Ghana News of 31.October 2012 - Nana: I'll make Bawumia head of NDPC; you are confused - says Mahama

17 News Stories, of October 31 - 2012,  on one page...

Nana: I'll make Bawumia head of NDPC; you are confused - says Mahama

Source: Joy Online

The decision of NPP’s candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo to make his vice the head of the National Development Planning Commission, in what he said would be effective implementation of the Commission’s plans, drew the first banter in the first IEA Presidential Debate with the President and NDC candidate John Mahama suggesting that he is a confused man.

The four candidates taking part in the debate were asked what they would do to make the Commission more effective in the face of a recommendation by the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) that the plans of the NDP are entrenched and binding on successive government.

Nana Akufo-Addo began his argument by conceding that the 1992 Constitution has provided that every new government in two years must submit its programmes for parliamentary approval. But he thinks that provision delays implementation of development projects.

He indicated that the NPP would not wait for the two years, but would straight forward start to implement what it has proposed in its manifesto. He however emphasized that the NPP government would not “abandon any sensible projects” by the NDC government.

He mentioned that the government under his leadership would use oil proceeds to improve education, health and other sectors of the economy. The NPP, he said would not involved itself in “reckless borrowing”, but if there was the need to borrow it would go for loans to invest in job creation – well paid jobs especially for the youth.

In capping his submission on the NDPC, Nana Akufo-Addo maintained that a “proper high level leadership is needed” to achieve the areas he has espoused, and in doing these, he hopes to make his vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia the head of the National Development Planning Commission “ to give it that political leadership that it requires”.

But President John Mahama thinks what has been proposed by Nana Akufo-Addo would politicized the Commission’s work and rather end up worsening the canker of successive government discarding projects initiated by its predecessor.

He contended that Nana’s argument that it would not follow what the constitution provides and go ahead to implement what it is stated in the party’s manifesto demonstrates that his contender is confused.

He explained that what Nana Addo intends doing is the exact problem confronting the nation that needed urgent solution.

He argued that the NPP’s position does not give room for imputation of ideas and policies from political parties and other interested groups to give the NDPC its national character and its plans binding on all.

“Indeed I think that there is confusion in the mind of the NPP presidential candidate in the answer he gave that is exactly the concern we have in this country that when a political party leaves government the plans and visions that are instituted are thrown away. And so if we assume that every four year cycle a government potentially could lose elections, it means every four years we will have a new national development planning framework. And that is why the CRC flagged that issue.”

President Mahama mentioned the need for a broad stakeholder consultation to get long term national plans under the NDPC, which every political party must ensure that its plans fit into that of NDPC.

“I don’t see what problem the NPP presidential candidate is fixing to say immediately I come to power I am not waiting for two years, I am taking my manifesto, I am putting my plans in place; that is the problem we are trying to cure. And making your vice president the chair of the NDPC, politicizing the NDPC, I think he is absolutely lost his way.

“What we are saying is that there is a difference between a national vision and that is what the NDPC creates.

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4 battle for presidency at IEA debate

Source: Daily Graphic

The Ghanaian electorates were last night given another opportunity to make up their minds on who to vote for on December 7, when four presidential candidates of political parties with representation in parliament engaged in a battle of wits and policies in a national debate in Tamale.

Although it was the first of two presidential debates, the event offered ordinary voters a fair idea of which of the candidates has the grasp of both local and international issues, the power to articulate them and the composure to think through national problems on his feat.

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) organised debate saw the candidates- President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Abu Sakara Foster of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Mr. Hassan Ayariga of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-engaged in tough talk, mutual respect for one another, deep thinking and occasional rebuttals.

Social network site, facebook, was agog with commentary by viewers and listeners offering their judgement on the performance of the candidates as well as quotes of the evening, bringing more excitement and offering perspectives to the electorate.

Welcoming the candidates and august audience to the debate, Mrs. Jean Mensa, Executive Director of IEA, described the event as historic because it was the first time a sitting president was taking part in the debate and expressed the hope that the example would be emulated in future.

According to the rules of engagement, three minutes were allowed for each contender to answer a question during the three rounds while they were given three opportunities for a rebuttal for each candidate.

With Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, a broadcaster and entrepreneur, firing conversation on the thematic areas including the economy and social sector.

At the end of each round each candidate was given three minutes within which to appeal to Ghanaians. The members of the audience were not allowed to use their cell phones neither were they supposed to cheer on the contenders until the end of each round of the debate.

Shortly after the candidates introduced themselves to the public and state their visions for Ghana, they were plunged into questions an answer session.

Prof. Opoku-Agyeman had occasion to raise concerns with the timers and requested that they acted fairly.

In response to the first question for candidates to explain their broad vision for the country, President Mahama underscored the need for Ghana to open up economic opportunities to tell Ghanaians, irrespective of gender, ethnicity and political association in order for them to realise their full potential.

He said an NDC government would continue to invest in education and in health to ensure that mothers did not die at child birth.

He gave the assurance that he would use his influence to bring the nation together rather than rather than divide it and place Ghana as the model of democracy and good governance in the comity of nations.

For his part, Dr. Sakara said the CPP's vision was for Ghana to be a shining example for Africa. That, he explained, demanded that institutions were made to work again.

He said when the institutions worked effectively “Ghana will begin to work again”. He said Ghana's natural resources would be exploited in the national interest, saying that, “I will invest in agriculture and in the private sector to create jobs for the people. Ghana must change the path of focusing on macro economic figures and depend micro issues.”

The PNC's candidate, Mr. Ayariga said his government, if voted into office, would make good use of natural resources, empower the youth and bring back operation feed yourself to feed the 24 million Ghanaians to end food importation.

“We will provide water and improve upon health delivery across the country. There must also be a politics of togetherness and share the national cake equally. We want to restore hope and confidence in the people,” he said.

For his part, Nana Akufo-Addo said the NPP's vision was to ensure a thriving democracy and a country where the rule of law thrived.

“We need a prosperous nation. We have been a raw material production country. We need to become a country that will transform its economy structurally and add value to the raw materials. The development of human capital will be crucial and that is why education is needed and that is why we are committed to free education. To make Ghana that beacon, a shining city which was the vision of those who won independence for Ghana,” he said.

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Family neglect cocaine man’s body at Korle-Bu

Source: The Finder

The body of Kweku Sarfo, the 59-year-old man who was detained at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) when he was found with 77 pellets of thumb-size cocaine in his stomach, has been lying unclaimed at the Korle Bu mortuary since he passed away last Friday.

Kweku Sarfo arrived at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) last Wednesday complaining of severe stomach ache, which kept deteriorating, necessitating a surgical operation by doctors.

The operation led to the discovery of 77 pellets of thumb-size cocaine in his stomach and the subsequent guarding of the patient by the police.

Now, authorities at the hospital fear that a debt left by the man through drugs and other consumables that were used for his treatment might go unpaid if the family fails to claim the body. Kweku Sarfo died at about 10.30pm on Friday after doctors had tried unsuccessfully to treat him.

Hospital sources have revealed to The Finder newspaper that Kweku Sarfo was a diabetes patient hence particles of the substance he swallowed had entered his blood stream and that might have accounted for his unfortunate demise. “As at now no relation of his has shown up so we are appealing to his relations to show up and help settle the bill and claim the body,” Mustapha Salifu, public relations officer of the KBTH, said.

Mustapha said the costs of drugs used for Sarfo’s treatment were very expensive, but he could not immediately place a figure on how much was spent in trying to treat him. He asked the family members not to fear anything since they were not involved in any crime.

“That is why we are asking the family members to come and help to identify the body and claim it for burial and also help to defray the cost the hospital incurred in offering treatment to him,” he added.

Kweku Sarfo was arrested on Wednesday after the 77 thumb-size pellets of suspected drugs wrapped in condom-like rubbers were removed from his stomach after a surgical operation. He was said to have personally rushed to the KBTH and was subsequently taken to the theatre where the 77 pellets of what was suspected to be cocaine were removed from his stomach.

Medical doctors reported the situation to the police and he was thereafter placed under a 24-hour security guard. Some media reports have it that the morning before his death, two of his relations – his pregnant wife and one of his siblings – were at the Korle Bu Police Station to identify him as a relative.

The two were said to have been briefly detained by the police and subsequently granted bail after giving statements to the effect that Kweku had been travelling abroad very often but did not know exactly what he went there to do, neither was the wife able to tell the kind of work or business he did for a living.

The late Kweku Sarfo was said to have resided in Kumasi.

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Kan Dapaah robbers arrested

Source: Daily Guide

Three persons believed to be have robbed Kan Dapaah, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Afiagya Sekyere West in the Ashanti Region of $1000, GH¢500 and other valuables, were arraigned yesterday.

The accused persons, Gabriel Donkor, a mobile phone seller; Gator Joseph, an aluminum fabricator and Kofi Rabbi, mobile phone/laptop seller, were yesterday put before an Accra Circuit Court where they were charged with various offences.

Donkor and Garbiel were charged with conspiracy to commit crime and stealing but they denied any wrongdoing.

Francis Obiri was the presiding judge.

Their alleged accomplice, Rabbi was charged with dishonestly receiving and he pleaded not guilty.

They have been remanded in police custody till November 13, 2012.

Narrating events leading to the arrest of the accused persons, the prosecuting officer, DSP Reindorf Agyemang told the court that Hon. Dapaah is the Chairman of PAC and lives at Dansoman Sahara.

He said Donkor lives at North Kaneshie, Joseph lives at Ablekuma and Rabbi lives at Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

According to him, on September 25, 2012, at about 11:41 p.m. the complainant arrived home in his Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicle with registration number GW 2726-12 and just before his gate was closed by his watchman, three young men armed with guns from nowhere attacked the watchman and the complainant at gunpoint.

The prosecutor said the suspects shot the right tyre and left tyre at the back of the vehicle before they searched the chairman and his watchman and proceeded to his room upstairs, where they took $1000, GH¢500, a mini HP laptop, Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, a pistol with 25 rounds of ammunition and some jewelleries.

The DSP noted that they afterwards fled the scene and a report was made to the police leading to their arrest.

The police officer noted that on October 12, 2012, police intelligence led to the arrest of Gator Joseph who denied his involvement but mentioned Tetteh Attoquay and Aaron, now at large, as those who conducted the operation.

Joseph, the prosecutor noted, took them to the house of Donkor who is said to be the sponsor of the robberies and received booties from such operations.

The police officer stated that Donkor admitted he received the laptop which he sold to Rabbi at GH¢700.

He said Rabbi also admitted buying the laptop from Donkor but stated that he had sold it someone who he was yet to identify to the police.

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Explosion kills two engineers working on West Africa Gas Pipeline

Source: Radio XYZ Online

Two engineers of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company died last night in an explosion while working on the Aboadze pipeline in the Western region.

The explosion is thought to have resulted from a high level of nitrogen which was being used to clean moisture from the pipeline after rehabilitation works.

One of the victims was the nephew of the Chief fishermen of Aboadze Nana Adams Aduafo who confirmed the accident to XYZ News.

He described the incident as a sad one adding that measure must be put in place to ensure the safety of the engineers.

Nana Adams however emphasized that the pipeline is however safe for gas to flow.

“The pipes have been repaired and they ended last night and they were about to put the gas through when the incident happened”.

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Expansion of Takoradi Port to start in 2012

Source: GNA

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) would start expansion works at the Takoradi Port in the Western Region as part of measures to decongest the ports in the country.

The Takoradi Port, which was built in 1928 by Sir Gordon Guggisberg, during the colonial era, has seen no major expansion since its construction.

Mr. Kumi Adjei-Sam, Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager of the GPHA made this known on Tuesday when Award Winners of this year’s 28th National Best Farmers Award visited the Tema Port.

Mr. Adjei-Sam indicated that a contract had being signed with China Harbour Engineering and Jandenul Limited for the expansion and dredging works respectively.

He added that the GPHA was only waiting for the contractors to move to site for the expansion works to start.

He said the Takoradi Port, which currently has four multi-purpose berths and two dedicated berths for manganese and bauxite, would have more space after the expansion.

He noted that the Tema Port would also undergo expansion after the Takoradi project is completed.

Mr. Adjei-Sam further stated that apart from the congestion, the GPHA also wants to increase its activities and has acquired 400 computers to augment its stock to enable the Authority to computerize all its systems.

He said more scanners are needed since the current two installed at the Tema Port was not enough for its operations.

He congratulated the Award Winners and encouraged them to grow more to feed the country and assured that the GPHA was always happy to annually host them.

The 74 Award Winners toured the Port and took a 45-minutes cruise on board the “Manheam” tug boat.

Prior to the visit to the GPHA, the Award Winners had toured the factory of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC).

Mr. Charles Asante, Acting Managing Director of the CPC in a briefing before the factory tour said the Company was established in 1965 by Dr Kwame Nkrumah to process cocoa into semi finished products which included cocoa butter, cocoa cake and cocoa powder.

Mr. Asante said five percent out of the current semi finished cocoa products they produce is processed into finished goods as chocolate, chocolate spread, pebbles among others by the factory.

He indicated that the CPC has named its lemon flavoured chocolate (Akuafo Bar) in recognition of the contribution of farmers to the economy of the country.

Miss Victoria Aniaku, a member of the National Farmers’ Day Planning Committee, who led the Award Winners, said out of the total 74 Award Winners nine were females.

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Starbow begins flight to Abidjan

Source: Joy Online

Business men and women who ply the Accra-Abidjan route have been given an extra boost with the launch of Starbow’s 2nd regional route to Abidjan.

The flight is set to begin on Thursday, November 8, 2012. This was disclosed by Starbow Co-CEO Dr. Brock Friesen at a media briefing in Accra Wednesday.

The airline will fly five times per week to Abidjan, excluding Saturdays and Wednesdays at 19h30 on all scheduled days.

The announcement comes just two months after the airline began its maiden international route to Cotonou.

Friesen said the airline in sync with its original plan of pursuing regional flights will extend its flights to 12 other countries in the African region by close of 2013.

It however expects to be in five countries end of November.

Dr Brock Friesen lamented the cost of air travel on the continent, a phenomenon he attributed to higher taxes, high jet fuel cost and the monopoly by few airlines on the continent.

He also regretted the absence of light at the Kumasi airport in the evening which he said has hampered night travels by the airlines.

Dr Brock Friesen assured patrons of Starbow of maximum safety and convenience.

Contrary to what he said was unexplained cancellation of flights by other airlines, he was unequivocal that Starbow will not under any circumstance cancel flights except when weather conditions forces it to do so.

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Community members act to stop theft of Vodafone cables

Source: GNA

Vodafone Ghana has lauded recent efforts by certain community members towards the fight against cable thieves which has plagued the telecommunications industry.

The theft and destruction of copper and fibre cables have affected quality of telecommunication service to consumers. The National Communication Authority report says that the first three quarters of this year alone saw in excess of 700 cable cuts.

Vodafone Ghana said in statement to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday that three individuals on three different occasions spotted suspicious activity in the middle of the night and called the local Police to make a report.

“These actions have led to the arrest of youths in three areas in the Greater Accra region and have averted thousands of Ghana cedis of revenue loss to Vodafone Ghana, the operator affected by these thefts,” it said.

The statement said in Mile ‘7’ in Accra, a young lady spotted six youths with an unbranded truck attempting to pull cables out of a manhole in front of a kiosk at 0200 hours in the morning.

Thinking this suspicious, she reported it to the Police who confronted the group and apprehended two of the offenders.

“The damage averted by this quick action by the young lady was in excess of GH¢60,000, not to mention the voice and internet network outage that would have been experienced by the local community,” it noted.

“The next morning there were reports of another act of bravery by a group of people who had volunteered to patrol the Middle East area of Ashaiman after numerous cable thefts had left them without a Vodafone service on several occasions.

“They apprehended two youths who were known to collect scrap in the area at 0100 hours in the morning after they were trying to drive away with metres of copper cables. The damage caused at the site was in excess of GH¢25,000 and will affect 1,000 customers. Another act of bravery, the statement noted was by a staff member of Vodafone Ghana, who spotted six youths pulling underground cables into a truck at 0400 hours.

He approached the group and with the help of passersby apprehended two of the offenders. He later called a team member from the Corporate Security unit at Vodafone and together they escorted the suspects to a Police Station.

The damage caused in that incident was in excess of GH¢50,000 and affected 1,200 Vodafone customers.

Michael Mbroh, Head of Corporate Security, commenting on the actions of individuals said: “We are very grateful for the diligence and bravery of these community members. Cable thefts causes Vodafone Ghana huge financial losses but I think customers are now beginning to feel the impact of the actions of these thieves on their ability to communicate.

“We don’t ask customers to approach the suspects but we do urge them to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or call our short code 155 – it is manned 24-hour a day by a member of staff from our security department. We can only stamp out the menace of cable theft if we work together with the Police and members of the community as we are all affected by these illegal acts. We’re appealing to our customers to ‘own the Network’ in their areas and stay vigilant.”

The statement said network customers were becoming increasingly frustrated by the service interruptions caused by the indiscriminate cutting and theft of copper cables.

But the Corporate Security Department at Vodafone Ghana said it was working very closely with the Police to make sure all suspects were prosecuted to the full extent of the law and Police informers appropriately rewarded.

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Free SHS is bogus- Prez Mahama

Source: Peace FM Online

Tuesday’s Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) marathon Presidential Debate, between the four political parties with representation in Parliament, afforded President John Dramani Mahama of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, to engage each other in yet another biting exchange over the free Senior High School (SHS) education policy.

Whiles the NPP flag bearer reiterated his position of a free SHS policy, President Mahama noted that the foundation of education is weak and “an NDC government will rather concentrate and invest more at the basic level of the nation’s education; which is the foundation of our entire educational system.”

He explained to the audience that it was impossible to carry out the policy when it was crystal clear that several parts of the country lacked adequate infrastructure to support it.

President Mahama further pointed out that though the constitution enjoins all governments to make education progressively free, it does not lie in the “whimsical” promise of a party eager to win political power to make such pronouncements that cannot be achieved in the short term.

To him, Nana Addo was mounting the policy (free SHS) “on its head” and justified his comment with the following words.

“I am for making secondary education free but as I said, where you haven’t carried out your obligation to the ordinary people of this country and to the constitution…to say that your priority is to spend that money to make senior high school free when you still haven’t eliminated cost at the basic level…children are not able to have access even at the secondary level, infrastructure is not available for all children who qualify to go to school…that is a misplaced point and you(Nana Addo) are standing the whole process on its head,” President Mahama stated.

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I discharged myself well at IEA debate - President Mahama

Source: Joy Online

President John Mahama is patting himself as well as his party on the back, for their astounding performance at Tuesday’s IEA Presidential debate.

President Mahama resumed full campaign after a few days' break to attend to official duties and to also prepare for yesterday’s IEA Presidential debate.

The Presiednt said while he was telling Ghanaians what his party was doing to improve on the lots of Ghanaians, the other Presidential candidates were cataloguing what they plan doing for Ghanaians if they are elected.

He is optimistic the electorate will vote for him and the NDC, judging from their performance over the last four years.

The President was speaking at the Palace of Dalkpema Naa Mohammed Dawuni. “I think that the people of Ghana are discerning and they can see what this government has done in the short space of four years for them and they know that with what we have done, if we are given an additional term of office we will do even more than we have done already,” he noted.

President Mahama expressed optimism the NDC will be retained come December 7th, to enable it continues its better Ghana agenda.

The President earlier made a brief stop at the palace of the overload of Tamale Gulkpegu Naa Alhassan Abdulai who declared his support for the President and the NDC party.

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NPP and NDC are the same- Bishop Dag Heward-Mills

Source: Adom FM Online

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills of the mega church Lighthouse Chapel International says the only reason Ghanaians should exercise their democratic rights to change a government is to prevent one party from staying in power too long and becoming overly corrupt, but essentially both NPP and NDC are the same.

He was preaching at a special thanksgiving service to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of the University of Ghana Medical School, of which he is an alumnus.

Bishop Heward-Mills noted that both NPP and NDC have demonstrated gross incompetence in the area of meeting the basic needs of Ghanaians such as water, electricity, shelter and even food, and they have both failed to create the environment for wealth creation in the country.

While he was speaking the power went off, and he cited that as an example of the systemic failure of governments since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, emphasizing why Ghanaians should not see any political party as better than the other.

He said on the contrary, when NPP was in power, there were wild stories of corruption in government, and that created the impression that the folks in NDC were angels; but over the past four years NDC has also been in power there have been very wild stories of corruption about the NDC too.

“Corruption and the failure to provide the basic needs and infrastructure for Ghanaians to get out of poverty are the main common feature of both parties and that is what Ghanaians should be focusing on in order to prevent one of them from ruling for longer than necessary,” he said.

He said the elections should be a matter of ‘moko aya ni moko aba’, to wit, ‘someone should go for someone to come’ because “No matter which of the two is in power we can’t expect any marked difference in our lives.”

Bishop Heward-Mills said often times when he speaks about the politics of Ghana, people claim he and the church belong to one political party or the other.

“But I can assure you I have done two polls in my church I realize the church is sometimes 50% + 1 for one party and other times 50% + 1 for the other party – no one can say we belong to one political party,” he said. Why criticize government trained professionals turned preachers?

Bishop Heward-Mills also noted that several of those in politics were trained medical doctors like himself, but the public tend to criticize people like him for leaving the medical profession to preach after benefiting from government funds, but they do not criticize those who left the profession to do politics.

“It is wrong to say we have been trained with government funds and we have left the profession to preach – what about the politicians – haven’t they also left their professions to do politics?” he asked.

He mentioned Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, Dr. Richard Anane, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, and several medical practitioners turned politicians, but are not being criticized for doing so.

Bishop Heward-Mills said even though he does not practice medicine anymore, his church has established a hospital and his “Healing Jesus Crusade” team has also been running regular clinics everywhere they go, both in and outside of Ghana.

He said more serious cases discovered at the clinics are referred to the church’s hospital for further examination and treatment.

“Moreover, we combine our experience and knowledge as doctors with our calling as preachers to impact people’s lives in ways that other non-preaching medical doctors are not doing – we are helping people to find fulfillment in life, and to serve this country with the kind of honesty and loyalty that lots of the people who practicing their academically acquired skills are not doing,” he said.

Bishop Heward-Mills also sponsors the prize for the Best Pathology Student at the University of Ghana Medical School every year.

He has written hundreds of books, including the all time bestseller, Loyalty and Disloyalty, which has been translated into more than ten languages, including Russian and Korean.

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Abeiku Santana campaigns for President Mahama

Source: GNA

A group calling itself Movement for Mahama led by Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, formerly of BBC and Metro TV and Abeku Santana Aggrey of Hallo FM, have declared their support for the NDC and the President, John Dramani Mahama.

At a rally at Kawokudi junction over the weekend, Abeiku Santaana lauded the achievements and attributes of the current president saying these have attracted the group to him and the NDC.

He asked the gathering to keep their faith in Mr. John Dramani Mahama to turn things around, and praised the government for introducing the LESDEP initiative.

Mr. Santana said “I want the youth to vote for John Dramani Mahama because he is young, dynamic, focused and can deliver on his promises.”

He said “some Ghanaians were massacred in the Gambia, and it was John Mahama who brought their corpses to Ghana for re-burial with $500.000.00 compensation package for the deceased parents and spouses.”

Mr. Santana said the NDC has promised to turn the Polytechnics into Technical Universities and that to him was a better option than the free SHS policy of the NPP saying without educational facilities and logistics, one cannot implement free SHS.

He said a look at the President, who rose from being an Assemblyman, Member of Parliament, a Deputy Minister, a Minister of Communication, Vice-President and now Ghana’s substantive President, shows that he is humble, down-to-earth, accessible, industrious and a vibrant leader.

Draped in NDC Shirts with President Mahama’s picture, the media men sang, danced and urged all the youth in the country to vote massively in the coming elections for President Mahama.

They said “we have tasted wine and water, now we know the better taste so Ghanaians cannot afford to waste our votes”.

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Plot against Naa Torshie backfires

Source: Peace FM Online

An attempt by some residents of Sakumono Village in Tema, perceived to be National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, to discredit Irene Naa Torshie Addo, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, backfired yesterday.

A group, dubbed ‘Concerned Citizens of Sakumono’, is suspected to have been sponsored by the National Democratic Congres’s (NDC) parliamentary candidate and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, to tarnish the image of the incumbent MP, Naa Torshie Addo.

At a press conference organized by the group, some leaders of the group were seen taking to their heels when they saw Naa Torshie entering the venue for the conference.

The group had leveled several allegations against Naa Torshie, giving her 24 hours to answer them or face their wrath.

But minutes after the allegations were made, the MP stormed the press conference armed with documents to respond to the allegations.

Policemen from the Sakumono District Police Station, led by the District Police Commander, Superintendent Alex K. Wowolo, were called in to restore order when the incident nearly turned into a street fight between supporters of the two parties.

Evans Kofi Senefiawo, spokesperson for the alleged Ofosu Ampofo sponsored group, and unit committee member in Wolei Electoral Area in Sakumono Village, who earlier addressed the press conference, said his main problem was a polyclinic Naa Torshie had failed to build.

He claimed, “Our main aim of meeting the press today is to make it known to the people of Sakumono, voters of Tema West and Ghana at large on how our honorable Lady MP has consistently and still trying hard to deceive, misinform and to deliberately distort the facts in her bid to retain her seat in the upcoming elections.”

He added that Naa Torshie Addo, before becoming an MP, promised the constituents several developmental projects in 2008, but she failed to honour them.

Naa Torshie, in an interview with a section of the media, said she arrived at the scene not to interrupt the press conference but to respond to the false allegations raised by the group who had given her 24 hours to respond or face protest.

“If I have said something and it is not true, the way to react to it is to vote. I am at the land of my birth and I have served the people with all my heart,” she noted.According to her, she would not be deterred by ‘mafia tactics’ adopted by her main opponent, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who she described as ‘Tema fugitive’.

Ofosu Ampofo had contested at Fanteakwa Constituency in the Eastern Region where he was defeated twice in the last two elections. He is said to be seeking ‘refuge’ in Tema where he is said to be using money to win votes.

Touching on the polyclinic issue, Naa Torshie said the site for the land had been secured and leveled, with sponsors ready to invest in the construction of the polyclinic.

She explained that a permit to start the construction was what had become an impediment, adding that Ofosu-Ampofo was using his contacts and connections in government to stall the permit.

She added: “I have brought this document to respond to the allegations. We have secured the land which we are going to put up a polyclinic and it is left with last permit to build the polyclinic.”

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Gov’t had no business with Woyome – Witness

Source: Daily Guide

Kwaku Agyemang Manu, a former Deputy Minister for Finance, yesterday told an Accra Fast Track High Court, Financial Division, that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier and businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, was not sent by the government to source for funds for the construction of the Accra and Kumasi sports stadia.

The witness, who is Member of Parliament for Dorma West, told the court where Woyome is being tried in connection with the GH¢51.28 judgment debt payout, that there was the need to attach a disclaimer in a letter addressed to Austrian and United States (US) Bank when Woyome wanted a letter from the ministry to source for funds for the project.

He said this when he was giving his evidence-in chief led by Mathew Amponsah, a principal state attorney, in a court presided over by John Ajet-Nassam.

The MP consequently read out the letter which he said the ministry gave the accused person. The letter stated that he was not a staff of the ministry or a representative of the government so he was going on his accord, noting that the letter to the bank was to facilitate the process for Woyome.

Explaining the circumstances under which he met the accused person, the MP said in April 2005, after the advertisement for bids to build and reconstruct stadia for the Confederation of African Football (CAN) 2008, the accused person came to him and expressed interest in the process.

According to him, the process was such that the one who would be given the go-ahead to start work was to have enough money for the project so after Woyome came to him, he consulted his boss, the Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo.

He tendered the letter containing the disclaimer but said the original copy should be at the Finance Ministry.

Under cross-examination by Osafo Boabeng, counsel for Woyome, Agyeman Manu noted that he did not receive a term sheet from the accused person.

He said he was not part of the committee that evaluated the bid so he had very little to say about it.

When it was suggested to the former deputy minister that he knew Woyome was different from Vamed Engineering and that was why he separated Woyome from Vamed Enginnering in the letter containing the disclaimer, the witness explained he did not mean to say Vamed Engineering was different from Woyome but to say they were a team.

Mr. Boabeng then took the said letter and told Agyeman Manu that there was supposed to be a project letter so the letter the witness tendered was incomplete, to which the witness admitted and said the project letter would be at the ministry.

The case has been adjourned to today.

Mr Osafo Maafo, who had testified earlier, ended his testimony by maintaining that Woyome had no contract with the government.

He said that one of the aims of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) was to ensure judicious use of state funds.

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Mahama's ascension to the presidency is God ordained - Tamale Chief

Source: Radio XYZ Online

President John Mahama has paid a courtesy call on the overlord of Tamale, Gullkpe Naa, Alhassan Ziblim as he begins a campaign tour of the Tamale Metropolis a day after he participated in the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)presidential debate.

The president in a speech at the Tamale Palace noted that his visit to the chief has delayed due to the preparations towards Tuesday’s debate.

President Mahama will be addressing separate mini rallies in several parts of the Tamale Metropolis on Wednesday as part of his campaign in the area.

“I came to say thank you to my father the Gullkpe Naa… We are starting a campaign in the Tamale area today and since he is the overlord of Tamale, we have to come and pay our respect to him,” he said.

The president thanked the Gullkpe Naa for praying for victory for the NDC and added that he is certain of victory after the chief’s blessings.

For his part, the chief of Tamale through his spokesperson, assured the president that he has the full support of the community people in this year’s elections.

The chief said President John Mahama’s “ascension to the presidency is not by chance. It is ordained by the Almighty Allah. So whatever God has sown no amount of drought can wither it. It is God who has planted the president.”

The chief said he is praying to the Almighty Allah to give the NDC victory in the election. He said President Mahama will bear fruit for all Ghanaians to benefit from it.

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Presidential candidates will soon promise free sex - Kojo Twum Boafo

Source: Peace FM Online

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Free Zone Board, Kojo Twum Boafo says with the way some presidential aspirants are going on promising spree, one will soon promise free sex in Ghana.

Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo morning show on the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Akufo Addo's free Senior House School (SHS) policy, Mr. Boafo said the free SHS is not attainable.

According to him, Nana will promise and soon promise free sex in his campaign message.

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Panic grips Ghana Law School over dirty revelations

Source: The Herald

The last 48 hours has not been the same for students and staff of the Ghana Law School following revelations made by this newspaper.

The school, Ghana's citadel of legal education is bedeviled with serious administrative dishonesties: They are anxious to let the whole world know about the irreparable damage being done to the image of the school by people who are expected to man it.

The Herald has learnt that it is not only students and staff of the Ghana Law School who have been discussing the embarrassing revelation since the story broke but also practicing lawyers who have passed through the Ghana Law School.

“If you meet two or more people on our campus, they are discussing this embarrassing story and how people outside the school would take them. The story is the same on our Legon and KNUST campuses,” a student lamented to the paper.

Snippet of information gathered from the school indicate that the school's management has scheduled a crisis meeting this morning among members of the examination board of the school to, as a matter of urgency, review requests put in by some 105 students for a re-mark of their examination script.

Meanwhile, the former director of the Law School who has been caught in the middle of the examination scandal captured by this paper last Monday has fired a panic text message to this reporter, threatening to take a legal action against the paper if it does not drop the story and apologize.

Mr. George Agyemang Sarpong has also proceeded to file a writ of summons at the Accra High Court, Fast Track Division suing The Herald, its managing editor, editor and news editor and asking for aggravated damages and a restriction from further making any publication about him.

He also joined the host of Joy Fm morning show, Bernard Nasara Shaibu and the Multimedia Group of Company in the suit for reviewing the story that shocked the legal fraternity.

Ironically, although Mr. Sarpong, the immediate past Director of the Ghana Law School found time and space to tout his credentials as a reputable lawyer and consultant, he made no mention of the role he presided over as the director of the School which obviously is nothing to be proud of.

Even though The Herald has raised several issues surrounding the conduction, marking and release of the 2011/2012 examination result of the school, Mr. Sarpong appeared to have singled out the issue of Kweku Budu Agyemang, said to be his nephew, whom he was said to have tried smuggling unto the published list of lawyers to be called to the bar in the 2012 Academic year.

Conspicuously missing in the suit, are the grave issues about how the names of prospective local students who sat for the entry exams, passed, interviewed and awarded admissions are later replaced with ready-pay foreign students from universities from America and United Kingdom.