Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu spills the beans

How Majority betrayed Minority

...After secretly agreeing to reject Fiifi`s appointment

Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, March 31, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Though he admits that in democracy Majority always carry the vote, Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu believes that in the case of the approval of Mr. Fiifi Kwetey as a Deputy Minister of Finance, the Majority in Parliament did a lot of disservice to themselves and the nation.
According to him, the Majority National Democratic Congress (NDC) members themselves admitted that Mr. Fiifi Kwetey was not a man of integrity, and yet they went ahead to approve of his nomination.
In a telephone interview with this Reporter, the Minority Leader noted that during the vetting of Mr. Fiifi Kwetey, the latter made certain statements which raised a lot of questions about his integrity.
This, according to him, compelled some members on the majority side, who spoke to him on phone, while some even proceeded to his office to admit that what the Minority said about the nominee was the truth, given the deputy Finance Minister’s performance at the vetting before the Appointments Committee, and they gave him their assurance to vote against Fiife Kwetey.
“Yet, when it came to the crunch, they all chickened out, that to me is unfortunate on the part of all those who came to give me their assurance”, he emphasised.
Commenting on Fiifi Kwetey’s statement that if given the opportunity he will do what he did again and again, referring to his propaganda peddling role when the NDC was in opposition, Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu noted “if it is difficult for him to reconcile himself with the truth, then its going to be difficult for such a person to be Deputy Minister, particularly at the Ministry of Finance, after alleging that all the gold reserves have disappeared and that the NPP government had them.”
For him therefore, “such a person is not a man of integrity and that is what we were really concerned about”. For this reason, he trusted the Majority would have done the right thing by voting against the approval of the man in question, but at the end of the day they decided to give him the nod.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Majority in Parliament has confided in The Chronicle that their decision to vote in favour of Fiifi Kwetey’s nomination was informed by the fact that they did not want to be seen to be undermining the authority of the President who made the nomination.
According to the source, any such move would have constituted an affront to President Mills’ integrity. Due to this, though some of them were against the behaviour put up by Fiifi Kwetey before the Appointments Committee during his vetting, they could not but pass him to suit the will of the President.
Fiifi Kwetey’s nomination as Deputy Minister of Finance was approved by Parliament last week by a vote of 117 for and 106 against.
This was after several weeks of political manoeuvres and back and forth lobbying to strike a compromise deal between the Majority NDC and Minority NPP.

COURT THROWS OUT GHANA ARMED FORCES REQUEST

… Orders bail for suspect

Posted: The Chronice Friday, March 27, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

An Accra High Court presided over by His Lordship Utter P. Derry, on Tuesday ruled that the Armed Forces Act of 1962 (Act 105) is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. According to the court, the aforementioned Act is outdated and probably needs to undergo some review process to be fine-tuned to meet the test of time.
The Judge made these comments in his ruling on the issue involving one Captain Nikyi of the Forces Pay Office at the military headquarters at Burma Camp, in which he has filed a suit against the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Ministry of Defence and the Attorney General, seeking to enforce his fundamental human rights.
In his ruling, Justice Dery found the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence culpable of violating the fundamental human rights of Captain Daniel Nikyi, contrary to the provisions of Article 12 (1) of the Constitution and upheld its earlier ruling for the officer in question to be granted bail.
Captain Nikyi, who served as the Finance Officer for MONUC GHANBATT 12 in the DR. Congo on a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission between January 16, 2007, and January 14, 2008, was arrested and detained in a military guardroom on October 15, 2008, after an audit report on the accounts he submitted to the Military High Command made adverse findings against him for having misappropriated an amount of US $300, 000.00.
He was subsequently charged with five offences under the Armed Forces Act and put before a court martial where proceedings are still ongoing. Though Captain Nikyi, through his Counsel applied for a bail at the court martial, the military refused his application, compelling him to file a suit at the High Court seeking to enforce his fundamental human rights.
The court, which deals with human rights related cases in its wisdom granted him a GH ¢20, 000.00 bail. Dissatisfied by the ruling, the Military High Command filed a counter claim in which it pleaded with the court to review the bail order, expressing fear and suspicion that the plaintiff/respondent (Captain Nikyi) could flee from the country.
After hearing both sides of the argument, the Judge finally ruled on the matter and upheld its decision to grant Captain Nikyi bail.
In his ruling, Justice Dery cited Article 1 (2) of the 1992 Constitution which states that “the Constitution shall be the supreme law of Ghana and any other law found inconsistent with any provision of the Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void,” to support his decision.
For this reason, he noted that “the Armed Forces Act 105, 1962 (Act 105) and the regulations made there under, definitely fall under the description ‘any other law’ so if any provisions of Act 105 and the regulations are inconsistent with the Constitution, they would be void.”
Justice Dery noted that the length of the detention of the military personnel before his trial contrasts sharply with that of the provisions of Article 14 (3) (b) of the Constitution which requires that the person should be put before court within forty-eight hours or be released, stressing that from the affidavit of the applicants (Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence) the court martial was convened on February 9, 2009 almost a month after the two days.
That notwithstanding, he noted that plaintiff was still held in close custody, saying “so if one even accepts the position that Act 105 should apply to the plaintiff, the applicants would still be in breach of Act 105 after January 1, 2009.”
In order words, the Judge noted that from January 15, 2009, the applicants continued detention of the plaintiff was illegal, since according to him, Act 105 Section 61 was “inconsistent with the Constitution, especially Article 14 (1) and 14 (3) (b) in that it permits the military authorities to detain a service personnel suspected to have committed an offence for up to ninety days without trial”, emphasising that Section 61 of Act 105 is therefore void.
Justice Dery stated that Article 14 of the Constitution only allows a suspect to be detained without being put before court for up to forty-eight hours, thereafter, if it is desirable that the suspect should remain in detention he has to be put before court or a court martial as the case may be for a specific detention order.
Even if the suspect is not tried within a reasonable time, he indicated that the Constitution provides that he is to be released conditionally or unconditionally.
“The applicants have violated the plaintiff’s right to personal liberty and to add insults to injury they violated plaintiff’s dignity by depriving him of food and water a number of times”, the judge said stressing that “the applicants’ explanation that it was a few occasions and that plaintiff’s wife filled in the gap is neither here not there.”
He thus cautioned that it is intolerable for any person or institution of state to interfere in any manner with any person’s fundamental rights and freedoms.
Further, Justice Dery noted with emphasis that the mere fact that the plaintiff is now standing trial before the court martial makes him entitled to his liberty, stressing that the plaintiff has suffered unnecessarily as a result of the misconception and misapplication of the laws of this country as a result of what he described as ‘outdated military laws’.
In this light, he emphasised that it would be a travesty of justice and a continuous abuse of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the plaintiff to revoke the bail and, therefore, granted him same.

Lobbying for KMA job enters crucial stage

AKWASI AGYEMAN STORMS CASTLE
...holds private meeting with President Mills
Posted: The Chronicle Friday, March 27, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The Castle received a strange visitor yesterday around 12:20 noon, when President John Evans Atta Mills was just about to have his lunch.
The visitor to the Castle was no other person than the former Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) boss, Nana Akwasi Agyemang, popularly known as ‘Okumkom’.
The sharp lenses of The Chronicle picked him making a brisk walk to the office of the President, climbing the staircase leading to the President’s office. Akwasi Agyemang, who spotted a grey political suit was seen beaming with smiles as he headed for the President’s office.
Confidential sources close to the President told the paper he was there to carry his intense lobbying to the corridors of the main power brokers at the Castle, in his quest for the top KMA job, for which he has already shown keen interest.
The source told this reporter that the President was extremely surprised at the sudden decision of Akwasi Agyemang to visit him, after the latter’s many years of inactivity in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, considering the fact that he did not only openly denounce his membership of the NDC, but also campaigned against them during the era of then President Kufuor, who he described as his blood relative.
At the meeting, Akwasi Agyemang was said to have told President Mills that he was the only one with a capable pair of hands to steer the affairs of Kumasi, taking into consideration his track record which he established during his term of office as Chief Executive Officer.
He is also said to have told the President that he was the only one who can deal with the residents of Kumasi, who are his own kith and kin with the needed force, since they have virtually become ungovernable since the NDC assumed power barely three months ago.
Though the Ashanti regional Chairman of the NDC, Daniel Ohene Agyekum is not happy with the unorthodox way and manner in which Akwasi Agyemang is going about lobbying for the position of Chief Executive of KMA, when under his past administration the metropolis was plunged into a series of controversies.
It is, however, not clear whether President Mills will grant him his request, as there are more party loyalists who have also thrown their hats into the ring to catch the President’s eye.
Akwasi Agyemang’s meeting comes amidst speculations of his inclusion in a delegation of 40 other chiefs from the Ashanti region, led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that will be paying a courtesy call on the President at the seat of government, Osu Castle, on Monday.
In all this, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NDC, Daniel Ohene Agyekum is said to have taken strong exception to Akwasi Agyemang’s unconventional actions towards clinching the top KMA position, especially where ‘Okumkom’ is reported to have treated the government appointees to a sumptuous dinner at the Kumasi Catering Rest house on the evening of Wednesday,
February 18, 2009, after they were sworn into office.
Mr. Ohene Agyekum is reported to have held an emergency meeting with government appointees who were recently sworn into office as representatives of the government to the KMA at the SSNIT Conference Hall in Adum, where he reprimanded them for accepting a dinner invitation from Nana Akwasi Agyemang.
Nana Akwasi Agyemang recently lauded President Mills’ approach to systematically taking control of the administration of the country. He noted that the President has so far proven that he is capable of leading the country, stressing that “He is, by all indications in control.”
He also told The Chronicle that as a royal, he could get involved in all events in Kumasi, concerning the furore over the dinner he held for the assemblymen.

