Asiedu Nketia Performed Abysmally; He Has Strengthened The Petitioners Case - Atik Mohammed

A policy analyst of the People's National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed has defused commendations on the key witness for the first and third respondents in the ongoing election petition, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, stating that he performed abysmally and rather helped to strengthen the petitioners case.

According to him, Mr. Asiedu Nketia who is also known as General Mosquito didn’t help his side in the kind of responses he gave to the questions posed to him by lead Counsel for the petitioners, Philip Addison.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia, while under cross examination yesterday, refuted claims that he trumpeted the supposed mantra of the Electoral Commisson “No Verification, No Vote” which was intended to govern the electoral process during the 2012 general polls.

But he was caught on tape giving support to the wide-held proclamation and admitting some issues he earlier denied while in the witness box.

The NDC General Secretary was captured on tape explaining the electoral processes in an interview with Citi FM’s Richard Sky on the station’s “Point Blank” program last year.

During a playback of the tape in the Supreme Court, he said “Let somebody come out to say that at this particular polling station there was voting without biometric verification and that those polling stations must be annulled. We agreed at IPAC level that there is no way voting should take place without biometric verification and these were all agreed before we went into the election. So it is surprising that any political party would not inform its agents or the electoral commission would not inform its officials and that would happen.”

“If something happens that should not have happened according to the electoral law, the results if cancelled and taken out of the constituency tally would affect everybody equally because nobody would know who has cast his ballot there and in much the same way if you open the ballot box and you count and the number of votes inside the ballot box are found to be in excess of the number that actually voted, or if the votes there are in excess of the number of registered voters at the polling station, that is automatic cancellation.”

Atik Mohammed, speaking in an interview with Peacefmonline.com, was of the view that Mr. Asiedu Nketia failed in impressing his Counsel and the respondents, and held that “his responses to the questions indicated he was absolutely confused.”

“His bad performance” he asserted, “went to strengthen the case of the petitioners. And it also became clear that there is difference between commentary outside the witness box and when you are indeed in the witness box. And you could see from the faces of his lawyers they were very disappointed with his performance and that Asiedu Nketia who they thought was going to be exceptional rather turned out to be somebody helping the petitioners in building a stronger case.”

To him, he (Asiedu Nketia) “no longer was on top of the issues as he’s purported before he mounted witness box” and could not stand the pressure from the petitioners’ Counsel.

He added that his posture in the witness box on Wednesday proved that he was not in full grasp of the facts of the case.

“The pressure from the Counsel actually got him to do the kind of things he did and to give the type of responses he gave and let nobody say it was because he was nervous…He seemed to be running away from the facts”, so, “it was just narration of stories of very minimal relevance” Asiedu Nketia gave before the court.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

ECG Must Supply Traders With Metres

President of the Greater Accra Market Women Association, Mercy Nee Djan has appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana to supply market women with metres to ease the pressures at the marketplaces.

She ascribed some illegal electrical connections at the marketplaces to the inadequacy of metres in the markets and partly blamed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for its inabilty to provide metres to traders in the metropolis.

She therefore called the immediate attention of ECG to the plight of the traders.

ECG, Madam Nee Djan in an interview with Radio Gold, stated “is not ready to supply immediate metres to the people in the market and as market people, they have to eat. So, all that we are saying is we are pleading with ECG; they should make available to solve that illegal problem…”

Expounding further, she said that though a lot of fire outbreaks in the country including the recent incident at the Katamanto market have been attributed to illegal connections in various markets, the traders should be educated on the causes of the fire outbreaks to prevent furture occurences of the incident.

She explained the Association’s objective for market women, saying “we ourselves have to educate our people so that they will know what is right for them. We have to at least sit down and make some regulations and rules to bind whatever is happening.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

BNI Is Acting Like "Puppets" of Government

Atik Mohammed, a leading member of the People’s National Convention (PNC), says the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) seems to be acting like “puppets” of government.

Speaking in an interview with Peacefmonline.com, he noted that the attitude portrayed by BNI officials, especially in the arrest of former National Chairman of Ayawaso West Wuogon of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Omari Wadie, is beginning to fuel suspicions that they tend to please government.

Addressing the recent issue of pictures about political figures posted on social networks, Atik Mohammed was of the view that Omari Wadie was singled out and that it was unfair for the BNI to ambush him on his return to Ghana.

According to him, though the act by Omari Wadie is condemnable, “the way and manner the BNI also handled the matter equally is condemnable. You don’t treat with any matter as petty as this as if the guy has committed high treason. When indeed we’ve had newspapers publish nude pictures of other political figures supposedly engaging in sexual activities with other women. And I think that you are talking about justice, you are talking about sensitizing the country and ridding the country of some of these nasty things; I think we should be fair…We should not just single out some people.”

He further stated that the BNI seems to work to only satisfy the “pleasures” of government and questioned why the same treatment is not meted out to other persons and newspapers which publish nude pictures.

He advised the leaders and political figures to discuss pertinent issues bothering the nation and implored the BNI to desist from being “the puppet of government.”

