Isaac Osei disputes NPP ‘two-horse race’ catchphrase

Mr Isaac Osei is promising surprises at the NPP polls         A contender in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race, Mr Isaac Osei, is promising surprises in the impending party’s presidential election slated for August 7 this year. Mr Osei in an interview with Joy News chastised the media for ignoring issues on the ground and code-naming the competition as a ‘two-horse race’, adding that, that mantra would be a mirage after the election. “I know many of the media think it is a two-horse race. But I want to assure you that it is certainly not a two-horse race and it is very likely that there could be a surprise at the end of the day.” Even though five persons have expressed their interest in the position, and are crisscrossing the country campaigning vigorously to win the sole slot, media attention has been focused on the supposed two main leading contestants – Nana Akufo-Addo, NPP’s presidential candidate in the 2008 general elections, and Alan Kyerematen, runner-up in the party’s presidential primary in 2008. Mr Isaac Osei, who is also the Member of Parliament for Subin, has taken his campaign trail to Bimbila in the Northern Region. He noted that his campaign message of hope, unity and peace has been going down well with delegates. “I am also talking about competence, because we need to put the country in competent hands, and I think my background and experience will point to that fact.” Meanwhile the New Patriotic Party is engaging its district and constituency executives on ways to build strong internal party structures for the 2012 elections. Kwaku Owusu-Afriyie, General Secretary of NPP, said the party has formed a team of experts to review the functions of each executive. The party’s National Executive Committee, he said, is also planning a meeting with all the five aspirants to discuss their concerns. Source: Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Kyerematen: NPP should change campaign strategy

Mr Alan Kyerematen, NPP aspiring flagbearer         Mr Alan Kyerematen, aspiring flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has underscored the need for his party to change its campaign strategy to enable the party to win power in 2012. He said he would rely on polling station executives and agents for his campaign to become NPP flagbearer. Mr Kyerematen, who was speaking during a tour of the Effia-Kwesimintsim and Takoradi constituencies as part of his one-week tour of the Western Region, said NPP foreign delegates would be allowed to vote at the party's upcoming conference. He said the NPP was poised to win power in 2012 to make things better for Ghanaians since most people were complaining that things were getting difficult. Mr Kyerematen, however, noted that "even if you have a good message and you do not have a good candidate, you will not be voted into power". He indicated that the NPP administration brought improvement in the lives of the individual as the government at that time introduced the National Youth and Employment Programme, School Feeding Programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme among others. Mr Kyerematen said "it is not just a story of the past eight years but the future of the citizens and making lives better for them". He called on party delegates to elect a youthful person as the party's flagbearer because youthful heads of state were emerging through out the world and about 80 per cent of the electorate were youth who would be willing to vote for their peers as leaders. Mr Kyerematen said an NPP flagbearer should be an affable, charismatic and energetic to be able to inspire the youth. Mr Kwabena Agyepong, a member of the Alan campaign team, said the foundation of the NPP was built on solid principles, asking delegates to vote for a competent, dynamic and confident leader, who would help the party to win power in 2012. Source: GNA

Any idiot can be flag-bearer, give Ghana a leader – Kwame Pianim

Mr. Kwame Kwame Pianim         As the race for the New Patriotic Party's presidential election hots up, delegates have been asked to elect the best rather than an “idiot” as their leader. Renowned economist and founding member of the NPP, Mr Kwame Pianim sounded the caution Wednesday during the launch of Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng's bid to lead the NPP as flag-bearer. Mr Pianim said in this changing world, what Ghana needs is a leader and not just a mere flag-bearer, explaining, “We are not looking for a flagbearer, any idiot can hold the flag.” He described the launch as a “defining moment” in the history of the nation, and expressed his delight in Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s decision to contest for the position. He said the candidate is a person who can think outside the box, he is innovative and properly trained to govern the country, adding that he is “most intellectual than most of the people” competing with him. He touted Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s credential as a modern man who is in tune with science and technology, and not others who cannot even access an email on the net. "This day and age there are people who are struggling to become president, they don’t know how to use e-mail" Moreover, Mr Pianim said the candidate is not in the league of scholars who only analyze problems to the extent of having “constipation of analysis” without any pragmatic actions to move the country forward. He said he was confident, under the presidency of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, that Ghana’s economy would be transformed, rejuvenate the rural areas, and among others, provide good health and education. “We in Ghana have gone all around, we have been around 50 years, looking for the common enemy, looking for how to resolve our problem, we kill one another, fight one another, our problem is to get a leader who listens, a leader who acts with vigour, thank God you are here to witness the finding of such a leader, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.” Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Pianim endorses Frimpong Boateng as 'new generation politician'

Prof Frimpong Boateng         Economist and founding member of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Kwame Pianim is backing Prof. Frimpong Boateng's bid for the party’s flagbearer post. According to him, Prof Boateng represents a “new generation politician” whose knowledge in technology is unrivalled. He warned delegates not to pick a leader who will implement “same tried and tested but failed solutions to us and we will not march forward.” He was speaking at the launch of the flagbearer campaign by Prof Frimpong Boateng on Wednesday which was also witnessed by former General Secretary of the Party, Nana Ohene Ntow and former Chairman of the party Harona Esseku. In a rather controversial twist, Mr Pianim took a swipe at some presidential candidates who he claimed were ignorant in the use of technology. “This day and age there are people who are struggling to become presidents and they don’t even know how to use e-mail,” he mocked. He said the former head of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital was trained and well cultured in the Ghanaian culture and traditions and should be given the nod as the party’s flagbearer. On his part, the flagbearer aspirant said he will offer strong leadership if elected into office. “Ghana needs leadership that is credible, competent and inspiring. I seek the NPP leadership because I am concerned about the youth of this country. “I want to inspire the young Ghanaian to seek virtue in sacrificing to work for the future of our country." Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Carl Wilson fired from National Security

Carl Wilson, who was relieved of his duty as Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles and Assets Committee (CVAC), has been dismissed from the National Security.

This follows an order by the President to the National Security apparatus to terminate the appointment of the security operative.

The dismissal follows recent acts of misconduct by Mr. Wilson operating as National Security personnel.

Mr. Wilson, a National Security operative, was given added responsibility as head of CVAC but he was recently dismissed by the President following numerous allegations of corruption in his management of confiscated cars.

After that dismissal, he continued working as a security operative, but his actions, which high-ranking officials of the National Security apparatus described as acts of misconduct, earned him another sack.

Reliable sources at National Security told the Times that President Mills, whose attention was drawn to those acts of misconduct, gave the directive on Monday, May 10.

The directive, which is said to have been carried out, called for an immediate dismissal of Wilson, and his name struck off the security list.

Events that led to the latest development include his visit to the Tema port to check on some vehicles during which a confrontation ensued between him and personnel at the port.

Prior to that, source said Mr. Wilson had visited the Takoradi Port to inspect seized cars, which annoyed the security operatives and personnel there.

The final dismissal, the source believed, was to ensure that he did not use his position as National Security operative as a cover to undertake unauthorized operations.

“In effect, anybody who deals with him as an operative will be doing so at his or her own risk,” the source said.

Two Ministers chastised for lateness to function

Alex Tettey-Enyo         The late arrival of the Minister of Education and other government officials to the prize-giving day ceremony of the Anfoega Senior High School in the Kpando District on Saturday, May 15 incurred the displeasure of the Paramount Chief of Anfoega traditional area, Togbe Tepre Hodo II, who minced no words in chastising them. The program which should have begun at 9:30 am, started at 1:30pm. The Education Minister, Mr. Alex Tettey-Enyo, the Volta Regional Minister, Joseph Amenowode and the Director of Education, Gabriel Kploanyi, all arrived at 12:11pm. Togbe Hodo castigated government officials and politicians in general for being in the habit of arriving at functions late and thus “distorting the programme and wasting everybody’s time.” He said that “If the President does not put his foot down to check these attitudes of his ministers and other politicians; they would derail his ‘Better Ghana’ agenda.” Togbe Hodo said “the time has come for politicians to call a spade a spade and not a big spoon, because Ghanaians can no longer be taken for granted by politicians". He cautioned that if things continued to be done the same way as was done in past, then the Better Ghana agenda that Ghanaians had been promised and were yearning for would elude them. “We are all talking about leadership and if our politicians continue this way, what type of signals are they sending to the youth? “My chiefs and I disapprove of late start of functions and especially so when no reasons are assigned for the lateness,” the paramount chief said. He cautioned politicians not to take traditional authorities for granted or they would pay dearly for it. Both the Minister of Education and the Regional Minister apologized to the guests. Mr. Tettey-Enyo said they could not have absented themselves from the function and had to attend at all cost. He said it was not their intention to inconvenience traditional authorities and inconvenience traditional authorities and other dignitaries and invited guests. Mr. Amenowode said he would not attempt an explanation for arriving late. The occasion which was on the theme: “45-years of Community Education. Challenges and the way forward,” was used on commission a bus, a computer laboratory and girls hostel. Mrs. Margaret Krampah, the headmistress of the school, appealed for a boy’s dormitory, administration block, a dinning hall complex, classrooms and staff bungalows to enhance academic work. Mr. Peter Hayibor, chairman of the Board of Governors, expressed concern about the school’s low enrolment, describing it as a setback in the human resource development of the area and appealed to stakeholders in education to save the situation. Source: Ghanaian Times