I do not regret leaving NDC – Asamoah

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, March 26, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The Founder of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah has said that he harbours no regrets for deserting the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), a party he once served as its Chairman.
He also said he had no regrets for not supporting the party’s Presidential Candidate, then Candidate John Evans Atta Mills, in the second round of the 2008 general elections.
“Considering what happened to me in the party, I obviously don’t share the same values with some members of the party, so I have no regrets for not being there in their time of glory now”, he emphasized.
In an interview with the paper, he noted that he could not have taken a better decision than throw his weight behind the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Dr.Asamoah, the longest serving Foreign Minister and Attorney General under former President Jerry Rawlings’ regime from 1981 to 1997, insisted that he did not make a mistake in backing Nana Addo at the run off.
Asked whether he has any intentions to rejoin NDC, he retorted that “Not at all, even before the second round, they made approaches for me to support them, but I refused to support them, I had an honest opinion that Akufo-Addo was a better Candidate to support”, he emphasized.
As far as he was concerned, Dr. Asamoah said it was just a choice between personalities and not the case of supporting a particular party, stressing “In supporting Nana Akufo-Addo, it was based on my assessment of his individual capability, but not the NPP as a party.”
He said, knowing at close hand the candidates involved in the run-off, and the forces that drive or influence them, he felt that Nana Akuffo-Addo could better withstand the strains of office to provide better quality service for the nation, in terms of better development agenda, promotion of human rights and freedoms, rule of law, greater tolerance, gratitude and capacity to stand for what he believes in.
He however, refused to make any comments on unfolding events in the country for the time being, to take some restfrom the political landscape and bounce back in the not too distant future..
In the run-up to the Presidential run-off in 2008, specifically on Monday, December 16, 2008, Dr. Obed Asamoah announced that his party had declared its support for the NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The DFP maintained that it was neither in an in alliance and not a merger with the NPP, noting that “We still remain an independent political party, and will continue to remain as such.”
At a press conference in Accra , the party’s General Secretary and Accra-based legal practitioner, Mr. Bede Ziedeng said the party’s decision to support the NPP was to enable Nana Akufo-Addo win the presidency to ensure the continuity of the tranquil political environment that the country was enjoying.

Abrogate Acqua Vitens contract -NGO

Posted: The Chronicle } Tuesday, March 24, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The Essential Services Platform (ESP), a non governmental organisation has called on the government to abrogate the management contract she signed with Messrs. Acqua Vitens Rand Limited to manage the water system in the country.
In a statement issued and signed by Ruby Kissiedu, the organisation attributed the drop in urban water coverage from 70% in the year 2000 to 57% presently, to the failure of the urban water reforms and especially to the management contract being executed by the company, and therefore, asked government to take steps to show them the exit.
The group has also called on government to review the procurement processes and make it transparent and open to public participation and scrutiny.
This is in view of the fact that procurement in the water sector has been one of the conduits for the supply of sub-standard services and also a fertile ground for bribery and corruption, which compounds the water crisis.
Though the recent budget statement presented to Parliament gave indication of government’s commitment to expand and repair a number of water systems, the group has demanded to see some actual figures to spend on these projects and not mere rhetorics.
Rural water has seen a marginal increase but not significant enough to meet the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015. Government has also been asked to tackle the sanitation problems and national issues and seal all leakages in the contract and execution of all sanitation contracts in the sector.
“We are reminding the government of its campaign promise to allot GH¢30 million to the sanitation sector,” the statement emphasised.
This it said, was because the sanitation is not a political cake to be shared among party faithfuls, saying “it is our hope that this time round, government will desist from giving sanitation contracts to unqualified individuals and companies and make the sector a professional one.”
Whilst asking government to achieve at least 65% of the targeted borehole construction in the four years of its governance, the group also reminded them of its 100-day sanitation pledge.
On the issue of health, The Essential Services Platform noted that even though government has pledged to expand midwifery and nursing training institutions; deploy qualified nurses and midwives; improve comprehensive abortion care services and the provision of treated mosquito nets for pregnant women and new mothers are important strategic initiatives there was still need for government to ensure that quality training standards were applied in these institutions in line with the expansion exercise.
This, it said, has the possibility of averting the situation of falling standards and to maintain high level discipline and dedication to service the sector, to help reduce the high rate of avoidable maternal deaths in line with the achievement of the fifth target on the MDGs.
Whilst commending the government’s pledge to improve claims management under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the group noted that looking at the critical nature of health delivery in the country, there was the need for government to expedite action on it.
“It is of utmost importance that government incorporates anti retroviral drugs into the list of drugs provided under the NHIS to lessen the burden on HIV patients”, it stressed.

Essential Service wants GETFUND probed

Posted: The Chronicle } Tuesday, March 24, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) is leading the crusade for thorough investigations into the activities and operations of the management of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), which has been riddled with multiple allegations of financial impropriety.
The NGO, The Essential Services Platform has, therefore, asked the Mills administration to as a matter of urgency institute investigations into the books of the GETFUND to uncover the rot at the Secretariat.
Under the current circumstance, it noted that contractors with outstanding projects are not being paid because of the lack of funds and, therefore, called on government to put in place structures to make management of the fund more transparent, accountable and efficient. This was contained in a statement signed by Ruby Kissiedu on behalf of the organisation.
Given that inflation is about 20% and the fact that the 2009 budget has allocated GH¢275 million to the GETFUND as compared to GH¢ 204 million in the year 2008 (about 26% increase), it noted that actual increase in the allocation for the fund is rather small.
Under current educational reforms (2007-2008), kindergarten education has become part of compulsory basic education.However, as at 2007-2008, there were nearly 2,000 primary schools without kindergartens.
The group has thus expressed the hope that this lapse will be remedied and teachers trained for the kindergarten level, stressing “it is also hoped that the NDC will implement its manifesto promise of instituting one training facility for kindergarten teachers in each region.”
The statement commended government for increasing the Capitation Grant to GH¢4.50 (a 50% increase), but emphasised that if taken into consideration the growing inflation rate of over 20%, the 50% increase is nothing to write home about.
“It is, therefore, not clear whether the same deductions for sports and culture, amounting to about 30% of the grant and withheld at the district level will be made”, it asked rhetorically, stressing the need for pupils with disabilities to be granted additional funds, giving their difficult circumstance.”
The ESP believes that under the circumstance, the criterion of a threshold for rural school would be essential in ensuring equity in the disbursement of the grant, and therefore, called for the stringent and transparent implementation of this grant by the appropriate authorities in order for beneficiaries benefit from it.
Also, the group expressed hope that the new administration will maintain the practice whereby the Capitation Grant is only available to public schools, cautioning that “Under no circumstance should private schools benefit from the Capitation Grant.”
The statement also lauded government for its pledge to provide free uniforms to one million pupils from September 2009 at a cost of GH¢ 7.00 each in the most deprived areas and the provision of free exercise books.
In order to keep good hygiene, it emphasised the need for the uniform to be two sets for each student, stressing that it may be better to institute these interventions on a pilot basis for at least the first year, and then reduce the number of pupils who qualify so that only the most deprived can be given at least two sets of uniforms and the required number of books.
It also recommended to government to consider giving teachers more incentives to make their work attractive. It proposed “An allowance of at least 20% of basic salary could be offered to those who go to the deprived areas.” Considering the circumstance under which most schools in the country find themselves, the NGO also asked government to pay attention to maintaining school buildings all over the country since many of them are decrepit, have cracks, leaking roofs and lack basic facilities such as water and toilets.

