US Backs Guinea Mercenary Claims

The US says it has evidence that South African mercenaries are training supporters of Guinea's military junta.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa William Fitzgerald told the BBC mercenaries had been seen at a camp south of the Guinean capital, Conakry. South African officials have already promised to investigate the reports which have been in the French media. Guinea's junta has been fiercely criticised for a deadly crackdown on opposition supporters in September. Human rights groups say more than 150 people were killed when troops fired on an anti-government protest and many women were systematically raped. Guinean officials say 57 people died and that most were trampled to death. The demonstration was called in protest at rumours that Capt Moussa Dadis Camara, who seized power last December, planned to run for president next year despite a promise not to do so. Dubai connection? Mr Fitzgerald said he agreed with reports that Capt Camara was trying to shore up his position by recruiting mercenaries. "Some of us have seen the South Africans who are up at a camp called Forecariah south of the city so yes that is a cause for concern," he said. "I believe that they are military trainers." South Africa's director general of International Relations Ayanda Ntsaluba earlier said the mercenary allegations were being taken seriously. "The allegation is that there is a group of South Africans, mercenaries who are training militia largely recruited on an ethnic basis, supporters of the current military youth," he said. He indicated that the information pointed to companies operating through Dubai. It also seemed to point to a "strong South African connection", he said, but other South African officials were being cautious about the leads. South Africa has strict laws forbidding mercenary activities. Last month, the UN created a tribunal to investigate the killings in Guinea's capital Conakry on 28 September. The US and the African Union have imposed sanctions against Capt Camara and 41 members of his junta. Former colonial power France and West African countries have imposed an arms embargo, while the EU has called for Capt Camara to be put on trial for crimes against humanity.

Source: BBC

NDC Chairman wants N/R Minister dismissed

Investigate N/R Minister; NPP youth in Tamale demand

Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina Youth of the opposition New Patriotic Party in Tamale, want the Mills government to investigate allegations that the Northern Regional Minister sold four pick-ups belonging to the RCC to himself. The group is also asking that Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina be probed over claims that he dabbled in the sale of contracts in contravention of laws which dictate that such contracts be awarded through a competitive bidding process. The Northern Regional Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Alhaji Sumani Zakari last week levelled the allegations against Mr Nayina in a feud that saw the two throwing mud at each other. The regional Minister denied the allegations, accusing the Chairman of grabbing six out of sixteen road contracts awarded in the region. But a statement signed by the NPP youth spokesperson Salifu Sule, and issued in Tamale, says the allegations needed to be investigated particularly because they came in the wake of similar ones made against Mr Nayina. According Joy FM’s Northern Regional Correspondent, Mahama Shaibu, the NPP youth say Mr Nayina’s denials were not enough, arguing only an independent body could exonerate him of the charges. The group believes the president would be dealing his promise of vigorously fighting corruption a heavy blow, if he failed to investigate the matter. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

It’s Team B budget

Finance Minister Duffuor President John Atta Mills’ Budget Statement and Economic Policy for 2010 has been described by the Minority in Parliament as a rehashed document, uninspiring and nothing new to give hope to poverty-stricken Ghanaians. They as well labeled the whole statement a ‘Team ‘B’ budget. Immediately after the two-hour budget presentation by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, on the floor of Parliament Wednesday, members from the Minority side who had labeled last year’s budget as ‘Sakawa’, raised high fliers with different inscriptions such ‘Team ‘B’ Budget’, ‘Sakawa 2’ ‘Nko Yie’, ‘Go Slow’ and ‘Sakawa 2 Eko Nyaa’. Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, described the reading of the Budget by Dr. Duffuor as “lethargic presentation”, in an apparent show of displeasure towards the Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, who had quoted copiously from the Standing Orders of the House, which prevents members from debating or commenting on the Budget immediately after the presentation. Virtually rubbishing the content of the budget, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Suame in the Ashanti Region, said while the budget was being read, the Majority Leader “looked morose and melancholic”, trying to make or “configure something out of nothing”. Earlier, members of the Minority with their hands on their heads, described President Mills’ Economic Policy as a killer budget, wailing in chorus, “Yewuoo”, “Enua na eda honu, Yankase obeku yen?”- meaning “we are dead! It is very clear; didn’t we say he (Mills) will kill us?” However, in an obvious show of approval and concurrence to President Mills’ Economic Policy for next year, members from the Majority side also displayed their leaflets describing the budget statement as “Growth and Stability in the right direction”. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, MP for Old Tafo in the Ashanti Region and former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, has asked Ghanaians to tighten their belts, warning that there are hard times ahead. In an interview with Daily Guide, Dr. Akoto Osei said government had not given any indication of spending in the areas that would expand the economy and create jobs for the people. Government, he pointed out, was rather introducing more taxes on goods and services, particularly with the restoration of duties on imported rice, wheat, yellow maize and vegetable oil. Dr. Akoto Osei explained that restoring taxes on these commodities would automatically increase their prices for the ordinary Ghanaian, as the country was not yet producing enough for local consumption. According to him, government had found itself in this predicament because of its programmes with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which only champions stabilization of the economy and not expenditure on growth areas. Presenting highlights of the budget for the 2010 fiscal year, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Duffour, said spending by government from the Consolidated Fund on pro-poor activities was estimated at GH¢2.3 billion, reflecting an increase of 28 percent over the projected end year figure of GH¢1.8 billion. The amount, he noted, would go to support basic education, primary healthcare, poverty-focused agriculture, provision of rural water, construction of feeder roads and rural electrification. Announcing an amount of GH¢25.9 million to support electricity consumption by poor households, popularly known as the Electricity Lifeline Payments, the Minister noted that for safety net programmes, GH¢41.5million had been provided by the government from the Consolidated Fund. Planned HIPC Funds for fiscal year 2010, he disclosed, would amount to GH¢261.6million, of which GH¢52.3 million had been allocated for domestic interest payments, with the remaining GH¢168.9million for sectoral programmes. Source: Daily Graphic