Woman dies a at BNI

A 27-year-old lady has died at the offices of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) in Accra, out of what an anonymous source described as shock. The lady was said to have been invited by the security agency to assist in an ongoing investigation, details of which were not made available to DAILY GUIDE at the time of filing this report. Indeed, the lady could have died out of shock, given the intimidating nature of the BNI installation, an anonymous source told the paper. The woman was accompanied to the BNI offices by her husband. The BNI is one security agency whose dossier of tortures, with some of their victims dying in their custody during the heady days of human rights abuses of the 80s, is household knowledge. In recent times, the BNI has gained notoriety for using unconventional methods to deal with cases before it. Suspects invited to the security agency have been refused access to legal counsel, raising questions about human right abuses. The defunct National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), during their hearings of human rights abuses in the country, heard catalogues of such abuses from forcefully retired soldiers and policemen including civilians. The security agency in those heady days carved a fearsome image for itself, with invitees getting excessively apprehensive even before hitting the threshold of the establishment. The procedures applied by BNI operatives are designed to put fear into suspects, some of which, if not all, have been condemned by lawyers as being at variance with the human rights laws of the country. At the height of the invitations extended to former ministers and appointees of the erstwhile Kufuor administration by the BNI, many legal challenges were raised by the counsel of such persons, which according to them, were deliberate attempts at trampling on the human rights of their clients. The BNI has confirmed the death of the 27-year-old woman, who according to them, was invited to assist in an investigation on Thursday May 13, 2010. According to the Director of the BNI, in a release to the media, the lady, who arrived at their premises in the company of her husband, collapsed shortly before she met with investigators. She was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in the company of her husband, where she was reported dead after some attempts to resuscitate her failed, according to the Director, who added that “the woman was invited to assist with information when the tragic incident occurred.” The BNI has meanwhile sent a message of condolence to the bereaved family. By A.R. Gomda, Daily Guide

Who at BNI ordered my wife’s arrest? Asks dead woman’s husband

The husband of the 29-year-old woman who collapsed at the premises of the Bureau of National Investigations, (BNI) on Thursday and died soon afterwards is asking to know who at the BNI instructed his wife’s arrest. Godson Atitsogbui suspects that her late wife, who was five months pregnant, may have died as a result of someone’s power-play. Celestine Tsekuma, 29, had arrived at the BNI offices in the company of her husband following an “invitation” by two BNI operatives “to assist in investigations.” She died before questioning. Narrating how his wife passed away to Joy FM’s Super morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Monday, Godson said they had followed two BNI officials who visited their home to invite the wife to assist in investigations. That invitation, was the last in a series of invitations to security ‘posts’ following an alleged missing money. Godson recalled that somewhere last year, one Sela, a cousin of the now deceased wife informed Celestine that she had registered some money she was expecting through Western Union Money Transfer in her (Celestine's) name. According to Godson, even though the wife protested her cousin’s behaviour for not discussing the issue prior to using her name, she eventually accompanied her to Mamprobi in Accra to withdraw the money. Upon arrival and Sela's presentation of documents however, they were told someone had just collected the money. They left, but some months later, Sela visited her in the company of two men who claimed to be “Castle security” officers, inviting her again to the Mamprobi Western Union outlet, where officials there explained that if the sender of the money had not reported any fraud, they could not investigate any case. He said after some chit-chatting between Sela and the “Castle security” men, they left, whereupon he and the wife were dropped at the Tema Station lorry park to continue their journey home. Godson said they later got another ‘invitation’ to report at the Kotobabi police station or be arrested and handcuffed. When they followed up to the police station, the same cousin, Sela, in the company of alleged investigators, told them that they had arrested the culprit who took the money and that they (Celestine and Godson) were free to go. However, in the latest incident, Godson said he was home with the pregnant wife on Thursday when Sela’s father came with two BNI operatives to the house to ‘invite’ her to the BNI, and because the wife was having her bath, they waited for her to finish up. Sela’s father left separately, and the couple had to join the BNI operatives’ car, whereupon arrival, they were ushered into a visitor’s waiting room. Godson said while there, Sela and her father also arrived. Sela greeted them but they ignored her, and moments later the wife stepped out of the room only to be called in by a BNI officer that all was not well with his wife. He said when he saw the wife, she reported dizziness, however she was growing weak, and the BNI officer suggested they should take her to a clinic in the facility, where she was given a drip. She could no longer walk and was virtually collapsing, and those who offered her first aid suggested that she should be taken to the 37 Military Hospital. At this time, Godson said his wife was foaming at the mouth and nostrils but he was assured that all would be well. Upon arrival at the 37 Military Hospital, about seven medics, including the one from the BNI, attended to Celestine, however the BNI doctor soon emerged to tell him that the wife had passed away and that he needed to be strong. Asked if anybody did anything to the wife while at the BNI offices, Godson said no one did anything to her and that he was with her throughout the period except that moment when she stepped out and his attention was drawn to her predicament. The body has since been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary, but Godson says after all the harassment they have gone through leading to his wife’s death, he wants to know exactly who at the BNI ordered his men to come for his wife and for what specific reason. Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Illicit Financial Flows from Africa: Hidden Resource for Development

