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Justice Oppong would have been disgraced � Kofi Adams

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:45:33 GMT

A Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress Mr Kofi Adams says Justice Anthony Oppong chickened out of the Ya-Na murder case because he didn’t want to confront the massive evidence of bias against him.

He said if the judge refused to recuse himself from the case, incontrovertible evidence would have been adduced to prove his guilt in the matter.

Kofi Adams was speaking on Joy FM’s news analysis programme, Newsfile Saturday, August 28, 2010.

“When the judge was running away from the obvious [facts] that will face him if he should continue to sit on the case, he now tried to bring in politics and make it look like the AG was attacking the whole Bench,” he stated, adding, “if the judge knew that he was clean, he should have stayed on [the case] and allow the case as they had started to continue to its logical conclusion but he ran away, he abandoned that course.”

Justice Anthony Oppong who was the trial judge of the case involving some 15 persons alleged to have played various roles in the murder of the overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, recused himself from the case following allegation that he made prejudicial comments on it at a drinking bar.

But he did not leave in silence. The judge challenged the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Ebo Barton Oduro to provide proof of his allegations or render him an unqualified apology, denying ever making any of the comments attributed to him by the Deputy A-G.

“Barton Oduro, Esq accused me of being a drunkard and being irresponsible enough to have gone to a drinking bar and under the influence of alcohol made prejudicial comments about this case. I vehemently deny this. I have never been to a drinking bar and made any comment whatsoever on this Yaa Naa's murder case.

“I challenge Barton Oduro Esquire to substantiate this allegation or render an unqualified apology to me for running me down,” Mr Oppong noted.

He didn’t leave it there, “I have felt insulted, scandalized and indeed bastardized all in the name of the Attorney-General's office attempt to play politics with the Bench in general and with me in particular. I am no politician. I am a judge and have taken oath to dispense justice to all manner of persons irrespective of whatever.”

But Kofi Adams says he (Adams) may never feel confident that he will get justice or fair judgement should he have a case adjudicated by Mr Anthony Oppong.

He said “that is why … if I were the AG’s department, I would make some information available to the appointing authority to see what can be done as far as this judge is concerned but I wasn’t too comfortable [because] the judge was very political, he ended up exposing himself when, in dealing with the issues raised by the prosecution and the Attorney-General, he sought to bring the NDC as a political party into this matter.”

Supporting Mr Adam’s argument, Spokesperson for Vice-President John Jinapor rejected suggestions that the Deputy A-G’s evidence was banal since it was based on a third party account.

Mr Barton Oduro had said he had a tape recording of his conversation with a an unnamed lady who alleged that Justice Oppong had said the case against the 15 persons will be thrown out.

Mr Jinpor said the evidence against the judge was overwhelming and that there were people who were willing to testify against the judge in court.

Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Akufo–Addo Greets Okyenhene

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:33:48 GMT

The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, has asked for the blessings of the Okyenhene, Osaagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, as he begins his 28-month journey to the December 2012 general elections.

It was the first maiden courtesy call of Nana Akufo-Addo since his landslide victory last Saturday as the flag bearer of the main opposition party. The visit took place at the OforiPanin Fie in Kyebi, in the Eastern Region.

Nana Akufo-Addo, in his short speech, thanked the Okyenhene, his cousin and customary grandfather, for his “ever constant moral support and guidance” and asked the Okyenhene to continue encouraging him in his political journey, which is in its 35^th year.

“At the weekend, Nana, I received a very humbling overwhelming endorsement from party delegates across all ten regions of the country. It has given the party a strong platform of unity and strength to challenge for the presidency and parliamentary majority in 2012.”

He continued, “Nana the dream of the founding fathers of our party, Dr Danquah, Dr Busia and the others are very much alive today. By the Grace of God and the votes of the majority of Ghanaians, we hope to recapture power in 2012 and extend the frontiers of liberty and prosperity for the masses of our people.”

In a brief response, the Okyenhene congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo on his 79% landslide victory and also called on him to work hard and pray hard in fulfillment of that dream.

He also congratulated the entire NPP for conducting the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner and urged the other parties in Ghana and on the continent to see what they can emulate from it in the collective quest to enhance multiparty democracy.

Over 107,000 delegates across 128 constituencies in Ghana voted on Saturday to elect the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP.

Nana Akufo-Addo went to Kyebi, after attending the parliamentary primary of the Atiwa constituency. Akwasi Amoako-Atta, the Atiwa District Assembly presiding officer, was nominated by Atiwa NPP delegates for the bye-election which takes place on 31^st August.

The seat was declared vacant on the death of Kwasi Ankama, the MP.The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, has asked for the blessings of the Okyenhene, Osaagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, as he begins his 28-month journey to the December 2012 general elections.

In a brief response, the Okyenhene congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo on his 79% landslide victory and also called on him to work hard and pray hard in fulfillment of that dream.

Over 107,000 delegates across 128 constituencies in Ghana voted on Saturday to elect the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP.

In a brief response, the Okyenhene congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo on his 79% landslide victory and also called on him to work hard and pray hard in fulfillment of that dream.

Over 107,000 delegates across 128 constituencies in Ghana voted on Saturday to elect the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP.

The seat was declared vacant on the death of Kwasi Ankama, the MP.

Source: Abena Radio

Rot at STC: GH�81 million used for bribery

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:43:10 GMT

A committee of inquiry set up by the government to investigate alleged financial malfeasance at the Intercity STC (ISTC) Coaches Limited has revealed that an estimated amount of GH¢81 million collected from passengers as clearance fees from 2000 to 2009 cannot be accounted for by the management.

The clearance fees are paid by passengers to and from Abidjan, Cotonou and Ouagadougou, in addition to the normal fares charged by ISTC, to facilitate their smooth and quick movement through the many borders and barriers on the company's international routes.

According to the report of the committee made available to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, although the fees had been collected in the name of the company, there was no record of receipts, nor could the money be accounted for by the management.

The three-member committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Abu Millah, a financial consultant; said the clearance money was "money used to corrupt international public officials along the company's international routes".

"We believe the company can use other genuine means to get clearance on these routes and save passengers huge sums of money," the report stated.

The committee identified some major areas of financial malfeasance, including the sale of tickets jn foreign exchange and their conversion into cedis, the purchase of second-hand engines and parts, the-use of management imprest and questionable payments by management between the period under review.

Giving the breakdown of the estimated sums collected by management between 2000 and 2009, the report said GH¢2 million was stolen in 2000, GH¢4 million in 2001, GH¢4 million in 2002, GH¢6 million in 2003 and GH¢7 million in 2004.

The rest of the collections were GH¢8 million in 2005, GH¢8 million in 2006, GH¢9 million in 2007, GH¢11 million in 2008 and GH¢12 million in 2009.

The report noted that "the fact that these monies are not accounted for represents a serious control weakness which could facilitate fraud".

The committee, which also had Mr Francis Sey and Mr Eric Tetteh as members, recommended that the collection of clearance fees from passengers should, be stopped immediately because it gave Ghana and the company a bad name in the international setting.

It observed that the practice adopted by the company in respect of foreign exchange transactions also lacked transparency and accountability, which left room for corruption, which had resulted in the company suffering exchange losses.

It said by virtue of its operations in Burkina Faso, Benin and Cote d'Ivoire, the company received foreign currency, mainly CFA, from the sale of tickets to passengers.

From time to time, the company exchanged the CFA for local currency but did not keep records of the rates at which the exchange transactions were carried out, it noted.

The committee further observed that due to lack of procurement and stores managers from 2000-2004 and in 2008 and 2010, there were no proper internal controls over purchases of stores and materials running into huge sums of money.

It said the financial effects of the lack of an appropriate procurement arrangement at the ISTC could run into several millions of Ghana cedis.

It recommended that the Managing Directors and General Managers of Finance and Administration of the company from 2000 to 2009 should be held liable for the lapses.

On management imprest, the committee observed that all reimbursement made did not pass through pre-audit checks before cheques were written, a situation which was worrying.

To enhance transparency on road clearance funds, it said tickets issued to passengers on international routes should be divided into two parts - normal fares and road clearance fees - on the same ticket issued, with separate bank accounts.

For purposes of transparency and accountability in the handling of foreign currency, it recommended that all foreign exchange earnings or receipts should be converted through the banking system and that the company should open a foreign currency account for foreign currency earnings and receipts.

"And any time local cedis are required for the company's operations the bank should be requested to convert the foreign currency into cedis for the country’s use,” it noted.

Turning the spotlight on the SVANI contract which was entered into without a written agreement, the committee recommended that all transactions between the company and third, parties should have contracts signed to safeguard the company from embarrassment and unnecessary litigation.

It expressed regret at the financial weakness of the ISTC and asked the management to find a more reliable means of generating additional revenue.

When contacted, the Head of Business, Marketing and Public Relations of the company, Ms Gabriella Tetteh, confirmed that the Ministry of Transport had instituted an enquiry into the clearance fees being collected from the passengers by the ISTC,reports Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

She conceded that the clearance fees were "bribes" paid by the company to officials at barriers and borders on the company's international routes.

Ms Tetteh, who showed a copy of the report of the enquiry on her laptop, explained further that at first passengers on board the company buses used to pay those monies to the police and other officials themselves.

Later on, she said, officials of the ISTC had to collect the monies from the passengers when the bus was full for onward payment to officials manning the various barriers and boundaries on the Abidjan, Ouagadougou and Cotonou routes.

Asked whether the company was still collecting the clearance fees, Ms Tetteh said the system had now been streamlined.

She said currently clearance fees, collected from passengers were indicated on their tickets and given to the drivers as imprest, which was accounted for on their return.

Asked whether anybody had been punished as a result of the outcome of the enquiry, Ms Tetteh said she was not aware of any such action but indicated that senior management members of the company had been asked by the board to proceed on their accumulated leave.

Source: Daily Graphic

E.T. Mensah: NDC foot soldiers must propagate Gizele Yajzi�s confessions

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:07:52 GMT

MP for Ningo Prampram, Enock Teye Mensah is urging all NDC foot soldiers to procure copies of a new interview granted Accra-based Radio Gold Wednesday by controversialGizele Yajzi who has reiterated she has twins with former President J.A. Kufuor.

Kufuor on Tuesday denied the accusation, the first time since the allegations were hurled at him in 2004 by the American, saying those peddling the lies were jokers and that being who he is, he would have asked his wife for forgiveness and gone for the children if he really has had them because after all, they would have been his blood.

But Ms Yajzi has shot back at the former president, claiming she has not allowed her seven-year-old twins to see their ‘father’ because she cannot trust him when it comes to their security. “He is capable of anything,” she said. But she also says the two children, “very smart, black boys”, are in school and don’t really need anything from their ‘father’, knowing very well that their mother was taking good care of them. She also urged the Atta Mills government to sit up in its fight against corruption which she claimed Kufuor entrenched during his administration.

