Month: September 2013

The Minority in Parliament have asked the Supreme Court justices currently on vacation in the US, following their adjudication on the landmark election petition, to return home immediately.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE on telephone last Friday, the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it would be proper for the judges who had flown outside the country on holidays to return home at this time to listen to the various comments their judgments had prompted among Ghanaians.

The floodgates were open for Ghanaians to openly express their opinions on the judgments, now available both in hard and soft copies and posted on the internet, when Tsatsu Tsikata, NDC lawyer, singled out Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah for attack.

The recent unsavoury remarks by counsel for the NDC in the now ended petition hearing, Mr. Tsikata, about Justice Anin Yeboah, appeared to have broken the ice, providing impetus for varied reactions to the judgments of the individual justices on the nine-member panel.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, “Ghanaians now appreciate the importance of why the US mission cautioned their compatriots ahead of the Supreme Court ruling following the many requests by judges for visas to travel to their country.”

He said, “Let them come home and listen to the critiques of their judgments.”

A few days before the verdict of the Supreme Court was delivered, a US Embassy alert to their compatriots in the country prompted apprehension among Ghanaians about a possible security breach. It took an intervention of the government officials and even the mission to calm the nerves of an already scared population about what could be chaotic fallouts of the Supreme Court verdict on the petition.

Turning to the closing words of the President of the nine-member panel, Justice William Atuguba, which directed that copies of their judgments were lodged with the Registry and how this never was, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, “When the President of the Panel said that their various judgments were ready and lodged with the court Registry and that was not the case, he was not truthful to Ghanaians.”

Until the judgments were eventually ready, petitioners or their assigns in particular made futile daily visits to the Supreme Court registry in search of the individual documentary positions of the judges.

Speculations were rife about how some of the judges wrote and emailed their judgments from their vacation resorts in the US.

The Minority leader said the Panel President wrote and emailed his judgment from the US; something which for him was another ground of a seeming untruthfulness to Ghanaians.

It is a little over a week now since the ruling in the landmark petition hearing was delivered following months of appearances at the Supreme Court.

When the ruling was delivered, petitioners were disappointed upon their discovery that the judgments were after all not in the custody of the Registrar as announced by the Panel President.

Speculations are rife in the media that some of the judges, especially the Panel President, flew to the US for holidays, prompting all manner of theories among curious Ghanaians.

Observers with retentive memories recalled rather humorously how Mr. Justice William Atuguba chastised politicians who had readied their travel documents should there be trouble in the country. Interestingly, they claimed he left before his compatriot politicians.

Judges are currently on their annual legal vacation which is due to end in October having commenced in August.

Daily Guide

The study of Information Communication Technology in the Asokore Mampong Municipality has received a massive boost, following the commissioning of a new Community Information Communication and Technology Training Centre at Asawase.

The about GH¢120,000 project, funded by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Asawase Constituency, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, is expected to provide avenues for the teaching and learning of basic knowledge in computer technology for school children, and also provide internet service facilities to the public at a fee.

The facility would also be fitted with other secretarial services such as scanners, projectors, and photocopiers to provide a one-stop business centre for residents living within the Asokore Mampong Municipality and beyond.

Speaking at the official commissioning of the project, MP Muntaka lamented the poor performance of schools within the locality, and called on stakeholders to collaborate their efforts at arresting the unfortunate situation.

The MP said there was the need for urgent attention to be given to the improvement of education in the area, and stressed the provision of educational infrastructure and other logistics to basic and junior high schools within the locality.

Muntaka disclosed that though lots of schools, through his initiative, had benefitted from facilities such as the provision of computers and information technology, a lot more schools lacked these resources, a situation, which he said, had impacted negatively on the development of education in the area.

The MP revealed that other project facilities in the area of health were also being undertaken, and cited the proposed establishment of a sick bay and nursing quarters at the Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA).

Asokore Mamponghene’s rep being asisted by the MP and MCE to commission the projectMuntaka, therefore, charged the Municipal Assembly and Ghana Education Services (GES), which will have oversight responsibility over the project, to ensure its proper utilisation and maintenance, in order to achieve the purpose for which it was established.

The MCE for the area, Nuru Hamidan, said the study of computer and information technology was relevant to modern courses, and expressed the hope that the project would help change the educational direction of the municipality, and improve the performance of students.

The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Agyemang Badu, acknowledged the support of the MP, and wished that other areas would also receive such facilities.