Controversy over expansion of Electoral College

More supporters express their opinion
Posted: The Chronicle } Monday, March 23, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The debate over whether to amend the Constitution of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to expand its Electoral College or maintain the status quo is gradually generating a lot of interest with proposals coming from various stakeholders in the party.
One school of thought, including Samuel Awuku, a member of the New Juaben-South constituency of the party are pushing for the party to maintain the provisions in the constitution with a few changes that could give automatic voting rights to some key members of the party, the Diaspora Forum of the NPP holds a different view, advocating for the expansion of the Electoral College to include all paid-up members of the party.
Latest in the series of proposals forwarded to the leadership of the party is that of the all-powerful NPP Diaspora Forum, whose influence in the party cannot be underestimated.
Somewhere last week, the group sent one of such proposals to the party’s Asylum Down headquarters through Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy.
In their proposal, the Diasporans who have a strong membership base have asked that the party’s constitution be amended to make provision for ‘one-man one-vote’. According to them, this would not only make the party more democratic but also make it richer, whilst reducing the incidence of corruption that is often associated with primaries. To Dr. Kennedy, all the three things are important, stressing that “It will generate more money for the party, because if you are not paid-up you can’t vote.”
In an interview with the paper, he noted -“obviously if 100,000 people are voting in your Presidential primaries, it is better than 2,000 people, making it more democratic.”
He further emphasised that this has the tendency of eliminating corruption in the party’s primaries since it gets the figures beyond the drivable number.
The Diaspora Forum have thus proposed an amendment of Article 3 of the party’s constitution, which reads -“Any person who desires to become a member of the party may enrol for membership in any Parliamentary constituency where the person resides or hails from, in any overseas branch”, to include “at any TESCON, at the Regional office where he hails from, through the internet, at the National office or at any other place that the National Executives may designate from time to time.”
They have also asked that the constitution be amended to give certain rights to those of them living in the Diaspora. The Diasporans have thus proposed that during the national delegates conference, “all overseas branches shall be entitled to at least 25 voting delegates to be apportioned amongst Diaspora branches based on the distribution of paid-up members”, with “two representatives of the Diaspora on the national executive committee who shall be appointed by the National Chairman with the advice and consent of Diaspora members.”
Further, the group is also asking for a “foreign desk representative/operative of the party shall be appointed by the National Executives upon the recommendation of the Diaspora”, with another proposal for the party’s National annual delegates conference/congress to be attended by at least 25 delegates from the Diaspora, all the party’s Members of Parliament, and ten TESCON delegates.
For this reason, the group has among others proposed the amendment of Article 4 (I) of the party’s Constitution which reads “There shall be kept in the office of each constituency a register of members” to become “there shall be kept in each Regional office a register of members, by Constituency and TESCON members in that Region, by institution. The National Secretariat shall keep a register of all members, Constituency, Region, Institution and overseas branch as the case may be.”
Samuel Awuku however believes that no matter how good the idea for expansion of the Electoral College might sound, it was likely to affect the fortunes of the party. He is of the opinion that the proposal for an expansion is none but a populist proposal, which would have serious future consequences for the party if finally adopted. His argument was that any increase in the size of the Electoral College would further give advantage to the rich and wealthy candidates, thereby engendering corruption.
For him, an expansion of the Electoral College could lead to high cost of running campaigns since candidates will have no choice but run huge advertisements and rallies in all constituencies in order to disseminate their messages to the delegates whilst discussing confidential party matters in the open, stressing that this will provide enough ammunition to their political opponents, especially those in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), to use against them.
Apart from spending heavily on rallies and adverts, he noted that candidates will also have to spend heavily on Chiefs and other dignitaries during this kind of campaign, emphasizing that this cannot be supported by the candidates with small campaign budgets, thereby defeating the very notion that this will help kill ‘moneycracy’ in the game.
Whilst admitting that it might be attractive to increase the size of the Electoral College by increasing the number of delegates from the overseas branches, who are currently entitled to only one delegate per branch, Sammy Awuku argued that these are enlightened and resourceful people who will pay for their trips to and from Ghana at their own expense.
He was thus confident that these are not only discerning people but generally cannot be bribed to change their minds, therefore “fifty (50) delegates per branch would not hurt, looking at the kind of support they give to the party”, he said. He added that other generally enlightened groups could be identified and enfranchised, citing TESCON branches in the various tertiary institutions.
Under the current circumstance, he noted that it will be strategically suicidal to open the party up for further damage, expressing the hope that the Constitutional Review Committee will come up with more innovative ways in expanding the Electoral College, than the idea of all card bearing members being granted voting rights since it has future repercussions.

Ahead of NPP congress

Proposed constitutional amendment sparks protest

Posted: The Chronicle Friday, March 20, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The Chronicle can report on authority that a huge debate has erupted in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) following calls by some of its members for a constitutional amendment to expand the party’s Electoral College. Sources at the party’s headquarters have told the paper that the situation has left the leadership in a fix, as to whether or not to consider the proposal for an amendment of the party’s constitution to expand the Electoral College, or stick to old provision with a few changes that could give automatic voting rights to some key members of the party. Among those who have raised issue about the supposed proposal is a leading member of the New Juaben-South constituency of the NPP, Mr. Samuel Awuku who believes that no matter how good the idea might sound, it is likely to affect the fortunes of the party.
When quizzed on phone, he confirmed why he thinks granting voting status to all card bearing members in the NPP is a populist proposal, with serious future consequences if finally adopted.
For him, it is important to raise these issues now, for posterity sake, saying “we the youth are only part of today, but it is tomorrow that belongs to us.” “Yes, I favour the expansion of the Electoral College, but it must be done with great caution”, he noted.
In one of such proposals to the party, which The Chronicle is privy to, Mr. Awuku, who happens to be a former student activist who contested for the University of Ghana, Legon, SRC Presidency with Lord Hammah in the year 2006/2007 academic year, said “any increase in the size of the Electoral College will further give advantage to the rich and wealthy candidates, thereby engendering corruption which we all frown upon.”
He noted that an expansion of the Electoral College could lead to a high cost of running campaigns.
This, according to him, is evident in the fact that the candidates will have no choice but run huge advertisements and rallies in all constituencies in order to disseminate their messages to the delegates.
To him, this could mean discussing confidential party matters in the open, which will obviously provide enough ammunition to their political opponents, especially those in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), to use against them.
Apart from spending heavily on rallies and adverts, he noted that candidates will also have to spend heavily on Chiefs and other dignitaries during this kind of campaign, emphasising that this cannot be supported by the candidates with small campaign budgets, thereby defeating the very notion that this will help kill ‘moneycracy’ in the game.
“An electoral college comprising all card bearing members means that the party will have to pay the EC millions of Ghana Cedis to organise two general elections, one in 2009 and the other in 2010, and then every four years, whilst we cannot afford to adequately resource our serial callers or pay our constituency officers, not to mention settling monthly utility bills at the constituency, regional and national offices”, he emphasised.
Whilst admitting that it might be attractive to increase the size of the Electoral College by increasing the number of delegates from the overseas branches, who are currently entitled to only one delegate per branch, Sammy Awuku argued that these are enlightened and resourceful people who will pay for their trips to and from Ghana at their own expense.
He is confident that these are not only discerning people but generally cannot be bribed to change their minds, therefore “fifty (50) delegates per branch would not hurt, looking at the kind of support they give to the party”, he said. He added that other generally enlightened groups could be identified and enfranchised, citing TESCON branches in the various tertiary institutions.
These groups are those he described as the NPP’s “intellectual foot-soldiers who play an important role in the party, but are disenfranchised during the decision making process of our party.”
He therefore indicated that five members per TESCON branch would be a good starting point.
Mr. Awuku, who is also a member of the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a pressure group which is championing the removal of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni further proposed the full listing of stakeholders by way of enlarging the Electoral College for the election of National Officers and the party’s Presidential Candidate.
In the meantime, he indicated that it will be prudent to enfranchise groups such as the overseas branches (5 per branch), TESCON branches (2 per branch), immediate past MPs, former Constituency, Regional and National Officers, all Parliamentary candidates who lost their seats in the most recent general elections, former NPP DCEs and MCEs, former NPP Ministers and Deputy Ministers, all 10 Constituency Officers, all founding members, all Patrons and eligible delegates who are card-bearing members of the party and in good standing.
“As much as we all love the card bearing members to exercise their franchise, the time is definitely not ripe for us to take such a huge gamble. The party is now in desperate need for answers to the numerous questions as to why we lost the last election”, he stressed.
Under the current circumstance, he noted that it will be strategically suicidal to open the party up for further damage, expressing the hope that the Constitutional Review Committee will come up with more innovative ways in expanding the Electoral College, than the idea of all card bearing members being granted voting rights since it has future repercussions.

