I did not receive a cedi from Francis Poku -- Vice President John Mahama

Vice President John Mahama has denied allegations by some NDC members that he received any money from former National Security advisor, Francis Poku, during the erstwhile Kufour administration.




Mr. Mahama who was speaking at the national conference of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the Winneba University College in the Central Region, and told the student leaders of the party that he cannot be ruffled by such an allegation.



Mr. Mahama revealed that some meetings were being hatched ostensibly targeted at destroying his person. He said “after looking into the crystal ball, they [his detractors] feel I am the most important threat to people’s political ambitions. So every week on Sunday, there is a meeting, cooking up some new mischief against me."



Even though he is hurt by such comments the Vice President Mahama believes these diabolical plans will continue as far as he is in politics but assures that "we have been cooked in the cauldron of politics and we believe that it is God who makes leaders. If God says you will never lead this country you can go to the depths of hell and come up, you will never lead this country.”



On the allegation by some party members that he received some financial inducement from former National Security Advisor, Francis Poku, the Vice President flatly denied the allegation, expressing shock as well. He said “sometimes it hurts, and they say Francis Poku 'bought' you. It is in one of the statements that I was 'bought' by Francis Poku. I pray that one day Francis Poku himself will speak and correct this untruth. But I put on record with all my religious conviction and my belief in God that Francis Poku never gave me a cedi, I have never received a cedi from Francis Poku, but we’ll leave posterity to judge all that.”



He indicated that the New Patriotic Party was not necessarily to blame for all the confusion in the country and that it was vital for the NDC to look inwards to cure the hate politics that is gaining roots in the party.



Mr. Mahama further asked; “If your own party is the one saying you are greedy bastards, your party says you are team B,...what communication can you do? All you do is you give ammunition to your opponents to fire you,” he said, adding that no amount of communication gimmicks can correct the harm done.



The Vice President stressed that even though the communication team of the government is doing enough, they are handicapped as a result of the venom from within the party which is lending the opposition the needed arsenals to hurt the NDC.



Mr. Mahama questioned the rationale behind the tagging of the present government as a Mills-Mahama administration by a high ranking member of the NDC, saying, “today anytime the NPP make a statement, they say Mills-Mahama administration. When have we ever called administrations including the names of Vice Presidents? Rawlings-Ackaah administration or Rawlings-Mills administration or Kufuor-Aliu administration, and yet one of our own is the one who started this Mills-Mahama administration.”



He explained that the NPP has packaged the ammunition that the NDC has given to them and are doing a good job in using it against the government. This, he said, makes it nearly impossible to argue ones way out during a discourse with members of the opposition.



He however encouraged the students to be united and forge a common front to support the government’s quest at achieving its “Better Ghana” agenda, insisting that “there is no way the NPP can stand a united NDC, I tell you.”





Story by Derick Romeo Adogla/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Government denies ordering fresh probe into Muntaka's $20,000 saga

Communication’s Director at the seat of government, Koku Anyidoho has categorically denied that President Mills ordered the Civil Service Council to commence fresh investigations into the $20,000 which Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka was alleged to have allocated to himself whiles in office.

Koku Anyidoho told Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on the Super Morning Show Thursday morning that the Daily Guide's report that the President has ordered fresh investigations into the matter could not be true as no such order had been given by the President.

Daily Guide, in the Thursday, November 25, 2010 edition reported that it had gathered credible information from the government indicating that the President had ordered new investigations into Muntaka’s controversial $20,000 saga.

The report by Halifax Ansah-Addo said the paper’s “checks from the seat of government revealed that the Presidency has directed the Civil Service Council to set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the mystery surrounding the $20,000 taxpayer’s money and who should be held accountable for it, despite the fact that the issue had been investigated by the National Security, upon which Muntaka was sacked.”

Mr. Muntaka Mubarrak, the man at the centre of the controversy, in an interview on the same programme accused the Daily Guide of waging a mischievous campaign against his person since he resigned from the Sports Ministry.

Mr. Muntaka, who espoused his believe in press freedom, said he is very livid with the trend of reportage by the paper, stressing that “this level of mischief by Daily Guide must be stopped. Isn’t it unfortunate that Daily Guide, I don’t know for whatever reasons, have always tried as much as possible throughout this period to align and always put my name in bad reportage?”

Mr. Muntaka said the Daily Guide consistently draws his name into unnecessary controversies that occur in his constituency even when he is no where near it.

He however explained that the civil service council has constituted a panel to deal with the $20,000 case which he is alleged to have pocketed. He further confirmed that he has been invited along with other officials who were at the ministry during that period to participate in the hearing in order to bring closure to the controversy.

Story by Derick Romeo Adogla/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

National Democratic Congress is allegedly stealing materials meant for the building of the Bui dam, NDC gives Fox FM three days ultimatum

A Kumasi based radio station, Fox FM has been given three days to name officials of the ruling National Democratic Congress it allegedly accused of stealing materials for the building of the Bui dam. The ultimatum was given by the Ashanti Regional General Secretary of the NDC, Joseph Yasmeen in an interview with Joy News on Wednesday. The station is alleged to have serialised circumstances under which cement bought for the construction of the Bui Dam had been diverted into private hands. The station is reported to have said that the diversion had stalled progress of work on the Bui Dam project. Mr. Yasmeen said the station also alleged that members of the NDC had a hand in the diversion of the cement and promised to expose those individuals. He said the party's ultimatum is aimed at a speedy resolution of the matter, adding it is just to give “moral support” to the station. “If government officials are indicted in such a corrupt and criminal act the party needs to be concerned and make sure such people are evicted from the party,” he said. Mr Yasmeen said the party will consider taking punitive action against the individuals if they are found culpable. He said they have reported the case to the Bureau of National Investigations, the police and other security agencies. Mr. Yasmeen said failure by the station to mention the names of these officials will give credence to the notion that the media is creating fear and panic in the country. But the Morning Show host of Fox FM, Blessed Smart, said the ultimatum by the NDC in the region is without foundation. According to Blessed Smart, at no point did the station alleged that officials of the NDC were behind the diversion. He said it was the BNI the station criticised for not doing enough to unravel the truth behind the diversion. Story by Nathan Gadugah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana

What have I done to Ghanaians? –Sports Minister questions critics' about world cup expenditure

Minister of Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua         The Minister of Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua has expressed disgust at suspicions and allegations cast in her direction in relation to expenses said to have been incurred by the nation over the Black Stars' participation in the 2010 World Cup. She was in Parliament Thursday to answer a question on how much it cost the nation to engage in the World Cup. Responding to the issues on Asempa FM on Friday, the Minister explained that even though she traveled with her house-help and driver to South Africa for the World Cup, she paid for her daughter to go on the trip as it was an opportunity for all Ghanaians to go and support the Black Stars. She further denied using state funds to facilitate anyone’s private trip to the World Cup. “I took my secretary, I took my driver and I took my body guard. These are the people who are here with me day and night,” she added. She pointed out that the World Cup expenditure budget document was prepared by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and that officials of the association should be contacted to clarify issues for the public. Ms Dansua explained that the budget is always prepared by the GFA to be approved by the Chief of Staff after the ministry has perused it thoroughly. She added that the Chief of Staff specifically invited officials of the GFA to justify whatever information was contained in the budget before it was forwarded to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department. She further stressed that an accountant of the ministry accompanies officials of the GFA to the tournaments and verifies all purchases made with receipts to show what has been spent. Ms Dansua decried the situation where journalists and commentators make allegations without seeking her side of the issue and asked the media to stop blaming her for the expenditure made at the World Cup and rather direct their concerns at the appropriate quarters. The minister believes that there are people who are sabotaging her position as Minister of Sports and are working assiduously to ensure that she fails at her work. She however vowed to continue working and assured her detractors that they will not succeed in their effort to undermine her. She promised Ghanaians that she will continue to work effectively despite the numerous distractions. Story by Derick Romeo Adogla/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Minister Took Driver, House-Help And Bodyguard To World Cup

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua has expressed disgust at suspicions and allegations cast in her direction in relation to expenses said to have been incurred by the nation over the Black Stars’ participation in the 2010 World Cup.

She was in Parliament on Thursday to answer a question on how much it cost the nation to engage in the World Cup.

Responding to the issues on Asempa FM on Friday, the Minister explained that even though she traveled with her house-help and driver to South Africa for the World Cup, she paid for her daughter to go on the trip as it was an opportunity for all Ghanaians to go and support the Black Stars.

She further denied using state funds to facilitate anyone’s private trip to the World Cup. “I took my secretary, I took my driver and I took my body guard. These are the people who are here with me day and night,” she added.

She pointed out that the World Cup expenditure budget document was prepared by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and that officials of the association should be contacted to clarify issues for the public.

Ms Dansua explained that the budget is always prepared by the GFA to be approved by the Chief of Staff after the ministry has perused it thoroughly. She added that the Chief of Staff specifically invited officials of the GFA to justify whatever information was contained in the budget before it was forwarded to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.

She further stressed that an accountant of the ministry accompanies officials of the GFA to the tournaments and verifies all purchases made with receipts to show what has been spent.

Ms Dansua decried the situation where journalists and commentators make allegations without seeking her side of the issue and asked the media to stop blaming her for the expenditure made at the World Cup and rather direct their concerns at the appropriate quarters.

The minister believes that there are people who are sabotaging her position as Minister of Sports and are working assiduously to ensure that she fails at her work.

She however vowed to continue working and assured her detractors that they will not succeed in their effort to undermine her. She promised Ghanaians that she will continue to work effectively despite the numerous distractions.
 

Source: JFM

Sena Dansua clashes with Asiamah, OB Amoah over World Cup expenses

Youth and Sports Minister, Akua Sena Dansua is unimpressed with what she says are mischievous attempts by Isaac Asiamah, the New Patriotic Party’s ranking member on Youth and Sports to provoke a needless controversy over the 2010 World Cup expenditure.

The Minister in an answer to a question on Wednesday presented itemized expenditure incurred during Ghana’s participation in the football mundial.

The total expenditure was quoted at seven million dollars, but the minority insisted the expenditure lacked details and substance.

Their attempt to ask supplementary questions of the minister was blocked by the Speaker in line with the Standing Orders of the House which allowed only an hour for question time.

Isaac Asiamah in an interview with Joy News’ Sammy Darko described the expenditure as “outrageous” and “profligate.”

He did not understand why such an amount will be spent on people he described as supporters when winning bonuses for the Black Stars remain outstanding.

He vowed to present a motion on the floor, the purpose of which will drag the Minister back to the House to answer questions about the expenditure.

But Akua Dansua told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh that her ministry has nothing to hide and will be ready to provide answers to clear any doubts in the minds of people.

She also accused the NPP ranking member on Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah, of misunderstanding the whole issue.

“My colleague, Asiamah in his haste to cause mischief,” “… does not even understand the question that was asked of me,” she said.

According to her, the question was to find out the expenditure on the Black Stars, not on the supporters as Asiamah attempted to suggest.

She also challenged the NPP to present the 2006 report of expenditure by the Black Stars before demanding that of 2010.

She said the NPP did not even present “a one-page report” of expenditure in 2006 and wondered why they are pontificating about 2010 expenditure.

Akua Sena Dansua also stated emphatically that the arrears owed the Black Stars is ready and that the individual players must now decide what procedures to use in getting their money.
Ex-Deputy Sports Minister, OB Amoah insisted questions being asked of the minister are legitimate, contesting the minister’s assertions that there was no report in 2006. He said the report was presented to Parliament by Prof Dominic Fobih, then Minister of Education and Sports.

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

$7.2m Blown At World Cup

Even before the players of the senior National Soccer Team, the Black Stars are given their full bonuses, an amount of $7.2 million has been spent by government on per diem, protocol and souvenirs for Ghana’s participation in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Minority in Parliament has described the expenditure as outrageous and profligate, calling on government to give a full disclosure on how the huge sum was spent.

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua, indicated that $186,650 was spent on per diem, protocol - $100,000; souvenirs, laundry and other incidental expenses , $30,035.01; media relations - $50,000.00 and appearance fees $4,200,00.00.

The rest are winning bonuses, $2,541,500; transport, $6,608.29 and bank charges, $80,389.10 all expenses totaling $7,197,185.40.

The Minority, led by the ranking member on Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah in an interview with Daily Guide, questioned the expenditure, asking government to disclose to Ghanaians, the recipients of the disbursed money.

Hon. Asiamah, who is also the MP for Atiwa-Mponua, said the Mills administration could not throw such colossal figures at Ghanaians without telling them which individuals or groups received the money.

Earlier on the floor of the House, MPs could not interrogate the Youth and Sports Minister for her to give a detailed account of the expenditure because the House’s Speaker Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, had ruled that the stipulated time of one hour for questions had elapsed.

This provoked some of the Ministry MPs who angrily walked out of the House, since it appeared the Speaker was protecting the Minister from more probing questions.

She however ruled that the oral answer provided by the Minister be captured in the record of proceedings as having been answered. However, Hon. Asiamah called for a parliamentary inquiry into the matter to ascertain the veracity of the expenditure.

He was however overruled by the First Deputy Speaker and MP for Avenor/Ave, Edward Doe Adjaho, who took over from the Speaker and chaired proceedings later.

Mr. Asiamah insisted government should exhibit transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s scarce resources, especially when people around the presidency consistently claimed the government had been cutting down on its expenditure.

“The expenditure figures are outrageous. It smells like the transitional committee tea expenditure. An expenditure that is too profligate and does not make sense to me, If you spend a huge sum of 100,000 Ghana cedis (One Billion old cedis) on protocol expenditure and you don’t explain that protocol. What is the meaning of that when school children are still studying under trees? About seven billion old cedis spent on accommodation and you don’t explain who benefited from it.“You also spent per diem of 1.8 billion old cedis without explaining which people benefited from it. And as we speak now, the Black Stars are yet to receive their appearance fees and you found it necessary to spend all these monies,” Hon. Asiamah told Citi FM.

It is not clear whether the amount presented by the Youth and Sport Minister excluded the expenditure incurred by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in flying hundreds of soccer fans who were largely NDC supporters to the World Cup tournament in South Africa.

Michael Owusu Darko Bonsu, son of Kojo Bonsu, the Board Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC) was alleged to have been involved in a ¢7.2 billion scandal over the World Cup.It was alleged that Michael Bonsu aided by some public officials, presented documents with inflated figures to the government of Ghana to make gains.

According to the media reports, the money was allegedly paid to Posterity Capital Group (PTY), owners of the Muzinda Residence in South Africa and others. They allegedly received the cash in order to provide accommodation for about 1,100 Ghanaian soccer fans at the 2010 World Cup who were there to support the senior team, the Black Stars.

Both Kojo Bonsu and his son have since debunked the allegations, denying any wrongdoing in the financial saga.