The BNI, he stated, tends “to do things to please government anytime there’s a change…We all Ghanaians deserve the same treatment whether it is my party that is in power or not; we deserve the same treatment. But their attitude is beginning to tell Ghanaians that they are more like puppets of government which is the most unfortunate suspicion and development. And they must do everything possible to cancel that impression and that they can do through their actions.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

AMA And Other State Authorities Must Conduct Periodical Maintenance To Avoid Fire Outbreaks

The Chairperson of the Electrical and Electronic Sector of the Association of Ghana Industries, Mrs. Kate Quartey-Papafio has called on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and all State authorities to adopt periodical maintenance culture in order to avoid fire outbreaks in the country.

Speaking on “Tea Cup” on Radio Gold, Mrs. Quartey-Papafio expressed worry over the poor maintenance of gadgets in offices and markets particularly.

Speaking in relation to the recent fire outbreaks in the country, she explained that the unfortunate incidents can be eliminated if citizenry take into cognizance the essence of maintaining their equipment and offices well after close of work.

She called on the authorities to “enforce that all markets, all offices, government buildings should be inspected periodically to actually protect our businesses. Our maintenance culture is where we are lacking most atimes.”

“After close of work, we have to make sure that somebody is there to turn off all” gadgets, “it has to be part of the system where it’s a must that they have to check everything that is there periodically. It has to be a system that will govern us. That is our problem. It doesn’t mean we can’t solve it. We can if only we emphasize on things that we need to do.” she urged.

She was of the view that cheaper products instead of quality ones are also a contributory factor to the causes of fire outbreaks in the country.

She therefore advised the entire nation to “look at the materials that we use…We need to have quality materials and quality people to do the work, make sure that the people who are even going to do our wiring for us; who are going to do our maintenance for us, they are well-prepared, well-trained.”
 
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Gloria Akuffo Should Be Cited For Contempt of Court - Murtala Mohammed

Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has cited the lead Counsel for the petitioners in the election case before the Supreme Court for contempt of court.

He explained that Madam Gloria Akufo, a leading member of the petitioners’ legal team, made certain utterances amounting to contempt when given a platform in the media to air her views on the court proceedings.

Addressing the court case during a panel discussion programme “Alhaji Alhaji” on Radio Gold, Hon. Murtala Mohammed raised concern over lawyers who make utterances which are contemptuous to the court.

He therefore found as inappropriate some comments made by the petitioners’ Counsel and therefore condemned her.

“You have a lawyer who makes a public statement and I thought it was contemptuous…From the petitioners, public statement on radio and on TV [Gloria Akufo] that we are winning the case; that was contemptuous. You don’t make such statements.” he said.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Dept. Info. Minister: Does The NPP Believe In The Court?

Murtala Mohammed, Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations has raised doubts about the commitment of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the Supreme Court.

He wondered if the NPP believes in the Supreme Court, accusing the party leaders of condoning some indecent acts by the members regarding the election petition in the court.

He noted that the party even as its leaders petitioned the Supreme Court, claiming that the 2012 elections were rife with irregularities and so, prayed the court to overrule the legitimacy of President John Dramani Mahama; they verbally abused the Justices with impunity.

He therefore asked whether “the NPP believes in the court?” because “if they did, why did they do the kind of things they did. Even when they’re in court, you have members; not even a rebuke, not an admonishment for the statements those people made against the Justices.”

He said on “Alhaji and Alhaji” last Saturday on Radio Gold that despite the NPP’s posture after the 2012 elections, the party leaders have not condemned some acts of violence perpetrated by the members and supporters.

He recalled some irresponsible acts by the party, disclosing that the members visited violence on some innocent Ghanaians but did not get the guts to apologize to the victims.

He therefore slammed the party saying “what the party did was that they went to selected media houses to apologize to those media houses…The party never apologized to those people.”

He admonished the opposition party to stop vilifying the Judiciary and also desist from attacking the integrity of people.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Dept. Info Minister: NPP Has Taken An "Unprincipled And Hypocritical" Position

The Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has lashed out at the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for taking a position that he describes as “unprincipled and hypocritical” so far as national issues are concerned.

Hon. Murtala Mohammed slammed the NPP and its members for being two-faced when addressing some issues bothering the nation; a reason why he sought to set records straight during an interview with Radio Gold.

He revealed that during Ex-President Kufour’s regime, the NPP government gave 100 percent of their contracts to Indians at the expense of local contractors.

He therefore disclosed that the Flagstaff House, which was initiated by the Kufour government, was built by Indians and so, questioned the integrity of the NPP.

“We had the Flagstaff House just here. It was absolutely built by Indians. Didn’t you have Ghanaian contractors. We were capable of building something even better than what they put there. The Bui Dam, they should tell us the contractors who did it.”

“Now, if we are giving 50% of the CDD loans, facilities and the kind of projects that are to be executed to the Chinese, they gave 100% to the indians. The GHALCO, the Bui Dam, all the projects; the major capital investment that they had under President Kufour between 2001 to 2008 were all executed by not Ghanaians”, labelling the NPP’s double standard as “unprincipled and hypocritical position. It must not be tolerated in this country.”