Afari Gyan fires Police & Media

... For acting with impunity

Posted: The Chronice Thursday, March 19, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Baodu

Barely three months after the 2008 General elections which virtually took the country to the brink of uncertainty, the man who is credited for holding Ghana in one piece, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan has come out to criticise the officers and men of the Ghana Police Service and the media for their actions and inactions during the election period.
He claims that the police failed to act on some instances of election-related violence and infractions of the country’s electoral laws during the election period.
Whatever the reasons for the inactions, Dr. Afari-Gyan noted that it was not good for the conduct of credible elections, taking into account the fact that it could easily cause a feeling of impunity. For this reason, he has stressed the urgent need for the police to consider itself as a national institution, not beholden to any government or political party since according to him, “in all likelihood, no party or government will stay in power forever.”
He believes the actions of both the police and the media could have plunged the nation into chaos and has, therefore, called for steps to be taken to forestall such unwarranted incidents.
Dr. Afari-Gyan, who is the Chairman of the Electoral Commission made these observations at the ‘Kronti ne Akwamu’ lecture at the British Council hall in Accra, on Tuesday, under the theme -”The challenges to conducting free and fair elections in emerging African democracies: The case of Ghana.”
The forum which was the fifth in the series of the annual ‘Kronti ne Akwamu’ lectures organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) was Chaired by His Lordship Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe, a former Supreme Court judge Justice and Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Turning the heat on the media, Dr. Afari Gyan said whilst appreciating the valuable contributions of some media houses for keeping the public abreast with various happenings in the country before and during the elections, others did not also do well as they embarked upon misreporting, peddling of lies and virtually inciting people to engage in disorderly behaviour.
“I think it is important for the media to be mindful that the fundamental human freedoms of association, movement, speech and choice are particularly on test, during election times”, he emphasised.
If for one reason or the other the media happen to have forgotten its role in an election period, the man who saved the country from going the way of Kenya and other war torn African countries, reminded the media that it has a responsibility to promote civilisation of these freedoms in times of election.
In finding solution to the challenges of conducting free and fair elections in emerging African democracies, especially in the case of Ghana, Dr. Afari-Gyan, who has over 16years of working experience as an election Administrator, and doubles as the Executive Secretary of the African Association of Election Authorities (AAEA) said “the ideal situation for achieving credible elections in Ghana and indeed anywhere in the emerging democracies in Africa will be where both the internal and external environment are right.”
Unless both environments are right, the Electoral Commissioner believes that “conducting a democratic election may be likened to dipping a piece of cloth in murky waters and hoping that it will not be stained.”
He therefore called on all stakeholders to help in finding a lasting solution to fashion ways to organise a truly free and fair elections in the country.
The ‘Kronti ne Akwamu’ lecture which began in March 2005 is the CDD’s flagship annual lecture on democracy and governance which is aimed at bridging the gap between reflection, research and analysis on one hand and pro-democracy and good governance advocacy on the other hand. It is also aimed an enriching the duality of public discourse on democratic and governance reforms.
The lectures feature prominent scholars and activists of local and international repute, whose work focus on building democracy and fostering good governance.
Each year, speakers are invited to share their knowledge and insights on these issues, with the hope of stimulating vibrant public debate.
The lecture has been dubbed ‘Kronti ne Akwamu’ after the Akan ‘adinkra’ symbol which according to the CDD, best represents democracy, duality of the essence of life and interdependence.
The symbol in itself encapsulates a system of decentralised political authority with different branches of government complementing, and also checking each other.

Captain Nikyi vrs Chief of Defense Staff and two others

ARMY OFFICER BATTLES WITH SUPERIORS
…As military authorities fail to release him
Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Lawyers for the military officer who has been arrested and accused of misappropriating an amount of $30,000 meant for Peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo are finding it extremely difficult to execute the bail granted him by an Accra High Court.
Though the High Court, presided over by his Lordship Justice Dery granted Captain Daniel Nikyi, the officer in question a bail in the sum of GH ¢200,000.00 on March 3, 2009, with two sureties to be justified, the military authorities have defied the court order.
They have instead filed a counter application for a review of the court order.
In an affidavit in support of motion for review of orders and stay of execution, the
Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff, who were represented by Lt. Col. Fiawo and Lt Col. A.K Awuah, noted that if the court was seized with the defendants/applicants affidavit in opposition and the relevant provisions in the Armed Forces Act which provide that an accused person may be kept in close custody during the pending of a case against him before a Court Martial, in connection with custody of accused persons, it may not have admitted the plaintiff/respondents into bail.
They noted that the admission of the plaintiff/respondent into close custody during the trial of his case by a Court Martial is not inconsistent with the 1992 Constitution.
It was, therefore, the case of the defendants that the execution of the bail order of the court will affect the proceedings of the Court Martial currently ongoing in terms of the administration of the applicant/respondent.
They therefore prayed that the order of the court on March 3, 2009 be reviewed and execution of same stayed.
On their part, lawyers for Captain Nikyi averred that in so far as an affidavit in opposition has been filed after the determination of the matter before the court, the said affidavit in opposition is no legal effect.
They cited the applicants for contempt of court by failing to first obey the order to grant their client bail before filing the instant application for a review and stay of execution of the order dated March 3, 2009. They contended that they cannot be heard before the court unless and until the applicants have purged their contempt by obeying the order granting him bail.
Meanwhile the court has set Tuesday, March 24, 2009, to determine whether or not to review its bail order or grant the application filed by the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff.
Captain Nikyi who is with the Forces Pay Office (FPO) at military headquarters in Burma Camp has been detained for close to five months.
He is being held in military custody on five counts of neglect to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to Section 54 Armed Forces Act (AFA) 1962 and fraudulently misapplying contrary to Section 52 (1) (a) of AFA 1962, among others.
Captain Nikyi is further accused of failing to produce vouchers and receipts to cover return air ticket in respect of GHANBATT’s Medal Day Delegation AND GHANBATT 13 CO’s Pre-deployment Renaissance to the tune of US $12, 036.00 whilst he was a Paymaster of MONUC GHANBATT 12 in the Democratic Republic of Congo between July 2007 and January 2008 and for fraudulently misapplying an amount of US $5,000.00 out of the GHANBATT’s Welfare Bus maintenance vote and having exceeded the approved estimates for MONUC GHANBATT 12 without authorization, contrary to paragraph 2 of GHQ/8236/5 (DFC) dated July 4, 2007.
Captain Nikyi is further alleged to have failed to submit vouchers and receipts to cover excess expenditure during his tenure as Paymaster and fraudulently misapplying an amount of US $269, 793.37 belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Division of an Accra High Court presided over by His Lordship Justice Derry has granted the applicant a bail in the sum of GH ¢200,000 with two sureties to be justified.
Counsel for Captain Nikyi, Andrew Kojo Daniels of JAN chambers who filed an application for bail at the court pleaded for an order seeking to enforce the fundamental human rights of the applicant (Article 14 (4) of the Constitution) pursuant to Article 33 (1) of the Constitution.
In an affidavit in support of the motion against the Attorney General, Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, the applicant stated that he was placed in close custody with respect to allegations of a disciplinary case and a case of misappropriation of funds concerning the findings of an audit report for the MONUC (GH) imprest account for the period of July 16, 2007 to January 14, 2008.
Though the summary of evidence taken from various witnesses could not establish a prima facie case against him, coupled with his continuous denial of any guilt of criminal, civil or otherwise in respect of the said allegations, he noted that the authorities still detained him against his will.
In the light of his continued detention, Captain Nikyi filed a petition on January 21, 2009 for his release from close custody. Instead of responding to his petition, the applicant noted that he was on February 11, 2009 served with a summary of evidence, the Convening Order and an Amended Charged Sheet.
In pursuant to Article 14 (4) of the 1992 Constitution, “where a person who is arrested, restricted or detained under paragraph (a) or (b) of clause (3) of this Article is not tried within a reasonable time, then without prejudice to any further proceedings that may be brought against him, he shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions, including particular, conditions reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at a later date for trial or for proceedings preliminary to trial”, Counsel for the accused therefore sought a relief for the immediate release of his client from close custody on bail terms to be determined by court.
It was, therefore, the argument of Counsel that as a citizen of Ghana, his client who was represented in court by his wife was entitled to this relief, “given especially that we are all equal before the supreme law of Ghana being the Constitution which presumes every person innocent until proven guilty,” he emphasized.

