Pianim urges bodies to finance parties
Ex-NDC Minister confident of 'Golden Age of
Business' policy
Offinso
police detain fake soldier
Bimbilla (Northern Region) 20 March 2002 - Former President Rawlings has made the Castle car pool poorer by one strong vehicle after losing a blue black Toyota Land Cruiser in an accident during his campaign for the NDC before the Bimbilla bye-election.
The 1998 four-wheel drive model with registration number GR5876C and owned by the Office of the President, is parked at the Pusiga Police Station near Bimbilla, after the accident on march 5, while it was on a campaign exercise as part of the former President's convoy.
According to the Police, they only got to know about the accident the next day, which was never officially reported to them. "After convincing ourselves that whoever was using the vehicle did not intend to make any report as required by law, we sent a team to verify and eventually towed the vehicle to the Police Station," said a local police officer who spoke to The Statesman.
He said a search on the vehicle whose number plates had been removed at the time the police arrived showed it was registered to the Office of the President and had not officially been allocated to any individual. This raises concern as to the present government's whole approach to the ongoing saga about the retirement benefits, especially motor vehicles, awarded to the former President and his vice.
There has not been any definitive statement from the government to clarify the issue as to what exactly was given to the two men. Also, evidence of the unofficial status of the crashed Toyota Land Cruiser begs the question of why the Castle has so far shown no interest in retrieving these so-called taken-without-consent vehicles? Basically, these vehicles are said to be fuelled and serviced at taxpayers' expense.
Investigations by the Police, he said, revealed that the vehicle, which was delivered to the government in 1998, was being used by the former President when the accident occurred. The Statesman enquiries showed that the vehicle, which still draws fuel from the Castle filling station, was driven by a driver on the payroll of the Stat Protocol Department.
The accident was the third to hit the NDC during its campaign for the Bimbilla bye-election. The party lost two propaganda vehicles on March 5 and 6 accidents in the Bimbilla area.
It is difficult to mitigate for the government's languid approach to this issue of public concern. Constant newspaper reports and the tone of phone-ins to radio station show a lucid public disapproval to the extravagant vehicular largess reportedly at the former President's disposal at public expense.
The number of motor vehicles put at anywhere between eleven and twenty-one is far and above the number recommended in the yet-to-be-implemented Greenstreet Report commissioned by the previous government. That report recommends two cars for the former President. – The Statesman.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 March 2002 - Former President Jerry Rawlings could soon be going to school. He is among a number of former African Heads of State being considered for a residency programme at Boston University in the United States. The Boston University plans to launch the residency programme this year.
Many diplomatic experts say the move offers an exit strategy for leaders in need of a way to leave their jobs gracefully. The former United States Ambassador to Tanzania, Reverend Charles Stith, who is spearheading the Balfour African Presidents in residence programme, says it will show that there is life after Presidency. Mr Stith plans to take a different African Head of State to live at Boston University every year, targeting the small pool of executives who were elected democratically and agreed to step down from power.
Beginning in September, the school will provide a 12-month residency, an undisclosed stipend, a light course load and speaking tours. Former President Rawlings is being considered for the programme because some US diplomats have hailed him for instituting democratic change in Ghana. Political observers believe that the leader and founder of the NDC would accept the offer and place himself among the few African leaders hand-picked for the programme to further boost his international reputation as a democrat.
How his exit from mainstream politics on the local front will affect the party already going through strains and pangs of restructuring remains to be seen. If he does accept the offer it would automatically create a yawning void in the NDC leadership given the fact that the former Vice-President and flagbearer of the party in the 2000 presidential election J.E.A. Mills is also currently pursuing a scholarly programme as a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
The towering strength and persona of Jerry Rawlings which has hitherto kept the NDC and its satellite parties and numerous groupings together may eventually be the decider as to whether he may accept the offer or not.
Political analysts are of the view that an NDC without Jerry Rawlings could spell disaster for the party, however, some party insiders discontinue such assumptions saying “as a party that has ruled the nation for the past eight years, we have both the men and the organisational structures in place to ensure that things go on smoothly even in the absence of former President Rawlings. - The Evening News
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Pianim urges bodies to finance parties
Accra
(Greater Accra) 20 March 2002 - A renowned Ghanaian economist, has advocated
the establishment of a fund to which corporate bodies and individuals committed
to multi-party democracy could contribute to finance political parties in the
country.
He
suggested that the fund which should be called the “Multi-Party Democracy Fund,”
could operate under the Electoral Commission (EC) but controlled by a board,
which would involve representatives of all parties. Mr Pianim made the
suggestion at a seminar in Accra to assess multi-party democracy in the county.
The
seminar, which was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the
Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FEF) was attended senior military officers, the
academia, and economists among others.
