The President's Credibility

Related Stories   The gap between the pronouncements of President Mills and his deeds is widening by the day. He is preaching against insults even as his operatives insult anyone who is not seen as pro-Mills. He preaches reconciliation while isolating some in his own party. He preaches peace even as his government disturbs our peace. He preaches that we should unite to develop the country even while he and his government pursue policies that will divide his party and the country. Today, his party is splintering right before our eyes while he continues to preach unity. He preaches against corruption while seeing nothing wrong with the Mabey and Johnson, and the SCANCEM affairs, to mention just a few. He talked about “caring for us” while failing to visit the victims of the floods in the north in a timely manner. To be fair to him, the gap between the President’s words and deeds have always been significant. He is the law Professor who joined the party of “bugabuga”. He is the “asomdwehene” whose campaign was characterized by insults and “machomen”. He promised lower taxes and pledged to put money in people’s pockets but has raised taxes and taken money from peoples’ pockets. He ordered his appointees to submit their assets by a certain date and was ignored by virtually everyone of his appointees. He responded by doing--- nothing. The evidence for these gaps and the consequences are all around us. Barely a day after the President admonished all of us to stop insulting others, his Vice-President; Hon. John Mahama described those opposed to using our oil for loan guarantees with words, including “foolish” and “baloney”. The Vice-President made those comments while addressing the National Conference of Tertiary Educational Institutions (TEIN), at Winneba recently. The gravity of the Vice-President’s error is underlined by the fact that the tendencies he attacked represent the consensus arrived at after exhaustive consultations with stake-holders and NGOs regarding the use of our oil revenue that was endorsed by the Cabinet, including himself and the President. Turning his guns on the enemies within his own party, the Vice-President accused his detractors of trying to destroy him politically. Indeed, the Vice-President even questioned the motives of those trying to give him a share of the credit for the achievements of the NDC government by referring to it as the Mills-Mahama administration. His rejection of the Mills-Mahama label raises questions as to whether the Vice-President sees his government in a positive light. Nearly four years after defeating them in a primary, according to NDC’s Vice-Chairman and former Presidential aspirant Spio Garbrah, the President has never seen it fit to meet his opponents in the 2006 NDC primary. Furthermore, he has permitted his relationship with his former mentor, ex-President Rawlings to deteriorate significantly. In nearly two years in power, despite his reputation as a peacemaker, the President has by omission and commission condoned acts that are inconsistent with that reputation. He has praised the BNI for harassment of opponents which have been condemned by the courts. He never condemned the attacks by NDC members on NPP members at Agbogbloshie and Tamale. He has not acted forcefully against lawless NDC elements that have seized toilets and chased NDC DCEs from their offices and districts. His government has pursued half-baked corruption charges against opponents even while significant allegations against government functionaries are ignored. In the recent budget, despite the President and his party’s pledges to lower taxes and put money in peoples’ pockets, taxes have been going up and up. Tolls on our roads have increased. Petrol prices have gone up. The prices of food staples have increased. To rub salt into our injuries, the President has even denied ever promising to put money in peoples’ pockets. As he added disingenuously “I know those who made those promises”. If the afore-mentioned constitute bad news on taxes, there is more bad news on the way. In flagrant violation of the President’s solemn pledges, more and higher taxes are on the way. The 2011 budget will tax construction, tourism, petrol, rice and religious worship, amongst other things. These gaps, between the President’s words and his deeds as well as that of his government, should trouble all Ghanaians. Is this President a dissembler who lied his way to the Presidency and is being found out? Is he a good and decent man who is in over his head and therefore lacks the will and the ability to keep his pledges? Is he truly a CPP man who has climbed to the top of the NDC and is facing a rebellion by true-blue NDC members who believe genuinely that their party and birthright have been stolen? The question of the President’s credibility, tied to his ability to govern must be of concern to all Ghanaians. Signs of the President’s crumbling authority are all around us. He has been compelled to remind Ghanaians that they elected only