After capitation grant, healthy balances, Free maternal deliveries

IS THAT HOW YOU TREAT ME?

... Kufuor asks as BAPAC shows solidarity

Posted: The Chronicle Monday, March 16, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

After introducing the Capitation grant, National Health Insurance, free Maternity care, School feeding programme and other pro poor policy interventions, former President John Agyekum Kufuor is obviously not happy with the ‘Thank you’ treatment being meted out to him by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
He is particularly worried about the retrieval of cars from his residence and the hullabaloo surrounding his new office in Accra. He has, however, declined to make any public statement for now, promising to do so at the right time. At a meeting held at his private residence in Accra over the weekend, with the Brong Ahafo Patriotic Caucus (BAPAC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the former President declined to speak to the media in order to avoid making statement that would aggravate the situation.
Mr. Stephen Ntim, a former second vice Chairman of the party and one of the leaders of the delegation, told The Chronicle that the ‘old man’ (Kufuor) was not happy with current developments in the country, where the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has sought to damage the former President’s reputation. “Naturally, he is not happy about it but he has decided to keep his calm for now, he is not going to talk now, but he is not happy about these developments”, he noted. Asked why Mr. Kufuor is not a happy man, Mr. Ntim, who once contested the National Chairmanship position of the party but lost, said “he is human, he is not happy about these developments, I’m not happy and I don’t think you will be happy if you were in his shoes or my shoes.” He further noted that “if we sit down and allow these things to be meted out to him and for the NDC government to embarass him the way they are doing, then the rest of us will not be safe in the country.”
After BAPAC had held talks with the former President, Mr. Ntim said he (Kufuor) was touched by the concern the group had shown towards the current developments meant to humiliate him.
The delegation was made up of key members of the party in the Brong Ahafo region, including the likes of Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Dr. Kwame Ampofo Twumasi, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah, George Boakye and Mr. T.K Obeng. In a statement signed by Nana Ama Bame Busia and Mr. Steve Ntim, BAPAC expressed deep concern about recent developments in the country, in which it noted that “a man who has distinguished himself so well is being harassed unnecessarily.” “BAPAC condemns in the strongest of terms the illegal way your vehicles, which were part of your entitlements were retrieved, and now the unwarranted brouhaha over your Ridge office building”, it emphasised.
This, according to the group, makes it difficult for them to accept what they described as President Mills’ rhetoric of being a father to all and uniting all Ghanaians.
The group has therefore vowed to stand by Mr. Kufuor in these times of difficulty, stressing that “we are prepared to offer our assistance as and when it is needed and will do everything within our means to make sure our fledgling democracy is sustained and developed in freedom,” the statement added.
The group said it was worth noting the fact that Mr. Kufuor assumed the reigns of power at a time when the national coffers and reserves were dry, with its attendant effects on inflation and lending rates, weaker state institutions and a precarious security situation. In spite of that, they noted -“these challenges did not prevent you from building a Ghana capable of supporting the poor, and bridging the gap between the poor and the rich, thereby creating wealth out of empty coffers”.
The result of these, according to the group, is the resilient economy that Ghanaians are witnessing today. According to them, a health sector, which was then running on the deadly wheels of a ‘cash and carry’ system in the year 2000, had to be replaced by Mr. Kufuor’s government with a more humane National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Whilst crediting the former President for the introduction of the Free Maternal Care policy which enables pregnant women to deliver at the hospitals and clinics at no cost, they also praised him for introducing the Capitation Grant, Free Busing system and the National School Feeding Programme which has not only increased enrolment at basic schools, but also increased the retention rate as well. According to BAPAC, the legacies of the former President can only be compared to those of the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President. In striking the difference that exists between the two personalities, the group stressed, “the only difference between you and the first President is that, while the later had post independent seed money to start off, you came to meet a nation on its knees and created a heroic Ghana out of zero.”
In these trying times, the group encouraged Mr. Kufuor to remain steadfast in his quest to support the NPP to remain united in opposition, in order to regain power in the year 2012, saying: “and your name will be engraved in golden letters when the history of the Danquah-Busia tradition comes to be written.”
It therefore could not but wish the former President good health, long life and fruitful retirement, with the hope and belief that posterity will be kind to the ‘old man’ when future generations celebrate the nation’s achievements

Despite Presidential pardon

Kofi Boakye in limbo

…Awaits Police Council`s decision

Posted: The Chronicle Friday, March 13, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The fate of the former Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kofi Boakye, continuous to remain unknown long after he was granted a Presidential pardon by former President Kufuor, before the latter left office.
In spite of the directive for him to be re-instated and the huge public outcry for his return into the Service, the Police Chief is still at home, awaiting a probable decision by the yet-to-be re-constituted Police Council.
However, the Director of the Public Relations Unit of the Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Akwasi Ofori, has indicated that this has nothing to do with the Police administration, since according to him lies in the hands of the yet-to-be re-constituted Police Council.
In an interview with the paper, he told this reporter that this was because the letter for his re-instatement, which was authorized by the former President and was addressed to the Police Council which has the sole prerogative to carry out any such decisions.
Meanwhile, ACP Kofi Boakye has refused to make any comment on the issue. When The Chronicle reached him for his comments, he declined to make an input, saying he preferred to wait for a decision by the Police Council. From the foregoing, it is clear that the decision to fully re-instate Kofi Boakye will largely depend on the Police Council.
It is, however, not clear when the President is likely to name members of the Police Council which supervises the activities and operations of the Service. Credible sources at the seat of government and the Police headquarters have told the paper that ACP Kofi Boakye is likely to be brought back to clamp down on the activities and operations of criminals who appear to be having a field day in the absence of the ‘crime-buster’.
This is in view of the fact that President Mills has pledged to clamp down on the activities and operations of these criminals who continue to hound Ghanaians each passing day.
Kofi Boakye is noted for his hard-line stance against criminals, especially armed robbers and Indian hemp (wee) smokers who continue to terrorize Ghanaians each passing day.
Born and bred in Ashanti New Town (Ashtown), a noted den of hardened criminals in Kumasi, Kofi Boakye is considered to be a ‘ghetto boy’ who knows the inside-out of the activities and operations of most of these criminals.
Since his interdiction as Director of Operations of the Police Service, there has been a sudden increase in crime wave, leading to a huge public outcry for his re-instatement into the Service to clamp down on the activities of these criminals.
Kofi Boakye was interdicted somewhere in year 2006 after a report commissioned by the Georgina Wood committee into the missing 77 parcels of cocaine on board the MV Benjamin vessel implicated him.
Barely 24hours to his exit from office, the then President Kufuor re-instated ACP Kofi Boakye with full benefits.
While on interdiction, Kofi Boakye enrolled at the Ghana Law School where he graduated in October 2008 with excellence, and was called to the Bar. He was adjudged the Overall Best Student after sweeping home five awards.

Washing our dirty linen is good but...

