Politics

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday charged his economic team to recognise “justifiable continuity” and embody and preserve projects of the previous administration and other political parties that are compatible with his administration in this year’s budget and other national planning programmes.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration for an all-inclusive government, adding that the government would deliver on the promises of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the basis for which it was voted into power.

Opening a three-day meeting of actors in the preparation of the 2009 budget at Akosombo in the Eastern Region, President Mills urged the team of experts to come out with a budget that would be a solid beginner for 2009, the next fours and beyond.

The meeting, the first internal public assignment outside the Castle by the President since his inauguration, is being attended by members of the transition team, officials from the Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, the academia and business community, and it is to examine policies contained in the manifesto of the government in the face of current economic reality and chart a way to bridge the gap.

President Atta Mills observed that the task of the team was not the easiest, judging from the challenges identified by the work of the committee of the transition team.

He, however, expressed confidence that the recommendation of the meeting would respond to the challenges and set a course for a better Ghana.

The President said policies and programmes currently in the pipeline initiated by the last administration which supported positive national development must be thoroughly reviewed, preserved and added to the new initiative that would be recommended.

President Atta Mills said the invitation that was extended to “friends from supporting political parties, industries and the academia was to begin the formation of an alliance of patriotic and well-meaning partners to help drive the national development programme.

“The sections of the Ghanaian community who are currently not represented here would be called to join in subsequent exercise in similar nature,” the President indicated.

He reiterated that government’s concept of inclusiveness involves human capital, intellectual resources and tested ideas.

President Mills urged the experts to come out with a framework for urgent public-private partnership that would curtail public expenditure, expand the economy, generate employment and meet the challenges of the current global economic crises.

The Chairman of the transition team, Mr. Paul Victor Obeng said the meeting was opportune as it consisted of Ministers-designate who would soon be vetted by Parliament for approval.

President Atta Mills later interacted with cheering crowds at Atimpoku and Kpong.  

GNA

THE CENTRAL Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has congratulated President John Evans Atta Mills for nominating Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe as the Central Regional Minister.

A press release issued to media houses and signed by the regional propaganda secretary, Ben Allotey Jacobs on Tuesday said they really respect the decision of Prof. Mills.

The release described Madam Benyiwa Doe as a loyal, dedicated, frank and pragmatic person who deserves to be in such a high office.

The release further stated that all executives and supporters of the party in the region are happy about Madam Benyiwa-Doe’s appointment, since her appointment is an indication that President Mills does recognise the efforts of every hardworking and committed party activist.

From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast

The chairman of the government transition team, P.V. Obeng says the new presidential palace will be inspected for defects before the President is “advised to move in.”

He said this is necessary because a lot of concerns have been raised about the possibility that it might not be safe for habitation.

The about $80 million mansion christened Golden Jubilee House, has spawned a lot of controversy as members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of superfluous spending.

Mr Obeng speaking to Joy FM on Thursday said, although the team has faith in the engineers who worked on the project, thorough architectural checks were required to ensure that the building can be occupied by the President.

He told Joy Fm he is initiating processes to get the executive assets committee of the government transition team to invite the Ghana Institute of Architects and the Ghana Institute of Engineers for the checks.

“We believe that it has been built as a state asset for stated purpose and I believe that our job is to ensure that it is put in a state of readiness for use,” he said.

Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff, however said the start of government business from the plush edifice remains the prerogative of President Atta Mills.

The mansion and the controversy

The NPP government secured a $60 million loan from the Indian government, part of which was used to kick-start the construction of the building.

But the start of the project started a new debate on government spending priorities.

While the then NPP has 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 but Prof Mills at a later date described it as an imposing building amid broad smiles.

The former Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani had told Parliament in July 2007 that the cost of the project at its initial stage was 36.9 million dollars but the total cost could only be known after completion.

Although figures flying over the cost of the building put it at $80 million, the chairman of the executive assets committee of the government transition team, Don Arthur, has said some $12 million more would be needed to complete the state asset to the last fitting.

It is not clear when the President will move from his Castle office to the palace, but there are doubts on whether at all he would go.


Story by Fiifi Koomson

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday reminded holders of diplomatic and service passports to surrender them to the Chief Director of the Ministry by Monday, February 2, 2009.

It warned that the passports of such personnel will be deemed cancelled if they failed to do so and the diplomatic missions and other competent agencies would be advised accordingly.

A release signed by Ms. Georgina Djameh, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD said this was to further reaffirm the announcement made on January 16, 2009 on the subject.


Source: GNA

Some National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth in Ashanti have appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to endeavour to consider youthful, competent, approachable, humble and hardworking people for positions.

They insisted that under no circumstances should the President allow himself to be persuaded or pressurized to choose people, who were not qualified for positions and that those nominated should first and foremost be true party members, who were in good standing and also of substance.

A statement signed by Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, Spokesperson for the NDC youth activists in the Ashanti Region, and issued in Kumasi, expressed the hope that the President would use his discretion in choosing nominees for key positions.

In a related development, Mr Joseph Salifu Boarle, a leading Member of the NDC in the Asawase Constituency, has criticised the struggle among some supporters for the position of the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE).

He warned that the party had its own criteria in considering people for the position and said it behooved the Ashanti Regional Steering Committee of the party to use laid down procedures in short-listing people for nomination for the position.

“The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) seat is a crucial one and that there is the need to be circumspect in choosing the right man for the position.”

This, he said, would help the party to achieve its objective of delivering on its campaign promises.



Source: GNA

A traditional ruler vying to represent the Brong Ahafo Region on the Council of State, on Thursday appealed to the Regional Electoral College to give him the mandate.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani, Nana Kwaku Dwuma Ankoana II, Paramount Chief of Seikwa Traditional Area in the Tain District of Brong Ahafo said he had contributed his quota to the socio-economic development of the region in diverse ways.

He said it is now time to be given the slot to serve the region at the national level.

According to the Electoral Commission (EC), each metropolitan, municipal and district assembly would delegate two members to form the Electoral College for the election of a regional representative to the Council of State on February 10, this year.

With 22 municipal and district assemblies, the Brong Ahafo College will comprise 44 delegates.

Nana Ankoana, who described himself as “an administrator, traditionalist, building technologist, effective team player with entrepreneurial abilities and an inspirer of confidence and trust,” has since 1976 been the owner and Managing Director of Soapem Company Limited, a private building/road construction firm in Sunyani.

He said he was experienced enough in both governance and administration by virtue of his position as a chief.

The paramount chief said socially and economically, he had since 1978 to date held various positions, served on a number of committees, attended some international conferences and initiated and contributed to the establishment of some developmental projects in his traditional area and Brong Ahafo as a whole.

Nana Ankoana is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.



Source: GNA

The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has asked the feuding parties to the chieftaincy dispute in Gbese in Accra to observe the peace until all issues pending at the courts are determined.

A press statement issued by Mr F.T. Nartey, Chief Director, said police had been instructed to ensure the maintenance of peace and security in the area to forestall any breach of the peace.

“Members of the families of the feuding parties are therefore advised to observe the peace and not to undertake any venture that will undermine the security in the Gbese area.”

Gbese has recently seen clashes between two feuding families with property being vandalised and some inhabitants assaulted.


Source: GNA

President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, the man with a dozen positive accolades, may be a God-fearing man, humble, and perhaps incorruptible, but when it comes to demonstrating the rare trait of a forgiving spirit, the law professor and staunch Christian may be found wanting.

After taking the political landscape by storm last Tuesday night with the final list of his ministerial nominations, the President has indeed indicated that he could be quite vindictive when he wishes to be.

DAILY GUIDE has been closely monitoring the ministerial appointments in the past three weeks and observed that the committee responsible for the nominations at the presidency is leaving no room to accommodate even party members who were critical of the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer in the run-up to the December 2008 general elections.

It also came to light that even though the ruling party prides itself in following the governing style of President Barack Obama of the US, the situation in Ghana is a far-cry from what pertains in America.

While Obama picked his closest contestant in the Republican race, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, Ghana’s President Mills saw nothing good in Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Eddie Annan, and Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, the three personalities who contested the presidential primaries with him, and went ahead to financially support his campaign.

According to DAILY GUIDE’s close observations, two prominent party personalities whose rejection could be as a result of existing bad blood, were Dr. Spio-Garbrah, CEO of the London-based Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) and former Minister for Education in the Jerry Rawlings era, and Hon. Michael Teye Nyaunu, four-time MP for Lower Manya Krobo constituency and member of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Both Spio and Nyaunu had in the heat of the political race touched the raw nerves of the professor by openly calling on the party to present a more physically fit presidential candidate. And even though they were expressing their personal opinions, the issue seemed to have hit the candidate below the belt.

As at the time of going to press yesterday, President Mills had reportedly closed his ministerial appointments without the two, even though some party faithful had said they were qualified to be nominated for appointments, particularly Spio, who had played a role in bringing back the NDC to power.

Spio-Garbrah, according to party sources, was touted for the post of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development or Foreign Affairs, while Nyaunu was reportedly lobbying to become the Eastern Region Minister.

Interestingly, the dreams of the two ministerial hopefuls were shattered when the final list of 35 nominations was released on Tuesday night, ostensibly due to the ‘actions’ ahead of the elections.

In the case of Spio, DAILY GUIDE learnt that he has not been forgiven for opening his mouth too wide in raising the issue of Mills’ health when he said he was the youngest and most active of the four NDC aspirants.

He was also suspected to be behind some text-message ‘wahala’ as far back as October 2006, two months before the NDC primaries.

Hon. Nyaunu added insult to injury when on 1st March 2008 he called for an emergency congress to replace the professor because he feared the latter would not be able to finish the race for health reasons.

It also came to light that some regional appointments in the north were also withdrawn because members of the Azorka team in Tamale claimed they too had some problems with the initial list.
Prof. Mills had penciled down Nasamu Asabigi, former deputy Northern Regional Minister in the erstwhile Jerry Rawlings NDC administration as substantive Regional Minister before the dreaded Azorka boys, headed by Sofo Azorka, stormed Accra to protest against the choice of Asabigi.

Kofi Attor, former MP for Ho Central, also lost out in the power game to become the Volta Regional Minister just as Captain George Nfodjo, MP for the area, who lobbied to become the successor of Kofi Dzamesi.  

President Mills’ final list is as follows: Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance; Mrs. Zita Okaikwei, Minister of Information; Lt Gen. Rtd. J. H. Smith, Minister of Defence; Moses Asaga, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing; Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways; Alhaji Muntaka Mubarrak Muhammed, Minister of Youth and Sports; Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Dr. George Yankey, Minister of Health; Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture; Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare; Alexander Asuom Ahinsa, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture; Cletus Avoka, Minister of the Interior; Joseph Yela Kyere, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development; Mrs. Huliti Alhassan, Minister at the Presidency; and Azong Alhassan, Minister at the Presidency.

Earlier nominees were Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport; Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Minister of Education; Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry; Dr. Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy; Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General; Ms. Akua Dansua, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs; Mrs. Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Tourism; Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources; Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications; and Ms. Sherry Ayitey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.

The full list of nominated regional ministers is as follows: Joseph Amenowode, Volta; Mark Wayongo, Upper East; S.S. Nanyina, Northern; Paul Evans-Aidoo, Western; Mahmood Khalid, Upper West; Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo; Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra; Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern; Ms. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central; and Kofi Opoku Manu (former Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance), Ashanti.

Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson has confirmed the nominations are over and said only deputy Ministers are left to be nominated.   

Unconfirmed reports say Kwabena Dufuor, a known Nkrumaist and a Convention People’s Party (CPP) presidential hopeful, was among those who bankrolled the Mills campaign.

It is however not clear whether he gave the same financial backing to Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom as well as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of which he is alleged to be a founding member.

By Bennett Akuaku

THE SPEAKER of Parliament, Rt. Hon Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo has directed the leadership of Parliament to set up a three-member committee to investigate the possible use of supernatural powers or ‘juju’ to outwit political opponents in the legislature.

The committee, according to the Speaker, should be mandated to probe how a piece of lead probably laced with potential juju was fixed beneath the seats of the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame in the Ashanti Region, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to ostensibly charm and subdue him into docility or reduce him to a moron known in Ghanaian parlance as ‘gyimi-gyimi’.

Furthermore, the committee should, as part of its mandate, give appropriate recommendations on how to strictly ensure the safety and security of Members of Parliament within and outside Parliament, and look at the possibility of instituting a Security Committee of Parliament to see to the protection of Members.

The Speaker’s request followed an official statement made on the Floor of the House yesterday by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on the aforementioned issue, entreating the House to investigate what he described as a serious matter.

