February had a lot of big stories and talking points in the media. citifmonline.com recaps of some of these stories that made the headlines during the period.
1. Ghana painfully denied another AFCON trophy by Ivory Coast
For the second time in 5 years, Ghana’s hopes of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy were dashed despite coming so close. After 120 minutes of football, the two teams settled for the penalty shootout after which Cote D’Ivoire won 9-8.
February 10: The headline sponsor of the Black Stars, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) promised each member of the team $25,000 for the gallant performance at the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea.
February 11: Government spent about $5.717.869 on Ghana’s preparation and participation in the 2015 AFCON tournament in Equatorial Guinea. Minister of Youth & Sports, Mahama Ayariga made this known when he appeared before Parliament.
February 11: Mahama Ayariga revealed that government does not know which individual or company that airlifted some Black Stars supporters from Ghana to Equatorial Guinea for the just ended AFCON.
February 12: Outraged by unending media probing of the budget for the just ended African Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea, Mahama Ayariga chastised Ghanaian journalists telling them to stop asking “useless questions.”
February 14: Mamaha Ayariga responded to criticism over his claim that journalists ask “useless questions,” saying the conduct of journalists in the interviews with government officials determines the responses that are given to their questions.
February 18: Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga dismissed rumours making rounds in the media that government funded the acquisition of Jeep Grand Cherokees as reward to the Black Stars players for winning silver at the just ended AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.
2. Mahama fires Prosper Bani, appoints Julius Debrah as Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff Prosper Bani was relieved of his position by President John Mahama who has now appointed Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Julius Debrah, to replace him.
February 16: Alhaji Iddrisu Bature of pro-NDC newspaper, Al-Hajj allayed fears that the removal of Prosper Bani as Chief of Staff will affect the party’s votes in the Volta Region.
February 16: Policy Think Tank, IMANI Ghana described the Chief of Staff office under Prosper Bani as “ineffective” and “profusely wasteful.”
February 16: Pressure group, Volta NDC Youth for Action said its members will not campaign for President Mahama in the upcoming 2016 elections following the replacement of their kinsman, Prosper Bani as Chief of Staff. According to them, the President by this replacement has shown that he is on a deliberate course to rid his government of all Voltarians in higher positions.
Earlier
February 4: The Presidency has confirmed the departures of Communications Adviser to the President, Ben Dotsei Malor and Secretary to the President, Dr. Raymond Atuguba from the Flagstaff House.
3. Energy Ministry blows electricity cash on luxury cars
An Audit report presented to Parliament has shown that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum spent $1,745, 159 on 38 luxurious vehicles.The amount according to the report was meant to extend electricity to about 1200 communities in the country under the Multi-Donor Budgetary Support Programme between 2010 and 2012.
The vehicles include; Ford F150 truck, Lexus LX570, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota SLT, and Grido Ford 5150.
The story so far:
February 18: The Energy Ministry told Citi News, there are no explanations yet as to why expensive luxury vehicles were purchased for rural electrification project but indicated that cabinet approved the deal in 2007 and Parliament approved it in 2008.
February 19: The Minority spokesperson on Energy, KT Hammond revealed that the former Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng Adjei is still using one of the luxurious vehicles that were bought with the money meant for electricity extension project.
February 24: Former Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei admitted that he still had a state luxury vehicle bought with the money meant for electricity extension project, in his possession, months after he left office, although he was quick to clarify that he “did not steal it” and has since returned it to the Energy Ministry.
February 25: K.T Hammond made another claim that the former Energy Minister Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei is keeping one more vehicle which belongs to the state.
February 25: Oteng Adjei accused the Minority spokesperson on Energy, KT Hammond is working to tarnish his image.
4. Mahama Promises to fix dumsɔ in 2015 State of the Nation Address
President John Mahama on Thursday, February 26 gave his State of the Nation Address in Parliament where he promised to ‘fix the energy crisis’ and transform the Electricity Company among others. Full speech here.
The Minority in Parliament stated that they were unimpressed with the president’s address and plan to present their version of the state of the nation.
February 26: Ghanaians reacted to Mahama’s State of the Nation address.
Mahama seems best suited to be president where there is a prime minister. He can look pretty and talk smooth and the PM can do the work.
— Ekuwa (@SorayaSpeaks) February 26, 2015
Optimistic speech. Well-written. Confidently delivered. And on time. Overall, very presidential. Probably the best SON I’ve heard. — Ato-Kwamena Dadzie (@atokd) February 26, 2015
Mr. President, cynics are not born, they are made! #SOTNGhana
— Thelma T (@thelmatawiah) February 26, 2015
February 26: The Minority in Parliament explained their deafening silence during the President’s State of the Nation Address was to protect the dignity of Parliament and the Presidency. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of Parliament, notorious for their jeers during such speeches by the president were remarkably silent during the address.
