Asiedu Nketia: NPP Are Behind The "Pink Sheet Scandal"

General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has ascribed the recent arrest of three officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) over alleged forgery and signing of EC’s pink sheets to machinations by members of the New Patriotic Party who he claims are plotting to “fake” their documents by hook or crook.

He believed strongly that the opposition party connived with the EC officers to officiate the signing of the pink sheets in order to invalidate the electoral results provided by the EC.

Three electoral officers, two of them from the Savelugu District Electoral Commission, have so far been granted bail after they were arrested by the police to assist in investigations for conniving and allegedly bribing Presiding officers in the December 2012 Elections to sign unsigned Pink Sheets, two months after the Polls.

The arrest of a National Service personnel at the Commission, Miss Salamatu Osman and Amani Benjamin Akandi, the Savelugu/Nantong Electoral Officer, was as a result of a vigilant action by members of the Savelugu constituency NPP who claim to have picked intelligence on the ongoing validation of the unsigned pink sheets.

Narrating the incident on Peace FM, Fila FM’s Kwabena Ntow said the NPP group which effected a citizen’s arrest claim to have seized fifteen (15) of the pink sheets, some of which had just been validated and others which were in the process of being validated.

According to him, the National Service personnel confessed to the act of getting Presiding officers to validate their unsigned pink sheets on the orders of the Savelugu/Nantong District Electoral officer who was subsequently also apprehended by members of the NPP.

A third suspect, Deputy Northern Regional Director of the EC was later arrested by the police in Tamale the same day as an accomplice.

The NPP believes the culprits were charged to cover up the massive irregularities which affected the conduct and outcome of the December polls, for which reason the Party is praying the Supreme Court to overturn the legitimacy of President John Mahama.

Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, General Secretary of the NPP, speaking on the latest development on Okay FM’s "Ade Akye Abia" programme, linked the exposé to a spiritual battle and indicated that the NPP’s legal encounter with the Electoral Commission of Ghana and the National Democratic Congress at the Supreme Court is against supernatural thieves.

The NPP scribe established that the aftermath of the 2012 elections clearly shows that criminals with supernatural powers organized and chaired the elections.

“Oh Lord have mercy on us! This is what happens when you encounter thieves in an election...The NDC and Afari Gyan are all thieves. 2008, they didn’t win but used the thievery tactics to beat us and no one traced it. Their winning formula is through fraudulent means but God has rejected them this time round and made sure they would be shamed,” he added.

But Asiedu Nketia, popularly called General Mosquito, pooh-poohed the NPP’s claims.

According to him, the arrest has rather revealed the hidden motives of the opposition party who he said will go to every length to de-legitimize the Presidency of Mr Mahama.


Sir John is a joker

Speaking in an interview on Okay FM Monday morning, Asiedu Nketia said the NPP loyalists are only tickling themselves by levelling allegations against the governing NDC, but their attempts will end in futility.

“We won’t sit down for the NPP to machinate a plot, to ensnare the Electoral Commission and so, use it as basis to annul the electoral results. If it (the electoral outcome) is annulled, it will affect the NDC because we are the victors,” he said.

He continued; “If what happened had not been thwarted by some people. But if they had signed the papers (pink sheets), it would have meant that the papers that the parties possess would be different from the copies brought to the Electoral Commission in Accra. Then, the court might rule against the Electoral Commission. When the elections are annulled, who suffers? Is it not the NDC?”

“If somebody works under the cover of darkness and manipulates an Electoral official to forcibly sign pink sheets and the signed sheets are presented, it will contradict the copies that the parties have. If this occurs, that will form the basis for the court to say that the Electoral Commission’s results are fraudulent; so, it should be nullified. When it is invalidated, is it not the NDC that suffers?”

He therefore questioned the basis for the NPP's accusations when any move to sign the unsigned pink sheets would invariably affect the legitimacy of President John Mahama and also the NDC’s victory in the 2012 December polls.

“Why would someone do this and then the NDC is rather blamed; knowing very well that any nullification of the election will affect the NDC? Why do you shift the blame onto the NDC? I cannot understand why we would do something to nullify the elections; for you (NPP) to rejoice,” he queried.

He also derided the NPP’s General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) who he described as a “jester” because he does not hold himself as a learned fellow.

According to him, more often than not, the NPP's Chief Scribe's comments on air are inapposite to what happens in Court and therefore implored him to give Ghanaians a true reflection of what transpires at the Supreme Court.

“..That’s why sometimes when you (Sir John) say you are lawyer, you become a laughing stock. Because if you are a lawyer and you know what’s going on in the courtroom, you don't come and pontificate differently on radio, it creates credibility for you the individual,” he said in reference to the NPP Chief Scribe.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
 

EC’s Infor On Registered Voters Abroad Is Grossly Lacking In Detail – John Boadu

A Deputy Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party, John Boadu has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to reveal the accurate details of the number of Ghanaian nationals who were registered to partake in the December 7 and 8 2012 general elections. He implored the EC to answer succinctly, the request by the petitioners to furnish them with the documents on the electorates registered abroad since the EC’s information is inadequate. The Electoral Commission (EC) on Thursday, February 14 complied with the Supreme Court order asking it to furnish the petitioners challenging the declaration of John Dramani Mahama as President in the December 7 and 8, 2012 general elections, with details of the registration exercise it carried out abroad. The EC provided before the court 705 Ghanaians it said were registered in Ghanaian missions abroad though the Commission quoted earlier that over 241,000 people were registered. However, there are conflicting issues about the revelations by the EC as the total number of Ghanaians registered abroad is believed to be far lower than the figures the Commission quoted during the general elections. The EC, in its answers to the petitioners, indicated that even though it had announced initial provisional figures of 13,917,366, after the registration of Ghanaians abroad, it arrived at 14,158,890 voters; a difference of 241,524 registered voters. The petitioners, comprising the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2012 Presidential candidate,Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the party's chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, filed an application for 'interrogatories' to get the EC to furnish them with the documents on the people registered overseas. President Mahama, who is the 2nd respondent, in his answer to the petition, endorsed the EC’s explanation that the 13, 917,366 figure given to the political parties was provisional. In the document submitted to the Supreme Court, the EC put the number of service personnel returning from international peacekeeping duties at 2178 while the total number of diplomatic staff serving abroad as well as students on government scholarships and Ghanaians serving with international bodies were 705. This brought the total number to 2,883, leaving the EC to fish for the missing 238,117. A simple calculation on the list of voters registered abroad showed that the total number submitted by the EC was 2,883, whereas the commission in response to the petition quoted that over 241,000 people were registered abroad. Contributing to a panel discussion on PeaceFM’s Morning Show, ‘Kokrokoo’ he stated that the EC's response does not indicate the residential addresses of the voters and is also short on other vital information about the voters abroad in the register. He also touched on the accusations against the NPP that the petitioners had presented documents in relation to only the 4,709 polling stations whose results were initially challenged by the petitioners prior to the amendment of the petition. To him, it is just a “deliberate distortion” of the facts stressing that the petitioners presented all the documents supporting its amended claims for Presidential results from 11,916 polling stations to be annulled. "...the NDC simply wants to create the impression that the NPP has not fully honoured the request by the Supreme Court...it is just a ploy to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians," he added.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Why Was No Prophecy Revealed About Ghana’s Oil Find To Owusu-Bempah But Only Doom