Mr Pianim
said the proceeds accruing to the fund should be distributed to the parties on
a three-criterion basis every year. He said a third in equal amounts should be
given to each registered party that meets a criterion to be set by the EC while
another third is disbursed according to the size of the party as defined by the
proportion of members of Parliament.
Mr Pianim
added that the last third of the amount should be distributed according to the
need for office equipment and core staff in order to assist new parties. He
said it is equally important to assist parties in parliament with funds to
recruit three key professionals to assist MPs with research and preparation of
policy papers.
Mr Pianim,
who is also the CEO of New World Investments, said “financing political parties
in a transparent and direct manner will provide the resource both human and
material, for a creative and innovative debate on policy option for development
and for the type of society we want to live in.”
He said for
political parties to resume their vibrancy and espouse their values as the
compass to good life and bases for their actions, the international development
partners must adopt more realism and less ideology in their approach to the
development of dialogue. Mr Pianim said there is the need to ensure that
debates on democratisation process become “more practical and less
ideological.”
The
Economist also warned that if we fail to use parties for constructive pursuits,
they will become mere instruments for seizing power on occasions of elections,
and thus fail to reflect the popular will of the people.” He said funding of
political parties in the country should not be thrown overboard and called for
rejuvenation of the debate on the matter.
Mr Yaw
Boadu Ayeboafo, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), on
his part stressed the need for Ghanaians to be objective and consistent in how
they relate to the judiciary. He also referred to some attitudes of the past
government and the present administration with regards to certain political
appointments, which are made regardless of opinions of the people.
Mr Ayeboafo
said, “it is therefore, imperative that our political parties recognise and
respect the sovereignty of the people, support majority rule and affirm
minority rights s well as guarantee basic human rights. Squadron Leader Clend
Sowu, former MP for Anlo in the Volta Region, who gave the final lecture,
advised politicians to always place national concerns above partisan
considerations. – Daily Graphic.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 March 2002 - Mr Sam Awortwi, the leading figure on the Government's Special Investigative Task Force (SITF) which has been investigating series of malfeasance at high places has described as unfortunate reports that he and his team deliberately carried out the controversial attempt to seize Mr Tsatsu in church.
He told The Chronicle in a telephone interview that he is worried that people are politicising the incident and reading all sorts of ulterior meanings into them and wondered what he was going to benefit from embarrassing the Government in the way that had been bandied about.
He was emphatic that he did not give any order to arrest Mr Tsikata but explained that certain levels of discretion are allowed on the job to officers, but in the instant the order was not to have the former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) arrested in the Chapel.
There was a general directive that there should be a way to inform Mr Tsikata that he was needed at the Police headquarters, he disclosed but was flustered by suggestions that they set out to stage-manage an arrest that would ultimately embarrass the Government. "It can't be so! I certainly would not do that! Why would I do that?"
Independently Chronicle gathered that the two policemen who went on the controversial visit to the Chapel to attempt to seize Tsatsu, Messrs Hope Nyadi and E. Annang are both members of the Special Investigation Task Force (SITF) team. The two officers including Mr Awortwi are currently on interdiction.
Pushed for further clarification the veteran police officer who is also the Boss of the Legal Wing of the Force, said that he is happy that the Police Administration is currently conducting its own probe and at the end of the day, everything would become clear.
Chronicle learnt that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mr Osafo Sampong was in a car with Mr Awortwi that fateful day when they had a meeting with the A-G at his residence and actually helped with the identification of some probably sources to locate Tsatsu.
The big question is whether the three officers are being scapegoated. Who gave the order? Were the men using their discretion and made the error of judgment that Mr Tsikata subsequently exploited with his extensive press interviews and alarms? - The Ghanaian Chronicle
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Ex-NDC Minister confident of 'Golden Age of
Business' policy
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 20 March 2002 - Former Deputy Minister of Trade, Mr Peter Pepera is very confident that the Golden Age of Business (GAB) declaration of the Kufuor-led NPP government would truly give the needed push to business. Pepera has declared that he believes business was going to take off under the policy.
The former minister, who deputised for his brother Managing Director of PHC Motors Ltd, Mr Paul Pepera, at the official opening of the company's service centre in Kumasi last Thursday, said shareholders of the company believe that the GAB will surely come to fruition hence the investment by the company to reach out to its customers nationwide.
Pepera, who is now the MD for Paramount Distilleries Ltd in Kumasi, assured that PHC Motors would invest in the rest of Ghana as much as possible. He declared by inference that PHC's expansion is the function of GAB and the belief is that it would yield results.
The former Deputy Minister's declaration was in direct response to the Regional Minister, Mr S.K. Boafo's assurance of the government's intention to create an enabling environment for all business under the policy.
Boafo, who unveiled a plague to commission PHC's showroom and service facility, said the GAB is not a mere slogan but a practical expression of the government's avowed aim to attract investors (local and foreign) open job opportunities, reduce unemployment and ultimately create wealth for the people.
The regional minister said the government expected that service providing enterprises worked to ensure delivery of the highest quality of service based on efficiency, reliability, and equity as their goal. Boafo appealed to PHC Motors to make its facility accessible to local artisans and mechanics at Suame Magazine and other satellite vehicle repair and servicing centres to improve upon their knowledge and skills.
The Technical Director of PHC, Mr Norman Dunkerley, announced plans by the company to expand to all major cities. The company is already in Accra, Tamale and Kumasi. The Kumasi facility, according to Dunkerley, is the most well equipped to maintain not only Chrysler products, but most modern American and European vehicles including Jeep and Dodge.
With the opening of service facility at Tamale and the commissioning of a new modern service centre and showroom in Kumasi, Dunkerley said PHC's remaining goal is to spread to Takoradi. – The Ghanaian Chronicle
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Utility commission to rationalise tariffs of utilities
Saltpond
(Central Region) 20 March 2002 - The Public Utility Regulatory Commission
(PURC) is to rationalise utility tariffs to ensure that the inequalities in the
tariff structure are addressed. The move will also ensure an efficient and
equitable system of providing utility services and reduce utility rates for
consumers.
Already,
the PURC had completed a socio-economic study into water accessibility and
supply in the country, and would come out with its findings. The Executive
Secretary of PURC, Mr Stephen Adu, disclosed these at a forum on monitoring of
utility service performance at Saltpond.
It was
attended by opinion leaders, assembly members and the public. Mr Adu said that
the PURC would investigate all matters affecting the interest of consumers and
ensure that they were addressed by the Utility service agencies. He said issues
relating to standards of quality of service given to customers and tariff rates
charged, would be examined by the commission.
The
Executive Secretary urged the utility service providers to be proactive and
adequately inform the public on their mode of operations. He also asked the
public to be vigilant in knowing their rights and be abreast with issues
relating to utility services in the country. Mr Adu called for effective
collaboration between the service providers and consumers to improve
efficiently.
The
acting Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Mr. W.K. Kyeremanteng
said that the company had outlined a programme to change all the metres in the
district. He admitted that most of the transformers and metres in the area were
absolute and therefore needed to be changed but asked consumers to pay their
tariff charges promptly to improve services.
The
Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Water Company, Central Region, Mr
Essilfie Condua noted that lack of communication between the service providers
and the consumers had resulted in some inefficiencies. He therefore, urged the
public to be patient and collaborate with the utility service providers for
better and quality service delivery.
The
District Coordinating Director, Mr Peter Amenu Kpornyor, urged the utility
service providers to find solution to the numerous public complaints such as
the intermittent power interruption, high tariff rates, outmoded transformers
and pipelines among others. – The Ghanaian Times.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 20 March 2002 - A recent audit by the Auditor-General’s Department into the accounts of the Cape Coast Division of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), has revealed an embezzlement of over ˘240 million.
The officer at the centre of the embezzlement, Mr Harry Kotei, an Accounts Clerk, was cited for fraudulently misappropriating the monies. He was at that position form 1996 until October 2001 when the audit exercise commenced.
Currently, the issue is being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Cape Coast Police to ascertain the level of the embezzlement and the possibility of other collaborators involved in the case. The suspect’s salary has been suspended while he is on interdiction.
The audit exercise was directed at all the DVLA offices nationwide to look into the activities of the DVLA. Further investigations have revealed the destruction of several receipt books that may facilitate the audit exercise.
A source close to the investigators hinted “The Evening News” that although only two years of Mr Kotei’s stewardship has been scrutinized, the possibility of several instances dating back to the period he assumed office exists and is yet to be unravelled. It was also learnt that the Cape Cost CID has impounded two taxis of Kotei pending conclusion into the investigations. Another of his vehicles, a private saloon, car is being sought for by the police.
When contacted, the Chief Executive of DVLA, Mr J.M.Y. Amegashie, confirmed the story but said investigations are-on-going to determine how he managed to squander those monies. He, however, declined to give the exact amount Mr Kotei has allegedly embezzled saying this kind of information would jeopardize the ongoing investigations.
Mr Amegashie explained that there is the need for them to know whether, Mr Kotei single handedly embezzled those monies or did so with a “syndicate.” The Chief Executive said he has no intention to shield any one, but would not comment on issues that would jeopardize the ongoing investigations. – The Evening News.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 20 March 2002 - Drug dealers have resorted to the use of
powerful perfumes and spices to snuff out the scent of drugs to outwit sniffer
dogs and security personnel. In the latest case, a 36-year old farmer who
attempted to transport two suitcases full of heavily perfumed Indian hemp from
a village to Accra, obviously for export, was however, arrested.
The other
method, which involves the preparation and use of narcotic capsules (pellets),
which couriers swallow has also been improved upon, to prevent them from
bursting in the stomach, as had often been the case in the past. A number of
couriers, who have suffered such fate, have had to be operated upon to save
their lives. The situation comes about when there are delays in their flights.
With the
new modus operandi, security personnel have had to depend largely on tip-off
and intelligence reports to be able to arrest suspects. Another new method has
been to remove the gills of fish and stuff the hollow thus created with the
drugs. In the past, female couriers used to insert the drugs in their private
parts but that was exposed and they switched to another method and that was to
conceal the drugs in the braids of their hair-do. It was later changed to
strapping of the drugs on their bodies.
Commenting
on the modus operandi, the Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board
(NCB), Col (rtd) Isaac Akuoko, conceded that it has not been easy dealing with
the drug dealers. He said they have always tried to use any available means to
send the drugs to their destinations and that the security agencies depend
largely on intelligence reports and thorough searches.
Major Abdul
Braimah, a Deputy Executive Secretary of the NCB, who also spoke to the
Graphic, said it was the alertness of some passengers, which led to the arrest
of the farmer with the two suitcases full of Indian hemp. According to him,
Mohammed Papa Akli, the farmer, was arrested because the other passengers
became suspicious of the strong perfume from the suitcases.
He said
Akli, who was arrested on board an Accra-bound vehicle at Opesika in the Krobo
area, is currently in police custody. He said those who arrested him were
suspicious of the contents of the suitcases, due to the powerful smell of the
perfume. Major Braimah commended the people for their high sense of nationalism
and appealed to members of the public to support the security agencies with information
to help deal with the illicit drug business in the country. – Daily Graphic.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 20 March 2002 - The Inspector General of Police has ordered the
immediate interdiction of Corporal W.K. Dzormeku of the Adansi-Atobiase Police
Station in Ashanti, pending full-scale investigations into his alleged
defilement of a 11-year old female suspect detained at the station.
Cpl.
Dzormeku was last Wednesday night said to have forcibly had sex with the
juvenile behind the counter at the charge office popularly referred to as
“counter back” in Police parlance. Dependable Police sources told the Times
that the Juvenile suspect was on Wednesday, arrested for stealing and sent to
the police station.
Her
relatives could not be traced to bail her and since there were male suspects
detained in the cells, she was therefore detained behind the counter at the
charge office. The next morning when Sergeant H.K. Darkwa, the first
out-station orderly, took over from Cpl. Dzormekuas the last station orderly,
he (Sgt Darkwa) found that the handcuffs holding the suspect to the counter had
been opened
When Sgt.
Darkwa asked the girl, who opened the handcuffs, she mentioned Cpl. Dzormeku
and claimed that he had sex with her behind the counter after opening the
handcuffs. She further alleged that Cpl. Dzormeku asked her to go away after
the act but she did not because she was afraid. Sgt. Darkwa informed the
station officer who also confronted the girl and again she mentioned Cpl.
Dzormeku and narrated the ordeal in detail. – The Ghanaian Times.
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Offinso
(Ashanti Region) 20 March 2002 - The Police at Offinso in Ashanti have detained
a 20-year old unemployed man who allegedly posed as a soldier from the 2nd
Infantry Brigade Group in Kumasi.
Patrick
Antwi, the suspect, who claimed to be an old student of the Akomadan Secondary
School, was said to have operated mainly in the Aboduor and Akomadan areas of
the Offinso district where he persistently harassed people, mostly timber
dealers.
He was in a
military camouflage uniform, when he was arrested, after seizing a chainsaw
machine from some chainsaw operators at Kyekyewere, DSP Slim Manford, Offinso
District Police Commander, said in an interview on Tuesday that a military
identity card number 174195 bearing someone’s picture and the name of Sergeant
M. Asare was found on Antwi when he was arrested.
Also, the
military uniform in which he used to carry out the operation bore the name M.
Adams. Antwi is said to have confessed to the police that he was not a military
person and that the uniform he used belonged to his deceased brother, who was a
soldier. DSP Manford said on Monday, Antwi hired a Daewoo Tico taxi and
confronted some chainsaw operators in the bush at Kyekyewere.
He said
Antwi demanded ˘500,000 from the chainsaw operators to “free” them. The
operators, sensing danger, fled leaving their machine behind. DSP Manford said
Antwi carried the machine away in the taxi. On the way, Antwi met a KIA cargo
truck loaded with some beams and impounded the vehicle. While he was driving
toward Offinso, the taxi developed a fault and he stopped to repair it, at
which point he was arrested. – Daily Graphic.
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