Author: Akumaa GhanaMPs

Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Governs Agbodza has stated that former Attorney General and Minister of Justice A.B.K Amidu is suffering from paranoia, which is self inflicted.

According to the MP, Mr Amidu’s own mindset that is motivating his actions in recent time has resulted in him unnecessarily being paranoid.

Anti-corruption crusader, Martin Amidu aka “Citizen Vigilante” has said clearly that he is prepared to go all out to fight corruption in Ghana even if it means laying down his life.

He alleged that former National Security Coordinator Col. (rtd) Larry Gbevlo-Larty is scheming to harm him but he remained undaunted and will go on to expose corruption especially in government.

In a statement issued today, Mr. Amidu who is credited for his persistent legal fight against NDC financier Alfred Woyome in the fraudulent ₵51 million judgment debt payment warned he would expose Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey should he persist to spread falsehood about him.

“There are other things to be said about my latter relationship with Gbevlo-Lartey after I left office should he persist in peddling untruths about me to which he has no personal knowledge.He had used cajoling with promises, threats, and intimidations on me with the singular intention of shutting me up. I will not now be cowed and thugs can be sent to assassinate me should the Government or anybody wish, for all I care! “

However, speaking on TV3’s newspaper review show on Monday, Hon. Agbodza stated that Mr Amidu has resorted to such actions to draw attention to himself and court public support.

‘If you think someone is truly after your life, the right thing to do is to report to the police, If I am threatened I will do so because I fear for my life, but Mr Amidu has not done that, as a lawyer he must know better, trying to win public sympathy about something which is not happening is totally wrong” he said.

Hon. Agbodza added that Mr Amidu can go on with his fight against corruption but having to continuosly accuse against people in government of thwarting his efforts is most condemnable.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikoi North Constituency, Patrick Boamah has suggested that the Attorney General (AG) appeals the ruling on the Alfred Woyome case.

Alfred Woyome who was standing trial on two counts of causing financial loss to the state and defrauding by false pretense was acquitted and discharged by an Accra High Court on Thursday on both counts.

Mr. Boamah who is also a lawyer said the State and the Attorney General represents every Ghanaian “and I think they must look at the judgment, take a critical look at it, try and appeal the decision and get a good outcome on appeal.”

Woyome was paid GHC 51 million what for a job he did for the government ahead of the 2008 African Cup of Nations which was hosted in Ghana.

According to the prosecution, Woyome put in false claims by stating that he was entitled to the amount because the government had abrogated a contract for the construction of stadia for the AFCON Africa, when according to the prosecution, there was no such contract.

But the case which lasted for over two years and had generated huge public interest came to a close on Thursday after the Judge, Justice Ajet-Nasam freed him.

But reacting to the ruling, Mr. Boamah told Citi News’ Richard Dela Sky that Woyome was freed because the “prosecution ought to have done a good job by proving all the ingredients in the offences that they charged Mr. Woyome with.”

He however acknowledged that the ruling was given after “the court looked at the evidence before it.”

But he was quick to add that if the state feels strongly against the decision of the judge, they can appeal against the decision of the judge.”

Ghanaians must accept the ruling

Meanwhile, the MP North Dayi, George Loh advised Ghanaians to accept the ruling because “if the court in its opinion thinks he hasn’t committed any crime, so be it…so I think that we should respect the decision.”

According to him, “the Judge heard both parties, he applied the law the way he understands it and as we stand here, until and unless the state decides to appeal, that decision stands. Nobody can do anything about it.”

Mr Loh who is also a lawyer opined that he does not in any way see the ruling “as a blow. Justice must be seen to be done…Justice Ajet-Nasam is firmly convinced that Woyome should go and walk free and that is what he has done.”

citifmonline.com

Member of Parliament for Tano South, Freda Prempeh has urged the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to speed up the processes on the drafting of the Legislative Instrument (L.I) to operationalize provisions in the Domestic Violence Act, Act 732 of 2007.

According to the MP, seven years after Parliament passed the Act, the L.I has not been brought to the House for consideration and passage.

Contributing to a statement made by the Chairperson of the Women Caucus of Parliament, Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, on the floor of the House to mark the International Women’s Day, Hon. Freda Prempeh noted that due to the absence of the LI to guide the issuing of medical forms among others for victims of domestic violence, the prosecution processes are facing several setbacks in the courts.

She added that as a country, there is the need to strengthen our social services systems and social welfare institutions such as CHRAJ, to cater for victims and more importantly educate the public on the repercussions of violence against women.

Hon. Freda Prempeh further appealed to the ministry to establish more Community –Based Action Teams(COMBATs) across the country particularly where the gender violence is more prevalent, to sensitize the communities and also provide support to victims of violence.

Ghanamps.gov.gh

Government has said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is desperate to come back to power in 2016, therefore, it has resorted to manipulating the minds of Ghanaians to achieve their political goals.

The government also claimed that the nation’s largest opposition party has deliberately shut its eyes to the tremendous work the Mahama government is doing and rather focusing on the recent challenges the country is facing.

“…clearly, even if Jesus came down and spoke about the positives and the future of Ghana, obviously, they will close their minds to it,” said the Minister of Agric, Fifi Kwetey.

This was in reaction to a press briefing organized by the Minority in Parliament on Monday to present their version of what they say is the “true state of the nation” two weeks after the President presented his state of the nation address to Parliament.

The Minister, on Eyewitness News said: “…they are what you call eternal cynics.

They see nothing positive; everything they see is gloomy, gloomy, gloomy so obviously, when you hear such a statement, that should certainly tell you that they are only seeing one side of the coin and that is the only way they believe that can possibly manipulate the minds of the people so that they will be able to come to power.”

He indicated that it is not surprising for a Minority which has been in opposition for nearly eight years to “see anything bright. All they see is darkness…”

The one-time propaganda secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) admitted that the country is facing some challenges…“but the truth is that there will always be challenges and the issue is not about the challenges – it is about rising to the occasion to and dealing with the challenge.”

He argued that the eight-year administration of the NPP was also fraught with “many, many challenges and of course, they did what they will consider to be the best,” but according to him, their efforts were not deemed adequate enough which got them to be booted out of power in 2008.

Fifi Kwetey observed that investors are trooping into the country because Ghana “clearly continues to hold a promise for the future and obviously, business people are far more discerning and far more thorough than Minority leader and his friends.”

The Ketu South Member of Parliament further admitted that in 2014, business confidence dipped in some quarters but increased in other areas, therefore it is only people who are “obviously cynical who will focus on quarters where business confidence seemed to go down and then paint a picture of Armageddon.”

Commenting on the Minority’s claims that Ghana performed abysmally in the West African monetary zone, the Minister challenged the NPP MPs to cross check with investors worldwide who are looking for real places to invest their monies and businesses and “see whether those countries he [Minority leader] is trying to say are performing better than Ghana will choose any of those countries ahead of Ghana.”

Citifmonline.com

Former Deputy Minister of Energy Kobina Tahir Hammond has admitted that mistakes were made in 2007 not only in the award of contracts but also in heightening public expectation on the benefits of the natural resource.

“I plead absolutely guilty because I was part of the group which went out and told the whole country that there will be milk and all that on the streets.”

Mr Hammond, who is also Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa Constituency, however, stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government put in place appropriate measures to get oil revenues evenly dispersed.

He was contributing to discussions on TV3’s The Platform on Wednesday, March 4.

The current affairs programme was held in Accra on the theme: “Ghana’s Economy: Four Years after Oil Production”.

Speakers were Mohammed Amin Anta, the Executive Director of the African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of think tank IMANI-Ghana, Dr Thomas Kojo Stephens, a lawyer and petroleum expert, and Ishmael Agyekumhene of KITE.

Contributing to the discussion, Mr Hammond said there may have been lapses in the management of the oil revenues under the NPP.

“I am not suggesting per any account that there haven’t been any mistakes,” he indicated. “…there have been mistakes along the line.”

He, however, asked that matters on the oil revenues be put into proper perspective, suggesting that the NPP cannot be faulted over the current management of the revenues, which speakers agreed have been handled clandestinely.

“Anybody that takes NPP on this, I will fight and fight and fight.”

Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Moses Asaga dismissed accusations that government has been negligent in award of oil rigs to companies whose local partners appear elusive.

“All petroleum agreements are brought to Parliament and sometimes they very detailed.”

The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, as well as Deputy Finance Minister Mona Quartey failed to turn up for the programme, though the two were officially billed to be part of the speakers.

Ghana National Petroleum Corporation’s representative also failed to turn up.

Among dignitaries present were the National President of the National House of Chiefs, Naa Professor John Nabila, Former Trades and Industries Minister Alan Kyerematen, Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) Dr Emmanuel Akwetey and NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong.

Source: tv3network.com