one President. He has been described as “dull” by none other than his own mentor, former President Rawlings. His appointees in the various districts are being harassed by party activists as he watches helplessly. He has had to appeal, without effect to his splintered and feuding party to unite for victory in 2012. He is facing a strong and credible challenge for his party’s nomination for the 2012 Presidential election. If indeed, that challenge comes off, he will be the first sitting President since our return to democracy to face an open challenge in his party’s primary. While this is consistent with our democracy, it underlines the President’s weakness within his party. Indeed, the misguided attempts to frustrate Nana Konadu’s potential challenge have only served to weaken the President further. The President’s ability to assert and project authority, compared to his two predecessors is not impressive. The President’s problems in asserting his authority and using his influence are not good for Ghana. It undermines the confidence of investors in our country and our economy. It emboldens those who are inclined to operate outside the law. It undermines the credibility of politicians and thus undermines our democracy. It weakens the President’s hand on the international scene. How can the President improve his credibility and effectiveness? First, the President must keep his word. As they say, action speaks louder than words and when a President’s actions are at variance with his words, his image suffers. Let him lower taxes, as promised, instead of raising them. Let his actions promote “Asomdwe” instead of divisions and rancor. When in his presence at a durbar in Cape Coast, his home-region, his minions attempt to diminish his former and perhaps future opponent by denying him basic courtesies, the President looks petty and weak. Second, even if he cannot compel the likes of former President Rawlings and Nana Konadu to follow his edicts, his own appointees must obey his edicts or be reprimanded. When a President orders his appointees to submit their assets by a certain date and is ignored without consequences, he loses credibility. When the President’s appeal for a cessation of political insults is followed a few days later by a tirade, involving the use of “baloney” and “foolish” by none other than his Vice-President, he looks weak. Regardless of what we think of them, neither Rawlings nor Kufuor would have countenanced being ignored this flagrantly by their own appointees and this President should not put up with it either. Third, Ministers and public officials must stop abusing the President’s perceived “gentleness”. As President, he must be accorded all the respect and dignity due his office. Even in the absence of follow-up, which appears to be often lacking from this President, his intentions must be respected and followed as much as possible. It is generally conceded that none of the current NDC Ministers would have dared treat President Rawlings the way they are treating President Mills. Fourth, those who are not directly subject to his authority must act to enhance the authority of the Presidency. When former President Rawlings describes President Mills as “dull” and disparages his cabinet, it does not help the President’s image and it undermines the confidence of the public in the President. While the former President can and must criticize the President when necessary, it must be done respectfully. This will be made easier if the President reaches out more assiduously to his predecessors. Fifth, the Press must be more reliable mediums of communication between the President and other actors in the political arena as well as the public. The Press must help the President to close the gap between the President’s words and his deeds by exposing the contradictions and repeatedly challenging the President to explain the contradictions or align his deeds more closely to his words. A sycophantic press that is only interested in falsely bridging the gaps between the President’s words and his deeds will only harm the President and the country. On the other hand, a hostile press that is only interested in exaggerating the President’s difficulties will do equal harm to the President and the country. There must be balance, between just sending echoes of what the President says and exposing the inconsistencies between his words and his deeds. Let the public insist on truth and accountability, from the President and all who act in the political arena. Let us pray for this President and our country—for the President to stand up and be a President guided by his convictions and his faith—prepared to be known as a doer whose actions are consistent with his words. For the country to insist that all politicians, including the President, mean what they say and say what they mean. That is the only way this President can rescue this Presidency and the off-track “Better Ghana” agenda. Let us move forward together.       Source: Arthur Kobina Kennedy E-mail: arkoke@gmail.com

