Victor Selormey, former Deputy Minister of Finance, facing trial in the 1.2 million dollar court computerization project, on Thursday failed to produce in court, Dr Frederick Owusu Boadu of Leebda Corporation of Texas, USA, The Ghanaian Times reports.

Defence counsel explained that the seven days given by the court was not enough for them to get Dr Owusu Boadu from Texas to Accra to testify for the defence.

The fast-track court, therefore, adjourned proceedings until August 9, to grant the accused sufficient time to produce Dr Owusu Boadu of Leebda.

These were after the defence counsel, led by Mr J.B. Quarshie Idun who was for the first time appearing for the accused, withdrew earlier application for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of an appeal filed at the Appeal Court.

Selormey is said to have conspired with Dr Owusu Boadu, a consultant to cause financial loss of 1.2 million dollars to the state. He is said to have authorized the transfer of the money to Dr Owusu Boadu of Leebda Corporation, being payment for the court computerization project, which according to prosecution, was not executed.

Selormey is answering a charge of conspiracy and causing financial loss to the state and is on a ¢1.5 billion bail with two sureties to be justified. He has pleaded not guilty.

The appeal filed by the defence, was against the refusal of the court to admit in evidence two exhibits that are the indices of a letter tendered in evidence by the representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Sam Awortwe.

The second exhibit was the CD-rom, which the court would not allow to be tendered through solicitors of Leebda and Dr Owusu Boadu, Brown Larbi, Beecham and Company.

Counsel for defence earlier told the court that it had filed the motion for stay of proceedings in order to obtain enough time to bring down the witness (Dr Owusu Boadu) from Texas.

He submitted that because of the Homecoming summit and the impending PANAFEST, it was difficult for the witness to book a flight within the seven days granted by the court.

According to him, the witness, who is a signatory to the contract purported to have been signed between the government and Leebda, had communicated to the accused that the earliest he could get to Accra would be on August 6.

He explained also that it was impossible for the accused to anticipate that the documents would not be allowed to be tendered in evidence through the other witnesses.

After a lengthy exchange on the issue, counsel decided to withdraw the application and the appeals before the Court of Appeal with liberty in order for the High Court to exercise its discretion.

Mr Quarshie-Idun had earlier prayed the court to review its decision of not admitting in evidence, the two exhibits mentioned, stating that their admittance would help the accused in his defence.

More…/

Parliament accuses media for misreporting

The media came under fire on Thursday for persistently misreporting and misinterpreting proceedings.

They were accused of intentionally attacking Members of Parliament and misreporting about them and consequently urged to be circumspect in their reportage.

Members felt that it was about time action was taken against media practitioners who violated the rules of the House because that aside, the constitution enjoined it (The House) to punish them for contempt.

They cited the GTV and 'The Independent' for misreporting Wednesday's proceedings of the House, especially issues raised by some minority members.

There would have been heated debate but for the Speaker's able handling of events. This was because Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP, Abuakwa) rose to condemn the action of some members, and his action was criticized by the Minority side.

Nana said that they (members) would have been crucifying the media everyday if some of them had been bringing issues raised by the Democrat and the Palaver newspapers onto the floor.

And as the Minority group reacted shouting: “Who are you? Who are you”, the speaker intervened and called for order.

More…/

He is dead!

A 90-year-old man jailed for defilement at Techiman, whose plight the 'Times' published on Thursday, has died.

The nonagenarian, Sulemana Basare, died at the Sunyani Government Hospital on Tuesday, 11 days after he was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Techiman Circuit Tribunal on a charge of defiling a 16-year-old girl.

According to the medical report, he died of "Senile dimentia" which resulted in his inability to control his stool and urine.

The 'Times' reported that the officers of the Sunyani Central Prisons where he had been sent had expressed doubts as to whether he actually committed the offence, considering his state of health and physical condition. They called on the authorities to pardon and release him.

Mr Richard Kuuire, Director General of Prisons Service disclosed the old man’s death to the paper in a telephone interview on Thursday.

He said that the Ghana Prisons had planned to make a case to President Kufuor for amnesty because of his age and health condition.

Mr Kuuire said that the conviction of Sulemana, even in the state in which he was underscored the urgent need to introduce non-custodial sentences which the service had been agitating for.

The Prisons boss said that if such non-custodial sentences were introduced, "appropriate sentences would be found for cases such as this unique one".