Samuel Ayeh-Paye, Member of Parliament for Ayensuano has advised the youth to show interest in sports rather than indulging in alcoholism.

He said alcoholism destroys the brain and the body, contrary to sports.

Mr Ayeh-Paye gave the advice in an interview with the hana News Agency after organizing a football gala for seven clubs in the community.

The gala formed part of a three-day HIV and AIDS awareness programme for the people of Otoase and some surrounding communities near Coaltar in the Ayensuano Constituency in the Eastern Region.

The clubs which participated in the games include Krabokese F/C, Otoase, Bepoase, Ntowkrom, Abiesi, Suhum and Asamankese.

Nana Adu Kofi I, Twafohene of Coaltar who chaired the event commended the MP for organizing the games which he said had strengthened relations among the youth and communities in the area.

GNA

Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy hene Agyepong ohas said political parties; especially the New Patriotic Party (NPP) honouring the Electoral Commission invitation to draw up electoral reforms to guide future elections is a total waste of time and unnecessary.

He has counselled his party (NPP) not to waste its time formulating any reforms as 2016 general election will be free for all election with only the fittest surviving in that electoral exercise, since per the Supreme Court recent dismissal of the election petition, it sought to see nothing wrong with the petition filed by the NPP.

The EC, in a letter dated September 5, 2012, observed that political parties were its “principal stakeholders” and urged them to submit the proposals before the end of November this year.

“The commission will, therefore, appreciate that each registered political party indicates what it considers to be the needed reforms in our electoral system. Any recommendations made must be within the context of our existing electoral laws and system,” it said.

The parties have accepted the challenge and given indications that they are ready to contribute to strengthen the electoral system

Speaking on Accra based Oman FM’s National Agenda show on Monday, the firebrand politician Kennedy Agyepong wondered the need for the electoral reforms, adding that ‘’why do you fix something when that thing is not broken ‘’.

‘’Jake and the rest shoul not pretend they are the only gentlemen and hurriedly give inputs into the so called electoral reforms, in spite of all the clear infractions of the voting process that was admitted by Dr. Afari Gyan himself in court in the full glare of all, the Supreme Court says all is ok, 2016 elections will be very interesting, it would be only about how one secures the votes and not whether the electoral process was followed’’ he added.

Hon. Ken Agyepong further stated that he was not surprised that the Supreme Court upheld President John Mahama as the validly elected President as African Judges and to a large extent Ghanaian Judges lack the courage and would have found it extremely difficult to as a serving president to step down.

‘’ Talk to some of the young politicians in the party that I spoke to, even though I was confident that we had a good case, I knew the Supreme Court could not have told Mahama to step down, they just lack the balls to say or do so’’ he stressed.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Mark Assibey-Yeboah has stepped in to help electoral areas in his constituency to improve visibility in the night.

He has thus procured and distributed over 60 pieces of streetlights to all the electoral areas. The installations are however to be supervised by assembly members in the respective areas, he stated.

The MP stated that the motivation was to discourage illegal activities by miscreants who find darkness as a save heaven to perpetrate their activities. On the other hand, streetlights also promote business activities in the night for people who engage in legal businesses.

Mark Assibey-Yeboah also noted that by extension, streetlights help boost security in the various communities, and is hopeful the people derive the best benefit from them.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Mr John Majisi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Krachi Nchumuru on Saturday assured his constituents of Government’s commitment to develop the area.

He however said development would only take place when the people live in peace and unity.

Mr Majisi gave the assurance at the annual Kakrabi Festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Anyinamae in the Krachi Nchumuru District of the Volta Region.

The 2013 celebration was on the theme: “Peaceful co-Existence for Development in Nchumuru Land.”

He said the theme of the celebration throws a challenge to the people to ensure that peace and unity prevails in whatever they do to ensure symbiotic and cordial relationship.

“I am personally happy about the rapid rate at which the District Assembly is working to provide development projects,” he said.

Mr Majisi said, he had collaborated with the District assembly to acquire 200 solar lanterns for the off grid communities.

The beneficiary communities would pay GH¢30 instead of GH¢100 as “Government pay’s the GH¢70 on their behalf”.

He said he had also secured 25 computers from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication for the District Directorate of Education.

Mr Majisi said construction work on a six- classroom block at Banda Buya would commence next week, while the Assembly is facilitating the establishment of a community- based rehabilitation project for persons with disability in collaboration with SWEB Foundation in Accra.

He announced that he had officially received a letter indicating that the Krachi Nchumuru District is one of the 50 districts that would benefit from the national special school project.

Mr Solon Kuyoun, District Chief Executive noted that the pursuit of reconciliation and peaceful co-existence is one of the reasons for the celebration of festivals in some traditional areas.

He said peace is a vital ingredient for the implementation of development plans.

Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere says nobody can stop Nana Akufo-Addo from contesting 2016 if he so wishes.

He says the 2012 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party and first petitioner in the election petition dispute, Nana Akufo-Addo, has contributed a lot to the building of the NPP, therefore, can contest in 2016 if he decides to get back into politics.

“If you look at the role Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has played since the formation of our party, and the commendation he had received from both local and the international community after the Supreme Court verdict on the election petition, nobody can stop him from leading the party in 2016 if he so wishes,” Mr Botwe said.

He said the current discussion on who leads the NPP in 2016 is premature and appealed to members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to end it.

Mr Botwe said such a debate should rather focus on how to restructure the NPP to build a solid ground at the grassroots ahead of the 2016 general election.

Speaking to journalists in Koforidua, Mr Botwe said the party’s priority should be how to deepen democracy and finding a way forward after the landmark election petition.

The NPP filed the petition challenging the validity of the Electoral Commission declaring Mr John Dramani Mahama as President.

“Who leads the party in 2016 should not take the centre stage of discussions now,” he stressed.
Mr Botwe said according to the party’s constitution, a presidential candidate would be elected in 2014.

He said the exercise is preceded by polling station and constituency elections.

“All these activities are geared towards strengthening the party and making it attractive for 2016.

He pointed out that it is important that Ghanaians respect the decision of Nana Akufo-Addo to stay off politics for some time.

Mr Botwe expressed the hope that the NPP would come out stronger to capture power in 2016.

“If we are able to build our structures well, no matter who leads the party, we shall win power,” he said.

GNA

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has stressed the need for all to depoliticise the running of businesses in the country.

According to him, the politicisation of businesses is not creating the environment for business owners to realise their full potential. He has, therefore, asked that the practice should seize forthwith.

Mr Iddrisu made the call when he inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee in Accra at the weekend to, among other things, see to the growth of businesses to impact Ghanaian exports.

The committee has the minister as a chairman and Mrs Emma Mitchell, a former Minister of State in the Rawlings regime, as the co-chairperson.

Other members of the committee are Mr Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (MOTI); Nii Ansa-Adjaye, MOTI; Nana Owusu Afari, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI); Mr Seth Adjei-Baah, President of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and Mr Seth Evans Addo, a private business man.

The rest are Mr Tony Sikpa of the Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters, Mr Lawrence Yankey, a private businessman, and Mrs Dedda W. Agyei of the MOTI. Other members to join will be from the Private Enterprises Foundation (PEF), among others.

Mr Iddrisu said the country had grown in all facets and businesses must be able to operate freely, irrespective of the government in power.

The observation of the minister comes at a time when many businesses in the country have been tagged with party colours, thereby making them unable to operate when the party to which they are tagged is not in power.

There are also instances where business owners deliberately show up on political platforms of the parties they belong to openly declare support and allegiance to them while condemning the other parties.

Some are also known to be key party financiers who do so openly without regard for the consequences.

“There should be no National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) or any other party businesses because it is hurting our progress,” Mr Iddrisu said.

Against this background, he said the government had vowed to ensure a level playing field for all businesses, irrespective of their political affiliation, to strive by expanding to produce more and also to create many more employment avenues to absorb the unemployed.

The minister also noted that the government had committed itself to used the Export Development Agricultural and Industrial Fund (EDAIF) to accelerate the growth of the non-traditional export sub-sector.

The move is to enable it to play a more meaningful role in the expansion of the economy.

EDAIF, Mr Iddrisu also noted, was intended to give the needed support to the manufacturing sector and to expand the resource envelope. He added that such a move would consider all players without any political considerations; it will be purely on merit.

He said a committee had been set up to review the EDAIF law and noted that the final report would inform the government on optimal capitalisation and utilisation of the fund, especially to provide support for the growth of the non-traditional export sector.

“It is also to help enhance foreign exchange generation through exports, support the growth and development of identifiable manufacturing companies with growth potential for targeted, specialised incentives and support as part of the industrialisation drive,” he added.