… Argues Arthur Kennedy

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, March 12, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has disagreed that issues affecting the party must not be discussed in public. “While I agree with those who counsel against washing our dirty linen in public, I disagree vehemently with those who do not want us to wash the dirty linen at all”, he said.
Speaking to The Chronicle in an interview, Kennedy said a number of factors contributed to the defeat of the party in the December elections. He therefore stressed the urgent need for the party to find out those issues, and to identify people whose acts of commissions and omissions caused the party’s defeat in 2008 elections.
He also stressed the need to rebuild the party from the scratch, at the grassroots, to the top hierarchy on the spirit of selflessness and voluntarism, which helped the party to survive thirty long years in the political wilderness, saying “our virtues were surrendered too easily to the temptations of victory.”
This rebuilding process, according to him, must include the selection of candidates who are not only known in the party but also respected in their constituencies. This is in view of the fact that the NPP risked too many Parliamentary seats by rejecting the will of the people.
Dr. Kennedy also urged the party to discourage acts of factionalism, emphasizing that “This is perhaps the biggest challenge facing out party.” For him, it was becoming difficult to express an opinion without being labeled as a tool for another person.
He questioned the absence of intellectual debates which used to characterize the party during its days in opposition, which have all vanished into thin air.
“In 1979, we tried facing the electorate with a divided front and we lost the elections. For the sake of Ghana and posterity, let us not tread that path again”, he cautioned.
Further, he urged the leadership of the party to pay specific attention to the concerns of floating voters and the regions, since neither the NPP nor the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has a clear majority in the mandate of Ghanaians.
He noted that swing voters will for a long time to come determine elections in the country, hence the sooner NPP made this a central consideration in its strategies, the better it will be for the party.
Furthermore, he said there was also the need for the NPP to start engaging the smaller parties more aggressively and respectfully by building and extending the bonds and the chemistry that made them the NPP’s natural allies in the 2000 General elections.
“Indeed, every honest person knows that virtually all of them, except the DFP, worked for the NDC during the run-off”, he noted. Probably taking a line from Professor Mills and the NDC’s door-to-door and house-to-house campaign, Dr. Kennedy said “we must return to the politics of the streets. We used to be the driving force behind the ‘Alliance for Change’ and some of the most populist street movements in our history till we tasted power. Then poof! That was it.”
He wondered why the big wigs in the party who used to go on air regularly to defend the party and attack the opposition stopped when they got power and virtually became too big to get up in the morning and go the radio stations or take a phone call from journalists.
Obviously not happy with events that culminated in series of demonstrations at most of the party’s constituency primaries, he said the “primaries that brazenly manipulated to the advantage of people who had no place in our party and its traditions. This party that believes in the rule of law must ensure that rules are applied consistently in the party and at all parts of the country.”
If done consistently, he believes that would have the tendency of reducing the number of people going independent. Dr. Kennedy further urged the leadership of the NPP to discard complacency, which he noted was the greatest error during the 2008 campaign, saying “That sense of complacency prevented us from reacting to situations in a manner that could have helped us and from policing the counting of the votes with an aggression that may have given us victory.”
Though 2012 is fast approaching, he noted that the party seems to be proceeding in the same misguided, self-confidence, and therefore, had cause to caution its leadership “if we do not learn the lessons from our loss, we will lose again.”
To him, winning in 2012 will require a new and re-invigorated leadership at all levels of the party, from the polling station to the national headquarters.
Meanwhile, the party has set up a committee to review the 2008 General elections.
The committee, which is chaired by Ghana’s immediate past High Commissioner to South Africa, Jim Heyman, has been tasked to look into what led to the party’s defeat and make recommendations, for amendments to be made.
Party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu, who disclosed this to The Chronicle, expressed the hope that the committee will do a comprehensive work to enable the party to return to power in the next elections.

As Sefa Kayi presses for transparency

SEGBEFIA RAGES OVER JOY RIDE

Castle Chief waxes arrogant as he clams over mystery sponsor and flays journalists

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, March 11, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Under a barrage of questioning by Kwame Sefa Kayi of Peace FM, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr. Alex Segbefia finally caved in and showed the temperament that made him kick his wife of several years standing (Lavia) in London, and exhibited a high degree of arrogance over queries of the 40-man government delegation that went to la Cote d’Ivoire.
This was during an interview with Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show host, Kwame Sefa Kayi, at which Professor Agyekum of the University Of Ghana and Messrs Kwesi Pratt and Ken Kuranchie, who joined in the chorus of condemnation that greeted the youthful Alex’s inquisition. Though Mr. Segbefia admitted that the cost of the trip was not borne by government/state, he declined to give the names and identities of those who paid for it, describing it as a trivial issue.
Not even the explanation by Sefa Kayi that considering the controversy that the trip has generated, there was need to make public the names and identities of those who paid for the trip, in order to put the issue to rest, convinced Mr. Segbefia who retorted that certain journalists who remained quiet in the past had now suddenly regained their voices. To head off any suspicion of a fun-filled excursion, Alex slipped in a suspicious comment that there were only three women on the trip, though he did not mention who the damsels were pairing with.
This, according to him was because reports in sections of the media sought to create the impression that those who embarked on the trip were all members or fanatics of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), and that the financing of the trip amounted to dissipation of the already scanty national resources.
Pressed further to ascertain who indeed sponsored the trip, Mr. Segbefia, who was raging and raving with anger, demanded to know the relevance of the story. He virtually questioned the credibility of the line of questioning by the host, when he asked why and how certain journalists were making an issue out of the trip, expressing surprise about how according to him, some journalists have suddenly found their voices to be asking critical questions about government spending.
Though government, specifically the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, has not been forthcoming with information on the sponsors of the government delegation to the just-ended CHAN 2009 soccer fiesta in Cote D’Ivoire, The Chronicle’s further questioning has revealed the names of the two individuals who bankrolled the trip, described as a joy ride by Mr. Kwesi Pratt.
Sources close to the delegation yesterday told the paper that Messrs Kojo Bonsu, an agent of sports kit manufacturers, Adidas, and William Ade-Coker, former Chairman of Accra Great Olympics Football Club, were the ones who picked the bills, though it raised rumours that it was one of the telephone companies anxious to position themselves in pole position in the telecom industry.
In all, they were said to have paid an amount of GH 12,000 cedis for the chartered Airforce plane. Mr. Kojo Bonsu has since confirmed to the paper that he and Mr. Ade Coker truly paid for the trip. He was, however, not prepared to disclose the amount involved in paying for the cost.
Mr. Kojo Bonsu said he saw nothing strange with organizing the trip since it is something he has been doing from time immemorial. He recalled having organized similar trips to Cape Verde and Mali for people to go and cheer up the ‘Black Stars’ when they were playing matches in those countries.
Reverend Osei Kofi was also surprised by the controversy that the trip has generated, considering the fact that it was a return journey coupled with the fact that they were not given any per diem.
He also denied that the trip was sponsored by government since he was personally asked by Kojo Bonsu, the organizer of the trip to select some members of the retired footballers Association to join the government delegation to cheer the Stars.
The government delegation was led by Mr. PV Obeng, head of the Government Transition team and 39 others including the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, the man in the eye of the storm, Alex Segbefia, veteran ‘Black Stars’ players, Reverend Osei Kofi, Awuley Quaye Jnr. and Mohammed Polo.
The rest included sports journalists including Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, who was said to be lobbying for the position of Deputy Minister of Sports, Charles Osei Asibey of Happy FM, football Commentator Nana Agyemang, Adom FM’s Kofi Asare Brako and a host of other selected supporters and fans whose political identities are not known, contrary to the impression being created that they were supporters of the incumbent government.
However, sources close to the delegation have told the paper about how the ‘boys’ (Black Stars) felt gingered up upon seeing the government delegation and retired footballers who had come not only to inspire them, but to grace the occasion.
The entire stadium was said to have gone agog when the presence of the Ghanaian government delegation was announced, unfortunate as it turned out to be, that enthusiasm could not ignite passion for the ‘boys’ to lift the trophy at stake, as in the case of their Congolese counterparts who fought to the last breadth to lift the trophy.