February 26: A word cloud of the President’s State of the Nation address showed the words spoken most by the president were “Ghana,” “Road”, “Feeder” and “Bitumen”. He also used the phrase “Mr. Speaker” in most of his statements.
February 26: The Presidential Candidate of the Opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo charged President John Mahama to tell Ghanaians how he will arrest the decline of the economy in his State of the Nations Address.
February 27: The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) angry at Parliament for sidelining them at the State of the Nation Address. The party claims they were not invited to grace the occasion adding that their representatives were also prevented from entering the House.
February 27: Speaking to journalists after the President’s State of the Nation address, Majority leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin warned it will be ‘suicidal’ for President John Dramani Mahama and his government to fail to deliver on the promise to solve the power crisis.
February 28: The Minority Spokesperson on finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei expressed pessimism about the future of the country as a result of the projects outlined by President John Dramani Mahama in his State of the Nation address. According to him the government has no money to fulfill the promises.
5. Muslims demonstrate over discrimination
The Muslim Community in the Western Region took to the streets of Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis to protest what they call human right abuses of Muslim students in the country. The demonstrators numbering over 300 were given strict police protection throughout the process.
February 20: Government condemned the act of preventing Muslim women and girls from freely wearing their hijabs at work places and in school. A statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Omane Boamah warned that heads of any institution, found to contravening the basic constitutional rights of Muslims will be sanctioned.
February 20: The Majority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka called on the Minister of Education and Minister of Health to call the educational institutions that force Muslim students to attend church services to order, since it infringes on the rights of the students.
February 20: The United Muslim Christian Forum called on Muslim leaders in Ghana to resort to the courts in its attempt to seek religious freedom for students in schools.
February 21: The Vice President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Kabonu described government’s swift response to allegations of discrimination against Muslim students as “skewed.”
February 26: President Mahama said government will sanction heads of institutions who force Muslim students to attend church services and also prevent Muslim women from wearing hijabs at work places and schools.
February 27: The Ghana Education Service served notice to all students in missionary secondary schools to attend morning devotion sessions if it is a school rule.
February 28: The Ghana Muslim Students’ Association (GMSA) directed all of its members to disregard the directive of the Ghana Education Service (GES) instructing all students to attend morning devotions in their schools. The GES served notice to the students to participate in the morning devotion if it was part of the school’s rules.
6. Ghana reaches $1billion agreement with IMF
Ghana reached a $1 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country turn the ailing economy around.
According to a statement from the IMF, Ghana could be supported with a total of “SDR 664 million (around US$940 million), or 180 percent of Ghana’s IMF quota” and “consideration by the Executive Board is tentatively scheduled in early April 2015.”
February 7: The Diplomatic Corps in Ghana pledged its support for Ghana’s bailout negotiation with the International Monetary fund (IMF). According to them, they appreciate the current economic challenges the nation is experiencing and expressed the confidence that President John Mahama will lead the nation out of the current economic situation with help from the IMF.
February 12: Head of the IMF Negotiation Team, Dr. Kwesi Botchway revealed government has concluded most of the outstanding issues concerning ongoing negotiations with the IMF.
February 18: IMF team arrive to fast track processes for a bailout programme with Ghana.
February 20: The IMF said it did not know when the bailout program with Ghana will be finalized. This was despite assurances from President John Mahama that a bailout program with the Bretton woods institution will be concluded before close of next month (March).
February 26: Director for News Programming at Citi FM, Bernard Koku Avle described Ghana’s US$940m agreement with the International Monetary Fund as “positive but not spectacular” in his analysis of the deal.
February 27: The Minority in Parliament ask government to disclose the components of the $940 million support package from the IMF.
February 28: The Dean of Graduate Studies at the Methodist University College Ghana Professor Kodwo Ewusi revealed that Ghana’s economy will not grow beyond 3.5 percent, in spite of the financial bailout from the IMF.
February 28: International rating agency Fitch said it will be “challenging” for Ghana to stick to the 3-year staff level agreement it has reached with the IMF worth $940 million.
7. Nayele accomplices acquitted and discharged
An Accra Circuit Court acquitted and discharged all six persons accused of aiding Nayale Ametefe, jailed for trafficking 12 kilogrammes of cocaine into the United Kingdom in 2014.
This was after State prosecutors filed a nolle proseque, stating their decision to discontinue the case. The six include: Alhaji Dawood, Nana Akua Amponsah, Sadalia Nuhu, Abiel Ashitey Armah, Theophilus Kissi adn Ahmed Abubakr.
February 24: Businessman, Alhaji Dawood who was accused of aiding Nayale Ametefe to traffic 12 kilogrammes of cocaine into the United Kingdom told Citi News that he feels vindicated after he and five others were freed on Tuesday by an Accra Circuit court.
February 25: Lawyer for one of the freed alleged accomplices of Nayele Ametefe, Frank Davies stated that the state unnecessarily prolonged the case in court even though it had no evidence.
February 25: The New Patriotic Party (NPP) criticized state prosecutors for withdrawing all charges against the six persons alleged to have aided Nayele Ametepeh to smuggle 12.5kg of cocaine to the United Kingdom freed. According to the NPP, this is an indication that government is complicit in the Nayele cocaine saga.
8. IEA survey ranks Presidency 2nd most corrupt institution in Ghana
The Office of the President was ranked as the second most corrupt institution in Ghana. This was revealed in a Socio-economic and Governance survey conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs(IEA).
February 25: Government described as suspicious the timing of the release by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) which ranked the Office of the President as the second most corrupt institution in the country. Government further rejected the claims saying the timing of the purported survey just a day before the President presents the State of the Nation Address cannot be lost on the objective-minded members of the public.
February 26: The New Patriotic Party (NPP) said many Ghanaians will not be surprised by the IEA survey that ranked the Office of the President as the second most corrupt institution in country.
February 26: The IEA defended its findings on why the Presidency ranked second most corrupt institution in Ghana arguing that appropriate survey methods were used to generate the outcome. The institute promised to open its doors to the Presidency or government if it wishes to have further insight into the survey and its outcomes.
9. GHC1 million alleged fraud uncovered at MASLOC
Over GHC1 million alleged fraud uncovered at the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC). The Daily Graphic reported that an acting Director of Operations, Ken Kwaku Boadi Asare was alleged to have forged 102 non-existing business associations to advance GH¢1,055,582 to two financial institutions.
February 17: MASLOC gave the assurance that it will retrieve all funds embezzled by some employees at the organisation.
February 21: President of Policy Think Tank IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe called on President John Mahama to dismiss the Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC for overseeing the siphoning of over GH¢1 million from the account of the institution.
10. Massive ‘Wɔngbo’ demo rocks government
The 2016 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo led thousands of party supporters through the principal streets of Accra in a demonstration against government’s handling of the power crises.
February 17: Despite receiving the clearance to embark on their planned demonstration, the NPP accused the Police of trying to secure a court injunction to stop the protest.
February 17: The Police rejected claims by the NPP that they attempted to sneak behind them to secure a court order to stop their “Wɔngbo” demonstration.
February 17: Pressure group, OccupyGhana threw its weight behind the NPP’s “Wɔngbo” demonstration against government over the current energy crisis.
February 18: The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) denied claims that it has agreed to join the the NPP’s much touted “Wɔngbo” demonstration.
February 18: The National Organizer of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams condemned the NPP ‘Wɔngbo’ demonstration insisting that the NPP is responsible for the current energy crisis.
February 19: A senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Stephen Ahiawordor described as “unjustified” the NPP demonstration against government’s handling of the power crisis.
February 19: The General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyepong described government officials’ comments on the party’s ‘wɔngbo’ demonstration as “insensitive” and “uncaring”.
February 19: President John Dramani Mahama said the NPP’s ‘wɔngbo’ demonstration has encouraged him to work harder to end the power crisis.
February 22: The Ghana Education Service (GES) cautioned head teachers who allowed some pupils to join the NPP demonstration cautioned by the – See more at:
February 23: NPP cautioned government against any attempt to sanction or punish head teachers of the schools whose pupils joined the party’s ‘Wɔngbo’ demonstration.
Other Mentions:
February 16: Ghanaian musician, Mzbel revealed she does not believe in the existence of Jesus Christ.
Born as Belinda Ekua Amoah, the singer who was speaking on a TV talk show, Restoration hosted by Stacy Amoateng over the weekend said she was confident stories about the ‘holy son of God’ were made up.
February 27: The Supreme Court directed the Electoral Commission [EC] to call off the much publicized District Assembly elections which was scheduled for March 3, 2015.
The EC was dragged to court by an aspiring Assembly man, Benjamin Eyi Mensah, represented by lawyer Alex Afenyo Markin.
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By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana