A letter to, dated July 13, 2017, from Dr. Asamoah’s lawyers to the EC Chairperson threatened legal action if this demand was not met.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oZzOY5nu75jROA0PDG4w8tOAGWdEKBHY”]The Economic and Organized Crime Office [EOCO] interrogated Dr. Asamoah and some other EC officials over their alleged involvement in the loss of the cash.

In a response to the directive to proceed on leave, Dr. Asamoah, in his defence, wrote that he was neither at post as Director of Finance nor was he in any position to influence management’s decision regarding financial administration of the Endowment Fund during the period of the alleged loss.

Citi News later sighted official correspondence between the Chairperson of the EC, Charlotte Osei and Dr. Asamaoh indicating that he was not at post when the GHc480,000 went missing from the Staff Endowment Fund.

‘Our client being used as a scapegoat’

Lawyers for Dr. Asamaoh have also compiled some evidence of their own and said they will resist any attempts to make their client the“scapegoat of any board room struggles to engulf the commission.”

“We are accordingly instructed to demand, which we thereby do, that you recall our client from the imposed leave to enable him continue his normal work as Director of Finance at the Commission. Should you fail to do so, we would be compelled to initiate legal proceedings against you to protect our client against any form of victimisation and injustice.”

The lawyers’ letter had attached to it documents asserting the innocence of Dr. Asamoah; including a letter from the previous Director of Finance, Samuel Yorke-Aidoo, a letter from the Controller and Accountant Generals Department to the Bank of Ghana dated February 18, 2017, and a draft EC audit report.

On July 10, Citi News sighted documents confirming that Dr. Asamoah assumed office as Director of Finance in October 2014, following the retirement of the then Director, Samuel Yorke-Aidoo.

Prior to coming to office, he was the Electoral Commission’s internal auditor.

He became a signatory to all the Commission’s financial accounts on November 21, 2014, after the commission wrote to its bankers to inform them.

The documents further revealed that the EC Boss, on February 5, 2016, wrote to the Former Director of Finance, Samuel Yorke-Aidoo, requesting an official response to what she termed the misapplication of proceeds from the staff endowment fund.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EC Finance Director threatens suit over ‘suspension’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Tensions within the EC in recent times have seen Mrs. Osei accuse her deputies of making her job difficult for her, but Mrs. Amankwah, in a 25-point response to the EC Chair’s claims, alleged that Mrs. Osei’s concerns were anchored on lies.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Hwty74nAAOX43SF4wAcrz3bYzyo9EW7y”]“The Chairperson’s claim that there was a deliberate strategy to frustrate her work and tenure is palpably false and a figment of her own imagination. In fact, the majority of Commission members attended her swearing in ceremony. She was subsequently welcomed to the Commission,” Mrs. Amankwah was keen to note in her statement.

Shunning of Chairperson’s office, residence

The deputy Chairperson highlighted issues surrounding Mrs. Osei’s accommodation and working space which spawned a number of inconveniences in the name of the EC’s Chair’s comfort.

Mrs. Osei’s claim she was not given an office was also noted as false by the Mrs. Amankwah, who explained that Mrs. Osei was offered an office but “strangely, she refused to take up the office claiming that she had a security audit conducted by a security detail from the office of the president indicating that the office was not fit and safe for her occupation.”

Mrs. Osei instead “disorganised the whole Human Resources Directorate by choosing the directorate’s office as a place of her preference.”

This was because this office was closer to her former office as the NCCE Chair, Mrs. Amankwah surmised, adding that renovation made to the office even included a shower cubicle.

“She accordingly instructed the then Director of Human Resources, who was occupying that office, to vacate the office for her use. She thereafter contracted her own artisans to do a completed makeover fitting with a shower cubicle and other facilities thereby rendering our artisans redundant. She also changed the fittings and furniture in the office.”

Mrs. Amankwah statements indicated an aversion to spaces and items utilized by Mrs. Osei’s predecessor, Kwaku Afari Gyan.

Following her appointment, Charlotte Osei continued to live in NCCE accommodation claiming that “the official residence her predecessor used is not fit for her status.”

Mrs. Amankwah indicated that “it was only recently that Mrs. Osei requested for the total refurbishment of the official bungalow.” This refurbishment, it was later learned, was to involve the demolition and rebuilding of the entire structure.

Request for new car

Mrs. Osei apparent distaste for logistics used by her predecessor extended to cars, as Mrs. Amankwah also revealed that “she [Charlotte Osei] declared the official vehicle used by her predecessor, a 2014 registered V8 Cruiser procured only a year before her appointments as unfit to use.”

The EC Chair allegedly went behind members of the commission to arrange for a brand new 2015 V8 Landcruiser vehicle from the presidency.