It would be recalled that DAILY GUIDE on January 19, 2009 broke the news on how voodoo, which involves magical spells, charms and sorcery, has been introduced into the Ghanaian Parliament, the nation’s second most powerful arm of government, through the fixing of foreign materials beneath the chair of the Minority Leader in the House without the knowledge of security guards.

This is happening at a time Parliament is almost evenly divided between the Majority and Minority caucuses and every effort is being made to subdue political opponents in the legislature.
Making the statement, Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu recounted that he complained openly about his seat Wednesday January 7, 2009 in the Chamber of the House.

According to the Minority Leader, on Thursday January 15 when the Estate Department called for its replacement, it was noticed that the seat he had been sitting on all the while had been tampered with.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker, it may be instructive to be informed that the following day Friday 16, 2009, it was discovered that the seat in my office had also been tampered with in just the same manner as the one in the Chamber,” Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu added.

According to him, it was detected at the time that out of the 230 seats for Members in the House, his was the only one that had been so tampered with, indicating that the Estate Officer at Parliament had insisted that his Department had not called for any such ‘refitting’.

He noted that lead is a highly toxic metallic element and poses a great deal of danger to persons when they are exposed to it, aside the attributions of those who believe in the occult and other mysterious forces.

“Madam Speaker, I believe not in occultism or the so-called powers of the mysterious forces of darkness”, the Minority Leader stated, affirming his trust in and reliance on the Almighty God for protection against any possible attempt to ‘juju’ him into docility.

Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questioned how his seats were smuggled out of the Chamber block and brought back or substituted for not less than three days without the installed security cameras in the Chamber helping to identify the person or people who did the tampering in both instances.

In contributing, the Majority Leader and MP for Nadowli West, Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin said the first time he read the story in DAILY GUIDE, he thought it was sheer lunacy, wondering why people should use occultism to achieve their objective in this modern era.

He said now that the issue had officially come to the Floor of Parliament, it was important to do thorough investigation on the matter and also strengthen the security of Parliament, giving the assurance that the Leadership of the House would carry out the directives of the Speaker.

By Bennett Akuaku

TEMPERS FLARED up at the Eastern regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC) as a Koforidua High Court order to transfer ballot boxes in the Asuogyaman constituency to the regional office at Koforidua for a possible recount nearly resulted in fisticuffs.

EC officials remained helpless as constituency officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) engaged in heated verbal exchanges as to whether a re-inventory of the ballot boxes as well as the EC's official serial numbers on the seals should be taken.

While the NPP officials and those of the EC want that exercise to be done, the NDC officials, led by the constituency chairman, said they would never allow that to happen and that the ballot boxes should be kept at the store room of the EC right away until a further directive from the court.

The regional reporter of the Ghanaian Times who attempted to cool down tempers nearly got himself into trouble as a member of the NPP team whose name was given as Asafoatse nearly fought with him.

Some regional executive members of NDC also joined in the fray later after being called by their constituency officers.

Last Thursday, a Koforidua High court presided over by Justice Owusu Kwarteng ordered that the ballot boxes in the Asuogyaman constituency be transferred from Akosombo to Koforidua pending a petition before it filed by Francis Polley of Aboagyewaa Chambers on behalf of the NPP parliamentary candidate, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, who claimed that there were some electoral irregularities in the conduct of the December 7 parliamentary elections and declaration of results in the constituency.

An application by the Electoral Commission, which is the first defendant in the case, to set aside the petition filed by Mr Osei-Ameyaw was dismissed by the court at the last sitting.

The court therefore ordered that the ballot papers be transported from the district office of the EC at Akosombo to the regional office since the plaintiff expressed fear about the security and safety of the ballot boxes as happened in Tain.

According to the court, the EC and all the parties involved should make an arrangement for the ballot boxes to be conveyed from Akosombo to the EC's office in Koforidua in a strictly secured environment.

The court also ordered that the Eastern Regional Police Command should provide adequate security for the conveying of ballot boxes from Akosombo to Koforidua.

Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw in his petition to the court argued that some of the ballot papers were not authentic since they did not have the requisite EC stamps.

According to Mr Osei-Ameyaw, some of the presiding officers who are agents of the EC tampered with the carbon copies of statements of results and also signed for some political party agents.

Mr Osei-Ameyaw also stated in his petition that his agents were beaten and driven away from some polling stations such as South Senchi, Abume and Korankye, and could therefore not observe the counting.

He indicated in his petition that officials of the EC also failed to give his agents copies of the completed statement of polls and declaration forms for verification at the Gyakiti L/A Primary School and Gyakiti Presby polling stations.

He further stated that a booklet containing the statement of polls and declaration results for the office of the MP in that constituency had not been provided by the EC.

The parliamentary candidate for the NDC, Joses Asare Akoto is the second defendant in the case and he is being represented by Tony Lithur.

From Thomas Fosu Jnr, Koforidua

NEW PATRIOTIC Party (NPP) executives in the Upper West Akim constituency of the Eastern region have vehemently denied an allegation by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for the area that some NPP activists have stolen some electric poles meant for an electrification project at Adeiso, the constituency capital.

At a press conference in Koforidua on Tuesday, the constituency chairman, Nana Danso Ababio, said the allegation purportedly made on a Tema-based radio station was calculated to tarnish the image of the party and break its front in the constituency.

“We are a strong and united party at Upper West Akim and the NDC led by its new MP wants to harass members of our party and disorganise us,” he told the press.

According to the NPP constituency chairman, the NDC MP, Joseph Sam Amankwanor had two activists of the party arrested for a crime they never committed, adding that it is also not true that the wooden electric poles that were acquired by the NPP for electrification project at Kofi Dogbe, a suburb of Adeiso, had been stolen.

“None of the seven poles given to that community is missing; they are all intact,” he said, adding that the false allegation and subsequent arrest of the two activists of the party were all part of the NDC's political witch-hunting.

The constituency chairman therefore urged the new MP to re-direct his efforts at rather completing the electricity project for the communities which benefitted from the electric poles and stop ‘harassing’ NPP supporters in the constituency since they are also prepared to match them ‘boot-for-boot’.

“We are all Ghanaians and we will not allow anybody to just intimidate and harass us just because his party is in government,” they cautioned NDC members in the constituency

From Thomas Fosu Jnr, Koforidua

THE DISTRICT Chief Executive (DCE) for Awutu Senya, Solomon Aban-Quaye, has fled for his dear life to a hidden location following threats reportedly issued on him by known activists of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“I no longer sleep in the district; I sleep elsewhere and enter the district undercover and I disguise myself so people would not recognise me; I am worried because I have young children who still stay in the district and anything can happen to them,” Mr. Aban-Quaye told DAILY GUIDE in an interview on Monday.

The DCE said he was threatened with death after the NDC chairman for the Awutu-Senya constituency, Habib Abdramanie, last Saturday led some party executives and Police personnel to seize a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado which the invaders claim was a government car.

The NDC chairman was reported to have complained to the Police that the DCE was keeping a government vehicle and that the vehicle should be seized and towed to Accra.

He then led the Police in the company of other party executives to the DCE’s house in an attempt to tow away the vehicle.

“When the Police inspected my documents they realised that it was my private vehicle so they decided to leave it but the NDC Chairman insisted that my documents were fake so the vehicle should be seized.

“They were very rough but the Police insisted that the vehicles was mine; I had information that another NDC task force team was coming from Accra with a towing vehicle so I allowed the car to be taken to the Police station to prevent it from being towed to Accra,” Mr. Aban-Quaye narrated to DAILY GUIDE.

He said latter at the Police Station, the NDC chairman and his activists had a verbal exchange with him and threatened to kill him.

“I asked them the sense of the telling me they would kill me before killing me. But I have taken it serious because they meant what they were saying and I have no reason to doubt it.

“It has turned out that the car is not a government car but my private car but they have already embarrassed me; I suspect they are doing this to pay me back for some decisions I took as DCE in the interest of the state but against their self interest,” Aban-Quaye explained.

Habib Abdramanie, in a telephone interview with DAILY GUIDE confirmed that he indeed went to the Police station to report that the said vehicle should be seized but he did not know it belonged to the DCE.

The NDC chairman said his information was that the said vehicle was a stolen vehicle that had been parked at a private residence and was about to be sold out so he wanted to prevent the sale of a stolen vehicle.

He explained further that it was only afterwards that he was informed that the vehicle belonged to the DCE.

“We do not have a problem with him as long as he can provide documents to show that he is the real owner of the car; that is all we are interested in and once he proves it, the case is ended,” the NDC chairman noted.

Habib Adramanie denied ever threatening the life of the DCE and said he also did not hear any of the NDC members issue such a threat.

By Halifax Ansah-Addo