He also stated that in 2012, the NPP under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stated emphatically their desire to abrogate the Gas project on the premises that the project was not laid before Parliament and cannot be executed.

Nana Addo, he disclosed, in 2012 “granted an interview and he stated unambiguously that should he, in the unlikely event of him coming to power, he was going to abrogate the contract. It was a dangerous statement to be made in terms of all international relations with the global world. It was extremely dangerous.”

To him, the NPP’s desperation is as a result of the exposé by the General Secretary and key witness for the third respondent in the ongoing court case, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, whose submissions have crumpled the petitoners’ (NPP leaders) evidence.

The NPP, he said, “is a desperate political party and that is so confused. In fact, they dazed. And their problems were aggravated by the exposé that the General Secretary of the NDC gave in the witness…”

“They realized that General Mosquito shredded their so-called evidence. Their evidence is beginning to crumple. In fact, it was already wobbling. And they were exposed…And so, they were so affected. They were so hard-hit that they needed to immediately do something.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Textiles Importers And Distributers Association Appeals To Government To Cut Down Duties

The Secretary of the Textiles Importers and Distributers Association, Emmanuel Acolatse has appealed to government to cut down duties on the importation of textile materials into the country.

According to him, the duties and taxes imposed on the importers make it difficult for them to carry on their business.

He said on Radio Gold’s morning programme “Tea Cup” that due to the huge duties on the imported products, some traders rather go to neighbouring countries such as Cote D’Ivoire and Togo, specifically Lome, to import the textiles; hence affecting their business.

In his view, the enormous duties and taxes the importers pay are a contributing factor in the smuggling of textile materials into the country.

He elucidated that traders who cannot afford to pay duties tend to use unapproved routes to get the materials into the nation.

He also expressed worry over the porosity of the country’s borders, paving way for the smugglers to infiltrate the textile industry.

He further explained how the members of the group import their materials, saying a sample of the materials is presented to the Ghana Standard Board before the importation and after the importation for testing before they receive a permit to offload their consignment at the Port.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Ghana Labour Federation Call On Government To Save Textile Industry

The General Secretary of the Ghana Labour Federation, Abraham Koomson has called for government’s intervention in the textile sector.

Abraham Koomson, who is also the General Secretary of the Textile, Garment & Leather Employees Union, addressed some challenges confronting the textile industry.

He revealed on Radio Gold’s “Tea Cup” that the textile industry will soon come to a standstill if government does not intervene to salvage the industry from pirates and smugglers whose actions have a rippling effect on the progress of the sector.

He called on government to put measures in place to ensure that importers of textile materials do not evade the payment of duties on their goods.

This, he believes, will give the local manufacturers a fair competition, therefore, enhancing the work of local producers.

He also called on the appropriate authorities in the textile industry to work against importers who use unapproved entry points to smuggle their materials into the country.

He was of the view that the practice where smugglers get free access into the nation affects job creation and as a result, the textile authorities have set up a taskforce to seize materials smuggled or pirated in the country.

In the face of the canker in the textile sector, Mr. Koomson appealed to “government to intervene to make sure that people pay appropriate duties so that we can compete. We are not asking for protection for the local industry. We are talking about fair competion.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Chris Ackumey: IGP Should Investgate Adulteration of Prez Mahama's Picture

Lawyer Chris Ackumey says the adulteration of a scandalous picture concerning President John Dramani Mahama by Omari Wadie, a former NPP Chairman of the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency is a criminal offence, and has therefore appealed to the IGP to initiate investigations into the issue.

Mr. Ackumey said the NPP loyalist should face the full rigours of the law for defaming the President.

According to him, it is criminal for any individual to post a scandalous item about the President in an attempt to disparage him.

He explained that Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act “purely makes provision for the investigation and prosecution of the person who makes a false publication of a person or on any issue.”

He said the President’s integrity must be protected, so, the security services must ensure that justice takes its course on the perpetrator.

Lawyer Chris Ackumey, speaking on “Tea Cup” on Radio Gold, noted with seriousness the damage done to the reputation of the President, saying the act was meant to “disparage him, to defame him and bring his office and his sole person into disrepute, and is very criminal, very very criminal. In this case, it is not only the reputation of the President which is at stake but that of the whole Ghana. So, this is an offence committed not only against the President but against the State of Ghana because the President is the epitome of the State of Ghana…”

The act, he stated, is a wake-up call on the IGP and the security services in the nation.

“This is a criminal act, very very criminal. Publication of false news on a person and more especially the President of Ghana is a criminal offence”, adding his voice to calls on the security services to arrest him.
 
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Prez Mahama's Sex Photo Scandal: Group Calls For Omari Wadie's Arrest

Spokesperson for the Coalition for the Protection of Individual Liberties and Constitutional Right, Abraham Ferguson Jnr. has made a fervent call on the National Security to investigate the sex scandal picture of President John Mahama and ensure that Omari Wadie faces prosecution.

