Month: November 2013

Legal practitioner and Member of Parliament(MP) for Effutu, Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says the decision of the Financial Intelligence Centre to investigate Victoria Hamah for money laundering is wrong and unlawful.

He says the FIC was clearly acting outside its mandate as laid down in the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act 749) that established it.

Apparently acting on comments by Ms. Hamah on a leaked tape that she would not pick up fights with her superiors and risk her appointment as deputy Communications Minister if she could not boast of a million dollars, the FIC wrote to banks requesting the bank details of Ms. Hamah.

The letter, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FIC, Mr. Samuel Thompson Essel and addressed to all banks said, “Pursuant to Section 28 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act 749), please furnish us with the following information on [Victoria Hamah],

Mandate and Account opening forms
Evidence of Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD)
Legible copy of photo identity
All transaction statements (Bank/Investment statement).”

The FIC hoped to receive responses from the banks by Friday, November 15, 2013, to further its investigations into the financial transactions of the dismissed Deputy Minister, who it said “has come under security notice.”

But speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Friday, on the subject, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said he did not believe Ms. Hamah had committed any offence to warrant the investigations.

He said, “Mr. Essel’s interpretation of the law is completely wrong [because] Section 1(1) of Act 749 defines what money laundering is.” According to the section, “A person commits the offence of money laundering if the person knows or ought to have known that property is or forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity and the person,

Converts, conceals, disguises, or transfers the property
Conceals or disguises the unlawful origin of the property or
Acquires, uses or takes possession of the property.”

The opposition MP noted that clearly Ms. Victoria Hamah, “has not laundered any money, this woman has not been indicted by anybody; no suspicious transaction report has been filed against her by her bank; she’s committed a political blander, she is paying the political consequences for it,” but she has not committed a crime.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin believes that the FIC is simply engaged in a Public Relations gimmick.

He said there were far more serious matters that needed the FIC’s investigations, citing Fortis’ acquisition of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT’s) shares in Merchant Bank and the guinea fowl project between the Savanna Accelerated Development Authourity and Asongtaba that gained national attention early this year.

He called for the immediate resignation of the CEO of the FIC, Mr S.T. Essel.

Supporting Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s argument on the legality of the investigations against Ms. Hamah, private legal practitioner, Mr. Dennis Adjei Dwomoh, said the comments of Ms. Hamah neither fall under Section 1(1) of Act 749 or Section 2, which deals with financing terrorism.

He said even if the FIC founded its action on suspicions that the sacked deputy minister may have engaged in some impropriety to necessitate the investigation, that suspicion must be based on reasonable belief.

“The belief must be based on permissible standards and not a belief as in your believe in God or you believe in Harikrishna;…for the belief to be reasonable, there are certain basic fundamental [thing] that you have to demonstrate for it to ground your belief,” he stated.

Mr. Dwomoh stressed that as far as he was concerned, the former deputy Communications Minister’s comments fell outside the ambit of the law which the FIC sought to rely on to investigate her.’

Myjoyonline.com

Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman, has advised Ghanaians to use freedom of speech responsibly.

“The freedom of speech which was enshrined in the 1992 Constitution is to help us to come out with suggestions which can help to develop the nation, but not to tarnish its image, and prevent investors from coming to help in building the economy,” the MP stressed.

Mr Quansah who is the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, gave the advice at a durbar organized by the Nyimfa Division of Nkusukum Traditional Area, to mark the Annual Ayerye Festival of the Division at Nankesedo.

He pointed out that the way Ghanaians were using freedom of speech as a political weapon to destroy innocent citizens and the nation as a whole, would not augur well for the nation’s young democratic dispensation.

“People just get up and say anything without verifying the truth, damn the consequences,” he said.

Mr Quansah appealed to leaders of political parties to meet and find ways to curb “this nasty development in our political arena,” before it gets out of hand.

