Amidu hangs Okudzeto

By Emmanuel Akli

The perception that the Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa has taken over the roles of substantive Ministers posted to the Ministry of Information, making almost all of them redundant, was re-echoed by the former Attorney General

and Minister of Justice, Martin Amidu, on Oman FM in Accra yesterday, where he accused the vociferous Deputy Minister of usurping the powers of his Ministers.

“Ablakwa has overgrown his wings. Due to such actions of his, he undermined the authority of his former Minister, John Tia Akologo, rendering him (Tia) virtually useless,” he said.

Since President Mills assumed office as President of Ghana in 2009, he has appointed three Ministers to man the Information Ministry. They are Zita Okaikoi, John Tia Akologo and now Fritz Baffour, but the voice of the Deputy Minister overshadowed these Ministers, with him even signing a statement emanating from the presidency.

As a result of this deafening voice, two of the Ministers -Zita and Akologo – were booted out after spending a little over a year in office. The current Minister, tall and bulky Fritz Baffour, also seems to have remained quiet on a number of national issues, with the young Okudzeto-Ablakwa still running the show.

One of the new lawyers called to the bar, Mr. James Agyenim Boateng, was first appointed Deputy Minister at the Information Ministry, but was reshuffled and sent to the Tourism Ministry. He was recently brought back to the Ministry.

Another tough talking Deputy Minister, Baba Jamal, was also reshuffled from the same Information Ministry, leaving Mr. Okudzeto-Ablakwa, who has remained seemingly untouchable.

But, whether Mr. Baffour and James Agyenim Boateng would remain at the Ministry or not, is not known.

Mr. Martin Amidu, however, thinks the young Okudzeto-Ablakwa had overshot his bounds, and must be reined in.

According to the former Minister, whilst in office as Attorney General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, he had a call from Okudzeto-Ablakwa, asking him to pay judgment debt to a Spanish company, ISOFOTON, when he was already in court fighting the same company over the claim it had made against the government.

Amidu noted that he was dumbfounded by the conduct of Mr. Okudzeto, because as a Deputy Minister he had no powers to pick a telephone and ask him, the government solicitor, to pay a judgment debt to an individual or company.

He argued that if there should be any call at all, it should come from the sector Minister, who was then Mr. John Tia Akologo, and not Okudzeto-Ablakwa.

He further elaborated that even if the Minister was not around, Okudzeto-Ablakwa should have waited for him to come and receive the letter, after which the letter could take the necessary steps to pass it on to the A-G’s office.

The government is still in court over the ISOFOTON $1.3 million judgment debt, which Okuzdeto-Ablakwa is currently at the forefront fighting over it.

Reacting to the allegation made against him by the former A-G on Joy FM yesterday, the Deputy Minister admitted that he called the ex Minister in connection with the payment for ISOFOTON, but argued that the decision was based on a petition he received from the lawyers of the Spanish company, over the refusal of the A-G to pay them.

When asked why he should be the person to receive such a petition when the substantive Minister was around, Okudzeto-Ablakwa struggled to tell the interviewer that at the time the petition was brought to the Ministry, his Minister was not around, so it was handed over to him.

Okudzeto-Ablakwa could not properly explain why he could not wait for his Minister to arrive from his travel, since the petition was personally addressed to him (substantive Minister), but he decided to take it upon himself to call the A-G, suggesting that the money being demanded should be paid to the company.

Short URL: http://ghanaian-chronicle.com/?p=45919

Posted by Ghana Pundit at 6:48 PM

Betty Dodges Woyome

Journalists who eagerly thronged the Ghana International Press Centre on Thursday to grill former Attorney General Betty Mould-Iddrisu over her role in the judgment debts paid during her tenure as Attorney General in 2009, were surprised by her refusal to answer specific questions, especially on the Woyome saga.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu’s handlers barred journalists from asking questions about her role in the Woyome judgment debt scandal.

A question bordering on her resignation from the Mills government was promptly brushed aside.

The conference, which was called between 7pm and 8pm, was inundated by National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, with some holding placards in her support, creating an eerie atmosphere for the journalists.

Gifty Andoh of Joy News got caught up in a heated argument with NDC fanatics who tried restraining journalists from asking questions. “This is a press conference,” she reminded the irate party goons.

Eventually, when the floor was cleared for questions, curiously, journalists were told to confine their questions to the Construction Pioneer (CP) scandal even though Mrs. Mould-Iddrissu’s counsel, Nana Ato Dadzie, had earlier promised to give the media unrestrained access to the embattled former Attorney General.

Eventually, the journalists had to ask questions on only the €94million controversially paid to CP in 2010 under the supervision of Madam Mould-Iddrisu.
The press conference was basically chaotic as party supporters and journalists were engaged in a scramble for the press statement after the conference.
The beleaguered former government’s chief legal advisor declined answering questions about other shady judgment debts which she allegedly directly supervised.
They include the GH¢51.2million fraudulently paid to businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome which has become an albatross around the neck of the NDC.
Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu also declined answering questions relating to her unceremonious resignation from the Mills government in January 2012.
Even though there are speculations that she was forced to resign as Minister of Education, the former AG would not want to be drawn into her resignation matter.
She would be facing the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, 17th July, 2010 to answer questions on her role in the CP multimillion settlements that have generated intense debate nationwide.
Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu was the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice when the state failed to put up a defence on the suit filed by businessman Alfred Woyome for judgment debts over the abrogation of an alleged contract with the government in 2006, for the rehabilitation of three stadiums.
She resigned in January following the brouhaha over the payment of judgment debts in the Mills administration. She has remained practically silent over the reasons for her resignation.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu was the second Cabinet Minister in the Mills Administration to have exited from Government over the Woyome judgment debt. Martin Alamisi B.K Amidu was fired earlier this year over the same judgment debt scandals.

Source: Raphael Adeniran/d-gUIDE

Why Mills Can’t Sack Barton Odro

FORMER ATTORNEY General, Martin Amidu has explained the underlying reasons why Deputy Attorney General, Ebo Barton Odro appears to be untouchable by the Mills administration despite intense disapproval of his stewardship.

In his latest series of damning exposés about the inner workings at the Attorney General’s Department released Tuesday, ‘Citizen Vigilante,’ Martin Amidu explains that Barton Odro’s audacious and sometimes costly exploits at the AG’s department is because of his close relationship with President Mills.

Mr. Amidu stated that during his stint at the AG’s in 2011, Barto Odro and the Solicitor-General, Amma Gaisie often unilaterally took important decisions relating to debt settlements valued at millions of US dollars without consulting him.

According to him, Barton Odro exercised these liberties because he claimed to hail from the same area-Cape Coast, as President Mills.

The Deputy Attorney General is perhaps one public officer whose loyalty to his office has been the most widely questioned. Barton Odro’s bad press follows his controversial statement supporting embattled businessman-Alfred Woyome in the controversial GH¢51million judgment debt scandal.

When the scandal broke and the public called for the AG to retrieve the money said to have been fraudulently paid to Mr. Woyome between 2010 and 2011, Barto Odro surprised everybody by stating that Ghana did not have a case against Woyome. Since then, several critics and civil society groups have called for him to be relieved of his position.

Civil society groups like the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) recently called for the head of the embattled deputy Attorney General because they think he is using his position to work against the interest of the country.

Despite the persistent disapproval, the Mills government has been unable make any such pronouncement and has maintained the beleaguered deputy AG at post.

Mr. Amidu complained that during his tenure at the Attorney General’s office, Barton Odro and Amma Giasie often sidestepped his authority to make certain debt settlements that he was not privy to or approved of.

“Not even the President who appointed me as the Attorney-General could under Article 88 of the Constitution delegate my constitutional functions as the Attorney-General to any other person or authority without first relieving me of my appointment by express revocation of my warrant of appointment,” he said.

The former Attorney General disclosed in his statement that he had written several memoranda to the Deputy Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General asking for explanations for the republic having to pay certain settlements or judgment debts. Apparently these memos were never answered in spite of accompanying reminders.

“I did not waste time when I assumed office as the Attorney-General in reminding the Deputy Attorney-General, Hon. Barton Odro, MP and the Solicitor-General, Mrs. Amma Gaisie, that I would not take responsibility for any actions or omissions by either of them or those working up to them unless the acts or omission were done with my knowledge and express authorization.”

Mr. Amidu cites an instance when Barton Odro negotiated a GH¢38million debt settlement with disgruntled workers of the National Mobilization Programme (NMP) who filed a suit against New Patriotic Party (NPP) chieftain, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey for allegedly wrongfully dismissing some staff of the NMP.

According to Mr. Amidu, even though the case was still pending in court, Barton Odro clandestinely withdrew the case without his knowledge and negotiated a GH¢38 settlement with the workers.

Refering to Barton Odro’s action, Mr. Amidu said the deputy AG, “had the boldness, without any direct or express authority from me since I took over as the Attorney-General.”

He explained: “I queried the settlement and instructed that the court be allowed to determine whether or not there was wrongful dismissal. I pointed out that unless the court determined that Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey had indeed wrongfully dismissed the workers it was foolhardy for me as the Attorney-General to settle the matter on the basis of wrongful dismissal and pretend that my decision could be used to prosecute Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey for causing financial loss to the state.”

Mr. Amidu who has been extremely unequivocal about his criticisms of the modus operandi at the AG’s department says he is baffled by the power that Odro wields at the department, “I had been a Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister for Justice for upwards of twelve and a half years and know more than anybody else the limits of the authority of a Deputy Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General.”

Source: Raphael Adeniran/Daily-GUIDE

People are fed up with Ablakwa's "lies"-Martin Amidu

Former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Martin A.B.K. Amidu says people are fed up with the "lies" churn out by the Deputy Information Minister.

The former AG also descended heavily on Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over what he says are the Deputy Information Minister's attempts at undermining the powers of the substantive Information Minister, Fritz Baffuor.

Martin Amidu, speaking on Accra-based radio station, Oman FM stated that the actions of the Deputy Information Minister are creating a negative impact on the NDC as well as the electoral fortunes of the ruling party.

According to Mr. Martin Amidu, the Deputy Information Minister had called him to plead that Isofoton SA should be paid the monies that they claimed were due them.
A request the former AG said he turned down with the excuse that the matter was pending in court.

Although the Deputy Information Minister who also spoke to Oman FM admitted calling Mr. Amidu on phone, he however denied portions of the former AG’s submission that he pleaded that Isofoton should be paid monies owed them.

Nevertheless the anti corruption crusader said it was even wrong for the Deputy Information Minister to have called him over the matter without referring it to his (Ablakwa) boss (Minister of Information)at the time, John Tia Akologo.

“Mr. Okudzeto is a young man, and he should take upon himself responsibilities befitting a deputy Minister and not to be usurping positions of substantive Ministers. ..when John Tia was there, he rendered him virtually useless”, Martin Amidu said.

MYJOYONLINE.COM

€94 million payment to CP was the best for Ghana - Betty Mould

The former Attorney General Mrs Betty Mould Iddrissu has stated that the €94 million settlement awarded to Construction Pioneers was the best settlement the AG's office undertook at that time.
Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu was answering questions before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament Thursday, to respond to issues surrounding the settlement debt awarded to the construction company, CP.
According to her, “Ghana benefited a reduction from $162 million to $80 million as far I was concerned, a freeze on the spiraling interest payment and we were also to spread payment over a period of two and half years”.
She stated that settlement to CP was a must as far ending the litigation between government and CP was concerned, hence she took that opportunity, one she says, was a bold one.

The former AG also stated that the Ghana Bar Association Code of Ethics Section 48 says that “When you can settle, you do so; but when you don’t then it becomes misconduct on the part of the lawyer”.

Betty is only incompetent but she is not a criminal - Kwakye Ofosu

A member of the National Democratic Congress is making a strong case against the prosecution of the former Attorney General Betty Mould Iddrisu.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu is convinced the former AG was incompetent in her job but not liable for prosecution in the controversial judgement debt paid to Alfred Woyome.

Betty Mould Iddrisu as Attorney General in 2010 and early 2011, led government to pay 51 million cedis to Alfred Woyome for alleged financial engineering in the construction of stadia for the CAN 2008 and for the abrogation of a contract by the erstwhile New Patriotic Party administration.

She was reshuffled to the Education Ministry but she later resigned in 2012 when the controversial judgement debt saga hit the airwaves and the prints.

Even though the prime suspect Alfred Woyome is in court for causing financial loss to the state and defrauding the state by false pretense, many are questioning why key government actors- Betty Mould Iddrisu and finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffour are not in court to answer for their roles in the payment described as fraudulent.

Ken Kuranchie, a card bearing member of the New Patriotic Party, and editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper could not understand why Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu and Dr Duffuor are walking free.

On Peace FM Kokrokoo on Wednesday, he said if President John Mills was minded, he would ask the two officials to answer in court for negligence and dereliction of duty.

He said the money paid to Woyome is so huge it could provide each Ghanaian 3.00 cedis if it was shared and wondered why that amount was given to one person for no work done.

He charged Ghanaians to vote the NDC out in December so a new government will retrieve the money from Woyome.

But in a reaction, Kwakye Ofosu said the NPP had no moral authority to ask for a come back given its track record of corruption.

He did not understand why the EO Group - two officials he said had strong links with the NPP - would be given in excess of $300 million for their roles in Ghana striking oil in 2007.

Kwakye Ofosu berated the concerns of the NPP panelists on the show, Ken Kuranchie and Kwamena Duncan, accusing them of ranting and pretending as though the 51 million cedis will solve all the problems in Ghana.

On the prosecution of Mrs Betty Mould, the NDC Communication team member argued the former AG did not do the necessary due diligence but that was no justifiable reason for her to be prosecuted.

Likening her job to that of a radio presenter like Kwame Sefa Kayi, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said if a presenter consistently shows ineptitude on his job and plays the wrong sound bites all the time, it will not be a good reason enough to haul him before the courts.

He said the best any boss can do under the circumstance is to fire the radio presenter.

"There is no law that says if you are incompetent" you can be prosecuted, he said.

He said critics must be able to establish the criminal intent of Betty Mould before calling for her prosecution.

Okudzeto called me and pleaded on behalf of Isofoton SA - Amidu

Former Attorney-General Mr. Martin Amidu has accused Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Information Minister of calling him and pleading that Spanish company Isofoton SA be paid the monies that they claimed were due them.

Mr. Amidu, who was speaking on Oman FM said he declined Ablakwa’s request as no final verdict on the case, which was still in court, had been given.

The deputy minister minutes after the former AG's submissions, called into the show to respond to Mr. Martin Amidu's allegations.

He conceded that he did indeed call the then Attorney General but stated emphatically that he did not entreat him in any way to allow monies to be paid to Isofoton.

According to Ablakwa, he had received a petition from the Spanish company, expressing its grievance over the unfair manner in which the NPP government had handled their case following a breach of its contract with the Ministry of Agriculture under the former Kufuor administration.

He added that as a far as he Ablakwa was concerned he did not see anything wrong with calling a colleague over the petition he had received.

The deputy minister said he thought the best thing to do under circumstance was to call Mr Amidu who was then the AG especially since the matter in respect of which the people were petitioning did not fall within the domain of his (Ablakwa's) ministry.

Martin Amidu, who called into the show again to rebut Ablakwa’s claims, said he was pleased that Mr Ablakwa admitted calling him over the Isofoton SA matter.

He submitted that it was wrong for the Deputy Information Minister to consider himself a colleague of his.

Amidu stated that, Ablakwa by calling him directly had usurped the powers of Mr. John Tia, the then Information Minister under whom Mr Ablakwa worked.

The prudent action Ablakwa should have taken according to Amidu, was to pass the petition to his superior minister and from there steps would have been taken to get the petition to the office of the AG.

“Ablakwa has overgrown his wings. Due to such actions, he undermined the authority of his former minister John Tia rendering him (Tia) virtually useless,” added Amidu.

The government is presently in court over this controversial Isofoton $1.3 million judgment debt which Mr Ablakwa accused former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani had caused the nation.

 

Myjoyonline/Lloyd Kojo Sarpong

Osafo Maafo testifies in Woyome case; produces ‘an interesting letter’

Former Finance Minister Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, testifying in the ongoing criminal trial of businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome over a GHC51 million payment to him, produced a letter he called ‘an interesting letter.’

The letter, according to Mr Osafo Maafo, was critical because it was written by Vamed Engineering, Mr Woyome’s partners, in which they were reacting to a letter from the government terminating a tender process for the construction if stadia for the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament.

Mr Woyome secured GHC51 million judgment award for roles his M-Powpak played in the transaction.

He claimed monies for financial engineering as well as damages for illegal termination of the contract which his company and its partners won.

But Mr Osafo Maafo testified that what was terminated was not a contract but a tendering process.

He explained that when Ghana won the bid to stage the tournament, the government set about inviting bids for the construction of two new stadia at Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale as well as the refurbishment of the Accra and Kumasi Sports stadiums.

Vamed and M-powapak entered a joint bid for the contract in 2005, offering to build the two new stadia in Takoradi and Tamale at the cost of $67 million and $60 million respectively.

He said the government considered this too high as the government had budgeted for $40 million each for the projects.

At a cabinet meeting to discuss the matter, he submitted in court, then President Kufuor said he had in a previous trip to China, had discussions with construction firms in that country and believed they could make a better offer.

On the basis of that, a decision was taken to terminate the tendering process and undertake sole-sourcing because given the time frame within which the construction works needed to start, starting a new tender process was practically impossible.

Therefore, the government wrote to the National Procurement Authority for authorisation to do the sole sourcing.

Mr Osafo Maafo said when the companies which had submitted bids - including Vamed cum M-Powapak - were written to about the abortion of the tender process, Vamed in their reply said "VAMED ENGINEERING ('VE') is a company which is active in the sector health care projects only and has no qualification and no interest in the award of contracts for stadia projects."