He asked the Government to critically consider the health situation in prisons and ensure that prisoners were granted exemptions where they were destitute.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Weekend Statesman

Dual citizenship begins November

The Weekend Statesman reports that the Dual Citizenship Act, which seeks to allow Ghanaians to take the citizenship of another country, is to come into effect in the first week of November.

The Act was enacted by the lst Parliament but was not given presidential assent and the regulations that had to be passed to implement it were not laid before Parliament was dissolved.

To this end, a Legislative Instrument (LI 1690) for the Citizenship Regulations made under the Citizenship Act, together with the Immigration Regulations (LI. 1691), made under the Immigration Act, have now been laid before Parliament.

The Attorney-General, Nana Akufo-Addo, told participants at the just concluded Homecoming Summit that the delay had been occasioned by the coming recess of the House. He expressed regret that the regulations had not come into force by the time of the summit.

The Attorney-General said Parliament should be prevailed upon to take a second look at some provisions of the Act which have been the subject of criticism.

The Dual Citizenship Act, he said, should be no circumstances under which Ghanaian citizenship is inalienable. There should be no circumstances under which Ghanaian law would permit the forfeiture or renunciation of Ghanaian citizenship. The slogan, he said, should be "Once a Ghanaian, Always a Ghanaian."

He said the Act need not confer second-class citizenship on overseas Ghanaians, because of the ban it places on them from occupying a host of important public positions, as set out in Section 16 (2) of the Act.

"I am aware that in some countries, the holding of dual citizenship does not carry with it any such consequences. This is another sensitive matter. In the present climate, it may be that Parliament should look at this matter also again," he said. He expressed the hope that when the Act comes into force it would formalize the link between them and their motherland.

Nana Akufo-Addo asked Ghanaians living abroad to facilitate the process of mobilisation to transform the conditions of the people and the nation at large.

"You have special gifts to bring to bear on that process, since most of you work in the heart of the developed capitalist world and know what to do move our country forward," he said.

More…/

Traditional medicine now to get school

The Ministry of Health is to establish a Traditional Medicine School, where interested people can be trained to become government approved traditional medicine practitioners.

The Minister of Health, Dr Richard Anane, who made this known at a two-day International Conference and Exhibition on Traditional Medicine in Accra said owing to the important role of traditional medicine in the healthcare delivery system of the country, the practice cannot continue to be performed through inheritance.

Dr Anane also disclosed that the ministry is on the verge of completing a training manual for the training of practitioners at the basic level.

"It is time to embark on innovative ways of collecting information on African traditional medicine, which can be used for the benefit of mankind," he said.

The Minister warned practitioners against the continued flouting of the law concerning the advertising of traditional medicine.

"We know some of these products are potent but once they have not been registered with the Food and Drugs Board, they cannot be sold to the public and hence cannot be advertised anywhere," he stressed.

He called for the cooperation of all practitioners to enforce the legal provision to protect the citizens and asked them to register with the Food and Drugs Board.

Dr Anane also expressed his displeasure about some of the practitioners, who take advantage of their patients especially with regard to the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

He said much as the ministry would be happy for them to come out with potent drugs to cure the deadly disease, information on such drug should be made available to officials for proper examination.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Daily Graphic

Let's unite to fight crime

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hackan Owusu-Agyemang, has called for closer collaboration between Ghana and Nigeria to help stem the rising crime rates in both countries, reports the Daily Graphic.

He noted that sustainable development cannot be achieved without peace and adequate security in the West African sub-region and called for maximum cooperation between the two to ensure peace within the two countries.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang made the call when a 14-member delegation from the House of Representatives of Nigeria called on him in Accra on Thursday.

The delegation is in the country to strengthen relations between their respective Parliaments.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang expressed concern about the involvement of some Nigerians in crimes such as armed robbery and drug peddling in Ghana and said the government would not compromise its stand on maintaining law and order.

The Foreign Minister said Ghana and Nigeria have been playing significant roles in the region's quest for peace and stability and indicated that anything contrary to these objectives will not be tolerated.

He said the task of ensuring peace in the region is Herculean but with cooperation among the law enforcement agencies of the respective countries, better understanding and the determination of their people, a lot would be achieved.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang was hopeful that collaboration between the two countries in the field of transportation, education, and the development of infrastruture would promote the interest of the people.

The leader of the delegation, Mr Chimaobi Nwakanma, underlined the need for dialogue to build effective bridges between the two countries.

He called for the establishment of structures to address the issue of a common currency for he sub-region.

Mr Nwakanma commended the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity for their vision.

More…/

'Redouble efforts towards single currency realisation'

The 5^th meeting of the Convergence Council of the Second Monetary Zone for West Africa opened at Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday with a call on member states to redouble their efforts towards the realization of a single currency in 2004.

Ministers of Economic Cooperation and Integration, Governors of Central Banks, or their representatives are attending the meeting.

The Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Lansana Kouyate, told the opening ceremony that the momentum to integrate the sub-region must be kept to achieve the desired objective.

Such effort, he stressed, requires that there should be fiscal and monetary discipline.

He was happy with the commitment and response from the various countries.

He, however, suggested that the efforts of the French-speaking countries should spur on those in the Second Monetary Zone so that they could review their policies, which will speed up the process.

Mr Kouyate said preparations are underway towards the adoption of an ECOWAS common external tariff, to complete the creation on a West African Customs Union.

On his part, Nigerian's Minister for Cooperation and Integration, Chief Dr Bimbola Ogunkelu, commended Ghana for the support it has given to the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI).

He commended the director of WAMI, Dr M.O. Ojo and his able staff and urged them not to relent in their efforts.

The meeting will consider the various laws governing the respective countries in the Second Monetary Zone must be educated because the initiative is in their interest.

Ghana's delegation include Deputy Trade and Industries Minister, Mr Boniface Abubakar Sadique; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mustapha Iddris Ali; Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr G.K. Adombila Agambila, whilst Mr Daniel Seidu, Advisor, Bank of Ghana, represented the Governor.

More…/

No ambiguity in constitutional provision

The Ghana Bar Association has stated that there is no ambiguity in the constitutional provision on the tenure of office of the President of the Republic.

It said the presidential term of office as stated in the 1992 Constitution is sufficiently plain and unambiguous and that there is no need for any amendment of the provisions nor is there the need to seek any interpretation of these articles in the Supreme court.

Speaking at the presidential lunch in Accra on Thursday, the President of the association, Mr Ebo Quarshie said the bar was compelled to consult its legal committee on whether there was any ambiguity with the President’s term of office after a prominent retired Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice N.Y.B. Adade raised the issue at a lecture in Accra.

He said the committee considered that the most crucial issue is whether the two Presidential terms after which a ban is imposed ought to be served consequently and whether the constitutional provisions are ambiguous.

Mr Quarshie said the committee critically considered Articles 60 and 66 of he constitution and is of the opinion that the words "four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President means simply that the President has to do four years to constitute a term" adding "the words do not imply two consecutive terms."

He said the President may lose an election, drop out and come to serve another four years.

Mr Quarshie said after serving the other four year term, the same person or individual shall be barred from contesting elections all over again as President of the Republic adding "clause (2) of Article 66 on the indefinite ban does not admit of any ambiguity".

"In the opinion of the bar the words "shall not be elected" means the person who had served two terms shall not be eligible to even be nominated since nomination for elections, therefore, makes the ban absolute and definite," he said.

He said contrary to the opinion and anxiety of Mr Adade, the provisions dealing with the Vice President's tenure rather throws more light on the President's term and therefore, admit of no ambiguity.

More…/

Need to change sexual behaviour

The Metropolitan Director of Health Services for Shama Ahanta East, Dr Linda Van-Otoo, has stated that there is an urgent need for a change in sexual behaviour to reduce the current 4.6 infection rate of the HIV/AIDS disease in the country.

She said Ghana is now said to be the second West African country worse hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the 11^th on the continent and this makes the disease threatening to the nation.

She was speaking at the opening of a Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) exhibition for girls at Saltpond in the Central Region.

The exhibition was organized by the Mfantsiman District Directorate of Education and the District STME Office to promote science and technology studies among girls.

Dr Van-Otoo said it is known that only 30 to 40 per cent of AIDS cases are reported and this means the issue is bigger than it's known.

She said considering the fact that the disease is found mostly in people between the ages of 15-40, it could have very adverse effects on the socio-economic advancement of the country sooner than anticipated.

She, therefore, urged district assemblies to join in the campaign to educate communities on the disease to curb its rapid spread.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Accra Mail

'NPP will maintain congenial investment atmosphere'

The Accra Mail quotes Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama as saying on Wednesday that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will continue to maintain the existing congenial political and investment atmosphere.

He said the major focus will be political stability, safety of investors and their assets and opportunity to make profits.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama was delivering a speech to mark the closing ceremony of the Homecoming Summit in Accra. The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) under the auspices of the Government of Ghana organized the three-day summit dubbed, 'Harnessing the Global Ghanaian Resource Potential for Accelerated National Development'.

The Vice President said the government will create modern infrastructure and provide a stable incentive system to help improve investment. He was of the view that for continued economic progress, Ghana's growing democracy, which has crossed the point of no return from military adventurism, should remain stable.

Aliu Mahama said in order to encourage investment and savings the government will promote the creation of wealth by ensuring a stable economic environment. In addition he said export will also be a major priority of the government.

"These are the challenges that confront us. Fortunately, as a government we have the team that has commitment, determination and the vision to move Ghana forward. We also have the goodwill of the people of Ghana," he said.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama lamented that in spite of Ghana's abundant wealth, which offers a wide range of investment opportunities for both local and foreign investors, basic human needs such as shelter, food, water, clothing and good health remain unmet.

He therefore called on the participants to come back home and contribute towards the nation's growth. He said the government recognises the role that both foreign and domestic private investment can play in transforming Ghana's economy.

It is against this reasons, he said, that "President Kufuor has embarked on vigorous investment promotion trips overseas to attract direct foreign investment into the country."

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Evening News

Minister stops ¢3 billion printing contract

The Evening News says the Minister of Finance, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo, has moved swiftly to stop the award of contract for the printing of Tax Invoice and Hotel/Restaurant receipt books as requested by the Controller and accountant-General's Department.

The contract worth close to ¢3 billion was for the printing of 30,000 Tax Invoices and 20,000 Hotel/Restaurant receipt books.

Information available to the paper reveal that FONSTAT Limited which won the bid out of three other printing houses - IKAM, Buckpres and Safeway - has already been advanced ¢1 billion.

The Minister's action followed the detection of some discrepancies in the price quotations as presented by the Tender Board.

The paper’s investigations show that, one other company, Checkpoint Ghana, which had since 1998, been printing the invoices at ¢15,000 per booklet approached the Controller and Accountant-General's Department for an up review of the unit price to ¢26,000 in view of the rising cost of materials.

However, in line with the government's avowed commitment to the principles of transparency, the Minister was said to have ordered that the contract should go to tender.

During the evaluation, FONSTAT, which quoted the lowest bid per unit was awarded the contract. The company, quoted ¢62,000 per unit for the 30,000 Tax Invoice booklets and ¢20,000 each for the 55,000 Hotel/Restaurant receipt books.

Not quite long, however, the Accountant-General's department realized that, there was an acute shortage of the booklets in the system and since FONSTAT was yet to get mobilized for the job, they decided to fall on the original printing house, Checkpoint, for assistance.

Checkpoint, whose original offer of ¢26,000 per unit was rejected, was asked to print 5,000 booklets at ¢30,000 per booklet.

When the Minister got wind of this development, he got furious, wondering how an offer of ¢26,000 could be rejected in favour of ¢30,000 per unit.

He subsequently, directed the Tender Board to suspend the contract.

More…/

Selormey and Abodakpi again?

The troubles of the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Victor Selormey, currently facing trial over what is now known as the 'LEEBDA Affair' appear not yet over.

Police CID sources have hinted that the former Minister and Mr Dan Abodakpi, former Minister of Trade and Industry, would soon face fresh charges in connection with a transfer of 102,000 US dollars to Dr Frederick Owusu Buadu of LEEBDA, Corporation, Texas U.S.A.

According to a Police CID source, the amount was in respect of payment for Consultancy services to enhance Private Sector Participation through Legislative and Administrative Reforms.

It said the case was distinct from the one Mr Selormey was currently standing trial for at the Fast Track court.

Investigations conducted so far, the source explained, have led to the establishment of the fact that no such consultancy service was provided for the contract that was signed in 1998, with the two Ministers as the principal characters involved.

It said Police investigations have it that no work was executed under the contract signed by the two former ministers, yet the 102,000 dollars was transferred to Dr Buadu of LEEBDA Corporation, Texas.

The source said the contract was signed by Selormey and Abodakpi personally without the knowledge of government which was normally the procedure.

The docket on the two, it was said, have been forwarded to the Attorney-General's Department for formal charges to be preferred against them.

It explained that, the charges as well as the time that they would be arraigned before court might depend on the A-G department.

GRi…/

Return to top

The Dispatch

Kufuor's anger at Minister

It is now becoming increasingly clear that President John Kufuor's zero tolerance is not only against corruption, says The Dispatch.

It is also against high handedness, official arrogance and disrespect for the rule of law.

It is the President's zero tolerance against these that the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze a.k.a 'Loose Cannon' has incurred the President's wrath and his job is on the line.

As the minister, also a Member of Parliament, goes round some chiefs to plead for another chance, credible sources have indicated that the President has asked the him to render apologies to the driver and the passengers of the taxi cab that were sent running, after his bodyguard fired warning shots.

The President is also expected to demand a letter from the Minister, "promising to be of good behaviour henceforth".

It will be recalled that early this week, The Ghanaian Chronicle published a story of how the Minister, in a typical road rage and using his bodyguard, allegedly seized a taxi cab that he thought was being driven recklessly at Suhum in the Eastern Region.

The Minister then ordered his driver to drive the taxi cab to Cape Coast where he parked it at the Residency.

More…/

Egypt awards 16 Ghanaians scholarships

Egypt has awarded scholarships to 16 Ghanaians to pursue vocational and technical educational programmes in that country.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Monein Taallet, disclosed this when he recently paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister for Education, Hon Rashid Bawa, to congratulate him on his appointment.

The scholarship awards, Mr Taallet explained, are in accordance with Egypt's policy of assistance to Ghanaians, particularly Muslims, with specific emphasis on vocational and technical education.

The envoy called for increased collaboration between his country and the Ministry of Education.

He added that the Egyptian government had in the past been training Imams, who are seen as opinion leaders in various communities. He said Egypt was considering bringing Egyptian scholars into the country to train Imams locally instead of sending them outside the country.

In his response, Hon. Bawa reiterated government's determination to strengthen the country's middle level manpower by equipping vocational and technical institutions to offer worthwhile avenues for brilliant students who do not otherwise get access to any of the nation's universities.

He said this policy will help bridge the gap in educational standards between rural and urban dwellers as well as increase employment opportunities for the youth.

Hon. Bawa said his ministry would endeavour to monitor the performance of all who benefit from Egyptian scholarship to make sure they contribute their quota to the country's development.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Daily Guide

Playboy pastor grabbed

A playboy man of the gospel, who colluded with his teenage girlfriend and one other person to deprive a Kumasi based businessman of an amount of ¢110 million, has found himself in the jaws of the law, according to The Daily Guide.

The man-of-god, one Emmanuel Amoako, 26, is a pastor at the Grace International Church in Kumsi. He is also the boyfriend of Akosua Kosi, 19, a house-help of the Kumasi based businessman.

The pastor is said to have plotted with one other person by name, Kofi Asamoah, a friend of his, to steal the amount of ¢110 million from the bank account of Kosi's master, Mr Kofi Takyi.

They pleaded guilty to the charged and were convicted on their own pleas by Justice Ernest Obimpeh a Kumsi Circuit Count Judge.

They would however be formally sentenced on August 1, 2001, according to the Judge.

Akosua who is a house-help (maidservant) stole the money from the bank account of her master, Mr Kofi Takyi, Director of Tabek Company Ltd., dealers in iron rods and allegedly gave it to her boyfriend, Pastor Amoako for safe-keeping .

But luck eluded Akosua and her pastor boyfriend when after a detection of the theft, the owner, Mr Takyi reported the matter to the police which led to the arrest of the pastor, the maidservant and one other person, who is a friend of the pastor.

They however pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and dishonestly receiving and were subsequently convicted on their own pleas by Justice Obimpeh.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Ghanaian Chronicle

Ghanair to lose ¢4.776 billion

The Ghanaian Chronicle says the Ghana Airways would lose over $700,000 (¢4.76 billion) by the weekend as a result of its inability to fly down over 300 stranded passengers from the Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport in Maryland, USA.

The paper learnt of the possible loss of the money in an interview with Ghanair's head of flight Operations and Chairman of the Management Task Force, Captain Kofi Kwaka, and Mr Joe Brown, head of Engineering and member of the Management Task Force on Wednesday afternoon.

"We are going to lose $700,000 as a result of this," Kwaka said.

Though the Chronicle failed to immediately probe the reasons for the loss of the amount, sources at the White Avenue headquaters of the airline told the paper on Thursday that the amount involved could be more.

The amount represents the loss of revenue that Ghanir would have generated from its botched flight to Accra, including airfares for flying down the stranded passengers and payments for their luggage to Accra.

As at Thursday evening, Ghanair was seeking to charter a plane to fly down its passengers, most of whom are returning home for the just-ended Homecoming Summit and this week's Pan African Festival (Panafest).

The flight from BWI airport was botched because a forklift being used to lift goods onto the Ghanair flight accidentally punctured the body of the plane, rendering it in-operational.

The national carrier over booked 276-seater flight was expected to return to Accra Sunday night from Baltimore, capital of the US State of Maryland.

It was billed to return to pick up more passengers within the week.

More…/

Odinga Odinga to be deported

The controversial Belize national and personal friend of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, Albert Odinga Odinga, is to be sent back to his country of origin, according.

Information made available to the paper by the Deputy Minister of Interior, Hon. Yaw Barimah on Thursday, revealed that Odinga Odinga, who is also facing trial at the Osu Community Tribunal, will be thrown out of the country for entering the country illegally and living without the necessary residential documents. Efforts are already underway in that regard.

Admitting that he is not quite informed of the current state of affairs at the Interior Ministry, he said he was however certain that Odinga Odinga will be deported, adding once he came in illegally, a way must be found to get him out.

Albert Odinga Odinga was picked up by security agency personnel several weeks ago at one of the premises near ex-President Rawlings' house.

More…/

'Declare Kufuor automatic choice'

The Asante Akim North Constituency of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for President J.A. Kufuor to be declared the automatic choice for the year 2004 Presidential elections.

This, according to the party, is in recognition of the good leadership skills he (President Kufuor) has exhibited so far in not only rebuilding the country through sound economic policies, but also in trying to heal the wounds of the past and fostering national unity.

In a seven-point resolution passed and adopted by the constituency's delegates conference at Konongo at the weekend, it called on the national executive committee of the party to consider its suggestion since the task ahead is arduous as far as restructuring the economy is concerned but not insurmountable considering his level of commitment.

The constituency's resolution, sign by Nana Asabre and Mr Agyemang Duku, chairman and secretary respectively called for vehicles to be acquired for every constituency to ensure effective campaigning towards the next general elections.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Graphic Sports

Mallah pleads for Mallam

A plea for Presidential pardon for the gaoled former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Isa, has been put in by a former Board Chairman and Patron of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), Mr Assad Mallah, reports the Graphic Sports.

The plea comes “in the spirit of true sportsmanship where defeat and success are both accepted in good faith”, Assad Mallah said philosophically on Thursday.

In a special statement of appeal to His Excellency the President, it was Assad Mallah’s contention that the former minister had suffered enough disgrace by his dismissal from the government and “the fact that the President has made a strong case for his zero tolerance for corruption”.

The SWAG Patron who said he found the behaviour of Mallam Isa very childish and the whole case “rather disgraceful for Ghana Sports in general”, however, pleaded with the President “to temper justice with mercy by granting Mallam pardon while asking him to pay back the money in full with interest at the prevailing bank rate”.

Mr Assad Mallah stressed the bizarre circumstances under which the money got missing and pleaded with the President to give Mallam the benefit of the doubt while allowing further investigations into its loss to continue until the mystery surrounding it is unraveled to put at rest the minds of the entire public and end once and for all the media debate.

Meanwhile, the outgoing General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Mr Worlanyo Agra, has denied allegations that he tried to influence the outcome of Mallam Isa’s court case on the missing $46,000.

In a press statement, Mr Agra said he never asked Alhaji Tanko, a legal adviser of the GFA to plead with Mr Ambrose Dery, Mallam Isa’s counsel, not to mention his (Agra) foreign bank account in court.

The outgoing FA scribe, however, admitted seeking advice from Alhaji Tanko as legal adviser to the GFA, but did not on any occasion ask him to approach the defence counsel on his behalf.

Agra also admitted having foreign account because as CAF match commissioner, “I am required to operate a foreign account through which my allowances are paid.

He said the police that investigated the missing $46,000 did a thorough check on the account as part of their scrutiny and found no reason to indict me. “They said my foreign account did not relate to the case. In fact, the last time any money was deposited in my foreign account was on 4^th December, 2000. The $46,000 that got missing was handed over to Mallam Isa on 23^rd February 2001”.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com