He pointed out that if prompt action was not taken to arrest this canker, it would be difficult for the nation to get responsible citizens to go into politics or take up political appointments in the near future, for the fear of getting their hard won reputation destroyed through unfounded allegations.

Nana Baa the Seventh, Nyimfahen of Nkusukum and Chief of Nankesedo, expressed concern about how politics was introducing indiscipline into the society.

“Politics has thrown discipline which was the hallmark of the Ghanaian society, to the dogs,” the chief said.

He said politics had made governance extremely difficult, even at the local level.

“Chiefs are finding it difficult to control their citizens these days, all because of the indiscipline which politics is generating,” he stressed.

Nana Baa wondered why people can now make derogatory remarks on the airwaves about the President of the nation, and go scot-free.

He appealed to Parliament to enact a law to protect the image of the President and that of other leaders.

GNA

Former Deputy Energy Minister, K.T. Hammond, has expressed his readiness to appear before the Judgment Debt Commission currently probing the sale an oil drill ship of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) which was sold in 2001.

He has finally been summoned to appear before the commission on Monday 18th November 2013, to answer certain pertinent questions relating to the sale of the ship.

The ship was sold for $24 million, but the whereabouts of $3.5 million balance taken from an escrow account to be deposited in government of Ghana’s coffers still remains a mystery.

Mr K.T. Hammond had said apart from paying $19.5 million dollars of the $24m to Societe Generale in judgment debt, $3.5 million was paid to the Finance Ministry, and $1 million was used in settling other debts including fees for government’s counsel.

But officials of the Energy Ministry and GNPC previously told the Judgment Debt Commission they cannot confirm the claim that $3.5m was paid to the Finance Ministry because there was no official documentation covering the transaction.

The Commissioner Justice Yaw Appau on Monday noted that K. T. Hammond’s role in the sale of the oil shipping drill was confusing.

Justice Yaw Appau commented: “September 24, 2001 was when new (GNPC) board was appointed, so when it was sold there was no board. So we cannot tell specifically who took the decision to sell, if there were no board in place then it could not have been the board.

“….the former deputy minister [K.T. Hammond] said on radio that he was directed by president [Kufuor] to go and sell the ship and defray the cost…in another vein he said he was given the power of attorney to sell by the GNPC. If there was no board then who granted the power of attorney to sell?”

But speaking on Asempa FM’s Eko sii sen show on Thursday on his summons, Hon. K. T. Hammond said he was confident that he and his then Boss, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah answers to be given at the commission would lay all the nagging questions on the sale of the ship to sleep.

He noted that he has all along been yearning to appear before the commission to clear the doubts in the minds of some people since nothing fishy was done in the sale of the ship.

Hon. K.T Hammond however wondered why he and his former boss have been asked to appear before the commission a day before Mr Tsatsu Tsikata under whose tenure as the GNPC boss, the ship was seized abroad due to the GNPC’s indebtedness.

“Since Mr Tsikata was the CEO of GNPC for several years until the year 2000 and whose tenure the ship was confiscated in Oman, it would have been better for him to appear first, but as it is now there could be a back and forth discussion on the issue if we go first, but if the date remain unchanged we’ll go there as law abiding and patriotic Ghanaians to tell our side of the matter’’ he said.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, has presented working tools to artisans in North Tongu in the Volta Region to enhance their work.

The items, valued at GHc80,000, include 120 circular saws for carpenters and 25 sets of auto-mechanic tools.

The MP also presented a pick-up vehicle to the North Tongu Directorate of Education for enhanced monitoring and supervision to reverse the falling standards of education in the community.

He said in his quest to improve education in the district, he had donated text books, motivated the teachers and deployed some of them to the rural areas.

Mr Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, said he was motivated to present the tools after touring the community and realised that most of the youth’s pre-occupation were skills based.

“I believed in the philosophy that it is better to teach people how to fish than giving them the fish, therefore, the need to place priorities on the youth who had skills to be utilised productively,” he said.

He said prior to the presentation, he had taken stock of all the list of the artisans and has put in place programmes to address their needs and expand their businesses.

Mr Ablakwah said the presentation was the first phase of the programme, adding that the second phase would focus on hairdressers and photographers as well as providing tractor to the farmers to improve their work.

He said the Ministry of Education and the District Assembly launched a District Disaster Education Fund to help victims of disaster in the community.

Mr Ablakwa appealed to the youth to make good use of the tools by maintaining it since they constituted partners in the development of the constituency.

Mrs Fafa Agbae, District Chief Executive of North Tongu, commended the MP for the gesture adding that it would motivate the youth to put all their energies in developing the community with their talents and skills.

Mrs Pauline Mawutor Akpolu, Guidance and Counseling Co-ordinator of Ghana Education Service, promised to maintain the vehicle and use it for its intended purpose.

The Minister visited Mepe in the district to inspect a storey-building being constructed to house the Ghana Education Service, National Commission for Civic Education, Social Welfare and the National Disaster Management Organisation.

GNA

Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye says he will support any move to name the Tamale Sports Stadium after the late former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama who is the only Veep in the history of Ghana to have served two terms.

A proposal to name the national edifice after the former number two gentle of Ghana came up during the first anniversary of his death at a public lecture organized in his memory.

Former Ghana’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Football Association (GFA) President, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe delivering a paper at the event, called on the government to honour the memory of the illustrious Alhaji Aliu Mahama by naming the stadium after him.

He said, the former Veep contributed immensely to developing sports in Ghana especially football in the northern part of the country.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show, Hon. Nii Lante Vandepuye stated that it would be a spot on decision to name the Tamale Stadium after the late leader considering his passion for sports development in Ghana.

“Having known Alhaji Aliu Mahama from my days as a sports commentator when he was with Real Tamale United (RTU) football club, I knew his passion for sports and I also know that he was very instrumental in getting that stadium built in Tamale, I would be the first person to support naming the stadium after him, even though I’m in the NDC government “he said.

Hon. Nii Lante Vandepuye noted that Alhaji Aliu Mahama’s contribution to sports development in the northern part of Ghana deserves recognition and indeed he must be honoured.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

It appears the beleaguered sacked Deputy Minister of Communications Victoria Hamah will have no peace of mind anytime soon as new developments on her secret tape recording unfolds by the day.

Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Joe Osei – Owusu has filed a motion in Parliament requesting the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, to investigate the content of the tape, but probe will be subject to the approval of the tape only after the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho admits the motion.

The secret recording dubbed Vikileaks in which Ms. Hammah is alleged to have revealed sensitive government issues, has generated a lot of controversy in the country.

On the secret recording, the former deputy minister among other things said a minister of state influenced the Supreme Court judges who presided over the landmark presidential election petition which declared John Mahama as a validly elected president.

She is also purported to have said Tony Lithur, the lawyer who represented President Mahama in court during the petition hearing now controls three ministries in government.

Speaking on Oman FM’s National Agenda show on Thursday, Hon. Joe Osei Owusu who is also the Ranking Member of the above mentioned committee stated that the contents of the tape are so demining that it shouldn’t go uninvestigated to establish the veracity or otherwise of especially the bit about the judges being influenced.

“If indeed it is established that some judges were influenced prior to the delivering of the election petition judgment that will be a dangerous development for the country and it’s important we an immediate step as a nation. If this is not proved, the Minister and the supposed judges are free, but if they are found culpable then we need to know how that influenced the verdict and what punished can be meted out to such a judge” he said.

Hon. Osei Owusu added that the reputation of important people are at stake in this matter and it’s important that the issue is not swept under the carpet but thoroughly investigated.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Former Deputy Energy Minister, K.T. Hammond, has expressed his readiness to appear before the Judgment Debt Commission currently probing the sale an oil drill ship of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) which was sold in 2001.

He has finally been summoned to appear before the commission on Monday 18th November 2013, to answer certain pertinent questions relating to the sale of the ship.

The ship was sold for $24 million, but the whereabouts of $3.5 million balance taken from an escrow account to be deposited in government of Ghana’s coffers still remains a mystery.

Mr K.T. Hammond had said apart from paying $19.5 million dollars of the $24m to Societe Generale in judgment debt, $3.5 million was paid to the Finance Ministry, and $1 million was used in settling other debts including fees for government’s counsel.

But officials of the Energy Ministry and GNPC previously told the Judgment Debt Commission they cannot confirm the claim that $3.5m was paid to the Finance Ministry because there was no official documentation covering the transaction.

The Commissioner Justice Yaw Appau on Monday noted that K. T. Hammond’s role in the sale of the oil shipping drill was confusing.

Justice Yaw Appau commented: “September 24, 2001 was when new (GNPC) board was appointed, so when it was sold there was no board. So we cannot tell specifically who took the decision to sell, if there were no board in place then it could not have been the board.

“….the former deputy minister [K.T. Hammond] said on radio that he was directed by president [Kufuor] to go and sell the ship and defray the cost…in another vein he said he was given the power of attorney to sell by the GNPC. If there was no board then who granted the power of attorney to sell?”

But speaking on Asempa FM’s Eko sii sen show on Thursday on his summons, Hon. K. T. Hammond said he was confident that he and his then Boss, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah answers to be given at the commission would lay all the nagging questions on the sale of the ship to sleep.

He noted that he has all along been yearning to appear before the commission to clear the doubts in the minds of some people since nothing fishy was done in the sale of the ship.

Hon. K.T Hammond however wondered why he and his former boss have been asked to appear before the commission a day before Mr Tsatsu Tsikata under whose tenure as the GNPC boss, the ship was seized abroad due to the GNPC’s indebtedness.

“Since Mr Tsikata was the CEO of GNPC for several years until the year 2000 and whose tenure the ship was confiscated in Oman, it would have been better for him to appear first, but as it is now there could be a back and forth discussion on the issue if we go first, but if the date remain unchanged we’ll go there as law abiding and patriotic Ghanaians to tell our side of the matter’’ he said.

Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh

Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman, has advised Ghanaians to use freedom of speech responsibly.

“The freedom of speech which was enshrined in the 1992 Constitution is to help us to come out with suggestions which can help to develop the nation, but not to tarnish its image, and prevent investors from coming to help in building the economy,” the MP stressed.

Mr Quansah who is the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, gave the advice at a durbar organized by the Nyimfa Division of Nkusukum Traditional Area, to mark the Annual Ayerye Festival of the Division at Nankesedo.

He pointed out that the way Ghanaians were using freedom of speech as a political weapon to destroy innocent citizens and the nation as a whole, would not augur well for the nation’s young democratic dispensation.

“People just get up and say anything without verifying the truth, damn the consequences,” he said.

Mr Quansah appealed to leaders of political parties to meet and find ways to curb “this nasty development in our political arena,” before it gets out of hand.

He pointed out that if prompt action was not taken to arrest this canker, it would be difficult for the nation to get responsible citizens to go into politics or take up political appointments in the near future, for the fear of getting their hard won reputation destroyed through unfounded allegations.

Nana Baa the Seventh, Nyimfahen of Nkusukum and Chief of Nankesedo, expressed concern about how politics was introducing indiscipline into the society.

“Politics has thrown discipline which was the hallmark of the Ghanaian society, to the dogs,” the chief said.

He said politics had made governance extremely difficult, even at the local level.

“Chiefs are finding it difficult to control their citizens these days, all because of the indiscipline which politics is generating,” he stressed.

Nana Baa wondered why people can now make derogatory remarks on the airwaves about the President of the nation, and go scot-free.

He appealed to Parliament to enact a law to protect the image of the President and that of other leaders.

GNA