According to him, he cannot comprehend how a normal person would hit his fellow human being with a cement block with the intent of squeezing his life out of him.

Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr. Agyarko further called for medical examination of the suspects arrested to ascertain whether substance abuse was at play.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XmLvvWOijfgUXkD5yVGel7LlThLqggf1″]“As a former Narcotics control officer…I will suggest that all these people who are picked up, maybe they should conduct some test on them. I’m beginning to think that there is so much substance abuse in this country. Alcohol is too cheap in this country. Wee is too common in this country. I think that we must begin to look into these things…I can’t see how me, a normal person who is not under the influence of anything will take a block and hit a man on his head,” the outspoken MP added.

Capt. Mahama was lynched and partly burnt by some residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region after they mistook him for an armed robber.

The residents in a video which went viral on social media hit the officer with cement blocks, clubs and other wooden objects until he passed out.

The late military officer and his team from the 5^th Infantry battalion, had been deployed to the area to fight illegal mining.

So far, about 22 people including a twelve year old have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The late officer’s burial has been set for June 9, 2017.

Joblessness partly to blame 

Mr. Agyarko also believes that, a lot of the residents joined in the lynching of the Capt. Mahama because they are idle and have no jobs to do.

“This rallying of the mob couldn’t have happened so easily. You begin to wonder about what the people in the villages do. I begin to think that because of underemployment and nothing to do, people hang around and they become easily rallied. People are not occupied enough. This country has some major problem and crisis this government must tackle. Government must create a situation where people will be busy or be employed to make them too busy to engage in vigilantism,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Capt. Mahama’s killers could’ve been influenced by alcohol, wee – MP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Mahama government has been accused of procuring 43 new vehicles for the presidency four days before leaving office at a cost of over nine million dollars.

But speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Dr. Apaak insisted that they did nothing untoward.

[contextly_sidebar id=”n9ZaXVbtDfSrTOc2OZiFh6zEQxvDCWUV”]“It’s indeed true that the said vehicles were ordered, but the request was made to our side during the transition. So if indeed the vehicles have been procured, I can say on authority that it was part of the request which was made by the incoming government,” he added.

Dr. Apaak, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Builsa South constituency on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), further argued that they couldn’t have on their own accord, procure the vehicles for another person’s to use.

He added that, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), would be compelled to release documentary evidence if they feel victimized by the current government because they believe there was “nothing fishy” in the deal.

“…What would have been the motivation to place an order for these vehicles for use by the office of the president? I don’t want to mention names but I know that in the coming days if this issue of trying to make sure that governance is a continuum at the request of an incoming government is used to try and tag our government as corrupt, we will have no choice but to provide documentary proof to confirm the fact that this request was made during the transition process by the current government. So there is nothing fishy about it and I think the timing itself should make Ghanaians know that it wasn’t President Mahama who was going to be in office after January 7^th so what was the need to procure this kind of vehicles when we were leaving office?”

Dr. Apaak also noted that, the NDC government at the time acceded to the request by the NPP because they felt that the security of the incoming president was very important.

“The security of the president is very important and if a request had been made that those vehicles be procured for use by the incoming government and that was done, I don’t see why we should quibble about it,” he added.

Apaak’s claims untrue

Meanwhile, the NPP MP for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, Emmanuel Agyarko, who was also on the programme, refuted Dr. Apaak’s claims.

He said “as far as I know, nobody from the current Govt asked for any vehicle…Why would this government ask the previous one to procure vehicles when they were about to take over?”

Vehicles in limbo

Documents sighted by Citi News reveal that, the contract was awarded by the erstwhile government on the 3rd of January, 2017, to Amalgamated Security Services LTD for the purchase of 43 vehicles for the Presidency.

However, the contract is in limbo following a recent moratorium placed on the purchase of new vehicles by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo.

The President,  in March 2017, banned the purchase of new cars until further notice.

Checks by Citi News revealed that the said vehicles have already been purchased and are currently in Dubai. There are fears government could pay a judgement debt if it cancels the contract.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post 43 new cars were purchased on NPP’s request – Apaak appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I was approached by AMERI. I am not the first person they approached and I am also not going to be the last person they approach in their attempt to solve this their very bad deal they have on their hands,” Mr Agyarko said on The Big Issue on Saturday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”x01yH5YhgVLPGgfQYcTgiJHSqqKBTFIv”]The MP was mentioned as part of those who left Ghana to the United Arab Emirates on account of the AMERI Group as part of activities by a special committee set up by government to investigate the company.

According to the Minority in Parliament, the committee, led by Philip Addison, entangled itself in a conflict of interest position having been sponsored for their air travel, hotel and per diem by the company it was investigating.

Although Mr. Addison in a previous interview with Citi News denied they were influenced by AMERI’s gesture, members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) insist the government’s claims of working to review the power deal had been jeopardized.

But Emmanuel Agyarko said that “let us look into how Ghanaians we sat down for a man that is on Interpol list, because of that he cannot go out of Dubai, why is it that a 29-year-old has come and taken all our money and everyone is talking about it.”

“This matter is not about Emmanuel Agyarko. The guys got in touch with me, they thought that somehow they can talk to me to get the ears of my brother. I found that what they were talking about is not something that would solve the problem,” he further noted.

Why was AMERI investigated?

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government after assuming office said it suspected that AMERI had defrauded the country by some $150 million in the power deal the company had with government under the erstwhile John Mahama administration.

Philip Addison, the leader of the committee set up by Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko in look into the matter said in an interview that the company had shortchanged Ghana.

“First of all, there is $150 million that is the contract price, then they subcontracted it to PPR for $360 million. So that is 150 million out of the $510 million. In addition to that, in the agreement, there are variable charges which had been put in the agreement as $16.6 million. I questioned this both here in Ghana and at Dubai. At both places the answer I got was that it was a mistake. The reason why it struck me was that, how come a variable cost could have a fixed sum. I’m advised that the plant even at maximum production should be around $8 million,” he said.

Why was AMERI engaged?

The erstwhile government engaged AMERI at the height of the country’s power crises to provide 250 Megawatts of power.

The company served contractor that sourced Turkish registered company PPR, to finance and execute the project.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post AMERI approached me over power deal – Agyarko appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Boakye Agyarko was named Energy Minister-nominee by President Akufo-Addo last week.

While announcing his position, Akufo-Addo described Boakye Agyarko as a man with enormous experience in energy sector contracts.

Speaking to Citi News, Emmanual Agyarko said his brother is qualified for the new job.

“I am very happy for my brother. He is a very hard worker, very diligent; he has over the period studied and understands the issues. I believe that from his experience and exposure together with all the people he will meet there and in government provide some smart solutions. I think he would contribute his quota so that this government succeeds. He is my big brother and I think he deserves it,” he added.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo in all named 36 ministers which he pleaded with Parliament to expedite their vetting and approval.

About Boakye Agyarko
Boakye Agyarko is 60 years old.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon; an Advanced Professional Certificate in Banking from the American Institute of Banking and an MBA in Financial Economics from the Pace University, New York.

He held a Vice President position at the Bank of New York, in New York, and in over 20 years at the Bank, he worked at senior levels in various departments, including Operations Management and Analysis, Product Development, Global Network Managements, International Banking and Asset Management and the Y2K Management Group.

His responsibilities in these various departments and positions included international trade finance, loan syndications, asset securitization and structured finance.

He is a member of the American Economic Association, and an Associate of the American Institute of Bankers. He served as the National Campaign Manager of the New Patriotic Party for the 2012 Elections, and served as Policy Advisor for the President’s 2016 electioneering campaign.

He is a Consultant to Capital Economics and Investments, a start-up economic analysis and investments group in Accra, Ghana.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Boakye Agyarko deserves Energy Ministry role – Brother appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.