Dev Kar & Devon Cartwright-Smith Global Financial Integrity  March 2010 Africa lost $854 billion in illicit financial outflows from 1970 through 2008, according to this new report from Global Financial Integrity (GFI).  Illicit Financial Flows from Africa: Hidden Resource for Development debuts new estimates for volume and patterns of illicit financial outflows from Africa, building upon GFI's ground-breaking 2009 report,Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2002-2006, which estimated that developing countries were losing as much as $1 trillion every year in illicit outflows. The new Africa illicit flows report is expected to feature prominently at the 3rd Annual Conference of African finance ministers in Malawi, which is currently underway. "The amount of money that has been drained out of Africa-hundreds of billions decade after decade-is far in excess of the official development assistance going into African countries," said GFI director Raymond Baker.  "Staunching this devastating outflow of much-needed capital is essential to achieving economic development and poverty alleviation goals in these countries." Examining data for a 39-year range from 1970 to 2008, key report findings include: Total illicit financial outflows from Africa, conservatively estimated, were approximately $854 billion; Total illicit outflows from Africa may be as high as $1.8 trillion; Sub-Saharan African countries experienced the bulk of illicit financial outflows with the West and Central African region posting the largest outflow numbers; The top five countries with the highest outflow measured were: Nigeria ($89.5 billion) Egypt ($70.5 billion), Algeria ($25.7 billion), Morocco ($25 billion), and South Africa ($24.9 billion); Illicit financial outflows from the entire region outpaced official development assistance going into the region at a ratio of at least 2 to 1; Illicit financial outflows from Africa grew at an average rate of 11.9 percent per year. "This report breaks new ground in the fight to end global poverty with analyses and measurements of illicit financial outflows never before undertaken," said Mr. Baker.  "As long as these countries are losing massive amounts of money to illicit financial outflows, economic development and prosperity will remain elusive." Click here to download a copy of the report. Source: Global Financial Integrity

G/Accra Minister taps women threatening naked protest to stop

The Greater Accra Regional Minister has appealed to traders at the Novotel hotel area to call off their planned naked demonstration against the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). The traders are up in arms with city authorities over a decision to relocate them to the Odawna shopping Mall at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. The AMA says the traders have up to Sunday to relocate but the traders argue that the place is too small to accommodate their numbers. The Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Ashitey Armah says the Regional Security Council will later Friday meet to discuss the matter. He, however, questioned the AMA’s decision to evict the traders when the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) had already decided against a forceful eviction until a suitable place is found for the traders. “I know even know why the AMA boss is threatening to remove them by Sunday. I don’t even understand what is happening,” he said. Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Cops steal from accident victim

Three police personnel of the Highway Patrol Unit (HPU) of the Ghana Police Service have been arrested for allegedly stealing money from an accident victim. The dead victim, a businessman who was travelling to Togo and Nigeria, was said to be carrying on him one million CFA but only 500,000 CFA was found on him at the accident scene. The suspects, including a female Inspector are in police cells at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters helping with investigations. The other suspects are a Lance Corporal and a Corporal. The HPU conducts snap checks on vehicles, particularly those on the highways, for illicit goods and other road traffic offences. A source close to the police told the Times Thursday that the three officers, whose names the source declined to mention for security reasons, were on patrol duties on the Accra-Tema Motorway last week when they chanced on a fatal accident. They were arrested on Tuesday when the wife of the deceased, who reported the theft to the police, said she saw them at the scene of the accident when she rushed there, on being informed about the accident. The source said when the complaint was made, some of the personnel, including senior police officers, initially doubted if indeed the crime was committed by police personnel. However when the houses of the suspects were searched, some of the money was found on one of them. Another said he had used his share to buy cement blocks for building. They were alleged to have admitted the offence when they were interrogated. The source, said, after investigations, the suspects would face a police enquiry and if found culpable they would be prosecuted. Source: Ghanaian Times/Ghana