Konadu alarmed over

Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, March 10, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

A former First Lady and women activist, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, has expressed shock at the increasing spate of rape cases across the length and breadth of the country.
She believes the rape of under-aged girls has become more prevalent than ever before, and therefore stressed the urgent need for a concerted effort to nip it in the bud.
“Rape of under-aged girls is even more prevalent now than it was before, and our men folk have to join hands in ensuring that we bring this dehumanising practice to an end,” she emphasised.
This was contained in a statement written and signed by the former first lady on ‘International Women’s Day,’ which fell on Sunday, March 8, 2009.
This year’s theme, “Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” is particularly significant because of the emphasis on the role men have to play in ensuring that women are treated with dignity, and as co-equals in society.
As a way forward, she pushed for the exposure of those who perpetuate such acts.
“We also need to assist our womenfolk in educating the girl-child on preventive and reporting mechanisms, as a lot of such young victims do not even understand what has happened to them until they fall ill, and are compelled to explain what caused their illness,” she noted.
Nana Konadu had cause to equally complain about the fact that women who report violence from their men folk face being ostracised, hence their preference to endure the violence in silence.
For her, “What is worse, is religious attitudes that compel women to play second fiddle to men and stand by them, come what may, even in the face of wife battery and marital rape.”
While calling on the government to play its role by condemning unequivocally, violence against women, and equipping institutions such as the Domestic Violence Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Department of Social Welfare, so they can adequately investigate issues of violence against women, she said, “it is imperative that we all come together as one force, to tackle this problem.”
Considering the fact that women’s contribution to the development of society was immeasurable, she cautioned, “if we allow antiquated practices to obviate our judgement and overlook abuse of women and girls in our society, we will be setting a very bad precedent for the generations of the future.”
The former first lady took the opportunity to commend President Mills for significant women appointments he has made in his government, expressing hope that such appointments were not decorations to fulfill campaign promises, but a conscious desire by the Mills administration to tap the wealth of female talent that abounds in Ghana.
Furthermore, the Nana Konadu, who is also the President of the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM), expressed optimism that by this time next year, state institutions responsible for enforcing laws on domestic violence and other forms of outlawed violence against women and children, would be in a better position, resource-wise, to perform their roles.
To her, a good beginning would be a national offender’s register, which will be publicised in the media, to serve as a major deterrent to would-be offenders.
That notwithstanding, she congratulated Ghanaian women for the strides they had made over the past year in enhancing the quality of womanhood in Ghana.
In this part of the world, where a call by women for equality and respect is usually met with grunts by many of the opposite sex, who see such comments as uncalled for and misplaced, because a significant number of women occupy positions of importance in various political and social establishments, she emphasised, “we have made inroads over the years.”
She, however, noted that women empowerment was not about getting women in important positions in society, but giving women the confidence and comfort to perform their roles in society, without subtle intimidation from men. Nana Konadu believes violence against women was still a scourge in the Ghanaian society, with the majority of victims unable to publicly declare their pain.
In appreciating the significant role played by the DOVVSU of the Ghana Police Service, in giving victims succour and serving as a deterrent to perpetrators of such violence, she emphasised that such institutions were so ill-equipped that they were powerless when it comes to real prevention.
She described as significant, the call by the United Nations for men to play an active role, since the minority of men in society perpetrate violence against women, even though the stigma tends to affect a more significant percentage. “Men have their image to protect, and the only way they can do so, is to ensure that they help nip the scourge in the bud through peer pressure, education of their colleagues, and a conscious effort not to abuse their physical advantage,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, recent research has revealed that religious and other traditional practices still tend to sideline women and impose on them a subordinative status. Indications are that girls are still prevented from attending school, and in some societies female genital mutilation is still practiced, even though its health and trauma effects have been widely exposed, and laws passed to make it illegal.

NGO to offer free legal services

…to prisoners on remand

Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, March 10, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

An independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Centre for Human Rights and Civil Liberties (CHURCIL), has offered to provide free legal services to remand prisoners whose warrants have expired but continue to be held in the country’s prisons without any justifiable cause.
This is in view of the fact that most of these remand prisoners cannot afford to engage the services of lawyers to defend them in court during their trial.
In an interview with this paper, the Executive Director of CHURCIL and Accra-based legal practitioner, Kojo Graham, emphasised that this would help to address issues of prisoner rights, prison over population and the problems of pre-trial detention that is currently facing the country.
A couple of years ago, the organisation launched and implemented what it labelled as the ‘Aid-Remand Programme’ (ARP) under the ‘Access 2 Justice’ project. Within the framework of the ‘Access 2 Justice’ project, the ARP falls under the general category of criminal justice and penal reform, which principal objective is to address the issues of prisoner rights, prison over-population and problems of pre-trial detention.
The ARP has been implemented in two parts; the ‘Case Review Plan CRP) and Court Monitoring Plan (CMP).
The CRP has been fashioned to develop and implement a criterion for the review of criminal dockets of remanded prisoners nationwide on a graduated basis.
It has, therefore, put in place a mechanism to monitor new remand cases to propitiously provide the necessary legal assistance.
A key element of the ‘Aid-Remand Project’ is the provision of basic legal services to remand prisoners both within the framework of the CRP and CMP plans.
For this reason, he has proposed the designation of a ‘special’ court to expeditiously deal with the backlog of remand cases.
The organisation has, therefore, drawn a comprehensive plan to help in administering justice through its ‘Access 2 Justice’ project. This involves the sequential development and implementation of a variety of programmes geared towards addressing human rights issues and problems in the areas of criminal justice and penal reform, consumer rights, environmental protection, rule of law, good governance and campaign finance.
The ‘Access 2 Justice’ project which has been ongoing for almost three years now, led to the release of over 50 of such prisoners under the ‘Justice for All’ Project which was initiated by the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Joe Ghartey.
The ‘Justice for All’ Project was aimed at bringing justice to the doorsteps of all Ghanaians, especially the vulnerable in society CHURCIL intends to achieve its goals and objectives through the design and implementation of projects and programmes that will facilitate access to justice for the poor and under-privileged in society, with approaches in research and surveys on access to justice issues, legal aid and support services, training and capacity building, stakeholders consultative meetings as well as seminars.
The issue of access to justice for those deprived of their personal and individual liberties is stated in a wide range of international treaties and standards as well as a number of regional declarations by African countries.
In his preface in Professor Andrew Coyle’s seminal book titled ‘A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management’ (2002), the then British Minister of Interior, Jack Straw wrote, “I strongly believe that the way societies treat those who have been deprived of their liberty is a litmus test of commitment to human rights.”
As an organisation committed to the resourceful use of the law as a positive force for the promotion of rule of law, respect for human rights and the protection of fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, Kojo Graham said CHURCIL subscribes to this assertion.
“We believe the success of the ARP will be dependent on the effective coordination of the roles and support of all key stakeholders and participants in the administration of justice in Ghana, namely, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Bar Association and all legal education institutions”, he emphasised.

Over 1,748 people still languishing in jail

… Without valid warrants

Posted: The Chronicle Monday, March 09, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Attorney-General and Justice MinisterThe Chronicle can report on authority that there are well over 1,748 people languishing in the country’s prisons, without proper or valid warrants for their continuous incarceration.
Available statistics gathered from the Centre for Human Rights and Civil Liberties (CHURCIL), through its occasional institutional visits to the various prison yards, indicates that as at November 15, 2008, the Nsawam Medium Security prison alone had 1, 224 inmates, who were being held without proper or valid warrants to justify their continuous detention, aside 12 other female prisoners who were being held at the same Nsawam Prison for similar reasons.
The Kumasi Central Prison also had 52 inmates, while the Koforidua local prison had 69.
The Ankaful Prison Annex also had 64 inmates, while the Akuse and Ho Central prisons had 63 and 53 inmates respectively, who are being held under similar conditions.
Both male and female put together, the Sekondi Central Prison by then had 60 inmates, whilst that of Winneba and Tarkwa had 42 and 30 respectively.
The rest are Sunyani Prisons 19, Wa Central Prisons 16, Navrongo 11, Yendi 10, Tamale Central Prisons 12, Kete-Krachi Prisons six, Kpando Local Prisons four, and one at the Obuasi Local Prisons.
The situation has arisen as a result of the inability of prosecutors and court officials to either trace or locate dockets covering the cases involved.
This, is in spite of an earlier ultimatum issued by the then Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Joe Ghartey, and the immediate-past Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, in which the two gave the police prosecutors a 14-day ultimatum on October 22, 2008, to renew the expired warrants of remand prisoners, or face disciplinary action.
This was after CHURCIL, a partner in the Joe Ghartey instituted ‘Justice for All Project,’ issued a report after undertaking a six months check on prisoners, in which it noted that over 300 remand prisoners were being held at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, though their warrants had long expired.
At the time, the A-G gave his word that in the case where the prosecutors were unable to take steps to renew the warrants of such prisonsers within the given period, he was going to take steps to ensure that they were released on bail.
In the light of this, the Executive Director of the CHURCIL and legal whiz kid, Kojo Graham, has demanded that the prisoners be set free, since their continued stay in the prisons did not only amount to an illegality, but also constituted a serious breach of their fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the constitution and other international conventions.
In an interview with this reporter, Mr. Graham reiterated his call for the urgent need to set up special courts, across the length and breadth of the country, to handle and dispense the backlog of cases involving remand prisoners, in order not to aggravate the situation at the already choked prisons in the country.

