Corruption scandal shakes Vatican as internal letters leaked

Pope Benedict XVI The Vatican was shaken by a corruption scandal Thursday after an Italian television investigation said a former top official had been transferred against his will after complaining about irregularities in awarding contracts. The show "The Untouchables" on the respected private television network La 7 Wednesday night showed what it said were several letters that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who was then deputy-governor of Vatican City, sent to superiors, including Pope Benedict, in 2011 about the corruption. The Vatican issued a statement Thursday criticizing the "methods" used in the journalistic investigation. But it confirmed that the letters were authentic by expressing "sadness over the publication of reserved documents." As deputy governor of the Vatican City for two years from 2009 to 2011, Vigano was the number two official in a department responsible for maintaining the tiny city-state's gardens, buildings, streets, museums and other infrastructure. Vigano, currently the Vatican's ambassador in Washington, said in the letters that when he took the job in 2009 he discovered a web of corruption, nepotism and cronyism linked to the awarding of contracts to outside companies at inflated prices. In one letter, Vigano tells the pope of a smear campaign against him (Vigano) by other Vatican officials who wanted him transferred because they were upset that he had taken drastic steps to save the Vatican money by cleaning up its procedures. "Holy Father, my transfer right now would provoke much disorientation and discouragement in those who have believed it was possible to clean up so many situations of corruption and abuse of power that have been rooted in the management of so many departments," Vigano wrote to the pope on March 27, 2011. In another letter to the pope on April 4, 2011, Vigano says he discovered the management of some Vatican City investments was entrusted to two funds managed by a committee of Italian bankers "who looked after their own interests more than ours." LOSS OF $2.5 MILLION, 550,000 EURO NATIVITY SCENE Vigano says in the same letter that in one single financial transaction in December, 2009, "they made us lose two and a half million dollars." The program interviewed a man it identified as a member of the bankers' committee who said Vigano had developed a reputation as a "ballbreaker" among companies that had contracts with the Vatican, because of his insistence on transparency and competition. The man's face was blurred on the transmission and his voice was distorted in order to conceal his identity. In one of the letters to the pope, Vigano said Vatican-employed maintenance workers were demoralized because "work was always given to the same companies at costs at least double compared to those charged outside the Vatican." For example, when Vigano discovered that the cost of the Vatican's larger than life nativity scene in St Peter's Square was 550,000 euros in 2009, he chopped 200,000 euros off the cost for the next Christmas, the program said. Even though, Vigano's cost-cutting and transparency campaign helped turned Vatican City's budget from deficit to surplus during his tenure, in 2011 unsigned articles criticizing him as inefficient appeared in the Italian newspaper Il Giornale. On March 22, 2011, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone informed Vigano that he was being removed from his position, even though it was to have lasted until 2014. Five days later he wrote to Bertone complaining that he was left "dumbfounded" by the ouster and because Bertone's motives for his removal were identical to those published in an anonymous article published against him in Il Giornale that month. In early April, Vigano went over Bertone's head again and wrote directly to the pope, telling him that he had worked hard to "eliminate corruption, private interests and dysfunction that are widespread in various departments." He also tells the pope in the same letter that "no-one should be surprised about the press campaign against me" because he tried to root out corruption and had made enemies. Despite his appeals to the pope that a transfer, even if it meant a promotion, "would be a defeat difficult for me to accept," Vigano was named ambassador to Washington in October of last year after the sudden death of the previous envoy to the United States. In its statement, the Vatican said the journalistic investigation had treated complicated subjects in a "partial and banal way" and could take steps to defend the "honor of morally upright people" who loyally serve the Church. The statement said that today's administration was a continuation of the "correct and transparent management that inspired Monsignor Vigano."

From: Reuters   

Tullow Oil, Sunderland FC launch ‘Invest In Africa’ initiative

Tullow Oil in collaboration with UK-based Sunderland Football Club has launched a new business initiative dubbed “Invest in Africa” to attract and facilitate further investments in the continent.

The initiative is intended to promote Africa’s investment opportunities to the international business community through football, and encourage long-term investment across the continent to help build and develop local capacity, boost domestic job markets, develop skills and stimulate economic growth.

