NDC youth accuse chairman of embezzlement

Some National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters from the Ledzokuku constituency in Accra are accusing the regional chairman of embezzling funds for party activities. They say Danny Annang has failed to account for over 31,000 euros sent from an NDC member in Austria during the 2008 elections. The group, which came to Joy FM with receipts covering the said money, said several attempts to get some explanations from the chairman have proved futile. Spokesperson Ernest Frimpong disclosed to Joy News that Mr. Annang is not fit to seek re-election unless he accounts for the monies received last year. “I have in my hand documents that tell me that during the elections [2008], he was sent money from Austria to support the party’s election,” Mr Frimpong said. The supporters allege Mr Annang is using the money to put up a storey building in the constituency, a situation they say gives cause for suspicion. But Mr Annang has denied receiving any monies for party activities. Speaking to Joy News, he said such malicious stories fabricated by his opponents will not affect his chances in a pending elections. “I have not received anything from any quarters, whatsoever,” he told Joy News’ Elvis Adjetey. He shot down suggestions that the accusations could affect his chances in the elections slated for Tuesday 29 December. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Mills spurns Christmas hampers on graft fears

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ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana's President John Atta Mills is refusing to accept traditional Christmas gifts such as hampers this year because they may be efforts to corrupt him, a spokesman said on Thursday.

It is common practice in Ghana for individuals and businesses to send hampers packed with gifts to friends and people in authority during the festive season.

While some gifts signify traditional sharing, others are given out in appreciation of past or future favours -- something Mills's government has vowed to stamp out since he became leader of a nation set to become Africa's next oil producer in 2010. "He has made it clear that it was not his disposition to accept Christmas hampers and other gifts," said presidential spokesman Mahama Ayariga, adding that disappointed gift-bearers had handed some presents out to presidential staff instead.

"(Mills's) disposition is that you never know what is in the mind of the giver of the gift, so it's always better not to accept them," Ayariga said.

Mills, who assumed office in January on a pledge to wage a "relentless war" against corruption, is generally regarded, even by his critics, as a modest leader and not corrupt, compared to his predecessors.

However, his present-snubbing was not praised by everyone.

Vitus Azeem, the head of Ghana Integrity Initiative, the local chapter of Transparency International, said the president's actions would do little in stemming corruption among fellow government officials.

"His campaign would have been more meaningful if he had given out specific directives to his ministers and other top officials to also turn away the hampers and the goats driven to their homes and offices," said Azeem.

Opposition to the president's initiative also came from James Agbagana, a traditional chief, who warned that he was going too far with his anti-corruption drive as he might destroy the Ghanaian tradition of hospitality in the process.

Ghana is seen as one of West Africa's most attractive investment destinations, largely due to political stability and the prospects of oil starting to flow in 2010 from its Jubilee oil field, which is estimated to hold some 1.8 billion barrels.

Given the negative impact of oil in other oil-producing nations in West and Central Africa, Ghanaians are watchful of the impact on corruption, once the coffers start swelling with petro-dollars.

REUTERS

Appiah-Ofori issues ultimatum to Prez Mills: "Name Bribe-Givers Or Else I Sue"

Appiah-Ofori writes to president Anti-corruption crusader, Mr. P.C. Appiah-Ofori, who is also the NPP MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa says President Mills owes it a duty to the nation to not only cause to be published the names of those who allegedly offered him bribes in brown envelopes, but also to get them prosecuted or deny publicly if what Mr. Kwame Pianim said was not true. In a strongly worded letter copied to both sides of the leadership in Parliament, the Attorney-General, and some media outlets, Mr. Appiah-Ofori said failure on the part of President Mills to heed the directive will result in him (Appiah-Ofori) reluctantly seeking a court order to compel President Mills to do so. Read Mr Appiah-Ofori's letter. RE: PUBLISHING OF THE NAMES AND PROSECUTION OF THE PERSONS ALLEGED TO HAVE OFFERED HIS EXCELLENCY PROF. JOHN EVANS ATTA MILLS BRIBES IN BROWN ENVELOPES In the ‘Daily Guide’ newspaper of 8th December, 2009 Mr. Kwame Pianim, a former presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, was reported to have stated publicly that he was present when on two occasions you allegedly rejected ‘brown envelopes’ which has been offered you as bribes. Many radio stations, including Peace FM, called me for my reaction to Mr. Pianim’s allegation. In my responses, I stated on the air that if what Mr. Pianim was reported to have said was true, then you deserve tons of praises. I added that, I find it difficult to doubt that you will lead incorruptible life in office. My conviction is based on the following evidence. 1. When I protested to you in writing to terminate the sale of 70% of Ghana’s interest in Ghana Telecommunication Limited, you acted on my letter by setting up a committee to go into that matter. 2. About three or four months ago, I was invited to the castle on your behalf by your National Security Advisor for discussions leading to how the government can give effect to article 35 (8) of the constitution quoted below. 3. You were reported to have returned to chest your unspent per diem when you made an official trip out of Ghana. I have not heard that any past President did that. I however, find it difficult to believe Mr. Pianim’s story because the acts of giving and receiving bribes do not take place in the presence of a third party as claimed by Mr. Pianim. Article 35(8) of the constitution of Ghana states, “The state shall take steps to eradicate corrupt practices and the abuse of power.” Being the Head of the State which has to take steps to eradicate corrupt practices as quoted above, it is you who have to lead the fight against corruption. Therefore, while you deserve commendations for rejecting the bribes you were offered, which were meant to corrupt you, you ought, not only to have mentioned the names of those who offered you the bribes but also to have handed them over to the police for prosecution. If you keep mute over this, then you are condoning and conniving at criminal acts. This shall not speak well of you. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 252 of the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) are unanimous that accepting or giving bribes to influence public officers constitutes a criminal offence. In the Presidential Oath you took in Parliament on 7th January, 2009, you stated, inter alia, that you will at all times dedicate yourself to the service and well-being of the people of Ghana. Corruption has been the bane of the national economy resulting in the inability of the past Presidents to fully dedicate themselves to the well-being of the people of Ghana. Therefore any President who shudders at the thought of punishing people who engage in corrupt practices to serve as a deterrent to the perpetrators of corrupt practices is not only guilty of breach of his Oath of Office but he is also guilty of conducting himself in a manner which is inimical to the economy of Ghana and brings his high office into dispute, ridicule and contempt – a ground for impeachment of a President. It is against the background of the foregoing that, if what Mr. Kwame Pianim said is true then, you owe a duty to the nation for you either not only to publish the names of those who allegedly offered you the bribes but also to get them prosecuted or deny publicly if what Mr. Pianim said is not true. If this plea goes unheeded to I shall be reluctantly compelled to seek a court order to compel you to do so. According, please regard this letter as the statutory notice to you of my intention to proceed to court over the issues raised in this letter. I hope to count on your cooperation in this matter for which I shall be most grateful. Yours faithfully, Hon. P.C. Appiah-Ofori Cc: The Attorney General and Minister of Justice The Majority Leader The Minority Leader The “Daily Guide” and Peace FM

P.C. accuses Rawlings’ men of theft

Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-BrakwaPaul Paul Collins Appiah Ofori The controversial Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-BrakwaPaul Paul Collins Appiah Ofori, has accused some close allies of former President Rawlings of stealing state money when they were in office. According to P.C. Appiah Ofori, he personally reported a lumber operating firm called Conglomerate for evading their tax obligation to the then President Rawlings when he was in office. He indicated that he had just resumed work as the chief accountant of the company but realised that 10 years before he started working with them, they had not for once paid tax. He told Parliament Monday, that upon persistent pressure something small was paid into government coffers by the powers that were and the rest used for their personal gains. He indicated that when he reported their conduct to Rawlings, he was arrested and kept in a guardroom for hours before he was released. He made these allegations when he rose to contribute to the motion that the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill, 2009 be read the second time. He indicated that since the bill had not explicit provisions to punish people who would evade tax obligations; it should be withdrawn and revisited to include massive punishment for such people. Even though the Majority Leader of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin prevailed upon him to withdraw or retract the statement relating to Mr Rawlings since he could not substantiate his allegations concerning the former president, he resisted and indicated that he knew what he was saying was the truth. The Speaker Joyce Bamford Addo asked him to withdraw since it happened long ago and he could not provide any documentary prove to his allegations. Also contributing to the motion, Minister for Communications, Haruna Iddrisu noted that, leakages in tax administration systems should be blocked to ensure more revenue mobilization for the government. He added that, institutions responsible for enforcing these obligations should be up and doing. The house rose Monday for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The MPs would be away from Parliament for 7 weeks and are expected to reconvene on the 26th of January, 2010. Source: The Daily Searchlight/Ghana

EXPOSED: NDC GOV'T OFFICIALS' RIP-OFF AT TOR!........As they share TOR cash among themselves

TOR

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Workers of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) are enraged over claims that a top government officials at the helm of affairs at the corporation would rake in illegal and unholy profit margins form processed crude oil.

Consequently, the workers have threatened a massive demonstration pretty soon if their concerns are not addressed by the Mills-led Government.

Some of the workers who spoke with Modernghana.com News on condition of anonymity said they feared that these top government officials would 'rake in dirty profit margins between GH30,000 and GH50,000 per stream supply of crude oil processed by TOR, if TOR Board and management' accepted the proposal for payment of processing fees.

The TOR workers therefore have vehemently objected to the decision by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to divert from its core business of exploration into selling of finished products.

Modernghana.com investigations have established that the brouhaha came in the wake of the ongoing discussions between TOR and GNPC over the 700,000 barrels of crude oil brought into the country recently.

Impeccable sources very close to TOR Board and management told this reporter that the “Corporation has decided to allow TOR to process the crude while the Bulk Oil Storage Transportation (BOST) takes delivery and sells to the Oil Marketing Companies on behalf of GNPC.”

The sources said these phenomenon would mean that the 'corporation would be paying processing fees to the refinery.'

Snippets of information claimed that the consignment, which is valued at $62 million, was discharged from the vessel called MT Ariadni in a bid to avoid demurrage as the continued holding of the vessel could incur a 10 per cent penalty cost of the product per day to be borne by GNPC.

The workers whom Modernghana.com News interacted with threatened their “decision to embark on the demonstration would not waver should the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government decides to accommodate these impostors masquerading as experts in the oil industry to sabotage TOR's core function.”

They explained that due to the huge debts that TOR was saddled with, “to make the refinery a tolling facility would only deepen its financial woes.”

The workers have therefore appealed to the government to intervene so the refinery could procure its own crude and stop GNPC from interfering in the refinery's business and concentrate on its core business of exploration.

The Director of Exploration and Production of GNPC, Mr Thomas Manu, told the media that the issue was purely a marketing one which ought to be addressed by the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation. Stay tuned for more revelation on this matter.

Source: Kwadwo Yeboah BREMAN- ModernGhana.com

Yankey, others not cleared yet – Emile Short

Mr Emile Short, CHRAJ Commissioner The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says media publications suggesting that former Health Minister, Dr. Sipa Yankey, has been exonerated in the Mabey and Johnson bribery scandal are inaccurate. CHRAJ Commissioner Emile Short says nothing in the investigations so far supports such claims by Dr Yankey’s lawyer. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Kwame Gyan explained that a procedural error in the case in which his client is implicated. Lawyers for Dr Yankey – who resigned to clear his name in scandal – say they have sought the opinion of a legal team in the UK who suggest Dr Yankey was unfairly treated. “The proceedings, as they were conducted and in so far as it relates to Dr Sipa Yankey, had very grave errors, particularly in view of the provisions of the code of conduct for barristers which places serious restrictions on the disclosures of the identities and names of persons who are not before the court as parties to the proceedings,” Mr Gyan said. However Mr Short said that whilst Dr Yankey “is entitled to seek legal opinion from any quarters,” investigations by CHRAJ into the matter – “will be based on the allegations and the admissions made by the company (Mabey & Johnson) in the UK proceedings that there was a fund called the Development Fund and out of this fund monies were paid to the officials mentioned.” The CHRAJ Commissioner said explanations by Dr Yankey and other officials mentioned in the scandal “will be considered during a formal hearing” which the Commission has yet to undertake. “It’s a question of the Commission looking at these explanations or these defenses and looking at the evidence in support of these defenses,” Mr Short indicated. Asked whether the commission has established a prima facie case, Mr Short said “well even if we have I wouldn’t tell you,” adding “that’s a matter I’ll keep close to my chest.” The CHRAJ investigation follows a ruling by a UK court that Dr Yankey and several other former government officials took bribes from UK-based company, Mabey & Johnson

Doe Adjaho, Muntaka, Akomea mentioned in FDB audit report

Lawyer for Mr Agyarko, Egbert Faibaille, says he has duly sent his client’s responses to the Auditor General. An Audit Service report on the accounts of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), then headed by the former Chief Executive Emmanuel Agyarko, has further revealed several sums extended to key parliamentarians as honouraria and travel allowances. The audit report, signed by Assistant Auditor-General Roberta Quarshie, said a total of $29,150 was given to the legislators, who apparently sat on a parliamentary committee. The report mentions the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Doe Adjaho and the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper West Akyem, Samuel Sallas Mensah, as having received $2,500 each. MP for Asawase and former Sports Minister Muntaka Mohammed reportedly received $4,000; G. Okyere, $4,000; A. Laryea-Odai, $3,000; Hon Haruna $2,000 and Hon Okyere, $2,000 (names written as they appeared in document). The report also mentioned the MP for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, as receiving the biggest amount ($5,250) as per diem for travelling to the UK whilst Local Government Minister Yieleh Chireh received some $3,000 in allowances. The document however indicated that the payments were not acknowledged by the alleged payees. “We were however informed by those Parliamentarians that neither they nor their authorised representatives had received any moneys from FDB,” it said. The report said the former head of accounts at the FDB told the audit team that payments made on 30 March 2007 were “received with payment schedule by the Clerk of Parliament of the committee on behalf of the select committee.” “This assertion could however not be substantiated,” it said. The document further stated that other payments made “vide PV. No. 1504371 and 1506317 were received in bulk by the head of legal (FDB) during a familiarisation visit” to two countries with the MPs. “Again, we did not sight any authority note from the intended payee authorisation the former head of Legal Unit to receive the amount on their behalf,” the document stated. Meanwhile Mr Doe Adjaho has denied ever receiving any money from the FDB. Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Mr Adjaho said he had never sighted the so-called audit report. He stressed that the report is a draft document and asserted that the final report will clear him of any wrongdoing. Lawyer for Mr Agyarko, Egbert Faibaille, says he has duly sent his client’s responses to the Auditor General. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

What is wrong with African leaders?

By Lord Aikins Adusei

Corruption and embezzlement are a way of life for African leaders. From South Africa to Egyptthere is no country where corruption is not endemic.

In Equatorial Guinea where oil export has earned the country billions of dollars, the 600,000 people living in the country continue to live in poverty while Teodoro Obiang Nguema and his cronies continue to siphon the oil revenue with no accountability.

Nigeria, Gabon, Congo and Angola all of them Oil exporting countries are noted for high level of corruption among the ruling class. All four countries are ruled by a cabal of corrupt leaders and their associates who masquerade as the representative of the people: presidents, senators, MPs, ministers, government officials and the list go on and on... In fact, the type of government in all four countries can best be described as Kleptocracy.

In East Africa Kenya is ranked the most corrupt country in that region. Many MPs, ministers and their associates in that country stand accused of accepting bribes and allowing companies to do as they pleased.

Since oil was first discovered in Nigeria about 50 years ago, several billions of dollars have been realised from its but today the whole population continue to live in abject poverty and the country has nothing to show for it.

Between 2005 and 2007 several state governors and their immediate families were arrested by Scotlandyard in London on corruption and money laundering charges. Among them are James Ibori of oil rich Delta State and his wife Theresa who had their 35 million dollar asset frozen by the English court.

Mr. Ibori earns about a thousand dollars a month but during his eight years as a state governor he managed to acquire wealth to the tune of $35m and was a key financial contributor to the campaign of the current Yar'Dua. He owns a private jet and lavish London home.

