Minority Leader, four ex-ministers to refund GH¢94,080

Five ex-ministers in the Kufuor administration and the current Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, have been ordered to refund a total of GH¢94,080 as overpayment made to them in their ex-gratia computation. The directive, which follows the Auditor-General's Report on the Verification of Payments of emoluments for ex-ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs), drew an angry reaction from the Minority Leader when the Daily Graphic contacted him for a response. He dismissed the news as "a childish prank by the NDC government to create disaffection for members of the NPP". Those ordered to refund the money are Mr Christopher Addae, GH¢ 17,936; Mr Samuel Kweku Obodai, GH¢17,936; Mr Kyei-Bonsu GH¢20,848; Mr Ernest Debrah, GH¢19,424, and Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw, GH¢ 17,936. It follows a request by the Office of the President, by a letter dated March 29, 2010, requesting the Auditor-General to conduct an audit verification of Emoluments for Ex-Ministers and MPs to advise on whether there were shortfalls in payments made by the Office of the President, whether there were any overpayments by Parliament and whether there was a basis for reconciliation of the various payments. Reacting to the Auditor-General's finding, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed surprise that the affected persons had not been notified but added that it would be interesting to know the basis of the said computation, adding, "We will react appropriately when the details are made available to us." The Auditor-General, after carrying out the requested verification, submitted that there were no shortfalls in payments made by the Office of the President but that there were some under and over-payments made by Parliament. That was also dismissed by the Minority Leader, who insisted that each MP was paid about the same amount of gratuity and wondered how "only the five of us could have been overpaid". "The purpose of this prank is obvious but this cannot intimidate us," he added. It would be recalled that President John Evans Atta Mills, after the submission of the Ishmael Yamson Report on the emoluments of Article 71 office holders, requested that payments be made to a category of holders who served between January 7, 2005 and January 6, 2009. It made the categorisation of distribution as follows - four months' consolidated salary for each completed year of service or pro rata to calculate the end-of-service benefit (ESB), installation grant of one month's consolidated salary, and resettlement grant of one month's consolidated salary for each completed year of service. That request was conveyed to Parliament by a letter dated November 5,2009. According to the audit report, payments were made to ministers who were not MPs, saying those were paid all their benefits by the Office of the President. It said ministers who were MPs were paid their ex-gratia by Parliament and their installation and resettlement grants by the Office of the President, while MPs who were not ministers collected their ESB and installation and resettlement grants from Parliament. The report said the Office of the President paid the ESB and installation and resettlement grants to the 43 ministers who were not MPs, adding that they received the full amounts as calculated by the Office of the President based on the presidential directive. It said the monthly salaries used for the computation of the ESB of 59 ministers were less than their approved monthly consolidated salaries, thereby resulting in total under-payment of GH¢411,632 being made to 54 of the 59 ministers. It said the names of five of the 59 ex-ministers appeared again on the list paid by Parliament, although they had had their installation and resettlement grants paid by the Office of the President, stressing that by "this repetition, the five ex-ministers have been paid the installation and resettlement grant twice". In respect of the installation and resettlement grant, it said after setting off the under-payments against the over-payments, GH¢648, 710 had been paid to 176 MPs who were not ministers. "The under-payment and overpayment by Parliament were as a result of the computations not going through any audit verification before being submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the release of funds for the payment," the report said. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana

Akufo-Addo Is NPP’s Best Chance - Prof. Fobih, K.T Hammond

The MP for Assin South and former minister of Science and Environment as well as Youth, Education and Sports has called on the delegates of NPP “to rally behind their 2008 presidential candidate to wrestle power from the NDC government as he is the only one in NPP presidential race with the proven track record and the necessary skills to lead the party back to power.”

Speaking at a delegate meeting at Assin –Manso in his constituency, Prof. Fobih did not mince words when he told delegates to “vote massively for Nana Addo as the battle for 2012 requires someone who is brave, fearless and more so someone with a vision for moving our country forward.” According to him, under Kuffour’s administration, Nana Addos’s diplomacy and good human relations as a foreign minister brought so much foreign investors and good will that the country continues to enjoy.

He called on the delegates not to “waste their votes as a change of Nana Addo as the party’s presidential candidate may jeopardise the chances of the party winning the 2012 elections. He said the Nana Addo made history in 2008 election by becoming the first presidential candidate in his first appearance to achieve that height of clocking 4 9.8% and it will therefore not be prudent to change such a candidate and bring a green horn to start afresh.

He said he has had a close association with Nana Addo for a long time and he is one person amongst the candidates that he can speak positively about. “He was my colleague cabinet minister and I stand in front of you this afternoon to tell you that he is the man our country needs to come and take our people out of the poverty and deprivation that the NDC is imposing on Ghanaians.” He declared his unwavering support for nana Addo and asked his constituents and the whole of the party to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo.

Earlier, MP for Adanse Asokore and the longest deputy minister of energy under former president Kuffour’s regime, Hon. Kojo Tahiru Hammond also threw his weight behind Nana Addo.

The Member of Parliament for Asante Asokore in the Ashanti region said this in a well attended open forum at Asebu when Nana Addo interacted with delegates in the constituency as part of his Central regional tour. The Hon. Member entreated delegates to endorse Nana Addo as the flag bearer of NPP as he stands tall among his peers who are vying for the same position in the party. He said Nana has stood the test of time and has dedicated half of his entire life to working for the interest of the party in so many ways and also stands out as the first person in the NPP tradition to have clocked 49.377 % votes in his first appearance as a flag bearer. The Asokore MP further stressed that NPP needs someone who is brave, courageous, tested and respected worldwide as its candidate. He appealed to delegates to vote massively and decisively for Nana Addo to bring back power to the NPP.

Akufo Addo: Ghana is moving backwards slowly but surely

Nana Akufo-Addo dancing to songs from his teeming supporters         The New Patriotic Party presidential aspirant for the 2012 General Election Nana Akufo-Addo has taken a swipe at the Mills’ administration describing it as tenure of incompetence and lawlessness. Addressing journalists and hundreds of party supporters on Wednesday to kick-start his nationwide campaign ahead of the party’s primaries on August 07, 2010, Nana Addo said the maladministration of the NDC government has eroded the investor confidence and huge economic gains chalked by the NPP before leaving power. He said the country is now “moving backwards slowly but surely,” in apparent retaliation to President Mills who said he was performing and achieving results slowly but surely. Quoting copiously figures from a World Bank report, Nana Addo posited that that 7.4 million Ghanaians were under the poverty line in 1992 when the population was only 15.4 million. In 1999, one year before the Rawlings led NDC government left power 7.2 million Ghanaians were still under the poverty line with a population well over 18 million. According to him, in 2006, five years into the administration of the NPP, poverty was greatly reduced as a result of an effective economic management and solid social interventions. The total number of Ghanaians still under the poverty line was thus reduced to 6.3 million, he quoted. With the assumption of office by the NDC, Nana Addo said (quoting estimates of the World Bank report) half a million more Ghanaians are predicted to fall back to the poverty line due to the poor economic policies of the government. “Incomes have fallen in just one year of a better Ghana,” he said, adding with the economy shrinking at a faster rate the government cannot claim to be “creating jobs, except 1.6 million phantom ones.” Nana Addo further castigated the credential of the president who is widely touted as “Asomdwee Hene”- King of Peace, saying under the Asomdwee Hene, peace in the country is eroding. He said the 16 month administration of the NDC is characterized by “incompetence, lies, hypocrisy, and lawlessness,” adding “law and order has broken down under the era of Asomdwee Hene-King of Peace. decisive government Some of the party's big shots at the media launch   He is under no illusion that he is the right candidate to redeem the party and country from the “maladministration of the NDC”. He pledged a “bold and decisive government, sincere and not condescending...A government that sees evil, hears evil and acts against evil”, he said. He was hopeful he would be voted back as the flagbearer of the party, acknowledging a groundswell of support he claims to have garnered. He said the motivation that led him to fight against the union government of the Acheampong in 1978 and the PNDC government is the same motivation urging him on to regain power from the NDC government. He called for unity within the party and implored his followers to run a clean campaign devoid of insult and character assassination. He will start his nation wide campaign on Thursday in Cape Coast, “that is where we lost the election and that is where we are going to win,” he declared. Nana Addo also, at his media launch, received massive support from the party's big shots and majority of his colleagues who competed with him during the party’s presidential primary in 2007. They include Kennedy Adjapong, Yaw Osafo Marfo, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Dan Botwe, Oboshie Sai Cofie and Mike Ocquaye. The rest include Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Harouna Esseku, Kan Dapaah, Lord Commey, Kwamena Bartels, Nana Kofi Koomson, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey, Christine Churcher and Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the speech by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo  Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com

Mills must be changed, he cannot lead NDC to victory in 2012 - Rawlings loyalist

Ras Mubarak thinks President Mills is not a perfect candidate for 2012 In spite of getting interest rates down, Prof Mills has not been able to turn round the Ghanaian economy. Health Insurance is in trouble and he has been weak on national security. Ras Mubarak A Rawlings loyalist, Mohammed Abdulai Mubarak, popularly called Ras Mubarak, has warned of dire consequences if the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) fields President Mills as its presidential candidate for the 2012 elections. He said the President “no longer has grassroots support and is certainly unpopular with young voters. President Mills has failed to rise to the occasion. He would not have the support of many members of the party across the country. There are irrefutable reasons why he cannot lead the NDC into victory in 2012.” Ras Mubarak said this in article he wrote last week and sent to media houses. He said of the NDC is careless and reckless enough to put up president Mills against any candidate in the opposition New Patriotic Party, the NPP will come back to power undeservedly. “The NDC needs a candidate who when elected President in 2012 can give hope to all Ghanaians, someone who can reconnect with lost constituencies in the NDC. “Our country deserves a President who can ‘think anew the theory for a 21st century social democracy’ and get things done whilst the sun is still up,” he wrote. Ras Mubarak contested the National Youth Organiser position of the ruling party and lost. Following the defeat, he claimed the winner, Ludwig Hlordze, had the tacit support of President Mills, adding, mobile phones and money were distributed to delegates and that accounted for his defeat. Last year, speculations were rife that there was a rift in the ruling party regarding the presidential candidate for 2012. To settle the issue, the President maintained he would run in 2012 but critics such as Ras Mubarak think that will spell doom for the party. The National Youth Organiser aspirant, confirming his call for the fielding of a different candidate, said the President had failed the party and the people of Ghana. “Prof. Mills' government has failed to exploit its early opportunities and carry the nation along. The government has alienated public support and there is a sense of unease even among Prof. Mills' uncritical supporters. Government has been shooting from the hip on a number of issues.” “In spite of getting interest rates down, Prof Mills has not been able to turn round the Ghanaian economy. Health Insurance is in trouble and he has been weak on national security. We are still far from being able to finance our development and have turned to the IMF/World Bank for the same bail outs and wrongheaded guidelines that haven't brought us much since independence. Ghanaians are still paying high taxes in return for inefficient social services,” he stated tersely. He told Peace FM Tuesday, that the President had marginalised some experienced hands in the ruling party “because they have not been sycophantic enough”. Touching on the many reported cases of protests and violent seizures of public facilities by irate youth of the NDC, Ras Mubarak said “The spates of peaceful and violent protests against the government by youths of the NDC are a verdict on Prof. Mills' failures. His reputation as an honest man is not in doubt. Even his most virulent critics know that he is a man of integrity, but he is a disastrous leader.” He said there was nothing wrong with the protests, for “Civil disobedience is permissible under our laws.” He warns of serious consequences if some four NDC youth who were arrested at Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa for locking up offices of the National Health Insurance Scheme are prosecuted. Referring to the President’s mantra that he is moving slowly but surely, the avowed critic said “Moving slowly is incompatible with our reputation as a party that gets things done, it is unworthy of the NDC.” Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Opinion: There will be consequences for the government if...

Mubarak: President Mills is a disastrous leader The main opposition party is reviling in the irony that youths in the ruling National Democratic Congress, NDC have turned their guns on the government. You can't blame them, that's a mark of their indifference. Citizens of Ghana have a patriotic duty to stage protests on any issue. And that was just what some members of the National Democratic Congress in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa constituency in the Central region did. They staged a non violent protest - Civil disobedience is permissible under our laws. The police have a right to constrain individual freedom when it threatens to do harm to others. Unfortunately, the police picked up the wrong people. They arrested four of the leading protestors. It would be interesting to see what charges they proffer against them. But there would be serious consequences for government if the Deputy Constituency organiser of the National Democratic Congress in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa and three others are processed for court. If government does not listen to what the youth of the National Democratic Congress think is wrong with them, they (the young men and women of the party) won’t listen to government when government tells them what is wrong with them. Current events in government are a huge disappointment for many who had hoped for a better Ghana under President Mills. The electoral victory of 2008/9 was an opportunity to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves; to give hope to the youths who were let down by the NPP. President Mills made huge mistakes by ignoring some persons who could have helped him bring succour quickly. He has recently alienated his constituency and that is quite a shoot from the hip. The youth in the NDC feel the ladder of opportunity has been kicked away by their own government and many feel it has become hard to make a way up under the Mills government. If the NDC allows the growing deluge to continue, it would get a sound beating from the opposition in the next election. The only way to avert this impending calamity on the nation (If NPP won 2012) is to have a candidate in 2012 who can answer the problems of all Ghanaians. The spates of peaceful and violent protests against the government by youths of the NDC are a verdict on Prof. Mills' failures. His reputation as an honest man is not in doubt. Even his most virulent critics know that he is a man of integrity, but he is a disastrous leader. The stakes are high. Ghana can lead the way on economic prosperity in Africa. We have the innovators, the engineers and enthusiasm. What the people of Ghana need is leadership; not the type that was characterised by erosion of responsibility under Mr. Kufuor or the "slow but sure" leadership by President Mills. Moving slowly is incompatible with our reputation as a party that gets things done, it is unworthy of the NDC. Despite the disappointing showing from President Mills, it would be quite drivel to argue that, he hasn't achieved anything in nearly two years. Unlike his predecessor, John Kufuor, John Mills has done a remarkable job in eschewing greed and his policy on agriculture is encouraging. He deserves praise on a number of things which are positive. I am pleased that he is the President and certainly a better one than the alternative we were given by the New Patriotic Party in the last Presidential election. However we have to judge the achievement and failures of Prof. Mills based on the magnitude of the challenges he inherited and how he's responded to those challenges. If Malaysia and other nations that hitherto were less developed than Ghana many years ago can rise after years of sustained conflict and natural disasters to make advancement in technology, why can't we? Are they or any other race/country in the world better thinkers than we are? The NDC has an obligation to give the nation a bold leader. The transgressions of the opposition New Patriotic Party are still fresh on the minds of Ghanaians, but the prospects of anyone from that party becoming president in 2012 is no joke. Ghana would be damned if the NPP regained power. The concept of "property owning democracy" they copied from Mrs. Thatcher did not create any investment in the future. And that is why they were booted out. Their "property owning democracy" created hotels and plush homes for Mr. Kufuor and his henchmen. But it is dead duck if President Mills led the NDC into the 2012 contest. He no longer has the grassroots support and certainly unpopular with young voters. In the eyes of the youth of NDC, President Mills has failed to rise to the occasion. He would not have the support of many members of the party across the country. There are irrefutable reasons why he cannot lead the NDC into victory in 2012. I would keep some of the reasons to myself for the sake of my reverence for the President. The NDC needs a candidate who when elected President in 2012 can give hope to all Ghanaians, someone who can reconnect with lost constituencies in the NDC. Someone who is the best candidate for the main political parties and a unifier. Our country deserves a President who can "think anew the theory for a 21st century social democracy" and get things done whilst the sun is still up. Prof. Mills' government has failed to exploit its early opportunities and carry the nation along. The government has alienated public support and there is a sense of unease even among Prof. Mills' uncritical supporters. Government has been shooting from the hip on a number of issues. In spite of getting interest rate down, Prof Mills has not been able to turn round the Ghanaian economy. Health Insurance is in trouble and he has been weak on national security. We are still far from being able to finance our development and have turned to the IMF/World Bank for the same bail outs and wrongheaded guidelines that haven't brought us much since independence. Ghanaians are still paying high taxes in return for inefficient social services. There is danger in doing little or moving slowly to solve the nation's problems. The NDC as a party has to begin to look for successor who can save the nation. Our time is today. Credit: Ras Mubarak mmubarak79@yahoo.com

NPP opens nomination for prez aspirants

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT FLAG-BEARER?

Accra, March 31, GNA - The National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Wednesday said it had opened nominations for presidential aspirants from Wednesday, March 31 to Friday, May 7. A statement issued in Accra by Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, General Secretary of the NPP, said vetting of aspirants would close on Wednesday, June 2.

It said the decision taken at its first National Council meeting in Accra on Wednesday, March 31, was in agreement with Article 12 A (1) and (2) of the party's Constitution.

The statement requested members who qualify under the Article 12 (A) (4) of its constitution and wished to be the party's presidential candidate to apply for the forms at its headquarters.

It said: "There shall be a special electoral college if there are more than five aspirants and this is scheduled for Saturday, July 3." "If there should be a run-off, it shall be held on Saturday, August 28."

The statement said: "If however, there are no hitches regarding the process, then the special congress shall be held on Saturday, July 3. "

NDC sympathizer suspects foul play in trials of ex-gov’t appointees

A lawyer and sympathizer of the National Democratic Congress is questioning the choice of judge selected to adjudicate cases involving former government appointees accused of causing financial loss to the state. David Annan believes too many cases have been referred to the same commercial court and to the same judge when other courts and judges are available. In an interview with Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh, the lawyer said there are six fast track high courts and other commercial courts in the country and wondered why one particular court and judge has been selected consistently to hear cases involving past government officials. He however did not mention the name of the judge nor impugn the appointee authority, even though evidence thereof is not far-fetched. David Annan was responding to allegations of political witch hunting by some NPP sympathizers as four of its high ranking members have been hauled before court to answer charges of stealing and causing financial loss to the state in the case of the Ghana International Airlines. The four are before an Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice Bright Mensah. Mike Ocquaye a lawyer and member of the NPP accused government of hastily hauling its political opponents to the law court without following proper procedures of law. For instance, he said government failed to officially charge and serve writs of summons to the accused persons in the Ghana International Airline saga, but somehow expected them to appear in court based on media reports. And when they failed, the state prosecutor accused them of running away from justice. This he said is unacceptable, adding, if you have not been officially charged, how do you know which court to appear and which charges your lawyers will mount a defence on? he quizzed. But David Annan said the arguments by Ocquaye are completely out of place. He stated that the police had made several efforts to contact the accused persons and to charge them accordingly but were given wrong information about their whereabouts. If anything, the accused persons are guilty of deceit of public officials, he said. He was not happy with the choice of judge selected to sit on the matter and did not fail to register his protest. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com

Kufuor shows up in court in GIA trial

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor Former President John Agyekum Kufuor was in court on Wednesday to hear charges against key appointees under his administration. The officials, Dr Richard Anane, a former Road and Transport Minister, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, a former Chief of Staff, and Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, are standing trial over the liquidation of the defunct national carrier, Ghana Airways and the incorporation of Ghana International Airlines (GIA). The fourth accused person, Sammy Crabbe, a former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), represents the minority shareholders of GIA. This is the first major trial of former government officials who served under the Kufuor administration. Mr Kufuor, clad in a blue-black suit, and several other former officials and sympathizers of the NPP, stormed the Accra Fast Track High Court in solidarity with the four accused persons. Dr Akoto Osei was charged with seven counts, including wilfully causing financial loss to the state, Dr Richard Anane faces three counts, Mr Crabbe faces four counts, whilst Mr Mpiani faces one count. The four were granted GH¢300,000 bail to reappear on the 26th and 27th of April. Three of the accused former officials, Dr Osei, Mr Mpiani and Dr Anane, failed to show up in court on Tuesday when the case was first called because they had not been charged. Although Mr Crabbe was in court, the case was adjourned to today for the other persons facing trial to appear. Meanwhile the judge sitting on the case, Justice Bright Mensah, has warned the lawyers of the accused persons to desist from speaking to the press. He warned he would not take kindly to any act that prejudices the court’s verdict. Subsequently, the lawyers for Dr Anane and the other officials did not speak to the press. However, Mr Kwame Boateng, lawyer for Mr Crabbe, who is said to have withdrawn $1.7 million from government’s account without approval, told Joy News on Tuesday his client is innocent. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

NPP presidential candidates to pay GH¢50,000 each

Alan, Nana; the two leading contenders for the position The Chronicle newspaper is reporting that each of the candidates aspiring to become the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will pay a whopping GH¢50,000 as filing fee. The figure is double the GH¢25,000 each candidates paid in 2008, when the party was in power. The Chronicle gathered from reliable sources within the party that the proposal to pay GH¢50,000 as filing fee, was first tabled for discussion at a recent retreat held at Mankessim in the Central Region, by the executives of the party. The Chronicle further established that when the steering committee met in Accra early this week, the same figure was tabled, and after discussion, it was accepted by members as the fee to be charged. Deep throat sources within the party hinted The Chronicle that the steering committee also discussed the need to hold an early congress, possibly in the first week of June, to elect the flagbearer. The General Secretary of the party, Mr. John Owusu-Afriyie, who was mandated to come out with modalities regarding the congress to elect the party's presidential candidate, confirmed that there was talk about the early congress, but no final decision was taken on the matter. The General Secretary, popularly called Sir John, said looking at the party's constitution, he had suggested three different dates, which he was not prepared to disclose. "I can confirm that there was talk about early congress, but I cannot tell you the date, because we have not concluded yet. “But, definitely, it would come on before the end of this December,'" he stated. He said he had presented a report to the committee, and that next week, the leadership would meet with the National Council of the party, and thoroughly discuss the dates. When he was asked to comment on the filing fee being pegged at GH¢50,000, he refused to make any comment, saying, "There are things that are not meant for public consumption yet." Reports indicate that the latest move by the NPP to hold an early congress to elect the flagbearer was part of the campaign promise of Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman of the party. The party was aiming at having the presidential candidate of the party before the upcoming district assembly elections, which comes off in August this year. According to insiders, the party plans to raise enough money to support members who want to contest the district assembly elections. Source: Ghanaian Chronicle