Kufuor ministers clash over rice

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Akwasi Osei Adjei standing trial over rice importation Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Member of Parliament for Effia-Kwesimintim and former Minister for Trade and Industry in the Kufuor administration has been ordered to appear in an Accra Fast Track High Court Thursday to testify against his colleague former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Akwasi Osei-Adjei and to provide evidence that would assist his prosecution. The Government of Ghana has in the same vein fired a confidential letter to the Indian Government requesting assistance to help Mr. Osei-Adjei’s successful prosecution. According to the Ghana Government, the request to India “falls under the provisions of the Scheme Relating to Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters within the Commonwealth.” The Effia-Kwesimintim MP has also been ordered to provide some documents that would facilitate the prosecution of Osei-Adjei and was due to have attended a pre-trial conference with the Attorney-General’s Department last Tuesday as a prelude to Thursday’s court hearing. Mr Baidoe-Ansah served as Minister for Trade and Industry while Osei-Adjei served as Foreign Minister under the John Kufuor-led Administration. The Atta Mills led-Government has dragged Osei-Adjei to court over his role in an “economic diplomacy” the Government of Ghana played to get the Government of India lift a ban the country had placed on the exportation of food so as to allow Ghana import some rice from that country. The Ghana Government has charged the former Foreign Minister with five counts of stealing, causing financial loss to the state, abuse of public office, conspiracy to commit crime, and contravention of the public procurement act. Daily Guide gathered that the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department had contacted Joe Baidoe-Ansah and invited him to testify in court Thursday against his former colleague Minister and also requested him to provide evidence in the form of documents that would assist the A-G win the case. The Financial Division of the Fast Track High Court, handling the matter, has upon the request of the Attorney-General’s Department subpoenaed Baidoe-Ansah over the same matter and ordered him to appear in court to give the said evidence and produce the needed document. Already, the government of Ghana is selling the imported rice, and Osei-Adjei has been in and out of court several times with the Attorney General over his involvement in the purchase of the said rice and also over the decision of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) to seize his travelling passport. An excerpt of the confidential letter written to the Indian Government stated, “The Attorney General requests the assistance of the Attorney General of India in providing but not limited to documents, records and testimony about the above investigations listed above, the subjects and business and identified in support of the criminal investigation.” Source: Daily Guide

We can't do without borrowing - Dep. Finance Minister

Email Print Have Your Say ( 0 ) A Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Tekperh, has given the strongest indication yet that Ghana would continue to rely on the World Bank and the IMF for support. Mr Tekperh said there is no evidence in history that the country’s reliance on the two Bretton Woods institutions has led it astray in the formulation of its fiscal policies. “Every country borrows and Ghana will continue to borrow; Ghana hasn’t got sufficient resources internally to develop. Our history suggests therefore that both under the NDC and under the NPP, [dependence on IMF and the World Bank] has not constrained us from growing,” he stressed. The deputy Finance Minister was responding to suggestions that Ghana has been overly-dependent on the World Bank and the IMF, a situation which eventually constrains the country’s budgets and policies. He said the two international financial institutions will continue to be the country’s source of long-term “non-concessional financing.” “If you need non-concessional financing for 20 – 25 years for major infrastructural developments, the World Bank is indispensable,” he told Joy FM's Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah. His comments firms the argument of the Finance Minister on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday that Ghana has had to occasionally “turn to the IMF/World Bank for financial support due to the huge resource gap in government finances and the balance of payment weakness.” The National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration has received various loans and grants from the IMF and World Bank since it assumed power some 10 months ago. For example, the World Bank is expected to provide a US$1.2 billion interest-free loan to Ghana over the next three years. Mr Tekper chided the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for failing to disclose certain debts, the effect of which is driving the government out for help. “We discovered more arrears which were not disclosed [but] which should have been disclosed, so that you plan accordingly,” he said. He also urged contractors working on various projects to continue and finish contracts awarded them by the previous government. “If you have work in progress, continue it, if you are constructing schools…continue it. Don’t leave the old projects and think that you develop new ones. You only end up with uncompleted projects with arrears,” he stressed. Mr Tekper indicated that the government would “continue to explore avenues for securing funding with the view to completing the 5,100 safe and decent low-income houses” as indicated by the Finance Minister on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

M&J saga: Deadline extended for officials

Emile Short, Commissioner of CHRAJ Email Print Have Your Say ( 0 ) The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has extended the deadline for some of the officials who were mentioned in the Mabey and Johnson (M&J) bribery affair to present their responses. This follows requests from the affected officials for more time to respond. Consequently, Messrs Baba Kamara and Kwame Peprah have been given up to Friday, November 20, 2009 to respond to CHRAJ’s queries, while Alhaji Ahmadu Seidu was given up to Wednesday, with Mr Ato Quarshie’s response expected by the close of Tuesday, November 17, 2009. The Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Emile Short, who disclosed this, said the decision to resort to the courts to compel the implicated officials to respond had been put on hold because of the extension requested and granted. He confirmed the receipt of some information from Dr George Yankey’s lawyers seeking to show that the former had not been implicated in any court suit. He added that all the government officials allegedly implicated were never arraigned before the UK court, nor were any charges preferred against them. The UK court could, therefore, not have convicted them, though the court, on the basis of evidence given by M&J, accepted statements by the company that it had set up a special fund from which bribes had been paid to government officials to secure and maintain their contracts. “Our investigation, therefore, is based on the statement by the company which the court accepted and our objective now is to determine whether the evidence given by the company is supported,” the commissioner said. “This requires laying hands on documents the courts relied on in the decision, but it has not been very easy to get all the documents. Efforts at getting those documents from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the UK are proving difficult, primarily because the issue boarders on trans-national crime,” he said. Mr Short said with trans-national crime, there was the need to invoke the Mutual Legal Assistance Scheme Agreement, an agreement of co-operation in the investigation of trans-national crime between countries that requires the use of a central authority in each country where these crimes have been committed and are being investigated. In the case of Ghana, the central authority is the Attorney General (AG), while in the UK it is the Home Office. Although CHRAJ has the court proceedings, and the AG has submitted to the commission all the documentation on the matter, it still does not have certain relevant documentation referred to in the judgment and a request has gone through the central authority of Ghana, the AG’s Department, through the UK Home office to the SFO in the UK. Mr. Short, expressing the difficulty in its investigation process into the matter, stated that if it had been a local investigation, CHRAJ could have compelled anyone to produce the evidence needed, explaining, however, that its jurisdiction did not extend outside the borders of the country and so it could not do that in this matter. He underscored the fact that the M&J case had been decided on a plea-bargain agreement, in which the company decided to admit to wrongs in return for a less stiff punishment, saying that such cases would not have any witnesses to testify, a situation which added to the difficulties. Meanwhile, CHRAJ is studying the rules covering a grant on the acquisition of tractors by co-operative and small-holder farmers in respect of a petition against the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Mahama Ayariga and Mr. Ato Ahwoi. The two have, meanwhile, submitted their responses to queries from CHRAJ after petitions had been lodged with the Commission that the two used their positions as public officials to acquire the tractors meant for rural poor farmers. Mr Short said the Commission would come up with the next step to take after studying the agreement. Source: Daily Graphic

Minority describes budget as "Enko Yie" Budget

Accra, GNA - The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday gave several names to the 2010 Annual Budget presented by Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, as a way of registering their displeasure with the government's economic policies.

While some of them described it as "Enko Yie," literally meaning "it is not going well," "Eko Nyaa" meaning "it is going slowly" and "Yewuo" budget, meaning "we are dying," others described it as "Team B," "Sakawa Two" and the "Extension of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto" into the House of Parliament.

These issues manifested when the Ghana News Agency interviewed some minority members to find out their reactions to the Minister's presentation.

Miss Cecilia Abena Dapaah, New Patriotic Party (NPP) member for Bantama, said the budget was "uninspiring" and therefore could not take Ghanaians out of illiteracy and poverty by 2015. She said the Minister's failure to mention crucial issues such as housing, water and health was endangering the industrialization programme since every industrialized nation should be able to boast of basic needs such as food, shelter, and water. "For me this budget cannot lead us to achieve our Millennium Development Goals and I therefore

cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel."

Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, NPP Member for Tarkwa/Nsuaem, said she was happy that the NDC was continuing with some of the programmes of the NPP administration adding that it was a demonstration that the NDC government had no ideas to start new programmes.

She said she was disappointed that nothing concrete was mentioned of the school feeding programme, capitation grant and social interventions for the poor, children and deprived in society. Mr Godfrey Bayong Tangu, NPP Member for Wa East, said the budget had demonstrated that the NDC government had no ruling style and was therefore depending on ad hoc programmes which could not release the country from perpetual hunger and poverty.

He said as social democrats, the NDC Government needed to initiate social interventions devoid of international funding in order not to derail their programmes anytime funding was stopped.

Mr Tangu said developing key areas such as education, health, roads and hospitals were very instrumental to the total development of the country and therefore should be seriously pursued.

Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, NPP Member for Amenfi East, said the government's desire to mine iron ore in the Oppong Maase Valley was untenable as the project needed not less than one billion

dollars to commence which the government could not provide. He called on the government to concentrate on fixing the economy rather than using propaganda to score cheap political points.

"The NPP left office with a GDP rate of 7.3 per cent only for the NDC government to reduce it to 4.7 per cent and I wonder if they can achieve their target of eight per cent next year."

Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyemang, NPP Member for New Juaben, described the budget as the extension of the manifesto of the NDC which could not give any meaning to the suffering masses in the country.

Source:GNA

"Government will continue to fight corruption despite poor ranking"

Information Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa Government says it is still committed towards fighting corruption despite latest statistics giving the country poor rankings. The 2009 Transparency International corruption perception index (CPI) ranks Ghana as the 69th most corrupt in the world. The index shows high profile corruption still persists in public institutions, as Ghana maintains its unenviable position as last year. Mr Ablakwa said the Mills administration has “strengthened the anti-corruption institutions,” and stressed that the “government is concerned.” Mr Ablakwa also indicated that the government’s fight against corruption should be “one of the strong pillars for which we should be judged.” The yearly report is a snapshot of perceptions from a number of sources including policy and institutional assessments by the World Bank. With 1 being the most corrupt and 10 the least corrupt, New Zealand topped this year’s list with an index score of 9.4 while Ghana scored 3.9. Ghana has scored under-5 since its inclusion in the index 10 years ago. The local chapter of Transparency International, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has some concerns about the country’s performance. Vitus Azeem worried Executive Secretary of the GII, Vitus Azeem, said the statistics mean the country has not been able to deal with corruption with the many numerous legislations meant to check it. “One does not expect us to remain stagnant, scoring below 5 for over 10 years. Ghana needs to move up from where the New Patriotic Party government brought us. It also means that the legislations that we have boasted about have not been successful in addressing the cancer of corruption,” he said. He said it is even more worrying that “the CPI specifically mentioned Ghana as among the countries alongside South Africa and Senegal where high profile corruption cases and scandals continue to be regularly reported.” Mr Azeem said government must commit itself to strengthening the roles of anti-corruption agencies to help improve Ghana’s corruption ratings. “Stemming corruption requires a strong oversight by Parliament, a well-performing judiciary, independent and properly resourced audit and anti-corruption agencies,” he indicated. “It also requires vigorous law enforcement, transparency in public budgets, revenue and aide flows…and a vibrant civil society.” As Christmas approaches, Mr Azeem warns of the possibility of DCE’s and MCE’s indulging in expensive gifts and calls on the Mills government to stamp out such practices. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Germany arrests top Rwanda rebels

Mr Murwanashyaka has lived in Germany for several years Email Print Have Your Say ( 2 ) Police in Germany have arrested two Rwandan militia leaders on suspicion of crimes committed in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ignace Murwanashyaka, the leader of the FDLR rebel group, and his aide Straton Musoni were held on suspicion of crimes against humanity and war crimes. FDLR leaders fled to DR Congo after the Rwanda genocide in which some 800,000 people - mostly ethnic Tutsis - died. The FDLR's presence in DR Congo has been at the heart of years of unrest. The arrests come as UN peacekeepers continue to help the Congolese army battle the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda). The operation has been underway since January but the FDLR remains active. The FDLR is accused of funding its arms purchases by smuggling gold and other minerals from areas it controls in the North and South Kivu provinces, just across the border from Rwanda. Mr Murwanaskyaka, 46, was arrested in the city of Karlsruhe, while 48-year-old Mr Musoni was held in the Stuttgart area, German prosecutors said in a statement. The statement said that the pair were the leader and deputy leader of the FDLR. "The accused are strongly suspected, as members of the foreign terrorist organisation FDLR, of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes," it said. It added that "FDLR militias are believed to have killed several hundred civilians, raped numerous women, plundered and burned countless villages, forcing villagers from their homes and recruiting numerous children as soldiers". 'Brutal crimes' Lobby group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has welcomed the arrests. "Our research clearly indicates that Mr Murwanashyaka has a powerful influence over the FDLR militia who have deliberately targeted and killed hundreds of civilians in eastern Congo and that he is directly linked to the crimes," said HRW DR Congo expert Anneke Van Woudenberg. "Mr Murwanashyaka's arrest on war crimes and crimes against humanity is a welcome step to bringing justice for these brutal crimes," she added. Mr Murwanashyaka, an ethnic Hutu, has lived in Germany since before the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He has always denied that his men, believed to number 5-6,000, were involved in the genocide and says they are fighting to bring democracy to Rwanda. He was among 15 people whose assets were frozen by the Security Council in 2005 on suspicion of involvement in war crimes in Rwanda or DR Congo. The FDLR's presence in eastern DR Congo has led to years of fighting in the region, and Rwanda's Tutsi-dominated government has twice invaded, saying it is trying to wipe them out. Some FDLR leaders have been accused of involvement in the Rwandan genocide. Source: BBC

Ministerial reshuffle soon

Some ministers in the Mills administration will have to be looking for new jobs pretty soon. This is because the agitation for the removal of non-performing ministers can no longer be ignored and the President has no option but to axe those who are believed to be impeding his administration.

One name which pops up all the time when a possible reshuffle is discussed is Mrs. Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Information. It appears that the verdict is unanimous both within and outside the corridors of power in the National Democratic Congress – Zita must go.

The main complaint is that the information system of government appears to have collapsed even before the government started functioning.Various spokespersons of government had been contradicting themselves on all issues and give the impression that there is no centre of coordination. Party faithfuls also believe that the achievements of government have not been propagated sufficiently and effectively.

It is suggested that Ms. Hannah Tetteh, now Minister of Trade, or Mr. Alex Segbefia, Deputy Chief of Staff could have done much better at the Ministry of Information. Insiders however say that Mr. Fritz Baffour, a Member of Parliament and a media figure may replace Zita at the Ministry of Information.Party loyalists are also deeply worried about the fact that no member of the previous administration has been convicted for corruption or mismanagement of national resources.

The blame for this state of affairs is placed squarely at the doorstep of Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, who some accuse of unwillingness to prosecute NPP types while others claims that she is not particularly gifted as a criminal lawyer. There have been strong suggestions for her to be moved either to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Health.

Names which have been put forward as possible replacement include Mr. Martin Amidu, a former vice presidential candidate and the current minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni.There are also indications that some deputy ministers may be moved around or shown the exit purely on account of the fact that they don’t seem to get along well with their Ministers. It is also known that in the Energy Ministry, there have been what some call personality clashes between Dr. Oteng Adjei, the Minister and his deputy, Dr. Kwabena Donkor.

The situation at the Ministries of Women and Children’s Affairs, Works and Housing and Roads and Highways may not be too different.In the reshuffle which is expected early January 2010, the President is said to be considering the removal of “arrogant and unpopular ministers”. An insider told the Insight newspaper that “some changes are inevitable”.

Source: The Insight/Ghana

NDC Men Taking $14 Million Bribe!

The Founder and Leader of the United Renaissance Party (URP) Mr. Charles Kofi Wayo, has said that he has information that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government are in line to receive $14 million in bribes from Vodafone, 70% share owners of Ghana Telecom!

He has hinted that very senior members of government, including President John Evans Atta Mills and Minister for Communications Haruna Iddrisu may be benefiting from the lucre.

“We fought hard, Atta Mills and what is his name, Iddrisu, the Minister of Communications what is his name, he has forgotten his speech! We said we would overturn the Vodafone agreement! But now, it is alleged Vodafone has put out fourteen million dollars to bribe them! Have they taken the bribe? I have the information and I have seen how it works with Ghanaians!Iddrisu Haruna has changed his tune, and Atta Mills doesn’t seem to be as hard at his game as he should be!”

Kofi Wayo lamented. He has however said that he has reported his information to the President’s National Security Advisor, General Nunnoo Mensah and his National Security Coordinator Larry Gbevlo Lartey and he knows that they would get to the bottom of the issue.
“But I know that General Nunnoo Mensah is hard on it, and may God bless him! I know Gbevlo Lartey is hard on it! He’s outraged and I know that heads would role for the defence of taxpayers of Ghana,” Kofi Wayo said. Mr. Charles Kofi Wayo was speaking on his Sunday evening program ‘Feed Your Mind’ on Vibe FM, Accra on November 15, 2009.

Earlier, Mr. Wayo, who has the platform to get his grievances off his chest every Sunday evening, had engaged in an over one hour of rambling, used mostly to attack his political and personal opponents and to describe them as thieves with no brains. For instance, he accused former President Kufuor of selling of Ghana Telecom just to get an award from Chatham House Award and of selling of the state asset to pocket the money.

He described Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, a leading member of the NDC, as a person with no brains who should ideally be plucking chickens by way of a profession, but had high praises for General Nunnoo Mensah and Col. Gbevlo Lartey. Rambling all over the place, he accused former President Kufuor of killing Alhaji Issah Mobila (the case is in court) and said that Kufuor should be in jail, even though he has the support of all leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).The United States ranked 19th,with a score of 7.5, while other aspiring global superpowers ranked substantially lower.

Source:Searchlight

Ghana ranks 69 in global corruption index

Ghana was ranked 69th in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) which was released Tuesday. Ghana moved down two spots from its 2008 ranking, with a score of 3.9 out of 10.

Botswana, in 37th place, was the highest ranked African country, and one of only three to score more than five points, the other two being Mauritius and Cape Verde.

Ghana was ranked well ahead of most of its neighbors, Nigeria (130), Côte d´Ivoire (154), Togo (111) and Burkina Faso (79), but fell behind other African countries like Botswana(37), Cape Verde(46), South Africa(55), Namibia(56) and Tunisia(65) .

The index ranks the 180 participating countries according to the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. The CPI draws on 13 different polls and surveys from 10 independent institutions, and includes surveys of business people and country analysts from organizations like the World Bank, the Economist Intelligence Unit and Freedom House.

Transparency International defines corruption as "The abuse of entrusted power for private gain." At the top of the list stands New Zealand, with a CPI score of 9.4, and at the bottom lies Somalia, with a score of 1.1.

Rounding up the top three are Denmark in second and Singapore, tied with Sweden in third. Down on the bottom, Somalia was narrowly beaten out by Afghanistan and Myanmar.
The United States ranked 19th,with a score of 7.5, while other aspiring global superpowers ranked substantially lower.

