Speaking on Eyewitness News, the former Deputy Minister said the government jumped to conclusions on the matter merely for political propaganda.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ec1UEDh1Mm197mzdfytHeIxYCMhoT78H”]The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugine Arhin, had said there were at least 208 cars unaccounted for at the presidency’s car pool, and that the President was left with only 10-year-old BMW for official use.

Government later made available a documents detailing a list of 173 serviceable vehicles left behind by the NDC administration indicating that there were four bulletproof vehicles for use by the President as claimed by the NDC.

The NDC also released a document with 641 vehicles which were listed and properly accounted for saying they were captured in the handing over notes.

Mr. Ofosu Kwakye recounted that the current government’s side of the transition team had an Executive Access Committee, chaired by Nii Ayikoi Otoo, which was taken around to where the 370 vehicles were kept.

He also noted that “it is not only at the Flagstaff House where cars belonging to the presidency are kept. There are vehicles that belong to the Presidency that are used by ministers and deputy ministers so you would find them at the various ministries, departments and agencies.”

“Mr. Ayikoi Otoo’s committee was given a total of 370 vehicles and they inspected each of these vehicles. They were taken to all the places where these vehicles are kept and they took receipt of 370 vehicles. Now the outstanding vehicles were accounted for as per the documents released yesterday,” he revealed

Arhin didn’t make thorough checks

Mr. Kwakye-Ofosu asserted that, the handover notes for the current government had a list of vehicles with persons or units within the presidency who are using these vehicles, but added that “it does appear to me that they [government] are unprepared to peruse the various sets of documentation.”

According to him, all government had to do was to look through the various agencies, but in his view, “it is obvious he [Eugine Arhin] didn’t have access to all the information regarding this matter. He should have taken his time and allowed the people at the Transport section of the Flagstaff House to be properly engaged… for instance, I don’t know if he has spoken to the Ayikoi Otoo committee.”

“If they were not minded to do any political propaganda, all they could have done was to cross-reference against the list that has been provided,  and whether there are gaps, then you contact the specific individuals or units,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stated.

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

The post Gov’t playing politics with ‘missing cars’ claim – Kwakye-Ofosu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government that over 200 state cars are missing, has nothing to do with the immediate past government.

[contextly_sidebar id=”JeJCSWWFRa2vo0BhGK8kxOyXiTtGALdq”]The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, revealed to the media on Wednesday [February 8] that, there are so far 208 cars unaccounted for from the Flagstaff House’s vehicle pool, based on the assessment of some car models in the inventory.

His claims suggested that some officials of the immediate past government were in possession of the vehicles, but according to Mr Kwakye Ofosu, the NDC government cannot be blamed.

He said the new government must provide further information on the specific cars identified to be missing to enable proper checks and references and a possible search to find them.

“The claim that this vehicles cannot be found is completely untrue to the extent that they [NPP] are unable to tell you what specific vehicles they cannot find. We have given you a list, the vehicles are parked at specific places that you are aware of and you unable to say they registration number and chassis number of the missing vehicles.”

“It is when they are able to provide this specific information that we will be able to cross reference with the list that we gave them and then those vehicles will be looked for if they are indeed missing. But at this stage and as far as we are concerned, every vehicle that we need to account for, we have done, and the onus is on them to provide very specific information,” Kwakye Ofosu said.

A statement signed by the former Deputy Chief of Staff, Johnny Osei Kofi, also described the new government’s claims as “false, baseless and without merit.”

The statement said, the “distortions and bad faith that have characterized the conduct of the NPP side of the Transition team.”

It explained that “both the Assets and Logistics Committee on the NPP side were given a detailed list of all vehicles in the pool at the Presidency. More importantly, a total of 641 vehicles were listed and properly accounted for. This was duly captured in the handing over notes.” It also called on the government to provide further evidence to back its claims of lost vehicles.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We accounted for all state vehicles – Kwakye Ofosu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, when President John Mahama and late President John Mills took the same decision, they were condemned by the NPP.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Ofosu Kwakye said although he is not against the appointment of young people in government, he found it hypocritical and unfair for the NPP to now turnaround and do same.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jv2RweNOVGFflgsGEiLWc45o91suLMX5″]The Deputy Minister made the comment on the back of Nana Akufo-Addo’s announcement of some of his administrative staff, which has about four young people namely Francis Asenso-Boakye and Samuel Abu Jinapor, both Deputy Chiefs of Staff,  Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency and Clara Napaga Sulemana Tia, a Presidential Staffer.

President John Mahama and late President Mills were accused for bringing on board some young people to take leadership roles in their government who were referred to as “babies with sharp teeth” following their utterances which critics found disrespectful and arrogant.

Kwakye Ofosu, while speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, said “it is unfortunate that when President Mills and President Mahama gave opportunities to young persons to contribute to national development persons in the opposition and some surrogates of theirs sought to bastardize them and did not allow them the opportunity to make that contribution.”

“Here we are the President-elect has appointed at least three people within their circles to serve in his government and the same people who derided others appointed by President Mills and President Mahama are now falling over themselves to uphold the image and integrity of these young men. Like I have said, I would on any day root for any young person who is able to land a position in government because I believe that the youth have a role to play; but let us be fair to all persons irrespective of their political creed,” he added.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu however in the interview wished the President-elect and his new appointees the best of luck.

President John Mahama is expected to hand over power to Nana Akufo-Addo on Saturday January 7, 2017.

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

The post Ofosu-Kwakye questions Nana Addo’s appointment of young people appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to Citi News, he said the ongoing impasse over a potential one-on-one debate between the two leading contenders in the 2016 presidential race “is a matter of regret for the electorate. It is the electorate that is poorer for it.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”ea3dAkfuarJb2ZaXgN0IkOO3Ri9jnA5z”]In rebuttals to President John Mahama’s recent challenges to debate Nana Akufo-Addo on issues of the economy, the NPP has asked for a response to the 170 questions laid out by the NPP running mate, Dr, Mahamadu Bawumia during his lecture on the state of the Ghanaian economy in September.

The NPP is also requesting a formal approach from the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) if any possible headway would be made on the issue.

Nana Addo running away

But Mr. Kwakye-Ofosu suggested that Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP are simply running from a debate with President Mahama.

“It is obvious that the flagbearer of the NPP and his party are showing a clean pair of heels in the matter of a debate between President Mahama and himself.”

“It is obvious that the NPP realizes their flagbearer’s limitations with regards to having the sort of grasp of national issues that will position him to convincingly engage in a debate with his opponents in order to allow for the electorate to make informed choices.”

The NDC has held that the NPP’s criticism of the economy is not anchored on facts thus they have been misinforming the electorate.

The Deputy Minister explained that, “we in the NDC campaign were under the impression that a debate platform where he goes toe-to-toe with President Mahama will be the most appropriate platform for him [Nana Addo] to raise the claims that he has been making about this country and receive the appropriate responses.”

“But lo and behold, he and his party do not appear to have the confidence to engage President Mahama,” Mr. Kwakye-Ofosu added

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

The post Electorate loses if NPP declines debate challenge – Kwakye-Ofosu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.