AKOTO AMPAW TACKLES ATTORNEY GENERAL

…says his comments are misleading
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Accra-based legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw a.k.a ‘Sheshe’ has taken on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Joe Ghartey over his comments about the ongoing debate on the Freedom of Information Bill.
He disagreed with the proposal of the A-G for the provision of certain limitations under the Bill for the purposes of what he (the Attorney General) claims to be the security of the state.
For him, this comment by Mr. Ghartey was misleading since for according to him, it is the public interest that matters, stressing “because sometimes government may hide under the context of the security of the state to do things that are clearly illegal.”
Instead, he noted, “we should insist on limitations in the public interest and not the rarely difficult context of the security and safety of the state.”
Mr. Akoto Ampaw made these comments at a one-day seminar put together by the National Media Commission (NMC) in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) foundation at the Coconut Grove Regency hotel in Accra under the theme ‘the state of freedom and independence of the media in 2007’.
The problem of the Bill, according to him, was not that of extensions since there would tend to be the need for exemptions.
In his view, these kind of exemptions would serve as an obstacle for journalists or other individuals and corporate entities from having access to information from the offices of the President, his Vice and the security agencies, emphasising “that doesn’t meet the constitutional terms of exemptions or limitations that are reasonably required for the protection of its interest under the Right to Information Bill.”
In other words, the learned fellow said, “information in the President’s office, the Vice President’s office, in the hands of national security or defence, must also be put to the test.”
Where it is to be exempted, he stressed that it should not just be for the reason that it is coming from the office of the President, but “because it is necessary to exempt that information based on public interest considerations or …”
Lawyer Akoto Ampaw has thus charged civil society organisations to start tackling the issue of such ‘blanket’ exemptions in the draft Bill before it is finally passed into law.
In other areas where the exemptions are formulated, he noted that they are not subject to…public requirement.
“Our concern with the Bill is that they should be formulated in such a way as to meet the constitutional requirement for the qualification of this very important right”, he prescribed.
He also had cause to raise questions about the institution mandated to enforce the implementation of the Bill when it is finally passed into law.
Under the current circumstance, as prescribed in the draft Bill, the Attorney General is mandated to carry out this obviously controversial responsibility of enforcing the law.
Many analysts including the former Executive Secretary of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) have equally had cause to raise doubts about this implausible role to be played by the A-G, a situation some have likened to conflict of interest, considering the A-Gs position as a Chief State Prosecutor.
Consistent with the practice elsewhere that such laws exist, the lawyers said there is the need to establish an independent Commission to protect that right whilst educating people on the tenets of the Freedom of Information law.
“And it’s to be noted that the Attorney General’s office, currently, is incapable of performing even its core functions of prosecution in criminal matters and representing government in civil matters, so to add this very huge additional responsibility to it, it is not expected that the Bill, when passed into law would have any effect”

In the battle of fate and credentials

Jawula lays claim to veep slot
…says `my ambition is to be a loyal Vice President`
By Charles Takyi-Boadu Posted: Thursday, July 03, 2008
One of the three names which have popped up as likely choice of Running Mate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming elections, Lepowura M.N.D Jawula, appears to be miles ahead of his other compatriots in the obviously keenly contested race.
In a race which appears to be one of fate and credentials, aides close to the Lepowura have said that he is banking his hopes on his extensive credentials in both the public and civil service, to come up tops among the list of names being paraded.
Though he had earlier turned down an interview request by this reporter, the Lepowura finally agreed to speak after extensive demands.
“My ambition is to be a loyal Vice President cut in the mould of Dick Cheney. If all goes well in the 8years, I should be 67years and preparing to get back to chieftaincy and be the pride of the institution”, he said.
If given the nod, Alhaji Jawula as he is fondly called has indicated his preparedness to sacrifice his position as a chief and resign from the civil service to partner the party’s Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to win the upcoming elections on the ticket of the NPP.
With 32years of both civil and public service experience under his sleeves, he said “I can bring these experience to bear on the Flagbearer, for the national interest.”
Asked what makes him unique among the tall list of names being paraded as probable candidates for the vice Presidential slot of his party, Lepowura said “my affability, tact, diplomacy and sometimes my toughness are legendary, and appreciated by those who come into close contact with me.”
Jawula, who is currently 59years has spent a good 14years out of the total of his 32years of his public and civil service serving in various capacities in the Northern region in the entire Mamprusi and Dagomba areas where most people reject postings.
Years later, he found himself at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning where he also served for 13years, rising through the ranks of Deputy Director to Director and then proceeded to the position of Head of General Administration.
He was later sent to the Ministry of Habours and Railways, where he served as Chief Director for another 3years and subsequently transferred to his present Health Ministry, where he has been serving for the past 2years as Chief Director.
In the area of football, he has been Chairman of the Real Tamale United (RTU) football club for several years and known to be the unifying factor for the splinter groups in the club.
He also progressed from being mere member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to Vice Chairman and subsequently the substantive Chairman.
As FA Chairman, Lepowura organised successful national leagues and championships.
It was during his tenure as FA Chairman that Accra Hearts of Oak won the champions league and the super cup.
He also succeeded in leading Ghana to Ecuador in 1995, where the Starlets won the world under-17 championship and also won the African under-20 championship in 1999.
In the latter part of his reign as FA Chairman in 2001, Jawula’s administration fetched Ghana a silver medal at the world under-20 level in Argentina.
He was the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in 1999 and 2000 and vice Chairman of the LOC of the just-ended CAN 2008 soccer fiesta.
He was a leading member of the Bid committee that brought the cup of nations to Ghana.
For these and other achievements, the President, John Agyekum Kufuor has decided to honour him with the ‘Order of Volta’ category of national awards.
It therefore comes as no surprise that Alhaji Jawula was given a civil service meritorious award in 1999.
Aside these, he is accepted by both royal gates of Yendi, the Andanis and Abudus, which has afforded him the opportunity of Chairing several meetings which both sides have participated in.
As a thorough bred rural practitioner with 32years of both public and civil service experience up his sleeves, the Lepowura seem to be miles ahead of the other competitors, whose civil and public service combined, obviously comes nowhere near that of Jawula. He has experienced governance at both the rural and urban levels, hence he understands the plight of the people.
Jawula was born in ‘Cowlane’ in Accra to a Ga mother.
He is of Hausa and Ga stock and a leading member of the famous Shardow family of Accra.
He has both Zongo and authentic Ga origins.
“Being of royal lineage, I believe I bring another dimension of interest from the traditional authority of Ghana, to the partnership between me and Nana particularly, as Nana is known to show deep respect and reverence to traditional authority”, he said.

CADG to establish university college

By Charles Takyi-Boadu Posted: Thursday, July 03, 2008
The Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has indicated plans to establish a university college.
This is intended to aid the department in churning out fully-qualified professionals for its activities and operations.
This was contained in a communiqué issued after its just-ended annual delegates conference in Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region.
It has thus indicated its readiness to consolidate the gains, made under the Budget Public Expenditure Management Systems (BPEMS). “Whereas the government and citizens accept that the financial administration Act, makes the CAGD responsible for the management of public funds, and accounting in the public sector, we the delegates of this conference, on behalf of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, shall consolidate the gains made on the BPEMS, treasury-re-alignment, Integrated Personnel Payment Data (IPPD2), Department Manuals Implementation to achieve our mission and that of the nation as a whole”, they resolved.
In effect, they have resolved to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, in the discharge of their duties, and perform their work in accordance with the generally accepted principles of accounting, stressing “we shall provide client-focused, transparent, timely and cost-effective financial management services to the government and the public.”
They have also resolved to constantly update, and make information readily available to all stakeholders, on the department’s website. Management has also resolved to give fair hearing to staff, who are alleged to have misconducted themselves, before action is taken, stressing that it would continue to lay emphasis on the department’s capacity-building programmes.
That notwithstanding, the department has also given its word, to sustain and continue to ensure that reports and financial statements, are submitted on timely basis, as required by the financial laws, whilst collaborating with management of district assemblies, to enhance good working relations, between accounting staff and staff of district assemblies, for better service delivery.
“The department shall ensure adequate staffing at all levels of its operations,” they noted, emphasising that “we will adhere to internal control systems, with the view to minimising unacceptable practices at Ministries Departments and Agencies and MMDAs.”
Management of the department have resolved to rationalise all personal emoluments on government payroll, and control the persistent increase in personal emoluments, by migrating subvented organisations, including the military and police service, onto the government payroll, whilst pursuing the welfare of its staff.
In view of prevailing circumstances, the conference recommended that management should continue to improve the conditions of service of staff.