tional Organizer of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan, has debunked claims that the leadership of the party has met with the Leader and Founder of the Glorious Word Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, over his ‘death prophecy’ about President John Mahama. Rev. Owusu Bempah has been making the news headlines recently by courting controversy when he prophesied the likely death of President Mahama which according to him, if nothing is done by the President and his advisors to avert the calamity, will come to pass this year. The prophecy stirred the passion of some religious leaders, political figures and the entire nation judging by the vehement registration of displeasure directed at the renowned man of God. Following the disturbing revelation, some bigwigs of the ruling party were reported to have met with him (Owusu Bempah), under the cover of darkness, on how best to nullify the prophecy. But Yaw Boateng Gyan, speaking on Okay FM, stridently denied the allegation. He told Kwame Nkrumah “Tikese”, host of the show that it is a palpable lie if anyone should claim that NDC gurus have clandestinely held a meeting with the man of God in a quest for solution to the danger hovering over the President’s head. “I was thrown into a state of shock when I heard it. I don’t know the NDC leaders they are referring to,” he said. He stressed that “No NDC Executive has met with him…as I speak now, beginning from Dr. Kwabena Adjei to the Regional and constituency executives, I have not heard any of them say that they have had any consultation with the man of God.” Reacting to the statement by the General Overseer of the World Miracle Church International, Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare on the issue, Yaw Boateng Gyan pointed out that he (Bishop Agyin-Asare) did not make any offensive remarks but rather only sought to advice Owusu-Bempah. To him, Rev. Owusu Bempah should have consulted with his associate Pastors to pray for President Mahama but not to make a public declaration of the prophecy. He wondered why God only reveals things bordering on disaster to men of God. “His church consists of NDC and NPP congregants. So, if you say something of this sort to your church members and as a man of God, you expect them to disseminate the information publicly to redeem souls. So, no prophecy was revealed about Ghana’s oil find other than those election and death prophecies…it appears God does not reveal to these men of God our prosperities. But is it just prophecies that spell doom that God gives to them? If it happens like this, it leaves some of us to think that they are Prophets of doom.” he said. He advised Ghanaians to be wary of such prophecies. “In this world, if God wants to help you; he won’t descend from above to help you. He works through human beings. The same way the devil works through human beings to destroy. So, let’s be watchful and desist from matters like this because it won’t help the nation,” Yaw Boateng.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Gov’t Does Subsidize Fuel – Kofi Adams Insists

Spokesperson for the Rawlingses, Kofi Adams has implored government to properly structure and run its interventions in the fuel sector in order to benefit the underprivileged in the society.

Kofi Adams emphasized during a panel discussion programme on Peace FM on Friday that the effective measure the petroleum authorities can adopt in pricing petroleum products is to first “rationalize the social interventions. So, those who are expected to benefit from it obtain their profits before we think about the total removal of subsidies on the petroleum products.”

Addressing the call for fuel subsidy removal and the brouhaha associated with the issue, he explained that the removal of the subsidies on fuel will not inure to the benefit of the vulnerable in society in the nation and so, asserted that there should be an improvement in the social interventions to curb their burdens.

He however disagreed with critics who believe government does not subsidize fuel since it uses the tax payer’s money to subvent the possibility of petroleum price increases.

According to him, government subsidizes the fuel products though the subsidy is generated from the taxes imposed on the products because “in Ghana, we don’t get money elsewhere. All the funds we have here are from Ghana. Even the grants we obtain, the money we use to amortize is from Ghana…”

He however stressed that “whatever it is that we do, we should think about Ghana.”

The National Petroleum Authority days ago stressed the need for some adjustments in fuel prices in order to augment the supply of petrol in the country.

According to Yaro Kasambata, Public Relations Officer of the NPA, they have given government up to December 2013 to remove the current subsidies on LPG, Petrol and diesel.

Though the authority is not thinking of scraping the subsidies in its entirety, it has implored government to pay GHC 2.4 billion as fuel subsidies, adding if the money is paid petroleum prices will not change.

But Kofi Adams believes Ghana has a long way to go if the figures given by the NPA to effect the changes in the pricing of petroleum are indeed real. “If the figures churned out by the NPA in terms of fuel subsidy are true, then Ghana has a long way to go. If just last year, we spent over GHC 1 billion in subsidizing fuel and therefore this year, [it is estimated per the rate of consumption] it stays like that with dollar to cedi maybe around 2 cedi to 1 dollar and then the fuel is kept around 120 dollars per barrel, we will need almost GHC 2.5 billion to subsidize,” he said. He therefore charged the NPA and other petroleum agencies to ensure a proper coordination of their social intervention programmes in order to lessen the plight on the under-priveleged. He noted: “The coordination is not really effective. So, at the end of the day, what you see is the leap programme which was supposed to affect people positively, the authorities rather arrogate the benefits of the leap programme to themselves. Many other programmes, we talk of subsidy; the vulnerable who should be protected with subsidy end up suffering.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

John Boadu: Eastern Region NDC Deliberately Vilified Okyehene

A Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party has described as “reckless” comments by the Eastern Regional chapter of the ruling National Democratic Congress that the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs’ visit to the Office of the President a couple of days ago was “politically sponsored.” The NDC Regional Executives stated firmly that the Chiefs were doing the bidding of the opposition New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo who is challenging the legitimacy of President John Mahama at the Supreme Court. The accusations were leveled shortly after the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, made a call on all parties involved in the election petition case before the Supreme Court, to accept the verdict irrespective of which party it favours. The Okyenhene made the appeal during the Chiefs’ meeting with the President at the Flagstaff House on Tuesday. But the NDC Eastern Regional branch described the Okyenhene’s conduct as hypocritical. Spokesperson for the Regional Executives, who is also the Eastern Regional Organizer of the NDC, was of the view that the Okyehene, as leader of the Regional House of Chiefs, should have rather used the occasion to condemn the decision by Nana Addo to contest the 2012 electoral results in court “since he is a son of the land”. The Regional Executives also argued that the Okyenhene should have “also apologized on behalf of some of his subordinates who actively involved themselves in campaigning for certain candidates in the just ended elections” and some Kyebi citizens who recently nearly prevented the President from visiting the area. But speaking on Peace FM’s morning show “Kokrokoo” on Friday, John Boadu, a Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, rubbished the comments by the Eastern Regional NDC Executives saying they “intentionally vilified Okyehene.” According to him, the Regional Executives’ plot was intended to just agitate people to react to the Okyehene’s call on the President. He stated categorically that they (Eastern NDC branch) deliberately created distortions about the message which was delivered by the Okyenhene before President Mahama at the Flagstaff House. “Because the NDC [party] in the Eastern Region has intentionally twisted the words of the Chief, if care is not taken it will elicit very very reckless comments from people,” he said.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Ken Kuranchie: 2012 Elections Is Not Yet Over

Ken Kuranchie, Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight, says the 2012 elections is not yet over until the Supreme Court gives a final ruling on the New Patriotic Party’s petition.

According to him, though President John Mahama has been sworn-in as President of the Republic, his legitimacy is at stake and so, the elections cannot be said to be over until proven otherwise by the court.

“Yes, we have a President. His legitimacy is being questioned, therefore the election is not over.” Ken Kuranchie said during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s “kokrokoo” programme on Wednesday.

He stated firmly that the court verdict, which he was optimistic might favour the petitioner, will enjoin President Mahama to comply with its order, so his revelation to the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs that he will accept the ruling irrespective of which party it favours should not be an issue for debate.

“If the Supreme Court rules for a second round, how can he say he won’t accept?...he will accept it,” he said, adding that; “If the legitimacy of the elections is not addressed now, forget about 2016.”

Touching on the President’s comments about politics of insults, he wondered why he would absolve himself when prior to the 2012 elections, he used words such as “baloney” to describe the debate that arose over the burial place for the late President John Evans Atta-Mills last year.

Ken Kuranchie who dissented to President Mahama’s views believed his statement were implicitly targeted at NPP Flagbearer, Nana Addo, running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey who are all challenging his legitimacy

President John Dramani Mahama in a meeting with the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs some days ago condemned persons who hold political rallies to vilify the Presidency and “decent” politicians.

Addressing the Chiefs at the Flagstaff House, he assured them that politicians like him will never engage in politics of insults.

“Many of us have never insulted our political opponents ever in our lives and we never will,” he told the Chiefs and assured them that they; “can count on us to be decent in our politics.”

He therefore charged the traditional leaders to courageously name and shame persons who engage in politics of insults.

He noted that; “There are some individuals in this country who are in responsible positions who at every step of the way are insulting their political opponents and we know them,” and so, challenged them to “feel bold to identify them and address the message directly to these people and ask them to be cautious in the way they go about their politics.”

But Ken Kuranchie insisted that the President cannot be left off the hook when it comes to the issue since he was an active player in the politics of insults.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Govt. Should Lay Off Inefficient Workers In The Energy Sector

The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has called on government to take disciplinary actions against the authorities in the energy sector in order to deter them from trifling with their duties. Contributing to a panel discussion on Metro TV’s ‘Good Morning Ghana’ programme Wednesday morning, Kwesi Pratt charged State authorities to lay off the inefficient workers in the National Petroleum Authority and the Ministry of Energy. According to him, it is about time some drastic measures are adopted to counteract the possibility of fuel price hikes in the country since the consumers are always the victims of such price increments. He wondered why no disciplinary actions are rolled out to the Managing Directors of the various energy agencies who are paid huge sums of money, yet deliver little to ameliorate the petroleum situation in the country. Kwesi Pratt on Metro TV blurted that the sector workers who show lackadaisical attitudes in their service delivery to consumers shoud be “fired” to serve as a deterrent to others who want to follow suit. He urged the Ghanaian citizenry to advice themselves should the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) fail to avert the possible fuel price increases this year. According to him; “All of these politicians are our employees. We employ them, we elect them and we elect them on assumption that they will do what we want. If they don’t do what we want, let’s take them on. Let’s teach them. Let’s teach them to appreciate that we are the bosses; the masses of this country are the bosses, not the politicians.” “Why are we always passing on cost to the poor consumer? I don’t understand these things. We elect people into government to go and solve our problems, not to come and give us excuses. And the people of this country are getting fed up with one excuse after the other. Let them solve the problem; that is why we elected them…why, you have all these government agencies and so on. Who is disciplining the Managing Directors and so on, who sometimes even take more pay than the President? Let the axe fall if you are not working…And then sometimes, I hear some very strange things [you know] that these officials say, very very strange things that they say. I’m just wondering; what do they take us for?” he queried. He stated emphatically that government should “let the axe fall” on the authorities, hence start showing them the exit. This he believes will make them responsive to the plight of Ghanaians. “It is the people we have employed in the National Petroleum Authority, in the Ministry of Energy and so on who do the targeting. And if they themselves are coming out to tell us that look, they are not doing the targeting properly. My goodness, you should be firing them because they are employed to do the targeting properly…” he stated. “The issue for me is why do all these politicians make promises that they don’t keep? It is not that they don’t know the solution, they know the solution. When they are in opposition, they agree that look, this is not the solution; increases in fuel prices is not the solution. When they get into government, they do exactly the opposite of what they were promising in opposition. What is wrong with these politicians? And why do these politicians treat us this way?” he asked. He bemoaned the level of inefficiency in the fuel sector, revealing that the defunct Tema Oil Refinery run at a loss each day due to its inability to produce even a “teaspoonful of crude oil since July.” He elaborated: “TOR has not produced a teaspoonful of oil. It has not refined a teaspoonful of crude oil since July. As a result the Tema Oil Refinery is losing 300,000 dollars per day.” He further explained that he together with some pressure groups led by Ex-President Kufour staged a massive demonstration in protest against fuel price hikes in 1999 but since then, all successive governments have sought to repeat the same issues. He cited the increments that occurred under the Kufour and the late President Mills’ administrations, saying the two governments in opposition devised means to reduce fuel prices but did otherwise when voted into power. Kwesi Pratt also took a swipe at the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress for the recent revelations regarding petroleum price increases. “Sometimes, I simply just wonder. The National Democratic Congress is in power today. It is in power at a time when doctors are on strike and they are threatening to intensify that strike action, pharmacists are threatening to go on strike, teachers are threatening to go on strike…you have the New Patriotic Party in the Supreme Court [you understand] arguing that the government has no legitimacy and so on. In the face of all of this, some technocrats get together and decide to promote this reckless debate; this totally reckless debate, and even the arguments they are putting forward are so shallow. That is unbelievable,” he said. He therefore admonished Ghanaians to ensure that the National Petroleum Authority are made to account for their actions.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Nana Akomea: Both Parties Must Accept Supreme Court Verdict

The Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea has urged both parties in the legal case at the Supreme Court to accept the court verdict as the final decision to close the chapter on the alleged electoral fraud. He called on the petitioners and the respondents in the election petition before the Supreme Court to comply with the court’s decision irrespective of the person it favours, in order not to cause mayhem in the country. According to him, a snub of the final verdict by any of the parties will likely be “an open invitation to major [major major] chaos and catastrophe. So, the court decision will be final and will be the decision that everybody will abide with. It’s not a matter of choice at all.” Nana Akomea in an interview on Metro TV’s “Good Morning Ghana” programme on Wednesday, commended the petitioners; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, for complying with the court order to make available details of their allegations regarding the discovery of irregularities in 11,916 polling stations out of the 26,002 polling stations in the country. He was also satisfied with President Mahama’s assurance that he will accept the final verdict of the Supreme Court, but enjoined him together with the petitioners to honour their pledges since the verdict will not be a choice but a final arbitration in the election dispute. “It is good for the political leaders, the political actors, the petitioners and the respondents to be making this kind of pledges that they will abide by the decisions, but it must also be made clear that abiding by the court decision or not abiding is not an option. So, it cannot be a choice of some party saying I will choose to abide or I will not choose to abide. When the Supreme Court makes the decision that is final. You have to abide by it,” he stressed.

Source: Ameyaw

The Nation Should Not Scoff At Prez Mahama's Death Prophecy – Sammy Awuku

A Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammy Awuku, has given credence to the prophecy by the founder and leader of Glorious Word Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu-Bempah, warning that the nation should not rule out the recent prophetic words concerning the President of the country.

Sammy Awuku asserted on Peace FM’s morning show programme “Kokrokoo” that Rev. Owusu-Bempah should be fairly treated by those who have been very critical of his prophecy since he gave similar prophecies which came to pass, prior to the new year.

"Let's be very fair in our criticism of it,” he stated; quoting the scripture; “Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm.”

He told the host Tweneboah Koduah on Tuesday that the prophecy should not be entirely treated with contempt but rather government should heed to the directions of the man of God.

He alluded to some popular prophecies such as the ones in relation to the disturbing inferno and accidents that became the bane of the nation last year. This he said came to pass after Rev. Owusu-Bempah had prophesied.

According to him, prophecies in general do not make sense but it is better to heed the prophetic directions just to ward off any future dangers.

He quizzed: “in the bible, you think prophecies make sense? ...Ask men of God whether prophecies make sense."

Rev. Isaac Owusu-Bempah, a well-known Prophet disclosed in an interview that God has revealed to him President John Mahama will die this year, but the impending calamity could be averted if the entire nation, and most especially the President, sought God’s help through prayers.

According to him, the revelation came to him on the night of December 31, 2012 and he announced it at the Church’s end of year service. He however decried his inability to meet the President and inform him about the dark cloud hanging over his head and the necessary steps to be taken to avert the looming disaster.

“I have not been able to meet the President and inform him. A similar thing happened when I prophesied about the late President Mills, but they turned me away,” he said.

But some other celebrated men of God were unhappy about the Prophet’s claims.

Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare, the General Overseer of the Word Miracle International Church speaking on the issue, described as “pastorally and scripturally unethical” the renowned Prophet’s option of using the media to air his alleged prophesy saying “This is a message designed to create panic and despair.”

Another Renowned Radio Pastor and Head of Cedar Mountain Chapel of the Assemblies of God Church, East Legon, Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengham, also called on the National Security outfit to summon the leader of the Glorious Word Ministry International before them regarding the prophecy about the President.

This he believes will deter some Prophets from prophesying falsehood about the lives of people in the country.

But Sammy Awuku emphasized that the riposte by the Pastors potentially necessitated the response by Rev. Owusu-Bempah. He therefore advised them to also use the right channel to contact the man of God if they have dissenting views.

Reacting to the statement by Bishop Agyin-Asare, he explained; “if he had anything with what his colleague said, personally, two wrongs doesn't make a right. If you are saying Rev. Owusu -Bempah said it publicly and you think it is not ethical, nothing also stops Bishop Agyin-Asare from also picking up a phone to call him."

He wondered why the Pastors have sought to rebuke Rev. Owusu-Bempah, even when he and his congregation have indicated that they will not relent in their efforts to avert the prophecy from coming to pass.

“The Pastor has said it won't dampen his spirit because he's not yet seen the President, but he together with his congregants will pray for him. So, why all this saying about false prophets?" he questioned.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Rev. Owusu-Bempah: Who Trained Him?...Duncan-Williams Has Forgotten He Laid His Hands On Me

The founder and Head of Glorious Word Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu-Bempah in a sharp reaction to comments by the General Overseer of the Action Faith Chapel International in Accra, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has disclosed that the Archbishop conferred on him his pastoral cloak and so, wonders why his spiritual leader could publicly question his credibility as a Prophet, albeit indirectly.

Raising doubts about the Archbishop, Rev. Owusu-Bempah in an interview with Oman FM Tuesday morning decried his comments which sought to condemn the prophecy concerning the possible death of President John Mahama.

The renowned man of God, who had earlier prophesied the death of the late President John Atta-Mills and former Vice President Aliu Mahama in 2012, as well as a plane crash on December 31, 2011, in an interview on Adom FM, revealed that doom awaits the incumbent President.

According to him, President Mahama will die this year but stressed that this calamity can be averted if Ghanaians especially the President will seek the face of God in prayers and draw closer to Him.

But some seasoned men of God in the country have slammed the prophecy by the leader of the Glorious Word Ministry.

Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare at a sermon on Sunday February 10 at the Perez Dome of the Word Miracle Church in Accra, declared that; “President Mahama will not die a premature death” as prophesied by Rev. Owusu-Bempah.

In his sermon, Bishop Agyin-Asare described the prophecy of Rev. Owusu-Bempah as causing fear and panic, adding; “pastorally and scripturally it is unethical.” 

Duncan-Williams Slams Doomsday Prophecies 

 Also on that same Sunday February 10, 2013 at the Action Faith Chapel International in Accra, Archbishop Duncan Williams in a terse language, also chided Pastors who make doomsday prophecies against sitting Presidents saying some of the prophecies churned out by some pastors are borne out of greed and selfish aims and also don’t come from God.

Without making direct reference to any Pastor, Archbishop Duncan-Williams warned that: “The thing that you must always look out for when you see all these prophets prophesying all kinds of doom on the internet against the President…is to ask yourself, does [the Prophet] have honour, credibility, character and integrity? “Where did he come from? Who trained him? How long has he been on the scene? Who laid hands on him? Whose product is he? At whose feet did he study? Who groomed him? Who covered him? Who was his teacher? Who taught him?”

He said: “You must be honourable first to qualify to make whatever you say that comes to pass legitimate…it is not just about prophesying”.

This however has been taken with a pinch of salt as Rev. Owusu-Bempah has debunked claims that he may be prophesying the President’s death to gain popularity.

He revealed that he was pastorally trained by the Archbishop and therefore questioned the impression given about him after ordaining him as a man of God.

He further said he had also disclosed to Archbishop Duncan-Williams many prophecies which always came to pass. He cited a prophecy he gave concerning the lives of the Archbishop’s children and the dangers that would have befallen him, of which he (Archbishop Duncan -Williams) sought his guidance to avert the prophecy from being fulfilled.

He also added that on several occasions, he has consulted with him for prayer and counselling and therefore believed the comments could be as a result of a hidden agenda. To him, his prophecies never misfire since the previous prophetic words he uttered regarding the incessant fire outbreaks and accidents occuring in the nation last year all became manifest.

He also revealed that his associate gave a vehicle to the Archbishop as a gift for his (Rev. Owusu-Bempah) relationship with him.

He therefore bemoaned Archbishop Duncan-Williams’ denial of the impact of his prophecies since he has benefited from them and without him prophesying the doom that awaited him at his 65th anniversary, the Archbishop may not have seen the light of the day.

He however insisted the President may die and so, together with his congregants, he has already embarked on prayers and fastings to thwart the consequences of the prophecy.

Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/peacefmonline/Ghana


 
 

National Security Should Summon Owusu Bempah Says Renowned Pastor

Renowned Radio Pastor and Head of Cedar Mountain Chapel of the Assemblies of God Church, East Legon, Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengham, wants the National Security outfit to summon a colleague Man of God before them regarding an earth-shattering prophesy the latter publicly gave about President John Dramani Mahama last week.

He believes such an action by the security agencies will deter some Prophets from prophesying falsehood about the lives of people in the country.

Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah, a well-known Prophet and Founder and Leader of the Glorious Word Ministry International on Friday stated in a radio interview that God revealed to him that President Mahama will die this year but the impending calamity could be averted if the entire nation, and most especially the President, sought God’s help through prayers.

According to him, the revelation came to him on the night of December 31, 2012 and he announced it at the Church’s end of year service. He however bemoaned his inability to meet the President and inform him about the dark cloud hanging over his head and the necessary steps to be taken to avert the looming disaster.

“I have not been able to meet the President and inform him. A similar thing happened when I prophesied about the late President Mills, but they turned me away,” he said.

But some other celebrated men of God are unhappy about the Prophet’s claims.

Days after his revelation, the General Overseer of the Action Faith Chapel International in Accra Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams, in a terse language, chided Pastors who make doomsday prophecies against sitting Presidents saying some of the prophecies churned out by some pastors are borne out of greed and selfish aims and also don’t come from God.

Without any direct reference to any Pastor, Arch Bishop Duncan Williams warned that: “The thing that you must always look out for when you see all these prophets prophesying all kinds of doom on the internet against the President…is to ask yourself does [the Prophet] have honour, credibility, character and integrity? “Where did he come from? Who trained him? How long has he been on the scene? Who laid hands on him? Whose product is he? At whose feet did he study? Who groomed him? Who covered him? Who was his teacher? Who taught him?”

Another powerful man of God, the General Overseer and Resident Pastor of the World Miracle International Church, Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare, speaking on the issue, described as “pastorally and scripturally unethical” the renowned Prophet’s option of using the media to air his alleged prophesy saying “This is a message designed to create panic and despair.”

To him, Prophet Owusu Bempah should have used an appropriate channel to reach out to the Presidency by either consulting with the Presidency or the Spiritual leader of the President before going public.

He therefore prayed for long life for President Mahama in order to nullify the prophecy.

“By the authority vested in me as a Prophet and an Apostle to the nations, and also as one of the Spiritual watchmen at the gates of this nation and with the authority of heaven behind me, I declare that the president John Dramani Mahama will not die a premature death before his time, but he will live to declare the works of God.

“As an Apostle and a Prophet of God, I neutralize anything prophesied against the President, spoken against him, invoked against him, any psychic commands and demands, any agreement of witches and wizards and I decree that the counsel of the Lord alone concerning him that shall stand according to my word.”

Obviously riled by the criticisms from his colleague men of God, Rev. Owusu-Bempah, in an interview on PeaceFM during the station’s Midday Bulletin, retorted that Bishop Agyin Asare is ‘ignorant of what the Bible says’.

He indicated that had the man of God critically studied the Bible and how God truly works, he would not have made such pronouncements.

“When the deaths of former President Mills and Aliu Mahama occurred, these same people accused me of delaying in coming out with that prophecy, so why should he condemn it when I have come out to say it...they are not Prophets and so they should keep quiet - God spoke to me by revelation and that is what I voiced out...” Rev. Owusu-Bempah said.

He continued; “What does he mean by ‘it is not scriptural’? He is not making sense at all; it is absurd…Should we not pray if God has revealed to redeem? What will be my benefit if the President dies?...I don’t understand why the issue is being politicised. I will not listen to what they are saying because they are not spiritual people. I will continue to pray for the country...” adding that members of his church are already fasting and praying; seeking the face of God to avert the prophecy from coming to pass.

Populism??? Religious Misbehaviour????