Another corrupt governor is Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, governor of oil-rich state of Bayelsa who was also arrested in London for money laundering charges. Mr. Alamieyeseigha broke his bail conditions and evaded capture in Britain by dressing up as a woman. When Police conducted a search in his London home they discovered one million pounds worth of cash in his home.

In Ghana over four ministers and government appointed officials have been implicated in a corruption scandal involving the British bridge construction firm Mabey and Johnston.

In countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, The Gambia, Sudan, Uganda, Libya, Zimbawe, Tunisia a Kleptocracy class of people have replaced anything democracy. In these countries very few people continue to remain in power and the people have no say in the way their country is governed or run.

According to the Africa Union (AU) around $148 billion are stolen from the continent by its leaders and civil servants.

Now think of this. What do you think will happen if instead of stealing the money and banking it in Switzerland, Monaco, France, Britain, Cayman Island and the rest as the governors in and the leaders in Africa have been doing, the money is invested in training teachers, doctors, engineers, invested in infrastructure-roads, telecommunication, harbours, hospitals, schools, research institutions? What do you think will happen if every school has library with the right kind of books that will enable students to get the knowledge and skills they need? What do you think will happen if the money is invested in generating electricity for those living in the villages, towns and cities?

What about if the money is used to build water treatment plants to supply the people with potable water?

What do you think will happen to standard of living if the money is invested in agriculture, build canals, irrigation facilities and storage facilities, buy tractors for farmers so they can produce to feed nations?

Are African leaders happy when every negative thing in the world is associated with their countries: poverty, wars, corruption, AIDS/HIV, illiteracy and starvation? Are they happy when children die of diseases that can be eradicated?

What effort are the leaders making to eradicate poverty apart from just stealing monies that could help develop the countries?

Why don’t they use the money generated from the sale of oil, gold, diamond to invest in education, fast and efficient transportation systems that could help increase business activities, create jobs and raise the standard of living of their peoples? Is it because they do not care? Is it because they not know what development is about? Is it because their only aim of seeking the mandate of the people is to steal and mismanage what becomes of their loot?

The whole of Africa South of the Sahara is rife with poverty. What makes the leaders in the continent to have a negative attitude towards development and poverty eradication but a positive attitude towards corruption and embezzlement? When they travel to Europe, America, Korea andCanada don’t they see the roads and the airports? When they visit their children in these countries don’t they see the infrastructures there and what prevents them from doing the same in their countries?

What makes Yahyah Jammeh of Gambia an expert in killing journalists but not the slightest idea on how to end poverty in his poverty stricken country? What makes Nigeria Senators and Governors so corrupt as to even steal money meant for the development of their own country? Is it lack of patriotism or is plain selfishness? Is it a genetic problem or is lack of vision and foresight? Is our politics that breed nepotism, cronyism and blind patronage to blame? What makes the leaders in Africa not to think beyond corruption and embezzlement? Why do they always take away poverty eradication from the equation? Why do they substitute development with corruption? Why do they ignore investment in agriculture, sanitation, water, health, education, roads and energy? Why do they refuse to take advantage of solar technology to supply electricity to millions of people who live in rural areas? Do they get satisfaction in seeing millions die of hunger, if no then why do they steal the very money that could end the misery, hopelessness and desperation among the people?

What is Ghana’s Professor Atta Mills doing to end poverty and raise the living standard in his relatively peaceful country?

Is something wrong with our leaders and do they suffer from some genetic deficiency that make them power drunk, corrupt but less interested in fighting to end diseases, wars, hunger, starvation and poverty? What makes Gaddafi so power drunk as to rule his country for 40 years? What makes Dos Santos, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Yoweri Museveni, Hosni Mubarak, Obiang Nguema, Robert Mugabe, Mamadou Tandja and their cohorts to be interested in power and financial benefits that go with the office that they occupy and not the building of institutions and economies that will make their countries and people to be recognised as civilised members of the world community of nations?

What makes African leaders to get it so wrong everyday, every week, every month and every year and every decade? What makes African leaders to have gotten it so wrong in every aspect of human endeavour? What makes it so hard for Nigeria and Ghanaian leaders to use their huge natural resources to build successful economies like those of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singaporeand Hong Kong? What makes it so difficult for Somalia and DR Congo leaders to end the wars that have devastated their countries and driven millions into poverty, starvation and death?

Why are the leaders in Africa only interested in exporting raw materials like cocoa beans, coffee, cotton and uncut diamond and gold and not process them to add value to them before export: a process that could create millions of jobs and fetch the countries billions of dollars?

Why do African leaders shun investment in science and technology and yet would want to use mobile phones, laptop computers and the latest sport utility vehicles?

What makes the leaders to avoid investment in education? Why do African leaders find it difficult to have economic and social policies that will make them self sufficient and less dependent on foreign aid?

Of the over fifteen countries in West Africa not a single one of them has efficient, modern train network or system, not even Nigeria the so called super power in West Africa. The situation in Central and East Africa is not different from the one in West Africa.

So what is wrong with the leaders at all? I mean what makes African leaders intellectually blind, morally bankrupt, and ethically diseased? Why are they so different from all the leaders in the world? Of the over 50 presidents and prime ministers in Africa not a single one of them has been able to build an economy comparable to that of Korea despite some of them staying in power for more than forty years. You want to know why Mo Ibrahim refused to give the five million dollar award to the nominated leaders? Don't you think the corruption and embezzlement that took place under their administrations as well as their indifference towards eradicating poverty might be a factor?

Why do they fail to react against challenges such as HIV/AIDS, food shortages, malnutrition, hunger, homelessness, wars, climate change and the cancer of corruption? Are they all sleeping behind the wheel?

Please don’t blame colonialism because Korea, Malaysia and India were also colonised but they have shaken themselves off the shackles of colonialism.

When will Africa leaders ever shake themselves from the colonial mentality that makes them subservient? When will Africa leaders ever shake themselves from the colonial mentality that makes them to think that they cannot do anything without France and Britain? Will Africa leaders ever grow up, pull themselves together to end the relationship that allow French, British and American Companies to have control over the resources of their countries, destroy agricultural lands, pollute rivers and put millions of Africans at risk? When will Africa leaders dismantle the corruption and bribery infrastructures that allow multinational corporations to pay bribes and then rape and loot African countries of their resources? When will African leaders put the corrupt multinational corporations in the dock for the pollution, bribery that continue to fuel corruption and poverty throughout the continent? When will Africa leaders stop conniving with multinational corporations to steal from their countries and deposit their loots in the banks of their former colonial masters especially France, Britain and Spain?

Can’t Ghana do with the huge gold, diamond and other mineral deposits without going begging in foreign countries for loans that have done the country no good? Can’t African leaders find ways to raise revenue without incurring heavy debts that continue to be a yoke for all the people?

Will African leaders for once put on their thinking cap, build strong institutions, build infrastructures, develop local talents, local businesses, end poverty, wars, starvation and stop depending on foreign aid, and allow democracy and rule of law to function?

NDC Blows ¢56bn On Bungalows

Hon Dominic Nitiwul PRESIDENT JOHN Atta Mills’ austere and cost-cutting measures are said to be skewed in favour of government appointees, as the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) blows a whopping amount of ¢56 billion or GH¢5,606,176.11 on the comfort of ministers of state. As part of the expenditure, the Atta Mills-led social democratic, modest and ‘I care for you’ governing party spent ¢8.58 billion on the renovation and furnishing of seven ministerial bungalows, with an average cost of ¢1.2 billion or GH¢122,581.45 per bungalow. The startling figures, which were contained in a written answer by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, to a question raised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, a copy of which is in the possession of DAILY GUIDE, also revealed that government spent ¢41.1 billion or GH¢4,110,396.74 on 57 ministerial bungalows in Accra, tossing the bill to the Ghanaian tax payer. Additionally, ¢6.37 billion or GH¢637,709.21 was used for the renovation and furnishing of 18 bungalows for senior civil servants, further emptying national coffers at a time that government is claiming to be cutting down cost. The total expenditure on the renovation and furnishing of the bungalows, according to the document, was on civil and electrical works, furniture, appliances, curtains and carpets. As also explained by the ministry’s written answer, the civil works was said to consist of demolishing and alteration, re-roofing, carpentry, joinery, metal works, plumbing installations, electrical installations, finishes, glazing, painting, and decoration and external works. The use of such colossal amounts on renovation of ministerial bungalows has set tongues wagging, as some MPs and former ministers of state are questioning the rationale for what they described as the profligate dissipation of public funds on buildings that were recently occupied by ex-government appointees. They are questioning the level of deterioration of buildings to warrant the use of colossal amounts for their renovation and furnishing by the current government, especially when President Mills has been preaching modesty and cost cutting in almost all his public speeches. The expenditure, the MPs from the Minority side contended, was particularly questionable since these bungalows were occupied by former ministers of state who were reportedly living lavishly in these buildings. Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, who asked the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing how many government bungalows had been renovated or were under renovation, the total cost of all the bungalows and the cost of each unit or bungalow, was at a loss as to why the ruling NDC, which claims to be pro-poor, did not use the colossal amounts for the provision of essential facilities such as potable water for the people but rather chose to use the money for the comfort of ministers of state. Although the answer was written to Hon. Nitiwul, his question could not be answered on the floor of Parliament during question time yesterday as the rules of the House did not permit the Sector Minister, Albert Abongo, to do so. However, Mr Abongo’s deputy, Dr Hannah Bissiw, was in the House to answer other questions pertaining to the ministry. According to the Standing Orders 64 (4) of the House, “A member who desires an oral answer to a Question shall mark it with an asterisk. Answers to Questions not so marked shall be communicated in writing to the Member, asking the Question and shall be printed in the Official Report”. Hon. Nitiwul however stated on the floor of Parliament that he was comfortable with the written answer. Source: daily guide/Awudu Mahama

Echoes of incorruptible praise showered on Mills KUFUOR GOES BONKERS

… But Kwame Pianim still stands by assertion

By Bismark Bebli

Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor (left), Mr. Kwame Pianim (right)

THE pronouncment by a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwame Pianim, to the effect that President John Evans Atta Mills is incorruptible, after comparing his government with the two previous regimes headed by, Messrs. J. J. Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK), has sparked intense debates among the political parties and civil organisations.

While the former President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, has condemned Mr. Pianim for making such a pronoucment, his party (NPP), has also issued a strong statement condemning the assertion.

Mr. Pianim however remains resolute, insisting that he still stands by his words.

The anti-corruption crusader, Mr. Colins Appiah Ofori, who is a member of the NPP, has also come out to support Mr. Pianim, that Mills is incorruptible.

Mr. Frank Agyekum, who is the spokeman for former President Kufuor, told The Chronicle in a telephone interview yesterday, that his boss was the first to come out publicly, that as a president “you are always tempted with inducements.”

It was based on this experience that he (JAK) decided to improve upon structures, including the setting up of the Office of Accountability, the declaration of Zero Tolerance for Corruption, and other institutions to combat corruption.

Mr. Frank Agyekum stated that what Mr. Pianim said, raises more questions than answers, adding that an attempt to create the impression that Mr. Kufuor did nothing about fighting corruption under his tenure, was unfortunate.

He challenged Mr. Pianim to come out and tell the whole nation those who gave the brown envelopes to President Mills, which he rejected.

“What we are asking is that was Mr. Pianim there when the bribes were offered before the President rejected them? What was his interest? Who told him? Or was he the one who gave the bribes to President Mills before he rejected them? We need to know all these. It is however not true that Mr. Kufuor did nothing in the fight against corruption.”

Mr. Agyekum, who declared that Mr. Kufuor was honest about events that surrounded his presidency, said his presidency did everything possible to make corruption very uncomfortable to all and sundry, and that for someone who was at the time a member of the party not to raise a word, but now say such curious things, was unfortunate.

“What prevented him from making such comments under President Rawlings and Mr. Kufuor? I find it curious for him to say those things. It has no basis at all,” he said.

To him, the yardstick being used by the opponents of Mr. Kufuor, when he stated that he had rejected bribes, should be used against this regime.

According to him, those who attempted to bribe President Mills, should be arrested and prosecuted.

“I have no reason to doubt what Pianim said about Mills, but what we want is that the same measure given to Kufuor when he said that he has rejected offers, should be used for this government.”

Meanwhile, the NPP has also called on President Mills to arrest the individuals who attempted to bribe him, and that he should do nothing to cover up for the people.

The party’s Communications Director, Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng, noted in a statement issued in Accra yesterday, that an attempt to bribe the President in his office, was not only unfortunate, but also a setback in the fight against corruption.

“The New Patriotic Party has been dismayed by the revelation yesterday that President John Evans Atta Mills, the highest public servant, is refusing to expose criminals who have attempted to offer him bribe.

This development is an unfortunate setback to the nation’s fight against corruption. If people have become so emboldened that they are able to walk up to the highest office of the land, and seek to offer bribe to the President of the Republic, then we are losing the fight against corruption. Such people should be exposed immediately.”

The statement continued, “It is questionable that the President failed to cause the arrest of such criminals when the incident happened. It would appear that President Mills, and the NDC government he presides over, have an unhealthy interest in protecting such criminals.

It is to diffuse such an impression that the President needs to stop shielding them, and offer them to the law, without further delay.” The NPP further argued that the President’s shielding of the wrongdoers, indicates the government’s lack of commitment to fighting corruption, opining that coming at a time of ongoing investigations into the Mabey & Johnson corruption scandal, the revelation of the President’s protection for the criminals was embarrassing to the Presidency, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, as well as the nation.

The assertions of the NPP were swiftly rubbished by the NDC, which stated that the pronouncement of Mr. Pianim was reminiscent of what informed Mr. Kufuor to award, then candidate Mills, which NPP members kicked against.

According to Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary of the NDC, the pronouncement by Mr. Pinain about President Mills, was a statement of fact.

To him, President Mills was not like President Kufuor, who declared Zero Tolerance for corruption, and later turned round to say a different thing.

Admitting that President Mills was incorruptible, the NDC’s chief scribe made a mockery of the NPP, and urged them not to expose their ignorance in public.

The Chronicle

Ministry of Tourism, GTB denies bribery allegation

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Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourists Board, on Friday, denied allegations by an Accra based newspaper that the sector ministers had taken bribe from Zakhem limited, a company developing a hotel at the Accra Race Course.

Mr Julius Debrah, Executive Director of the Ghana Tourists Board who addressed a press conference in Accra to react to the publication explained that Zakhem's local representatives Cascade Development Company Limited, entered into an agreement with the government of Ghana on January 11, 2007 for the re-development of the 14.16 hectare site in Accra previously owned by the Government.

The agreement stated that the Accra Race Course would be developed into a five- star hotel with a shopping mall, office and residential buildings. He said as part of the agreement, the government had 10 per cent share holding in the company.

Mr Debrah said the ministers were invited to the premises of the company by the management to familiarise themselves with the operations of the corporate entity.

Mr Debrah who was flanked by the Minister, Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah and the Deputy Minister, Mr Kwabena Akyeampong, said the company used the opportunity to present a certificate indicating government's 10 per cent share in the project as outlined and approved by Parliament.

He explained that no money exchanged hands during the visit, although Zakhem Limited at a later date paid cheques of three thousand and two thousand dollars respectively following an appeal made by the Ministry for the production of a post-Obama visit video document and in support of the United Nations World Tourism Day hosted by Ghana earlier this year. "These amounts were paid into the Ministry's accounts and receipts duly issued to cover the said payment," Mr Debrah said, stressing that the cheques paid by Zakhem was a donation in support of the above events. He however said: "if anybody has evidence that the sector ministers collected monies they should let the public know. As far as the Ghana Tourists Board is concerned the Ministers did not receive any cash payment as alleged."

Mrs Azumah-Mensah expressed surprise at the story and reiterated the availability of records to show that the cheques were paid into the Ministry's account.

She said similar donations were made by the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel and other local organisations that supported the World Tourism Day celebrations.