Ghana’s Oil In Danger

K.T. Hammond Kosmos Energy, the conglomerate which finally ushered Ghana into the threshold of oil production after many years of futile attempts by others, has been slapped with an accounts and assets freeze by the government, as the fossil energy discovery gets more political, thus jeopardizing the investment climate in the country. The order, DAILY GUIDE learnt, was passed through the Bank of Ghana, as a raging disagreement between the energy giant and government takes a further dip. When DAILY GUIDE contacted a deputy Minister of Information, James Agyenim-Boateng, he said he was not aware. “Where is that coming from? I have no idea,” James said. However, a source said the directive might have come from the United States Department of Justice who are said to be investigation Kosmos for some undisclosed reasons. The assets and bank accounts freeze include those of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kosmos Ghana, George Owusu; the EO Group, the company that facilitated the entry of Kosmos to Ghana; and a minority shareholder in Kosmos Ghana, Kosmos LLC and other companies, George Owusu. K.T. Hammond, MP for Adansi Asokwa and former deputy Energy Minister, asked government to immediately explain the reason for such capricious act, in order to protect the investment climate in the country. Government and Kosmos have locked horns in recent times over the ceding of the latter’s interest in Jubilee 2 Field offshore to Exxon Mobil, the American oil giant, without the approval of Ghanaian authorities. The argument, which appears to be favouring Kosmos, is that a two and a half month notice was served on government through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Ministry of Energy, about the arrangement, but with no response forthcoming, Kosmos went ahead to consummate the deal with the US oil giant, Exxon Mobil. No clause in the contractual deal with Ghana suggests that under such arrangements Kosmos should give preferential treatment to the country, a catch which could open a chapter on a protracted legal battle. What also worsens the case of Ghana is that the deal entered into with Exxon Mobil is irrevocable and steeped in international law. Should Ghana persist in its resolve to scuttle the Kosmos/Exxon Mobil deal, a diplomatic row could break out between the US and the country. It is doubtful if the Ghanaian government would be ready for the repercussions of such a diplomatic/business confrontation. The Mills Administration is longing to have a Chinese group replace Exxon Mobil and ironically, it was the same Asian company which some time back condemned Ghana as not bearing oil. With no offshore oil exploration and drilling experience, the Chinese appear to be a mismatch for the US company, whose mastery of complex deepwater oil drilling is legendary. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is trying various manouvres, with a view to possibly reversing the Kosmos/Exxon Mobil deal but with the irrevocability of the contract, Ghana might be preparing to jump into a complex international legal minefield. At a time the country is about to join the league of oil producers, the unfolding legal drama could be presenting her as an investor-unfriendly nation, according to K.T. Hammond, former deputy Energy Minister who was part of the negotiating team at the inception of the oil prospecting contract with Kosmos. Another aspect of the murky development has to do with the abbreviation E.O. Group (Edusei and Owusu), which the government is not comfortable with. When all hopes had been dashed about discovering oil in the country in commercial quantities, it was the E.O. Group which encouraged Kosmos to come to Ghana. Kosmos had earlier discovered oil in commercial quantities in the Equatorial Guinea, and the E.O. Group thought the conglomerate could spring a surprise in Ghana too. Ever suspicious about a possible former President John Agyekum Kufuor linkage with the Kosmos operations, the NDC government is fighting tooth and nail to make things impossible for the E.O., which company was established long before the country’s oil discovery. DAILY GUIDE has reliably learnt from a source that government thinks that the E.O. Group is fronting for former President Kufuor, hence the harassment of George Owusu in the past few months. Matters got to a head for George Owusu last week when the freeze order was relayed to him, after a siren-blaring police convoy had picked him up and drove him to his office and home for a thorough search. The two locations were searched and the hard-drives in his personal computers and documents removed to perhaps isolate tell-tale data which could buttress the suspicion of a Kufuor/Kosmos deal. Hon. K.T. Hammond has sneered at the unfolding development, describing it as inimical to our quest to attract investors to the country. “It has a potential of causing massive friction and if it happens, Ghana will be a big loser,” he said. According to him, for Kosmos’ entry into the oil industry, Ghana would still be wandering in search of oil. It would be recalled that when he headed the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata had on the payroll about 700 personnel. When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over power, it moved to reduce the number to, as it were, get GNPC to concentrate on its core task of exploring for oil and nothing else. This was the time when George Owusu, who has worked with respectable international oil firms for many years, decided to convince Kosmos to pitch camp in Ghana and try the offshore exploration approach. There is a touch of vindictiveness and arm-twisting in the unfolding development, political observers have whispered. K.T. Hammond, in a continuation of observations on the subject under review, queried what GNPC is doing in Sierra Leone, having been spotted in this West African country in recent times. By A.R. Gomda/DAILY GUIDE

NDC will fulfil campaign promises -Mills

... BUT IS THERE ANY SIGN OF THE PROMISES BEING FULFILLED?

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Shama (W/R) Nov. 14, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Saturday said the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has not relented on its promises to build a prosperous Ghana.

He said his administration was putting in place all the measures to ensure the smooth take-off of its development agenda.

President Mills made this known in an address read on his behalf at a durbar to round off this year's celebration of the "Nye-Eye/Pra Afahye (Festival) of the chiefs and people of the Shama Traditional Area at Shama, in the Western Region.

The theme for the celebration was "Dialogue, An Effective Tool for Unity, Peace, Stability and Development".

President Mills said one of the policy goals of the NDC was to devise and implement a dynamic cultural development programme that recognize social and cultural unity in diversity as instrument for national cohesion. He said government would therefore ensure that the traditional authorities document their cultural heritage.

The president said country's culture shall be the main streamed in the nation's social and economic development agenda. President Mills said the government was also sensitive to the plight of the electorate who gave it the mandate to manage the country's affairs and would not by any stretch of imagination undertake actions, which would inflict hardships on them.

He said the production of petroleum would begin in 2010 and this would bring a lot of businesses into the country. "As much as we want to encourage investment and development, let us not engage in unprecedented sale of lands without recourse to the interest of future generations," he said. "Let us, for that matter tread cautiously as there is the likelihood that we shall be selling the lands without any proper planning for development projects."

He said Parliament was helping to define policies and framework to govern the activities of all stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to promote and encourage accountable and transparent management of the oil revenue and its profitable use in national development. President Mills said the policies would also clarify any ambiguities such as national and local interests in the oil industry. "We shall ensure that the oil find will be beneficial and not a curse to the country's development, most especially among communities along the coast".

President Mills assured people in the traditional area of government's commitment and dedication towards unity, reconciliation, peace and development.

Nana Kweku Binnah 111, Omanhene of the Shama Traditional Area, appealed to the government to ensure that the Volta River Authority and the Takoradi Industrial Company pay royalties due to the district assembly for development purposes and establish a technical, agriculture and fishery centre in the area to train the youth. He appealed to the government to extend the school feeding programme to more schools in the area.

Mr Gabriel Essilfie, Member of Parliament for the area and Miss Emelia Arthur, District Chief Executive, called for unity among the chiefs and people to enable development projects to go on unimpeded. Nene Kupalour, a divisional chief and Adontehene of Ada Traditional Area contributed 5,000 Ghana Cedis towards the festival. He spoke against the high incidence of chieftaincy disputes and litigations in the country.

Nene Kupalour proposed that the Chieftaincy Act should be reviewed to enable the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs to intervene in the numerous chieftaincy litigations in the country. 14 Nov. 09

Source: GNA

Oil and gas find creates employment anxiety in Western Region

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Sekondi, Nov. 15, GNA - Dr. Edward Omane Buamah, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, has observed that the oil and gas find in the Western Region, has made unemployment among the youth in the area a big issue.

Speaking at a special hearing on the Environmental Impact Assessment for the development of the first phase of the Jubilee Oil Fields, organised for the Western Region House of Chiefs in Sekondi, he said the region had not benefited from natural endowments like the sea, gold, bauxite, timber and other minerals.

Dr. Buamah said it was therefore normal for the youth to expect better employment prospects from Ghana's oil find.

He said direct employment into the upstream oil industry required high level of professional competence and qualification, hence the need for the youth to improve themselves to be able to take full advantage of the numerous ancillary job opportunities, which would be generated by the emerging industry.

Thursday's special encounter with the 22 paramount chiefs concluded the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) mandatory engagement with local stakeholder communities on the environmental implications of the phase-one development of Ghana's Jubilee Fields off the coast of the Region. In September, the EPA staged massive public hearings within the six key catchment communities namely, Nzema East District, Jomoro District, Ahanta West District, Nzema West District, Shama District and the Sekondi-Takoradi Municipality, during which environmental impact strategies and corporate social responsibility programmes of the oil companies, led by Tullow Oil Ghana Limited were outdoored and debated.

"In the process of conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment, it is essential that the people of the region and all key stakeholders, including this august Western Region House of Chiefs are extensively consulted and their concerns fully captured and satisfactorily addressed to ensure that the project is implemented in an environmentally sound and socially acceptable manner," Dr. Buamah said.

He told the chiefs that Ghana had benefited from the knowledge of the mistakes committed by some oil-rich countries.

The minister said Ghana was doing everything possible to ensure that its future oil industry operate successfully without the adversities and bitterness, which characterised oil production elsewhere in Africa. The President of the Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu 11, Omanhene of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, reminded the government and the oil companies about the plight of the region.

"This region is really deprived of development. Our children have no jobs so they naturally migrate to bigger towns and cities in search of work. Our town and villages are decaying and our youth are becoming restless," he said.

"I use this forum to appeal, first, to our government, and secondly, to the oil companies to do everything possible to use the oil find to correct the mistakes and injustices the region has suffered for over one hundred years now. As a people, and as leaders of our people, we are ever ready to work with all relevant agencies to ensure the successful implementation of this strategic national project."

The chiefs enquired how ordinary people could track the volume and flow of revenue, royalties and taxes from the oil industry into government chest. Ghana's Environmental Assessment Regulations (LI-1652 of 1999) as well as related international conventions require that all concerns, demands, views and opinions expressed at the various Public Hearings are duly captured by the EPA to be addressed by the proponents of every prospective industrial development project, which has environmental impact implications. 15 Nov. 09

Source: GNA

GHANA: GUNS BOOM @ SABAT MOTORS

… As businessman battles `Togbui Sri` over ownership
… Suspect arrested, nine others already jailed

By Emmanuel Akli, Ag. Editor | Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009

Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada

The Tema Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a man holding a pump action gun purporting to be protecting the filling station in front of the former Sabat Motors, which ownership is in serious dispute.

The man, who would not be named by the Commander, Augustine Gyening, has been granted bail, and ordered to produce the one who provided him with the gun.

Earlier in the year, a group of thugs allegedly attacked the same facility, resulting in the death of one person, and the destruction of properties.

At centre of the dispute is an Accra-based businessman, Chris Etse Azawodie, Executive Director of Senalie Company Limited, an imports company, and the Managing Director of Fraga Oil, Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada, popularly known as Togbui Sri.

Whilst Chris is accusing Mr. Agboada of trying to seize property he had legitimately acquired from Sabat Motors, and preventing him from having access to the facility, the latter is also arguing that he acquired the property from Shell Ghana Limited, which he has been using for his oil business for the past thirteen years, and that if Chris thinks he has taken over his property, the best forum to settle the matter was the court, and not threats.

Chris Azawodie’s Story

Chris Azawodie told The Chronicle that somewhere in 2006 the management of Sabat Motors approached him that the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) was threatening them with legal action, because they had failed to settle fully the cost of the property, which includes the disputed filling station the former sold to them.

According to Chris, based on the arrangement between the two parties, it was agreed that he (Chris) pays the outstanding money on behalf of Sabat Motors to the DIC, after which ownership would be transferred to him.

Senalie Company Limited, which is owned by Chris, subsequently paid ¢1,400,000,000 into the account of the DIC, on behalf of Sabat Motors.

The Managing Director of Sabat Motors, Nelson K. Sena, acknowledged receipt of the payment in letter to Senalie Co. Ltd., dated November 6th, 2006.

Mr. Chris Azawodie further told The Chronicle that prior to the payment and subsequent takeover of the property, the management of Sabat Motors had since 2005 written a series of letters, signed by Nelson K. Sena, the Managing Director, to Fraga Oil, asking it to vacate the filling station, which is in front of Sabat Motors, because it was their legitimate property, which were ignored.

One of such letters to Fraga Oil, dated February 10th, 2009, reads: We refer to our letters dated 16/6/2005, 27/6/2005, 8/7/2005, 18/8/1005, 22/7/2008, 11/8/2008 to you, in respect of plots numbers 9 and 6 at Tema, belonging to R.T. Brisccoe. I wish to bring to your notice that those two plots were handed over to SABAT MOTORS LTD by the Divestiture Implementation Committee in 1997. Since the year 2006, SABAT MOTORS has assigned the above workshop and Filing Station to Senalie & Co. for renovation and occupation. We are therefore requesting you to vacate the Filing Station by 15th March 2009, to give way for our rehabilitation programme.

Fraga Oil

Azawodie alleged that despite this clear directive to Fraga Oil and its Managing Director, Francis Nyonyo Agboada, the latter has refused to vacate the property, and continues to prevent him from using the facility.

He therefore went to the Tema police, showed all the transactional documents to them, and requested that he be provided with security to have access to his property and use it, which was granted.

According to him, he took that decision because he has to use the disputed filling station to get access to buildings behind it, where his goods had been kept.

Azawodie regretted that after supporting him for sometime, the police withdrew the protection service, for reasons he could not fathom, and Nyonyo Agboada has since been harassing he and his workers, preventing them from going there to work.

Nyonyo Agboada’s side of the story

Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada, on his part, told this reporter that he is a law-abiding citizen, and would not use any subtle means to take over somebody’s property.

He argued that if Chris claims he had taken over his property, the best thing to do was to drag him to court, for the latter to adjudicate in the matter, which he has failed to do.

He insisted that he acquired the property from Shell Ghana Limited, and has the relevant documents to back his claim.

According to him, when SABAT MOTORS started writing the letters to him, he made it clear to them that the property did not belong them, as they were alleging, and that it was wrong for them to have sold it to a third party.

Togbui Sri alleged that it was Azawodie who started the whole problem, by organising people to attack his workers at the filing station.

He alleged that in one of such attacks, a worker lost his life, whilst property worth GH¢150,000 was destroyed.

A report was subsequently made to the police, leading to arrest of Azawodie and nine others. The latter were convicted for unlawfully causing destruction to property, and were currently serving various jail terms.

The murder aspect of the case is currently pending against Azawodie, and those who have already been jailed, Togbui Sri alleged.

The Managing Director of Fraga Oil told The Chronicle that he would soon sue Azawodie for the destruction he caused to his property.

Torgbui Sri also alleged that the same management of SABAT MOTORS, headed by Nelson Sena, and one Ahadzi, who claim to have sold the building behind the filing station to Azawodie, also took various sums of money from him, and gave him receipts to that effect, to sell the same buildings to him.

To him, therefore, he also has the right to claim the buildings Azawodie claims have been sold to him. Sri reiterated that he was a law abiding citizen, and that Azawodie must use the due process of the law to determine the true owner of the disputed property, instead of resorting to rough tactics.

What the Police also said

The Tema Regional Police Commander, Augustine Gyening, on his part, admitted that Chris Azawodie requested for police protection to use the former SABAT MOTORS building, which was granted, but the permit was not renewed when it expired, after the police got to know that there was a dispute as to who owns the property.

Gyening argued that the police have no mandate to interfere in land matters, and that the decision not to renew the permit was a legitimate one.

The police boss also confirmed that one person had been arrested with a pump action gun, which he claims was given to him by a worker at the Fraga Oil to protect the land from aggressors.

Gyening said the suspect had been granted bail to produce the one who provided him with the gun else he would be put before court.

Source:The Chronicle

Spio's man wins NDC Chairmanship

The race for the control of the ruling National Democratic Congress is on as the party continues with elections of officers. And, already President John Evans Mills has suffered some major casualties.

The Statesman can report that it is nearly a straight fight between Team Spio-Rawlings on one hand and President Mills, on the other hand, supported by both the National Chairman and General Secretary.

Also fighting his little corner with some discretion is Vice President John Mahama, who is sponsoring candidates such as his spokesperson John Abu Jinapor for National Youth Organiser.

The election at the weekend of Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah as the UK-Ireland Chairman of the NDC has sent shock waves at the Castle, with Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia being blamed for 'complacency.'

To rub it in, the NDC Friends of Spio in Canada, the USA, the Nordic region, Germany, Switzerland and the UK have issued a statement of "most hearty congratulations" to Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah for winning the Chairmanship slot of the UK-Ireland NDC at the elections held on Saturday 31st October in Tottenham,London.

In the view of the NDC Friends of Spio, "the victory of Mr Ankrah attests to the fact that despite attempts by some hardliners within the NDC to marginalize and denigrate the contributions of Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah to the NDC, many of those who are his friends and admirers are very much amongst those now trying to rebuild the party, its branches and its structures both in the diaspora and in Ghana."

Horace Ankrah won more than 70 % of the vote, and, according to the Spio group, would have likely won by an even larger margin if a decision had not been taken by the NDC Party headquarters in Accra to limit eligible voters to only those who had fully paid in their dues by July 25th thereby revoking an earlier decision that allowed a larger number that had paid in their dues by end of September 2009 to vote.

The mammoth event was which was attended by a large section of the Party’s membership and party faithful in the UK & Ireland, and ward representatives from Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool and Milton Keynes. A high level delegation from NDC headquarters in Accra led by Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary, and Kofi Attor, Director of International Relations also attended the event.

Ludwig Hlodze, Deputy National Youth Organiser and Presidential Staffer and a colleague of Segbefia was also in attendance.

Yet, they could not stop the Spio man from winning. Sources close to Spio say both him and party founder Rawlings have been so excited by the victory that they are now contemplating getting Spio to contest for the party chairmanship.

The issue is how that might affect Ekwow Spio Garbrah's chances of contesting against President Mills in 2012 for the flagbearership. This may mean that former first lady Mrs Rawlings may be pushed to elevate her ambition from First Vice Chairman to contest for the National Chairmanship.

Mr Ankrah, a very successful businessman in both Ghana and the UK, runs a string of businesses including in the commercial education and transportation fields.

His election was postponed three times, partly for fear that his election will herald a boost for pro-Spio forces within the NDC and in UK.

To charges that he was a pro-Spio NDC member, Mr Ankrah responded by advising that he was friends with all segments of the party, that had great respect for former President Rawlings, had associated with President Mills, and had also been taught in Adisadel Secondary School in the early 1970s by Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.

The Spio group attests, "Notwithstanding recent attempts by some to persecute Spio-Garbrah and his growing following in the Party, Friends of Spio have remained focused and single-minded in their commitment to the Party as an institution, and the need for the Party to strengthen its internal unity if it is to win the 2012 elections."

Mills' hypocrisy on Residency

Dressed elegantly and looking resplendent in a rich Kente cloth, President Mills on Tuesday, November 10th received envoys from Italy, Finland and Mexico accredited to the country to represent their various governments as ambassadors at the Jubilee House, and not at the Castle this time as has been the norm in the Mills-led NDC administration.

Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesman, said the president undertook the assignment at the Jubilee House, based on the recommendations of the State Protocol Department.

While the then NPP extolled the construction of the project as Ghana's Presidential Palace, the NDC dismissed it, and its members rather called for such funds to be used towards solving the nation's energy crisis, alleviating poverty and providing accommodation on the country’s university campuses.

The NDC had threatened to convert the edifice to a hospital and at one time into a poultry farm if elected into office but Prof Mills at a later date described it as an imposing building amid broad smiles.

President Mills, again, over the weekend addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Brong-Ahafo Region in Sunyani, to climax the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the creation of the region.

He decided the “Residency”, the Regional Minister’s place of residence in Sunyani, was not good enough for his status and as such drove his convoy of luxury vehicles all the way back to Kumasi to sleep in the Presidential residence constructed by former President Kuffour.

A decision was made by the Kuffour-led government to construct a residence specifically for the President in every region in the country. This was to serve as accommodation for the President if he/she was on a tour of that region.

President Mills decided to sleep at the new Presidential residence and not the regional residency at the Ashanti Region.

Recent developments can only presume President Mills is departing the supposed tenets, of cutting out ostentation and profligate expenditure, he espoused in the run-up to the 2008 elections.

As can be seen, he is gradually enjoying and “warming” himself into Presidency and engaging in the profligate and ostentatious expenditure he preached against when he was candidate Mills. Only a few days ago, the President announced he would not mind sharing the Jubilee House premises with the foreign ministry. Speculations are rife that the president’s latest gesture is yet another clear indication that he will be moving into the new Presidential palace much sooner than he had earlier wanted Ghanaians to believe.

The Statesman

MPs cry for ex-gratia... but who cares

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WHAT POVERTY-STRICKEN Ghanaians have described as suffocating economic conditions in the country in recent times has apparently caught up with the supposedly well-to-do in society including Members of Parliament (MPs), compelling them to cry out for assistance.

“MPs are suffering! Prices of goods have shot up astronomically without a corresponding improvement in the welfare of MPs and some are finding alternative ways to survive,” Isaac Kwame Asiamah, MP for Atwima-Mponua, lamented on the floor of Parliament on Friday after the presentation of a highly-packed business statement of the fourth week ending Friday November 20, 2009.

Asiamah’s lamentation was unanimously greeted with declaration of “Mills should pay our ex-gratia (gratuity)”, albeit in an atmosphere of civility and conviviality.

Concurring, Majority Chief Whip and MP for Ningo-Prampram, E. T. Mensah, said the issue of welfare of Members of Parliament must be tackled in a bipartisan manner, promising that the Committee of the Hold will meet on the matter.

DAILY GUIDE has learnt that salaries of MPs have not been increased since 2008, making it unbearable for the legislators who have to virtually cough out huge sums of money to solve numerous problems of their constituents on daily basis at the Parliament House.

Those who are unable to routinely satisfy the needs of their constituents are sometimes seen rooted in their seats in the Chamber, even after adjournment, just to avoid some of the taxing visitors.

The plight of MPs, some people say, has been worsened following the refusal of President John Atta Mills to pay in full the gratuity or ex-gratia of MPs, which was approved by former President John Agyekum Kufuor for the last Parliament, per Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution.

It would be recalled that upon the assumption of office and with the prompting of “street agitators”, President Mills set up the Ishmael Yamson Committee to review the ex-gratia of MPs for the last parliament, which was legally approved by his predecessor.

The move, widely described by political analysts as a populist approach to an otherwise simple matter, has since been an albatross dangling on the neck of the President, as some former MPs have threatened to take legal action against him should he go ahead to eventually cut down their purse.

One of such determined personalities is John Akparibo Ndebugri, former MP for Zebilla in the Upper East Region.

Unlike members of two of the three organs of government, the Executive and the Judiciary who are given free transportation, MPs are given car loans, payable within four years.

In most cases, the legislators say they are not able to pay these loans before their tenure ends, pushing them to fall on the ex-gratia to service the debt, thereby defeating the populist outcry that the gratuity is too much.

Information filtering through indicates that the unresolved issue of ex-gratia could cause a major setback for President Mills in the coming days, as the MPs are said to be rolling their sleeves for a saliva-dropping showdown.

DAILY GUIDE has gathered that President Mills’ Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the year 2010, which will be presented to Parliament by his Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor on Wednesday November 18, 2009, may be thrown back to him should he fail to okay the full benefits of the MPs, majority of whom were in the last parliament.

Although some might see the impending action by the legislators as blackmail, a number of the MPs who spoke to the DAILY GUIDE argued that they should not only be seen to be carrying out government business in the House; their welfare must also be considered, particularly when they are the “guardians or keepers of public purse”.

The paper has also learnt the MPs are pushed to take this action because their former colleagues are accusing them of not doing enough to persuade President Mills to expeditiously grant them their gratuity.

The former MPs, DAILY GUIDE further gleaned, are accusing their colleagues in Parliament that they are unconcerned because they currently comfortable in the House.

However, explaining to the paper, a leading Member on the Minority side indicated they were helpless because their colleagues from the Majority side are playing it safe on the matter for fear of victimization.

It remains to be seen what happens in the coming days regarding the saga of ex-gratia, and DAILY GUIDE will definitely be around to report the issues.

Source: Daily Guide

Minister designate: Zita is 'still' incompetent

Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Akatamanso Email Print Have Your Say ( 27 ) Minister designate at the office of the president Nii Afotey Agbo has defended his accusations of the Information Minister as incompetent. “Being a man of myself, whatever I said at that time I made my position very clear and as a politician you always have to listen to the people and know their complaints at any given time so that if you have to make a position, you make it clear. That was my position and I still stand by it,” he said during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointment Committee on Wednesday. President Mills nominated the Kpone Katamanso MP for the vacant position following the resignation of Seidu Amadu over allegations he took a bribe from British construction firm, Mabey and Johnson. Afotey Agbo, prior to his nomination accused Information Minister, Zita Okaikoi of being incompetent and charged the president to sack her if she was not going to resign. And when he appeared at the Speaker’s Conference Room on Wednesday for his vetting, the minister designate said his comments were not to attack the person of the sector minister, but to present an objective opinion on her performance. When the committee chairman, Doe Adjaho asked if he had any regrets for making such a comment, the rather confident nominee showed no signs of remorse. He is not perturbed about the possibility of a personality clash that may arise if he is approved by parliament. He said however that his criticisms of her was not out of sour grapes after being left out of the first batch of ministerial appointments. When the minority leader and deputy chairman of the committee, Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu asked about his area of specialty, Nii Afotey Agbo, nicknamed The Lion, said he will prefer to work in conflict areas. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana