Despite its intensive public relation work

More rot uncovered at Golden Gate
…As management pay monies to ‘ghost’ staff, companies

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, January 29, 2009.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Though the management of Tema-based stevedoring company, Golden Gate Services Limited (GGSL), headed by Mr. Bennet Aboagye have embarked on an intensive face-saving media campaign over the last couple of days to safeguard its interests, there are still lingering questions of financial impropriator hanging on its neck.
A forensic audit report conducted by Messrs. Baffour Awuah and Associates at the instance of the Auditor-General continues to unearth damning findings on the activities and operations of the company.
In the course of its investigations, the auditors detected that huge amounts of monies mostly in dollars denominations had gone unaccounted since management could not reconcile the amounts involved with any documentary evidence whatsoever.
For instance, it was uncovered that during the period of February 23, 2005 to December 20, 2007, cash withdrawals totalling US $184, 354.03 were made from various bank accounts of GGSL, allegedly to pay salaries of the company’s staff.
However, a review of the company’s payroll, salary vouchers and a statement of account on the sale of dollars presented to the auditors by management revealed that for the period under review, the payment of management and staff salaries were made from cedi bank accounts of GGSL through the bankers of the management and staff.
The auditors were therefore unable to obtain documentary evidence from management on how the amounts involved were paid and to whom they were paid to.
In the absence of any documentary evidence to prove the otherwise of its findings, the auditors recommended that the amount of US $184, 354.03 should be recovered from the company’s Commercial and Administrative Manager, Mr. Rudolf Engmann.
Additionally, an amount of US $85,000.00 was alleged to have been exchanged for cedi equivalent from Index Link to pay for the wages of Ghana Dock Labour Company (GDLC).
However, there was not a single document to either confirm or prove that GDLC indeed received either the US $85,000.00 or its cedi equivalent.
It was again recommended that Mr. Engmann be made to refund the amount involved.
Similarly, management of GGSL failed to account for a total cash withdrawal of US $83, 500.00 allegedly paid as ‘special stevedore consultancy fees’ on five vessels during the period of December 2005 to December 2006 since management could not provide any documentary evidence in that regard.
It also emerged that from the period of June 13, 2002 to November 20, 2007 management of the company withdrew a total amount of US $187, 439.11 from various GGSL bank accounts, including those of the Tema branches of Standard Chartered Bank, Ecobank and Stanbic Bank.
However, management could not provide any documentary evidence to account for the total of US $187, 439.11 withdrawn.
In the absence of the documentary evidence to account for the amounts withdrawn from the various GGSL accounts, the auditors therefore recommended that the total amount of US $187, 439.11 should be recovered from the company’s Commercial and Administrative Manager, Mr. Rudolf Engmann who is also the officer in charge of accounts.
Also, between the period of July 2004 and December 2004, management of GGSL issued seven cash cheques totalling US $150, 880.00 which was cashed by the company’s staff and debited GGSL Tema branch of Merchant Bank account number 0250358016.
Management of the company could however not provide the auditors with any documentary evidence, such as payment vouchers and other relevant documentation to account for the total amount of US $150.880.00.
It therefore proved difficult for the auditors to confirm actual payment in order to ascertain the beneficiaries of the amounts withdrawn.
Besides, the investigations revealed that the transactions were not recorded in the out-going cash/cheques register.
Further, the auditors observed in the course of their investigations that management of the company issued two cash cheques totalling US $23, 500.00 which were cashed at the GGSL Tema branch of Merchant Bank account number 00001/01/002516/61 between June 10, 2005 and November 30, 2007.
That notwithstanding, it was detected that there were no payment vouchers and relevant supporting documentation to confirm actual payment, whilst the transactions were not captured in the outgoing/incoming cash/cheques registers.
This became evident since the cash withdrawals or corresponding cedi equivalent was not captured in the company’s statement on sale of dollars made available to the auditors.
Further, management could not explain and or provide any documentary evidence whatsoever to account for the total amount of US $23,500.00 cashed from the bank.
It was also unable to provide the auditors with any documentary evidence such as payment vouchers and other supporting documentations to confirm actual payments and to whom the amounts were paid.
In the absence of documentary evidence to account for the total amount involved, the auditors recommended that the amount should be recovered from the company’s Commercial and Administrative Manager.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of GGSL and the Commercial and Administration, Messrs. Bennet Aboagye and Rudolf Engmann have sought to ridicule the forensic audit report verbally but without any substantial and substantive documentary proof to back their positions.

MILLS SUCCUMBS TO ‘BOYS SCOUT HONOUR’

…As he confirms he is not ‘his own man’
Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Political observers in the country have expressed the fear that President John Evans Atta Mills is gradually giving in to the perception being held by sections of the Ghanaian populace especially members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that he is not his ‘own man’.
Some, including the likes of former Presidential Spokesperson under President Kufuor’s administration, Kwabena Agyepong and NPP General Secretary, Nana Ohene-Ntow have started reading meanings and drawing conclusions into certain decisions that the President have had to take since assumption of office as President of the republic.
Key among the issues of reference included the President’s decision to revoke the appointments of thirty percent of government appointees from the local assembly level and the and the sudden removal of the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Major-General J.B Dankwah and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong from their respective positions on forceful retirement.
These come against the backdrop of certain comments and reservations expressed by former President Jerry John Rawlings, who happens to be the founder of the ruling party of which Mills is the leader.
In all these instances, the sitting President, Atta Mills is noted to have taken action after former President Rawlings had expressed grave concern and reservations about the continuous stay in office by the affected individuals and group of persons since he doubted their commitments to the government.
This is what the two leading members of the NPP believe goes to confirm the fears the party expressed during the political campaign season, to the effect that ‘a vote for Mills is a vote for Rawlings’.
Under the current circumstance, they both believe that Professor Mills has virtually bowed to the whims and caprices of Rawlings since in their opinions ‘he is being remotely controlled’.
In an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Agyepong said he was not the least surprised by the actions and inactions of President Mills since according to him, ‘he is still reeling under the shadows of Rawlings’.‘But of course how can Mills control things, the party does not belong to him, it is Rawlings’ party, we have said this long before, I mean we didn’t need this for anybody to prove anything.
The fact of the matter is, Rawlings formed his party out of the PNDC government, finished; it is his personal party that he formed and Mills cannot do ‘foko’ without Rawlings…’like some sort of ‘boys scout honour’.
Kwabena Agyepong noted that thus is evident in President Mills’ appointment of Colonel Gbevlo Lartey as the National Security Coordinator, saying ‘it means Rawlings has taken over security; that is his boy who commandeered the disbanded 64Battalion who visited all sorts of brutalities on Ghanaians’.
For him, the posture that former President Rawlings and the NDC government has taken is likely to affect the level of investment and interest businesses into the country, stressing that it has the tendency of driving away investors.
Instead of focusing on the nation, Mr. Agyepong emphasised that the NDC is rather engaged in pettiness whilst nothing is functioning in the country, with contracts having being put on hold.
He asked rhetorically ‘what is it that the likes of Tony Aidoo and Victor Smith are walking about and running riot and creating confusion’.
For him, the action of some NDC functionaries after the elections amounts to nothing but impunity.
The former Presidential Spokesperson thus had cause to warn ‘but they should know that nobody will allow them to do that, the country does not belong to them, they are going to run this country by the law, not by the law of one man; the country will be run by the laws of this country, by our constitution and not by the dictates of Jerry Rawlings’
On their parts, Nana Ohene-Ntow and the Editor-In-Chief of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. who spoke on the Peace FMs ‘Kokrokoo’ Morning show also condemned the action of former President Rawlings since in their opinion, it sought to undermine the authority and independence of the sitting President in taking certain decisions that affect the nation.
According to Ohene-Ntow, Rawlings’ behaviour goes to confirm the NPPs assertion that Mills would be subject of his (Rawlings’) control when elected into office, but Kwesi Pratt disagreed with him.

After treacherous Mumbai bombing

India resolves to fight terrorism
…with legislative changes

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, January 28, 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The government and people of India have resolved in one accord to fight terrorism and its related incidents. On the eve of the country’s 60th Republican anniversary, the government of Indian announced a new plan to clamp down on the activities and operations of terrorists.
In a statement read on her behalf, the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil has called on all Indians to brace up to the challenges ahead and face them.
“I call on fellow citizens and the media to be part of the security network”, she emphasised.
The call entreated all Indians to exhibit a high sense of responsible behaviour in which they would be aware of their surroundings and not to inadvertly create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
In a statement read on her behalf by the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs. Ruchi Ghanasyan, at India House in Accra, the President announced the setting up of a new agency to deal with terrorist threats, coupled with legislative changes.
She thus stressed the urgent need for a determined, coordinated and concerted approach by all agencies to tackle this menace, saying “our security personnel can be confident that every citizen of India is with them as they take action to safeguard our borders and secure our safety and security within the country.”
In her message to all Indian citizens, both home and abroad, the President further stressed the urgent need for Indians to bury their individual differences to move the country forward, noting that “we cannot give in to regional, sectarian or caste considerations.”
This, according to her, was because these concepts militate against the very principles that Indians as a people chose to follow when they began the journey as a free nation.”
“All Indians, undoubtedly have many identities but with an underlying common identity of being Indian. We may hail from one region but belong to a different caste or religion, or speak a different language that cannot dilute our Indian identity”, she emphasised.
That identity, according to her, in essence meant a civilizational ethos of a shared experience of living together in harmony through generations, in a milieu of great diversity, but in a spirit of tolerance and forbearance that flows from basic belief of unity.
In furtherance of her speech, the High Commissioner cautioned that the incidents of violence by one community against another would have no place in a pluralistic society, and thus appealed to fellow citizens to “fight divisive agendas and work for an India in which our first identity is Indian and only thereafter our other descriptions follow.”
On the economy of India, the President noted that the country has been impacted by the global environment. That notwithstanding, she indicated that the country’s economy has the fundamental strength and resilience to remain on course for economic growth, stressing that “the global financial crisis can be an opportunity to reinforce the structures of our domestic economy.”
For that matter, the government of India has announced monetary and fiscal stimulus packages to increase liquidity in the market and encourage investments.
Considering the fact that it has a large domestic market, and by increasing the purchasing capacity of all sections of the society, the government believes that it can afford to stimulate its economy.
“We could even be one of the nations who can act as an engine to help revive the global economy”, the President noted.
On the occasion of the celebration, three Ghanaian students were honoured for their sterling performance in an essay competition organised in remembrance of Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the eleventh President of India, who served from 2002 to 2007.
The three included Messrs. Kwabena Kwegyir-Aggrey who took home the first prize, whiles Jemima Owusua and Elvis Buule annexed the second and third positions respectively.

Mills keeps mum

…over controversial Chinery-Hesse report

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Friday, January 23, 2009

President J. E. Atta MillsPresident John Evans Atta Mills has decided not to comment on the raging controversy surrounding recommendations of the much-publicised Chinery-Hesse Report, on the retirement package for members of the Executive and Legislative arms of government. Sources close to the President told The Chronicle that he did not intend to comment on the issue, considering the heat it has generated over the last couple of days, since news of the whooping emoluments to former Presidents, Ministers and Members of Parliament broke.
Though Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, has persistently refused to answer his phone to respond to questions bordering on some of these issues that the press would like to know the President’s position on, Head of the Communications Directorate at the seat of government, Koku Anyidoho, told that the paper that a decision would be taken without the President necessarily commenting on them.
According to him, the government would consider the opinions and sentiments being expressed by the teeming Ghanaian populace on the subject matter, since it would impact on the decision-making process.
This, according to him, was because “it is the will of the people that must reign supreme, and once the will of the people is moving in a positive direction, the government will have no option, but to take that into consideration.”
Whilst admitting that he had not picked the President’s thoughts on the issue, Koku was of the conviction that Professor Mills would not like to comment on the issue.
Instead, he noted that he would take the concerns expressed by the teeming Ghanaian populace into consideration, before he takes any concrete decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, would-be members of the Castle Press Corps, who have been covering the activities at the Presidency, have expressed reservations about the lack of communication between them and the Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga.
Most of them believe Ayariga has been avoiding the press for unknown reasons. Several attempts made to interview him, to know the President’s position on the ongoing debate about emoluments for former presidents, have proved futile.
Hesse Committee Report on Emoluments for former presidents.
The Chinery-Hesse report entitles former Presidents to a fully-furnished residence in Accra and another outside the capital, with office and guest accommodation to be maintained by State Protocol with adequate staff, paid overseas travels, six comprehensively insured, fuelled and chauffeur-driven vehicles, to be replaced every four years, and the provision of $1 million as seed money for the establishment of a non-governmental organization, to be managed by the former President, among other entitlements.
It further suggests that physical assets in the ex-gratia award should revert to the family of the former President in the case of his death.

Mills pledges to honour campaign promises

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, January 22, 2009

President J. E. Atta MillsPresident John Evans Atta Mills has promised to deliver on the promises he made to Ghanaians during his presidential campaign.
He has therefore given his word, that his government would endeavour to make policies and programmes that would inure to the benefit of the teeming Ghanaian populace, who reposed their confidence and trust in him, in the just-ended presidential elections.
“As I said during the campaign, when it comes to sharing the resources of our dear nation, I believe that it is only fair that we begin with those who do not have, until they are satisfied, before we move to any other classes,” he emphasised.
Professor Mills gave this assurance when the National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osuman Nuhu Sharubutu and a delegation of Moslem leaders paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, to congratulate him on his election to the highest office of the land.
To the people living in the Zongo communities, who clearly fall within this category of people, the President said, “they will be part of the programme that we will be pursuing, to ensure that the resources of our dear nation are used for the benefit of us all.
“As you know, the NDC is a social democratic party. We believe that it is important that the state pays special attention to the under-privileged, to the neglected, and to those who have been marginalised, and therefore, we will put this into action,” he stressed.
Further, Prof. Mills promised to stick to the constitutional provision, which calls for regional balance in the appointment of members and ministers of his government.
Whilst admitting that there were many Moslems out there, who could serve in his government, he noted that anyone who would be chosen to serve would be appointed on the basis of merit and their qualification.
He also sought the face of God, to enable his government steer the affairs of the nation, and urged all religious leaders in the country, to continue to pray for the nation, as they have been doing.
“I will make a special appeal that you pray to Allah, to give me and my team wisdom to be able to lead this country, to be able to better the lot of our people, and create a better Ghana, for the benefit of us all.”
On his part, the National Chief Imam, whose speech was read on his behalf by his Special Aide and Spokesman, Alhaji Mamah Gado Mohammed, noted that taking into account the apparent polarisation that arose during, and after the just-ended general elections, it was imperative that the contending factions are encouraged to bury their differences, and come together to form a united front.
It was his belief that this could lead to a common approach to finding solutions to the diverse ethnic, religious, political and economic problems facing the country.
“Indeed, unity and togetherness is urgently needed, given that Ghana’s economy is in distress in a world struggling with unprecedented financial crisis,” he said.
Under the current circumstances, the National Imam noted that what Ghana needed most, was a purposeful leadership, which had the capacity and ability to command the respect of all, and also the capacity to create a vision of a prosperous future for all Ghanaians.
“We need a selfless leadership that is fair and just and also has the courage of its convictions and the strength, to take bold and firm decisions in the national interest,” he noted.
The Chief Imam also took the opportunity to appeal to the President, to include, not only qualified, but also competent Moslems when making appointments for ministerial positions, and other public offices such as commissions, boards and ambassadorial positions, especially to the Moslem and Arab countries where he believes they would prove useful.
In a related development, Vice President John Mahama is set to participate in the 12th Africa Union (AU) Summit, which will take place from January 26 to February 3, this year, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A statement signed by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, said he would lead a government delegation that will attend the 12th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, under the theme “Infrastructure development in Africa.”
The Vice President is expected to depart from Accra on January 30, and return on February 4.

CSCL rebuts habour employee’s claim

…to set records straight
By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Barely 48hours after the leadership of the National Union of Habour Employees (NUHE) raised concerns about certain developments at the Tema Habour, management of Cargo Systems Company Limited (CSCL) has been compelled to react.
Management of CSCL has described as untrue information making rounds in sections of the media which seeks to create the impression that it does not satisfy the requirements needed to operate as a stevedoring company.
In a statement signed by Managing Director of the company, Osei Sarfo-Bonsu, he noted that he wanted to set the records straight to erase any doubts being created in the minds of members of the public.
Whilst admitting that he Sarfo-Bonsu and Bennet Aboagye were the original Directors of Golden Gate Services Limited (GGSL), with Bennet as the Managing Director and he as the Deputy, he noted that later developments led to a serious misunderstanding between them which virtually affected the smooth running of the company.
According to him, Prevailing circumstances at the time led to a closure of the company’s offices at the port.
As a result, he emphasised that the Ghana Port and Habours Authority (GPHA) was compelled to intervene in the standoff by temporarily suspending the company’s operational license until all outstanding issues were resolved.
Subsequently, the statement noted that the sector Minister at the time, Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi intervened to settle the issue amicably.
Later, the Minister was said to have managed to bring the two parties together in a bid to resolve all outstanding issues.
This, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu said led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between him and his former partner to enable the GPHA to restore the company’s operational license whiles other issues pertaining to the disagreement were still being investigated.
Under the circumstance, he and Mr. Aboagye reached an agreement in the presence of the Minister for a forensic audit to be carried out by an independent private auditor to go into the books of the company-spanning the period of its inception to date.
He emphasised that the Minister then solicited the assistance of the Auditor-General to appoint a competent and truly independent private auditor to go into the company’s books.
Whilst the company was under investigation by the auditors, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu indicated that Bennet Aboagye went to the Minister with the excuse that he could no longer work with he Sarfo-Bonsu and thus proposed a split of the company’s operational license.
For that reason, the statement said, the Minister invited both parties to his official residence at which Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu was informed of Mr. Aboagye’s proposal for a split of the company’s operational license.
Under the circumstance, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu said he could not but obliged to the proposal after which the sector Minister wrote to the Director-General of the GPHA asking him to implement the agreement reached by both parties concerning the split.
On the strength of the Ministers letter, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu said the GPHA decided to split the license and directed that both parties submit the new names of their respective companies for them to be issued with licenses.
Barely a week after the implementation of the agreement reached, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu mentioned “Mr. Aboagye for reasons best known to him went back to the Minister saying that he was no more interested in the split hence asking the Minister to reverse the earlier decision.”
For one reason or the other, he said the Minister also obliged to his request thereby suspending his earlier directive for the company’s operational license to be split.
This decision, according to him again resurrected the cold-war which existed between him and Mr. Bennet Aboagye.
Contrary to laid down procedures and provisions of the Companies Code, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu further emphasised that Mr. Aboagye under very bizarre circumstance illegally terminated his (Sarfo-Bonsu’s).
He therefore noted that he was left without an option than to patiently wait for the forensic audit report which waded into the activities and operations of the company.
Finally, when the report came out, he noted that it unearthed negative findings which confirmed his suspicion of financial malfeasance in the company.
Meanwhile, he said the Minister had earlier told him and Mr. Aboagye that the basis for a split of the company’s operational license could only be determined by the outcome of the forensic audit.
When the auditors submitted the final report, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu who had virtually been without a job for the past nine months said he approached the Minister to find out from him as to what decision he was going to take on the report.
In his own wisdom, he noted that the Minister decided to split the license and therefore wrote another letter to GPHA to effect the earlier decision which was dully carried out after which a letter was written to the two of them to resubmit the names of their new companies for issuance of separate operational license.
For this reason, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu noted that he complied with all the requirements and conditions set out for the issuance of an operational license and was subsequently issued a license to operate.
According to him, he has since written three different letters to Mr. Aboagye requesting him for a meeting to discuss the assets and liabilities of the company including the future of the workers which the later has flatly turned down.
“Management of Cargo Systems Company Limited (CSCL) therefore finds it not only outrageous but also despicable for Mr. Aboagye to be hopping from one media house to the other peddling all sorts of falsehoods about the company and it’s Managing Director, Mr. Sarfo-Bonsu instead of responding to the substantive issues at stake”, he said.
Management of CSCL has thus asked all media houses to contact them before going out with any such publications in order not to create negative in the minds of people.

Mills angry with DCEs

…for disrespecting chiefs
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The President, His Excellency J. E. A. Mills, has expressed concern over the way some of the district chief executives (DCEs) have been treating chiefs in the country. “I am aware that in certain cases, DCEs have very little respect for traditional authorities, and yet at the time of campaign, these are the very people who lead us to the traditional authorities,” he noted, and has therefore cautioned DCEs to accord chiefs and the chieftaincy institution, the needed respect they deserve.
Professor Mills, who was speaking at the Osu Castle yesterday, when the Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs called on him, promised to consult the traditional authorities in appointing thirty per cent of people to the District Assemblies, stressing, “rest assured Nananom, that we will do so in full consultation with you.”
President Mills also noted that nobody could dispute the fact that the chieftaincy institution constituted the very foundation of the Ghanaian society.
This, he said, was evident in the fact that chiefs and politicians have one thing in common, seeking to enhance the welfare of the people.
He, therefore, stressed on the need for stronger collaboration between the two institutions, to develop the nation.
Whilst appreciating the concerns and suggestions raised by the chiefs, Professor Mills noted that he would look at the issues with all seriousness, since according to him, when the chieftaincy institution is strengthened, it would benefit the people.
He, therefore, charged Ghanaians to respect their traditional rulers, stressing “they are the embodiment of the soul of our people, and I’m going to insist that when it comes to the appointment of DCEs, very detailed consultations will have to be held with the traditional authorities.
“Nobody is a repository of wisdom or of knowledge, and therefore, we will be knocking at your doors when it becomes necessary, so that we build a better Ghana for our people.”
On their part, the National House of Chiefs asked to be given the needed recognition and support, to enable them carry out their constitutionally mandated duties.
The President of the House, who also doubles as Wulungunaba, Naa Professor John Nabila, indicated that merely guaranteeing chieftaincy and its traditional authorities, as provided for in Article 270 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, without providing what it takes to run the institution, does not serve any purpose.
The House of Chiefs therefore appealed to President Mills and his government, to take a critical look at this unfortunate development.
“It is a well-established fact that the budgetary allocation for the institution, is woefully inadequate, and does not permit Nananom, Traditional Councils, Regional Houses, National House of Chiefs to perform creditably, all the constitutional responsibilities assigned to us in the 1992 Constitution,” he emphasised.
As a first step to ensuring this, the Chiefs have asked for the codification of the lines of succession of chiefs, as required by the Constitution, to help minimise the numerous chieftaincy disputes, which have not been resolved because of lack of adequate funding.
The chiefs noted that the various judicial committees of Traditional, Regional and National House of Chiefs, which could have also reduced chieftaincy disputes, are not functioning well, because they did not have counsels.
Considering the role they play in the decentralisation process, the chiefs appealed to the government to critically examine the system of local government, to remove the current minimum representation of chiefs, stressing that “it should also aim at minimising the incessant, unnecessary conflicts between District and Municipal administrators, and traditional authorities.”
The 2005 country report, and programme of action of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) on Ghana, is emphatic in recognition of the role of traditional authorities, particularly in relation to the performance of the country’s decentralised administrative system.
The APRM report demands that “chiefs must remain active participants in, and constructive contributors to the process of decentralisation, democratisation and sustainable development.”
Meanwhile, the new Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 795, which is in consonance with the 1992 Constitution, has been passed by Parliament, and replaces the old Chieftaincy Act 1971, Act 370.
Article 30 of the new Act, also guarantees the power of chiefs to be arbiters in customary arbitrations in any dispute, where the parties involved consent to the arbitration process.
As a matter of urgency, the National House of Chiefs has appealed to the government, the Attorney-General and the Chief Justice to strengthen this old arm of traditional judicial administration, with the belief that the formal or legally recognised use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the country’s traditional courts, will help to promote the tenets of the rule law.
In this light, the President the House of Chiefs, Naa Professor John Nabila, said they were in the process of preparing a comprehensive strategic plan, to elaborate its vision for, what he described as effective and cooperative governance, to consolidate the country’s democracy and its ancestral heritage.
The House of Chiefs took the opportunity to congratulate the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the just-ended elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for gracefully accepting the election results in good faith, whilst commending former President Kufuor for facilitating a smooth transition to the present government.

Damning final audit report out

A-G HUNTS GOLDEN GATE MD GM

…Over missing GH¢2.4m

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Mr. Bennet Aboagye, MD of Golden GateAn audit conducted by accounting firm, Messrs Baffour Awuah and Associates at the instance of the Auditor General, Edward Dua-Agyemang into the records of Golden Gate Company Limited (GGCL), a Tema-based stevedoring company, of which a final report had been issued, has uncovered massive fraud and underhand dealings in the activities and operations of the company.
The report, which covered the period of March to September 2007, indicates that the financial operation of the company, which has been battling to settle its tax liabilities to the state, was fraught with serious irregularities and lapses. This has culminated in the failure of Management of the company, headed by Mr. Bennett Aboagye, its Managing Director to account for a total amount of US$ 1.650,913.00, ∏56, 000.00 and GH¢291, 600.51 respectively.
The equivalent of the amounts involved, at the current exchange rate in the new Ghana cedis, stands at a whooping GH ¢2.437, 618.07.
In the process of the audit, the report noted that it became evidently clear that there were virtually no internal systems in place, stressing that “financial policies, accounting procedures and proper books of account and proper accounting records, among others, required for efficient and effective performance and financial operations and proper keeping of the company were absent.”
Besides, the report noted that the provisions of the Companies Code of 1963 (Act 179) and the GGSL regulations were violated. The auditors noted that the breaches of the GGCL regulations and the Companies Code, as well as the apparent absence of financial policies and accounting procedures manual, as well as failure to keep proper books of account and accounting records, among others strongly suggested that “there were serious deficiencies and absolute lack of transparency in the financial operations of GGSL.”
For the period of April 12, 2007, and October 29, 2007, the company submitted invoices totalling $1,186.63 to Meridian Port Services (MPS). Out of the amount, GGSL received a total amount of $1,186,496.63 leaving a balance of $11,505.78 to be settled by MPS.
It was also detected that the management of GGCL did not issue official receipts for monies received from some companies and other sources such as proceeds from the sale of foreign currencies to companies like Index Link, Ecoplast, Eco-Air limited and others.
The Auditors thus noted that “the practice of not using official receipts to cover monies received from companies and other sources do not only breach the provisions of the Companies Code, but can also lead to manipulation and perpetration of fraudulent acts, including the embezzlement of company’s fund.”
In the course of the investigations, the Auditors uncovered that four officials of the company- Messrs. John Evans Adjei, Robert Bortieh, Lawrence Atale and Allan Ofosuhene collected a total amount of $96,531.00 - covering the period of August 14, 2002, to May 16, 2006.
The amounts involved were, however, not recorded in the company’s incoming cash/cheques register, since the Auditors did not sight any documentary evidence to indicate how the listed collections were accounted for.
Management of the company could also not produce any documentary evidence to account for the total amount of $96,531.00 collected by the four officials.
In the absence of any documentary evidence to confirm that the amounts collected were brought to account, and paid for into the bank account of the GGCL, the Auditors have recommended that the total amount of $96,531.00 should be recovered from the four officials involved.
A total amount of ¢1,381,450,000.00 being part of proceeds from the sale of bidding was also allegedly paid into various bank accounts of GGCL during the period November 25, 2002, to August 2006.
Management could, however, not produce deposit slips and bank statements to confirm that the money was actually paid into the bank accounts of the company.
Similarly, the investigations revealed that for the period September 2002 to December 2007, a total amount of ¢596,346,600.00 was allegedly lodged into the bank accounts of the company. However, Management could not provide the names of the receiving banks and the relevant deposit slips and the bank statements to confirm this.
In this case, the Auditors recommended that “in the absence of documentary evidence to confirm the lodgements, the total amount of ¢596,346,600.00 should be recovered from Mr. R.S.L Engmann, the Commercial and Administrative Manager, who is also the officer in charge of accounts.
Meanwhile, the two individuals who have been implicated in multiple complicity by the audit report, Messrs. Bennett Aboagye and Rudolf Engmann, Managing Director and Administrative Manager respectively, have sought to ridicule the report since according to them, there are a whole lot of ‘holes’ in the report.
In separate interviews with The Chronicle, the two individuals described the report as boogie and bogus. “I’ve been to Mr. Agyemang Dua himself and I’ve told him about the problem, that we had lots of evidence to give, they refused to do it because they had an agenda”, Mr. Aboagye noted.
On his part, Mr. Engmann said the report was not discussed with him, stressing that “I have a whole lot of response to give if they have discussed it with me earlier, you know most of those things would have been resolved”, he noted.
The report emanated from the instructions of the Auditor-General, Edward Dua Agyemang, who was acting on a request by the then Minister of Ports, Habours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, following a disagreement between the Managing Director of GGCL, Bennett Aboagye and his Deputy, Osei Sarfo-Bonsu, over the finances of the company.

Mills now uses Osu Castle as his home

… To avoid inconveniencing motorists
By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

The President has finally decided to use the seat of government, the Osu Castle, as his temporary place of abode. This is to avoid any inconveniences that his motorcade may be creating on the traffic-prone Spintex road, where he plies day-in-and-out from his private residence at the Regimanuel Estates, to the Castle to conduct government business, since he took office barely two weeks ago.
A statement issued by the Office of the President, and signed by Koku Anyidoho, Head of the Communications Directorate, noted, “His Excellency President John Atta Mills has, since Tuesday, January 13, 2009, moved into the residential facility at the seat of Government.”
For now, the President lives alone at the Castle without the company of his family.
Sources close to the Castle told The Chronicle that he only intends to go to his private residence as and when the need arises, especially on weekends when there is less traffic jam on the Spintex road.
In effect, the President works and lives at the age-old Castle to transact business.
Originally known as the Christianborg Castle, the Osu Castle dates back to the 16th Century, and has changed hands many times.
Sources close to President said for the eight years that he served as President of the Republic, President John Agyekum Kufuor lived in his private residence near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, at the Airport residential area, from where he commuted to the Castle on a daily basis.
In the year 2005, there was huge debate over whether or not the Osu Castle should be replaced as the seat of government.
At the time, then President Kufuor argued that his government would not sit at the castle, due to its previous association with slavery, and also because its facilities were inadequate.
Members of the then opposition National Democratic Congress, and their Members of Parliament (MPs), however, argued that the $50 million that a new presidential palace would cost would be better spent elsewhere.
Osu Castle remains the seat of government in Ghana, employing 2,100 workers. The most important functions are carried out in the castle itself, but other buildings are also used.
Many international dignitaries have visited the castle, including U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, and former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroder.
The Castle began to serve as the seat of government under British colonial rule, and continues to perform that function today.
The present castle is made up of various extensions to the original, and is thus in an unorthodox shape.
It has many facilities for the use of employees, including a clinic, cafe, shopping centre, and post office. It also still accommodates a permanent garrison.
The extensive gardens feature a wide variety of plants, both local and imported, and employ 30 people. They are used for the President's outdoor receptions and parties.
The Osu Castle is not open to the public, and photography of it is restricted. In the year 2007, opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stormed out of a parliamentary debate on whether to take out a $50m loan to build a new presidential palace.
However, their colleague MPs from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), voted unanimously in favour of taking the loan from India.
They argued that the President should not be based in Osu Castle, where slaves used to be kept.
The old Flagstaff House, used by Ghana's first President as a residence, was thus renovated into a museum, while the grounds on which it stands, has been used to build an ultra modern office complex and residence, for the President and Vice-President of Ghana, as well as their staff.
Though over 95% of work at the site has been completed, it is yet to be occupied, and used by the President and his Vice, for the purposes for which it was built.
The area was first occupied in 1550 by the Portuguese, though in the 17th Century Portuguese influence diminished.
The area came under control of the Swedes in the 1650s, led by the Dutch trader Henry Caerlof. In 1652 he was given permission to build a small fortified lodge by the King of Accra, with whom he had previously done business.
In 1660 control passed to the Netherlands, but was soon lost to Denmark. In 1657 Caerlof again traveled to Africa, this time representing Denmark. He aimed to conquer the forts he had previously established, which he found easy at Osu.
In its early life, the castle was primarily used in the gold and ivory trade, but under Danish control, it increasingly dealt with slaves.
In 1957, when Ghana became independent, with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State, the fort became Government House, the residence of the Governor-General.
When Ghana became a Republic in 1960, it became the residence of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Kosmos promises more oil

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Friday, January 16, 2009

If what experts are saying is anything to go by then there are strong indications that Ghana is likely to join the league of the world’s Oil-rich producing Countries. Experts from Kosmos Energy have told President Mills that the latest discovery in its exploration puts Ghana in the world class category.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the company, James Musselman, who led a delegation of the company’s Management to the Osu Castle to congratulate President Mills on his election as President of the Republic expressed optimism that by the second half of year 2010, Ghana would start pouring oil in commercial quantities.
The company also took the opportunity to brief the President on the current state of affairs at the oil fields of Cape Three Point,
where intensive exploration works are still ongoing.
Mr. Musselman assured President Mills and Ghanaians of the preparedness of the company to intensify their search for more oil on the field.
Officials of the company paid glowing tribute to the government and people of Ghana for the way and manner in which they conducted themselves during the recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections, in spite of the heat that characterised the campaign process.
President Mills on his part thanked management and staff of Kosmos Energy for the work done so far.
He advised management to be open in their activities and operations in order to strengthen the confidence reposed in them by the government and people of Ghana, whilst emphasising the need to employ and train local hands on the job, to enable them to acquire and develop the needed skills.
He however, cautioned them against practices that could affect the environment. The President also cautioned that his government would not hesitate to punish Investors who take undue advantage of the people. For that matter, he asked management of the company to endeavour to fulfil their corporate social responsibility by striving to bring development to the area of their operation.
Though the government has promised to support foreign Investors in their business endeavours, President Mills entreated these companies to conduct their activities and operations within the confines of the laws of this country.
The President further entreated the management of Kosmos Energy to procure goods and services from local sources in order to promote business in the Western region.
Somewhere last year, Kosmos Energy announced that the company has made a second significant oil discovery offshore of the Cape Three Points Block.
It is estimated that African countries own 8% of world oil reserves.
An estimated $200bn in revenues will flow into African government treasuries over the next 10 years as new oilfields open up throughout the Gulf of Guinea.
Experts in the industry foresee that oil will bring the largest influx of revenue in the continent’s history, and more than 10 times the amount western donors give each year in aid.
Five countries including Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Angola dominate Africa’s upstream oil production.
Together they account for 85% of the continent’s oil production and are, in order of decreasing output.
Other oil producing countries are Gabon, Congo, Cameroon, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cote d’Ivoire.
Nigeria is estimated to have 3.62 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as of January 2007. The government plans to expand proven reserves to 40 billion barrels by 2010. Majority of the reserves are found along the Niger delta in southern Nigeria.
Nigeria has a total production capacity of 3 million barrels per day, including 2 million barrels onshore and 1 million offshore. Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa, 11th largest producer in the world.
Libya has oil reserves estimated at 39 billion barrels. However, experts say the Arab country has the potential for further oil discovery, with only 25% of potential ‘oil land’ by the oil companies due to sanctions and stringent fiscal terms imposed on foreign oil companies.
In a related development, a delegation of the government of India also called on the President, at the seat of government to congratulate him on his election as President of the Republic.
The delegation, which was led by the country’s External Affairs Minister, Anand Sharma and the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ruchi Ghanashyam assured Ghana of India’s support to Ghana.
They also expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation with Ghana, tracing ties between the two countries as dating back to the days of the Country’s first Prime Minister, Jawarlal Nehru and Ghana’s Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Intense lobbying begins

…as Mills selects his cabinet

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, January 15, 2009

Intense lobbying has begun for various positions in the new government, as President John Evans Atta Mills gets set to name members of his cabinet in the next couple of weeks.
Party members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and some Executives of other smaller political parties which joined forces with the NDC to wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the just-ended Presidential elections, have started serious lobbying of members of the nominations committee of the transitional team.
Some of the people who were seen parading on the corridors of the International Conference Centre, where the transitional team has been sitting included newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and some leaders and National Executives of the Reform Democratic Party (RDP) and United Renaissance Party (URP).
They were seen making frantic efforts to catch the eyes and attention of members of the nominations committee, some of who they followed closely at a time when business of the day had not begun, and during the lunch break.
Even though the faces and names of some of these individuals jockeying for positions were not familiar to members of the nominations committee, they forced to make friendly overtures with them.
In instances where members of the committee were finding it difficult to make such individuals out, some of them were compelled not to only mention their names, but the constituencies they came from and their titles.
Others had also travelled from their bases in Europe to lobby for Ambassadorial and other positions in government. This reporter overhead one of such persons who had travelled all the way from his base in Switzerland to Ghana, to lobby for political appointment, asking another person to help him secure a position as an Ambassador.
The Executive Director of Gospel Evangelical Crusade and Providence Foundation (GOEVAC), Reverend Kwarteng Amaning, received probably the worst shock of his life, after making one of such friendly overtures to Vice President John Dramani Mahama.
Just as the Vice President stepped out of his vehicle, he was approached by the founder and leader of the URP, Kofi Wayo who after friendly exchanges introduced the man of God to him, asking the Veep to grant him audience since according to him, he had some interesting information he could share with him.
The Vice President obliged in good faith and asked the man of God to see him at his office. Minutes after the Vice President left the scene to his office, a member of the NDC who was present sought to expose Rev. Amaning by calling him a traitor and an opportunist, since according to him the man of God had at a point in time gone to a radio station to shower praises on former President Kufuor and the NPP government, whilst condemning the NDC.
This resulted in heated verbal exchanges between the party member and the pastor who was in his pastoral attire. The Pastor tried to defend himself by saying that the gentleman was telling lies, stressing that he (the party supporter) does not know what he (the pastor) has done for the party.
Seeing the turn of events, some of party members around decided to calm the nerves of the two individuals, stressing that the venue was not the appropriate place to settle such scores.

LAW ON CAUSING FINANCIAL LOSS MUST STAY

…to check corrupt public officials

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Whilst some politicians in the country are craving for the law on causing financial loss to the state to be repealed from the statute books, for fear of it being used as a tool for political vindictiveness against political opponents, anti-corruption agencies, such as the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), is asking for it to be strengthened to check public officials from corrupt practices.
Those who have called for the repeal of the law on ‘Wilfully causing financial loss to the State’ argue that it is a highly controversial law that could be subjected to elastic interpretation.
In addition, they claim that it could stifle official initiative and discretion. However, the GII believes that if governments want to remain committed to the fight against corruption and its related incidence, there was the need to strengthen the law to give meaning to the mantra of ‘Zero tolerance for Corruption.’
In the wake of the controversy surrounding the use and application of the law, the Executive Secretary of GII, Vitus Azeem, says there is need to take a second look at it in order to erase any doubts of abuse.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, over the weekend. “I think the law is a good law; it may have some weaknesses, which can lead to people abusing it, but then that is no reason why it should be scrapped,” he emphasised.
Instead, he noted that those weaknesses should be looked at again, and addressed in the form of an amendment.
To him, the perception of politicians or governments in power abusing it can be addressed with a government which is actually committed to fighting corruption, and operating in a transparent way.
“In that case, the law seeks to ensure that public officials, when they are taking decisions, or when they are transacting public business, will make sure that they exercise due diligence, to avoid unnecessary losses to the country,” he noted, stressing “As far as I’m concerned, I think it is a good law and must be retained.”
As the law currently stands, Mr. Azeem said he was not sure whether or not there was indeed a need for it to be amended taking into consideration the fact that he is not a lawyer.
However, he noted that if those with technical knowledge in law believe there are sections of the law which need to be amended, they should proceed for it to be done, since it would save the nation.
A noted Economist, Professor George Ayittey, also shared similar thoughts with Mr. Azeem, since according to him, “if it is scrapped, there would be no incentive or mechanism for holding officials accountable for their actions in office, any incompetence or ineptitude is just passed over.
“If you believe in the rule of law, you should enforce that law, since causing financial loss to the state is a criminal activity,” he stressed.
Asked whether the law was being used as a tool for political vindictiveness of political opponents, he noted, “well that’s what those are guilty of malfeasance will say.”
Furthermore, Prof. Ayittey said, “if we have a Minister, who because his own incompetence or ineptitude causes losses to the state, that Minister should be held accountable and responsible. If it’s a lapse of competence, that Minister should be fined, sacked, and should be held accountable.”
Some political commentators and social analysts have called for a review of the law on “Wilfully causing financial loss to the State”.
Somewhere mid last year, the then Minority and now Majority leader in Parliament, Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin, served notice that he would oppose any move to repeal of the law on ‘Wilfully causing financial loss to the State’.
He thinks that the First Parliament, under the Fourth Republic, was right in passing the law, and therefore it should be retained. “I think Parliament was right in passing the law on causing financial loss to the state, and I will resist any move to repeal it,” said.
Hon. Bagbin made these remarks, when commenting on an answer by Justice Jones V. M. Dotse, an Appeal Court Judge who appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, on his nomination by the President, as a Supreme Court judge.
When asked about his views on the law, Justice Dotse said it was “dangerous” for him to comment on the law, since some of the cases before him in court bordered on it.
He, however, said it had “a negative backlash, considering the manner it has been applied.”
In that regard, he noted that if in its wisdom, Parliament as an institution believed there was the need to repeal it, he had no objection.
The Director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Mr. David Newton, also had cause to express worry about the said law, since in his opinion, the law was vague, stressing that its merits only lay in the discretion of the judge.
Mr. Newton said even though there was the need for a law to be in place. to control the actions and inactions of public officials, it must be clearly stated as to the point at which one becomes guilty of causing financial loss to the state.
The law on causing financial loss to the state was passed in 1993, as an amendment to the Criminal Code.
It was sparingly applied under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, but during the reign of President Kufuor and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, the law saw some former Ministers of the NDC regime going to jail.
Those jailed under the law and pardoned include Kwame Peprah and the late Victor Serlomey, Finance Minister and Deputy respectively, Dan Abodakpi, Trade and Industry Minister, Ibrahim Adams, Food and Agriculture Minister, and George Sipa-Yankey, a former Chief Director at the Finance Ministry, as well as Mallam Yusif Issah, a former Youth and Sports Minister.
The former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata, was also sent to jail by the same law.

Korle-Gonno rocks to NDC

…as hundreds celebrate party`s victory
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Korle-Gonno beach in Accra went alive on Sunday when hundreds of people from all walks of life trooped to the area to celebrate the victory of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended Presidential elections.
Unlike other occasions, the day recorded a high turn-out with people of various age categories and sex, jamming to music provided by Happiness sounds. The people, most of whom were clad in colours of the NDC danced their hearts out.
Dubbed ‘Victory Jam’, the programme was put together by DJ Willie of ‘Top Radio’ to provide an opportunity for supporters and fans of the NDC to celebrate the party’s victory.
The show received massive publicity from ‘Radio Gold’, which did a huge promotion to attract people from all parts of the capital city, Accra, to the venue.
As early as 10am, people had started showing up at the beach, with some in their swimming costumes whilst others came with huge ice-chests filled with assorted drinks.
Traffic on the old Winneba road where the beach is located came to a standstill as vehicles and motors-bikes tried to make their way to the grounds.
At about 3pm, the traffic situation was getting out of hand as several people tried to make their way through to the place. The few private security and police present at the precincts could not control the traffic situation, since it turned out to be extremely difficult for them.
Matters got worse when the Master of Ceremony (MC) for the day, DJ Kwame announced the presence of ace hi-life and hip-life singer, Lucky Mensah -probably the only one of the few musicians who composed a couple of songs for the NDC, during the electioneering campaign.
There was massive applause with deafening cheers from the crowd when the artiste mounted the stage to perform some of the songs he personally wrote and composed for the NDC and the then candidate John Evans Atta Mills.
Other up and coming hip-life artiste including Poncho added colour to the occasion with their good rendition of music. The crowd could not but ask for more from event organisers when the curtain was drawing to a closure, with some even asking organisers of the event to organise another victory party again.
Most of the fans were practically drenched in sweat as the musicians took turns to perform tracks from their repertoire, sending the crowd reeling in pleasure.
The fact that no party executive or official did not grace the occasion, did not take anything away from the beauty of the occasion.
It was all fun and excitement from the beginning of the day to the end of the programme.

GII resurrects assets declaration debate

…charges in-coming, out-going gov’t officials to declare their assets

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Friday, January 09, 2009

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has resurrected the old debate over the declaration of assets by government officials which died a natural death sometime ago.
It has thus asked both members of the out-going New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) governments to declare their assets.
In a statement signed by Executive Secretary of the GII, Vitus Azeem, he noted that “as an anti-corruption civil empowerment organization, GII wishes to draw the attention of both the outgoing government and incoming government to Article 286 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).”
Under the provisions of Article 286 of the Constitution, the President, his Vice, Ministers and Parliamentarians are required to declare their assets at the end of their term of office. In that regard, he has asked former President Kufuor, his Vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and all other Ministers and Parliamentarians, some of whom have resigned or were removed from office, and have not yet done so, to endeavour to do so without any further delay.
Similarly, the GII also called on President John Evans Atta Mills, his Vice, John Dramani Mahama and with their yet to be appointed Ministers and Members of the fifth Parliament of the fourth republic to declare their assets and liabilities even before they assume office.
Article 286 of the Constitution and Section 4 of Act 550 require states inter alia -”A person who holds a public office submits to the Auditor-General a written declaration of all property or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by him, whether directly or indirectly
(a) before taking office, (b) at the end of every four years and (c) at the end of his term of office.
It goes further to state -”Failure to declare or knowingly making false declaration shall be a contravention of this Constitution and shall be dealt with in accordance with article 287 of this Constitution.”
The Act states further that “… and, shall in any event, be submitted not later than six months of the occurrence of any of the events specified in this sub-section”.
For that matter, GII, which happens to be the local chapter of world-acclaimed anti-corruption civil organization -Transparency International, reminded all politicians and political parties of the promises they made to Ghanaians with regard to the fight against corruption and to view the requirement to declare their assets and liabilities as an anti-corruption tool, and accordingly comply with it if they are indeed committed to fighting corruption.
Furthermore, it has drawn the attention of the President to the fact that there are weaknesses in the Assets Declaration Law that need to be addressed for the law to be used as an effective anti-corruption tool.
Meanwhile, the GII and other key stakeholders including the Auditor-General have identified these weaknesses for redress. These stakeholders have come out with Regulations for Act 550, which are awaiting Parliament’s approval.
It thus expressed the hope that the Attorney-General of the in-coming administration will bring them before Parliament within the NDC’s first 100 days in office.
That notwithstanding, it has also made recommendations for amendments to the law and possibly to the Constitution and thus stressed -”we are willing to work with government to get these weaknesses addressed and hope that His Excellency will provide the necessary leadership in this regard.”
The recommendations made by GII and its key partners for the Regulations and the proposed amendments, among others, include provision for verification of declarations by the Auditor-General, public disclosure to enable citizens challenge claims, more frequent declarations, either yearly or bi-annually, as happens in many countries, publication of names of people who have complied and those who have not, and the sanctions for non-compliance.
As a sign of exemplary leadership, it has therefore, asked the President and his Vice to permit the Auditor-General to publish the asset declarations that they have submitted, emphasizing that “in appointing and vetting Ministers and other appointees past compliance with the assets declaration law must be verified, as failure to comply bars such people from taking public office.”
In order to make the assets declaration law operational and to supplement the Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), the Ghana Integrity Initiative has called on the NDC government to facilitate the speedy passage of the Freedom of Information Bill in fulfillment of its promise to Ghanaians.

Tony Aidoo bashes Kufuor

… For increasing salaries without Atta Mills` consent
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Posted: The Chronicle Friday, January 09, 2009


Just one day after handing over the reigns of government, former President Kufuor has come under stern criticism from some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), for certain last minute decisions he took before going into retirement. Key among the former President’s critics is Dr. Tony Aidoo.
Dr. Aidoo, who was speaking on Joy Fm Super Morning Show, in Accra yesterday, did not understand why the former President decided to increase salaries of workers a day before he left office, without consulting the incoming government who is going to feel the effect of the action.
He also did not understand why the ex President granted pardon to Tsatsu Tsikata, the former Chief Executive officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
“Those are the things that the new government has not had time to study and then you overburden us with such a populist rule, it is nothing but a populist rule”, he said.
He wondered how such a decision could be taken, especially when the NDC administration does not have a fair idea of the capacity of the budget of the government to carry out these increases, stressing that “you cannot abandon it without becoming unpopular, so far as the beneficiaries are concerned.”
Whilst affirming Prof. Mills and his NDC government’s commitment to do whatever it takes to fulfil the numerous promises it made to the teeming Ghanaian populace, the NDC firebrand noted, “whatever years it will take, it still imposes a burden, simply because the incoming government doesn’t know what the conditions on the ground are.”
He described the former President’s action as treacherous because it sought to undermine the new administration.
Nana Akomea, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South, who was on the same programme disagreed with Dr. Aidoo’s comments, stressing that the decisions were not taken out of any malice, as the NDC had sought to label it.
Instead, he noted that the implementation of the decision was long overdue. Whilst admitting that the timing of the decision might not be convenient for the new administration, he noted that there was nothing wrong with it since it emanated from the recommendations of a commissioned report by government.
The CPP’s David Ampofo, who also featured on the programme, expressed similar sentiments to that of Dr. Tony Aidoo, questioning what necessitated the long delay in the implementation of the decision, until a time that the NPP government was relinquishing power to the NDC.
This, he said, raises a lot of suspicion on the intention of the former President in taking such decision at a time when he was about to hand over power to an incoming administration.
Dr. Aidoo also raised questions about the former President’s decision to extend his prerogative of mercy to Tsatsu Tsikata, with some strings attached to it, since according to him Mr. Kufuor knew very well that the man was innocent of the charges levelled against him.
On the strength of evidence, Dr. Tony Aidoo noted that he did not expect any reasonable judge to convict Tsatsu, since he had done nothing wrong.

TOUGH TIMES AHEAD IN PARLIAMENT

…As Speaker ushers in new members

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, January 8, 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The fifth Parliament of the fourth Republic promises to be interesting, and with a lot in stock for Ghanaians, considering the nature and scope of its current composition.
There are strong indications that debate on the floor of Parliament would be characterised by heated exchanges and banter, or better still intellectual exercise, considering its divided nature.
That notwithstanding, the leadership of the house, which is made up of old hands, including the likes of Edward Doe Adjaho, the First Deputy Speaker, Professor Mike Ocquaye, Second Deputy Speaker, Alban Bagbin, Majority leader, and Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Minority leader -whose depth of knowledge and experience in Parliamentary proceedings remains unquestionable, also gives credence to this believe, taking into account the fact that almost all of them are seasoned lawyers.
Having served as Members of Parliament for their respective constituencies for not less than two consecutive terms, also adds to their knowledge and experience in Parliamentary business.
The fact that tables have turned in favour of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) going into opposition also promises to ginger debate on the floor of the house.
In their maiden address to Parliament yesterday, both the Majority and Minority leaders promised interesting times ahead. They, however, expressed optimism that there would be some room for co-operation and compromise in times of deadlock.
However, one challenge that awaits the new Parliament is how early the newly elected Speaker of Parliament, Justice Mrs. Joyce Bamford Addo and the several other newly elected Members of Parliament, will get accustomed to proceedings and standing orders in the house.
With time and the support of the old hands, it is expected that the Speaker and new members will soon catch up with the trends of the house for serious Parliamentary business to kick start.
For now, it is the expectation of all Ghanaians and constituents from where these MPs were elected to prove their worth and sort in the house.
It is thus incumbent on the likes of NDC MP for Krachi-East, Francis Osei Sarfo, and NPP MP for Nkwanta-North, Joseph Nayan who have continuously kept mum on the floor of Parliament to make their constituents have a feel of Parliamentary proceedings, by making their contributions heard on the floor of the house, instead of the usual shouts of hear! hear!
Meanwhile, the new Speaker has expressed the hope to get the needed support and co-operation from both sides of the political divide. “It is my hope that we all will uphold the… and help in building a better Ghana”, she emphasised.
On her part, she noted “I, on my part will bring the huge wealth of experience which I have gathered over the years in my public life to my new role.”
She thus pledged to discharge her duties and responsibilities in accordance with Parliamentary rules and regulations with diligence, humility, maturity and fairness in order to achieve the aims and aspirations of Parliament.
She paid glowing tribute to all her predecessors, especially the immediate past Speaker, Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes whose wisdom, justice and fair play helped to steer the affairs of the last Parliament.

Opanin Agyekum’s passionate appeal to the nation

LET’S BURY OUR DIFFERENCE
…and move the country forward

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, December 7, 2000
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Unfolding events across the length and breadth of the country after the just-ended Presidential elections has compelled one of the respected opinion leaders in the country, Dr. Kofi Agyekum popularly referred to as Opanin Agyekum to make a passionate appeal to Ghanaians.
Whilst admitting that he does not have any evidence whatsoever to back claims being made by both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of unfair treatment of its members in their strongholds, he noted that it would be proper for each and every Ghanaian to bury their individual and collective differences for the country to move forward irrespective of which party is in power.
He thus stressed the need for the alleged humiliations and taunting that has characterised the aftermath of the elections to cease in order not to further inflame passions.
Opanin Agyekum who happens to be a senior lecturer at the linguistics department of the University of Ghana, Legon made this appeal in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle yesterday.
He therefore appealed to all Ghanaians to remain calm.
“Now that we have declared one of the candidates as President, we must all rally behind him for the development of the country because there is nothing that can change it”, he emphasised.
The learned fellow also had course to caution the media especially the radio stations against taking advantage of the situation to make comments and statements which has the tendency of degenerating into controversies and chaos. “For any time that you utter something, even a single sentence. Take that there are people who can analyse your sentence better than you yourself can do and if you are able to do that I will warn against inflammatory statements especially those that bother on ethnicity and tribalism, we should be moving forward”, he advised.
To the newspapers, the man whose virtues had earned him a place in the National Peace Council (NPC) said “it better to remain neutral newspaper than to be too partisan, when you do that you loss your objectivity.”
Now that the elections
“Then peoples attitude towards work should remain as steadfast as possible irrespective of whether your party is in power or not”, he said, stressing “even if your party is in power and you don’t have any profession and you don’t work, you’ll go hungry.”

Tsatsu released from incarceration

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Tsatsu TsikataHours to the end of his term of office, President J. A. Kufuor has extended warm courtesies to certain individuals, who through their own actions or inactions found themselves in the grips of the law, during his tenure of office.
He has thus granted free, absolute and unconditional pardon to former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Authority (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata, former Finance Minister, Kwame Peprah, former Youth and Sports Minister, Mallam Yusif Issah, former Agric. Minister, Ibrahim Adams.
The rest include former Chief Director of the Finance Ministry, George Sepah-Yankey and Akenteng Appiah- Menkah and former Trade Minister, Dan Abodakpi.
A statement signed by Deputy Information and National Orientation Minister, Frank Agyekum said the individuals were part of some 500 people pardoned “under his prerogative of mercy as enshrined in article 72 of the constitution.
In his wisdom, the President also granted amnesty to all first-time offenders who have served more than half of their term and nursing mothers found guilty of non-bailable offences. The sentences on all death row have been committed to life imprisonment whilst those on death row who have served more than 10years have had their sentences reduced to 20years.
Though counsel for Tsatsu, Tony Lithur confirmed having received information of his client’s release, he was not sure on what grounds his client was granted the pardon.
Whilst admitting that very credible sources told him that his client had been granted unconditional pardon, he wondered what might have motivated the release, asking rhetorically -“why at this time.”
Knowing Tsatsu and what he stands for, Mr. Lithur stressed that his client would be upset about what has happened, considering the fact that he remains innocent of the charges leveled against him.
Meanwhile, Tsatus’s brother, Fui Tsikata has told Joy news that he preferred to treat the news of his brother’s release as a rumour, until he hears an official pronouncement confirming the story, adding that it is only President Kufuor who could offer a better explanation for the release.
For him, Tsatsu was never guilty of the offence he was tried for, and stressed that the granting of the pardon imposes certain disabilities on him, which cannot be cured.
Left to him alone, he would have preferred that Tsatsu was acquitted through the same court process which incarcerated him.
Under the current circumstance, Fui noted that his brother may never be able to stand for certain public offices in the country, such as President or vice President.
He however, noted that his brother could not be discharged from the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was treated for acute asthma last November, and that they are only waiting for directives from the doctors in that regard.
Sources close to the Korle-Bu Hospital, where Tsatsu has been hospitalized for the past two or so months, told The Chronicle that prison guards assigned to him had been withdrawn.
Tsatsu was handed a 5year jail sentence on June 18, 2008, by a Fast Track High court, presided over by Justice Henrietta Abban for causing financial loss to the state.
The court handed down the sentence on the former GNPC boss after the trial judge found Tsikata guilty on all four counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, and intentionally misapplying public property on a limited liability company.
Tsikata, a legal luminary, who dribbled the legal system for almost six years, was sentenced for five years imprisonment on each of the four counts to run concurrently.

NPP still living in fear

... as NDC marauders trawl, killing one, maiming others

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been living with fear over the last couple of days, since the declaration of election results in favour of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) by Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan’s Electoral Commission, on Saturday.
Whilst some have suffered brutalities at the hands of NDC supporters, others have been evicted from their homes by their landlords, for having supported the NPP during the election period.
Reports coming in from the regions also confirm similar incidents in which NPP supporters have been subjected to severe beatings, with their properties being vandalized.
Minutes after the election results were declared, tons of NDC supporters poured onto the streets and pavements of Accra, amidst singing and jubilation.
In the course of the jubilation, some over enthusiastic supporters pulled down bill boards of the defeated Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, whilst others removed and destroyed posters of the NPP.
One person is reported dead at the Konkomba market in Accra. The victim, one Sulemana Alhassan, died on arrival at the Korle-Bu Hospital after sustaining serious cutlass wounds inflicted on him by the NDC mob, whilst several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
At press time yesterday, over 150 NPP supporters had sought refuge at the party’s campaign office, located at Asylum Down in Accra.
Reports also had it that in E.T Mensah’s Prampram constituency, both the constituency Secretary, Julius Nartey and his Organiser Isaac Narh, were chased out of their homes, compelling them to lodge in hotels, whilst others were being harassed and chased out of town.
Some of these incidents were recorded in areas like Chorkor, Mamprobi, Korle-Gonno and Accra central.
In several of these areas, the bill boards of the NPP, especially those with the posters of Nana Addo, have either been defaced or pulled down, and the bill boards cast in glass were smashed during the course of the jubilation.
A 33years old hairdresser, Linda Sarpong and her 52year old mother, Agartha Boakye suffered a similar fate at the hands of some these NDC supporters in Chorkor-Lantey Maami, where they live.
They narrated how some jubilant supporters of the NDC stormed their house in the heat of events and subjected them to tortuous ordeals, just because they supported NPP.
Linda narrated how five NDC supporters, including one she could easily identify as Adu Opanka, pounced on her and mercilessly beat her up, hitting her head with chairs and other objects, before she was rescued.
She was grieving in pain at the time this reporter visited her at the accident centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where she was receiving treatment.
This was after the rampaging supporters pulled down the NPP bill board mounted in front of their house, which served as a meeting place for the Chorkor ward of the NPP.
In areas like Agege, some tenants have had their tenancy agreements terminated by their landlords for supporting the NPP.
Some of these people have been compelled by circumstance to flee their residences to seek refuge elsewhere, for fear of being victimized.
Ablekuma South constituency Secretary of the NPP, Lizzete Bonney tells of how she suffered a similar fate at the hands of her political opponents, some of who she lives with in the same compound.
She told this reporter how she has been booed and jeered at by the very people she lives with, as well as members of the NDC who know her for what she does.
Lizzete expressed extreme surprise at how some supporters of the NDC have started behaving whilst the police and other security agencies sit in laxity in spite of the several calls for peace and tolerance from both sides of the divide.
She has therefore charged the President-elect, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and the top hierarchy of the NDC to call their supporters to order, since their actions could degenerate into a bad situation, should the NPP supporters also decide to react.
In areas like Chorkor, Mamprobi, Bukom and Korle-Gonno, where this reporter visited to have first hand information of the situation on the ground, some of the victims reported about how they were being taunted and insulted by supporters of the NDC.
Meanwhile, at the Chorkor police station, where Linda Sarpong and her mother Agartha Boakye have both lodged different complaints, the Station Officer, Inspector Nkrumah and the Investigator in charge of the case, Wisdom Tsede, said the issue was still under investigation.
Asked why they could not effect any arrest on the day of the incident, they noted that it would have aggravated the situation, considering the tension in the country at the time.
They, however, promised to get to the bottom of the matter.

CODEO charges EC

…to conduct fresh polls in Tain…whilst NPP hit against Joy FM

By Charles Takyi-Boadu Posted: The Chronicle

Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The events which characterised the December 28 Presidential run-off leading to the prevention of the people of Tain constituency from voting, has compelled the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) to send a clarion call to the Electoral Commission (EC).
To ensure that all Ghanaians are able to exercise their right to vote and for the results of the Presidential elections to reflect the will of the people, it has emphasized the need for the EC to “immediately conduct elections at all the polling stations in the Tain constituency, in Brong Ahafo, where voting did not take place on 28 December”.
This, it said, must occur before the EC officially announces the results, since according to the group, the country as a whole is one constituency for the Presidential election.
This was contained in a release signed by Professor Miranda Greenstreet and Justice VCRAC Crabbe, Joint Chairpersons for and on behalf of CODEOs Advisory Board.
In effect, they have asked that the EC “must swiftly and decisively resolve the concerns raised by political contestants concerning the conduct of the presidential runoff election. Any recounts or re-collations should be conducted without delay”.
CODEO has thus called on the Electoral Commission to do its best to issue polling station results along with the overall results to ensure that the official results of this highly competitive election are accepted by all parties, their supporters as well as the general public.
“While the Electoral Commission is not required to take such a step, the release of polling station results would significantly reduce post election tensions while reinforcing confidence in the Electoral Commission’s impartiality”, it emphasised.
It has further called on Ghanaians, including leaders of political parties and their supporters, to continue to place confidence in the Electoral Commission.
That notwithstanding, CODEO has encouraged the two Presidential Candidates and their respective political parties to accept the official results, stressing “we encourage the victors to be magnanimous.
The President-elect, when sworn in will be president of all Ghanaians during the coming four years and must therefore move quickly beyond the partisan politics of the electoral cycle to earn the support of all Ghanaians”.
CODEO observers reported a higher number of problems and lapses in the December 28 run-off election than the general elections of December 7. It attributed this to the extremely high-stake nature of the Presidential run-off election in which only one party could win; and the short time available for the Electoral Commission to organize the second round.
This was after CODEO analysed information from the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) exercise gathered by its Rapid Response Observers (RROs). Data from its representative random sample of more than 1,000 polling stations from 229 constituencies, indicated that the election results are extremely close, and the results are likely to be decided by less than a percentage point.
As with the Presidential and general elections of December 7, CODEO observers said they reported many lapses in the voting process in the presidential run-off election of December 28, including setting up and opening of polling stations, voting and vote counting.
However, the problems reported by CODEO observers do not fundamentally undermine the integrity of the overall process. In a related development, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has sternly criticised Accra-based radio station -Joy FM, for having called the elections in favour of the NDCs Presidential Candidate, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, at a time when the election was too close to call.
Minutes after the radio station put the information in public domain and on its website, the NPPs Campaign Manager, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey issued a statement condemning the act. “The process by which Joy FM arrived at the said projection is highly speculative and premature, especially in the face of the challenges to both the process and many of its outcomes”, he emphasised.
Given the closeness of the elections and the variation of votes, between regions and from the first to second round, Jake noted that it could be disruptive of the country’s democratic process for Joy Fm to project a winner.
“While Joy concedes that there are still 7 constituencies with 458,813 votes still outstanding, it believes that the NPP Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, cannot obtain the votes he needs from the remaining constituencies to win the Presidency. The Electoral Commission itself has certified far fewer constituencies than Joy and most of those constituencies announced by Joy have not been certified by the appropriate authority.”
In spite of this, he stressed that the contest in a number of regions, particularly the Volta region, have been marred by significant irregularities, including the barring of many NPP agents from polling stations, to monitor and thus be able to certify the results.
“Indeed, the NPP has already sent a letter of protest to the Electoral Commission that raises significant concerns regarding the treatment of our agents in the Volta Region and our intent to challenge the inclusion of the results from those Volta region constituents where the process was severely flawed”, he noted.
Instead of reporting on the serious violations and irregularities that characterised the elections, the NPP noted that the radio station chose to indulge in highly speculative effort to declare a winner, stressing “they could have reported on the numerous assaults on our agents, including Dr. Ohene, the Psychiatrist who is struggling for his life. They could have reported on the many stories of the brave young men and women who were chased from polling stations and prevented from monitoring the elections.”
While the NPP is confident of victory, Jake noted that it has chosen to wait for the Electoral Commission to do its work, due partly to the inflamed passion and the closeness of the elections.
“Our caution is also reinforced by the undertaking that all the parties made to the Electoral Commission to wait for it to announce the outcome of the elections.
Our nation is already on edge” Jake affirmed.
He thus called on all Ghanaians, political parties, politicians and the media to refrain from irresponsibly inflaming passions, and asked the good lord to guide Ghana through these challenging times.