Tullow Chief Executive Aidan Heavy said Tullow is the initial founding partner in ‘Invest in African’ with investments in at least 17 African countries, but plans on securing a further five founding partners for the international business community focused on Africa.

“Lots of the people I have spoken with about Africa in the international business community think of Africa in terms of charity and aid and not as an investment destination – but I believe Africa presents one of the best investment opportunities in the world today and this initiative is to promote that,” he said.

He noted that research has shown more than four billion people watch the English Premiership every week and that meant if Africa’s business opportunities could be brought to the attention of that huge number, substantial international investment would come the way of Africa.

Mr. Heavy said Tullow initially approach some of the English football clubs which are more popular and have a better presence in Africa than Sunderland does, but each of them were interested in what profits they would make rather than how they can impact Africa with their investment.

“Sunderland FC was the only club that welcomed our idea and grasped the vision and passion for Africa so we believe we have a great partner in Sunderland FC to achieve this goal,” he said.

Mr. Heavy said Africa has been good to Tullow and “we have been successful, but we want that success to bring growth for local people and economies too.”

Naill Quinn is the Director of International Development for Sunderland FC, of which Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan was once a striker; Naill said Sunderland is excited about the ground-breaking opportunity to bring Sunderland into new territories, adding that he believes the global appeal for the Premier League can be harnessed to benefit Africa.

He said Sunderland was not in the Invest in Africa deal for profit, but to use its appeal to promote investment and development in Africa.

Sunderland would use its television presence, football pitch and other outdoor opportunities to promote the Invest in Africa message, plus it also plans to touch base with local people in Africa and help young people develop their talents in both soccer and other career choices in the future.

Executive Chairman of Tullow Ghana, Ike Duker said the initiative would also rope in regulatory agencies and government institutions like the ministries, MMDAs and others with the view to creating the enabling environment for investment as Tullow and its private partners go a mission to bring in investors. 


Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona/Adom News/Ghana 

Tullow Oil launches $6 million Scholarship Scheme

Tullow Oil has launched a scholarship scheme worth more than $6million to support 110 young scholars from nine developing countries including 50 from Ghana. The Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme would benefit university graduates with second class upper or first class degrees, and HND holders with distinction drawn from Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mauritania and French Guiana. Out of the 50 spaces allotted to Ghana, 10 have been reserved for the Western Region, another 10 for government institutions and the remaining 30 are open for public competition. Each qualifying candidate stands to gain at least $60,000 a year covering tuition, travel, warm clothes, monthly allowances and baggage allowance for training in selected European countries including the UK and France. Vice President of External Affair and Corporate Social Responsibility at Tullow Oil, Rosalind Kainyah said Tullow has already sponsored 24 Ghanaians on pilot basis to top universities in the UK to study and this comprehensive one comes on the back of the success of the pilot. She said over time the scholarship to study overseas would give way to scholarships to study locally because Tullow has plans to support internationally recognised institutions in the selected countries to train the scholars instead of making them travel overseas. “The in-country institutional strengthening programme will complement the scholarship scheme and will mean that the need for scholarships in overseas institutions phases out over time and is replaced with scholarships to these internationally recognised in-country institutions,” she said. Tullow has appointed the British Council to manage the selection of candidates for the scholarship and Director of the British Council Ghana, Moses Anibaba says they will start receiving applications from March this year. He also announced that the British Council will also take care of all pre-departure issues like visa and flight arrangement for the selected candidates. Part of the British Council’s responsibility is to ensure that beneficiaries of the scheme would return home after their training and help with national development and Mr. Anibaba said the council will notrenege on that responsibility. Minister of Energy, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei who launched the scheme lauded Tullow for the initiative and noted that if the scheme continued at the pace it is going, Ghana and Africa would have lots of world class experts within a short time. He however appealed to Tullow to increase the number of scholarships for Ghana, saying “if you give 50 scholarships at a time when you are drilling 85,000 barrels of oils per day in Ghana then I pray for you to get 120,000 barrels of oil in Ghana per day so you can give us about 80 scholarships every year.” The minister also urged beneficiaries to return home and help with national development saying that if anyone fails to return he will personally organise a prayer session and pray until the person returns home.

Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona/Adom News/Ghana    

Allotey Jacobs: Woyome scandal stinks, it’s an albatross on our neck

Central Regional Communication Director of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, says the Woyome scandal is an albatross on the neck of government.

Describing the controversial payment of GHS58 million judgment debt to the NDC financier as stinking, Mr Jacobs admitted: “It has become an albatross on our neck as a party and as a government…”

He was, however, quick to assure Ghanaians that President John Evans Atta Mills is “resolute to unravel this mystery and axe will fall where it must fall.”

Allotey Jacobs was speaking on Peace FM’s current affairs programmeKokrokoo on Wednesday.

He pleaded with Ghanaians not to pay attention to attempts by opposition parties whom he said were trying hard to narrow down the scandal to the president.

Despite the difficulties, Allotey said it was better to entrust the country into Mills’ hand than that of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, leader of the main opposition party, New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He also called on all NDC members to take the wise counsel of Mr Sam Pee Yarley and stay clear of the case and allow the courts to determine Woyome’s innocence or otherwise.

A leading member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a public interest lawyer, Sam Pee Yaley, has admonished all “true” members of the party to stay off the controversial Wayome judgement debt scandal. He said members and supporters of the party should not necessarily have to back Albert Agbesi Woyome because he is supposedly a member of the NDC. The businessman and NDC financier, since he was paid GHS58 million in a consent judgment debt, has enjoyed the support of leading members of the party and government. President Mills ordered investigations into the issue following a loud public outcry. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) also called for a public inquiry into the matter. But persons who support Mr Woyome hold a strong belief he is being unnecessarily persecuted. A pro-NDC pressure group which pledged unflinching support for the businessman last week embarked on a demonstration Tuesday, petitioning government to arrest past officials in connection with the issue. The KNUST branch of the Tertiary Education Network of the NDC called on the government to immediately withdraw the case filed against Mr Woyome. But Sam Pee Yarley, contributing to a discourse on Peace FM’sKokrokoo Wednesday, described as nation wreckers those defending Woyome. He said if a party member faulted the laws of the land that person must be held responsible. He said Woyome should not be shielded because of his affiliation to the NDC and that his defence must be seen to be done only by his team of lawyers. The NDC guru advised all “true” members of the NDC to refrain from defending Woyome, especially, in the media and allow the courts to determine his innocence. Meanwhile Central Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwamena Duncan, commenting on the issue, asked President Mills to take critical note of the advice proferred by Mr Yaley because he has been mandated by Ghanaians to protect the public purse. Duncan said the president cannot absolve himself from blame as far as the Woyome saga was concerned because he was earlier being protective of Woyome

True NDC members should back off Woyome saga – Sam Pee Yarley

A leading member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a public interest lawyer, Sam Pee Yaley, has admonished all “true” members of the party to stay off the controversial Wayome judgement debt scandal.

He said members and supporters of the party should not necessarily have to back Albert Agbesi Woyome because he is supposedly a member of the NDC.

The businessman and NDC financier, since he was paid GHS58 million in a consent judgment debt, has enjoyed the support of leading members of the party and government.

President Mills ordered investigations into the issue following a loud public outcry. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) also called for a public inquiry into the matter.

But persons who support Mr Woyome hold a strong belief he is being unnecessarily persecuted.

A pro-NDC pressure group which pledged unflinching support for the businessman last week embarked on a demonstration Tuesday, petitioning government to arrest past officials in connection with the issue.

The KNUST branch of the Tertiary Education Network of the NDC called on the government to immediately withdraw the case filed against Mr Woyome.

But Sam Pee Yarley, contributing to a discourse on Peace FM’sKokrokoo Wednesday, described as nation wreckers those defending Woyome. He said if a party member faulted the laws of the land that person must be held responsible.

He said Woyome should not be shielded because of his affiliation to the NDC and that his defence must be seen to be done only by his team of lawyers.

The NDC guru advised all “true” members of the NDC to refrain from defending Woyome, especially, in the media and allow the courts to determine his innocence.

Meanwhile Central Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwamena Duncan, commenting on the issue, asked President Mills to take critical note of the advice proferred by Mr Yaley because he has been mandated by Ghanaians to protect the public purse.

Duncan said the president cannot absolve himself from blame as far as the Woyome saga was concerned because he was earlier being protective of Woyome.

Ministerial reshuffle: Fritz Baffour, Lee Ocran, Asaga in; John Tia, Yieleh Chireh, Cyril Neku out!

The much anticipated ministerial reshuffle has finally been done with three ministers losing their jobs.

Health Minister, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Deputy Volta Regional Minister Cyril Neku and Information Minister John Tia have lost their jobs.

Acting Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Kunbour has been made the substantive AG, while Works and Housing Minister Alban Sumana Bagbin takes over the Health Ministry.

ET Mensah goes to the Works and Housing Ministry while Mr Lee Ocran is taking over the Education Ministry.

Mr Fritz Baffour is heading to the Information Ministry with Mr William Kwesi Aboah taking over from Dr Kunbour as Interior Minister.

The Upper West Region gets Alhaji Amin Sulemana as the new regional minister while Mr Dominic Azembe Azumah goes to the Presidency as a Minister of State.

The Member of Parliament for Mfatseman West, Mr Thomas Aquinas is the Deputy Central Regional Minister-designate and MP for Nabdam, Mr Moses Asaga replaces ET Mensah as Employment and Social Welfare Minister-designate.

The president also made a number of Deputy Ministerial appointments.

Deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal swaps places with Deputy Tourism Minister James Agyenim Boateng.

Dr Omane Boateng is heading to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as a deputy minister while Mr Henry Ametepey has been appointed the Deputy Volta Regional Minister.

Dr Mustapha Ahmed replaces Dr Omane Boamah as the deputy minister with Nii Nortey Dua going to Water Resources, Works and Housing as a deputy minister.

Messrs Steven Ackah and Isaac Vanderpuije are going to the Local Government Ministry and Greater Accra Region respectively as deputy ministers.

Alhaji Siad Sinare has been appointed Ghana's Ambassador to Egypt. He replaces Alhaji Amidu Sulemana.


Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com    

Betty Mould-Iddrisu resigns over Wayome payments saga

Education Minister, Betty Mould-Iddrisu has resigned from office over developments associated with the Alfred Woyome judgment debt saga.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu who confirmed her decision to Joy News’ presidential correspondent, Seth Kwame Boateng, fell short of explaining her decision but promised to make it public later tomorrow (Tuesday).

She presented her letter of resignation to the Office of the President Monday evening, Myjoyonline sources at the Castle say, explaining that President J.E.A. Mills is yet to accept the resignation.

It is widely believed the president will accept the decision as our sources say Betty had been under pressure to resign or be shown the door over her handling of the payment of about GHS58 million to the businessman and financier of the ruling party, Alfred Woyome, while she was Attorney General.

The Castle sources claim Betty referred to the long drawn out debate generated over the controversial payments, saying the debates distracted her from performing her ministerial functions.

But she also insisted that “she is resigning with a clear conscience and is confident any investigation will exonerate her,” said one of the sources which corroborated that the presidency has received her resignation letter. 

She also thanked President Mills for the opportunity to serve in his administration. 

There were speculations last week she might speak publicly to defend her name after some party activists and supporters suggested she be sacked because she mishandled the affair while she was the chief legal officer of the state, with some going as far as claiming she might be complicit. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) also called for her head for failing to do due diligence in the matter.

Close associates of hers told Myjoyonline.com her decisions on the Woyome case had been based on what appeared sound counsel from legal brains and technocrats at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and elsewhere and that in due time she would tell the entire country what she knows about the case. 

Betty Mould-Iddrisu was previously the Head of Legal and Constitutional Affairs of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London before she was made Ghana's first ever woman Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

She becomes the second cabinet minister in the present administration to have lost her job over the Woyome judgment debt issue following closely on the heels of sacked Attorney General, Martin Amidu.

Amidu was last week dismissed from office shortly after the president issued an ultimatum for him to prove corrupt allegations against persons in the government or resign.

Anti-corruption coalition wants gov't to deal with Woyome case

Rev. Fred Deegbe

PRESS RELEASE
GOVERNMENT MUST DEMONSTRATE STRONG COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN THE WOYOME JUDGEMENT DEBT CASE

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition has followed with concern the unfolding controversies and confusion related to the Woyome Judgement Debt Case. The confusion has been worsened by the events leading to dismissal of the now former Attorney General, Honourable Martin Amidu. In the light of these recent events, we strongly urge the President and Government to take a second look at the processes initiated to investigate the actions of public officials leading to the payment of various sums of money to Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome.

The mix-ups and slip-ups surrounding the Woyome Judgement debt should be a source of worry for every Ghanaian citizen as it badly exposes severe weaknesses in the exercise discretionary power by public officials who are supposed to act solely and exclusively in the public interest. Additionally, it calls to question the political class’ commitment to fight corruption and promote accountability when they are unable to differentiate between party and government.

This is a systemic problem that requires bi-partisan response and sobriety to ensure that the ordinary Ghanaian taxpayer does not bore the brunt of these kinds institutional failures.

We urge the state institutions in the chain of accountability including the Controller and Accountant General, the Auditor-General and the Minister for Finance, to come out once and for all to end the speculation and political ‘football’ by establishing the facts related to the amounts of monies paid so far to Mr. Woyome. We also entreat the Acting Attorney-General to expedite action on the parallel legal process initiated by his predecessor as directed the President.

The allegation of political interference in the Attorney General’s mandate of prosecuting corrupt public officials in the ensuing Judgement Debt Case confirms the challenges confronting the dual role of the Attorney General as the principal legal advisor to the government and also the initiator of public prosecution. In this light, we renew our call for the decoupling of the Attorney Generals Department from the Ministry of Justice to insulate corruption prosecution from suspicion of political interference and enhance the country’s anti-corruption drive.

We, urge the ousted Attorney General to provide all the information he has on the case to any of the independent anti-corruption institutions tasked with investigating the case, using the appropriate channels while protecting his integrity.

Lastly, we refer to the government’s recent membership of the Open Government Partnership which requires it to be committed to be open and transparent in its activities, ensure civic participation in governance and exhibit the highest standard of professionalism and integrity in its administration. This should not be a mere rhetoric but translated into action in this case.

We would also like to use this opportunity to urge all citizens especially public and civil servants, and political appointees to use the safeguard that is offered under the Whistle-blower Act, 2006 (Act 720) to report on cases of malpractices to ensure that they are not mishandled by any political figure.
SIGNED BY:
REV. DR. FRED DEEGBE

Betty Mould resigned because of poor handling of the Woyome scandal-Ayariga

Deputy Education Minister Mahama Ayariga says his former boss, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu resigned from her post because the incessant discussions on the the controversial Woyome judgement debt payment had become an unbearable distraction.

He said the former Attorney-General who authorised the payments to Mr Woyome having entered into an agreement on the basis of which the NDC financier procured the judgement culminating in the payment of GHS58 million to him became very concerned about the tone of the discussions.

Mr Ayariga told Joy News that while the Minority New Patriotic Party was bent on keeping the discussion going unabated and sought to impugn Mrs Iddrisu’s integrity and impute some culpability to her, the government did not appear to have a concerted defence to the NPP’s attacks.

Former Education Minister Betty Mould Iddrissu had been under pressure from sections of the public to explain her decision to resign following her decision to quit government on Monday.

Several civil society organizations as wells as the opposition NPP have been demanding reasons for the former minister’s action.

In an apparent response to the demands, Mrs. Mould Iddrisu mandated her former deputy; Mahama Ayariga to speak for her.

He told Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng that Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu hopes that the investigations being conducted by Economic and Organised Crimes Office will uncover the truth and exonerate her.

Meanwhile, former Supreme Court judge, Justice Francis Kpega does not think the former education minister owes the public any explanation of her action.

According to him, if there are any explanations to provide at all, it must be only to the president and not the public.

In a related development, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition says it has followed with concern the unfolding controversies and confusion related to the Woyome Judgment Debt Case.

It said the the confusion has been worsened by events leading to the dismissal of the now former Attorney General, Mr Martin Amidu.

The coalition, in a statement issued to the media, said “In the light of these recent events, we strongly urge the President and Government to take a second look at the processes initiated to investigate the actions of public officials leading to the payment of various sums of money to Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome.”

