Month: August 2012

Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea has challenged government to institute a full-scale investigation into the cause of death of President John Atta Mills if it has got nothing to hide.

Nana posited that a commission of inquiry will put to rest speculations surrounding the sudden demise of the late President who died on July 24 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

“What is the problem with an inquest? All the speculations surrounding his [Mills] death will be sorted out when there is a proper inquest” Nana said.

Nana Akomea’s comments comes in the wake of several calls on government to investigate the sudden demise of the late John Mills five months to the end of his tenure.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Nana Akomea maintained that the late President will even support the call for an investigation into his death.

Akomea recalled how the late John Mills instituted an investigation into the death of Deputy Energy Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini’s wife who died during delivery.

He said the NPP’s pursuit for an inquest into John Mills’ demise is not borne out of mischief but to ensure the mystery surrounding his [Mills] death is unraveled.

The NPP Communications Director blamed the Mahama-led administration for giving grounds for speculations since according to him government has failed to make public a coroner’s inquest.

Nana Akomea said given the posture of government, it appears they have not learnt any lessons from Mills’ demise.

On the contrary, a communication team member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kakra Essamuah indicated that those calling for an investigation into the late President’s death have not provided enough basis for their claims.

He said the factors surrounding the death remains private and confidential hence could not fathom why the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) would wade into such controversy.

“When it comes to medical records the general rule applies to everybody” he added.

Notwithstanding, Kakra Essamuah noted that he is not against any investigation but he believes the soul of John Mills should be left to rest in peace.

Myjoyonline.com

The NDC Member of Parliament for the Adenta constituency, Kojo Adu Asare, has advised President Mahama not to move to the Flagstaff house as being suggested by some persons including some NDC MPs.

According to him, the President should wait till he wins the December polls before deciding whether to move into the edifice or not.

Mr. Adu Asare says it will be improper for President Mahama to move out of the Castle when he is just finishing the final months of late President Mills’ tenure.

“In my personal opinion it wouldn’t sound too good for me, at least he should stay there for a little more. But immediately, I wouldn’t want to subscribe to that.

“I would even prefer that he lives there till after elections so that when he gets the nod he moves there fresh for everybody to know that this is his administration so that people would not get the opportunity to roll back any issue relating to him and the former President.

The Deputy Majority Leader Rashid Pelpuo has urged President John Mahama to move to the flagstaff house and operate officially from there.

According to him the Castle is a moribund piece of architecture that does not befit our Presidency.

The issue of the NDC government operating from the Flagstaff House continue to be a subject of controversy as the immediate president refused to move to the building which was built to serve as an official residence and office of the sitting president by the erstwhile Kufour administration.

The late President Mills and his team declined to operate from that place arguing over the insecurity of the building.

However speaking on Joy Fm’s Newsfile programme on Saturday Hon. Rashid Pelpuo who is also the MP for Wa Central emphasised the need for all challenges identified with the edifice to be rectified to enable the president to move in within the shortest possible time.

He said psychologically it would be better for president Mahama to relocate to a different office building.

“I’m looking at a situation where John Mahama would be driving to and fro the castle knowing and looking at the burial place of his former boss who he worked closely with, this may have an effect on him in a way,” he said.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMps.gov.gh

The Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Benjamin Kofi Ayeh has hinted that the minority will ask questions about certain action and decision that were done on the blind side of Late President Mills whiles he was in office.

He said this probing question will be ask for Ghanaians to know the truth immediately the late President has been peacefully laid to rest.

There have several speculations that senior government officials took advantage of the health situations of the former president to take decision and action that were not functioned by the late President.

However Speaking on Adom FM’s on Wednesday night Hon. Kofi Ayeh who is also the MP for Upper Denkyira West wondered whether President Mills himself find various statements and other communication that came to Parliament from his office.

“We all know that ever since the president assumed power, all the speeches he read had large font seizes because of had problem from his sight, but recent letters that came to Parliament were having small font seizes, did he read the letter and signed it himself or someone did it on his or her behalf ” he asked.

“That morning he died parliament received communication from the office of the president that he was travelling to Nigeria on s day’s visit. Are we even sure he sent and signed that letter himself?

He noted that the questions have shelved for now because of his burial, adding that several question about his death will be discussed after he is being laid to rest.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Assin North Hon. ken Agyapong has urged the director of operation at the Castle Nii Lantey Vanderpuije to learn good lessons of the death of the late President Mills.

He said Nii Lantey Vanderpuije who strongly defended the ex-President Mills whiles he was alive must ensure that his actions are guided by the demeanour of President Mills who was widely acclaimed as a man of peace.

Mr. Vanderpuije was at the centre of controversy during the biometric voter registration exercise a couple of months ago when he was accuse of mitigating brutalities against NPP supporters including the NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, madam Ursula Owusu at the Odododiodoo constituency where he (Nii Lantey ) is the NDC candidate.

Speaking on Adom FM Dwaso Nsem programme on Thursday, Hon. ken Agyapong was hopeful that Nii Lantey Vanderpuije would reflect on the death of Prof. Mills and chart a corse in the way he does his politics.

“the man people follow, speak in favour of while alive while others criticize is now dead and gone that is I fight against brutalities in this country, he would he feel today after all how long are going to live on earth for us to beat and kill people us to become mps and leaders in the country” he said.

He added that if indeed president Mills was a man of peace then the entire country should use his death to unite the nation.

Kwadwo Anim/ Ghanamps.gov.gh

An anti-corruption crusader and NPP MP for Esikuma Odoben Brakwa, P.C. Appiah Ofori, is calling on the Funeral Planning Committee of the late President John Atta Mills to immediately declare its estimated expenditure for the three-day ceremony.

Some Ghanaians have been asking for the cost of the funeral ceremony with some media reports claiming the casket was purchased at an estimated cost of more than US$70, 000.

But the Chairman of the Committee, Kofi Totobi-Quakye, denied the reports saying though the committee does not have a budget, it is making a conscious effort not to over spend as donations from various organizations may cater for the entire ceremony.

He said: “You don’t budget for funeral at the beginning of the year and when you are confronted with it you look at how things will shape. We have made a conscious point that as much as possible, we feel that the donations that are coming will be sufficient to pay for the cost of the funeral.”

However, Hon. Ofori told Citi News, the refusal of the Committee to disclose how much it has spent so far should be condemned because it creates room for corruption by its members.

He said: “You don’t spend money before you come and tell us. You should tell us what money you’d need and what it will be used for; casket, this and this will cost this much and then you make it public. Nobody is ready for this irresponsible act.”

“If they think they want to make money from this death, then Ghanaians will hold them accountable so they should come out and tell us,” the opposition legislator cautioned.

By: Citifmonline.com/Ghana