And the interview, conducted by Alhassan Suhini, is what appears to have sat very well with E.T. Mensah who hailed the programme and called on NDC foot soldiers to get the audio and play it in their communities to tell everyone the sort of ‘good governance’ that J.A. Kufuor presided over.

“…Babo, (Baffoe Bonney, CEO of Radio Gold) should take note, let’s do something about Radio Gold so that they can be heard throughout the country because this is a story that should be told again and again and again and I want to appeal to our foot soldiers ‘let us all go and get copies and play in our constituencies, this is something that people need to know.”

Story by Myjoyonline.come/Ghana

Source: myjoyonline.com

Mario Balotelli condemns biological parents

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:27:39 GMT

Wereko–Brobby, Mpiani freed

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:23:36 GMT

A High Court in Accra has acquitted and discharged Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby and Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani from the charges of wilfully causing financial loss to the state in their management of the Ghana at 50 celebrations. Wereko-Brobby, CEO of the erstwhile Ghana at 50 Secretariat that supervised the day-to-day administration of activities planned for the anniversary of Ghana's 50th independence anniversary and Mpiani, former Chief of Staff under the Kufuor administration and Chairman of the anniversary planning committee were charged by the state following findings of a commission of enquiry.

However, according to Joy FM's Cyrus De Graft Johnson, the court ruled that the findings of the commission cannot be used to prosecute them, or anyone.

Justice Samuel Marfo-Sau held that it is unconstitutional and wrong for the Attorney-General to prosecute anyone on the basis of adverse findings made by a commission of enquiry.

While Mr Mpiani parried off media enquiries moments after the court verdict, Dr Wereko-Brobby, otherwise called Tarzan, said he was "happy to be free" from prosecution.

The judge also warned the state to desist from setting up commissions of enquiry on alleged malfeasance if it intends to prosecute any person for criminal conduct, according to De Graft Johnson.

State prosecutors accused the two of deliberately over-spending in excess of what was approved by Parliament as well as contracting loans without approval from parliament.

Upon their arraignment, a former deputy Attorney-General in the Kufuor Administration, Kwame Osei Prempeh, doubted the grounds for prosecution, claiming it was unconstitutional.

Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Source. myjoyonline.com

Arthur K: Creating The Conditions For Coups

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 22:29:30 GMT

Arthur Kobina Kennedy

By Arthur Kobina Kennedy

A President who seems adrift--- lacking moxie, direction and conviction!

A former President, constantly carping and complaining about the failures of the sitting President and forever obsessed with corruption.

A governing party divided into quarreling factions, constantly insulting and undermining one another.

A growing chance that the sitting President will be challenged in his own party’s primary.

Party members openly defiant and contemptuous of their own party’s government.

Opposition parties, confident of victory in the next elections but looking like anything but a government in waiting.

People demonstrating frequently about the harsh conditions of their lives with no sign that their cries are being heard.

A public thoroughly dissatisfied with the government but obligated to wait till the next election before relief.

Did you think I was describing Ghana in 2010?

Actually, I was describing Ghana in 1981. Are you surprised by how uncomfortably familiar that description of Ghana is to Ghana now?

Now, President Mills, just like President Limann then, seems to be adrift—lacking moxie, direction and conviction!

Now, just like then, the former President/Head of State, who was Ft. Lt. Jerry Rawlings then and is ex-President Rawlings now, is constantly complaining of the President’s failures and corruption, both past and present.

Now, just like then, the governing party, which was the Peoples National Party and is now the National Democratic Congress, is divided into factions—the Mills faction, the Rawlings faction and the Mahama factions.

Now, just like then, members of the governing party are openly critical of the President.

Now just like then, the major opposition party appears to presume that the people cannot wait to vote out the incumbent government. Buoyed by this misguided confidence; there is a self-destructive jockeying for positions and not much focus on providing a constructive opposition.

Hopefully, now, unlike then, these conditions will not lead to a coup but I am concerned and every Ghanaian should be as well.

Those who ignore history, it is said, are condemned to repeat its tragedies. At that time, those who worried about the possibility of a coup were dismissed out of hand as “Nervous Nellies” who were panicking unnecessarily.

As we all know, there was indeed, a coup, on 31st December, 1981, that imposed upon us a dictatorship that lasted for nearly two decades and set our nation back for nearly half-a-century.

Now, just as then, there is a lot of confidence that the era of coups are gone forever, without any evidence that they are indeed, gone.

History tells us that coups are very persistent and stubborn things that can happen even in very stable societies. From countries as diverse as Mauritania to Mexico and times as distant as the Middle Ages to just last year, they continue to occur. Just last year, the President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya was deposed by the army after a dispute with the National Assembly over a referendum to amend the constitution. In 2002, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez was briefly ousted in a coup that was later reversed by his supporters.

Unfortunately, coups are not just restricted to unstable democracies. In 1973, Chile had been a stable democracy for over a century when General Augusto Pinochet, ousted President Allende in a coup and imposed a 17-year dictatorship. Indeed, sometimes, as we know from our own history, coups can come from within a government. It is said that General Santa Anna, the Mexican General and President who ended up losing a big chunk of Mexico to the US was President eleven times and quite frequently was involved in and led coups against his own governments.

Even when the conditions described above, as is occurring in Ghana now and occurred in the 1980’s do not lead to a coup, they lead to decreased foreign investments, economic stagnation and a sense of national paralysis.

Of course, while there can be a violent coup against a government, there can also be a slow drifting coup, that gradually sap the vital forces out of a government, till in the end, it is ineffective and only a shell of itself. That is the main reason why today, there is a sense of malaise in Ghana.

Sometimes too, instead of a coup against the government, there a gradual encroachment on the rights of the people by the government. As US President Madison once said, “I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” Whenever governments fail to ensure public safety, charges citizens with crimes arbitrarily or fails to negotiate in the interest of the people, it is abridging their rights. These activities by government, just like the other activities that undermine government, are subversive of our democracy.

Why is there so much uncertainty in our body-politic?

Is this due to some defect in our constitution, in our political parties, in our institutions or in our very nature?

While it is difficult to say, we can all take some actions to strengthen our democracy.

First, we should respect our constitution and let it work. When the President is compelled to remind us that Ghanaians voted for only one President and not two that is unhealthy. Our institutions, particularly, must unequivocally support the constitution and the President. It is inappropriate when a former President can show up at a barracks and be treated as if he is the sitting President.

Second, our laws must be enforced without regard to party affiliation or ethnicity. We undermine our democracy when some get prosecuted because of their party affiliation while others can brag that nothing will happen to them because of their party affiliation. In this regard, our courts have a very big role to play. It should not be easy to find a judge to jail a critic of the government when more substantive cases are pending because judges are too busy.

Third, our political parties must become more transparent so that their decisions can be more acceptable to their members. It appears that there is a lot of confusion regarding the prerogatives of a Presidential candidate and/or President regarding his party with the result that party members out of favour resent what they perceive as dictatorial postures from their candidates while the candidates feel entitled to make most of the party’s decisions. This leads to bitterness that strains the normally cordial bonds that should exist between parties and their candidates. This issue is important because it is difficult for the public and institutions to respect a President who does not appear respected by his party.

Fourth, our Parliament must truly be a forum of the people. It must be the forum where important questions on the people’s minds are raised and answered--- a forum for respectful dialogue and not irresponsible accusations. When Parliament is effective, many of the issues that fester and undermine the stability of our democracy are addressed early and effectively.

Fifth, the President must assert himself, respectfully and forcefully in regards to his authority. It is distressing that while the President has been eager to exercise powers he does not have, he has been wanting in the exercise of those he clearly does possess. He seemed ineffective in ensuring that his own Ministers complied with his directive on asset-declaration while unconstitutionally dissolving legally constituted Boards of Public Corporations whose terms had not expired. He illegally refused to pay constitutionally mandated ex-gratia awards while he could not bring down the full force of the law against lawless NDC elements. These are the things that erode Presidential power—drop by drop.

Sixth, we must all improve our attitudes if our democracy is to survive.

The Presidency deserves the respect of all Ghanaians. Therefore, regardless of the occupant, while we must disagree aggressively if we must, we must do so with decorum. The idea of a former President who routinely insults a President of his own party is not helpful to our democracy. This is particularly so when the former President in question, belongs to the President’s own party. In view of President Rawlings’ past association with coups, he bears a special burden to ensure that his actions are not open to mis-interpretation by his critics. While we trust his good intentions, he must help us to verify that he means well.

While the freedom our media has attained in our democracy is commendable, it must be used responsibly. Too often, the media is used as an instrument for unsubstantiated attacks on those in public life. These happenings serve only to divide us and to weaken our democracy. It is clear that the mechanisms that exist for the media to police itself are too weak. We need a strong but accountable media to sustain our democracy. It should not be permissible for someone to accuse a former President of burning his own house without evidence, just as a President must not be able to accuse members of the opposition of being murderers when he has no evidence.

Ultimately, however, the best defence against actual or potential coups is a government responsive to the needs of the electorate and in constant communication with it.

Let our leaders be about the business of democracy — service to the people and coups will truly belong, just to our history.

Let us move forward, together.

Arthur Kobina Kennedy
E-mail: arkoke@gmail.com

Huge pay rise excites Ghana Police

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 09:10:14 GMT

Personnel of the Ghana Police Service are 'wildly excited' over the substantial increases in their take-home pay following the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

About 23,000 personnel of the Service over the weekend saw the new pay levels hitting their accounts.

Though officials of the police service are tight-lipped over the increment, Joy Business learnt that the lowest rank in the police service has seen about 200 per cent increase in their take-home pay.

Director of Public Affairs at the Police Service, Superintendent Kwesi Fori described the pay rise as “shocking and very positive”.

He said this would boost the morale of personnel and warned that the fight against corrupt officers would be intensified to weed out the actual miscreants within the service.

“This new chapter should create an opportunity for us all to work harder to commit ourselves in the areas of crime fighting; make sure we partner civil society well and bring security to bear in all jurisdictions throughout the country. And we are very grateful.”

Expressing the Service’s gratitude to the government and Ghanaians for their support that saw the implementation of the SSSS, he said the development would make it incumbent on personnel to be “nationalistic and committed to the ideals of the nation” to protect the citizenry.

Kwesi Fori charged police personnel to sacrifice for the nation and make sure their work commensurates with the increment.

Already, he said, the Ghana Police Service has increased the number of night patrols, and promised to engage in preventive policing, and would also do their best to investigate and apprehend criminals.

But a security analyst, Mr Emmanuel Sowatey doubted if the substantial increase would translate into effective policing as expected.

He cautioned all to adopt the “let’s wait and see attitude”, arguing it would only boost the morale of about 30% of the personnel. He prayed that attention would be directed at recruitment and logistics.

Meanwhile, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission is hopeful that it will be able to migrate all public sector workers onto the Single Spine Structure by September this year.

The Chief Executive of the Commission George Smith Graham says the September deadline is feasible if it gets the necessary cooperation from workers.

Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Source: myjoyonline(dot)com

Ato Kwamina Dadzie, Press Freedom and the Hypocrisy of the Mills Administration!

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:55:05 GMT

“If journalists cannot be trusted to guarantee confidentiality, then journalists cannot function, and there cannot be a free press” – Judith Miller, US journalist!

Ato Kwamina Dadzie, an acting news editor of joy has come under fire for publishing a news item on Joy FM. He is also being charged with the offense of publishing news story “with intent to cause fear and alarm” after he refused to name the sources behind a news broadcast on Joy FM on July 6th 2010. The state is charging Ato Kwamina Dadzie with a criminal offence. It’s the same charge being faced by Nana Darkwa, who accused Rawlings of setting fire to his own house.
The state has every right under the law to prosecute law breakers. However, beneath the edifice of Ato’s predicament is the hypocrisy of the Mills’ administration. I take offense to the government’s position on this issue.
Why all this hypocrisy? When the Nana Darkwa issue came up, the government quickly came out and swiftly disassociated itself from the actions of the police so why is the government heavily involved in this case?
What sort of hypocrisy is this? Why is the government interested in this particular case but not Nana Darkwa case?
Can a threat be investigated if the complainant does not formally lodge a complaint with the police?
Is it unreasonable to assume the complainants at GREDA are petrified and do not wish to talk to the Police? Why is a story alleging GREDA members were threatened for voicing their reservations about the US$ 10 billion STX deal, the largest such deal in the history of Ghana, seem unbelievable? Why should a story claiming that GREDA members are receiving threats caused fear and panic? It is obvious JOY FM and Ato Kwamina Dadzie is being victimized.
Are we to accept that the mere disclosure of a ‘source’ of a story makes the story true? Are we also to accept that, the Ghana police have a policy that states that once the source of a story is revealed then the story is true? Are we being told that there are no false “sources”? What sort of democracy are we building for future generations?
I have lost whatever respect I have for President Mills. I expected a lot better from his presidency. Why all these blunders? Is he actually in charge? Isn’t it a shame that national resources would be spent on intimidating journalists?
This is a fickle-minded and knee-jerk reaction of the police as well as the “string-pulling” of faceless, not-so-brave politicians who want to curtail press freedom. The action of the police is absolute gibberish and they must bow down their heads in remorseless shame! What kind of world do Ghanaians live in?

Inasmuch as we may disagree with Ato Kwamina Dadzie and joy FM with their style of reporting, we cannot be seen to be endorsing this kind of tyranny on the excuse of “causing fear and alarm”. It is becoming increasingly clear that the government is intolerant to dissenting views.
I really can’t believe the “stupidity” of certain people in authority. This is not about the motives of Ato Kwamina Dadzie or anyone else. This is about press freedom and government interference. If indeed a law has been broken why the CID headquarters not the normal process of having someone charged at a local police station? This just goes to show the case is being handled at a very high level.

What is the value of political pluralism if citizens cannot express their thoughts on national issues that affect their daily experiential? Where is freedom of speech when today’s rulers equate information dissemination with crime and hound media practitioners as their enemies? Why is it acceptable, for some government functionaries and ministers of state, to make reckless statement on air, yet see the scrutiny of their policies by journalists, as a taboo? Despite the façade of constitutional democracy, many Ghanaians are aware of backdoor attempts to criminalize speech in this political dispensation.

Atta Mills is actually not in charge. Mills’ governance patterns are worse of all and are blighted by his penchant for vindictiveness. He is so intolerant that he prefers putting up educated illiterates to defend his gross incompetence to fixing our deflationary economy.

It really saddens me to know that despite our pretensions most of us just do not understand democracy in the least. Whether or not you agree with the views of Ato Kwamina Dadzie is irrelevant. There are many journalists with whom I do not and cannot agree. However, press freedom and democracy mean that anyone should be free to say what is on their mind. If a journalist makes a libelous statement he or she can be taken to task through the appropriate channels and not the politically motivated process currently taking place in Ghana.

Journalists have to continue to report what they hear, and they should generally be able to do that without being intimidated into revealing their sources since as a society that is the only way in which sensitive matters come to light. All Ghanaians should see that they have a vested interest in this brouhaha, and should act to protect the right to keep “sources” identities secret. Ghanaians must let the government know that they won’t tolerate any attempt to intimidate the media. Some of us knew that it will come to this. We had heard worst statements that could cause fear and panic, what did the police administration do about it. They should give us a break.

From all indications, our nation democracy is failing. Our speech-democracy is manipulative. It extorts universal obedience with promises of gifts. It takes away human agency from the grassroots, and makes puppets out of elated party supporters. While we are told that we are all equal before the law, the Ghanaian criminal justice system does not hesitate to trample on people’s right base on archaic laws of “causing fear and alarm”.
While the nation’s media has played a very useful role in building a workable democracy, it must continue to be seen as a credible partner. The media must also trade political subjectivity for objectivity, and restores society’s sight to see the brazen injustices in our democracy. Rather than allowing itself to become a profit-generating machine, the media must help to build a civil society that is committed to the greater good of our nation. The media must take to debating, and critiquing, policies that are central to national development and universal enlightenment. While some media houses may think that they are insulated from the bitter experiences of the public, their indifference to defending the truth will only encourage wrongdoers to benefit from their transgressions.
We cannot move forward in the needed direction if we lack cardinal virtues such as discretion, temperance, fortitude, decency, tolerance and so forth.
Ato Kwamina Dadzie and Joy FM must continue with their watchdog role and they must also reassert themselves as the ally of the people. This way our democracy will grow.

We shall be back!

Source: Delacoffie(dot)wordpress

CHARGED... for sealing the lips.::ATO KWAMENA DADZIE, journalist to be jailed by NDC:..

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:38:59 GMT

CHARGED... for sealing the lips

19 Jul 2010 | 08:50 PM

A few hours ago, I was charged with a criminal offence. It’s the same charge being faced by Nana Darkwa, who accused Rawlings of setting fire to his own house.

The state is charging me with the offence of publishing news “with intent to cause fear and alarm” after I refused to name the sources behind a news item broadcast on Joy FM. If convicted, I could be jailed for no more than three years.

As some of you may be aware, I have been acting as news editor at Joy FM since Matilda Asante’s resignation in April.

On July 6, we published a news story that the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) withdrew its petition to parliament against the STX Housing deal after some of its members were threatened either with death or the abrogation of government contracts.

The next day government issued a strongly-worded statement alleging that the story had been “concocted”.
“The station, by this wild and deliberately concocted report cloaked in investigative pretentions, sought to cause fear and anxiety amongst the business community and the general citizenry,” the statement, signed by Information Minister, John Tia, said. “Government is deeply offended by the JoyFM publication and demands that the management of the station substantiates its claims immediately or retracts the allegations and apologizes to the President, Government and people of Ghana accordingly. Meanwhile, Government has directed the security agencies to investigate the claim because death threats are not to be handled lightly.”

A few days after the release of that statement, we received a letter from the CID Headquarters, inviting me to report at the CID headquarters to help with the investigations. I responded to the invitation last Friday – in the company of a lawyer, the producer of the Super Morning Show and the business development manager for the Multimedia Group, Charles van Dyke. After waiting for about 45 minutes we were ushered into an office whose walls were almost entirely adorned with the photographs of former heads of the CID – even from as far back as the colonial era.

There were four men seated at a large table. The man at the head of the table spoke first in a raspy voice.
“My name is Dorvlo,” he said with a smile. “I hope you have heard the name before.”

“Not really,” I said.

“Well, I am the new CID director,” he announced, asking to be pardoned for his voice because he had a cold.

He proceeded to tell us why he had invited us to his office – they were investigating a story aired on Joy FM. He then handed us over to two men later led us into another office on an upper floor in the CID headquarters building for questioning.

They asked me to name the source of our report, saying they needed to know those who had been threatened so they could offer protection for those who had been threatened, and possibly, prevent a crime from being committed.

I refused to name the sources, insisting that no journalist worth the paper he writes on would reveal his sources.

Then they took my caution statement. They set a bail of five thousand cedis for me and asked me to report to today.

I went back to the CID headquarters, as scheduled, this afternoon at 1pm. After waiting for about an hour, I was told to call my lawyer. I did and shortly after he showed up – along with some members of the top brass of the Multimedia Group – I was informed that I was being charged with the “publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm.”

Once again, bail was set and Charles van Dyke signed the bail bond. I was released and initially told that I’d make my first court appearance on Wednesday. But about two hours after I returned to the office, the investigator called to tell me that I will be informed about the court date on Wednesday afternoon.

“I need to submit a report to my bosses first,” he said.

I have no choice so I’ll wait for those “bosses” to make up their minds.

In the meantime, lawyers have advised that I refrain from making any comments on the criminal charges leveled against me. All I can say, for now, is that I am unfazed. I am hoping for the best but I’m very prepared for the worst.

Pointless Cantata

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:37:23 GMT

It’s Sunday. I go to a friend’s house, switch on the TV and it’s already on the so-called “Station of the nation”. Then I see ‘GTV presents’… I hate to watch GTV but this time around, I decided to wait and see what’s about to unfold. The next slide I see says “Cantata”.

The graphics were so awful and I ask myself why this programme is still on national TV. The last time I watched ‘Cantata’ was in 1999 and it was ghastly. So for a moment, I considered flipping channels but curiosity got the better of me and I decided to watch and see if anything had changed.

At the end of the first scene, I wondered whether I should laugh or cry. The two men who had been speaking about forgiveness suddenly break into song – a mid tempo number – and the singing is not the quality that would shame someone like King Ayisoba.

After singing awfully for about three minutes they start jumping around – out of the blue – all in the name of dancing.

I wanted to laugh because I wondered how this sort of foolishness could be called acting – even for comic relief. And then my heart sunk because I realized how TV drama had retrogressed in this country. Gone were the days when as a child I would make sure that I’d finished all my chores in good time every Sunday evening so that I could make time to watch ‘Osofo Dadzie’ with no interference from my mum.

‘Cantata’ makes ‘Osofo Dadzie’ seem like a production that should have won a number of Golden Globes every week.

I don’t know how a crappy TV gets worse. But it seems an easy enough feat at GTV. That’s what they have done with ‘Cantata’.

That programme is a criminal waste of airtime.

The acting is puerile. If you placed your dog in front of your TV whiles is ‘Cantata’, don’t be surprised if it turns around to bite you. That sort of acting in ‘Cantata’ would make the likes of Fred Addae and Kwadwo Kwakye puke in their coffins.

And what’s with all the silly singing? I know a ‘cantata’ is musical composition or performance but what GTV churns out weekly on its ‘Cantata’ programme is not what the original idea is about.

GTV ‘Cantata’ is a disgraceful perversion of what a ‘cantata’ ought to be. People singing shamelessly off-key and jumping aimlessly about on a set bedecked in tonnes of plastic flowers is not what a cantata is about.

I just can’t believe I wasted 45 minutes of my life watching ‘Cantata’ and after all the pointless singing and crazy jumping, I couldn’t make head or tail of what the episode, titled ‘Moses and Herod Part 21’, was about.

In the episode, I saw Nana Bosomprah who passed away a couple of weeks ago, as one of the main actors. He also wrote the script. In fact, he used to write almost all the ‘Cantata’ script and he was the driving force behind it. It’s pretty sad that he’s dead and gone. I will try and spare 45 more minutes of my life to pray for his soul to rest in peace. In that period, I would also pray for the managers at GTV to be blessed with wisdom so that they would be kind enough to allow ‘Cantata’ to also take a rest – in Nana Bosompra’s eternal bosom!

Source: atokd (dot)com

STX–Korea Housing Project–Why the Rush by Parliamentarians?

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 11:19:23 GMT

Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah

June 30 is being recognised yearly as a memorial day marked by the Judiciary for the well calculated abduction and gruesome murder of Ghana’s three renowned High Court Judges and a retired Army Major. However, 30th June, 2010, memorial was superseded by cautionary news by both the print and electronic media about the $10bn STX-Korea Housing Project. President Mill’s government and the NDC majority-led parliament were lambasted by the main opposition party, NPP, about a well calculated plan by the government to suffocate Ghana’s indebtedness for the younger generation by their hasty-willed power to approve the $10bn STX-Korea project at a time when the government knew the nation’s interest in the world FIFA 2010 football was at its peak.

Indeed some commentators wondered why anyone, especially the NPP, should even kick against all important housing project which in the developed world has a lot of developmental ramifications on the nation’s socio-economic disposition. However, it was not surprising that after the NPP Minority Leader and MPs had given their approval to the project, the NPP party executives are kicking against it, what an irony? Surprisingly, majority of those who stood against the NPP Vodafone deal and the mistrust of the confidence reposed in our MPs of the NPP majority-led parliament are now suggesting that if Parliament passes the deal then it suffices that the deal is good for Ghanaians. How can one trust now a parliament by the NDC and NPP knowing that when it comes to the issues of money favouring the MPs they come together, including for instance, the alleged $5,000 for most MPs during the Vodafone deal as asserted by Honourable P.C. Appiah Ofori?

In a country, like Ghana, where problems in any field of human endeavour such as engineering, medicine, pharmaceuticals and the sciences are analysed by politicians whose background lack such analytical brain can never execute projects from professionalism but polity. Indeed, the NPP executives know that both NDC and NPP MPs are Banana-decision making politicians.

The classic politicians’ behaviour as outlook reminds one of the banana fruit as thoughtfully commented by an astute businessman because “all the bananas in a bunch look yellow, but none is straight but bends in one way or the other.” Even with a project like STX Korea which is good by all intents and purposes, the majority in government will not take their time to critically analyse the overall impact on the society, and will surely resort to their own parochial and short-sighted interests in executing the project.

What is banana decision about this project by the Mills government? i.e. Where is the straight portion and where is the bend portion of the project?

There is an estimated one-million housing deficit in the nation and therefore for the government of the NDC to embark on such a project of 200,000 housing units in 5 years amounts to only 20% of the demand of housing needs. The government has no sources of funding for such an astronomical project and thus relies on the magnanimity of STX and the Korean government in accessing this $10bn funding from international market. The government in attempting to execute this project prudently had also engaged KNUST to undertake the project implementation framework (PIF) and subsequently, the planning, engineering and architectural works. All these are part of the efforts the Mill’s government has taken to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

However, the sites of the housing projects are not yet known, the designs and layouts are not yet known. The grade of materials and Bill of materials are not yet known. How then did the government arrive at a cost of $10bn which averages the cost for each housing unit as $50,000? Why the rush about this deal? Why can’t the NDC majority-led parliament wait until all these parameters are programmed into the costing of the project? The Korean Prime minister is scheduled to cut sod for the project on the 17 July.

Pause, reader! This is where the bending part of the banana-decision making of the deal is and Ghanaians and the youth have every right to hold all the 230 MPs accountable. What is the implication in particular on our energy supply of electricity in an already distressed distribution system? The 200,000 housing units in 5years also translate into 110 housing units per day.

Why should our government give our sovereign guarantee to a foreign company? Even with the expected annual oil revenue of $M500 were to be mortgaged on this deal Ghana will be in debt for 20 years for ONLY STX deal and what about the other equally pressing projects needed in the country. What an opportune time to have used this housing project to revamp State Housing Corporation, PWD and AESC? How was the costing arrived at?

The approval of the STX project by our 230 honourable MPs if it is passed is tantamount to daylight robbery under the disguise of democracy and a show of power- yes as former president Rawlings puts it as ‘Ataa Ayi’. Despite all the cautionary submission by concerned people of this nation, the deal will have to be passed before 17July, when the Prime Minister of Korea visits the nation to cut the sod. No wonder, God allowed the Black Stars to be defeated so that the whole nation is not taken by surprise for the well calculated approval of this deal at this period of FIFA world cup excitement in our country.

What is it that is affordable to majority of Ghanaians that the government claims the project will benefit our people? For numbers sake, if the lowest cost is say $15,000, at an interest rate of 39% per annum for a 25 year mortgage from HFC, will translate into $487/month or GHC 682/month. Reader, tell me which of our security forces, true civil servants and teachers can afford this amount from their salaries? Indeed, this amount is greater than most civil servants’ salaries! Before the government approves the STX deal, it must make sure that a civil servant’s salary is at least GHC1, 704, so that accommodation expends 40% of a worker’s salary . How can this solve the housing problem if these dynamics are not properly analysed? The same politicians will turn around and own these houses as the vicious cycle continues with 2 years advance payments.

If parliament passes the deal, we still have President Mills to approve the deal. This is where all of us in this nation can attest to the true character and the real personality of Professor Mills-“The Jesus Christ of politicians”. We are highly optimistic and have faith in the learned Professor Mills that speaking slowly, coolly and shaking of heads do not depict the real person but as the saying goes, “Action they say speaks louder than words”.

GREDA noted that “Given the nature of the deal (requiring government to off-take the initial 90,000 units), If the government fails to do so, or pay the initial $1.5 billion, STX can declare a frustration of the contract and repudiate it altogether, leaving us worse off, it must be noted that these are likely to happen in the next Government, and we don’t know who will be President then”. The issue is that, anyone above the age of forty can be President like me and we ask and plead with the government to circumspectly decipher the ramifications of the deal for the betterment of our nation and the future generation.

The youth of this nation should therefore Unite and Move towards a change that we all can believe in. Ghana now needs United Movement comprising of Businesses, professionals, students, chiefs, religious leaders, Christian and Muslim youths to form a true socio-economic movement that can provide alternate solutions to critical decisions like the STX project.

Oh, our honourable MPs, we understand that there is so much pressure on you to maintain your status in our society but please be thoughtful about the future generation and re-examine your decision in the light of what John Ruskin, an art critic, a social thinker, poet and artist once said: “Therefore, when we build, let us think that we build forever, let it not be for the present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our descendant will thank us for, and let us think as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come, when these stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them. And that man will say as they look upon our labour and wrought substance of them. see! This our fathers did for us “.

United Movement for the youth must be inaugurated to mobilise energetic and critical thinking youth and young adults to protest against the visiting Korea Prime Minister that we cannot sell our birthright and that the government must clear the dark clouds over this deal. This is where we also appeal to our council of state members, religious leaders and chiefs to add their voices.

By Jacob Osei Yeboah, an Engineer, Entrepreneur and Social Thinker

source: myjoyonline (dot)com

Parliament can�t face Wayo

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 06:41:21 GMT

07 Jul 2010 | 07:38 AM

I believe Kofi Wayo is a true patriot. I don’t know many politicians who care about this country as much as he does. He’s a bit eccentric in his ways but you can’t do what he does without being a bit of a maverick.

This country needs people like Kofi Wayo – brash, abrasive, straight-shooters who speak the truth, say what they mean and mean what they say without giving a damn about what people think of them.

It didn’t come as a surprise to me when I heard that Kofi Wayo had characterized our parliament as full of “criminals”. I wholly agreed with him. The response of some of the MPs didn’t come to me as a surprise either. It was wholly expected.

The MPs feel they can sit in the chamber and use their immunity to say all sorts of crap against everyone else in this country. But they are so averse to criticism that anytime anyone says something overly uncomplimentary about them, they run crying to their privileges committee, whining and sulking about a perceived denigration of the integrity of parliament.

That’s exactly what they did when Kofi Wayo called them “criminals”.

I have spoken to Mr. Wayo and he seemed quite delighted with the news that he was going to be hauled before the privileges committee.

“I am ready to face them,” he said.

He also said on radio that he has evidence to prove that a significant number of our lawmakers also shameless law-breakers.

Shortly after his radio interview, the MPs met and decided, according to majority leader, Cletus Avoka, that summoning him before the privileges committee will only make him a hero.

“It has been the habit of Mr. Kofi Way all these years to malign institutions, those who head those institutions and functionaries of government,” Avoka said. “We will be making him a hero out of nothing if he is hauled before the privileges committee.”

That position is surprising but perfectly understandable.

It’s surprising in the sense that a group of egocentric politicians who care so much about safeguarding the reputation of parliament (which is nothing to be proud of, really) will fail to take up such a perfect opportunity to – once again – teach us all a lesson that it doesn’t pay to insult MPs. They recently did it to the director general of GBC, William Ampem-Darko, so why not Kofi Wayo?

The reason is not too difficult to fathom.

Some of the MPs are scared. Some of them will be pissing in their pants if Kofi Wayo is compelled to appear before ANY committee of the house. He would heap all the bountiful insults they deserve on them, question their legitimacy, challenge their level of thinking and ultimately prove that a good number of them are the criminals he believes they are.

That surely would make Kofi Wayo a hero.

Our MPs hardly take sensible decisions in the national interest. But let’s not take it from them – they sure know how to take sensible decisions to protect their parochial interests. Hauling Kofi Wayo to the privileges committee will not be in their interest.

In their attempt, not to make Kofi Wayo a hero, the MPs have paradoxically crowned him as such. By failing to follow through with their threat to haul him before the privileges committee, they have made it clear to us that, indeed, there are a lot of criminals in our parliament.

Source atokd (dot) com