The group called for some punitive action to be taken against the former Ayawaso West Wuogon Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Omari Wadie, for posting a raunchy picture about President John Mahama.

The picture which had the head of the President and a body of female in a hot office show, was intended to counter some “nasty things” members of a whatsapp group dubbed “Edey Be Keke” were posting about certain key political figures in the nation, as disclosed by Omari Wadie during an interview with Radio Gold on Tuesday.

Also, speaking to Radio Gold, the Abraham Ferguson described as “absurd” the claims by Mr. Wadie and therefore called on security agencies in the country to apprehend him as quick as possible.

He noted with seriousness the impact of the misconduct, stating firmly that “the President is the embodiment of the nation. He is the number 1 citizen of the land. We all owe our allegiance to him. Irrespective of whoever you think its your boss, the President is the number 1 citizen of Ghana and as a citizen who is so concerned about corporate Ghana and about the image of Ghana, I don’t think we should sit down aloof and look at this thing going on.”

According to him, if Omari Wadie is not dealt with by the appropriate State authorities, his action may give room for other people to follow suit.

So, to him, “the security services should round him up as quick as possible; investigate, find out what happened…This is absurd. This is unacceptable. He can’t do this in any civilised society.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Agric Minister Assures His Outfit Is Putting In Place Pragmatic Steps To Boost Rice Production

Minister for Food and Agriculture, Clement Kofi Humado says his outfit is putting in place pragmatic steps to boost rice production in the country.

He stated that the Ministry has held meeting with various rice producers to discuss measures to revitalize the production of rice locally.

He noted that the importation of rice is gradually having depression effect on domestic rice businesses and so, the Ministry has adopted a plan to increase “local production gradually and trying to see whether we can reduce importation also gradually. We are introducing varieties that taste like the imported varieties so that when these are produced locally, our consumers would also have some affinity to that kind of rice produced here.”

He explained further that importation of rice, especially via unauthorized routes, affects the country’s revenues.

Speaking to Radio Gold, the Food and Agriculture Minister was of a strong view that such attitude should be curtailed because “it affects our revenue generation. As a country, the amount that we should have gotten from the tariffs or duty will be lower. Also, we will lose information, that is, we will not be able to know exactly how much volume of rice comes into this country for planning purposes. So, I think it’s something which is very very disturbing, not only to the Ministry but it should also be disturbing to the revenue generation authorities.”

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, he said, is “trying to revamp rice production…And we believe that by the end of this year, we should be targeting 60% of the total requirement for Ghana.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Murtala Mohammed: Ghanaians Should Repose Confidence In Committee To Investigate NYEP

Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations has urged Ghanaians to repose confidence in the Committee set up by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to investigate the illegalities going on in the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

Government, through the Ministry of Information on Tuesday issued a statement addressing the misconducts by officials administering the programme.

A statement signed by the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga read that the “Minister for Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga says government has already instituted investigations into allegations of suspected mismangement of some modules under the National Youth Employment Programmes. Reacting to news reports of some module partners shortchanging beneficiaries of the programme, now known as Ghana Youth Employment and Entreprenuerial Development Agency (GYEEDA), Hon. Ayariga said an investigative Committee set up by the Minister for Youth and Sports is already reviewing the entire process.”

Speaking on Radio Gold’s newspaper, Hon. Murtala Mohammed reiterated government’s commitment to unearthing the rot in the system.

He entreated all and sundry to remain calm as the Committee does its investigations and lay bare its findings, promising that the culprits will not escape from the claws of the law.

He stated strongly that any person found culpable will not go unpunished by the authorities.

He also called on the media and the Ghanaian populace to assist the Committee with any information that will help unravel the dirt in the NYEP.

“I think we should exercise patience. I have no doubt in the capacity of members of the Committee to do a very good work. Let’s exercise patience and the Committee finishes with its work. If you have any other information that you think that it will help in unravellling [if you like] some wrongdoing, it would appropriate you channel that information to the Committee.

“Government will not allow that to happen. I mean this is the last thing government will countenance that people must not be allowed to engage in such illegalities.” he stressed.

He emphasized that “once the Committee finishes with their work, nobody is going to be protected. As long as it is established that someone was engaged in kind, that person will be drastically dealt with and that’s the position of government. That is the position of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Security Agencies Should Beef Up Operations In Combating Cyber Crimes - Dr. Clement Apaak

The Convener for the Forum for Governance and Justice, Dr. Clement Apaak has called on security agencies to beef up their operations in combating cyber crimes in the nation.

Dr. Clement Apaak made this appeal during an interview with Radio Gold regarding an allegation of a sex scandal against President John Mahama by the former Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Omari Wadie.

A picture purported to portray the President in a steamy sex activity in an office with a certain unidentified female went viral in the media a couple of days ago.

The picture, according to the Daily Post newspaper, was intended to paint the President black and abase him in the court of public opinion and before the entire nation.

However, revelations by the newspaper pointed out that the pictures were false and that the President had not engaged in such misconduct.

Talking to Radio Gold, Dr. Apaak called on security agencies to investigate the alleged picture and discover the perpetrators.

He admonished the security personnel to ensure that Omari Wadie and other cyber transgressors are brought to book.

According to him, it is about time “we begin to beef up our security agencies by getting computer trained literate graduates attached to the security agencies so that they can conduct serious cyber investigations and bring perpetrators like this to book.”

He also wondered if the New Patriotic Party will sanction Omari Wadie for his disrespect to the President.

He therefore asked: “Will the NPP distance itself from him? Will they try to exert punitive measures against him for engaging in a practice that should be condemned and even should be criminalized?”

“For this to have come in the wake of Otumfo’s excellent presentation, certainly, it’s a show of gross disrespect.” he averred.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Daily Post Editor: Former NPP Chairman Is "Sick In The Mind"

Editor of the Daily Post newspaper, Mike Dokosi says the former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, Omari Wadie, is “sick in the mind” to have allegedly posted an alarming picture of the President in a sex scandal.

Mike Dokosi, in an interview with Radio Gold, wondered why the NPP guru has not been dealt with after circulating the pictures through media and social networks.

The Daily Post in its Wednesday edition, reported about a sordid picture of a male and female having sex in an office, both purported to be Nigerians.

The picture, the newspaper said, was adulterated by “NPP’s Omari Wadie to make the male in the picture become His Excellency President John Mahama.

This he did by using such software as photoshop used for designing and editing pictures. Omari Wadie used it to remove the head of the man in the picture and super-impose the head of President Mahama on it. Anyone who sees the picture would naturally therefore jump to the conclusion that the male in the picture is President John Mahama.”

He described as “disingenuous” and “invidious” the alleged act by Mr. Wadie, saying the newspaper published the unadulterated along with the adulterated picture in order to reveal the true colours of the NPP Ayawaso West Wuogon Chairman.

“So that Ghanaians will see how disingenuous, how invidious this character is. And in publishing the two, many people have now come to the conclusion that this guy just has to be dealt with by the relevant institutions.”

The act, he stressed, is “just an invidious act by somebody who is sick in the mind.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

AMA Begins Intensive Exercise To Rid Markets

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has begun an intensive exercise to rid markets in the metropolis of any illegal activities.

The exercise is aimed at safeguarding the traders and marketplaces in the country.

Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye disclosed in an interview with Radio Gold that his outfit has instituted a task force to ensure that no illegal activities are done in the various markets in the city.

He stated firmly that the task force is mandated to ensure safety in the markets and for that matter, has started disconnecting all illegal electrical connections in the marketplaces.

He noted with seriousness, the importance of the mandate given to the task force and so, promised to prosecute offenders in the law court.

The AMA Boss also expressed disappointment in vendors who use the walkways in markets for business, hence creating difficulties for the Ghana Fire Service in times of misadventures.

He has therefore charged the Work, Town and Country Departments of the AMA to remove all structures along the walkways “so that in event of any emergencies, our Fire Service can go through the markets and do what they do best.”

Also, he hinted that traders who use heavy equipment and combustible items must acquire certification from the Fire Service before operating in the markets.

He warned them not to allow persons to undertake any illegal activities “because if they do so, they will face serious prosecution.”

"The good thing about this is that the market leadership themselves have already started working on these things. And it is to that effect that we have also instituted an award every month that we will award the best markets in Accra who are maintaining safety standards and cleanliness.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Our Judges Are “Rotten”...The Country Is Full of “Lawless People”

The Head of Policy Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency during the late President Mills’ regime, Dr. Tony Aidoo says since the inception of the fourth Republic, every facet of society has systematically degenerated with the Judges in the nation turning into “rotten people”.

Speaking to Radio Gold in an interview, Tony Aidoo expressed disappointment in the leaders and people of the nation saying due to the free culture of democracy, respect for the laws of the land has dramatically taken a downward slope.

He bemoaned the state of the economy, labelling the country as “rotten” and full of “lawless people”.

He said the rot in the country has also affected the Supreme Court that “even Judges to whom we look for protection of our rights are rotten people.”

He expressed his distaste over the state of the nation, stressing that “this country is rotten to the core. This country is a country of lawless people, people who do not respect the law...And we see that within the Supreme Court, the rot is very very eminent.”

He questioned the kind of democracy practised in Ghana when in the face of enjoying the freedom and rights existing in the light of democracy, people tend to blatantly disrespect the law.

“If you live in a society like this, you begin to question the value of democracy itself. Is democracy meant to facilitate our free choice of leaders, freedom of speech and of association or is it meant to be a license for lawless behaviour.”

“Since the inception of the fourth Republic, there has been a systematic degeneration of our moral society with the effect that nobody respects the law. Even Judges to whom we look for protection of our rights are rotten people.” he posited.

Liking the rot in the system to a fish, Mr. Tony Aidoo registered his displeasure with people whose focus in life is to attain power “either by hook or by crook”.