“…In addition to this, she reverted the 2014-registered V8 land cruiser for use by her household,” Mrs Amankwah added.

Find below shots of the Mrs. Amankwah’s 25-point response

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Charlotte Osei’s ‘taste’ disrupted workspace – Opoku Amankwah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mrs. Amankwah, in a 25-point response to the Council of State pertaining to the allegations sighted by Citi News, said a number of the allegations were orchestrated attempts to create disaffection towards her.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yq3DwkMxmJiNTHtI2N2pjxZn9ADSS6ru”]She also said Mrs. Osei’s claims were attempts to glorify herself with an underserved gratification, whilst sowing seeds of division within the commission.

The recent bad blood in the EC came to dominate news cycles after some employees of the Commission petitioned President Akufo-Addo to dismiss Mrs. Osei for alleged financial malfeasance.

But the EC Chairperson responded to the allegations with some of her own, targetted at key players within the EC, including the deputy Chairperson of the Commission in-charge of Corporate Services.

Among the allegations, Mrs. Amankwah, was alleged to have signed contracts without proper authorization but she retorted that the Commission was aware of her actions.

“The commission unanimously approved for it to be signed urgently given the time constraints. It is therefore strange for the Chairperson to allege that I signed those contracts without the knowledge of the commission, particularly as she requested for minutes of such meeting and was furnished with same.”

On the accusations of contracts worth over GHc 39 million allegedly signed without the authorization of the Chairperson in 2015, Mrs. Amankwah indicated that as the Chair of the Commission’s Entity Tender Committee (ETC) at the time, she had the authority to sign those contracts.

“As a result, the contracts under reference had already been approved by the Entity Tender Committee (ETC) which I was the chair. These contracts had been evaluated, reviewed and approved before the Commission gave the Chairperson of the ETC the mandate to sign. The contracts were in respect of procurement of election materials for the District Assembly elections. I was therefore in an official capacity to sign those contracts and so did I.

The response also noted that the processes leading to the signing of these contracts had been concluded prior to Mrs. Osei’s taking over as the Chair of the ETC.

Unilateral promotions

Mrs. Amankwah also denied claims she unilaterally promoted regional directors in 2016 contrary to due process, explaining that persons were interviewed prior to her assumption of office. She noted that “the Chairperson approved a memo to this effect,” amidst a number of processes involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Finance Ministry and the Public Services Commission.

“As a Deputy Chair (C/S) it lies in my realm of responsibility to lead the EC team (the directors of Finance and Human Resource, Senior Staff and the Union) in collaboration with the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU of TUC). In all such cases, the commission was well briefed and informed. The attempt by the Chairperson to claim memory loss of events happening in the Commission, especially when minutes can be found on such letters is worrying.”

Mrs. Amankwah’s sentiments towards Mrs. Osei’s claims could be summed up in a line from her response where she stated that “the entire allegations are frivolous, useless fabrications and a figment of her own imagination.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EC Boss’ allegations figment of her imagination – Opoku Amakwah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Asante explained that, a more comprehensive probe could be realized if President Nana Akufo-Addo, who was petitioned by some staff of the EC, expands the remit of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

[contextly_sidebar id=”s0LPxCdCinE3Pemypso5opDO7VuWQrzm”]EOCO’s mandate allows it to monitor and investigate economic and organised crimes involving serious financial or economic loss to the state, and on the authority of the Attorney General, prosecute these offences.

“This petition was to trigger the removal of Mrs. Charlotte Osei, but I think the President, having received the response [from Charlotte Osei], should basically expand the remit of EOCO to go substantially into all the matters and allegations that have been raised to establish for a fact what exactly has happened; whether abuses of power have happened, whether financial mismanagement has happened, whether allegations of corruption can be established prima facie. Based on this, the president can make some recommendations on whether he is going to move the process forward or not.”

Some organisations have proposed the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms to mediate the problems at the EC and ensure a truce. But Mr. Asante noted that, the hierarchy of the EC was now implicated and tainted by the allegations of corruption and financial malfeasance thus any intervention in the EC’s affairs must be angled towards unraveling the truth.

“The way it is, if you don’t isolate the allegations of criminality and so on and just move quickly to calm things down and let everything get along, you would really miss the opportunity of trying to resolve what appears to be serious challenges with corporate governance at the EC… It would also afford the individuals the opportunity to “fully exonerate themselves in one way or the other because their reputations are also on the line.”

Prior to the petition from the employees, EOCO, had been interrogating the EC’s Director of Finance, and two other officials over their alleged involvement in the loss of GHc480,000 from the Commission’s Staff Endowment Fund.

Official communication between the EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, and Dr. Asamaoh, later indicated that he was indeed not at post when the money went missing from the Commission’s Staff Endowment Fund.

Background

The EC tensions came to the fore after some employees of commission petitioned President Akufo-Addo to dismiss Charlotte Osei for alleged financial malfeasance.

Among the allegations centred around financial malfeasance, the aggrieved employees claimed that Mrs. Osei unilaterally awarded a GHc 3.9 million contract for work on an office complex without consulting the Commission.

The employees also said Mrs. Osei engaged in cronyism by awarding another contract to the tune of $14,310,961 to associates for the construction of prefabricated District offices.

Mrs. Osei rubbished the allegations in a detailed response to the employees and fired some accusations of her own, alleging that a Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Operations at the EC, Amadu Sulley, milked some GHc 6 million from political parties without informing the Commission’s Finance Department.

She said the political party primaries were treated as a private commercial project by Amadu Sulley, noting that funds were paid directly into the personal accounts of key staff for functions to be performed at the primaries.

Mrs. Osei also said she will order investigations into the conduct of Amadu Sulley and other Commissioners believed to be engaged in malpractices.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo should empower EOCO to fully probe EC – Kojo Asante appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The election was set for Thursday, February 9, but will now come off on Thursday, February 16.

The EC in a statement explained that, the additional week was to allow the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) “make the requisite arrangements for the constitution of the regional electoral colleges required for the election of the regional representatives to the Council of State.”

The Commission also stated that, other arrangements, including nominations to contest in the election, are still valid for the purpose of the election.

The elections nationwide would be held at venues to be determined by the Commission in the regional capitals.

The Council of State consists of one representative from each region of Ghana, elected in accordance with regulations made by the EC under article 51 of Ghana’s constitution, by an electoral college comprising two representatives from each of the districts in the region, nominated by the District Assemblies in the region and eleven other members appointed by the President.

Qualification onto the Council of State

To be eligible for election to the Council of State a prospective candidate must be a citizen of Ghana, be of sound mind, be a registered voter and be a resident or hail from the region which he /she seeks to represent.

A person shall not be qualified to be elected as a regional representative to the Council of State if, among others, the person is adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt, if convicted for high crime under the Constitution, or high treason, or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpitude; or for any other offence punishable by death or by a sentence of not less than ten years.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Election of Council of State reps rescheduled to Feb 16 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The months leading up to the December 7 elections, have seen the Electoral Commission (EC) dominate the news cycle for mostly the wrong reasons; ranging from the protracted attempts to get the Commission to clean the electoral roll, to the disqualification of some presidential aspirants, and recently the handling of the special voting exercise, that ended with thousands of security personnel fearing they had been disenfranchised.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Spbo3OVTUuoiK609qxWuzJWisKjlLvWK”]Responding to questions on his belief in the EC’s ability to effectively organise the polls on Citi TV’s Politicos, Nana Akufo-Addo simply said, “I have to, because I am committed to the process.”

That was in response to a direct question as to whether he trusts the EC to conduct credible polls.

Nana Akufo-Addo noted that he was going to buy into the EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei’s verbal commitment to ensuring a fair electoral process.

“She [Mrs. Osei], has made a public commitment to that effect, that she is going to deliver the best-organised election in our history. I want to believe her and I have to believe her.”

The NPP Flagbearer however stressed that, his hope in the EC’s ability to conduct credible polls stretched beyond the personality steering the Commission as he said, “I don’t believe in her [Mrs. Osei]. I believe in the institution; the Electoral Commission. It is an important institution in our country and all of us are required to give it our best possible support.”

We must pray EC’s arrangements are satisfactory

He also lauded the EC’s decision to extend the special voting exercise, with the hope that the hitches brought on by “special circumstances” would not extend to the voting process on December 7.

The EC on Thursday announced that it would allow the thousands of security and media personnel nationwide, who were unable to vote in Thursday’s limited registration exercise to do so on Sunday.

The personnel were turned away because their names were not on the special voting register in the constituencies they thought they had registered in.

But Nana Akufo-Addo’s plea to Ghanaians is that, “our prayer must be that, whatever the difficulties were in Thursday’s vote… it is not going to be witnessed on Wednesday. We have to hope that things are well organised because if the same level of chaos is to happen on Wednesday, then the country has serious problems.”

“I believe the wish of the Ghanaian people in their overwhelming numbers is to have an incident free, fair, transparent process on Wednesday, so that their voice can be properly articulated and heard. All of us must be on our knees in prayer that the arrangements that the Electoral Commission has put in place are going to be satisfactory arrangements on Wednesday,” Nana Akufo-Addo stated.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I have to trust EC to conduct credible polls – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.