Ex-Ministers ordered to quit
Unilever robbed of 675m cedis, 5 held
New policy on cocoa out soon
I’ve not been awarded contract
Kwame Pianim on Kufuor’s 100 days
Kufuor to live in the Castle
VAT Service seizes GIHOC property
How Hajia Baby Ocansey shared the $1.5m
Fathia, Naa Morkor to get houses back
Emmanuel Ohene reacts to publication
NDC re-organising to win more members
GMA to probe doctor’s background
Kufuor’s man for narcotics board ditched
Ex-Ministers ordered to quit
Twenty former Ministers and their deputies still occupying government bungalows have been given up to Friday to quit to enable current Ministers to move in, reports The Ghanaian Times.
The state daily says the affected Ministers would be forcibly ejected by the Ejection Task Force of the Ministry of Works and Housing should they fail to comply with the order at the end of the deadline.
The sector Minister, Mr Kwamina Bartels, gave the ejection order during an interaction with newsmen in Accra on Monday.
This was after Mr Bartels and Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, jointly conducted newsmen round the Old Parliament House to assess the state of deterioration of the building.
Mr Bartels explained that the continued stay of the ex-Ministers in their bungalows was not only improper but illegal since they were given up to April 7 by the Joint Transitional Team to quit and make way for the incoming Ministers.
The ex-Ministers and their deputies have been issued with final notice to leave by 5 pm on Friday or have themselves to blame since they overstayed the three months period given them by the Joint Transitional Team.
Mr Bartels pointed out that at the moment, there was immense pressure on him by the new Ministers to get them official accommodation.
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Unilever robbed of 675m cedis, 5 held
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Friday arrested five people for allegedly using fake documents to steal over 675 million cedis belonging to Unilever Ghana Limited.
Three of them Safo Badu, of Sabasco Company, Peter Sallah, Accounts Supervisor and Opoku Arthur, an Accounts Clerk/Cashier, both of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), are currently in police custody helping with investigations.
The Ghanaian Times says two employees of Unilever were also arrested for interrogation but were granted bail on Saturday.
According to a Police source, the theft was detected by external auditors of Unilever during routine checks.
It said that after initial investigations by both companies, the case was reported to the police for further action.
The source disclosed that the suspects connived and falsified documents and invoices issued by the GPHA to Unilever for services GPHA had rendered.
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New policy on cocoa out soon
The Daily Graphic says the Government will, within the next two weeks, announce an aggressive cocoa policy, which will ensure that the bulk of the nation’s cocoa is processed locally to add value to it.
The measure, according to Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, will help reduce the frequent fall of the price of cocoa on the world market, which impact negatively on the nation’s economy.
Dr Apraku expressed optimism that the new cocoa policy will motivate farmers to produce more and to protect their farms so as to create more wealth for themselves.
The Trade Minister was addressing a seminar on trade and investment opportunities in Ghana at a Ghana-Dutch Trade meeting in Accra on Monday.
The seminar was attended by ministers, chief executives of both public and private manufacturing concerns, service providers, tour operators, bankers and investment consultants.
The objective of the seminar was to brief the visiting Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr Gerrit Ybema, on the trade policy of the Ghana Government and the enhancement of the private sector.
Participants also discussed Ghana’s good governance and zero tolerance for corruption, labour climate, property claims and the rule of law as well as the promising economic sectors.
Dr. Apraku said the government is also looking at the general industrial development of the country with the view to changing the traditional style of concentrating industries mainly in the Accra-Tema area.
“We will not be advancing the course of he country’s economic development if all industries are concentrated in the Accra and Tema metropolitan area,” Dr Apraku stressed.
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I’ve not been awarded contract
The Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, has objected to what he described as a concerted effort to snipe the NPP government with malicious lies in respect of the preservation of the government property.
Addressing a news conference on Monday, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey, who is also the Chief of Staff, expressed his indignation at some reports in the media, which he said, are suggestive of an impropriety in the award of contract for the renovation works at the Castle.
Giving an insight into the renovation works, he said a team was set up some weeks ago to make arrangements for the Presidency to move to the Castle.
As a first step, the team, which comprised himself, Dr Sam Somuah, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie of the Chief of Staff Office and Alhaji Alhassan Dawuni of the Works and Housing Ministry agreed that concepts and designs should be invited.
Quotations were sought from several companies for all the areas and submitted for preliminary evaluation.
The Minister of Works and Housing subsequently appointed Architectural and Engineering services Ltd (AESL) as consultants to the project. The AESL also made certain recommendations, it was learnt.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamtey maintained that there was no act of impropriety on his part with regard to the project.
Meanwhile, Mr Obetsebi Lamptey in a statement to the Graphic has categorically denied that he had been awarded a contract of 1.9 billion cedis to undertake the rehabilitations of the Castle at Osu.
This was contained in a rejoinder signed by Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey in reaction to a Ghana News Agency (GNA) report in Monday’s issue of the Daily Graphic which quoted the Minority leader Mr Alban Bagbin as saying that he is the owner of an unregistered company which has been awarded a contract on the project.
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Kwame Pianim on Kufuor’s 100 days
Mr Kwame Pianim, an economist and a former member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged all Ghanaians to play their roles effectively to ensure that the Kufuor administration succeeds.
Pianim, who was assessing the 100 days in office of the Kufuor government noted however that it will be unfair for Ghanaians to assess President Kufuor alone ‘without asking ourselves what all of us have done in the 100 days’.
Speaking on Joy FM’s breakfast show on Monday, he said the economy was in a worse state than anybody had imagined.
‘Kufuor has brought a refreshing dimension into the running of the government,’ he said and added that 100 days in the life of a government is just too short a period to make any serious assessment of its performance.
He said the best judgement that must be looked at in the 100 days of the new government is the calibre of people the President selected to form his government.
He was however not happy that Parliament did not stay in to ensure that the deputy Ministers designate were approved to enable the government to be in full control to properly run the affairs of the state.
Pianim also added that if any assessment at all should be made of Kufuor’s administration, then the whole government must be seen in the light of what each minister has been able to do within the period.
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Kufuor to live in the Castle
President J.A. Kufuor says he is consulting with his family on the use of the Castle as his residence.
He said his decision to move out from his own house where he commutes daily to the State House and the Castle for official duties, is based on the inconvenience caused by his motorcade.
The President said he would stay in the Castle on weekdays and spend weekends in his home.
The President made these observations in an interview with Kwaku-Sakyi Addo, a journalist, on the GTV programme – “Kwaku one-on-one” on Sunday evening.
The President, who appeared very relaxed, stressed the need for the nation to have a decent presidential mansion as obtains in other countries.
President Kufuor lamented over the deterioration of the Flagstaff House residence of the first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and wondered why it has been neglected to that extent.
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VAT Service seizes GIHOC property
The VAT Service had seized seven vehicles and two air-conditioners belonging to the GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited for defaulting in the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to over 420 million cedis and Excise Duty amounting to 789 million cedis, all inclusive of interest, accrued to the company.
These amounts are in respect to payments due, as at the end of last year and for which the items would be auctioned after a two-week ultimatum given to the company.
The bonded ware-house, finished goods ware-house and the materials ware-house of the company had also been under heavily lock under the supervision of VAT officials who stormed the company’s premises last Thursday.
GIHOC Distilleries, a major manufacturing outfit in hard liquor with international recognition, had enjoyed much favour in the past Rawlings administration as its Managing Director is in the person of Ms Sherry Ayittey, one of the big shots of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Because of the nearly 20 years governance of political influence the company had enjoyed form the past administration, it did not in the least anticipate that the company would be held up in such a hard fix.
Speaking with the Chronicle the Solicitor for the VAT Service, Mr James Benson, who is at the helm of the exercise, intimated that series of letters to GIHOC Distrilleries Company through their Managing Director to pay for monies owned to the VAT Service, had yielded no response.
He noted that it is for this reason that the exercise was carried out.
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How Hajia Baby Ocansey shared the $1.5m
The prosecution in the Hajia Baby trial on Monday revealed how Hajia Baby Ocansey, the businesswoman charged with stealing $1.5 million, belonging to he Bank of Ghana, belonging to the Bank of Ghana, disbursed some of the cash to her relatives, friends and aides, and also bought property.
The Principal State Attorney, Mr Anthony Gyambiby, who was leading the prosecution, told the regional Tribunal, hearing the case, that investigation conducted by the prosecution had disclosed that Hajia Baby Ocansey soon after she had cashed the money bought a house at the cost of $120,000 at Gbawe, a suburb of Accra, and then packed out of her house at Abeka Lapaz and relocated at her new house before she went underground.
Prosecution further disclosed that during their investigation it emerged that Hajia Baby Ocansey bought gold and diamond ornaments at the cost of $150,000 and $350,000 respectively.
Mr Gyambiby, presenting the facts of the case to the court, presided over by Justice I.K. Duose, further revealed that Hajia Baby Ocansey dished out $70,000 from the $1.5 million to one Aboagye for him to purchase a brand new car from New York for her personal use after she had already bought five cars and registered those cars in the name of one of her daughters, Nafisatu.
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Fathia, Naa Morkor to get houses back
Madam Fathia Nkrumah and Mrs Naa Morkor Busia, wives of ex-President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and ex-Prime Minister Dr K.A. Busia respectively, will at long last effectively get their confiscated houses back.
The Crusading Guide says this was disclosed to it by a source close to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government.
According to the source, this decision taken by the NPP Government will be announced in the course of the week.
In the case of Naa Morrkor, it will be recalled that her husband’s house, located at Odorkor in Accra, even though was declared deconfiscated by the Rawlings’ government at the latter part of his tenure of office, it was still being used by his (Rawlings) Commandos.
The NPP Government, our source said, has decided to extend an unconditional invitation to Fathia, to Ghana.
The source said Fathia is free to come to Ghana and leave at any time or even stay permanently.
Fathia’s house located at Labone in Accra and built specifically for her by the Acheampong Government in 1976, was seized by Rawlings after his 1981 coup.
And for the past 14 years, the house has been the abode of Mr Justice D.F. Annan, immediate past Speaker of Ghana’s 4th Republican Parliament.
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Emmanuel Ohene reacts to publication
The Attorney for Mr Emmanuel Ohene has reacted to The Crusading Guide story with the headline “Ohene to Head SFO”, published, in the 5th to 11th March edition of this paper.
The Attorney, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, a partner of Lexicom Associates, a firm in Accra, in a rejoinder on behalf of his client, stated that Emmanuel Ohene had been a founding Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since its formation and President Kufuor (then candidate) personally invited him to serve on the National Campaign Committee which he did with distinction long before his sister, Elizabeth Ohene, returned from Britain in September 2000.
The attorney pointed out that his client had said that in the period immediately preceding the elections, he, his sister and their brother, Dr Ohene, were among he few Ewes who criss-crossed the length and breadth of the Volta Region and counselled the Ewes about the danger of their unshakeably entrenched positions – the anti-Akan and dogged pro-NDC stance.
It is my client’s submission therefore, that if indeed President Kufuor has in his wisdom ever considered appointing him to a position within his administration, it would be purely on the basis of his competence, and not through the advantage’ of having his sister as a member of President Kufuor’s government. My client, therefore takes great exception of nepotism levelled against the Kufuor administration”, stated Mr Afram.
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NDC Re-Organising to win more members
Dr Obed Asamoah, Chairman of the National Re-organisation Committee of the NDC, said at Wa on Saturday that the on-going re-organisation process of the party is aimed, among other things, at making the NDC “a little more attractive to entice others to join the party”.
According to the Ghana Palaver, Dr Asamoah, who was addressing the Upper West Regional Executives of the party, said this is to create a battle ready fighting machine for the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He explained the importance of wooing supporters of the PNC, CPP and NRP to the NDC, saying: “politics is a game of numbers, and increasing a party’s power base involves winning elements that did not support you to one’s side”.
He said the re-organisation process would also enable the party to sieve off opportunists.
Dr Asamoah noted that unlike the recent past when the party had a lot of gravy to share, the situation now demands dedication and sacrifice from all supporters.
He suggested the payment of dues by members since money is important to the running of the party.
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GMA to probe doctor’s background
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has tasked its Ashanti Regional branch to investigate the background of Dr Yaque Mensah, who has been arrested in connection with the death of one Madam Fati Walla in Kumasi.
Dr Mensah, who operates the Bosumtwe Clinic in Kumasi, was last week arrested together with a nurse when Madam Walla, who was said to have attended his clinic, was later found dead, the association disclosed during an interaction with newsmen at the close of its second ‘Representative Board Meeting’ at Cape Coast.
Members of the association were concerned about the fact that all manner of persons are parading as medical practitioners. They said the association has taken a serious view of the situation and gave the assurance that the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, is doing its best to investigate cases of malpractice to enable it to take the necessary action.
They were, however, of the view that the media could partly be blamed, since according to them, it does not hesitate in according the title of doctor on anyone who practices orthodox or traditional medicine.
Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, GMA President, expressed misgivings about the claims about the use of herbs to cure all manner of ailments including AIDS, adding that GMA is not against traditional herbal practice per se, but is concerned about the practice where a single herb is claimed to be the panacea for all ailments.
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Kufuor’s man for narcotics board ditched
Contrary to a well-publicized announcement that, Mr Yaw Donkor, the ex-boss of the Bureau of National Investigations (NBI) had been posted to take over as the head of the Narcotics Board of Ghana, The Independent says it can reveal today that he is still in a limbo, uncertain to pick up the offer.
It may be recalled that The Independent in its February 13th 2001 issue, reported that Yaw Donkor who headed the BNI for over six years had been relieved of his post and transferred to the Narcotics Board to take over from Mr Kofi Quantson.
This fact was confirmed in a telephone interview by the Honourable Minister of Interior, whose jurisdiction covers both the Narcotics Board and the BNI, and a few days later reiterated in an interview with Joy FM that Mr Donkor had been posted to the Narcotics Board as head.
But almost two and half months, later, Yaw Donkor is still not at post.
When The Independent visited Narcotics Board secretariat situated within the Ministry of Interior, we learnt that one Colonel I.K. Ackuacku had been appointed as the substantive head of the Board and was already at post.
The Independent says it was reliably informed that the new head assumed duty on March 26, 2001.
In a telephone interview with the Interior Minister Alhaji Malik Alhassan for confirmation on the status of the new boss of the Board, he disclosed that there was already a substantive head with two deputies.
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