Mills' year of action will be a fiasco - Sir John

By Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/Citifmonline.com | Fri 03rd December, 2010 4:57 GMT

Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, General Secretary

The General Secretary of the Opposition New Patriotic Party Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie says President Mills’ declaration of the year 2011as an action year, is only meant to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians.

President Mills, who made the declaration on Thursday December  2, said 2011 will be the yearGhanaians will witness the execution and implementation of most of his government’s promises.

Speaking to Citi News on the assertion, Mr. Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, said the statement by President Mills has only corroborated the concerns that his administration is moving at a slow pace. He questioned why the Government now finds it necessary to speed up its performance after claiming that it has achieved so much within the two years period.

He said the Mills administration has failed to deliver on its numerous promises since 2009, hence his conviction that the 2011 promise, will produce nothing.

“If this administration promises us that 2011 is going to be an action year, then let us first look at the year 2009 and 2010, and ask ourselves whether or not the people of this country will believe this Government when it says that things are going to be faster.

Even in 2010, we have been told that this government has delivered, so at what faster rate are we being told?” He asked.

“It appears to me that this Government admits that it has been moving very slow and that things are not working very well for the ordinary man in Ghana. We are waiting for the kind of action they are talking about but I can tell you that like 2009 and 2010, nothing better is going to come from them because they have no clue about what to do.

He said once promises such as the one time premium for NHIS, elimination of schools under trees amongst others are still unfulfilled, Ghanaians can never take the NDC Government serious for any further promises since according to him, “they only thrive on a campaign of lies.”

According to Mr. Owusu Afriyie, even some members of the NDC are aware that the Mills administration cannot deliver on most of its promises.

In response, Head of Communications at the Presidency, Mr. Koku Anyidoho told Citi News that in 2011, the will be construction of more major roads, massive construction in the Housing industry, more classroom blocks, construction of railway lines, the start of the Brong Ahafo and Volta Universities and rehabilitation of Tema Takoradi Ports amongst others.

This he said will provide massive job opportunities for the citizenry. Mr. Anyidoho said the Government will not be distracted by the NPP’s doubt about its ability to deliver.
 

Veep Should Sack Jinapor...He's An Embarrassment – Ken Agyapong

NPP Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency in the Central Region, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong     Related Stories Minority Is Only Raising A Storm In A Tea Cup – Veep's Aide Minority Threatens To Expose Secrets Of The Vice President 'Foolish And Baloney' Saga: Veep Should Be Ashamed Of Himself – Nana Akomea Veep: This Is Foolish And Baloney It Will Be Foolish Not To Collateralize Our Oil - Veep   Outspoken NPP Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency in the Central Region, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, has taken a swipe at John Jinapor, spokesperson for Vice President John Mahama, labeling him an embarrassment and calling on the Veep to dispense with his services. Speaking on Net 2 TV’s Morning Show, the Assin North MP warned that Mr. Jinapor’s utterances could eventually bring the office of the Vice President to public shame, adding that he (Ken) had always felt John Jinapor was not a good enough aide to the vice president. The NPP MP was commenting on the dramatic volte-face made by Mr. Jinapor over a letter he had earlier denied its existence. The Minority in Parliament led by the MP for Manhyia, Hon. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, had threatened to expose the Veep if he did not apologize for using what they considered to be intemperate language – foolish and baloney – to describe their opposition to an amendment to the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill. The Second Gentleman had expressed surprise at an NDC TEIN workshop that the Minority NPP was vehemently opposed to any attempt to collateralize Ghana’s recently discovered oil, saying it was ‘baloney’ and ‘foolish’ for them to say that the State must not be allowed to use the country’s expected oil revenue as collateral for securing loans for infrastructural development. The Minority contended the Veep had ulterior motives for backing the Amendment that strongly, and claimed they had in their possession a letter written by the Vice-President making some commitments to a Chinese firm.   John Jinapor, spokesperson for Vice President John Mahama Mr. John Jinapor, in a quick rebuttal on Wednesday, December 1st, denied the existence of such a letter. According to him he had spoken with the Vice-president and has confirmed no such letter existed. He even described the letter as “fraudulent” and threatened to take the matter up with the Criminal Investigations Department. But, the Veep’s Spokesperson beat a sharp retreat when a couple of hours later, admitted that upon further checks, he can now authenticate the existence of the letter. However, the NPP firebrand questioned whether in the light of the foregoing, Mr. Jinapor sought permission from his boss before speaking on his behalf, adding that should the Veep fail in any capacity the blame should be laid at the doorstep of his aide. “If he doesn’t succeed, then it is by virtue of his (John Jinapor’s) utterances. He talks without facts but with so emotionally in defence of the vice president, and now that he has goofed; he has embarrassed the vice president. He is not an efficient mouthpiece and if the vice president doesn’t take care he (John Jinapor) will embarrass him…I’m wondering if Vice President John Mahama actually sent him to come out and respond to the issues on his behalf,” he added.     Source: Beatrice Adepa Frempong/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Danquah Ins. urges Mills to call on Gbagbo to ease-off

Source : Danquah Institute/Citifmonline.com | Fri 03rd December, 2010 8:59 GMT

Gabby Asare Okyere - Darko, Exec. Director, Danquah Institute

The Danquah Institute (DI), an Accra-based governance think tank, has called on the President of the Republic of Ghana to call on “his brother” Laurent Gbagbo, the President of La Cote d'Ivoire “to allow the Electoral Commission to do its constitutional duty by declaring the results of the presidential run-off.”

The statement, signed by a member of the governing board of DI, Dr Matthew Prempeh, states, “The African Union has strongly urged the Ivorian parties in particular, to accept the verdict of the polls and the will of the people and, should this become necessary, to resort only to the mechanisms and processes provided for by the law for the settlement of any electoral dispute. But this is not enough. The AU and ECOWAS must ask President Mills to intervene in this matter and call his brother to order. We all know how close our President is to the leader next door and he must exploit this responsibly for our common good.”

DI’s call, on Thursday December 2, comes the morning after the neighbouring country missed a deadline for releasing results in its presidential election after a midnight cut-off point passed with no announcement by the EC.

The think tank has questioned the rationale behind the statement by Youssouf Bakoyoko, the head of the electoral commission, on Wednesday night that the Commission was still working to reach a consensus on results.

“What consensus is required in a run-off election after the ballots have been cast, counted and the results collated? The Commission’s job is to declare the results and not to manufacture consensus for the sake of placating the ruling party. This only shows that EC boss is under a lot of pressure from the Gbagbo government” the DI statement says.

Though the results have not been officially declared, the whole of La Cote d’Ivoire and the world knows that the verdict favours Alassane Ouattara, the opposition leader.

Dr Prempeh, who is also DI’s expert on electoral affairs, makes the point that failure to release the results on time would only fuel tension among a nervous electorate, the consequences of which could be disastrous for the country and the West African region in general.

The vote, the first since a brief civil war split the world's No. 1 cocoa producer in two, is seen as a critical turning point in Ivory Coast's history. Many hope it will restore stability and reunify the country, but some worry it could trigger unrest if political rivals fail to accept the outcome.

Gbagbo received 38 percent in a first round of voting in October, and Ouattara came second with about 32 percent. Since then, third–place finisher Henri Konan Bedie, who received 25 percent, threw his support behind Ouattara.

Dr Prempeh also called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to “exert more direct legitimate pressure on President Laurent Gbagbo to allow the Electoral Commission of the Ivory Coast do its work in getting the results of the run-off held on 28th November 2010 released.”

Wednesday, 1st December 2010, marked the legal deadline set for the Electoral Commission to declare results of the run-off between President Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara. However, a supporter of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo prevented the electoral commission from releasing the first results from Sunday's run-off as he tore up the results when the body's spokesman was on the verge of announcing them to awaiting journalists.


A ruling party agent stopping the EC from declaring results

“Will President Mills show leadership and call on his friend next door, Laurent Gbagbo to allow the Electoral Commission to declare the results? This does not augur well for upcoming elections in Africa,” Dr Prempeh added.

He further notes that the experience of Ghana’s next door neighbour has “enlightened us to what extra checks we can add to our own Electoral Commission’s intentions to compile a new voter register next year using biometrics. Mind you, they used biometric register in La Cote d'Ivoire but that has not stopped charges of vote-rigging whether real or imagined.”

La Cote d’Ivoire’s election has been delayed for five years because of disputes over voter rolls. The introduction of the biometric voter register in this year’s election was to end this dispute and ensure a problem free election.

However, allegations of stuffed ballot boxes have been levelled by supporters of the Presidential candidates, a problem the biometric voter register was to solve, apparently. Ghana will employ the use of a biometric voter register in the 2012 general elections.

Already, the EU and the United Nations have urged the Electoral Commission to respect the Wednesday deadline and release the results. Missing the deadline may mean the country’s Constitutional Court would be given the power to certify, or not, the results and according to reports, the court is headed by a Gbagbo loyalist.

Dr Matthew Prempeh has also called on Ghanaian journalists, political parties and civil society groups to show self-serving interest in what is happening in the Ivory Coast as Ghana is just two years away from holding its own general elections using a biometric voter register.

The 'mystery letter' the Vice President denies

The Member of Parliament for Manhyia Mathew Opoku Prempeh is accusing the Vice President John Mahama of entering into a deal to collateralize the country's oil revenue even though Parliament is yet to pass that bill. The MP cites a letter he claims to have intercepted as basis for his allegations. Attached is the full details of the letter. Aide to the Vice President John Jinapor has however denied that John Mahama has written such a letter. He is threatening to take the matter up at the Criminal and Investigative Department of the Police. Source:Myjoyonline.com/Ghana This is how Nigerian leaders behaved collateralising their nation's oil resources and looting what they could until now the entire nation is synonymous to corruption, failure, violence and poverty. Ghanaians must sit up and resist every effort by the politicians to create another Nigeria in Ghana.

Okudzeto on oil collateralisation: Hypocritical NPP must seek national interest

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah         Government says its singular motivation for the collateralisation of the country’s oil revenue is to accelerate the pace of development in the country. A Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told news men in Accra on Thursday that the country must opt for addressing the many challenges that face the country now rather than go through all the pain, suffering and loss of lives just because they want to live cash behind. He was reacting to the controversial collateralisation policy agenda which has taken a political partisan inclination. The ruling government led by Vice-President John Mahama has been vehement in advocating for the collateralisation of the oil revenue with its Members of Parliament mincing no words and actions to have clause 5 of the Petroleum Oil Revenue Management Bill currently before Parliament amended. Currently clause 5 of the bill outlaws the collateralisation of the country’s oil revenue. On the other hand, the opposition New Patriotic Party which played a crucial role in the drafting of the bill has been supportive of the clause. Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah insists the NPP’s position is “hypocritical,” “non nationalistic” and “borne out of personal parochial calculations.” He argued the NPP is afraid of staying in opposition in perpetuity if the government is able to use the revenue to be accrued from the oil revenue collateralisation for massive infrastructural development. “If they allow this to happen this government will have funds to develop this country and the people will be happy with the pace of development which might not make it easy for them to win political power. This is only their political action. “I ask should everything be reduced to gaining political power and should we reduce everything in this country to mere partisan benefit? We are of the view that we shouldn’t. And this is the time that we should have only one motivation- national interest." He further stated the NPP whilst in government collateralised the country’s oil even before production. He quoted portions of an agreement between Vitor SA and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation signed on August 2008 in which the latter was seeking approval from the Ministry of Energy for the former to provide the crude oil needs of Tema Oil Refinery and the GNPC. The GNPC pledged its ten per cent stake in the Jubilee oil fields to be used as collateral for the payment of crude oil expenses incurred to Vitor SA. For the same party to resist the collateralisation of the oil revenue in 2010 was to say the least hypocritical, he said. But former deputy Energy Minister and NPP Member of Parliament for Adansi-Asokwa KT Hammond says the deputy Information Minister is being disingenuous. He said government had all the opportunity to take out the controversial clause 5 of the bill at cabinet level before bringing it to Parliament. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Oil companies impose foreign policy on Ghana

Source : Insight Newspaper/Ghana | Thu 02nd December, 2010 8:49 GMT

Some of the oil companies operating in the Jubilee Field have taken an unprecedented step to control Ghana's foreign policy and reduce the country to nothing more than an instrument of US hostility against other countries.

In a proposal to the Government of Ghana, the Companies are insisting that Ghana should automatically apply US sanctions against Iran, Cuba and Sudan.

The exact proposal is contained in the “Jubilee Field Unit Crude Oil Lifting Agreement” which is scheduled to be discussed in London next week.

It states that “All export tankers owned, technically managed or commercially operated by a company headquartered in, or flying flags of US sanctioned countries shall be automatically rejected.

“At present these countries are, Cuba, Iran and Sudan.

“TGL reserves the right to specify certain further flag states to be subject to this section 1.7 if they have been found not to comply with TGL vetting procedure.”

The proposal is calculated to undermine relations between Ghana and Cuba, Iran and Sudan and does not take account of the strategic interest of the people of Ghana.

Ghana has excellent relations with Iran which spans the fields of Health, Agriculture, Education and Culture.

Last month Iran gave Ghana a grant of US$1.5 million and tractors for the agricultural sector.

Iran has also established a University and a Clinic in Accra.

Every year, Cuba gives Ghana at least 200 health workers who keep the country's health delivery system alive.

Cuban experts are also currently working on a malaria eradication project in Ghana and other West African States.

Over the last 30 years, Cuba has provided scholarships to thousands of Ghanaians to study in different fields.

If the Government of Ghana accepts these demands it will turn Ghana into a poodle of the US and undermine her credibility in the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Nigeria to charge former US Vice President

Source : BBC | Thu 2nd December, 2010 

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney to be charged

Nigeria's anti-corruption agency is to charge former US Vice-President Dick Cheney over a bribery scandal that involves a former subsidiary of energy firm Halliburton.
Agency spokesman Femi Babafemi said that the charges were likely to be brought next week.
The case involves engineering firm KBR, which has admitted bribing officials.
Mr Cheney was Halliburton's chief executive before becoming vice-president to George W Bush in 2001.
Mr Babafemi said the charges were "not unconnected to his role as the chief executive of Halliburton".
KBR last year pleaded guilty to paying $180m (£115m) in bribes to Nigerian officials prior to 2007, when it was a subsidiary of Halliburton. The firm agreed to pay $579m (£372m)in fines related to the case in the US.
But Nigeria, along with France and Switzerland, has conducted its own investigations into the case.
The bribes concerned the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in southern Nigeria.
KBR and Halliburton have now split, and Halliburton says it is not connected with the case against KBR.
Halliburton denies involvement in the allegations.
It has complained that a raid on its office last week by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials was "an affront against justice".
Ten people were detained for questioning and later released.
A prosecutor quoted by Agence France-Presse news agency said those charged would include former and current leaders of Halliburton and officials from firms in a consortium involved in the LNG plant.
Nigeria is a member of the oil cartel Opec and is one of the world's biggest oil exporters.

I owe no apologies for contradictions – John Jinapor

John Jinapor         The Vice President’s aide Mr John Jinapor has rejected suggestions that he should apologize for his initial comments that sought to dispute a letter written by his boss. The said letter which was originally produced by MP for Manhyia Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh is said to have been written to a Chinese company government is seeking to arrange a loan deal with. According to the MP the letter seeks to commit the country’s oil revenue and other commodities as collateral, arguing that it smacks of dishonesty on the part of the Vice President. John Jinapor initially denied the Vice-President signed any such letter but later admitted the letter was indeed written and signed by his boss. Dr. Opoku Prempeh in the aftermath of the Vice-President’s aide's u-turn called for Mr Jinapor’s resignation – a call Mr Jinapor's considers misplaced. He maintained he did no wrong to warrant a call for his resignation. “We have not done anything out of the formal legal framework. Everything is within the parliamentary framework…” He said “when I [first] had the interview, the understanding I got was that the Vice-president had written a letter, an undertaking firmly committing government [to] use the oil revenue as collateral for whatever loan and I did indicate thate we were in Takoradi and we had not written any such letter.” Source: Joy News/Ghana

Kufuor to ask Jumah to step down for Pat?

Maxwell Kofi Jumah and Patricia Appiagyei       There are credible indications that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, would be asked to step down from contesting the party's primary in Asokwa, according to the Daily Dispatch newspaper. The paper said this is likely to be seen as an act of penance towards Ms. Patricia Appiagyei. Readers will recall that Mr. Jumah alleged that Madam Appiagyei, who succeeded him as the Mayor of Kumasi, used sexual favours to enable her be appointed to that position. Ms. Appiagyei is reported to be getting ready to contest Mr. Jumah at the Asokwa primary to elect the party's 2012 parliamentary candidate. Daily Dispatch’s sources close to ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor have hinted that the only way he (the ex-president) can be appeased is for Mr. Jumah to step down from contesting the Asokwa primary, in favour of Ms. Appiagyei, popularly known as Mama Pat. The sources hinted that in fact, ex-president Kufuor is likely to make that request to Mr. Jumah. There have been credible reports that ex-President Kufuor has been angered by Mr. Jumah's allegation since he made the appointment. Meanwhile, Ms. Appiagyei, 53, has said as a Christian, she has forgiven Mr. Jumah, 60, for his comments. Source: Daily Dispatch/Ghana

“It’s sad governance has been reduced to people of such ilk”- Opoku Prempeh sobs

Mathew Prempeh         Member of Parliament for Manhyia says he is downhearted at the level of mediocrity being exhibited by some people within the ruling National Democratic Congress. “It’s sad. I feel really sad this evening. The matter speaks for itself. I will just caution people in government that when something comes out they shouldn’t rush to insult. They shouldn’t rush to rubbish it. “…It’s sad that governance will be reduced to people of such ilk,” he told Joy News’ Dzifah Bampoh. Mathew Opoku Prempeh was commenting on a controversial letter written by the Vice-President John Mahama but which was first denied by his aide, John Jinapor and later made a u-turn. The letter, dated 11 February, 2010 was courting a Chinese Firm, Pierson Capital Group, to assist Ghana with a loan for developmental projects for which Ghana’s oil revenue or cocoa will be used as collateral. Mathew Prempeh said the insistence by the vice-president to have the oil revenue bill amended in Parliament was only in fulfillment of the promises he made to the company as captured in the said letter. But John Jinapor aide to the Vice-president on Wednesday denied the existence of such a letter. According to him he had spoken with the Vice-president and has confirmed no such letter existed. He described the letter as “fraudulent” and threatened to take the matter up with the Criminal Investigations Department. No sooner however did he beat a retreat. He said upon further checks he can now authenticate the existence of the letter. This Mathew Opoku Prempeh said is unacceptable. He was even more disappointed with what he said is the “hypocrisy” by the vice-president. According to him the vice-president at cabinet level had all the time and opportunity to change the controversial non-collateralisation clause in the oil revenue bill before bringing it to Parliament for debate and approval. If he did not, he wondered why John Mahama at a meeting in Winneba would describe as foolish people who were in favour of the non-collateralisation of the oil revenue as was in the bill. “If the Vice President felt so strongly then in February, 2010 and still feel strongly now and this bill that is in front of Parliament went through cabinet to come Parliament and he couldn’t argue his case in [cabinet] then why insult opposition MPs in Winneba,” he stated. Communications Minister Haruna Iddrissu who also commented on the matter said the Minority may have an issue if they feel insulted by the Vice-President but said that was not his intention. According to him, John Mahama was forcefully making the argument for the collateralization of the oil revenue and did not see why the oil revenue would be kept in the name of a Heritage Fund for the future when it could be used for infrastructural development now. The February 11, 2010 letter was just consistent to the position held by the vice-president, he said. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

President Mills declares 2011 as action year

President John Mills         President Mills has declared 2011 as a year of action. He says it will be the year Ghanaians will witness the execution and implementation of most of the promises his government has made to Ghanaians. President Mills was addressing a delegation from China led by the Mr. Fan Bing, Managing Director of Standard Bank, the biggest bank in the world. Mr Bing said the delegation had had fruitful deliberations with rail and road authorities in the country, as well as the Finance Ministry so “that have improved our term sheet we offered in October so hopefully now we have reached a good agreement.” He said the delegation had the blessing of the bank’s headquarters to sign the agreement. President Mills promised the cooperation of the government and people of Ghana. “Time is not on our side and we want the year 2011 to be a year of action. Our people are very expectant and justifiably so because we have made them aware of the generosity of our brothers and sisters from China. They know that there are a lot of things in the pipeline and they are itching to see what is going to be on the ground.” He urged the team to fast-track the process of implementing whatever agreements that have been reached. Source: Joy News/Ghana