This he stated proves “there’s too much rot in the system. People are eager to come to power either by hook or by crook and it’s not simply NPP vrs NDC politics. It is something that deals with the very foundation of this society…Like a fish, the rot started from the head right at the inception of the fourth Republic with the politicians, with our academic elite, with economic elite and with our religious setting. We are all rotten.”

To him, it is about time Ghana “took stock of the direction in which we want our nation building to go.”
 
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

NDC Counsel: Count of Pink Sheet Boxes Should Be Done In Open Court Or...

Lawyer Abraham Amaliba, a member of the legal team of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), prefers the head count of the number of boxes of pink sheets at the Supreme Court Registry to be done in an open court.

According to him, his side deems the process “compromised” and so, will not go along with it unless the process is displayed in the full glare of the court.

Speaking to Radio Gold, Lawyer Amaliba explained the circumstances that led to the increased number of the boxes containing the pink sheets.

He narrated that last Thursday, representatives from all the parties involved in the election case took inventory of the boxes and was aware of the number until Monday when they realized some changes.

The Judicial Secretary, he said, was informed of the sudden changes and an order was made for the suspension of the audit.

He recounted that on Monday, “when the auditing begun, our representative at the counting discovered that some new boxes have been introduced. It was on this basis that he rushed to lawyers and to lay a complaint. What we did was to go to Judicial Secretary and Deputy and then lodge a complaint which we did lodge. And the Judicial Secretary ordered for the suspension of the count.”

Though his party will not pull out of the process, he feels the auditing has been compromised and as a result, his side will “take a strong position unless something new comes up which would make the process transparent but until then we feel this process, now, has been compromised and we do not think that we would want to go along.”

However, the Supreme Court yesterday upheld an objection against an oral application by Counsel for the third respondent, Tsatsu Tsikata for stricter administration in the auditing of the pink sheets.

Justice William Atuguba, presiding over the court proceedings, said in his ruling that “concerns raised by respondents can be put before the referee - KPMG”.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

I Am Not Aware of Any Taken Inventory of Pink Sheet Boxes - Gloria Akuffo

Counsel for the petitioners, Gloria Akuffo has denied knowledge of any inventory of the boxes of pink sheets in the ongoing election petition.

Madam Gloria Akuffo, reacting to the revelations by the representatives of the parties involved in the election case and KPMG, an auditing firm, concerning the head count of the boxes containing the pink sheets used as evidence by the petitioners, told Radio Gold on Tuesday that she wasn’t “aware that any inventory was taken, otherwise the numbers would have been brought to us…No number was brought to us as number of boxes. I was under the impression that the groups including all the representatives went to the location and visually were shown where the boxes were being stored. I’m not aware that any counting took place.”

She explained the circumstances that led to the increment in the number of boxes at the Registry of the Supreme Court, saying pursuant to an inspection of the boxes last Thursday, a representative for the respondents brought to the attention of those present that there was a missing box, which was later found in the strong room where the boxes were kept following the court order.

Later on, another person lodged a complaint about another missing boxe which called for a search “but when they went back, what they said was missing was actually with them in the room and they couldn’t find it because of the place.”

They continued with work until one of the representatives for the respondents took leave of his table, which slowed down the process.

“Subsequently, lawyers for the respondents stormed the place. Of course, they were asked to leave because it was not part of the arrangement and this was done by the KPMG inspector,” she further narrated.

After the count, the number of the boxes was found to have increased which was brought to the attention of the Judicial Secretary, leading to the suspension of the process.

“The respondents’ representative refused to go on and upon bringing it to the attention to the Deputy Judicial Secretary, the Deputy Judicial Secretary then asked that the work should come to an end.”

Though to her, her side is “prepared, able and available to continue…” with the audit, she however sought answers to these questions; “What was the number of the boxes that they claim had now increased? What was it to start with? And how many boxes have been added? And how did the increase occur when everything was being done in the presence of all the representatives?”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Tsikata Is Trying To Get A Run-Off Election In Court - Hopeson Adorye

Hopeson Adorye, a member of the NPP Communication team, says Counsel for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the election petition before the Supreme Court, Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, in cross examining the key witness is seeking to reduce the number of irregularities presented as evidence in the petitioners’ claims so as to go for a run-off.

He said during an interview with Peacefmonline.com, that Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata’s cross examination is targeted at bringing the numbers down so that the nation will go for another election to decide on a new President.

To him, the key witness Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has exposed him (Tsatsu) proving that the NDC Counsel only wants to please the foot soldiers of the party.

“He’s trying to bring down the numbers. The numbers that we are using to add up and then strike an average to unseat President Mahama. He’s trying to bring down the numbers so that at the end of it all, it will mean that maybe no one will have the 50 plus 1 percent, so let’s go for a re-run. That’s what they’re doing.” the NPP Communicator stressed in the interview.

But according to him, the NDC will have to cut down the numbers by over 90% to succeed in their attempts.

He noted that due to the evidence garnered by the petitioners, it would be difficult for the third respondent to execute such task.

The evidence, he stated, “is so tight that nothing can bring it down.”

Assessing the performance of the key witness in the court trial, he hailed him for being honest in his answers to the questions posed by the Counsel for the third respondent.

“Bawumia has been an excellent witness. He has been consistent. He has been truthful...he has been consistent with his answers,” he emphasized.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

The Nation Is Churning Out "Ignorant" Politicians; They Do Not Learn - Prof Akosa

Former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa says politicians in the country do not seek after knowledge and as a result, the nation is churning out “ignorant” politicians.

Speaking in an interview with Radio Gold on Monday, Professor Badu Akosa wondered where politicians get their information on issues basically concerning the country, explaining that “the fact of the matter is that our politicians, themselves, do not learn. I have never gone to any public lecture where politicians have come to listen to experts…Where do they get their source of information? They don’t have time. They don’t read and so on, and so forth. So, unfortunately, we are creating a system where even the politicians, themselves, are as ignorant as the general population.”

He called on the politicians to challenge themselves by learning and acquiring knowledge from experts in the country.

Also, analyzing the impact of Ghana’s media, he referred the media to the vital role it plays in the development of the economy.

He implored media practitioners to disallow the influx of politicians on their programmes but rather ensure that they use their platforms to champion developmental issues which to him, would be much beneficial to the economy.

He expressed his view saying “I think the media is all too ready to open up to let people share their views…” and due to this, hold programmes which normally are partisan in nature.

This, he said, should be abolished ensuring that issues discussed on the media platform represent the interest of the masses in the nation.

He urged media practitioners to hold public and civil service employers and employees accountable for their actions and inactions by offering them opportunities through the media network.

This he believes is a panacea for the challenges confronting the nation.

To him, partisan issues should be broached on the floor of Parliament but not on the airwaves.

He also called for a ban on phone-in sessions during media programmes, stressing that “it adds very little to the substantive discussion.”

“I want to see developmental programmes. I want to see the things that are challenging the public servants or the civil servants.”

“We’ve got to a stage where we must hold people who hold civil service and public service office accountable for the work that they do. And whether they like it or not, it should be part of their remit to explain their task and how they interface with the development of this country to the people…” he concluded.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

SCOAN Will Soon Meet Police To Ascertain Cause of Stampede

Mr. Mike Kofi Aflo, a partner of Emmanuel Television which broadcasts sermons by Prophet T.B Joshua, says the leadership of the church will soon hold a meeting with the Police Service to ascertain the cause of the incident that occurred at the church premises on Sunday.

Four people lost their lives last Sunday when craving for “anointing water” prepared by the founder and leader of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

Prophet T.B Joshua was reported to have made an order for some bottles containing the anointing water to be distributed to his congregants in the nation but a massive stampede at the church premises led to the death of the four Ghanaian citizens.

Narrating the incident to Radio Gold, Mr. Aflo said the church branch in Ghana called on the Prophet to send forth the water after a prayer meeting on Wednesday but decided to distribute it clandestinely to the congregants.

The Prophet, he recounted, agreed and sent some amounts to the authorities and according to him, something which was initially planned to be a secret saw an overflow of followers from the length and breadth of the country.

This, he said, led to the kerfuffle which claimed some lives even before the service could begin.

Though according to him, there was a high security presence; the huge numbers overcrowded the presence of the security core.

“I don’t know whether people heard that maybe anointing water will be given to some of the members or something. So, all of sudden, we realize that there was this overflow of the crowd…And the place was so packed. So, in the process, the church premises was full up and then, people were still trying to force their way through leading to the unfortunate stampede that came to the church premises.” he stated.

Mr. Aflo indicated that “nothing (no anointing water) was distributed on Sunday. The man of God suspended it and said he was rather prepared to give it to various churches so that people will go to their churches and then, receive them there instead of everybody rushing down to the Ghana branch of the church…There was no service yesterday.”

He however explained the intent behind the creation of the anointing water, saying Prophet T.B Joshua’s plans were to get them to various churches and governments globally.

He said the Prophet promised that “governments that were willing to even take this on, he could even send it to them so that they will arrange their own distribution.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Feud Between Ministry of Transport And AMA Over Kantamanto Is A “Concert Party” - Hopeson Adorye

NPP Communicator, Hopeson Adorye has labelled as “concert party” the feud between the Ministry of Transport and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) over the burnt Katamanto site.

The AMA and the Ministry of Transport seem to have a clash of ideas, deciding among themselves what the Katamanto area will be turned into following the wildfire that consumed the marketplace, destroying several items worth millions of Ghana cedis.

Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye expressed his outfit’s intent to rebuild the area into an ultramodern market but the Transport Ministry also is laying claims to the land, revealing its willingness to construct a railway terminal on the same land.

Speaking in an interview with Peacefmonline.com, Hopeson Adorye explained as inconsistent the position of government on national issues.

He said the recent developments have shown that “the government is inconsistent with whatever he is telling the people of Ghana.”

He wondered how long it would take government to either rebuild the area into a modern market or construct a railway in the locality when the traders have been rendered destitute as a result of the fire outbreak and therefore need a place to commence business.

To him, it would be a wrong decision to make, on the part of government, should it go by the intention of the AMA to build an ultramodern market for the traders at Kantamanto.

Doubting when the project would begin, he expressed strongly that government should rather pave access roads through the market area for fire tenders to avert any similar occurrences of such misfortune in the future.

To him, the initiative by the Assembly will increase the unemployment rate in the country and so, called on the authorities to provide an alternative for the traders to begin work in order to better their livelihoods.

“When are we going to revamp the railway? So, the whole thing looks as if they are in the National Theatre staging concert party because frankly speaking more than 10000 get their daily bread from that point and now, you are saying that they should leave the place without giving them any alternative place to go and trade there. So, what do you expect? You are now going to increase the unemployment in the system.

“The type of trade that goes on there (Katamanto), I don’t agree with the people that we should go and put up a super structure and all that for them to trade there. They need an open market. So, all we need to do now is we make sure there is access road that if there’s any fire outbreak, the fire tenders can drive through and then put off the light.”

He was therefore of the view that “they rehabilitate the place, pave access roads to the place and then allow the traders to put up their own structures so that they continue with the daily activities.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Our Leaders Should Stop Dabbling In Partisan Politics - Paul Afoko

A member of the National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko has called on the leaders of the country to contest ideas not on political lines but rather ensure national cohesion.

He said the leaders should stop dabbling in partisan politics.

He was of a strong view that the kind of leadership in the country does not help if they only see things from the political lenses when they are supposed to make constructive arguments which will uplift the image of Ghana on the map.

He noted that due to the infighting among political parties, it is sometimes difficult for the leaders to market the nation during meetings abroad.

Speaking to Radio Gold on Monday, Mr. Afoko lambasted the leaders and political figures in the country for the prevalence of insults and personalization of national issues.

He advised them to build consensus in order to boost the progress of the economy and ensure unity among the citizenry.

“What retards most of us or our work is the insults, the personalization of things, the vilification of individuals and people instead of attacking our ideas…Ghana, whatever we do [NPP, NDC, CPP, PPP, whatever party]; we share this political space, geographical space called Ghana.

“You oppose with your idea in order to help perfect what is being taken out there in the name of us, Ghanaians.” he said.
 
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Corruptible Practices of Railway Corporation Officials Must Be Investigated - Nii Lantey Vanderpuije

Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio constituency, has called on the Ministry of Transport to set up an investigative body to look into the corruptible practices of officials of the Railway Corporation.

The Odododiodio MP expressed his displeasure at some misconducts of the Railway officials.

He recounted that the Railway sector has since 2001 faced several challenges and it is about time the authorities take punitive actions against the offenders of the rules and regulations of the Railway Corporation.

He blamed the officials for the inappropriate establishment of structures along railway lines in the country.

Nii Lantey made the appeal to the Ministry of Transport during an interview with Radio Gold regarding the squabble between the Ministry and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly over which entity gets the highest bidding to utilize the burnt marketplace at Katamanto.

According to him, the Railway Corporation has not entered into any agreement with the traditional owners of the land and so, cannot lay claims to it.

To him, government is the sole owner of the land and therefore, the authorities in the Railway sector have no power or permit to lease the land for construction purposes.

“Railways by itself did not enter into any agreement with any stool about a land. It was government who entered into an agreement and give that land to the railway. So, I think it is government and as a government agency, they don’t have the power to lease out or sell any government property without authorization and without permission.”

He charged the Ministry of Transport to prosecute persons who leased out railway lines to individuals to raise illegal structures because “they have no right to sell off those lands.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Nii Lantey Vanderpuije Reinforces Govt’s Intent To Develop Katamanto Into An Ultramodern Market

The Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije has reinforced government’s intent to develop the burnt Katamanto market into an ultramodern marketplace despite attempts by the Ministry of Transport to lay claims to the land.

Following the directives by the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assemby (AMA), Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, that his outfit will the seize the opportunity to rebuild the Katamanto area into a modern market, the Ministry of Transport posited that the land should be leased for the construction of a railway terminal.

This seems to have ignited a feud between the two government bodies which appear not to have reached a consensus over what the dilapidated market will be turned into.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, speaking to Radio Gold, expressed government’s preparedness to turn the place into a modern market, stressing that it will be done in consultation with the custodians of the land.

According to him, government is determined to expand the area and ensure the establishment of a market infrastructure that befits the image of Accra.

He said, in the interview, that government will ensure that every trader gets “his or her shed or store back...I can assure them that. They should trust us. They should believe in us and we will continue to do business with them.”

He also emphasized the essence of a new market for the residents and traders at Katamanto, saying “that place will be developed into a market by government; by the AMA long ago. And it is our intention that we will rebuild, redevelop and modernize that market to befit the status of Accra as a milennium city. We are going to do this in consultation with the Chiefs and people of Accra.”
 
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana