Former Minister & Deputy took Ghana@50 clothes for free

Posted: The Chronicle | Thursday, July 30, 2009


By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Questions have started emerging about the ‘strange’ circumstance under which the Director of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC) shared eight bales of Ghana @ 50 cloths among the then Regional Minister, his Deputy and the staff of the Coordinating Council.
This came up at the ongoing Ghana @ 50 probe yesterday, when the Director of the ERCC, Mr. Samuel Awini-Bawa appeared before the Commission to answer questions relating to the disbursement of funds and souvenirs allocated to the region, before and during the country’s 50th anniversary celebration. Though Mr. Awini-Bawa gave a vivid account of the various activities and programmes undertaken by his outfit, he was unable to give reasons as to why he gave out three bales of the cloths to the then Minister and his Deputy.

Asked why he decided to give out the bales for free to the aforementioned individuals and group of persons, Mr. Awini-Bawa noted that he was directed by his former boss who was the previous Director of the RCC in his handing over note to make such allocations, since according to him, the cloths and other souvenirs had outlived their relevance, considering the fact that the celebrations was over.

He also denied that he was given instructions by the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat or the National Planning Committee to sell the cloths and other souvenirs to defray the cost involved in producing them.

He noted that the RCC was given an amount of ¢7.4billion (old cedis), out of which they used ¢6.2billion (old cedis) on projects, programmes and activities, leaving a balance of ¢1.2billion (old cedis), which is currently lodged in an account opened for that purpose.

Out of the said amount, he noted that the RCC gave ¢100million each to the 17 District Assemblies to organize programmes and activities to mark the celebration. That notwithstanding, he noted the various Assemblies have not accounted for their individual and collective expenditure.

Earlier, the Director of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC), Samuel Okyere Appiah-Kusi, who is barely one-month old in office, also appeared before the Commission to answer questions on how the region expended its part of the Ghana @ 50 funds.

He was, however, not able to give a vivid and detailed account of the expenditure, since according to him, there was not enough available documents to enable him give a proper account of the activities and operations of the RCC on the celebrations. Mr. Appiah-Kusi attributed the situation to the lack of proper structures at the RCC, which according to him, does not give room for record keeping, stressing that he could not get the needed information which would have enabled him to prepare a detailed account.

According to him, this was because one Mr. E. Y Kwakye, who was the Director at the time, had retired whilst one Mr. Taylor, who was also in-charge of the RCCs stores have also passed on.

This explanation did not go down well with the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Duose, who expressed his grave concern about the poor existing administrative structure at the RCC.

He, however, gave indications of his willingness to subpoena the said Mr. E.Y. Kwakye to come and account for his stewardship.

Mr. Appiah-Kusi virtually ended up complicating matters when he attempted to answer questions relating to the cost incurred on the celebrations by the RCC, which compelled Justice Duose to question his professional competence.

Before he was discharged for the day, Mr. Appiah-Kusi was asked to go and prepare a detailed report on the expenditure to reappear on a yet to be fixed date to give an account of the RCC during the Ghana @ 50 celebrations.

KOFI BOAKYEs RETURN IMMINENT

…As Appeal Court clears him of any wrongdoing
Posted: Sunday, July 26, 2009


By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The judgment of the Appeal Court last Friday in which it freed the two individuals at the centre of the MV Benjamin vessel cocaine case, Kwabena Amaning a.k.a Tagor and Alhaji Issah Abass seems to brighten the chances of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kofi Boakye return into the service.
In their judgment, the three Appeal Court judges, Justices Peasah, Addo and Appau wondered why the Police Chief has been made to suffer an unjustifiable fate for such a long time since in their wisdom, he did nothing wrong to warrant his suspension or interdiction from the Ghana Police Service (GPS).
According to the judges, the then Director in Charge of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, was desperate in clearing his name that had been linked to the 76 missing parcels of cocaine.
“The appellants could not have conspired by stating that they agreed to reap the benefits of the cocaine” emphasising that “He (Boakye) was right in adopting lawful and unlawful means to establish the source of the 76 parcels of cocaine. The said conversation could not be termed as a confession statement.”
They therefore rubbished prosecution’s claims that because they agreed to look for the source of the drugs, they had conspired to commit the crime.
They therefore saw nothing wrong with him either having or meeting the supposed ‘drug barons’ at his official residence at Kanda in Accra.
After listening to the tape of the said conversation and various arguments and evidence available, the judges indicated that there was no indication of Kofi Boakye wanting to conspire with the supposed ‘drug barons’ to commit the crime of dealing in narcotic drugs.
From the conversation, they noted that the Police Chief was outraged by speculations at the time, which sought to link him to the missing 76 out of the 77 parcels of cocaine on board the vessel MV Benjamin.
This, according to the learned judges was evident in the extent of his anger and outburst during the entire conversation, an indication of a man anxious to clear his name.
They wondered why such a material witness as Mr Boakye was not brought to court by the prosecution throughout the entire process to testify, stressing that this was deliberate.
For this reason, the court averred that it was not fair for the officer in question to be branded as though criminal or participated in a criminal process.
Aside that, the three judges indicated that the prosecution failed to prove as stated by the constitution about criminal proceedings, ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’ that the individuals whose voices were heard on the tape in the conversation were indeed drug dealers since there was no substantial evidence to prove that charge.
As a police officer, the court noted that Kofi Boakye could meet ‘suspected criminals’ anywhere to solicit for information which would be beneficial to his work and therefore saw nothing wrong with either meeting in itself or the venue for the meeting, which was his official residence.
By this decision of the court, Counsel for Kofi Boakye, lawyer Joe Aboagye Debrah believes that his client will be made to return back to his post to resume work since he did nothing wrong.
In several interviews after the landmark ruling last Friday, he was more than merely optimistic that the Police Council, which is chaired by Vice President, John Dramani Mahama will see the wisdom in the courts’ decision and reinstate Kofi Boakye.
He was therefore hopeful that sooner than later, his client will be made to take his place and position in the Ghana Police Service (GPS) in the interest of the nation.
Meanwhile, credible sources at the seat of government, the Osu Castle, have hinted the paper that possible return of the embattled Police Chief into the service has sparked a huge debate in the ruling government between some members of the administration and the party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Information has it that though President Mills and some members of his government and more so the party would have preferred to recall Kofi Boakye back into the service, for the fact that he has done nothing untoward to warrant his continuous stay at home and was reinstated by President Kufuor before he left office, there is a deliberate attempt by others within the NDC who are against the idea.
The underlying fact, according to our sources, is that of a hidden agenda being pursued and championed by some serving senior officers in the Police Service itself who feel their positions would be at stake if Kofi Boakye were reinstated.
Jittery as they are, the officers are said to have embarked on a huge and intensive lobbying to keep the man whose style and penchant for not only pursuing but arresting criminals including the famous Aryee Ayittey alias ‘Ataa Ayi’ has earned him the nick-name ‘crime-buster’ at bay.
They are therefore said to be influencing their friends and colleagues in government to influence the President and his governments’ decision on the matter.
According to the source, whilst those in Kofi Boakye’s favour are believe he could help the government in bringing sanity into the country, especially in the capital, Accra where crime is on the increase, his opponents argue that he has dented the image of the Police Service and should not be returned.

After 2years of high-profile cocaine trial

APPEAL COURT FREES TAGOR
Posted: Chronicle on Saturday |July 25, 2009.


By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The atmosphere at the forecourt of the Supreme Court building in Accra was that of joyful moment for the Kwabena Amanning alias Tagor and Alhaji Issa Abass and their respective families as the two convicts were set free by the Court of Appeal. Abass and Tagoer were jailed in number 2007 for dealing in narcotics.
Overwhelmed by the verdict of the court, the two and their families could not find words to describe their feelings. The day marked a significant turning point in the lives since for the first time in almost two years; they put up smiles on their faces.
The two gained their freedom after serving almost 2years out of the 15years sentence imposed on them by an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Jones Victor Dotse.
In a landmark ruling which set aside the earlier ruling, Justices Peasah, Addo and Appau of the Appeal Court said the High Court judge erred in his ruling since he did not have enough evidence to convict the two of the charges brought against them by the prosecution.
It was as though they knew what the verdict was going to be, when the two gentlemen- Tagor and Alhaji Issah Abass beamed with smiles all morning, chatting and exchanging pleasantries with friends and family members.

Then came the moment when Justices Peasah, Addo and Appau entered the courtroom to deliver the almost 3hours verdict. The three unanimously agreed that the trial High Court erred fundamentally in convicting the suspects and therefore proceeded to acquit and discharge them. The court described the conviction of the two individuals as outrageous since in its wisdom, the prosecution failed to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Tagor and Abass indeed committed the crimes for which they were convicted.
The court therefore ordered for their immediate released from jail, emphasizing that “at the close of case, the prosecution had woefully and miserably failed to prove their charges beyond all reasonable doubt.”

The two were said to have made confessions about their previous dealing in the drug business at the residence of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kofi Boakye in May 2006. The said conversation was recorded and anonymously dropped at the Georgina Wood Committee set up by the government at the time to investigate the missing 76 parcels of cocaine on board MV Benjamin, which had docked at Tema.

The Appeal Court said the High Court judge tried the case misunderstood the conversation that took place at the Kanda residence of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kofi Boakye between the police chief and the two, stressing that the said meeting was not to conspire and reap benefits from the supposed 76 of the 77 parcels of cocaine which were alleged to have been stolen from the MV Benjamin vessel.

The court could not fathom why a principal witness like ACP Kofi Boakye was not brought to court to testify during the prosecution, stressing that this was deliberate.
The court therefore saw nothing wrong with the said meeting between Kofi Boakye and the suspected drug barons. The court indicated that Kofi Boakye only wanted to clear his name from rumours which were then making rounds that he was involved in narcotic dealings.

Lawyer for Kwabena Amaning, Dr. Dominic Ayeni said though Tagor is still in jail, the court order would be served on the Director of Prisons who would immediately free him from the Nsawam Prisons. He told newsmen that hopefully, by Monday morning, the order would have been served on the Director of Ghana Prisons and Mr. Kwabena Amaning a.k.a Tagor and Alhaji Abass would be eventually freed.
The Fast Track High Court on November 28, 2007 found Tagor guilty of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs because he confessed to his drug transactions. He was, however, acquitted and discharged for buying and supplying narcotic drugs.
The court, presided over by Mr. Justice Jones Victor Dotse, a court of Appeal Judge, also found Alhaji Issah Abass guilty of conspiracy and engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs.
The court, ordered that the sentences should take effect from the day of their arrest. The Serious Fraud Office confiscated assets of the convicts. The Attorney General and minister of Justice, Betty Mould Iddrisu has meanwhile told Joy FM that the ruling has come to them as a surprise. She said her team would be meeting on Monday to decide their next line of action.

No financial loss to the state

-Prudential Bank MD assures Ghanaians
Posted: The Chronicle | Friday, July 24, 2009


By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Daniel Nonor & Masahudu Ankiilu Kanuteh
The Managing Director of Prudential Bank, Mr. Stephen Sekyere-Abankwa, yesterday denied suggestions that his bank, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and National Investment Bank (NIB) had intentions to cause financial loss to the state.
This was when he appeared before a Commission of Inquiry to answer questions relating to the role of the consortium with regard to the Ghana@50 celebrations, which has been the subject matter of heated controversy between members of the government and opposition parties.

As far as he was concerned, Mr. Abankwa said the three banks, which formed the consortium, were commissioned for the purpose of helping to raise funds for the Ghana@50 celebrations, and nothing more or less.

Beyond that, he said, the consortium did nothing wrong to willfully cause financial loss to the state, as was being suggested.

He, therefore, sort to erase any doubts hanging over the disbursement of funds for the celebrations.

Mr. Abankwa also denied suggestions of his bank, the Prudential Bank, ever paying any amounts of money to either the former Chief Executive of the Secretariat, Dr. Charles Yves Wereko-Brobby, or the former Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Ghana@50 Planning Committee, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani.

The Managing Director answered questions bordering on the formation of the African

Union Development Consortium Limited (AUDCL), to build 30 presidential mansions at Ridge, La, and the Cantonments Village Project, to provide accommodation for presidents and other dignitaries who attended the AU Summit, the Ghana@50 anniversary, and other conferences such as the UNCTAD.

The AUDCL, which was made up of the Prudential Bank, National Investment Bank and Agricultural Development Bank, was used to acquire a loan from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to help the banks complete the houses on schedule.

Narrating the whole process to the commission, Mr. Abankwa, who is also the Director of the AUDCL, said the relationship between the AUDCL and the Ghana@50 Secretariat was a business relationship, which involved the construction of the houses.

On the 30 presidential mansions at Ridge, he indicated that the Africa Union (AU) Summit was to take place on July, 2007 in Accra, and in September 2006, the National Planning Committee of the Ghana@50 Secretariat reached an agreement with the three banks, which formed the consortium, to undertake the construction of the 30 presidential mansions at Ridge, a suburb of Accra, from their own accounts.

This means the banks had to raise their own money to finance the construction of the mansions.

Mr. Abankwa said the agreement was reached for the transaction, contained in letter dated 4th September 2006 from the National Planning Committee of the Secretariat, and signed by the Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim, among others.

The letter further directed the banks to provide money for the construction of 30 presidential masons to the government to accommodate the guests.

He added that in order not to miss this golden relationship with the government, they formed the consortium, which was owned by the three banks.

According to him, the National Planning Committee later directed the banks to put the 30 mansions on plots of land belong to the SSNIT, and also took a loan from the same institution.

Before actual construction works of the masons commenced, the Ghana@50 Secretariat submitted drawings for the 30 mansions.

The AUDCL engaged the services of a consortium, known as Constro Consult, to provide construction services, design of site, preparations of bid, bid documents, evaluation of bids and other works.

In all, the MD said seven construction companies were engaged for the construction of the houses at the Ridge site.

He was quick to add that construction of the 30 mansions started some where in January 2007, and was completed in June 2007.

After the AU Summit, he stated that the government withheld the sale of the houses, saying that they would be used for other conferences, such as the UNCTAD.

By a letter from the government, dated 29th August 2007, the consortium was informed that the government was interested in acquiring the houses.

In another letter, the government directed that the 30 houses should be sold, which the AUDCL has now engaged the services of Amalgan Consult to sell off the houses to enable the government pay the banks, contractors and other bills.

He note that the outstanding bills at 30th June was GH¢504636.37.

Touching on the La, Cantonments Village project, which is estimated at GH¢10 million, he said since the consortium could not raise the amount from the banks, therefore the consortium contracted the amount from SSNIT, to provide financing for the project.

Legal battle at Ghana@50 probe

TARZAN DRAWS FIRST BLOOD
… Challenges basis of Commission
Posted: The Chronicle | Friday, July 24, 2009



By Charles Takyi-Boadu & George Kyei Frimpong
Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey, deep in thought at yesterday’s sitting
The Chief Executive of the erstwhile Ghana@50 Secretariat, Dr Charles Yves Wereko-Brobby, a.k.a Tarzan, has challenged the setting up of a Commission of Enquiry to investigate alleged irregularities at the Secretariat. Counsel for Dr. Wereko-Brobby, Mr. Akoto Ampaw raised the objection when he and his client appeared before the Commission yesterday.
According to him, the findings of the Commission could not be substituted for the Auditor General’s report, which is currently before Parliament. In a letter written to the Chairman of the Commission, dated July 22, 2009, Mr. Ampaw indicated that the finances of the Ghana@50 celebrations had been audited by the Auditor General in accordance with Articles 187 (2) of the Constitution.

Article 187 (2) states “the public accounts of Ghana and of all public offices, including the courts, the central and local government administrations, of the Universities and public institutions of like nature, of any public corporation or other body or organization established by an Act of Parliament shall be audited and reported on by the Auditor General.”

He was of the conviction that the accounts of the Secretariat falls under the supervision of the Auditor General, adding that Article 187(5) and (6) of the Constitution demands that the AG is to submit its report to Parliament and “Parliament shall debate the report of the AG and appoint where necessary, in public interest, a committee to deal with any matters arising from it, namely the Public Accounts Committee.”

“What is even more pertinent to our client’s concern, Article 187 (7) states in unambiguous terms that - ‘In the performance of his functions under the Constitution or any other law, the Auditor General shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority,” he insisted.

Mr. Ampaw, who re-echoed his sentiments publicly before the Commission, queried the bearing of the Commission’s work on the constitutional mandate of the AG. He argued that their concerns were necessary constitutional matters that border on the fundamental principles of separation of powers, the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution.

Mr. Akoto Ampaw again demanded the procedure by which the Commission would carry out its enquiry, adding that Article 281(2) requires the Rules of Court Committee.

He further requested from the Commission a formal notification of any allegations of improper use of public or other funds that the Commission is aware and intends to investigate. “This we believe will enable our client to fully assist the Commission in its work and also provide our client with reasonable opportunities and facilities to protect his integrity,” he emphasized.

Regarding the issue of the existence of AG’s report on the accounts of the Ghana@50 celebrations, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Isaac Duose, said he would not touch it, since it was before parliament.

Touching on the Rules of Procedure, the Chairman said the Commission would proceed as if it was a court of law, taking into consideration the rules of fair hearing. The three-member Commission has His Lordship; Mr. Justice Isaac Duose of the Court of Appeal as Chairman, with Mr. Osei Tutu Prempeh, Former Auditor-General and Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, a Legal Practitioner, as members. The Commission has Mrs. Barbara Tetteh-Charway and Mrs. Evelyn Keelson as Counsel/Secretaries.

Established by C.I. 61, by President Mills on June 1, 2009, under Article 278 Clause 1(a) of the Constitution, the Commission was inaugurated by His Excellency the Vice President, Mr. John Mahama on June 17th, 2009, and has 90 days within which to submit its report.

It has been tasked to inquire into, and report on allegations of improper use of public and of any other funds, inquire into the use by the Secretariat of any property, movable and unmovable, inquire into any other matter which appears to the Commission to be incidental to, or reasonably related to the Ghana @ 50 celebrations, which in the opinion of the Commission ought to be enquired into and make recommendations in respect of the findings of fact by the Commission

Bawku Central seat

Kulendi, Atuguba battle in court today
Posted: The Chronicle | Wednesday, July 22, 2009.



By Charles Takyi-Boadu
An Accra Fast Track High Court will today hear the arguments of two of the country's prominent lawyers - Yonny Kulendi and Dr Raymond Atuguba as to whether the disputed MP for Bawku Central, Adamu Dramani should be retained or not.

Kulendi is seeking to quash an earlier default judgment which disqualified Mr. Dramani from holding himself out as MP for the area following a writ filed against him by one Sumaila Biebel, who is being represented by Dr Atuguba.

Dramani has already filed a stay of execution against the judgement. By setting aside the default judgment to stay execution, lawyers for the MP believe it will prevent a situation where the plaintiff/respondent, Sumaila Biebel, will take advantage of the judgment and cause irretrievable harm and injury to the constituents of Bawku Central and their representative MP.

In a motion filed at the court, Kulendi argued that in exercising its discretion as to whether or not to grant the instant application, the court ought to have considered whether or not their client, Mr. Dramani, who is an elected Member of Parliament, had reasonable defence to the respondent’s (Sumaila Biebel) action.

He noted that his client had more than just reasonable defence and indicated their preparedness to raise points of law; which required that the court ought to exercise its discretion in their client’s favour, in granting the instant application.

The motion on notice denied the fraud allegation leveled against Mr. Dramani by the plaintiff since in their opinion, it is so serious that it requires the taking of, and admission of evidence in proof, or otherwise; and ought not to operate as a default judgment.

Kulendi premised his argument on the fact that the court had a duty to investigate the various allegations made by the plaintiff, especially bordering fraud and to determine them on merits.

This, according to him, is evident in the fact that the plaintiff's allegation of he (Dramani) holding a British passport and owing allegiance to Great Britain/United Kingdom, can only be proved or established by taking of evidence by the court, since one of the cardinal principles of natural justice prescribes that a man must be heard before he is condemned.

He averred that this principle of justice would be in jeopardy if the court does not exercise its discretion in their client's favour by granting this application so as to enable him file his defence for the suit to be determined on its merits.

The lawyers attributed their inability to furnish a defence to the court to what they described as unavoidable reasons and not out of disrespect to the court.

In exercising its discretion as to whether or not to grant this instant application, Kulendi argued in the motion that the court ought to have considered whether or not his client had a 'bona fide' or probable defence or reasonable or fair grounds for setting up a defence or in the alternative raised triable issues in his defence as contained in his statement of defence.

“It is very necessary for this Honourable court to stay execution of the judgment and order of this court; pending the determination of the application on its merits."

Court lifts embargo on Korle Bu accounts

Posted: The Chronicle | Tuesday, July 21, 2009.


By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The Fast Track High Court hearing the case in which the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has been sued by 446 workers of the hospital for their inability to give them their (workers) registered land documents yesterday, lifted the embargo it placed on the hospital's bank account a couple of months ago.

This was after lawyers for the hospital, and the affected workers, managed to reach an agreement for an amicable settlement of the matter.

The hospital has thus indicated its preparedness to provide the needed documents covering the sale and acquisition of the said plots of land, located at Oyibi in the Greater Accra Region, to the workers on or before September 15, this year.

Counsel for the workers, Kakraba Essamuah, told the court that should the hospital fail to honour its part of the agreement, they would advise themselves, since the hospital cannot continue to dilly-dally with the affected workers.

This latest decision of the court comes as a sigh of relief to the management of the hospital, considering the fact they could not access the account after an earlier directive by the same court, which prevented them from going into the account.

The court decided to freeze the hospital's account as a result of its inability to comply with the court order to issue registered documents covering the payment of some plots of land situated at Oyibi in the Greater Accra Region, to some of its staff.

In its judgment of December 18, 2008, the court ordered the defendants, Korle-Bu, to “issue plaintiffs the registered documents on the plots of land they have paid for within two months.”

It also ordered the hospital to put the individual plaintiffs in possession of the plots of land, stressing, “if the defendant is unable to comply with the first two orders, then it shall refund to plaintiffs the monies paid for the land.”

Court freezes Korle-Bu account

… Management files for review
Posted: The Chronicle | Monday, July 20, 2009


By Charles Takyi Boadu

Prof. Frimpong Boateng, the former CEO of Korle-Bu

An Accra Fast Tract High Court presided over by Justice Isaac Lartey-Young will today decide whether to lift the embargo placed on the bank account of the nation’s premier health facility - Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), after several months of back and forth movement to settle the impasse amicably.

The court decided to freeze the hospital’s account as a result its inability to comply with orders to issue registered documents covering the payment of some plots of land situated at Oyibi, in the Greater Accra region, to some of its staff.

In the original suit brought by workers of the hospital against their management, they prayed the court to determine whether or not the defendants offered to purchase plots of land at Oyibi for the plaintiffs, whether the defendants asked the plaintiffs to pay for the said land by directing that periodic deductions be made from the emoluments of the plaintiffs until the property was fully paid for, and whether or not the defendants had defrauded the plaintiffs.

It further prayed the court to ascertain whether or not the defendants are liable to the plaintiffs for the provision of the land and whether or not the defendants are immune from prosecution for their acts.

However, in its judgement of December 18 2008, the court ordered the defendants - Korle-Bu, to ‘issue plaintiffs with the registered documents covering the plots of land they had paid for within two months.’

It also ordered the hospital to put the individual plaintiffs in possession of the plots of land, stressing that ‘if the defendant is unable to comply with the first two orders then it shall refund to plaintiffs the monies paid for the land.’

The hospital’s management did not comply with the court’s orders within the stipulated two months. The inability of the hospital management to meet the court’s order is what compelled the presiding judge to freeze its bank account in order to assess the amount of money it holds in its chest, if it would be able to meet the refundable cost involved.

This was after the court gave its ruling on the case, in which over 446 of the hospital’s staff, including one Dr. R.B.K Abraham, sued the hospital and its management for their inability to issue them with registered documents covering the said land.

In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs, represented by Accra-based legal practitioner, Mr. Kakra Essamuah, accused management of dilly-dallying with them over the issuance of the registered documents of the land, though they had dully paid for it.

The case of the plaintiffs was that somewhere in 2004 there was a publication in the hospital’s bulletin that a tract of land had been secured at Oyibi to be allocated to staff for housing projects.

The publication thus asked interested persons to register with a committee named -‘The Korle-Bu Land Administration Committee’, formed to implement the decision of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Board.

The plaintiffs, therefore, registered their names by showing interest in acquiring portions of the said land. Payment was to be made from the Additonal Duty Hours Allowances (ADHA) paid to the staff. The total payment for each plot of land was GH¢ 1,200 and the deposit was made by Korle-Bu Hospital on behalf of the plaintiffs.

It was also published in the ‘Daily Graphic’ of Thursday, August 16 2007, captioned ‘Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng’s revolution at Korle-Bu’. The Professor, who was then the Chief Executive recounted his achievements and future plans.

Two paragraphs stated that -‘conscious of the key reasons for the exodus of health professional, especially nurses of the hospital, management purchased 1,000 plots of land for staff on hire purchase basis, and the beneficiaries have already paid for their plots. The hospital is also exploring the possibility of finding owners of this plot to put up their houses for them.’

The deposit was paid by the management committee and the ADHA was used to recover the payment. The plaintiffs completed their payment and the committee organised some groups of the plaintiffs to visit and inspect the land, which they had approved.

Some of the plaintiffs corroborated the evidence and tendered receipts for the payment of the land, as well as a copy of the ‘Korle-Bu Bulletin’, showing photographs of some of the staff who visited the land, and also a letter of appreciation to the defendants.

GH¢45,000 bribery allegation against Sefa Kayi

Ken Agyepong puts Shaaba in trouble
Posted: The Chronicle / Thursday, July 16, 2009


By Charles Takyi Boadu

Hon. Kennedy Agyepong, MP for Assin-North constituency (left), Hon. Seth Agyei-Baah (Shaaba), MP for Nkawkaw (middle), Kwame Sefa-Kayi (right)

A firebrand politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Assin-North constituency, Kennedy Agyepong, yesterday placed a high sense of responsibility and proof of innocence on his colleague MP for Nkawkaw, Seth Agyei-Baah (Shaaba), over a bribery allegation which appears to be difficult to prove.

Mr. Agyepong confirmed telling some colleague MPs that Shaaba had indeed informed him that during the campaign season for the 2008 general elections, he was approached by Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ Morning Show host, Kwami Sefa Kayi, who told him point-blank that he was a member of the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), and that he should give him an amount of GH¢45,000 cedis to help him win the Nkawkaw Parliamentary seat he was contesting.

According to him (Mr. Agyepong), he was extremely surprised when he got the information from Shaaba, considering the fact that he (Sefa Kayi) occasionally had the opportunity of travelling with then President Kufuor as part of his media team.

This, he said, was what made him ask his colleagues, with whom he was having the said discussion, to be careful, and that he had no hard feelings against Sefa Kayi or Shaaba.

But, Shaaba found it extremely difficult to confirm or deny the allegation when he was called into the programme, since he could not tell whether or not he indeed made any such inferences, let alone met Sefa Kayi over the said matter.

Shaaba could not answer the questions outrightly, but continued to hide behind the use of the words ‘I don’t remember’, which obviously raised some question marks on his position.

That notwithstanding, Shaaba said he could not tell where and when in Parliament he had this conversation with Mr. Agyepong, saying “I am surprised about that, because honestly, I don’t know where and when, because I know Ken, but we don’t discuss things like that, it is hi and hello, so I don’t know where and how that kind of discussion should come, for us to discuss all these things.”

He suspected Ken Agyepong might have gotten the information from another source, since according to him, “to the best of my knowledge, we have not discussed something like that. I don’t know all these things are coming out.”

Like a judge in his own court, Sefa Kayi pressed further for Shaaba to confirm or deny telling Mr Agyepong any such thing or meeting him over the issue, but the hard-pressed Shaaba told him that if he (Sefa Kayi) knows he has done any such thing, then so be it, but he does not recall where and where this discussion took place.

Shaaba said he only knows Mr. Agyepong as a colleague Member of Parliament, and considered him a senior brother and colleague businessman, with whom he occasionally exchanged greetings and pleasantries.

Apart from that, he said he does not have any intimate relations with him, for him to go to the extent of having any such discussions.

But, Mr. Agyepong, who made the allegation, insisted that it was Shaaba who told him about the issue in Parliament.

He was however apologetic about the issue coming out in public, since the journalist who broke the story, one Okamafo Asomani Addo of the Weekly Standard newspaper, seemed to have eavesdropped on a conversation he was having with colleague Parliamentarians.

“It is an unpleasant situation for him; and I am sorry for him, but the truth is, he told me,” he said, asking why out of the several NPP MPs, he did not mention anybody’s name, apart from Shaaba.

Probably for the first time in recent years, the hard-to-crack Assin-North MP was remorseful and could not find words to pacify his colleague for opening his mouth too wide.

Though Mr. Agyepong confirmed having discussed the bribery allegation with some people, he totally denied ever saying anywhere or telling anybody during the said discussion with his colleagues, that Sefa Kayi was his sworn enemy, and challenged the journalist to play the tape recording he claims to be having in his possession.

Okamafo however refused to play the tape, stressing that he only takes solace from the fact that Mr. Agyepong confirmed the bribery allegation, which was the substance of the story.

Ken Agyepong advises NPP

Leave Appiah-Ofori to his fate
…He is a hypocrite, disgrace to party
Posted: The Chronicle / Friday, July 17, 2009



By Charles Takyi Boadu
The Outspoken New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin-North constituency, Kennedy Agyepong has urged the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to ignore the Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mr. P.C Appiah-Ofori, who has been making series of allegations against some of his colleague MPs.

According to him, expelling Appiah-Ofori from the NPP would rather make him a hero, since it will appear like he has been sacrificed for fighting a worthy course, when in actual fact he is only peddling lies and falsehood about the party.

Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle, as to whether he supports the call to expel the MP from the party or not, he said it was public knowledge that PC. Ofori has credibility problem, so there is no need to be worried about what he says.

Hon. Kennedy Agyepong, who was not happy with some of Mr. Appiah-Ofori’s comments, especially the most recent one, in which he alleged that NPP MPs who voted in favour of the sale of Ghana Telecom were paid $5,000 each. Hon. Agyepong said: “I think he has hit the wall, so they should leave him alone.”

The Assin-North MP denied ever receiving any such amount from either the then Chief of Staff or the NPP government as a form of compensation, as alleged by his colleague NPP MP.

“He is not credible anymore, especially after a woman told the whole Ghana that he (PC) had taken GH ¢46,000 from her, under the pretext of buying fish for her”, he said with rage, and added that “if this same man says he is credible and can disgrace his fellow Parliamentarians like this, then I am sorry, Ghanaians should read between the lines.”

The tough talking legislator believes the leadership of the NPP would rather make Mr. Appiah-Ofori more popular when they kick him out of the party, hence they should leave him to his fate. He said -“so let him be there, now nobody will take him serious because Ghanaians are discerning, and they know that he’s a hypocrite, he pretends.”

According to Hon. Agyepong, Hon. Appiah-Ofori takes delight in making unsubstantiated allegations, and said “when he criticises like that, he is considered an anti-corruption campaigner, and he gets a lot of international invitations, but he cannot disgrace me because I have built my reputation over the years and he cannot use one statement to discredit me like that.”

This, according to him, is what has made him (Ken Agyepong) to challenge his colleague MP to provide evidence to substantiate those allegations that he made to the committee, which has been tasked by the President to investigate the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone.

APPIAH OFORI TO BE AXED FROM NPP

…For opening his mouth too wide
…But MP calls NPP’s bluff

Posted: Wednesday, July 8, 2009.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
It is now certain that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) will apply the stiffest form of punishment on its own Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, P.C Appiah Ofori who responds to the title of an anti-corruption crusader.
If what General Secretary of the party, Nana Ohene-Ntow is saying is anything worth considering, then, it is most certain that the MP faces a possible expulsion or suspension from the NPP.
“We want Mr. Appiah Ofori to understand that he is not an independent Member of Parliament, it could be that he crossed or to leave the party but we would apply the rules of the party and whatever the rules dictate, we will implement those rules”, he emphasised.
The rules of the NPP, according to him, dictates ‘if anybody consistently drags the name of the party in the mud, and refuses to make amends, that person ought to be sanctioned’, by means of suspension or expulsion.
This follows allegations he made to the committee tasked to investigate the sale of Ghana Telecom (GT) to Vodafone to the effect that some of his colleague MP’s in the NPP benefited from the deal since according to him, they were paid US $5,000 to vote in favour of the sale the company when it came to Parliament.
Nana Ohene-Ntow yesterday told Joy Fm’s ‘Supers Morning show’ host, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah “we will take a firm decision before the close of this week.”
Latest by the end of Friday, he noted that the party would communicate its decision to the MP who is currently attending an agric workshop/conference in Britain.
He said the party was now fed up with Appiah Ofori’s indecision and his tantrums since it is causing a lot of disaffection for the NPP.
Under the current, he said the leadership of the party have been meeting to decide on which of the two options (expulsion or suspension) to impose on the MP who is seen as not just a seen as a ‘loud mouth’ but also a ‘black sheep’ in the party considering the way and manner in which he continuous to put the party’s name and image in bad light.
According to him, what Mr. Appiah has sought to do over the years is to undermine the cohesion and cooperation of the NPP, which he said does not augur well for the unity of the party.
He imagined how their political opponents, especially their colleagues in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) jumping at it and making a mountain out of a molehill when the allegations are indeed not true.
The General Secretary stressed the belief that the MP in question may have some other motive behind what he has been doing either than what he merely claims to be fighting or exposing corruption, as he wants Ghanaians to believe.
Asked whether might want to sanction Mr Appiah Ofori for the simple reason that he is not playing to the gallery, Ohen-Ntow said that was far from the question, stressing that every organisation has got rules which its members are to subscribe to.
“After all, it’s a question of reaching compromises and building consensus, if on a consistent basis, a person shows that they (he) cannot go with the tenets of the group or an association, I think the next normal thing to do is to say that, look, this is a bunch of crooks, you people are unholy, you are unclean, I can’t live with you because am too holy and am too clean for your environment”, he stressed.
In any case, he said, P.C Appiah Ofori has a choice to resign from the party if he feels uncomfortable in their company.
As a man who is supposed to be a “honourable’ Member of the country’s august Parliament, Ohene-Ntow wondered the kind of intimate things Mr. Appiah Ofori he goes on radio to say about his own family, stressing ‘those things could even embarrass the party.”
He did not see the need for the party to investigate the matter since according to him, it is not true and has no basis for any such investigations, asking rhetorically “why did he withdraw that letter he sent to the Chief of Staff in the first place?”, saying “we don’t have anything to investigate.”
“I mean, there is just too much that this man has done, we’ve tried, we discussed, he will come and apologise, am sorry, the next day there is another thing, I think it is about time”, he noted.
But Mr Appiah Ofori in a recent interview with The Chronicle said nobody could remove him from the party and dared anybody to take the initiative.
He called the bluff of those calling for him to be expelled from the party.
He says nobody can remove him from the party since there are laws and laid down procedures governing the party.
Until those procedures are followed, he says “I will not resign and nobody can remove me from the party because of this.”
This was in reaction to calls by some members of his own party and Political Science Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kwasi Amakye who are calling for the anti-corruption crusader to be sacked from the party for his critical nature of certain actions of members and officials of the party.
“If I have accused my party of being corrupt, I should be placed before the appropriate disciplinary committee to be probed and it is found out that indeed I have accused my own party of corrupt practices, the appropriate disciplinary action should be taken against me”, he emphasized.
If not, he noted “then leave these nonentities to their own devices.”
He however indicated his preparedness to resign from the party if a properly constituted committee of enquiry finds him guilty of having flouted the NPPs constitution.
In the absence of this, he says he will continue to be a member of the party and thus called the bluff of those asking for him to be expelled from the party or better still resign since according to him, their concerns are misplaced.
“If I speak against corruption and somebody says by so-doing I’m bringing down the party’s image, by so-doing I’m not going by what the party wants, am not applying myself to party aspirations and programmes, by implication, he is saying that the party is against the fight against corruption, the party condones and connives such corrupt practices, the itself is involved in corrupt practices, so anytime I speak against it, then I’m speaking against the party”, he noted.
He thus wondered why people could read such weird meanings into his stance against corruption which is fast creeping into the Ghanaian moral fibre.
In any case, he noted that if he should go contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution, it behoves on the disciplinary committee to give him a fair hearing and give him an opportunity to defend himself.
If the committee finds his conduct to be wrong, he said “they should pronounce or announce my expulsion to the National Executive Committee (NEC), if I am not satisfied, I can also appeal to the National Council.”
He therefore emphasized that people like Kwasi Amakye and those asking for him to be sacked or resign from the party does not know exactly what they are talking about since according to him, they are not familiar with the party’s constitution which prescribes procedures to follow when such matters arise.
Mr. Appiah-Ofori could not comprehend why anybody would call on him to resign for referring to certain public servants as ‘thieves’ when an Auditor-General’s report has indicted for having embezzled or stolen state funds, asking rhetorically “if I say this, have I spoken against the party?, If the Auditor-General comes to say that public servants have looted the country and I repeat this, have I spoken against the party.”
Kwasi Amakye on Monday asked the leadership of the NPP to expel Mr. Appiah-Ofori from the party for his critical nature of the party, stressing “"Those who choose to be members of an organization would definitely like to work for it to succeed. Generally, these activities involve conflicts, and everybody would necessarily not agree to issues when they come up, but you don't go out publicly to take a stance against your party, to me that is the position of Appiah-Ofori in the NPP," he stressed.
He wondered whether the MP has ever sat down with the executives of the party to suggest to them solutions to problems in the party, and act in away that would help the party realize its aspirations.

Hawkers play hide and seek with police

Posted:The Chronicle / Monday, July 06, 2009



By Charles Takyi Boadu
Displaced hawkers at the Accra Central Business district, who were affected by the recent decongestion exercise embarked upon by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), appear to be defiant of the city authority’s directive to leave the streets and pavements of Accra for the Pedestrian Shopping Mall.

Most of these displaced hawkers are still lurking in front of stores, biding their time to return to the streets and pavements when the security personnel policing the area finally leave.

When The Chronicle went round the principal streets and pavements of the Central Business district of Accra, and the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where most of these people were affected last week Thursday, it realised that most of the hawkers were playing what could best be described as ‘hide-and-seek’ with the law enforcement agencies.

At the Rawlings Park in Accra, some of the displaced hawkers were seen hovering around the pavements, whilst others lurked in front of shops in readiness to go back to the streets when the security details leave.

The situation at the Kwame Nkrumah circle was a different ball game from what was discovered in the Accra Business district.

Here, most of these hawkers were seen doing brisk business on the pavements, since there were no security personnel to sack them.

Asked why they were still loitering on the pavements, and not going to occupy the much-talked-about Pedestrian Shopping Mall, part of which was still empty, most of these hawkers said for one reason or the other, people (buyers) do not take delight in coming to buy at the market.

Others also said they were harassed and driven away whenever they go to some other markets to trade their wares. This, according to them, was because they do not have regular places there, and therefore end up blocking people’s displayed wares.

Meanwhile, some of the affected hawkers said they had contracted loans from the various banks, ranging between GH¢500 – GH¢ 5,000, and do not know where to get those monies to go and service the loans.

The hawkers did not also understand why the shopping mall at circle was built in two sections, with a lorry station in the middle.

According to them, one could get everything he or she wants to buy at the first section of the market, and would therefore not go to the second section, popularly known as ‘Tuobodom’.

For this reason, they said they had nowhere to go unless the AMA gives them a better alternative.

Ahwoi Weeps for Selormey, Peprah Others

Posted: The Chronicle wednesday, July 1, 2009.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Food and Agriculture Minister, Kwesi Ahwoi, yesterday showed how emotionally attached he was to the much talked-about Aveyime rice project, which is situated in the Volta region.
This was when he was responding to queries from The Chronicle about the current state of affairs of the project when his Ministry took its turn at the meet-the-press series in Accra, yesterday.
"It is too emotional for me; I don't normally want to talk, I just want to see and work at getting that project deliver for the sake of my brothers whose lives have been messed up because they have been to jail not on account of corruption, but administrative mishap perpetrated by the Manager of the project at that time", he said.
For the fate that he and his other colleague Ministers were made to suffer, Mr. Ahwoi has committed himself to make the project one of the most vibrant in the country, to prove his doubters wrong. "We are proving that the project is viable and it will produce the rice that we want to see."
Mr. Ahwoi could not fathom the circumstance under which his colleagues were prosecuted and subsequently sent to jail, stressing "not that they stole any rice, they didn't eat a cup of rice, they didn't steal US $1.00 but the project called Aveyime that was being mismanaged by the then management sent my colleague Ministers, my friends and brothers to jail." That notwithstanding, he said "so we are back and thank God we are now in charge and we are running Aveyime again."
According to him, the Aveyime rice project which has been decked with so many controversies is that the controversial project has been conceived and become viable. Like all other projects, he noted that it could have gone astray since it happens everywhere.
He noted that for the crimes and iniquities of the Managers of the said project, he and his other colleagues had to suffer, saying "granted that we suffered, all the equipment that came for this project, the tax payers money that were used in bringing those equipment, the plane that was to spray the farm, the tractors, the silos, the rice mill which was described by the witnesses at that time as first class, were deliberately allowed by the then government to go waste."
The Food and Agriculture Minister described it as a fantastic project, indicating that with just one pump, out of the remaining 40 which is lying obsolete, he noted that they have already cultivated 300 hectares of the land and will do the next 300 hectares sometime soon.
According to him, they have harvested the first 80 hectares of rice from the farm. Obviously not happy with the fate he and his other colleagues were made to suffer, Mr. Ahwoi could not but asked "if we had not been political myopic and we had allowed this project to run 8years ago, can you imagine where this country will be by now in our rice exports?" Under the current circumstance, he noted that the government has no other option than to revamp the project and make it viable.