Koku takes Ato Kwamena Dadzie to cleaners

Posted: The Chronicle Friday, March 6, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The seat of government is obviously unhappy with comments emanating from certain quarters, which seek to create the impression that President Mills has deceived Ghanaians with his promise to run and keep a lean government. In response to one of such comments by Ato Kwamena Dadzie of Joy FM's Newspaper Review fame, who has not just cultivated a habit, but equally takes delight in making fun of public figures, the Head of Communications at the Presidency, Koku Anyidoho, did not pull his punches, as he went all out to launch a blistering attack on him. In a statement, Koku noted, "as a professional, I have restrained myself from allowing the ignorance of certain persons and their discourse, to draw me into an ignorance-filled debate." He, however, noted, "when Ato Kwamena Dadzie decides to move the ignorance-filled discourse to absurd levels, it is only proper that I do my utmost best to clear some of the cobwebs in the head of Ato Kwamena Dadzie." In his piece that appeared in The Daily Dispatch on Thursday, March O5, 2009, titled "Team Mills: not so lean", Ato Kwamena Dadzie made some postulations, which Koku said he finds very wonky. Koku wondered why Ato Kwamena Dadzie thinks that by appointing 75 ministers, the President Mills was not keeping to his promise of having a lean government, forgetting that he has cut-off four ministries and not reached the 88 mark, as in the case of the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, led by President Kufuor. Meanwhile, he noted that the President had stated in unequivocal terms that his tenure would have no space for Special Assistants for Ministers and other government officials, as was the case in the previous administration. Whilst indicating that through this, some significant savings would accrue to the government purse, Koku could not, but pose a rhetorical question, "and who says running a lean government is only about the number of ministers?" To him, the rationale behind running a lean government, is to run a lean budget, saying, "so, if His Excellency the President, has decided to have only three vehicles in his convoy; has decided to live at the Castle instead of his Regimanuel Estate home, thereby cutting down his fuel consumption; has decided to significantly slash protocol budget, evidenced by his cancellation of two state banquets so far, and his refusal to embark on useless trips outside the country, Ato Kwamena Dadzie should engage in some cursory mathematics, and he will realise that His Excellency the President is committed to keeping a lean expenditure regime." In leading by example, he emphasised that the President would manage a lean budget at the Presidency, and will not allow his ministers to abuse their privileges. What seemed to bore Koku most, was Ato deriding his personality by claiming that he (Koku) was appointed to the position of Head of Communications at the Presidency as a way of massaging his ego. "Ato Kwamena Dadzie may have an educated opinion on a number of issues but his postulation on the roles of the Head of Communications and Spokesperson pans him out as not having a hold on the distinct and separate functions of myself and Mahama Ayariga," he noted, stressing, "I am not about to be the fly that follows the corpse into the grave, and so 1 will not run through my schedule with a comb." For Ato to know that he is not wearing a 'crown' to 'salve' his 'bruised ego,' as he claimed in his articles Koku said. "I will leave Ato Kwamena Dadzie to educate himself on the role public relations plays in modern day image and information management.He therefore advised Ato to find time to conduct a search through the Google search engine about the White House working structure, stressing that he would wake up to the realisation that the decision of President John Atta Mills to have a Spokesperson and a Head of Communications was nothing new. "I am not running away from the fact that in the heat of the campaign, issues had to be addressed forcefully, and if that is what Ato Kwamena Dadzie refers to as raving and ranting, so be it!" he emphasized, stressing, «indeed, if the clock of time is wound back, and 1 situate myself in the context of the 2008 election, I will do the same things I did without any qualms at all." Koku Anyidoho ended up by extending an invitation to Ato K wamena Dadzie, to pass by his office in his own free time, since he was ready to give him his job description and that of Mahama Ayariga. In the last breath, he noted, «let me state for the records that I am not going to expend my energies responding to needless issues. The President has been given the mandate to build a better Ghana, and in my capacity as the Head of Communications at the Presidency, it is my job, per the heavy responsibility I carry, to support the President to build a better Ghana.

Soldier arrested for `chopping` $300K Military cash

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, March 04, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

An officer of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Captain Daniel Nikyi has been arrested and brought before a Court Martial, to try him for allegedly misappropriating an amount of about US $300, 000.00 during a Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Captain Nikyi, who is with the Forces Pay Office (FPO) at the Amry Headquarters in Burma Camp, was detained for over four months under close custody and security guard, sometimes without food and water.
He was held in Military custody on five counts of neglect to the prejudice of good order and discipline, contrary to Section 54 Armed Forces Act (AFA) 1962, and fraudulently misapplying, contrary to Section 52 (1) (a) of AFA 1962, among others.
He is accused of failing to produce vouchers and receipts to cover return air ticket in respect of GHANBATT’s Medal Day Delegation and GHANBATT 13 CO’s Pre-deployment Renaissance to the tune of US $12, 036.00 -whilst he was a Paymaster of MONUC GHANBATT 12 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, between July 2007 and January 2008.
He is also alleged to have fraudulently misapplied an amount of US $5,000.00 out of the GHANBATT’s Welfare Bus maintenance vote, and having exceeded the approved estimates for MONUC GHANBATT 12 without authorization, contrary to paragraph 2 of GHQ/8236/5 (DFC), dated July 4, 2007.
Captain Nikyi is further alleged to have failed to submit vouchers and receipts to cover excess expenditure during his tenure as Paymaster and fraudulently misapplying an amount of US $269, 793.37 belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Division of an Accra High Court, presided over by His Lordship Justice Derry has granted the applicant bail, in the sum of GH ¢200,000 with two sureties to be justified.
Counsel for Captain Nikyi, Andrew Kojo Daniels of JAN chambers, who filed an application for bail at the court pleaded for an order seeking to enforce the fundamental human rights of the applicant (Article 14 (4) of the Constitution) pursuant to Article 33 (1) of the Constitution.
In an affidavit in support of the motion against the Attorney General, Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, the applicant stated that he was placed in close custody with respect to allegations of a disciplinary case, and a case of misappropriation of funds concerning the findings of an audit report for the MONUC (GH) imprest account, for the period of July 16, 2007, to January 14, 2008.
Though the summary of evidence taken from various witnesses could not establish a prima facie case against him, coupled with his continuous denial of any guilt of criminal, civil or otherwise, in respect of the said allegations, he noted that the authorities still detained him against his will.
Meanwhile, Act 105.34 of the Armed Regulations (Discipline) volume II 61 (1) states “where a person triable under the Code of Service Discipline has been placed under arrest for a service offence and remains in custody for eight days without a summary trial, having been held or a court martial for his trial having been ordered , a report stating the necessity for further delay shall be made by his commanding officer to the authority who empowered to convene a court martial for the trial of that person, and a similar report shall be forwarded in the same manner every eight days until a summary trial has been held or a court martial has been ordered to assemble.”
Section 61 (2) of the same Act also provides that “every person held in custody in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) who has been held continuously so held for a period of twenty-eight days without summary trial having been held or a court martial having been ordered to assemble, shall at the expiration of that period be entitled to send to the President, or to such authority as the President may appoint in writing for that purpose, a petition to be freed from custody or for the disposal of the case and in any event that person shall be so freed when a period of ninety days continuous custody from the time of his arrest has expired, unless a summary trial has been held or a court martial has been ordered to assemble.”
In the light of his continued detention, Captain Nikyi filed a petition on January 21, 2009, for his release from close custody.
Instead of responding to his petition, the applicant noted that he was on February 11, 2009, rather served with a summary of evidence, the Convening Order and an Amended Charged Sheet.
In Pursuant to Article 14 (4) of the 1992 Constitution, “where a person who is arrested, restricted or detained under paragraph (a) or (b) of clause (3) of this Article is not tried within a reasonable time, then without prejudice to any further proceedings that may be brought against him, he shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions, including particular, conditions reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at a later date for trial or for proceedings preliminary to trial”, Counsel for the accused, therefore, sought a relief for the immediate release of his client from close custody on bail terms to be determined by court.
It was, therefore, the argument of Counsel that as a citizen of Ghana, his client who was represented in court by his wife was entitled to this relief, “given especially that we are all equal before the supreme law of Ghana, being the Constitution which presumes every person innocent until proven guilty.
This, according to him, was evident in the fact that his fundamental human rights have been and continues to be infringed upon by his incarceration for over four months till date.
“As an example of the infringement of my basic human rights, I was deprived of my daily ration of food and water during my period of incarceration”, he emphasized.
A lawyer from the Attorney Generals Department, who represented the AG, agreed to the bail application but pleaded for sureties.
The Presiding Judge thus granted the applicant bail in the sum of GH ¢200,000 with two sureties to be justified.