However, in a rather sharp riposte on the same PeaceFM platform, Rev Dr Wengham, who also doubles as Campus Pastor of the Assemblies of God Campus Ministry, University of Ghana Legon, President’s Nominee to the Ghana Prisons Council and CitiFM’s Resident Pastor, entreated Ghanaians to condemn “this populist way of trying to gain popularity.” “He is not the only man of God in this country. We all pray for the nation and we’ve not seen anything like that, we’ve not sensed anything like that. So, I want to tell Ghanaians on authority that it is a false prophecy. They should disregard it,” he said. According to him, the prophecy could cause “fear and panic” in the country adding that some men of God use the cloak of “religion and the bible” to “misbehave.” “What he said can cause fear and panic in the country. Some can hide behind religion and the bible and then misbehave. What he did is not sound; it’s against the laws of the land. So, National Security should invite [him]…it will serve us a deterrent to any other person…the law of the land should take its course,” he asserted. Whiles describing Rev. Owusu Bempah as a “false Prophet” since his prophecy about the outcome of the 2012 elections misfired, he however implored Ghanaians to pray for the life of President Mahama.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

 

Adwoa Safo: NPP’s Court Evidence Is Overwhelming

Legal practitioner and Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo has disclosed that the evidence that the opposition New Patriotic Party has garnered in relation to the pending election case before the Supreme Court is “overwhelming” and “simple arithmetics.”

Lawyer Adwoa Safo, speaking on Citi FM’s “Big Issue” program over the weekend, questioned the ability of the 4800 witnesses, disclosed by President John Mahama, to testify against the petitioners’ allegations of electoral fraud during the 2012 Presidential elections.

"The evidence that we have is overwhelming. It is pressing and what I always tell my people is that this is simple arithmetics. One plus one can never be fifteen. If you call 4700 witnesses, can they testify to say that one plus one is fifteen?”

She believed the court will overrule the respondents’ testimony if their witnesses in the case do not contribute anything substantially to the pending case.

“With my little law that I’ve studied and nine years at the bar…what I know is that it’s not about quantitive evidence when you are before a court. It’s about qualitative. If you call 10000 and there’s no quality in the evidence that they give or they all come and there’s nothing substantial or new that they are telling the court, you think the court will allow them to go on and on and waste everybody’s time. We believe in the court system,” she said.

The New Patriotic Party under the auspices of its Presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the party’s National Chairman, petitioned the Supreme Court to arbitrate their electoral dispute with the Electoral Commission and President John Mahama.

The petitioners are challenging the 2012 electoral results.

They claimed in an amended petition to the court that there were irregularities in 11916 polling stations across the country and therefore prayed the Supreme Court to nullify the results in these polling stations.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

NDC Is Shortsighted – Adwoa Safo

The New Patriotic Party's Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo says the stalwarts of the National Democratic Congress are shortsighted to have not tapped the vision of Ex-President John Agyekum Kufour in the establishment of an ultra-modern edifice to facilitate the activities of the President.

Contributing on Citi FM’s News analysis program, the “Big Issue” on Saturday, Lawyer Adwoa Safo believed the Kufour government has been vindicated following the President’s movement to the Flagstaff House.

According to her, President Kufour set up the edifice to serve as an “emolument for the nation where the President can undertake his executive functions freely and will be provided with hi-tech facilities,” adding that the structure was built to project “cultural and historical relevance” of Ghana.

She however wondered why the NDC and its leadership after abandoning the Kufour-created seat of government will now decide to settle in the “hen’s coop” they so described the edifice prior to 2009.

“Has the Flagstaff House or the Jubilee House moved from Nima or has it evaporated?” she queried.

She explained that the behaviour of the NDC loyalists “is why Ghana is where it is now. We make unnecessary criticisms, destructive ones; which in the long run, we run ourselves around in the long term. President Kufour had a vision. Over 50 years down the line, we were still in the Castle using that as the official place for the Presidency. You go to other African countries, they have moved on and he thought that the time was ripe at the time; not per his own personal interest because he never even had the chance to move in there.”

She further revealed that the “renovation they(NDC) had to do before the President put himself up in, you will be amazed by the budget and the monies that have gone into that, does it serve the interest of Ghanaians? If it was good to move in now, then it was good to move in back in the days four years ago. Why wait for all the flowers to go dead? For all things to start getting rotten…?”

She urged the ruling party and President John Mahama to render an apology to the entire nation for reversing their decision.

“In every decision and every policy that the NPP through President Kufour in the 8-year term. The NHIS, they had issues; everything they’ve had issues because they are shortsighted. I think that we had a vision. President Kufour thought it would serve a purpose in the near future and that purpose it has now come to the realization of the President. We salute him but he owns Ghanaians an apology,” she said.

The NDC under the leadership of the late President John Evans Atta Mills rejected the notion that the Presidency should be relocated to the Flagstaff House, initially Golden Jubilee House, and therefore pledged not to settle in such a magnificent Presidential Palace.

The party cited among other concerns, security reasons and the “profligate” expenditure to support their claims that it would be unsafe for the President to move into the Flagstaff House.

The multi-million edifice, which has offices and residential premises for the President, has stirred passions in the political arena of the country.

In 2007, the NPP demolished the old Flagstaff House and rebuilt it with a grant from the Indian government to serve as the new seat of government. President Kufour, in 2008, commissioned the project to house his successor. But President Atta Mills refused to use the facility upon the inception of the third NDC government in 2009. However, part of the edifice served as a makeshift for the Foreign Affairs Ministry after its offices were completely gutted by fire. Despite the NDC’s position on the establishment of the Flagstaff House, President Mahama last Thursday relocated to the House as the official seat of government. At a short ceremony to mark the relocation of the seat of government to the Presidential Palace, President Mahama believed his movement will be the closure of a chapter of Ghana’s history and the dawn of a new era. But according to Lawyer Adwoa Safo, the NDC U-turn is “a clear reflection of hypocrisy at its highest degree.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Ex-Prez Kufuor Happy With Prez Mahama’s Relocation To Flagstaff House

Spokesperson for ex-Prez Kufuor, Frank Agyekum has said the former President was happy upon hearing that the seat of government has been moved from the Osu Castle to the Flagstaff House at Kanda. Speaking in an interview with Peace FM, Frank Agyekum reiterated the fact that Prez Kufuor believes it was in the right direction for the current President to move with his team. “If it had been earlier, it would have been better; but better late than never,” he stated quoting ex-Prez Kufuor. He has also downplayed concerns by some critics in government who held a notion that the President’s movement to the Flagstaff House may compromise his safety due to the situation of the place. Prior to the 2008 elections, some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress raised concerns about the cost and security of the edifice which serves as the seat of government. The critics were of the view that should the late President Mills, then Presidential candidate of the ruling NDC, move into the Presidential Palace; his protection against external threats will be at stake. But Frank Agyekum, in an interview with Peace FM disclosed that a thorough work was done by the Kufour government to beef up security at the Flagstaff House. He cited among others, the establishment of a Police station and Hospital as some facilities at the premises. Four years down the line, President John Mahama has finally occupied the abandoned seat of government. Mr. Agyekum believes his boss has been vindicated following President Mahama’s relocation to the Flagstaff House. He affirmed the intention of the former NPP Flagbearer to be of national interest than partisanship, therefore advising the ruling party to take cue. “When there’s an issue, we shouldn’t let it be for our partisan interest…when there’s an issue concerning the country, let’s do it in the interest of the nation and therefore think deeply. But not just champion your partisan views, just because your party is in power. That doesn’t bring development; it doesn’t promote democracy,” he urged. He stated that President Kufour and his team constructed the edifice to benefit his successors and added that if the Presidency had been relocated earlier, “it would have been better.” He therefore urged the NDC to stop politicking about national issues.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Allotey Jacobs: Prez Mahama Will Not Apologise To Anyone

The Central Regional Communications Director of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs has dismissed calls by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that President John Dramani Mahama should render an apology to the erstwhile Kufour-led administration following his relocation to the Flagstaff House.

Allotey Jacobs could not accept the demands on the President since to him; President John Mahama has done nothing wrong to relocate his office to the Flagstaff House, then Golden Jubilee House.

According to him, it was incumbent on the President to reside in the Presidential Palace which was abandoned for the past four years. The President, he said, gave an impression of his departure before the elections and upon taking up a new mantle of leadership in the country has honoured his promise to Ghanaians.

Reacting to the recent turn-around by the governing party on Peace FM Thursday evening, Allotey Jacobs said on Peace FM News that the President had since last year hinted the nation about his decision to redirect his steps to the Flagstaff House and therefore what he sought to do yesterday was just in conformity with his earlier position on the issue.

“I have several times said that the faces of President Evans Atta Mills and President John Mahama differ. Though President Mahama will carry the visionary part of Prof Mills. As Ghanaians, we have to bear in mind that President Mahama has his visions and ideas. He has his style of administration; he has his style of approach to issues.” he said.

Alluding to the late President John Evans Atta Mills’ position on the location of the palace, he indicated that the late President’ s bone of contention with the Kufour government concerning the establishment of such edifice to serve as the official seat of government, was about the “profligate” sums of money that were pumped into the construction.

He explained that “Professor Mills as the then Presidential candidate for the NDC had a problem with the cost of the construction of Jubilee House. So, he used words as profligate expenditure.”

He further said that the late President Mills’ leadership differs from the incumbent President’s era, and since it’s now the reign of President Mahama, his decision to move to the Flagstaff House should be respected.

To him, the edifice which now remains the official seat of government is “for the President, not for a political party,” adding that the NDC is solidly behind him.

The multi-million dollar edifice was constructed under the leadership of former President John Agyekum Kufour to house Heads of State but several critics raised eyebrows over its safety measures.

Expanding further on the President’s departure from the Osu Castle, Allotey Jacobs noted that the seemingly rotten nature of the place necessitated his action.

“We will not leave it. That is what President Mahama is saying; that he will not leave that edifice to rot and therefore he will go in and occupy it,” he concluded.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Alfred Ogbamey Lauds Prez Mahama On Appointing Dr. Seidu Dannaa

Managing Editor of the defunct Gye Nyame Concord newspaper and political analyst, Alfred Ogbamey has congratulated President John Dramani Mahama for designating Dr. Henry Seidu Dannaa to head the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.

He commended President Mahama for his choice saying it is an indication of the President’s commitment to ensuring equity among the abled and disabled citizenry.

According to him, this step will help minimize the prejudice against people with disabilities in the country.

Making a contribution on Peace FM’s “kokrokoo” programme Thursday, Alfred Ogbamey praised government for not sidelining the disabled in society and hoped this was a welcoming move to usher in a new era of tolerance.

President John Mahama mentioned Dr. Dannaa in the list of Ministers in his government but some chiefs have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the visually impaired Minister-designate.

According to the chiefs, custom prohibits them from associating with disabled persons and therefore the appointment of Dr. Dannaa to head the Chieftaincy Ministry will compromise their tradition.

The Chiefs are agitating for the replacement of the visually impaired lawyer and former Registrar of the House of Chiefs.

But Alfred Ogbamey though admitting Dr. Dannaa’s ministerial appointment was a “shock” to him registered his displeasure with the position of the Chiefs.

He believed the President’s appointment criterion was based on Dr. Dannaa’s expertise in the field and so, he is qualified to head the Ministry.

He added the move will motivate other disabled persons to aspire for high positions in the country, something to him will help minimize the discriminatory practices meted out to them.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana  

Prez Mahama: Govt Is Working Assiduously To Address The Unemployment Problems

President John Dramani Mahama says his government is committed to building a strong work force in order to enhance productivity in the country.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony marking his departure from the Osu Castle to the Flagstaff House at Kanda, Thursday morning, President Mahama assured Ghanaians that government is working assiduously to address the unemployment problems in the country.

He explained that under his leadership, a more refined procedure will be adopted to curb the unemployment situation.

According to him; “It is our intention to give real hope to our youth, partner the private sector to expand business, grow the economy rapidly and create employment for the numerous job seekers.”

“As we relocate the Presidency today, permit me to emphasize that the primary objective of all public policies to be pursued by government will be targeted at first and foremost improving and enhancing human capacity and the dignity of all Ghanaians. Adjusting viable desire to accelerate social economic transformation and the quest for scientific discovery and innovation requires the production of highly skilled human resources and the social support system that incentivizes and motivates the citizenry to commit themselves to higher levels of productivity,” he continued.

He further said that government is setting up effective communicative machinery to create opportunities for the Ghanaian populace to directly inform the Presidency about the challenges they encounter and therefore ensure that they reach out to the seat of government. This he believes will build goodwill between the Presidency and the citizens in the country.

He recounted: “This government recognizes the importance of information and communication and will engage the Ghanaian and international public in a proactive and effective manner. We will in the weeks ahead unveil our public engagement and consultation strategies and the platforms to allow Ghanaians to directly communicate with the office of the President. We will also broaden our information and communication strategies to integrate traditional media channels and contemporary social media forums.”

President Mahama also stated that he will improve infrastructure to boost the progress of the nation.

He added that his government is on track to resolve the energy and water crises that have befallen the nation.

“We shall give high priority to the health, education, housing, energy and water provision, ICT development and general infrastructure that will inure to the benefits of our people and rapidly transform our nation.” he said.

He stressed that government will not relent on its promises to the people of Ghana.

“For the next four years, we will run an administration that is intelligent, that is effective and that exudes excellence in operationalizing the core values and aspirations of the people of Ghana.

“Let me assure all Ghanaians again that this government will deliver on its promise to make Ghana greater and strong,” he added.

President John Mahama today officially moved to the Flagstaff House which remains the seat of government to commence his executive and administrative duties. His relocation was heralded by a ceremony to usher him into the Presidential Palace.

Present at the function were former President Rawlings, Foreign Affairs Minister Hannah Tetteh and other dignitaries.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

NDC Communicator: It Was A Brilliant Idea To Get A Befitting House For The Presidency

A member of the Communications team of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fred Agbenyo has supported the President’s initiative to relocate his office to the Flagstaff House but says his security should be the nation’s top priority.

Though raising concerns about the security of the President, Mr. Agbenyo believed the establishment of the Presidential Palace to serve as the official seat of government was a “brilliant idea”.

He said it was appropriate to have a befitting place to house the Heads of State, for that matter President Mahama’s decision is a step in the right direction.

A statement released by the Information Ministry on Tuesday indicated that President John Mahama will relocate to the Flagstaff House to commence his official duties. A ceremony, according to the Sector Minister, Mahama Ayariga, will be held on Thursday, February 7 to commemorate President Mahama’s relocation.

Fred Agbenyo, on Peace FM's "kokrokoo" programme, feared President Mahama’s safety may be compromised.

“I am not a security expert but even from a layman’s perspective. Looking at the location of the Flagstaff House, somebody with a sniper can stand on the very last floor to perpetrate any crime.”

According to him, though National Security may have done thorough checks on the edifice before advising the President to move to the Flagstaff House, “we can’t take the security of the President for granted.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Sammy Awuku And Co Should Cooperate With The Police – Gabby Otchere Darko

Lawyer for the multi-party movement ‘Let My Vote Count Alliance,’ Gabby Otchere Darko has advised the members to cooperate with the Police in their on-going investigations.

Speaking on Okay FM’s “Ghana Decides” programme on Monday, Gabby Otchere Darko urged the group to assist the Police in their investigations in order not to foment trouble.

He admonished the group, saying; “In anyway they can, they should cooperate with (the) Police. Because we shouldn’t see the Police as our enemies, the Police shouldn’t also see the organizers or members as fomenting trouble.”

The Madina District Police Command, a couple of days ago, served the group with notice to appear for questioning following the launch of the movement.

The Leaders of the ‘Let My Vote Count Alliance,’ Sammy Awuku, a Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, as well as the Deputy Communications Director of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Ernest Owusu-Bempah, Abu Ramadan of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and a member of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Charles Owusu, appeared before the Madina Police to face interrogation into their activities.

‘Let My Vote Count Alliance’ was formed to educate the Ghanaian populace about their right to insist that their votes reflect the outcome of any election. The group which has pledged allegiance to find out the truth in the outcome of the December polls, launched the movement last Tuesday, January 28, at the Dome in Accra.

The launch saw in attendance leading members of the NPP, NDP, PNC and NDP among others. The group lent their support to the opposition New Patriotic Party in their petition before the Supreme Court which seeks to challenge the 2012 election results and also aimed at making sure the Electoral Commission undergoes the necessary reforms.

But the aftermath of the inaugural ceremony saw the LMVC leaders being invited by the Police to clarify certain issues relating to the formation of the alliance, its activities and particularly its inaugural ceremony at the Taifa Norway Park in the Dome-Kwabenya constituency.

According to reports, Sammy Awuku and his cohort were invited on grounds that they have breached the Public Order Act but the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Lawyer Gabby Otchere-Darko has denied the claims saying the movement is a platform for promoting freedom of speech.

He said the LMVC Alliance has only sought to “quench fires” in the country and therefore expressed their opinions about matters of national interest, which he added, are legitimate.

"We cannot criminalize freedom of speech. We cannot criminalize freedom of assembly…it is important that there are these platforms that can educate people," he said.

He charged the group to be undaunted in their quest for justice since they have a legitimate case in expressing themselves.

He however debunked reports that the invitees were made to give a caution statement.

He explained that; “the Police wanted them to give a statement. They said [they won’t] they have nothing to say. Their rights were read to them, they exercised their rights not to give a statement. They did not give a statement…the most important thing is that there was no arrest as far as I’m concerned. As far as I’m concerned, there was no caution. Police didn’t caution them [for breach of] , they haven’t been charged for breach of any law. They were called to help Police in their enquiry.”

Gabby Otchere-Darko appealed to state authorities to desist from interfering with the operations of the Police.

“Its important that we all work together. But those at the helm of affairs enjoining the police to get into all kinds of trouble should pull the breaks…we should exercise patience and give the Police room to work as the law requires.”

Sammy Awuku, speaking on “Ghana Decides”, also gave credence to the Counsel’s disclosure, stating that the Police during their enquiry misquoted the names of some attendees to the inaugural ceremony of the movement.

According to him, the Police made mention of the Convener of the Alliance and a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh, who he said, was not present.

When asked whether they cringed in fear following their interrogation, Sammy Awuku noted that; “at every point in time, the coercive machinery of the State can be used to intimidate people,” so their encounter was just part of the course of struggle.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/peacefmonline.com

K.B Asante Commends Prez Mahama; Abandoning The Palace Would Be A Waste

A Retired Diplomat and Statesman, K.B Asante has welcomed President Mahama’s decision to relocate from the Osu Castle to the Flagstaff House on Thursday, February 7.

He acknowledged the move by the President stating that since the place was created as the official seat of government, it is just appropriate for him to reside in such edifice.

Speaking on Radio XYZ Wednesday morning, he stated that an abandonment of the Presidential Palace will be a waste of resources.

He said; “It’s been done. Our money has been used, so what do we do?, do you allow it to stay there as a white elephant. So, I think it’s a good thing, it’s nothing to do with democracy, it’s just common sense.”

He implored the nation to support the President’s initiative since his relocation is in the interest of the country.

“You may criticize it. Once it’s done, it’s done in the name of the country. The country’s money has been used. It’s your duty to see how best you can make it work for the nation,” he told the host.

He advised President Mahama to ensure that he effects the necessary changes upon reaching the Flagstaff House.

According to him, the unwillingness by governments to continue the works of their predecessors is not a healthy venture and should be a thing of the past.

From: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/peacefmonline.com