Superintendent Campbell says the practice is unprofessional since it does not conform to the basic tenets of policing. To her, since the mere sighting of a policeman in uniform would prevent people from flouting the traffic laws, there was no need for the police to adopt unprofessional methods in their policing duties. She asked police personnel involved in such practices to put a stop the habit, since anybody found in such an act is likely to face service enquiry. Though the police have been asked to refrain from conducting road checks, she noted that there are some ‘black spots’ where they cannot leave unattended to, since lots of accidents happen in these areas.
The Police Administration and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service are strategising to take a firm action to redeem its image of the perception as a corrupt Institution. It has promised to arrest and prosecute bribe givers and takers alike, since it directly contravenes the constitution of the Republic.
In an exclusive interview with The Chronicle in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Commander of the MTTU, Superintendent Addison Campbell said “if any policeman is caught in the act of extortion, he or she will be dealt with as per the Police service Act.” The offender would also be prosecuted at the law court.
According to her, it is high time Ghanaians came to the realisation that both the giver and the taker of bribe are equally guilty before the law, hence the need to put a stop to such practices.
This was in reaction to series of allegations against some officers and men of the Police, especially those personnel in the MTTU who engage in corrupt practices such as taking bribes from defaulting drivers and suspects to let them off from the courts and the full rigours of the law.
Though some of the officers and men of the Police Service are trying strenuously to safeguard and redeem the image of the service, a few unscrupulous ones are still engaged in unwholesome practices which continue to be a border to several other Ghanaians and the Police service itself.
After months of investigations, The Chronicle discovered that some Policemen, especially those in the MTTU had devised new methods to arrest and impound vehicles which flout traffic regulations. These policemen hide behind shops for drivers and vehicles to either park or offload passengers at spots marked as ‘no parking’ areas in order to affect their arrest.
Instead of making their presence felt by the roadside to ward off recalcitrant drivers, the policemen choose to hide and allow them to flout the law and then arrest them.
However, some uniformed policemen who threaten to process and arraign offending drivers before court; such drivers are seen back on the road a few minutes later. Some of the police personnel operate on the Achimota-Mallam highway, Kwame Nkrumah circle and in the Central Business area of Accra.
From the accounts of some of these drivers, the police sometimes arrest them and their mates, only to collect money from them and then release their impounded vehicles.
But Superintendent Campbell says the practice is unprofessional since it does not conform to the basic tenets of policing. To her, since the mere sighting of a policeman in uniform would prevent people from flouting the traffic laws, there was no need for the police to adopt unprofessional methods in their policing duties. She asked police personnel involved in such practices to put a stop the habit, since anybody found in such an act is likely to face service enquiry. Though the police have been asked to refrain from conducting road checks, she noted that there are some ‘black spots’ where they cannot leave unattended to, since lots of accidents happen in these areas.
Court remands whistle blower
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
An Accra district magistrate court has remanded ‘whistle blower’ Paul Nimako in custody for allegedly issuing a death threat on the life of his one-time business partner, Kwame Owusu Afriyie, owner and organizer of Ghana Expo.
An Accra district magistrate court has remanded ‘whistle blower’ Paul Nimako in custody for allegedly issuing a death threat on the life of his one-time business partner, Kwame Owusu Afriyie, owner and organizer of Ghana Expo.Nimako was charged, following a complaint by Owusu Afriyie to the Dansoman police that the accused has threatened to eliminate him.He pleaded not guilty to the charge and is scheduled to reappear on September 5, this year, pending further investigations into the matter.A request for bail by Mr. Addo Attuah, counsel for the accused was turned down by the presiding judge.Defense counsel expressed surprise at the court’s decision not to grant his client bail, since, according to him, it is a charge of which one could be granted bail.Stunned by the court’s decision, counsel for the accused noted, “I was indeed surprise at the courts decision not to grant my client bail.”He however indicated that he would file an application for bail at the high court.It would be recalled that the Chronicle published the allegations by Nimako that Owusu Afriyie was involved in a massive visa racketeering deals, copies of which he sent to the US embassy, SFO and other international agencies, including the FBI.Nimako claimed to have fallen prey to Owusu Afriyie’s alleged fraudulent deals previously petitioned the President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, through the former presidential staffer, Dr Amoako Tuffuor, to use his offices to cause thorough investigations into his activities, as he deemed it demeaning to the image of the country.
An Accra district magistrate court has remanded ‘whistle blower’ Paul Nimako in custody for allegedly issuing a death threat on the life of his one-time business partner, Kwame Owusu Afriyie, owner and organizer of Ghana Expo.
An Accra district magistrate court has remanded ‘whistle blower’ Paul Nimako in custody for allegedly issuing a death threat on the life of his one-time business partner, Kwame Owusu Afriyie, owner and organizer of Ghana Expo.Nimako was charged, following a complaint by Owusu Afriyie to the Dansoman police that the accused has threatened to eliminate him.He pleaded not guilty to the charge and is scheduled to reappear on September 5, this year, pending further investigations into the matter.A request for bail by Mr. Addo Attuah, counsel for the accused was turned down by the presiding judge.Defense counsel expressed surprise at the court’s decision not to grant his client bail, since, according to him, it is a charge of which one could be granted bail.Stunned by the court’s decision, counsel for the accused noted, “I was indeed surprise at the courts decision not to grant my client bail.”He however indicated that he would file an application for bail at the high court.It would be recalled that the Chronicle published the allegations by Nimako that Owusu Afriyie was involved in a massive visa racketeering deals, copies of which he sent to the US embassy, SFO and other international agencies, including the FBI.Nimako claimed to have fallen prey to Owusu Afriyie’s alleged fraudulent deals previously petitioned the President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, through the former presidential staffer, Dr Amoako Tuffuor, to use his offices to cause thorough investigations into his activities, as he deemed it demeaning to the image of the country.
Expo Ghana Exposure: Revelations Galore
... Owusu Afriyie is president of dodgy Millennium Africa Fund, accused of defaulting Exim Bank with implications for Ghana
Accra, Sept. 6 (Chronicle) -- WHISTLEBLOWER Mr. Paul Nimako has repeated his charge against Mr. Kwame Owusu Afriyie(pictured) and demanded investigation into his activities and possible prosecution.Nimako, who used to be the president of a US-based company, Rainbow Foods International Corporation, undaunted by his shocking incarceration, reminiscent of the NDC era?s Republic v Tommy Thompson and 3 others case, insists on his allegations against Owusu Afriyie, who is the chairman of Allied Savings and Loans in Kumasi.Mr. Owusu Afriyie, who is the Managing Director of Goldlink Travel and Tours also, is at the receiving end of the whistleblower?s spirited charges of using national resources to organize ?Expos? in both the United States and the United Kingdom, both of which have not posted any tangible returns to the country. One of these resources is a service passport, which Afriyie admits he has procured.Incidentally, Mr. Owusu Afriyie is involved in another enterprise, Millennium Africa Fund, which has been scoffed at by Ghanaians in the US as a dodgy enterprise. The Ghana address of the MAF is listed as P.O. Box KNUST 663, Kumasi.Speaking to this reporter inside the James Fort Prison, Nimako said he would follow the case to its logical conclusion, no matter the cost.In follow-up telephone cross verifications, siblings of Nimako in US confirmed that they were aware that Owusu Afriyie was indebted to Nimako and wondered what kind of justice was operating in Ghana where a victim of fraud rather ended up in jail while the real offender walked. This, they contended was effectively gagging Nimako.At the Dansoman police station, policemen who were interviewed by this reporter could not show any evidence of threats, which formed the basis of the prosecution and subsequent confinement by Mrs. Aikins of the Magistrate Court at Mantse Agbonaa.The police had told this reporter that they were investigating a case of threat against Nimako, made by Owusu Afriyie and that Nimako had duly reported to the police station and leveled accusations against Afriyie.Mr. Afriyie denied the accusation that his deliberate default in paying the sum of over $1 million facility from Exim Bank, had jeopardized the American credit bank?s relations with Ghana.?Nimako knows that I have money and so he wants to siphon some money out of me, that is why he is doing all this,? was his reaction to the accusation.In earlier petitions to the President, Nimako gave a carefully worded chronology of events leading to a long list of debts incurred by Owusu Afriyie and his ?business cronies? including sums in excess of $1.5 million to American Insurance giant CAN Insurance Company (USA) and a US credit guarantee bank, Exim-import bank.Documents made available to The Chronicle show that the Afriyie-owned company, Goldlink Travel and Tours Ltd of Accra, borrowed $1,155,044 from the bank through an application made through All First Banks in Baltimore and guaranteed by the same Kwame Owusu Afriyie of Kumasi, Ghana. The loan was used for the purchase of buses. Exim Bank officials in Washington would not comment on the status of the loan when reached by phone nor confirm whether the loan that was granted some five years ago had been retired or not.Nimako explained in his deposition that he had an agency agreement with Afriyie in which he brought twenty Ghanaian businesses for trade financing opportunity, using his connection in the US, built over the years.?They were also to submit to be qualified for a 100 percent international trade financing and revolving line of credit ranging from $50,000 to $300,000.00 each.? The qualified exporters would use the facility to import any lawful goods of their choice with all expenses paid by Rainbow Foods (Nimako?s company).Mr. Nimako claimed that after shipping goods ordered by the agents who were sent to Ghana, he requested shipping documents. ?On payment due date, Mr. Kwame Owusu Afriyie and Daniel Kofi Duku were contacted. They never sent the payment after several demand notices.? Mr. Nimako said at the time he came to Ghana, investigations established that the goods were never shipped, hence never in Ghana at any bonded warehouse as was ?fraudulently represented by my agents, the suppliers and the importers.??They charged my company a fee of $50,000 for agency, with $25,000 up-front (which I paid) and the balance to be paid after full payment had been received from their clients,? Nimako charged.On his part, Nimako noted that he had triggered a first shipment valued at about $3 million to the various importers, including a shipload of sugar, with all documents routed through his agents, Owusu Afriyie and Duku.Afriyie, who was initially responding to the allegations, later paused and called for the help of Mr. Paul Adom Otchere, a media practitioner of Citi FM morning show and Metro TV?s Good Evening Ghana fame, who admitted that he was the Public Relations officer of Owusu Afriyie.Mr. Adom-Otchere helped him deny all the allegations, claiming they were being made by a frustrated and destitute person, who had sworn heaven and earth to puncture the credibility of the Expo and Owusu Afriyie.In the presence of Mr. Otchere, he noted that Nimako was only peeved after several attempts to extort $200,000 from him had backfired.According to him, he had lodged a formal complaint with the police CID for Nimako?s arrest since he had called and threatened him.Meanwhile, though Owusu Afriyie has admitted being invited by Dr. Kwame Amoako Tuffuor to the president?s office with regard to the same allegations, following a copy of the petition sent to the Presidents? office, when reached for confirmation, he did not confirm or deny whether the petition had been received by the president though Nimako insisted that he did send the petition across.
Accra, Sept. 6 (Chronicle) -- WHISTLEBLOWER Mr. Paul Nimako has repeated his charge against Mr. Kwame Owusu Afriyie(pictured) and demanded investigation into his activities and possible prosecution.Nimako, who used to be the president of a US-based company, Rainbow Foods International Corporation, undaunted by his shocking incarceration, reminiscent of the NDC era?s Republic v Tommy Thompson and 3 others case, insists on his allegations against Owusu Afriyie, who is the chairman of Allied Savings and Loans in Kumasi.Mr. Owusu Afriyie, who is the Managing Director of Goldlink Travel and Tours also, is at the receiving end of the whistleblower?s spirited charges of using national resources to organize ?Expos? in both the United States and the United Kingdom, both of which have not posted any tangible returns to the country. One of these resources is a service passport, which Afriyie admits he has procured.Incidentally, Mr. Owusu Afriyie is involved in another enterprise, Millennium Africa Fund, which has been scoffed at by Ghanaians in the US as a dodgy enterprise. The Ghana address of the MAF is listed as P.O. Box KNUST 663, Kumasi.Speaking to this reporter inside the James Fort Prison, Nimako said he would follow the case to its logical conclusion, no matter the cost.In follow-up telephone cross verifications, siblings of Nimako in US confirmed that they were aware that Owusu Afriyie was indebted to Nimako and wondered what kind of justice was operating in Ghana where a victim of fraud rather ended up in jail while the real offender walked. This, they contended was effectively gagging Nimako.At the Dansoman police station, policemen who were interviewed by this reporter could not show any evidence of threats, which formed the basis of the prosecution and subsequent confinement by Mrs. Aikins of the Magistrate Court at Mantse Agbonaa.The police had told this reporter that they were investigating a case of threat against Nimako, made by Owusu Afriyie and that Nimako had duly reported to the police station and leveled accusations against Afriyie.Mr. Afriyie denied the accusation that his deliberate default in paying the sum of over $1 million facility from Exim Bank, had jeopardized the American credit bank?s relations with Ghana.?Nimako knows that I have money and so he wants to siphon some money out of me, that is why he is doing all this,? was his reaction to the accusation.In earlier petitions to the President, Nimako gave a carefully worded chronology of events leading to a long list of debts incurred by Owusu Afriyie and his ?business cronies? including sums in excess of $1.5 million to American Insurance giant CAN Insurance Company (USA) and a US credit guarantee bank, Exim-import bank.Documents made available to The Chronicle show that the Afriyie-owned company, Goldlink Travel and Tours Ltd of Accra, borrowed $1,155,044 from the bank through an application made through All First Banks in Baltimore and guaranteed by the same Kwame Owusu Afriyie of Kumasi, Ghana. The loan was used for the purchase of buses. Exim Bank officials in Washington would not comment on the status of the loan when reached by phone nor confirm whether the loan that was granted some five years ago had been retired or not.Nimako explained in his deposition that he had an agency agreement with Afriyie in which he brought twenty Ghanaian businesses for trade financing opportunity, using his connection in the US, built over the years.?They were also to submit to be qualified for a 100 percent international trade financing and revolving line of credit ranging from $50,000 to $300,000.00 each.? The qualified exporters would use the facility to import any lawful goods of their choice with all expenses paid by Rainbow Foods (Nimako?s company).Mr. Nimako claimed that after shipping goods ordered by the agents who were sent to Ghana, he requested shipping documents. ?On payment due date, Mr. Kwame Owusu Afriyie and Daniel Kofi Duku were contacted. They never sent the payment after several demand notices.? Mr. Nimako said at the time he came to Ghana, investigations established that the goods were never shipped, hence never in Ghana at any bonded warehouse as was ?fraudulently represented by my agents, the suppliers and the importers.??They charged my company a fee of $50,000 for agency, with $25,000 up-front (which I paid) and the balance to be paid after full payment had been received from their clients,? Nimako charged.On his part, Nimako noted that he had triggered a first shipment valued at about $3 million to the various importers, including a shipload of sugar, with all documents routed through his agents, Owusu Afriyie and Duku.Afriyie, who was initially responding to the allegations, later paused and called for the help of Mr. Paul Adom Otchere, a media practitioner of Citi FM morning show and Metro TV?s Good Evening Ghana fame, who admitted that he was the Public Relations officer of Owusu Afriyie.Mr. Adom-Otchere helped him deny all the allegations, claiming they were being made by a frustrated and destitute person, who had sworn heaven and earth to puncture the credibility of the Expo and Owusu Afriyie.In the presence of Mr. Otchere, he noted that Nimako was only peeved after several attempts to extort $200,000 from him had backfired.According to him, he had lodged a formal complaint with the police CID for Nimako?s arrest since he had called and threatened him.Meanwhile, though Owusu Afriyie has admitted being invited by Dr. Kwame Amoako Tuffuor to the president?s office with regard to the same allegations, following a copy of the petition sent to the Presidents? office, when reached for confirmation, he did not confirm or deny whether the petition had been received by the president though Nimako insisted that he did send the petition across.
WHISTLEBLOWER PAUL’S CRUSHING EXPOSÈ
By Charles TAKYI-Boadu
A MAGISTRATE of the inferior court at the Mantse Agbonna’s Palace around the James town area of Accra is this morning scheduled to sit on a case of an alleged threat to the life of Mr. Kwame Owusu Afriyie of Ghana Expo, the man accused of an elaborate scam, massive visa racketeering and elements of fraud. Mr. Paul Nimako, a Ghanaian businessman recently deported from the US for overstaying his visa, blew the whistle on Kwame Owusu Afriyie’s much publicized Ghana/Africa Expo, charging, in written submissions to the US Embassy, the US Secretary of State, Ms. Condelleza Rice, The British High Commission and some media houses, that the whole scheme is a sham designed to fleece Ghanaians anxious to enter the US and Britain.Mr. Nimako has previously petitioned the President through the former Presidential staffer, Dr. Amoako Tufuor, but now suspects Mr. Afriyie is now becoming bolder and because he thinks he has the backing of powerful and influential leaders of this country, including the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and the monarch of the great Ashanti kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.With barely a month for yet another such Expo to come on in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, the event organizer, Kwame Owusu Afriyie, alerted the Dansoman police last week of threats to his life by Mr. Nimako, the whistleblower, who denied the charge and gave copies of his petition and accusation of criminal deception against Owusu Afriyie.This reporter contacted the Dansoman police station, which confirmed that they had interviewed Nimako over the threat and were still investigating.The sudden summons to the ‘Mantse Agbonna’ court today may reveal whether there was ‘an element of threat’ or not.But Nimako insists and states categorically and emphatically that he stands by everything he has written in his petitions and submitted other documentation and clippings and web sites to back his charges.Paul Nimako, who claims to have fallen prey to Owusu Afriyie’s alleged ‘fraudulent’ deals, approached this paper as a last resort after his petitions ‘fell on deaf ears’ and has now tasked the United States Embassy to institute thorough and comprehensive investigations into his organized Expos.In his current petition to the Embassy, Nimako noted that Owusu Afriyie has prepared ‘fraudulent’ documents to would-be participants in the yet to be hosted Expo scheduled for Atlanta next month to defraud the American Embassy in issuing its visas at a whopping fee of $5,000 for the over 300 participants In the said same pattern, he is said to have defrauded three companies in the United States by charging $5,000 per company for well over 20 Ghanaian companies and fraudulently duped them to the tune of $3million.The Ghana Expo last year came under a cloud of suspicion since its debut in UK as media houses, like Joy FM and Chronicle, reported over a year ago about the plight of Ghanaians who were drawn into the Expo and were left stranded in North London, the venue of the Expo.Though the presence of respected personalities like the Otumfuo and the highly regarded High Commissioner to UK, Hon. Isaac Osei, gave some credibility to the event, Nimako, a friend and business partner of Owusu Afriyie insists that it is a fraudulent racket.Nimako revealed that Owusu Afriyie, an ordinary Ghanaian, has been given a diplomatic passport to further his dubious enterprises because he managed to hookwink relevant government department to issue him with one.He revealed names of members who help Afriyie put together his international network. (Chronicle is withholding the names till we make contact with them).Illustrating, Nimako carefully told of how three individuals received imported goods worth over $2.5million from another Ghanaian businessman in the US, whom they succeeded in defrauding.Nimako stated in his petition, copies over which this reporter subjected him to rigorous interviews and examination, that he was swayed by Owusu Afriyie and his network into shipping sugar worth $300, 000 into the country, but Afriyie with his importer clients sold and pocketed the proceeds without the least consideration to him.Nimako noted that he paid Owusu Afriyie and one Duku an amount of $25,000 as agency fee for which they did not perform the required job per the agreement with none of their clients paying back the various sums extended to them as credit facilities for the importation of the goods.Meanwhile, Owusu Afriyie has denied any fraudulent deal in his business deals in organizing these Expos.He categorically denied as untrue the allegation that he charges a fee of $5,000 per a participant to the Expo as visa fee.According to him, since he was neither working nor had anything to do with the issuance of US visas at the Embassy, it would be difficult to charge anybody a fee, stressing that each and every participant goes through the normal process at the embassy, some of whom, he said, are even denied visas.Also, he indicated that the only fee he charges individuals and organizations is that of $200 as registration at a cedi rate of ¢9,300, $2,300 for the exhibition stand and $50 for the insurance.Further, he noted that he charges a fee of $500.00 per participant for hotel accommodation and an option of $1,000 for a seminar the participant expresses interest in.“Why, do you think the US embassy is foolish to sit unconcerned when these things are going on and allow me to go and come to and from the US as I want?My brother, they would have now banged me into jail,” he said furiously.According to him, the American Embassy has rejected a number of participants in the yet to be stage Expo come September. This, he said, was an indication that he cannot beat or cheat the security or immigration of America.He denied the assertion that he had been issued a diplomatic passport by state officials.However, he noted that all he has is a service passport, which he claims he rarely uses.Source: Chronicle
A MAGISTRATE of the inferior court at the Mantse Agbonna’s Palace around the James town area of Accra is this morning scheduled to sit on a case of an alleged threat to the life of Mr. Kwame Owusu Afriyie of Ghana Expo, the man accused of an elaborate scam, massive visa racketeering and elements of fraud. Mr. Paul Nimako, a Ghanaian businessman recently deported from the US for overstaying his visa, blew the whistle on Kwame Owusu Afriyie’s much publicized Ghana/Africa Expo, charging, in written submissions to the US Embassy, the US Secretary of State, Ms. Condelleza Rice, The British High Commission and some media houses, that the whole scheme is a sham designed to fleece Ghanaians anxious to enter the US and Britain.Mr. Nimako has previously petitioned the President through the former Presidential staffer, Dr. Amoako Tufuor, but now suspects Mr. Afriyie is now becoming bolder and because he thinks he has the backing of powerful and influential leaders of this country, including the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and the monarch of the great Ashanti kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.With barely a month for yet another such Expo to come on in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, the event organizer, Kwame Owusu Afriyie, alerted the Dansoman police last week of threats to his life by Mr. Nimako, the whistleblower, who denied the charge and gave copies of his petition and accusation of criminal deception against Owusu Afriyie.This reporter contacted the Dansoman police station, which confirmed that they had interviewed Nimako over the threat and were still investigating.The sudden summons to the ‘Mantse Agbonna’ court today may reveal whether there was ‘an element of threat’ or not.But Nimako insists and states categorically and emphatically that he stands by everything he has written in his petitions and submitted other documentation and clippings and web sites to back his charges.Paul Nimako, who claims to have fallen prey to Owusu Afriyie’s alleged ‘fraudulent’ deals, approached this paper as a last resort after his petitions ‘fell on deaf ears’ and has now tasked the United States Embassy to institute thorough and comprehensive investigations into his organized Expos.In his current petition to the Embassy, Nimako noted that Owusu Afriyie has prepared ‘fraudulent’ documents to would-be participants in the yet to be hosted Expo scheduled for Atlanta next month to defraud the American Embassy in issuing its visas at a whopping fee of $5,000 for the over 300 participants In the said same pattern, he is said to have defrauded three companies in the United States by charging $5,000 per company for well over 20 Ghanaian companies and fraudulently duped them to the tune of $3million.The Ghana Expo last year came under a cloud of suspicion since its debut in UK as media houses, like Joy FM and Chronicle, reported over a year ago about the plight of Ghanaians who were drawn into the Expo and were left stranded in North London, the venue of the Expo.Though the presence of respected personalities like the Otumfuo and the highly regarded High Commissioner to UK, Hon. Isaac Osei, gave some credibility to the event, Nimako, a friend and business partner of Owusu Afriyie insists that it is a fraudulent racket.Nimako revealed that Owusu Afriyie, an ordinary Ghanaian, has been given a diplomatic passport to further his dubious enterprises because he managed to hookwink relevant government department to issue him with one.He revealed names of members who help Afriyie put together his international network. (Chronicle is withholding the names till we make contact with them).Illustrating, Nimako carefully told of how three individuals received imported goods worth over $2.5million from another Ghanaian businessman in the US, whom they succeeded in defrauding.Nimako stated in his petition, copies over which this reporter subjected him to rigorous interviews and examination, that he was swayed by Owusu Afriyie and his network into shipping sugar worth $300, 000 into the country, but Afriyie with his importer clients sold and pocketed the proceeds without the least consideration to him.Nimako noted that he paid Owusu Afriyie and one Duku an amount of $25,000 as agency fee for which they did not perform the required job per the agreement with none of their clients paying back the various sums extended to them as credit facilities for the importation of the goods.Meanwhile, Owusu Afriyie has denied any fraudulent deal in his business deals in organizing these Expos.He categorically denied as untrue the allegation that he charges a fee of $5,000 per a participant to the Expo as visa fee.According to him, since he was neither working nor had anything to do with the issuance of US visas at the Embassy, it would be difficult to charge anybody a fee, stressing that each and every participant goes through the normal process at the embassy, some of whom, he said, are even denied visas.Also, he indicated that the only fee he charges individuals and organizations is that of $200 as registration at a cedi rate of ¢9,300, $2,300 for the exhibition stand and $50 for the insurance.Further, he noted that he charges a fee of $500.00 per participant for hotel accommodation and an option of $1,000 for a seminar the participant expresses interest in.“Why, do you think the US embassy is foolish to sit unconcerned when these things are going on and allow me to go and come to and from the US as I want?My brother, they would have now banged me into jail,” he said furiously.According to him, the American Embassy has rejected a number of participants in the yet to be stage Expo come September. This, he said, was an indication that he cannot beat or cheat the security or immigration of America.He denied the assertion that he had been issued a diplomatic passport by state officials.However, he noted that all he has is a service passport, which he claims he rarely uses.Source: Chronicle
DFP Opens Nominations
Posted to the web 17 March 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
All is set for the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) to go to congress to elect a Flagbearer and National Executives to lead the party in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, at its meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, decided to hold its national delegates congress from Friday 4th to Saturday 5th April 2008.
A statement issued and signed by the party's Deputy General Secretary, in charge of Finance and Administration, John Amekah, said the decision was arrived at after the party's earlier decision to hold the national delegate's congress on March 14, 2008, was affected by the 26th MTN CAN 2008 football tournament.
Scheduled to take place at the assembly hall of the Accra Polytechnic, the national delegates congress would be under the theme 'restoring national hope and confidence'. In that regard, nominations would be open for contestants for both the Flagbearership and National Executives positions on Monday, March 17, 2008, and close on Monday, March 31, 2008.
The nomination forms for the Flagbearership contest would only be available at the National Secretariat whilst that for National Executives would be available at the National Secretariat and all regional offices of the party spread across the length and breadth of the country.
Some 1,600 delegates are expected to vote to determine the future of the party at the scheduled congress. Meanwhile, the Founder and Leader of the DFP, who happens to be former Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah has totally ruled out the possibility of contesting for any position at stake. He appears to be comfortable with his role as a Founder of the party.
As a party founded on democratic principles and ideologies, the DFP has assured all Ghanaians and its teeming supporters in particular, that the party is as vibrant as ever and poised not only to contest the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections but to make a huge impact on the Ghanaian political scene.
According to the statement, the DFP's plan to hold the congress as originally scheduled for March 14, 2008, was affected by the just ended African Cup of Nations, which in turn affected the academic calendar of most tertiary institutions in the country.
This necessitated a postponement of the event to enable the party to find other alternative and suitable arrangements for both the venue of the congress and accommodation for the delegates who would be attending.Though party leaders are not forthcoming with information about which individuals are likely to contest, sources have it that the race for the Flagbearership is likely to attract serious attention, considering where the DFP is coming from.
Sources close to the top brass of the party have indicated that the DFP would endeavour to elect a new generation type of leadership to lead it into the upcoming elections.It is, however, not clear whether former Finance Minister in the (P)NDC regime, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey would contest for the Flagbearership, after an open denial to that effect. DFP has promised to pull a surprise in the upcoming Presidential and Parliament elections slated for December 2008.
Barely a year after it was founded, the leadership of the party has managed to strengthen the party's base in all the 10 regional capitals and the 230 constituencies across the length and breadth of the country.Unlike some existing political parties, which do not have physical structures and executives in all the 10 regions, let alone the 230 constituencies, the DFP has offices in two-thirds of the 230 constituencies.
At the remaining one-third of those constituencies without physical presence, the party has executives and registered members who hold meetings within time.The leadership of the party has thus intensified their efforts to strengthen the base of the party in those constituencies in order to increase its support base.Considering the work done so far, Dr. Obed Asamoah has said that the party was leaving no stone unturned to realise its dream of winning the upcoming elections.
Charles Takyi-Boadu
All is set for the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) to go to congress to elect a Flagbearer and National Executives to lead the party in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, at its meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, decided to hold its national delegates congress from Friday 4th to Saturday 5th April 2008.
A statement issued and signed by the party's Deputy General Secretary, in charge of Finance and Administration, John Amekah, said the decision was arrived at after the party's earlier decision to hold the national delegate's congress on March 14, 2008, was affected by the 26th MTN CAN 2008 football tournament.
Scheduled to take place at the assembly hall of the Accra Polytechnic, the national delegates congress would be under the theme 'restoring national hope and confidence'. In that regard, nominations would be open for contestants for both the Flagbearership and National Executives positions on Monday, March 17, 2008, and close on Monday, March 31, 2008.
The nomination forms for the Flagbearership contest would only be available at the National Secretariat whilst that for National Executives would be available at the National Secretariat and all regional offices of the party spread across the length and breadth of the country.
Some 1,600 delegates are expected to vote to determine the future of the party at the scheduled congress. Meanwhile, the Founder and Leader of the DFP, who happens to be former Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah has totally ruled out the possibility of contesting for any position at stake. He appears to be comfortable with his role as a Founder of the party.
As a party founded on democratic principles and ideologies, the DFP has assured all Ghanaians and its teeming supporters in particular, that the party is as vibrant as ever and poised not only to contest the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections but to make a huge impact on the Ghanaian political scene.
According to the statement, the DFP's plan to hold the congress as originally scheduled for March 14, 2008, was affected by the just ended African Cup of Nations, which in turn affected the academic calendar of most tertiary institutions in the country.
This necessitated a postponement of the event to enable the party to find other alternative and suitable arrangements for both the venue of the congress and accommodation for the delegates who would be attending.Though party leaders are not forthcoming with information about which individuals are likely to contest, sources have it that the race for the Flagbearership is likely to attract serious attention, considering where the DFP is coming from.
Sources close to the top brass of the party have indicated that the DFP would endeavour to elect a new generation type of leadership to lead it into the upcoming elections.It is, however, not clear whether former Finance Minister in the (P)NDC regime, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey would contest for the Flagbearership, after an open denial to that effect. DFP has promised to pull a surprise in the upcoming Presidential and Parliament elections slated for December 2008.
Barely a year after it was founded, the leadership of the party has managed to strengthen the party's base in all the 10 regional capitals and the 230 constituencies across the length and breadth of the country.Unlike some existing political parties, which do not have physical structures and executives in all the 10 regions, let alone the 230 constituencies, the DFP has offices in two-thirds of the 230 constituencies.
At the remaining one-third of those constituencies without physical presence, the party has executives and registered members who hold meetings within time.The leadership of the party has thus intensified their efforts to strengthen the base of the party in those constituencies in order to increase its support base.Considering the work done so far, Dr. Obed Asamoah has said that the party was leaving no stone unturned to realise its dream of winning the upcoming elections.
Why Accra is Still Stinking
Posted to the web 6 May 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
The problem of increasing levels of filth, which has engulfed the nation's capital, Accra, is far from ending, as the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), and central government keep engaging in, what appears to be, an unnecessary blame-game.
Whilst the AMA blames central government, the latter is also putting the blame on the door step of the Assembly, for its inability to settle its indebtedness, of well-over ¢120 million (¢12,000), to solid waste contractors, whom they have engaged to collect refuse from various parts of the city.
The amount is a debt that has accumulated over several months.
Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo Morning Show yesterday, a representative of the 17 or so solid waste contractors in Accra, a certain Mr. Asadu, attributed the increasing levels of filth in the capital city, to internal bickering between the Assembly and central government, over who is responsible for the payment of the outstanding debt.
This, he said, had affected the operations of the companies involved, since there was no money to run their individual businesses.
He emphasised that most of the contractors, are not able to meet their targets, since operations are gradually grinding to a halt, as a result of the lack of funds.
According to him, most of the companies have several of their trucks brokendown, whilst the few remaining ones are not able to work, because there was no money to buy fuel.
Though some of them are compelled, by circumstances, to purchase fuel on a credit basis, the filling stations have now resolved not to offer such credit to them anymore, because of their inability to pay them on schedule.
Using his case as an example, he said the AMA or government owed him well over ¢2 billon in arrears.
The situation, he indicated, was what had resulted in the increasing levels of filth in the country.
He noted that the continuous in-fighting between central government and the AMA, would not solve the problem, but instead deepen the woes of Accra residents, who are at the receiving end of the abhorrent stench pervading all over the place.
Mr. Asadu, therefore, urged government, and other stakeholders in the industry, to take steps to make amends, or else the situation would continue to grow, from bad to worse, as the days go by.
In spite of numerous assurances made to them, by Mr. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson's outfit to settle the outstanding debt, the waste contractors say what they have done over the period, is to pay them lip service.
As a result, most these companies have adopted a lackadaisical attitude towards refuse collection in Accra.
The situation has resulted in the generating of mountains of filth, all over the capital city, especially in third and fourth class residential areas, such as Nima, Korle-Gonno Mamprobi, Bukom and James Town in central Accra.
Some of the affected contractors, say the situation is gradually getting out of hand, since it has gotten to a stage, where they sometimes cannot afford to fuel their trucks.
Information has it that the cost of maintaining each of these trucks is estimated to be running into millions of cedis.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that companies running about 12-15 fleet of trucks purchase over ¢50 million (GH¢5,000) a week.
Somewhere last year, Mr. Samuel Kpodo, a Principal Environmental Technologist in solid waste collection, at the AMA Waste Department, admitted in an interview with The Chronicle, that the situation was crippling the activities and operations of these waste contractors.
He traced the Assembly's predicament back to the year 2005, when as a result of fuel price increases, it was compelled by circumstances, to increase the cost per tonne of refuse, from the initial ¢60,000 (GH¢6) to ¢100,000 (GH¢10).
Since then, he says, the Assembly has been struggling to pay these contractors, resulting in inefficiency.
Though the Assembly collects taxes and property rates, among others, he noted it was still not sufficient to surmount the tonnes of solid waste generated in Accra.
Mr. Kpodo noted that the Assembly spent about 60% of its annual revenue, on solid waste management alone, not to even talk about liquid waste.
He, therefore, made a proposal that every household be made to pay for refuse collected at the end of each month, as is the case of first and second class residential areas. "We, therefore, have to adopt and apply 'the polluter pays policy' in Accra, to support the AMA in paying these contractors," he said.
Charles Takyi-Boadu
The problem of increasing levels of filth, which has engulfed the nation's capital, Accra, is far from ending, as the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), and central government keep engaging in, what appears to be, an unnecessary blame-game.
Whilst the AMA blames central government, the latter is also putting the blame on the door step of the Assembly, for its inability to settle its indebtedness, of well-over ¢120 million (¢12,000), to solid waste contractors, whom they have engaged to collect refuse from various parts of the city.
The amount is a debt that has accumulated over several months.
Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo Morning Show yesterday, a representative of the 17 or so solid waste contractors in Accra, a certain Mr. Asadu, attributed the increasing levels of filth in the capital city, to internal bickering between the Assembly and central government, over who is responsible for the payment of the outstanding debt.
This, he said, had affected the operations of the companies involved, since there was no money to run their individual businesses.
He emphasised that most of the contractors, are not able to meet their targets, since operations are gradually grinding to a halt, as a result of the lack of funds.
According to him, most of the companies have several of their trucks brokendown, whilst the few remaining ones are not able to work, because there was no money to buy fuel.
Though some of them are compelled, by circumstances, to purchase fuel on a credit basis, the filling stations have now resolved not to offer such credit to them anymore, because of their inability to pay them on schedule.
Using his case as an example, he said the AMA or government owed him well over ¢2 billon in arrears.
The situation, he indicated, was what had resulted in the increasing levels of filth in the country.
He noted that the continuous in-fighting between central government and the AMA, would not solve the problem, but instead deepen the woes of Accra residents, who are at the receiving end of the abhorrent stench pervading all over the place.
Mr. Asadu, therefore, urged government, and other stakeholders in the industry, to take steps to make amends, or else the situation would continue to grow, from bad to worse, as the days go by.
In spite of numerous assurances made to them, by Mr. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson's outfit to settle the outstanding debt, the waste contractors say what they have done over the period, is to pay them lip service.
As a result, most these companies have adopted a lackadaisical attitude towards refuse collection in Accra.
The situation has resulted in the generating of mountains of filth, all over the capital city, especially in third and fourth class residential areas, such as Nima, Korle-Gonno Mamprobi, Bukom and James Town in central Accra.
Some of the affected contractors, say the situation is gradually getting out of hand, since it has gotten to a stage, where they sometimes cannot afford to fuel their trucks.
Information has it that the cost of maintaining each of these trucks is estimated to be running into millions of cedis.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that companies running about 12-15 fleet of trucks purchase over ¢50 million (GH¢5,000) a week.
Somewhere last year, Mr. Samuel Kpodo, a Principal Environmental Technologist in solid waste collection, at the AMA Waste Department, admitted in an interview with The Chronicle, that the situation was crippling the activities and operations of these waste contractors.
He traced the Assembly's predicament back to the year 2005, when as a result of fuel price increases, it was compelled by circumstances, to increase the cost per tonne of refuse, from the initial ¢60,000 (GH¢6) to ¢100,000 (GH¢10).
Since then, he says, the Assembly has been struggling to pay these contractors, resulting in inefficiency.
Though the Assembly collects taxes and property rates, among others, he noted it was still not sufficient to surmount the tonnes of solid waste generated in Accra.
Mr. Kpodo noted that the Assembly spent about 60% of its annual revenue, on solid waste management alone, not to even talk about liquid waste.
He, therefore, made a proposal that every household be made to pay for refuse collected at the end of each month, as is the case of first and second class residential areas. "We, therefore, have to adopt and apply 'the polluter pays policy' in Accra, to support the AMA in paying these contractors," he said.
Gay, Lesbian Adventure Catches Fire
Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra), September 5, 2006Charles Takyi-BoaduThe activities and operations of a group calling itself the gay and lesbian association of Ghana, coupled with their intention to play host to an international conference in Ghana, has met fierce condemnation and opposition from the Christian community.In the heat of events, the Christian Council of Ghana, mother of several Christian denominations in the country, has added its voice to that of the several condemnations by government and equally concerned citizens.At a press conference in Accra yesterday to state its position on the raging controversy, Right Reverend Dr. Paul Fynn, Chairman of the all-powerful council, condemned in no uncertain terms the activities and operations of the gays and lesbians."The Christian Council of Ghana vehemently condemns without reservations the formation of such an association in our beautiful and peaceful country," he said.He noted that the said conference would not have been in the interest of the nation, as it would rather have brought disgrace to many people in the country if not the entire population.According to him, the fact that the constitution of the country guaranteed freedom of association, movement, speech, expression and worship did not mean it should provide the license and authority for people to misbehave and satanise the country, as that of the infamous Sodom and Gomorrah incident in the bible.As the bible prescribes, he indicated, "God did not create man to marry man and woman to marry woman, but created man to cohabit with woman and to bear children".For this reason, he mentioned that it does not augur well for man to marry man and woman to marry woman and have their marriage blessed.Dr Paul Fynn has thus called on all Ghanaians, especially religious bodies, to rise up and nip in the bud the emergence of the practice he described as "despicable and dangerous phenomena" in the Ghanaian society.For him, homosexuality, lesbianism, occultism and the raging cocaine issues that have beset this nation within the last couple of months are all signs of the bad seed sown by the devil amongst us; hence the need to uproot such acts without further delay.The council thus advised all parents, teachers and guardians to keep an eye on their children and advise them to steer clear of such immoral and sinful practices.This he said was because these practices only bring untold hardships to individuals, the community and the nation in the long run.It congratulated government for its swift response to the issue, knowing very well its consequential effects on the nation and the people, commending it for not only condemning but also disallowing the proposed international conference to would have been held in Ghana."We further congratulate the government for recognizing the cherished traditional and religious values of our country and for listening to the Ghanaian public," said the chairman.According to him, the Council was solidly behind the government in its decision to take disciplinary actions against them if they were found to have acted in contradiction of the country's laws.Over a week ago, the president of the gays and lesbians association of Ghana, one Prince MacDonalds, came under immense attack from Ghanaians when he stormed the studious of Joy FM, an Accra-based private radio station, to justify their activities.Apostle Dr. Michael Ntumy, who could not fathom any kind of justification for such ungodly practices, said, "Homosexuality is an offence against God", quoting Leviticus 20:13 in the Holy Scriptures, "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death".This in itself, he said, must inform all persons of how God despises such practices.He noted that Christians consider homosexuality and lesbianism as contrary to the ways the Bible teaches and part of what the Scripture condemns, including fornication and stealing.He said the only way out for such persons would be to seek accord with God and accept to repent their ways."It is unfortunate all over the world homosexuals are coming out of their closets," he bemoaned.Although many people feel uneasy to talk about it in public, he wondered why and how others felt proud of this orientation and were telling the entire world that it was an alternate sexual course.Meanwhile, the Bible prescribe in Leviticus 18:22 that a man "shall not lie with a male as with a woman", emphasizing that "it is an abomination".
Alleged Visa Deals - Afeku's Woes Deepen
Posted to the web 17 April 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
The allegation of visa racketeering, which stalled the vetting of Mrs. Catherine Afeku, Government Spokesperson on Social Services and Infrastructure, from the Evalue-Gwira primary on the ticket of her party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is far from ending as more evidence pops up against her.
Latest, is the sudden outburst of one Matilda Agyemang, a Ghanaian-based in the United States (US), who has jumped into the fray, to buttress the allegations made by Habakkuk Baffoe, of the University of Education, Winneba, who has launched a crushing exposé on the activities of the NPP stalwart.
Speaking to 'Radio Gold' morning show host, yesterday, Matilda narrated how she came into contact with Catherine, in the year 2005, when she (Catherine) was resident in the US.
According to Matilda, what made her enter into a deal with Catherine was when she convinced her that she could assist to procure the necessary documents for two of her siblings, to travel and join her in the US.
She noted that Catherine made her understand that she had connections with the US Embassy in Ghana hence it would be easy for her to procure visas for the two siblings.
After extensive discussions, she noted that they reached an agreement when Catherine asked her to pay an amount of $14,000, to enable her process the necessary documents, including visas.
The said the amount was to cover the entire traveling expenses for Matilda's brother and sister - a $7,000 fee for each person.
That notwithstanding, she said Catherine gave her only two hours to effect payment, which was done through the issuance of cheques, of which she claimed to be having copies.
Asked what made her have so much confidence in Catherine, to believe that she could help her bring her siblings to the US, Matilda said Catherine made her believe that she had been doing this for a long time, hence could do whatever it takes to get the two to the States.
According to Matilda, Catherine, thus gave her a time lapse of 6 months within which she would have completed all the necessary documents for her siblings to travel.
This, however, turned out to be a hoax, when after the stipulated time, Catherine could not deliver on her promise, and moved from the US to Ghana, with her husband.
Since then, she indicated, she had made several attempts to reclaim her money, but Catherine has not been forthcoming but rather dodgy.
Whenever she put a call through to Catherine's phone, she said, Catherine would promise to call her back, but not do so.
For now, all Matilda said she wanted was a refund of her $14,000, and nothing more.
She described Catherine Afeku as a liar, for denying owing her, let alone engage in any shady visa deals as being alleged.
"I'm not the only person; she took people's money, that's why she has run away to Ghana. As soon as I finish with mine, I will let the others come forward," she assured.
Matilda said she had documents to back her claims, since she kept copies of each and every one of the cheques, she issued to Catherine for withdrawal.
Matilda said when she came to Ghana three years ago, she reported the incident to the Axim Police, who managed to arrest Catherine's husband, one Seth Afeku, but could not arrest the wife.
Considering the nature of the case, Matilda said, she was advised to take the issue to a court, in either Accra or Kumasi, for the necessary action to be taken, to retrieve the money.
By that time, she noted, she only had three days to leave the country for the US, hence had no option but to leave.
For Matilda, such a person does not qualify to be a political figure in Ghana. She, therefore, called on the NPP to disqualify her nomination.
But Catherine still sticks to her position, that she has not defrauded anyone, and has asked those making the allegations, to prove her guilt by producing documentary evidence, to back their claims, or go to court.
According to her, both Michael and Samuel Nokor, who were said to have fallen prey to her visa deals, have all denied the allegations, expressing disappointment.
The vetting of Catherine Afeku was put on hold, by her party's Vetting Committee sometime last week, following a petition tabled by Habakkuk Baffoe.
In the said petition, dated April 6, 2008, Baffoe, who happens to be in the same political party, NPP, with Catherine, sought to ask the party officials to disqualify her candidature, since in his view, she and her husband had dragged the party's name into disrepute, through their alleged deals as 'visa contractors'.
Charles Takyi-Boadu
The allegation of visa racketeering, which stalled the vetting of Mrs. Catherine Afeku, Government Spokesperson on Social Services and Infrastructure, from the Evalue-Gwira primary on the ticket of her party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is far from ending as more evidence pops up against her.
Latest, is the sudden outburst of one Matilda Agyemang, a Ghanaian-based in the United States (US), who has jumped into the fray, to buttress the allegations made by Habakkuk Baffoe, of the University of Education, Winneba, who has launched a crushing exposé on the activities of the NPP stalwart.
Speaking to 'Radio Gold' morning show host, yesterday, Matilda narrated how she came into contact with Catherine, in the year 2005, when she (Catherine) was resident in the US.
According to Matilda, what made her enter into a deal with Catherine was when she convinced her that she could assist to procure the necessary documents for two of her siblings, to travel and join her in the US.
She noted that Catherine made her understand that she had connections with the US Embassy in Ghana hence it would be easy for her to procure visas for the two siblings.
After extensive discussions, she noted that they reached an agreement when Catherine asked her to pay an amount of $14,000, to enable her process the necessary documents, including visas.
The said the amount was to cover the entire traveling expenses for Matilda's brother and sister - a $7,000 fee for each person.
That notwithstanding, she said Catherine gave her only two hours to effect payment, which was done through the issuance of cheques, of which she claimed to be having copies.
Asked what made her have so much confidence in Catherine, to believe that she could help her bring her siblings to the US, Matilda said Catherine made her believe that she had been doing this for a long time, hence could do whatever it takes to get the two to the States.
According to Matilda, Catherine, thus gave her a time lapse of 6 months within which she would have completed all the necessary documents for her siblings to travel.
This, however, turned out to be a hoax, when after the stipulated time, Catherine could not deliver on her promise, and moved from the US to Ghana, with her husband.
Since then, she indicated, she had made several attempts to reclaim her money, but Catherine has not been forthcoming but rather dodgy.
Whenever she put a call through to Catherine's phone, she said, Catherine would promise to call her back, but not do so.
For now, all Matilda said she wanted was a refund of her $14,000, and nothing more.
She described Catherine Afeku as a liar, for denying owing her, let alone engage in any shady visa deals as being alleged.
"I'm not the only person; she took people's money, that's why she has run away to Ghana. As soon as I finish with mine, I will let the others come forward," she assured.
Matilda said she had documents to back her claims, since she kept copies of each and every one of the cheques, she issued to Catherine for withdrawal.
Matilda said when she came to Ghana three years ago, she reported the incident to the Axim Police, who managed to arrest Catherine's husband, one Seth Afeku, but could not arrest the wife.
Considering the nature of the case, Matilda said, she was advised to take the issue to a court, in either Accra or Kumasi, for the necessary action to be taken, to retrieve the money.
By that time, she noted, she only had three days to leave the country for the US, hence had no option but to leave.
For Matilda, such a person does not qualify to be a political figure in Ghana. She, therefore, called on the NPP to disqualify her nomination.
But Catherine still sticks to her position, that she has not defrauded anyone, and has asked those making the allegations, to prove her guilt by producing documentary evidence, to back their claims, or go to court.
According to her, both Michael and Samuel Nokor, who were said to have fallen prey to her visa deals, have all denied the allegations, expressing disappointment.
The vetting of Catherine Afeku was put on hold, by her party's Vetting Committee sometime last week, following a petition tabled by Habakkuk Baffoe.
In the said petition, dated April 6, 2008, Baffoe, who happens to be in the same political party, NPP, with Catherine, sought to ask the party officials to disqualify her candidature, since in his view, she and her husband had dragged the party's name into disrepute, through their alleged deals as 'visa contractors'.
Alan Eyes Veep Slot After Infamous Resignation
Posted to the web 1 May 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
Though talks between the National Executive Council of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen have not yet ended to determine whether or not the latter would rescind his earlier decision and stage a comeback to the party, there are, indications of intense lobbying for him to be made the Running Mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party's Flag bearer.
Party sources have hinted that handlers and supporters of 'Alan Cash', the man who resigned from the party a couple of weeks ago have started intense lobbying for him to be given the position of running mate to pacify the soul of the aggrieved defeated Presidential hopeful.
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Sources close to the NPP have told The Chronicle that this is what has compelled President Kufuor to wade into the affair, since they believe that the exit of Alan, considering the votes he polled at the party's December congress, has a tendency of affecting its fortunes in the upcoming general elections.
The setting up of a committee to look into his concerns is thus considered an opportunity for Alan to give some conditions for the party's consideration before he finally rescinds his decision.
The lobbying for Alan begun during his supposed 'thank you' tour to parts of the Volta region, when some polling station executives in Sogakope, Ho and Hohoe rooted for him to be considered for the position.
This, they said was in view of Alan's overwhelming popularity and ability to attract votes, a quality that cuts across party lines.
Their reason was that this would boost the party's chances of securing total victory in the 2008 presidential elections in view of his charisma, popularity and vote-winning qualities.
For that matter, some of his supporters and handlers are said to have gone to the extent of pushing Alan to ask the leadership of the party to make him Nana Addo's Running Mate, as a pre-condition for his comeback to the party.
Meanwhile, big wigs in the party who the paper spoke to on condition of anonymity have discarded the suggestion, since in their opinions it would be more than a suicide mission for the party to make such a choice.
For them it would be a dangerous precedence and should not be considered.
For having resigned from the party when efforts were made to address his concerns, they noted that Alan has proven not to be a thorough bred politician since according to them; he cannot withstand the tests of time.
This is what the likes of party big wigs, B. J Da Rocha and Hackman Owusu Agyemang greatly detest and protest against; for an individual to hold the entire Dankwa-Busia tradition to ransom.
When news of Alan's resignation broke, Hackman was one of the people who was accused of having frustrated the efforts of one of Alan's supporters who was contesting him in the New Juaben constituency's Parliamentary primary.
Though he expressed regret at Alan's decision to quit the party, he asked him to stop the blame game and leave the rest of them to work.
He did not mince words when he said Alan's resignation would not in anyway affect the chances of Nana Addo or the party in the upcoming elections.
Just last Friday, another old horse, Mr. B.J Da Rocha who was earlier tasked to mediate the process of bringing Alan Kyerematen back to the party after his infamous resignation, called off Alan's bluff.
For him, it would not only be bad but also a dangerous precedence for the NPP to allow any member to dictate to the party the terms on which he will continue to be a member.
In a statement, Mr. Da Rocha noted "I think Mr. Kyerematen is bluffing the party." For this reason, he asked the party not to tolerate such a bluff.
In his considered view, it would not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Alan back into the party, since according to him "he will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, a loose canon."
Mr. Da Rocha noted with surprise the statement issued by Alan for the reason that he had written to party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu resigning his membership.
Charles Takyi-Boadu
Though talks between the National Executive Council of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen have not yet ended to determine whether or not the latter would rescind his earlier decision and stage a comeback to the party, there are, indications of intense lobbying for him to be made the Running Mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party's Flag bearer.
Party sources have hinted that handlers and supporters of 'Alan Cash', the man who resigned from the party a couple of weeks ago have started intense lobbying for him to be given the position of running mate to pacify the soul of the aggrieved defeated Presidential hopeful.
GA_googleFillSlot("AllAfrica_Story_Inset");
Sources close to the NPP have told The Chronicle that this is what has compelled President Kufuor to wade into the affair, since they believe that the exit of Alan, considering the votes he polled at the party's December congress, has a tendency of affecting its fortunes in the upcoming general elections.
The setting up of a committee to look into his concerns is thus considered an opportunity for Alan to give some conditions for the party's consideration before he finally rescinds his decision.
The lobbying for Alan begun during his supposed 'thank you' tour to parts of the Volta region, when some polling station executives in Sogakope, Ho and Hohoe rooted for him to be considered for the position.
This, they said was in view of Alan's overwhelming popularity and ability to attract votes, a quality that cuts across party lines.
Their reason was that this would boost the party's chances of securing total victory in the 2008 presidential elections in view of his charisma, popularity and vote-winning qualities.
For that matter, some of his supporters and handlers are said to have gone to the extent of pushing Alan to ask the leadership of the party to make him Nana Addo's Running Mate, as a pre-condition for his comeback to the party.
Meanwhile, big wigs in the party who the paper spoke to on condition of anonymity have discarded the suggestion, since in their opinions it would be more than a suicide mission for the party to make such a choice.
For them it would be a dangerous precedence and should not be considered.
For having resigned from the party when efforts were made to address his concerns, they noted that Alan has proven not to be a thorough bred politician since according to them; he cannot withstand the tests of time.
This is what the likes of party big wigs, B. J Da Rocha and Hackman Owusu Agyemang greatly detest and protest against; for an individual to hold the entire Dankwa-Busia tradition to ransom.
When news of Alan's resignation broke, Hackman was one of the people who was accused of having frustrated the efforts of one of Alan's supporters who was contesting him in the New Juaben constituency's Parliamentary primary.
Though he expressed regret at Alan's decision to quit the party, he asked him to stop the blame game and leave the rest of them to work.
He did not mince words when he said Alan's resignation would not in anyway affect the chances of Nana Addo or the party in the upcoming elections.
Just last Friday, another old horse, Mr. B.J Da Rocha who was earlier tasked to mediate the process of bringing Alan Kyerematen back to the party after his infamous resignation, called off Alan's bluff.
For him, it would not only be bad but also a dangerous precedence for the NPP to allow any member to dictate to the party the terms on which he will continue to be a member.
In a statement, Mr. Da Rocha noted "I think Mr. Kyerematen is bluffing the party." For this reason, he asked the party not to tolerate such a bluff.
In his considered view, it would not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Alan back into the party, since according to him "he will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, a loose canon."
Mr. Da Rocha noted with surprise the statement issued by Alan for the reason that he had written to party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu resigning his membership.
Hot Chase for Amerley Tagoe's Seat
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
Having declared her intentions not to run for re-election as Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma-South constituency in the upcoming elections, the seat of the incumbent MP, Theresa Amerley Tagoe is up for grasp, by not only members of her own party but the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Currently, three persons including the likes of ace comedian and media practitioner, Fritz Baffour of the NDC, Greater Accra Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ben Brown and a private legal practitioner, lawyer Kojo Smith have shown their interest in running for the almost-vacant position.
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Though all the political parties have indicated their preparedness to field candidates to contest for the seat, which is obviously one of the keenly contested seats in the Greater Accra region, the NDC appears to be the only party, which has elected its candidate, in the person of Fritz Baffour.
At a constituency primary recently, Baffour came tops when he polled 142 out of the total of 309 votes cast, as against his opponents, Wisdom Dodoo, a former Assemblyman for Korle Gonno and Youth Organizer, with 136 votes, and Hubert Vanderpuye with 31 votes.
Long before Ben Brown and Kojo Smith go into what is likely to be a straight fight between the two to determine who picks up the NPP candidature, the candidate for the opposition party, Fritz Baffour has intensified his campaign to annex the seat.
He has already started meeting residents of the constituency with his ground troops selling his ideas to canvass for votes on daily basis. With the warm welcome that he often receives on his campaign trails, Fritz is confident to win the seat as a piece of cake for his party, the NDC.
Meanwhile, the NPP is struggling to elect a probable candidate among the two contestants to go into the election.
The Ablekuma-South NPP has been brewing with trouble for the last couple of months.
The rift which is between the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Theresa Naa Amerley Tagoe and some constituency executives of the party has left the NPP divided in Ablekuma-South, creating two factions among the members.
This has resulted in a situation where constituency meetings are no more held at its original place. Instead, the constituency office has been moved to a new venue whilst the MP uses the old office as a meeting place with her constituents who bring their problems and concerns to her.
It seem to be creating a problem for the two aspirants since each of them belongs to one of the camps. Whilst a section of the members support Kojo Smith's candidature due to his link with the incumbent MP, majority of the executives and other members of the party support the course of Ben Brown.
Mr. Brown is banking his hopes on his contributions to the party over the years and what he continuous to be doing for the party, to win the constituency primary.
He believes there is reward in hard-work, hence the delegates would crown his tireless efforts by electing him.
Though he admitted that the race was hectic, Mr. Smith believes that the 140 or so delegates would see him through since according to him, he already has the support of half of them, by virtue of his association with Amerley Tagoe.
The troubles of the Ablekuma-South NPP began somewhere last year when one of its executive meetings was virtually turned into a boxing arena.
This resulted in a situation where the constituency executives and the incumbent MP, Theresa Tagoe turned to be at pole position.
Since then, the party has remained divided between two factions in the constituency.
Charles Takyi-Boadu
Having declared her intentions not to run for re-election as Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma-South constituency in the upcoming elections, the seat of the incumbent MP, Theresa Amerley Tagoe is up for grasp, by not only members of her own party but the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Currently, three persons including the likes of ace comedian and media practitioner, Fritz Baffour of the NDC, Greater Accra Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ben Brown and a private legal practitioner, lawyer Kojo Smith have shown their interest in running for the almost-vacant position.
GA_googleFillSlot("AllAfrica_Story_Inset");
Though all the political parties have indicated their preparedness to field candidates to contest for the seat, which is obviously one of the keenly contested seats in the Greater Accra region, the NDC appears to be the only party, which has elected its candidate, in the person of Fritz Baffour.
At a constituency primary recently, Baffour came tops when he polled 142 out of the total of 309 votes cast, as against his opponents, Wisdom Dodoo, a former Assemblyman for Korle Gonno and Youth Organizer, with 136 votes, and Hubert Vanderpuye with 31 votes.
Long before Ben Brown and Kojo Smith go into what is likely to be a straight fight between the two to determine who picks up the NPP candidature, the candidate for the opposition party, Fritz Baffour has intensified his campaign to annex the seat.
He has already started meeting residents of the constituency with his ground troops selling his ideas to canvass for votes on daily basis. With the warm welcome that he often receives on his campaign trails, Fritz is confident to win the seat as a piece of cake for his party, the NDC.
Meanwhile, the NPP is struggling to elect a probable candidate among the two contestants to go into the election.
The Ablekuma-South NPP has been brewing with trouble for the last couple of months.
The rift which is between the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Theresa Naa Amerley Tagoe and some constituency executives of the party has left the NPP divided in Ablekuma-South, creating two factions among the members.
This has resulted in a situation where constituency meetings are no more held at its original place. Instead, the constituency office has been moved to a new venue whilst the MP uses the old office as a meeting place with her constituents who bring their problems and concerns to her.
It seem to be creating a problem for the two aspirants since each of them belongs to one of the camps. Whilst a section of the members support Kojo Smith's candidature due to his link with the incumbent MP, majority of the executives and other members of the party support the course of Ben Brown.
Mr. Brown is banking his hopes on his contributions to the party over the years and what he continuous to be doing for the party, to win the constituency primary.
He believes there is reward in hard-work, hence the delegates would crown his tireless efforts by electing him.
Though he admitted that the race was hectic, Mr. Smith believes that the 140 or so delegates would see him through since according to him, he already has the support of half of them, by virtue of his association with Amerley Tagoe.
The troubles of the Ablekuma-South NPP began somewhere last year when one of its executive meetings was virtually turned into a boxing arena.
This resulted in a situation where the constituency executives and the incumbent MP, Theresa Tagoe turned to be at pole position.
Since then, the party has remained divided between two factions in the constituency.
DCE Cited for Abuse of State Resource
3 June 2008Posted to the web 3 June 2008
Charles Takyi-Boadu
A report issued by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers' (CODEO's) Field Observers (FOs), has exposed the District Chief Executive of the Offinso-North district, Augustine Collins Ntim for abusing state resources. The May edition of CODEOs report on the activities of the various political parties noted the abuse of public resources by some public officials contesting the primaries.
The report, which was issued and signed by Professor Miranda Greenstreet, the co-Chair of CODEOs Advisory Board, said the DCE for Offinso-North was seen using a state vehicle for partisan campaign.
Considering the fact that it deplores such abuses that tilt the political playing field to the disadvantage of members in the opposition parties, CODEO has urged all incumbents seeking political appointments to strictly adhere to the legislative provisions which govern the conduct of public officials who wish to contest in partisan elections.
The primaries of the various political parties dominated the pre-election environment reports submitted by the group.
The FO's observed intense activities by the various political parties conducting primaries, aspirants' campaigns, the conduct of primaries and the post-primary environment.
It noted that the processes have been smooth and peaceful concerning most primaries, with the supervision of officials of the Electoral Commission who ensured a strict compliance with electoral laws at the polls. This is "in spite of the smooth processes in most of the primaries' nomination and vetting procedures and unfair vetting and verdicts and threats of violence by aspirants and their supporters", it emphasised.
In the Effia Kwesimintsim constituency in the Western region for instance, the group noted that the primaries had been suspended on account of such claims. Similarly, in the Volta region, some party activists, disappointed with the manipulation of the vetting process by party executives have even sought court injunction to halt the NDC primary in a constituency.
The FO's report also indicated that some vote buying occurred. They reported allegations of camping and distribution of monies to delegates. In the Agona-Swedru constituency in the Central region for instance, each delegate was alleged to have received between GHË 300 - GHË 1,000 from an aspirant.
The report further has it that a few women were victorious in party primaries in some constituencies including Koforidua, Bolgatanga, Lower West Akim, Ayawaso West Wuogon and Asante Akim North.
However, it noted that the participation of women and persons with disability in the process has so far been unimpressive.
It thus urged the various political parties to initiate measures to enhance their participation in the ongoing primaries and the forthcoming elections.
The FO's reported on some of the activities and campaigns of the Flag bearers of the political parties in the Greater Accra, Western, Central and Northern regions to garner support, have it that they were free of violence and acrimony.
The National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE) has also rolled out a series of civic education programmes on the upcoming elections on some local FM stations in the Effia-Kwesimintsim and Shama constituencies in the Western region.
CODEO has commended the NCCE for its proactive posture and urged that this be replicated in the other regions to educate citizens on their rights and responsibilities in the electoral process.
The FO's kept a watch on the activities and operations of the Electoral Commission (EC), some of which were to facilitate regional Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings in the Eastern and Central regions to discuss pertinent issues in the electoral process, and to assure stakeholders of its commitment to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
Relevant Links
It lauded this exercise, since according to CODEO it seeks to build mutual trust among stakeholders in the electoral process and urged its replication in the other regions.
CODEO has also extended a warm handshake to the police administration in the Western region for organising a consultative meeting with political parties to discuss security implications of their activities in the wake of intra-party squabbles in the region.
It expressed the wish that such meetings would also be held in other regions to ensure that the ongoing parties' primaries and forthcoming election are conducted in a peaceful and none violent atmosphere.
Charles Takyi-Boadu
A report issued by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers' (CODEO's) Field Observers (FOs), has exposed the District Chief Executive of the Offinso-North district, Augustine Collins Ntim for abusing state resources. The May edition of CODEOs report on the activities of the various political parties noted the abuse of public resources by some public officials contesting the primaries.
The report, which was issued and signed by Professor Miranda Greenstreet, the co-Chair of CODEOs Advisory Board, said the DCE for Offinso-North was seen using a state vehicle for partisan campaign.
Considering the fact that it deplores such abuses that tilt the political playing field to the disadvantage of members in the opposition parties, CODEO has urged all incumbents seeking political appointments to strictly adhere to the legislative provisions which govern the conduct of public officials who wish to contest in partisan elections.
The primaries of the various political parties dominated the pre-election environment reports submitted by the group.
The FO's observed intense activities by the various political parties conducting primaries, aspirants' campaigns, the conduct of primaries and the post-primary environment.
It noted that the processes have been smooth and peaceful concerning most primaries, with the supervision of officials of the Electoral Commission who ensured a strict compliance with electoral laws at the polls. This is "in spite of the smooth processes in most of the primaries' nomination and vetting procedures and unfair vetting and verdicts and threats of violence by aspirants and their supporters", it emphasised.
In the Effia Kwesimintsim constituency in the Western region for instance, the group noted that the primaries had been suspended on account of such claims. Similarly, in the Volta region, some party activists, disappointed with the manipulation of the vetting process by party executives have even sought court injunction to halt the NDC primary in a constituency.
The FO's report also indicated that some vote buying occurred. They reported allegations of camping and distribution of monies to delegates. In the Agona-Swedru constituency in the Central region for instance, each delegate was alleged to have received between GHË 300 - GHË 1,000 from an aspirant.
The report further has it that a few women were victorious in party primaries in some constituencies including Koforidua, Bolgatanga, Lower West Akim, Ayawaso West Wuogon and Asante Akim North.
However, it noted that the participation of women and persons with disability in the process has so far been unimpressive.
It thus urged the various political parties to initiate measures to enhance their participation in the ongoing primaries and the forthcoming elections.
The FO's reported on some of the activities and campaigns of the Flag bearers of the political parties in the Greater Accra, Western, Central and Northern regions to garner support, have it that they were free of violence and acrimony.
The National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE) has also rolled out a series of civic education programmes on the upcoming elections on some local FM stations in the Effia-Kwesimintsim and Shama constituencies in the Western region.
CODEO has commended the NCCE for its proactive posture and urged that this be replicated in the other regions to educate citizens on their rights and responsibilities in the electoral process.
The FO's kept a watch on the activities and operations of the Electoral Commission (EC), some of which were to facilitate regional Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings in the Eastern and Central regions to discuss pertinent issues in the electoral process, and to assure stakeholders of its commitment to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
Relevant Links
It lauded this exercise, since according to CODEO it seeks to build mutual trust among stakeholders in the electoral process and urged its replication in the other regions.
CODEO has also extended a warm handshake to the police administration in the Western region for organising a consultative meeting with political parties to discuss security implications of their activities in the wake of intra-party squabbles in the region.
It expressed the wish that such meetings would also be held in other regions to ensure that the ongoing parties' primaries and forthcoming election are conducted in a peaceful and none violent atmosphere.
Ghana: Disturbing findings come before Parliament
Ghanian Chronicle, by Charles Takyi-Boadu December 15, 2006 The Minority Spokesman on Energy, Moses Asaga yesterday took on the Minister of Energy in Parliament over crude oil liftings from the shores of Ghana, without the knowledge of Ghanaians. Mr. Asaga, who sought to know from the Energy Minister, why Ghanaians had not been told how much oil was being lifted from the Saltpond Oil fields, since the signing of a production agreement among the Ghana National petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Government of Ghana and Lushann Eternit Energy Limited, a foreign consortium. Asaga who said he was raising the alarm about the agreement in the house because of the secret nature that the deal had assumed, told The Chronicle in an interview that going by the daily production estimates of the well of 500 to 700 barrels a day, millions of dollars should accrue to the state. This, he said had not been disclosed to Parliament. Mr. Asaga said after a thorough investigations into the activities and operations of the company, he gathered that the company’s production was only known to the GNPC, which he said has failed to establish an oil revenue account. When he first raised the issue at the committee level, Asaga says the Minister of Energy, Kofi Adda himself declined knowing of any such oil deal. This set the tone for an argument in which the minister admitted not knowing the account into which revenues generated from the production was going to. The Minister, after several exchanges, promised to set up a committee to investigate the deal. Asaga stressed that from all indications, he realized the minister knew virtually nothing about the deal; hence the need to approach the finance minister to know where monies generated from the operations of the oil fields was being lodged. The Minority Spokesman disclosed to The Chronicle that information available to him suggests that already there have been about 4 to 5 liftings from the field. He could also not tell the capacity of the oil tanker doing the liftings. Mr. Asaga, a former employee of GNPC, said if indeed it was an internally generated fund, it should have appeared in the budget estimates of the Ministry of Energy and accounted for by GNPC. He based his premise on raging issues in Nigeria where there have always been problems with accounts for revenues generated from the sales of the country’s oil. “No matter the modest production we are making, I thought that we should be transparent enough to let Ghanaians know the revenue we are making out of it,” he said. He therefore called for investigations into the crude oil production and the account. Under the Production Agreement among the parties (GNPC/Government of Ghana and Lushann), “All petroleum revenue accruing to the state shall be delivered to or paid into a government account designated by the minister.” In the current circumstance where the minister claims not to be aware of the said agreement, Asaga says there is need to investigate the activities of the ongoing oil production. Under the agreement, 3% of gross production of crude oil, royalties comes to the Government with a carried interest to GNPC, which has not been stated. Ghanaians would recall that in or about 2003 a vessel load of crude oil produced from the same Saltpond Field under an agreement with Saltpond Oil Producing Company Limited whose ownership was traced to one Sintim Aboagye in joint venture agreement with the GNPC got missing from Ghana’s territorial waters. A search by the navy and other security agencies generated national interest and international concern. The Chronicle intelligence, however, has it that even though the crude oil was not taken far from our territories, it was on our blind side of certain officials Chronicle has launched extensive investigations into this project.
You can save a life!
By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Wendy Sawatzky
ACCRA, GHANA: You may not be a doctor or a firefighter or a policeman. But did you know you still have the power to save a human life? Staff at the National Blood Transfusion Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), want you to know the power that runs through your veins; your donation of blood is a gift of life. “Blood is not manufactured or found in the market place. It’s an invaluable gift. Do not beg for it or attempt to buy it. Donate for your relations. Give to save an unknown life.” These words hang in the transfusion center (or Blood Bank) at Korle-Bu, speaking volumes of the need for all persons to donate blood -- to do at least this small part toward saving a life. From all indications, however, Ghanaians have failed to pay heed to the continuous call on them to donate. “The voluntary blood donation has not gone down well with the public,” Samuel Nunoo, Assistant Chief Organizer at the Blood Bank, told Social Justice reporters from the Chronicle. The Blood Bank, which has been in operation for more than 40 years, operates from a small building near the hospital’s Haematology Department. The clinic has a waiting area, a ‘bleeding room’ where people donate, a few offices and a laboratory section where the donated blood is tested. An average of 30 people donates blood each day at the clinic -- a total of almost 20,000 donations in 2005, according to Nunoo. Even so, Nunoo says the amount of blood donated does not begin to meet the needs of the nation’s medical establishments. Blood donors fall into two categories: volunteer donors who give blood to fill the general need, and replacement donors who give blood to replace the supply that will be used by a relative or friend who requires it for medical reasons. The national blood service requires replacement donors because the nation does not have enough blood from voluntary donations to supply the requirements of everyone who needs it, Nunoo explained. About 100,000 units of blood would have to be available nationally before replacement donors are no longer required. He estimated that the country currently has less than half that amount in reserve. Although the Blood Bank is crying for more donors, on busy days, the queue to donate can be hours long. The problem isn’t a shortage of staff. Rather, the clinic could use more space for beds to allow more people to donate without waiting. “The size of the room, it can’t contain more than four beds, with the people inside working, they would not be able to move around, so it can’t be more,” he says, adding that about 10 beds would be ideal. Indeed, on the day Social Justice reporters visited the clinic, more than a dozen people waited on benches in the waiting room for their turn to donate. While people who come to the clinic to voluntarily give blood are seen to immediately, most of the people in the queue were donating “replacement” blood for a relative’s medical needs and had to wait. In the past few years, the total number of people donating blood has increased, but at the same time, the number of people giving voluntary donations has decreased, a fact Mr. Nunoo lamented. As a result, the country is getting no closer to achieving the 100,000 units it needs to do away with the “replacement” blood-donor scheme. “We have tried over the years to convince the public to come in voluntarily and donate it so that one day when you need it, it is there for you for free,” he says. For some, it is the fear of learning they have an illness such as HIV that deters them from coming in, Nunoo says. Others worry about their identities being disclosed, while still others have just neglected the call of duty. “They’re scared,” he says. “If you know you have not lived any good life, any good morals, you fear going to donate blood … because if there’s something wrong with you, we’ll tell you. “We take from you information, your name, your phone number, and all that … people are thinking when they come in to donate blood and we find out negative news, they would have it on file,” he added. In reality, the idea behind the taking of information is two-fold. Firstly, it is to have a clinical record for identification of the blood. Secondly, the clinic can then contact people whose blood shows signs of illness to inform them and offer counselling. A donor’s health information remains confidential and is not disclosed to others. In some countries, such as the United States, blood banks boost the amount of blood available to patients by paying donors for their donations. However, Nunoo doesn’t think that system is appropriate for a country like Ghana, where people in desperate need of money might misconstrue their situation in order to be paid for their donation. “If we commercialize blood donation, then we may end up compromising our safety,” he says, adding, “Safety is most important.” Instead of commercialization, “education is the basis of encouraging more people to donate,” Nunoo believes. If more people knew about the benefits of giving blood, more would volunteer. There are a lot of benefits, he emphasized. For one, donors receive a free medical check. One also receives a blood donor card, which entitles one to free blood if needed for a medical reason in the future. “There is also the satisfaction of saving someone’s life,” Nunoo added, encouraging all Ghanaians to do their part to save the lives of those in need: their relatives, their friends or even themselves. GIVING BLOOD: STEP BY STEP The process of donating blood takes about 30 minutes, according to Samuel Nunoo, although your waiting time may extend that a bit. Here is what you can expect if you go to the Blood Bank to donate: 1. When you enter the office, you fill out a form with personal details such as your name, address and whether you are a replacement donor or a voluntary one. 2. Your age, weight and blood pressure are checked. You must be at least 17-years-old, weigh 50 kilograms and have good blood pressure in order to donate. 3. A small blood sample is taken and tested in the Blood Bank’s laboratory to determine if it is suitable for donation. The test takes about 15 minutes. 4. After the results come back, you enter the Bleeding Room. If your blood does not pass the tests due to high blood pressure, hepatitis or for another medical reason, you are told why and given private counselling. 5. If your blood qualifies, you are given a special bag in which the blood will be stored, and after a short wait, you are called to a bed. 6. Once you are comfortable, a nurse connects the blood-collection system to your arm. You lie back, watch television and squeeze a soft ball with your hand while the blood is collected, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes. 7. Once the collection is done, the Blood Bank gives you a cup of cappuccino or Milo and you wait for a few minutes before you leave.
ACCRA, GHANA: You may not be a doctor or a firefighter or a policeman. But did you know you still have the power to save a human life? Staff at the National Blood Transfusion Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), want you to know the power that runs through your veins; your donation of blood is a gift of life. “Blood is not manufactured or found in the market place. It’s an invaluable gift. Do not beg for it or attempt to buy it. Donate for your relations. Give to save an unknown life.” These words hang in the transfusion center (or Blood Bank) at Korle-Bu, speaking volumes of the need for all persons to donate blood -- to do at least this small part toward saving a life. From all indications, however, Ghanaians have failed to pay heed to the continuous call on them to donate. “The voluntary blood donation has not gone down well with the public,” Samuel Nunoo, Assistant Chief Organizer at the Blood Bank, told Social Justice reporters from the Chronicle. The Blood Bank, which has been in operation for more than 40 years, operates from a small building near the hospital’s Haematology Department. The clinic has a waiting area, a ‘bleeding room’ where people donate, a few offices and a laboratory section where the donated blood is tested. An average of 30 people donates blood each day at the clinic -- a total of almost 20,000 donations in 2005, according to Nunoo. Even so, Nunoo says the amount of blood donated does not begin to meet the needs of the nation’s medical establishments. Blood donors fall into two categories: volunteer donors who give blood to fill the general need, and replacement donors who give blood to replace the supply that will be used by a relative or friend who requires it for medical reasons. The national blood service requires replacement donors because the nation does not have enough blood from voluntary donations to supply the requirements of everyone who needs it, Nunoo explained. About 100,000 units of blood would have to be available nationally before replacement donors are no longer required. He estimated that the country currently has less than half that amount in reserve. Although the Blood Bank is crying for more donors, on busy days, the queue to donate can be hours long. The problem isn’t a shortage of staff. Rather, the clinic could use more space for beds to allow more people to donate without waiting. “The size of the room, it can’t contain more than four beds, with the people inside working, they would not be able to move around, so it can’t be more,” he says, adding that about 10 beds would be ideal. Indeed, on the day Social Justice reporters visited the clinic, more than a dozen people waited on benches in the waiting room for their turn to donate. While people who come to the clinic to voluntarily give blood are seen to immediately, most of the people in the queue were donating “replacement” blood for a relative’s medical needs and had to wait. In the past few years, the total number of people donating blood has increased, but at the same time, the number of people giving voluntary donations has decreased, a fact Mr. Nunoo lamented. As a result, the country is getting no closer to achieving the 100,000 units it needs to do away with the “replacement” blood-donor scheme. “We have tried over the years to convince the public to come in voluntarily and donate it so that one day when you need it, it is there for you for free,” he says. For some, it is the fear of learning they have an illness such as HIV that deters them from coming in, Nunoo says. Others worry about their identities being disclosed, while still others have just neglected the call of duty. “They’re scared,” he says. “If you know you have not lived any good life, any good morals, you fear going to donate blood … because if there’s something wrong with you, we’ll tell you. “We take from you information, your name, your phone number, and all that … people are thinking when they come in to donate blood and we find out negative news, they would have it on file,” he added. In reality, the idea behind the taking of information is two-fold. Firstly, it is to have a clinical record for identification of the blood. Secondly, the clinic can then contact people whose blood shows signs of illness to inform them and offer counselling. A donor’s health information remains confidential and is not disclosed to others. In some countries, such as the United States, blood banks boost the amount of blood available to patients by paying donors for their donations. However, Nunoo doesn’t think that system is appropriate for a country like Ghana, where people in desperate need of money might misconstrue their situation in order to be paid for their donation. “If we commercialize blood donation, then we may end up compromising our safety,” he says, adding, “Safety is most important.” Instead of commercialization, “education is the basis of encouraging more people to donate,” Nunoo believes. If more people knew about the benefits of giving blood, more would volunteer. There are a lot of benefits, he emphasized. For one, donors receive a free medical check. One also receives a blood donor card, which entitles one to free blood if needed for a medical reason in the future. “There is also the satisfaction of saving someone’s life,” Nunoo added, encouraging all Ghanaians to do their part to save the lives of those in need: their relatives, their friends or even themselves. GIVING BLOOD: STEP BY STEP The process of donating blood takes about 30 minutes, according to Samuel Nunoo, although your waiting time may extend that a bit. Here is what you can expect if you go to the Blood Bank to donate: 1. When you enter the office, you fill out a form with personal details such as your name, address and whether you are a replacement donor or a voluntary one. 2. Your age, weight and blood pressure are checked. You must be at least 17-years-old, weigh 50 kilograms and have good blood pressure in order to donate. 3. A small blood sample is taken and tested in the Blood Bank’s laboratory to determine if it is suitable for donation. The test takes about 15 minutes. 4. After the results come back, you enter the Bleeding Room. If your blood does not pass the tests due to high blood pressure, hepatitis or for another medical reason, you are told why and given private counselling. 5. If your blood qualifies, you are given a special bag in which the blood will be stored, and after a short wait, you are called to a bed. 6. Once you are comfortable, a nurse connects the blood-collection system to your arm. You lie back, watch television and squeeze a soft ball with your hand while the blood is collected, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes. 7. Once the collection is done, the Blood Bank gives you a cup of cappuccino or Milo and you wait for a few minutes before you leave.
Tussle over VP slot in ruling party underway
story by Charles Takyi-Boadu.
Though talks between the National Executive Council of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen have not yet ended to determine whether or not the latter would rescind his earlier decision and stage a comeback to the party, there are, indications of intense lobbying for him to be made the Running Mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s Flag bearer.
Party sources have hinted that handlers and supporters of ‘Alan Cash’, the man who resigned from the party a couple of weeks ago have started intense lobbying for him to be given the position of running mate to pacify the soul of the aggrieved defeated Presidential hopeful. Sources close to the NPP have told The Chronicle that this is what has compelled President Kufuor to wade into the affair, since they believe that the exit of Alan, considering the votes he polled at the party’s December congress, has a tendency of affecting its fortunes in the upcoming general elections.
The setting up of a committee to look into his concerns is thus considered an opportunity for Alan to give some conditions for the party’s consideration before he finally rescinds his decision. The lobbying for Alan begun during his supposed ‘thank you’ tour to parts of the Volta region, when some polling station executives in Sogakope, Ho and Hohoe rooted for him to be considered for the position. This, they said was in view of Alan’s overwhelming popularity and ability to attract votes, a quality that cuts across party lines.
Their reason was that this would boost the party’s chances of securing total victory in the 2008 presidential elections in view of his charisma, popularity and vote-winning qualities. For that matter, some of his supporters and handlers are said to have gone to the extent of pushing Alan to ask the leadership of the party to make him Nana Addo’s Running Mate, as a pre-condition for his comeback to the party.Meanwhile, big wigs in the party who the paper spoke to on condition of anonymity have discarded the suggestion, since in their opinions it would be more than a suicide mission for the party to make such a choice.
For them it would be a dangerous precedence and should not be considered. For having resigned from the party when efforts were made to address his concerns, they noted that Alan has proven not to be a thorough bred politician since according to them; he cannot withstand the tests of time. This is what the likes of party big wigs, B. J Da Rocha and Hackman Owusu Agyemang greatly detest and protest against; for an individual to hold the entire Dankwa-Busia tradition to ransom.
When news of Alan’s resignation broke, Hackman was one of the people who was accused of having frustrated the efforts of one of Alan’s supporters who was contesting him in the New Juaben constituency’s Parliamentary primary. Though he expressed regret at Alan’s decision to quit the party, he asked him to stop the blame game and leave the rest of them to work. He did not mince words when he said Alan’s resignation would not in anyway affect the chances of Nana Addo or the party in the upcoming elections.
Just last Friday, another old horse, Mr. B.J Da Rocha who was earlier tasked to mediate the process of bringing Alan Kyerematen back to the party after his infamous resignation, called off Alan’s bluff.For him, it would not only be bad but also a dangerous precedence for the NPP to allow any member to dictate to the party the terms on which he will continue to be a member. In a statement, Mr. Da Rocha noted “I think Mr. Kyerematen is bluffing the party.” For this reason, he asked the party not to tolerate such a bluff.
In his considered view, it would not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Alan back into the party, since according to him “he will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, a loose canon.”Mr. Da Rocha noted with surprise the statement issued by Alan for the reason that he had written to party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu resigning his membership.
Though talks between the National Executive Council of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen have not yet ended to determine whether or not the latter would rescind his earlier decision and stage a comeback to the party, there are, indications of intense lobbying for him to be made the Running Mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s Flag bearer.
Party sources have hinted that handlers and supporters of ‘Alan Cash’, the man who resigned from the party a couple of weeks ago have started intense lobbying for him to be given the position of running mate to pacify the soul of the aggrieved defeated Presidential hopeful. Sources close to the NPP have told The Chronicle that this is what has compelled President Kufuor to wade into the affair, since they believe that the exit of Alan, considering the votes he polled at the party’s December congress, has a tendency of affecting its fortunes in the upcoming general elections.
The setting up of a committee to look into his concerns is thus considered an opportunity for Alan to give some conditions for the party’s consideration before he finally rescinds his decision. The lobbying for Alan begun during his supposed ‘thank you’ tour to parts of the Volta region, when some polling station executives in Sogakope, Ho and Hohoe rooted for him to be considered for the position. This, they said was in view of Alan’s overwhelming popularity and ability to attract votes, a quality that cuts across party lines.
Their reason was that this would boost the party’s chances of securing total victory in the 2008 presidential elections in view of his charisma, popularity and vote-winning qualities. For that matter, some of his supporters and handlers are said to have gone to the extent of pushing Alan to ask the leadership of the party to make him Nana Addo’s Running Mate, as a pre-condition for his comeback to the party.Meanwhile, big wigs in the party who the paper spoke to on condition of anonymity have discarded the suggestion, since in their opinions it would be more than a suicide mission for the party to make such a choice.
For them it would be a dangerous precedence and should not be considered. For having resigned from the party when efforts were made to address his concerns, they noted that Alan has proven not to be a thorough bred politician since according to them; he cannot withstand the tests of time. This is what the likes of party big wigs, B. J Da Rocha and Hackman Owusu Agyemang greatly detest and protest against; for an individual to hold the entire Dankwa-Busia tradition to ransom.
When news of Alan’s resignation broke, Hackman was one of the people who was accused of having frustrated the efforts of one of Alan’s supporters who was contesting him in the New Juaben constituency’s Parliamentary primary. Though he expressed regret at Alan’s decision to quit the party, he asked him to stop the blame game and leave the rest of them to work. He did not mince words when he said Alan’s resignation would not in anyway affect the chances of Nana Addo or the party in the upcoming elections.
Just last Friday, another old horse, Mr. B.J Da Rocha who was earlier tasked to mediate the process of bringing Alan Kyerematen back to the party after his infamous resignation, called off Alan’s bluff.For him, it would not only be bad but also a dangerous precedence for the NPP to allow any member to dictate to the party the terms on which he will continue to be a member. In a statement, Mr. Da Rocha noted “I think Mr. Kyerematen is bluffing the party.” For this reason, he asked the party not to tolerate such a bluff.
In his considered view, it would not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Alan back into the party, since according to him “he will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, a loose canon.”Mr. Da Rocha noted with surprise the statement issued by Alan for the reason that he had written to party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu resigning his membership.
GII Defends Corruption Perception
Ghanaian ChronicleCharles Takyi-Boadu© 2007May 31, 2007GHANA INTEGRITY Initiative (GII), the local chapter of the global anti-corruption body, Transparency International has defended the use of perception as a basis for most of the findings on incidence of corruption.Though concerns have been raised by some members and corporate institutions about the credibility of such findings, the GII says, "reality supports this perception" hence should not be treated as mere perception.Programmes Officer of GII, Mr. Gilbert Sam has over the last couple of days been trying strenuously to explain to the public that, these findings are not only based on perceptions but also backed by verifiable records.He made this comments during the recent launch of 2007 global 'Corruption Perception Index', which identified corruption as still being pervasive in the judicial system.Though some of these perceptions and allegations are difficult to prove with empirical evidence, he emphasized that they cannot be ruled out outright since they do contain an element of reality.He noted that some this information's could be gathered from people who happened to have passed through those processes.Mr. Sam cited as instance when it came to light during the survey on the judiciary that one in every five people who interacted with the judicial system said they paid a bribe to either a Judge or a judiciary staff.He therefore stressed the need for people to disabuse their minds that corruption perceptions were mere and should be discarded and treated with contempt.The 2007 CPI report identified Africans as having a bleak perception of judicial corruption.With the exception of South Africa, a majority of people in seven of eight African countries polled during the survey perceived the judiciary system to be corrupt.It further identifies the African Region as having a specific set of issues when dealing with judicial corruption including political influence and direct interference in judicial process by threats, bribery and intimidation of judges as well as manipulation of appointments, salaries and conditions of service.In many of such countries, corruption is considered and viewed as an acceptable way of doing business.In Zimbabwe, the government is said to have allocated farms expropriated under the Fast-Track Land Reform programme to Judges at all levels, from lower Court Magistrates to the Chief Justice to ensure that court decisions should be in the favour the governments political interests.Whilst in Algeria, the judicial disciplinary body is often said to be influenced by the Executive arm of government, in Egypt the failure of the Public Prosecutor to address corruption and abuses by government employees has gained the office notoriety as a defender of the regime in contrast with its constitutional mandate as the 'people's defender'.However, in South Africa, few courts are not computerized and many transactions not properly recorded, providing room for corruption.An audit of magistrate offices in that country has uncovered significant misappropriation of funds with regard to maintenance, bail money, estates and deposits.Though the incidence of corruption is pervasive in most African countries, it seem to have taken an unprecedented turn in Kenya where the saying "why hire a lawyer, if you can buy a judge" has gained so much prominence.Corruption is undermining judicial systems around the world, denying citizens access to justice and the basic human rights to a fair and impartial trial, sometimes even to a trial at all.As aptly stated by Huguette Labelle, Chair of TI, "equal treatment before the law is a pillar of democratic societies. When courts are corrupted by greed or political expediency, the scales of justice are tipped and ordinary people suffer" hence "judicial corruption means the voice of the innocent goes unheard while the guilty act with impunity".
NGO pushes for stiffer fisheries laws in Ghana
by Charles Takyi-Boadu
Date: 03-08-2006
Source: Ghanaian Chronicle
As Ghana's fishing industry is crumpling on the verge of collapse with the employment of all kinds of weird illegal means in harvesting fish, Mr. David Eli, Field Director of TESCOD, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), is pushing for the implementation of existing and stiffer laws. This, according to him, would at least decrease the activities of illegal fishermen and sea fearers on the shores of Ghana. Since the spate of depletion has assumed an alarming proportion in recent times, he believes that the implementation of such policies and laws would tend to protect the industry from further degradation. Speaking at a forum in Accra under the auspices of Food Security Advocacy Network (FoodSPAN), the umbrella of civil society organisations with keen interest in food security policies and practices in Ghana, Mr. Eli stressed that "there is an urgent need to review the strategies to strengthen the enforcement capability for both local and foreign operators in the sector". This, he said would take away the existing weak policy framework that does not promote the long sustainability of the fishing resources in the industry. He also stressed the need to ban outright, pair trawling, otherwise known as China-China since according to him, the activities of such trawlers was having very serious consequential effects on the country's fishing industry. If possible, Mr. Eli who has conducted an extensive research on the "impacts of fishery related policies on coastal communities has suggested the ban of all trawling if stocks do not rebuild in a given period of five years. By freezing a number of industrial trawlers and progressively reducing their numbers, he stated that "the fishers think it can help bring life back to the sector". Also, he identified in his field research that there was a weakness of scientific knowledge about the state of stocks, which he said, was the basis for an appropriate and sustainable management of resources. Considering the extent of depletion caused to the industry, Mr. Eli did not mince words in apportioning much of the blame "on the lack of political will, incoherency and bad governance regarding the resources". This, he said, was evident in the fact of insufficient surveillance and control measures to counter illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities of particularly fleets of Asian origin known as 'pair trawling'. Most of these fleets of Chinese origin, he noted, were having dire effects on the industry and the use of light for fishing being a contributory factor. Further, he mentioned the use of illegal gears such as bamboo, mosquito nets and other unapproved methods in fishing as gradually crippling the once vibrant industry hence the need to implement the existing laws to serve as deterrent to individuals and organisations who fall foul of the law. He has thus called on policy makers to take into consideration the fact that "the decline of the once vibrant fisheries sector has grave consequences on many Ghanaians in terms of food security and livelihoods of coastal communities", stressing that "the new Fisheries Law of 2002 has the potential to address issues of over-exploitation and laws related to non-enforcement". For this reason, he said a long-term strategy was needed for its implementation.
Date: 03-08-2006
Source: Ghanaian Chronicle
As Ghana's fishing industry is crumpling on the verge of collapse with the employment of all kinds of weird illegal means in harvesting fish, Mr. David Eli, Field Director of TESCOD, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), is pushing for the implementation of existing and stiffer laws. This, according to him, would at least decrease the activities of illegal fishermen and sea fearers on the shores of Ghana. Since the spate of depletion has assumed an alarming proportion in recent times, he believes that the implementation of such policies and laws would tend to protect the industry from further degradation. Speaking at a forum in Accra under the auspices of Food Security Advocacy Network (FoodSPAN), the umbrella of civil society organisations with keen interest in food security policies and practices in Ghana, Mr. Eli stressed that "there is an urgent need to review the strategies to strengthen the enforcement capability for both local and foreign operators in the sector". This, he said would take away the existing weak policy framework that does not promote the long sustainability of the fishing resources in the industry. He also stressed the need to ban outright, pair trawling, otherwise known as China-China since according to him, the activities of such trawlers was having very serious consequential effects on the country's fishing industry. If possible, Mr. Eli who has conducted an extensive research on the "impacts of fishery related policies on coastal communities has suggested the ban of all trawling if stocks do not rebuild in a given period of five years. By freezing a number of industrial trawlers and progressively reducing their numbers, he stated that "the fishers think it can help bring life back to the sector". Also, he identified in his field research that there was a weakness of scientific knowledge about the state of stocks, which he said, was the basis for an appropriate and sustainable management of resources. Considering the extent of depletion caused to the industry, Mr. Eli did not mince words in apportioning much of the blame "on the lack of political will, incoherency and bad governance regarding the resources". This, he said, was evident in the fact of insufficient surveillance and control measures to counter illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities of particularly fleets of Asian origin known as 'pair trawling'. Most of these fleets of Chinese origin, he noted, were having dire effects on the industry and the use of light for fishing being a contributory factor. Further, he mentioned the use of illegal gears such as bamboo, mosquito nets and other unapproved methods in fishing as gradually crippling the once vibrant industry hence the need to implement the existing laws to serve as deterrent to individuals and organisations who fall foul of the law. He has thus called on policy makers to take into consideration the fact that "the decline of the once vibrant fisheries sector has grave consequences on many Ghanaians in terms of food security and livelihoods of coastal communities", stressing that "the new Fisheries Law of 2002 has the potential to address issues of over-exploitation and laws related to non-enforcement". For this reason, he said a long-term strategy was needed for its implementation.
Darfurians Storm Accra Before AU Summit
Friday, May 25, 2007
Charles Takyi-BoaduLONG BEFORE African leaders set foot on Ghanaian soil to attend the much-awaited African Union (AU) summit slated for July this year, some natives and civil society groups in the Darfur Region of Sudan have arrived in Accra to demand an end to ongoing clashes in that Region.They have called on the various African leaders, especially Ghana's President Kufuor to use his influence and position as Chairman of the African Union to stop the bloodshed.The Darfurians constitute part of a forum of Non Governmental Organizations and Civil Society groups who are in the country to attend the 41st Ordinary session of the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.At a press conference in Accra organized by 'Citizens for New Ghana', a civil society organization that seeks to provide a platform to provoke critical reflection on Ghanaian and African history and experiences to generate alternative policy perspectives, speaker after speaker condemned the atrocities being perpetrated in that country, taking into consideration the innocent civilian lives being consumed by the war.Considering how things are going, they have expressed fear that the current situation in the Darfur Region could escalate to wreak more havoc on human lives and property and have therefore called for peace to return to the area.First to speak was Mr. Abdelbagi Jibril, Executive Director of the Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre (DRDC) who gave a vivid account on the background and overview of the situation in the Region which he says calls for the immediate intervention of the United Nations.
Charles Takyi-BoaduLONG BEFORE African leaders set foot on Ghanaian soil to attend the much-awaited African Union (AU) summit slated for July this year, some natives and civil society groups in the Darfur Region of Sudan have arrived in Accra to demand an end to ongoing clashes in that Region.They have called on the various African leaders, especially Ghana's President Kufuor to use his influence and position as Chairman of the African Union to stop the bloodshed.The Darfurians constitute part of a forum of Non Governmental Organizations and Civil Society groups who are in the country to attend the 41st Ordinary session of the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.At a press conference in Accra organized by 'Citizens for New Ghana', a civil society organization that seeks to provide a platform to provoke critical reflection on Ghanaian and African history and experiences to generate alternative policy perspectives, speaker after speaker condemned the atrocities being perpetrated in that country, taking into consideration the innocent civilian lives being consumed by the war.Considering how things are going, they have expressed fear that the current situation in the Darfur Region could escalate to wreak more havoc on human lives and property and have therefore called for peace to return to the area.First to speak was Mr. Abdelbagi Jibril, Executive Director of the Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre (DRDC) who gave a vivid account on the background and overview of the situation in the Region which he says calls for the immediate intervention of the United Nations.
Don't Sell Your Votes
by Charles Takyi-Boadu Jun 11, 2008 (Ghanaian Chronicle/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --
The Presidential Aspirant of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills has ended the second phase of his campaign tour of the Western region with a clarion call on the electorate to desist from selling their votes.
"If you collect GHc5, GHc10 or GHc20 and sell your vote to any group of politicians, what you will be doing is telling the politicians that they can take your vote for granted after securing the mandate to govern, and come back to you during election time and buy you for a pittance", he said.
He continued "When God created us, he did not put any price tag on us and so do not sell your dignity to anybody who comes with money to buy your votes. When you sell your votes, you don't only sell your human dignity, but you sell your destiny as well."
"And for those of you who have young children, if you sell your votes, it is the future of your children that you are selling and posterity will not forgive you for doing that", he cautioned.
The tour took the NDC Presidential Aspirant to areas like Amenfi Central, Amenfi East, Prestea Huni Valley and Tarkwa Nsuaem constituencies.
He spent the entire week spreading his message of a 'Better Ghana', along the lines of investing in people, job creation, building a strong economy and infrastructure expansion. The former vice President also promised to run a government that will be open, transparent and honest to the people.
Prof. Mills rolled out his agenda for the nation as a whole and the Western region in particular. According to him, it would be a grossly dehumanising act if the people allow their votes to be bought.
If given the opportunity to steer the affairs of this country, he pledged to be President of Ghana and not President of the NDC.
According to Prof. Mills, having suffered some form of discrimination for belonging to the NDC, just as other members of his party, there was no way he will lead a government that will marginalise a section of the populace because of their political leanings.
"I know that even in the area of cocoa spraying, some of you have suffered because you belong to NDC. Atta Mills shall not make any cocoa farmer suffer any discrimination just because he or she belongs to the NPP or another political party" Mills assured the people.
Prof. Mills said he would rule the country more united than ever when elected as President, stressing that "God will not forgive me if I continue to divide this country." Among the towns Professor Mills visited were Agona amd Manso in the Amenfi Central constituency.
In the Amenfi East constituency he visited Nananko, Afransie, Awodua, Bodua and Wassa Akropong. He also toured Hemang, Prestea, Aboso, Opon Valley, Huni Valley and Bogoso- all in the Prestea Huni Valley constituency. Prof, Mills and his team also visited Tarkwa, Benso and Nsuaem in the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency.
After a very successful Phase 1 and Phase 2 of his campaign in the Sefwi and Wassa areas of the Western Region, Professor Mills is expected back in the Region next week and will anchor Phase 3 in the coastal belt covering the Ellembele, Evalue Gwira and Jomoro constituencies.
The Presidential Aspirant of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills has ended the second phase of his campaign tour of the Western region with a clarion call on the electorate to desist from selling their votes.
"If you collect GHc5, GHc10 or GHc20 and sell your vote to any group of politicians, what you will be doing is telling the politicians that they can take your vote for granted after securing the mandate to govern, and come back to you during election time and buy you for a pittance", he said.
He continued "When God created us, he did not put any price tag on us and so do not sell your dignity to anybody who comes with money to buy your votes. When you sell your votes, you don't only sell your human dignity, but you sell your destiny as well."
"And for those of you who have young children, if you sell your votes, it is the future of your children that you are selling and posterity will not forgive you for doing that", he cautioned.
The tour took the NDC Presidential Aspirant to areas like Amenfi Central, Amenfi East, Prestea Huni Valley and Tarkwa Nsuaem constituencies.
He spent the entire week spreading his message of a 'Better Ghana', along the lines of investing in people, job creation, building a strong economy and infrastructure expansion. The former vice President also promised to run a government that will be open, transparent and honest to the people.
Prof. Mills rolled out his agenda for the nation as a whole and the Western region in particular. According to him, it would be a grossly dehumanising act if the people allow their votes to be bought.
If given the opportunity to steer the affairs of this country, he pledged to be President of Ghana and not President of the NDC.
According to Prof. Mills, having suffered some form of discrimination for belonging to the NDC, just as other members of his party, there was no way he will lead a government that will marginalise a section of the populace because of their political leanings.
"I know that even in the area of cocoa spraying, some of you have suffered because you belong to NDC. Atta Mills shall not make any cocoa farmer suffer any discrimination just because he or she belongs to the NPP or another political party" Mills assured the people.
Prof. Mills said he would rule the country more united than ever when elected as President, stressing that "God will not forgive me if I continue to divide this country." Among the towns Professor Mills visited were Agona amd Manso in the Amenfi Central constituency.
In the Amenfi East constituency he visited Nananko, Afransie, Awodua, Bodua and Wassa Akropong. He also toured Hemang, Prestea, Aboso, Opon Valley, Huni Valley and Bogoso- all in the Prestea Huni Valley constituency. Prof, Mills and his team also visited Tarkwa, Benso and Nsuaem in the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency.
After a very successful Phase 1 and Phase 2 of his campaign in the Sefwi and Wassa areas of the Western Region, Professor Mills is expected back in the Region next week and will anchor Phase 3 in the coastal belt covering the Ellembele, Evalue Gwira and Jomoro constituencies.
Clash of CPP titans
By Charles Takyi-Boadu Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2008
A leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Economist, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, has launched a blistering attack on Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, another member of the party, and a member of the Committee of Joint Action (CJA).
Whilst appreciating the role Kwesi Pratt had played in the evolution of democracy in Ghana, Dr. Thompson noted that, “I see such populist attempts by him to put down others, in order to raise his stature as cynical and unfortunate,” he said, emphasising that “ridicule is no substitute for sound debate.”
Dr. Thompson’s attack on Kwesi Pratt, stems from certain comments made by the latter on the Saturday, May 24, 2008 edition of the programme, ‘Alhaji and Alhaji,’ on an Accra-based FM station, ‘Radio Gold,’ during which Pratt ostensibly sought to criticise Dr. Thompson, for ‘hailing’ the economic measures announced by President Kufuor on May 22, 2008.
Dr. Thompson noted that as a leading member of the CJA, Mr. Pratt was an interested party, and was being selective, and by extension, deceptive towards listeners of the programme.
After listening to the replay of the said programme, he said that it became glaring that Kwesi Pratt used only a part of a headline, in the 24, 2008 edition of The Chronicle, on Saturday which read, ‘Economists Hail JAK,’ to draw hasty conclusions.
“If Mr. Pratt had taken the time to read the accompanying story in its entirety, he would have arrived at a different conclusion, the headline notwithstanding. After saying, in the intro to the story, that economist Kwamena Esselfie, and I (Nii Moi), had ‘commended the government’ for the economic measures.”
The story went on to state that “another economist and leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, however, expressed worry over President Kufuor’s failure to prescribe long, and medium term solutions, to the teething problems facing the country.
“While appreciating the fact that the mitigating measures announced by the President, could reduce the burden on Ghanaians, he believed that it would not last, since they were only temporary reliefs.”
Dr. Nii Moi Thompson thus noted, “It is clear from the foregoing, that Mr. Pratt misled listeners, and subjected me to needless ridicule and catcalls.”
He continued, “if I said specific things (about the president or anything else), that he disagreed with, or thought were false, he should have challenged them, and then offered alternative explanations and policy prescriptions. That would be sound debate, the kind that advances the cause of a nation, not personal agendas.”
Whilst commending the CJA, for championing the cause of the poor in Ghana, the Economist stated, without mincing words, that “I don’t believe that the group holds monopoly knowledge over what is wrong or right for Ghana,” since, according to him, “we must necessarily have a variety of views over economic, social and political reality, otherwise we edge dangerously towards an ideological hegemony, possibly even a political dictatorship, characterised by vile media attacks disguised as ‘social commentary,’ against those whose views may not be in accord with views of certain individuals or their political groupings.”
As one of those who actively campaigned to bring the NPP, and President Kufuor to power, Dr. Thompson wondered why the same Kwesi Pratt, had always sought to ridicule others for what he believed amounts to ‘hailing’ the President, stressing “he must be reminded of his role in the emergence of Mr. Kufuor and the NPP on Ghana’s political landscape.”
In other words, he noted that Mr. Pratt could no more distance himself from the record of Mr. Kufuor and the NPP, than can Mr. Kufuor renounce his own record and government.
“Both Mr. Pratt and Mr. Kufuor, in essence, share a common culpability that neither Mr. Pratt nor anyone else can simply wish away. This is an inescapable historical fact,” he emphasised.
A leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Economist, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, has launched a blistering attack on Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, another member of the party, and a member of the Committee of Joint Action (CJA).
Whilst appreciating the role Kwesi Pratt had played in the evolution of democracy in Ghana, Dr. Thompson noted that, “I see such populist attempts by him to put down others, in order to raise his stature as cynical and unfortunate,” he said, emphasising that “ridicule is no substitute for sound debate.”
Dr. Thompson’s attack on Kwesi Pratt, stems from certain comments made by the latter on the Saturday, May 24, 2008 edition of the programme, ‘Alhaji and Alhaji,’ on an Accra-based FM station, ‘Radio Gold,’ during which Pratt ostensibly sought to criticise Dr. Thompson, for ‘hailing’ the economic measures announced by President Kufuor on May 22, 2008.
Dr. Thompson noted that as a leading member of the CJA, Mr. Pratt was an interested party, and was being selective, and by extension, deceptive towards listeners of the programme.
After listening to the replay of the said programme, he said that it became glaring that Kwesi Pratt used only a part of a headline, in the 24, 2008 edition of The Chronicle, on Saturday which read, ‘Economists Hail JAK,’ to draw hasty conclusions.
“If Mr. Pratt had taken the time to read the accompanying story in its entirety, he would have arrived at a different conclusion, the headline notwithstanding. After saying, in the intro to the story, that economist Kwamena Esselfie, and I (Nii Moi), had ‘commended the government’ for the economic measures.”
The story went on to state that “another economist and leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, however, expressed worry over President Kufuor’s failure to prescribe long, and medium term solutions, to the teething problems facing the country.
“While appreciating the fact that the mitigating measures announced by the President, could reduce the burden on Ghanaians, he believed that it would not last, since they were only temporary reliefs.”
Dr. Nii Moi Thompson thus noted, “It is clear from the foregoing, that Mr. Pratt misled listeners, and subjected me to needless ridicule and catcalls.”
He continued, “if I said specific things (about the president or anything else), that he disagreed with, or thought were false, he should have challenged them, and then offered alternative explanations and policy prescriptions. That would be sound debate, the kind that advances the cause of a nation, not personal agendas.”
Whilst commending the CJA, for championing the cause of the poor in Ghana, the Economist stated, without mincing words, that “I don’t believe that the group holds monopoly knowledge over what is wrong or right for Ghana,” since, according to him, “we must necessarily have a variety of views over economic, social and political reality, otherwise we edge dangerously towards an ideological hegemony, possibly even a political dictatorship, characterised by vile media attacks disguised as ‘social commentary,’ against those whose views may not be in accord with views of certain individuals or their political groupings.”
As one of those who actively campaigned to bring the NPP, and President Kufuor to power, Dr. Thompson wondered why the same Kwesi Pratt, had always sought to ridicule others for what he believed amounts to ‘hailing’ the President, stressing “he must be reminded of his role in the emergence of Mr. Kufuor and the NPP on Ghana’s political landscape.”
In other words, he noted that Mr. Pratt could no more distance himself from the record of Mr. Kufuor and the NPP, than can Mr. Kufuor renounce his own record and government.
“Both Mr. Pratt and Mr. Kufuor, in essence, share a common culpability that neither Mr. Pratt nor anyone else can simply wish away. This is an inescapable historical fact,” he emphasised.
Child labour still prevalent in Ghana
By Charles Takyi-Boadu Posted: Friday, June 13, 2008
In spite of the fact that various international conventions, and the Children’s Act of Ghana, guard against child labour, there are still traits of its existence in the country.
It is estimated that approximately two million of children living in Ghana, are engaged in child labour. This represents 20% of the entire children’s population of the country.
Almost 250,000 of these children were said to be living under hazardous forms of child labour. Meanwhile, Article 28 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic prohibits labour, which is considered to be injurious to the health, education or development of the child.
With yesterday marking World Day against Child Labour, the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) in Accra, took the opportunity to remind Ghanaians, and foreign nationals alike, that “we are currently not fully honouring our commitment to protect our children from hazardous and exploitative forms of labour.”
This was contained in a statement, signed by the Project Coordinator of Human Trafficking and Child Labour Projects, at the LRC, Dzifa Ami Gakpleazi.
Ghana is signatory to three international treaties, which ban certain practices of child labour, including the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.
Additionally, Ghana has passed its own laws on child labour.
The Children’s Act is one of such laws in Ghana, which bans all types of exploitative labour, and echoes the 1992 Constitution’s prohibition, by defining this type of labour as that, which denies a child of health, education or development.
Its also bans a number of child labour practices, that it considers to be ‘hazardous’.
In spite of these, the LRC believes that all forms of exploitative labour (whether explicitly listed as hazardous by law or not), continue to persist in the country.
It considers these facts as extremely disappointing, not just because of the hard reality that exists for child labourers in Ghana, but also because the laws to protect them have already been passed.
Though it is fact that many of the root causes of child labour, go beyond detection and enforcement, poverty, lack of economic opportunities, social mobilisation and other macro-economic and demographic issues are all major factors.
The LRC has entreated Ghanaians, and for that matter central government, not to forgo improvements in the enforcement of the law.
The Children’s Act, which requires any witnessed infractions be reported, was passed a decade ago, whilst the Labour Act, which was passed into law in 2003, required regular inspections of work places, to check incidences of child labour.
Though these laws should have made children working in hazardous conditions a rarity, the LRC noted that “sadly, this is not the case.”
“The fact that we have acknowledged this responsibility as a country, and still continue to avoid tackling the problem headlong, makes this situation more troubling,” it emphasised. As a people, it noted that if Ghanaians are not noticing, reporting or enforcing these infractions, then our well-thought out laws would be nothing but “meaningless pieces of paper put together.”
It has thus stressed the need for the number of labour inspectors in the country to be increased, or better still be proactive.
It has also stressed the urgent need, for government to establish fund and children’s desk, at the office of the Attorney General, with the hope that such a division could use the power of the office, to coordinate with other programmes and projects, and focusing their energy on issues relating to protection of children.
“Not only will these provide more resources to address the problem, but the Children’s Desk, when properly funded, can take responsibility and be evaluated, depending on the improvements that are made,” it noted.
The LRC further stated that Ghana, as a country, needs more resources to ensure specialised professionals, who will be held accountable.
In the last analysis, it emphasised that “it is time for the government, not just to acknowledge its responsibility, but to take it.”
In spite of the fact that various international conventions, and the Children’s Act of Ghana, guard against child labour, there are still traits of its existence in the country.
It is estimated that approximately two million of children living in Ghana, are engaged in child labour. This represents 20% of the entire children’s population of the country.
Almost 250,000 of these children were said to be living under hazardous forms of child labour. Meanwhile, Article 28 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic prohibits labour, which is considered to be injurious to the health, education or development of the child.
With yesterday marking World Day against Child Labour, the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) in Accra, took the opportunity to remind Ghanaians, and foreign nationals alike, that “we are currently not fully honouring our commitment to protect our children from hazardous and exploitative forms of labour.”
This was contained in a statement, signed by the Project Coordinator of Human Trafficking and Child Labour Projects, at the LRC, Dzifa Ami Gakpleazi.
Ghana is signatory to three international treaties, which ban certain practices of child labour, including the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.
Additionally, Ghana has passed its own laws on child labour.
The Children’s Act is one of such laws in Ghana, which bans all types of exploitative labour, and echoes the 1992 Constitution’s prohibition, by defining this type of labour as that, which denies a child of health, education or development.
Its also bans a number of child labour practices, that it considers to be ‘hazardous’.
In spite of these, the LRC believes that all forms of exploitative labour (whether explicitly listed as hazardous by law or not), continue to persist in the country.
It considers these facts as extremely disappointing, not just because of the hard reality that exists for child labourers in Ghana, but also because the laws to protect them have already been passed.
Though it is fact that many of the root causes of child labour, go beyond detection and enforcement, poverty, lack of economic opportunities, social mobilisation and other macro-economic and demographic issues are all major factors.
The LRC has entreated Ghanaians, and for that matter central government, not to forgo improvements in the enforcement of the law.
The Children’s Act, which requires any witnessed infractions be reported, was passed a decade ago, whilst the Labour Act, which was passed into law in 2003, required regular inspections of work places, to check incidences of child labour.
Though these laws should have made children working in hazardous conditions a rarity, the LRC noted that “sadly, this is not the case.”
“The fact that we have acknowledged this responsibility as a country, and still continue to avoid tackling the problem headlong, makes this situation more troubling,” it emphasised. As a people, it noted that if Ghanaians are not noticing, reporting or enforcing these infractions, then our well-thought out laws would be nothing but “meaningless pieces of paper put together.”
It has thus stressed the need for the number of labour inspectors in the country to be increased, or better still be proactive.
It has also stressed the urgent need, for government to establish fund and children’s desk, at the office of the Attorney General, with the hope that such a division could use the power of the office, to coordinate with other programmes and projects, and focusing their energy on issues relating to protection of children.
“Not only will these provide more resources to address the problem, but the Children’s Desk, when properly funded, can take responsibility and be evaluated, depending on the improvements that are made,” it noted.
The LRC further stated that Ghana, as a country, needs more resources to ensure specialised professionals, who will be held accountable.
In the last analysis, it emphasised that “it is time for the government, not just to acknowledge its responsibility, but to take it.”
CPP RE-INVENTS BIG SIX
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
On the occasion of its 59th anniversary celebration, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) is probably changing the face of Ghana’s history by excluding the names of J.B Danquah, Obetsebi Lamptey, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei and that of William Ofori-Atta from the ‘Big Six’.
With the exception of their ‘icon’ and founding father, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who it recognises as a true member of the ‘big six’, the CPP has removed the names of the remaining five. Instead it has re-invented what it describes as the ‘True Big Six’.
It has brought on board the names of Krobo Edusei, Komla Agbeli Gbedema, Archie Casely Hayford, Kojo Botsio and Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck, who it describes as members of the ‘True Big Six’, including the Osagyefo himself.
This was contained in a statement signed by Kosi Dedey, the Chairman of the CPP Publicity Committee, on the occasion of its 59th anniversary celebration. According to the statement, “Special recognition is hereby given to the ‘True Big Six’ (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Krobo Edusei, Komla Agbeli Gbedema, Archie Casely Hayford, Kojo Botsio and Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck) who stood together on the podium at the Polo Grounds, on March 6th 1957 at the hour of declaration of independence.”
Even before it goes into the 2008 general elections, the CPP has committed itself to lead the country by an exemplary life to maintain discipline within national elected leadership.
The leadership of the party have thus asked individual members to rededicate themselves to unity of purpose in order to build a stronger and relevant political party to enable Ghanaians have the credible choice they deserve.
The statement further noted, “that the CPP will always have a place in the history of Ghana is undeniable, but whether the CPP will be relevant in shaping the political, social and economic direction of the future is the challenge that confronts us today.”
Considering the renewed energy and zeal that has engulfed the party in recent times, he urged the members and leadership of the party to rise to the challenge and take advantage of the goodwill currently shown by the larger Ghanaian society, affirming his belief that the CPP is up to this onerous task. Core to this, he said is a sense of commitment and discipline.
“As we commemorate the 59th anniversary, leadership urges all members to do a soul search and ask what their commitments to the party are, and how we can continue to address the matter for the overall unity and discipline within the party”, he emphasised.
In commemoration of 59years of its formation, the leadership of the party is saluting all persons alive, who were actively involved with the formation of the party. It has also singled out all those who have remained true to the cause of the party through the years and continue to offer advice and support in many ways, whilst acknowledging the tireless efforts of all persons and groups whose efforts contributed to the restoration and rejuvenation of the name CPP.
The current leadership on behalf of members of the party have also congratulated and acknowledged the work of past leaderships for all their efforts at holding the party together, saying “CPP is grateful to them all.”
Further, the leadership of the Convention People’s Party wished all its members well, and called upon all Ghanaians to join the party as it celebrates the 59th anniversary of its birth.
“We also urge all Ghanaians to remember the sacrifices made by those who fought tirelessly to liberate this country from the clutches of colonial rule”, the statement said.
It therefore prayed for the souls of its departed forebears who shed their blood in the struggle for independence to rest in peace.
“May we as members of the CPP live up to the true creed of the Party by closing our ranks and ensuring that all our thoughts are guided by Nkrumaist philosophy, and our actions guided by principles passed on from our forebears”, it noted.
On the occasion of its 59th anniversary celebration, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) is probably changing the face of Ghana’s history by excluding the names of J.B Danquah, Obetsebi Lamptey, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei and that of William Ofori-Atta from the ‘Big Six’.
With the exception of their ‘icon’ and founding father, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who it recognises as a true member of the ‘big six’, the CPP has removed the names of the remaining five. Instead it has re-invented what it describes as the ‘True Big Six’.
It has brought on board the names of Krobo Edusei, Komla Agbeli Gbedema, Archie Casely Hayford, Kojo Botsio and Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck, who it describes as members of the ‘True Big Six’, including the Osagyefo himself.
This was contained in a statement signed by Kosi Dedey, the Chairman of the CPP Publicity Committee, on the occasion of its 59th anniversary celebration. According to the statement, “Special recognition is hereby given to the ‘True Big Six’ (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Krobo Edusei, Komla Agbeli Gbedema, Archie Casely Hayford, Kojo Botsio and Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck) who stood together on the podium at the Polo Grounds, on March 6th 1957 at the hour of declaration of independence.”
Even before it goes into the 2008 general elections, the CPP has committed itself to lead the country by an exemplary life to maintain discipline within national elected leadership.
The leadership of the party have thus asked individual members to rededicate themselves to unity of purpose in order to build a stronger and relevant political party to enable Ghanaians have the credible choice they deserve.
The statement further noted, “that the CPP will always have a place in the history of Ghana is undeniable, but whether the CPP will be relevant in shaping the political, social and economic direction of the future is the challenge that confronts us today.”
Considering the renewed energy and zeal that has engulfed the party in recent times, he urged the members and leadership of the party to rise to the challenge and take advantage of the goodwill currently shown by the larger Ghanaian society, affirming his belief that the CPP is up to this onerous task. Core to this, he said is a sense of commitment and discipline.
“As we commemorate the 59th anniversary, leadership urges all members to do a soul search and ask what their commitments to the party are, and how we can continue to address the matter for the overall unity and discipline within the party”, he emphasised.
In commemoration of 59years of its formation, the leadership of the party is saluting all persons alive, who were actively involved with the formation of the party. It has also singled out all those who have remained true to the cause of the party through the years and continue to offer advice and support in many ways, whilst acknowledging the tireless efforts of all persons and groups whose efforts contributed to the restoration and rejuvenation of the name CPP.
The current leadership on behalf of members of the party have also congratulated and acknowledged the work of past leaderships for all their efforts at holding the party together, saying “CPP is grateful to them all.”
Further, the leadership of the Convention People’s Party wished all its members well, and called upon all Ghanaians to join the party as it celebrates the 59th anniversary of its birth.
“We also urge all Ghanaians to remember the sacrifices made by those who fought tirelessly to liberate this country from the clutches of colonial rule”, the statement said.
It therefore prayed for the souls of its departed forebears who shed their blood in the struggle for independence to rest in peace.
“May we as members of the CPP live up to the true creed of the Party by closing our ranks and ensuring that all our thoughts are guided by Nkrumaist philosophy, and our actions guided by principles passed on from our forebears”, it noted.
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