Betty-Mould should’ve gone long ago – Ransford Gyampo

Former AG, Minister of Education, Betty-Mould Iddrisu

A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo, says immediate past Education Minister Betty Mould Iddrisu should have resigned a long time ago.

He said given the brouhaha that followed the discovery of the controversial payment of a GHS58 million default judgment debt to National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier Alfred Agbesi Woyome and the critical role she played in that payment, she should have gone long ago.

It is, however, better late than never, he submitted.

Mrs Mould Iddrisu, who was the Attorney-General and failed to file a defence in respect of the claims made against the state by Mr Woyome, has been faulted for sleeping on the job and losing for the country that huge amount of money.

The precariousness of her situation was made even more acute when Mr Martin Amidu who succeeded her as the AG, amended a lazy writ she filed seeking to set aside the consent judgement.

Mr Amidu said the judgement, to which Mrs Iddrisu consented and in fact ordered payment, was in his view, fraudulently procured as the plaintiff (Woyome) had no contract with the government of Ghana and, therefore, no legal grounds on which to bring an action against the state.

The immediate past AG’s position on the case apparently exposed Mrs Iddrisu’s role to serious questions culminating in her resignation late Monday which some say was forced.

Mr Gyampo told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Tuesday that Mrs Iddrisu’s exit will free the hands of acting AG, Dr Benjamin Kunbour, to bring a closure to the issue.

Ghana’s electricity thieves; total rot at ECG as uncovered by Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Eight months’ undercover investigations by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas have uncovered acute maladministration, massive corruption, pilfering and plain stealing at the Electricity Company of Ghana, losing for the country millions of Ghana Cedis.

From 5 Star hotels to telecom companies, from state institutions to educational institutions, from lush resorts to plush residential facilities, all are involved in, to a very high degree, either power stealing or simply not paying their bills.

Emptying the contents of the investigations on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Monday, Anas said there are a thousand and one ways by which the nation is duped by fraudulent individuals and companies with the active connivance of devious ECG officials.

Whilst companies and some individuals, the richest and financially sound and well placed, procure the services of greedy ECG staff to tamper with meters to slow them down in order that they will malfunction, others all together tap electricity directly from the mains, thereby enjoying free power.

Some companies instead of paying their bills in full to the ECG, pay paltry sums to selected ECG officials and keep piling up their bills for years. After three of more years, they fictitiously fold up and their bills are declared a bad debt by the ECG. They then move their machinery and operations to another location under a different company name and the cycle continues.

Prepaid metering system which was introduced a few years ago to deal with the problem of nonpayment of bills, Anas, said, has not solved the problem for as Chenua Achebe said in his Things Fall Apart, ‘when birds fly without perching hunters shoot without missing’; ECG officials deliberately and perhaps criminally create an artificial shortage of the prepaid meters – a situation they exploit to extort money from applicants for the meters.

With angst, Anas, who as part of the investigation took up a job with the ECG under the pseudo name Agbesi Kojovi, said the blatant arrogance with which some staff ask for unlawful payments for meters and other services is chagrin.

He produced a long list of companies that were owing millions to the ECG as of November 2011.

Some of the companies are: Office of the President - GHS675,805.55; State House (Parliament) – GHS635,781.31; Police Headquarters – GHS393,736.65; Ghana Water – GHS617,105.51; Ministry of Finance – GHS524,924.67; Vodafone - GHS 886,814.15; MTN - GHS 349,811.19; Airtel - GHS56232.48; University of Ghana - GHS4,388,500.63; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology - GHS2,981,228.93; University of Cape Coast - 1,871,556.40; ECOBANK – GHS320,275.56; La Palm Royal Beach – GHS238,621.89; Movenpick – GHS 577,631.07 and Vienna City – GHS44,435.14.

Some companies, however, deserve commendation for consistent and prompt payment of their electricity bills.

The list includes Ghancem, Intravenous Infusions, Graphic Communications Group Ltd., NOVOTEL, Guinness Ghana, Accra Brewery, Fanmilk, Cocoa Research Institute, Ameen Sangri, and the National Investment Bank (NIB).

A documentary detailing the findings will be aired on television.

Anas says the video will show the extraordinarily high amounts of money that board members of the ECG take as allowance and yet preside over these inefficiencies and corrupt tendencies.

ECG to reply Anas over revelation of deep seated corruption in the company

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is preparing a response to the latest investigative piece exposing alleged acts of corruption in the company.

The documentary was put together by ace Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The undercover investigations reveal the indebtedness of the companies accounts for the ECG’s inability to deliver efficient service.

The defaulters include mobile phone companies, mining firms, the country’s universities as well as state organizations such as the Office of the President which owed hundreds of millions of cedis as at November last year.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas told Joy News the corruption at ECG is worrying.

He said there are a thousand and one ways by which the nation is duped by fraudulent individuals and companies with the active connivance of devious ECG officials.

Anas said the video, which is yet to be aired, will show the extraordinarily high amounts of money that board members of the ECG take as allowance and yet preside over these inefficiencies and corrupt tendencies.

Managers of ECG have been in meetings for the better part of Monday strategising their response to the allegations.

They are expected give their responses tomorrow.

Betty Mould-Iddrisu resigns over Wayome payments saga

Education Minister, Betty Mould-Iddrisu has resigned from office over developments associated with the Alfred Woyome judgment debt saga.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu who confirmed her decision to Joy News’ presidential correspondent, Seth Kwame Boateng, fell short of explaining her decision but promised to make it public later tomorrow (Tuesday).

She presented her letter of resignation to the Office of the President Monday evening, Myjoyonline sources at the Castle say, explaining that President J.E.A. Mills is yet to accept the resignation.

It is widely believed the president will accept the decision as our sources say Betty had been under pressure to resign or be shown the door over her handling of the payment of about GHS58 million to the businessman and financier of the ruling party, Alfred Woyome, while she was Attorney General.

The Castle sources claim Betty referred to the long drawn out debate generated over the controversial payments, saying the debates distracted her from performing her ministerial functions.

But she also insisted that “she is resigning with a clear conscience and is confident any investigation will exonerate her,” said one of the sources which corroborated that the presidency has received her resignation letter. 

She also thanked President Mills for the opportunity to serve in his administration. 

There were speculations last week she might speak publicly to defend her name after some party activists and supporters suggested she be sacked because she mishandled the affair while she was the chief legal officer of the state, with some going as far as claiming she might be complicit. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) also called for her head for failing to do due diligence in the matter.

Close associates of hers told Myjoyonline.com her decisions on the Woyome case had been based on what appeared sound counsel from legal brains and technocrats at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and elsewhere and that in due time she would tell the entire country what she knows about the case. 

Betty Mould-Iddrisu was previously the Head of Legal and Constitutional Affairs of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London before she was made Ghana's first ever woman Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

She becomes the second cabinet minister in the present administration to have lost her job over the Woyome judgment debt issue following closely on the heels of sacked Attorney General, Martin Amidu.

Amidu was last week dismissed from office shortly after the president issued an ultimatum for him to prove corrupt allegations against persons in the government or resign.

Acting AG to meet with sacked Martin Amidu over Woyome case

From: Ghana l Joy News          Last Updated: January 21, 2012, 6:30 am

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Acting AG, Dr Kunbour Acting Attorney-General, Dr. Benjamin Kunbour, says he will be meeting with sacked A-G, Martin Amidu to get detailed briefing to inform his pursuit of the Alfred Woyome judgement debt case. Dr. Kunbour is taking over as Attorney General in an acting capacity. This follows the President’s decision to sack Mr Amidu for misconduct. The President has instructed Dr. Kunbour to continue trying the Woyome judgement debt case in court. He told Joy News he will act on the President’s instructions once he has been briefed by Mr. Amidu. “I believe that the handing over and briefing notes associated with it will indicate clearly where things stand now; if I see the handing over notes then certainly I will have a more detailed discussion with the outgoing Attorney-General and in that process I would be in a position to see my way clear,” he said. Dr Kunbour said he would not like to speculate on the strength of the state’s case against Mr Woyome. Meanwhile the New Patriotic Party says it will put pressure on government to investigate Martin Amidu’s allegations of ministerial concealment of crimes against the state despite his exit.