According to Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, Ofori-Atta will soon go to court to compel CHRAJ to overturn some declarations in its report released after it was petitioned by the Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Brogya Genfi, to investigate the matter.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lfsFZABmXsHhfqTLLQwUfkCdlvUuZ84U”]Genfi, in April 2017, petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the $2.25 billion bond issued by government, citing possible conflict of interest in the deal with regards to the Finance Minister and his alleged acquaintances, whom Genfi claimed had bought the bond at convenient rates.

CHRAJ, after months of investigations, said Ofori-Atta breached certain processes in the issuance of the bond but cleared him of all claims of conflict of interest.

CHRAJ also stated in its report that, Ofori-Atta failed to declare all his assets; a claim government officials have rubbished.

Sharing his view on the matter during discussions on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Franklin Cudjoe said Ofori-Atta’s intended court action is long overdue, saying it will help clear his image.

“I think that the Finance Minister has legitimate reasons to do so because they are an important institution. And for them to come out with such a report and then make other comments which incidentally has gained political capital for the NDC, lowers the stature in a way, of the Finance Minister, and I think he [Finance Minister] needs to redeem that aspect of what is becoming a campaign against his person.”

“So for me, I think he should have done that much longer. But let me say that these things as they happen also go to strengthen our democracy…so the Finance Minister should go to court and I support his action,” he added.

Minority pushes for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal

On the back of the CHRAJ report, the Minority called on President Akufo-Addo to sack the Finance Minister, for breaching aspects of the law in the issuance of the bond.

They have also suggested that the Finance Minister could alternatively resign over the matter.

“We serve notice that in the event that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo does not exercise appropriate judgment, we will initiate an action of censurship against the Minister. We in the minority feel strongly vindicated by the [CRAHJ] report… All of us must uphold the laws of Ghana including the Minister for Finance,” Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said.

I’ll join Ofori-Atta’s suit – Brogya Genfi

In a related development, Brogya Genfi has said he will file a joinder application should Ofori-Atta drag CHRAJ to court over its findings on the issuance of the $2.25 billion bond.

“I am very interested in it and as an interested party, I am going to join anything that the Finance Minister will institute against CHRAJ because I sent the petition to CHRAJ,” Genfi said in a Citi News interview.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Franklin Cudjoe backs Ofori-Atta’s legal action against CHRAJ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, although Brogya Genfi, the Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the NDC was fronting the action, the likes of Tamale Central MP, Inusah Fuseini, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Chief Whip,Muntaka Mubarak, North Tongu MP, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ketu South, Fiifi Kwetey were pulling the strings.

“They are a group of destructive citizens. Brogya Genfi led the whole thing but behind him is a whole arsenal in the likes of Inusah Fuseini, Haruna Iddrisu, Muntaka Mubarak, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Fiifi Kwetey. And all that team are there supporting what he is doing in a mischievous way to try and derail the progress of the country,” he said in Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue yesterday [Saturday].

[contextly_sidebar id=”7zgQuNLluCDoFEXgChN8Se5XdAc2VQhP”]According to Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, Ken Ofori Atta has indicated that he is going to court to compel the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to overturn some of the declarations made against him following the petition submitted to the Commission by Brogya Genfi.

Genfi, in April 2017, petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the $2.25 billion bond issued by government, citing possible conflict of interest in the deal with regards to the Finance Minister and his alleged acquaintances, whom Genfi claimed had bought the bond at convenient rates.

CHRAJ, after months of investigations, said Ofori-Atta breached certain processes in the issuance of the bond but cleared him of all claims of conflict of interest.

Minority pushes for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal

On the back of the CHRAJ report, the Minority called on President Akufo-Addo to sack the Finance Minister, for breaching aspects of the law in the issuance of the bond

They have also suggested that the Finance Minister could alternatively resign over the matter.

“We serve notice that in the event that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo does not exercise appropriate judgment, we will initiate an action of censurship against the Minister. We in the minority feel strongly vindicated by the [CRAHJ] report… All of us must uphold the laws of Ghana including the Minister for Finance,” Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said.

Ofori-Atta won’t resign

But Casely-Hayford is sceptical over the call for the removal of the Finance Minister by the Minority.

According to him, such action won’t materialize as the President would not be willing to get rid of such a crucial member of his government.

“He will not resign. The president, his boss will not sack him. The motion of censure will not work. His boss has no desire to dismiss his Finance Minister. The whole thing is an exercise in futility and it will not work. They [Minority] know that it will not work,” he added.

I’ll join Ofori-Atta’s suit – Brogya Genfi
In a related development, Brogya Genfi, had said he will file a joinder application should Ofori-Atta drag CHRAJ to court over its findings on the issuance of the $2.25 billion bond.

“I am very interested in it and as an interested party, I am going to join anything that the Finance Minister will institute against CHRAJ because I sent the petition to CHRAJ,” Genfi said in a Citi News interview.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post NDC MPs behind CHRAJ petition against Ofori-Atta – Casely-Hayford appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I am very interested in it and as an interested party, I am going to join anything that the Finance Minister will institute against CHRAJ because I sent the petition to CHRAJ,” Genfi said in a Citi News interview.

Genfi, in April 2017, petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the $2.25 billion bond issued by government, citing possible conflict of interest in the deal with regards to the Finance Minister and his alleged acquaintances, whom Genfi claimed had bought the bond at convenient rates.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ypQxowiaH2UgZ864r2ltnt7jkbh3VcZ3″]CHRAJ, after months of investigations, said Ofori-Atta breached certain processes in the issuance of the bond but cleared him of all claims of conflict of interest.

The Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, at a press conference on Thursday hinted that the Finance Minister would head to court to challenge aspects of CHRAJ’s report that indicted him.

But speaking to Citi News, Brogya Genfi said the reasons given by the Finance Minister for the possible suit against CHRAJ were untenable.

“If you read the report, you will know that the Finance Minister was being investigated on Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution. CHRAJ only found out as part of its investigation that the Finance Minister did not disclose some of his assets. Now CHRAJ did not go further to do further investigation on that matter. They did not sanction the Minister; neither did they give a conclusion on that matter so what is the Finance Minister going to do in court?” he queried.

Article 284 of the Constitution states that “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office.”

Brogya petitions CHRAJ again

According to Genfi he has petitioned CHRAJ again on the matter, this time urging it to delve deeper into the asset declaration aspect of the first report.

“In fact, I have presented a second petition to CHRAJ invoking article 287 which deals with article 286 of the Constitution bordering on assets disclosure. So I think they [Finance Minister and government spokespersons] are just making noise about it. They have stated that CHRAJ didn’t have the mandate to investigate all of that. If you go to the report and open to page 97, CHRAJ justified why they delved into those matters,” he argued.

$2.25billion bond controversies

The controversy over the bond began after the Minority called for a full-scale parliamentary probe into how persons they referred to as very close friends of the Finance Minister, purchased 95 percent of the $2.25 billion bond issue in April 2017.

The NDC’s Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer, Yaw Brongya Genfi, subsequently petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the bond on grounds that Mr. Ofori Atta attempted to promote his personal interests, as well as those of his family and friends.

On the substantive matter of conflict of interest, CHRAJ cleared Mr. Ofori-Atta of any wrongdoing, stating that, “on the basis of the evidence available to the Commission, it has come to the conclusion and therefore holds that, the allegations by the complainant that the respondent has contravened Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution by putting himself in a conflict of interest situation in relation to the issuance of the 5-year, 7-year, 10-year and 15-year bonds, have not been substantiated.”

CHRAJ, however, said that the Finance Minister, breached certain processes in the issuance of the bond.

In its 140-page report on the matter, CHRAJ made some suggestions to the Minister of Finance to ensure that due diligence is ensured in subsequent deals.

Among other directives, it said the Minister must pass regulations to monitor the format of and criteria for the auctions, and the procedures for participation, bidding, and allocation in auctions in relation to the issuance of securities in the domestic market.

CHRAJ further charged the Minister take measures in preventing Primary Dealers who are also bookrunners or transaction advisors from gaining the unfair advantage because of their dual roles.

It had found the Primary Dealers also doubled up as bookrunners or transaction advisors, and that dual role gave them an undue advantage.

Group sues Ofori-Atta, AG, CHRAJ over $2.25 bn bond

A group calling itself Dynamic Youth Organisation of Ghana, has also sued the Finance Minister, the Attorney General and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice [CHRAJ] over the issuance of the bond.

The Convener for this new group, Edward Tutor, speaking on Eyewitness News last week explained that, the decision to clear Mr. Ofori Atta of any wrongdoing contravenes Article 284 of the constitution.

Mr. Tutor said their suit is to, therefore, invoke the Supreme Court to interpret Article 284 of the 1992 constitution.

Ofori-Atta to sue CHRAJ

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, may be dragging CHRAJ to court, over its handling of the petition in relation to the $2.25 billion bond issue.

He is heading to court to compel CHRAJ to overturn some of the declarations it considers irrelevant to the petition.

Addressing a news conference in Accra on Thursday, the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, said the Finance Minister believes CHRAJ went “beyond the matter of conflict of interest to make pronouncements on other matters that it was not seized with the capacity to make.”

This was announced after the Minority in Parliament had reiterated their calls on the Minister to resign or be forced out constitutionally based on the findings of the CHRAJ report.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Zoe Abu-Baidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, Yaw Oppong said the right institution to have investigated the matter is the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The substantial issue confirms that the CHRAJ’s investigation did not grant the reliefs that complainants brought before it against the Minister, but if you read it carefully and from information that is in the public domain, CHRAJ for instance went into matters that it does not have jurisdiction to investigate or matters that exclusive jurisdiction or authority has been given to other statutory institutions.”

“For example, on the issues relating to the bond, such matters as far as I know, has been exclusively granted the Securities and Exchange Commission. For example, they have a committee that is mandated to do so in the name of the commission,” he added.

He referenced a case involving HFC where an issue was supposed to be investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission but ended up at the High Court.

“They [HFC] went to the high court and that court received the application but didn’t have jurisdiction. When it went to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court clearly said when it comes to matters relating to securities, the Securities and Exchange Commission is the first place of call to investigate that. Until they [Securities and Exchange Commission] have shown open bias or not been able to exhibit independence, then you can come to the court. So the Supreme Court struck out that application,” the private legal practitioner added.

He also added that, CHRAJ went beyond its jurisdiction to further investigate the Finance Minister’s assets saying that “I understand that, that matter was not part of the issues it was investigating.”

Background

The controversy over the bond begun after the Minority called for a full-scale parliamentary probe into how persons they referred to as very close friends of the Finance Minister, purchased 95 percent of the $2.25 billion bond issue in April 2017.

The NDC’s Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer, Yaw Brongya Genfi, subsequently petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the bond on grounds that Mr. Ofori Atta attempted to promote a personal interest for himself, as well as family and friends,.

On the substantive matter of conflict of interest, CHRAJ cleared Mr. Ofori-Atta of any wrongdoing, stating that, “on the basis of the evidence available to the Commission, it has come to the conclusion and therefore holds that, the allegations by the complainant that the respondent has contravened Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution by putting himself in a conflict of interest situation in relation to the issuance of the 5-year, 7-year, 10-year and 15-year bonds, have not been substantiated.”

CHRAJ however said that the Finance Minister, breached certain processes in the issuance of the bond.

In its 140-page report on the matter, CHRAJ made some suggestions to the Minister of Finance to ensure that due diligence is ensured in subsequent deals.

Among other directives, it said the Minister must pass regulations to monitor the format of and criteria for the auctions, and the procedures for participation, bidding, and allocation in auctions in relation to the issuance of securities in the domestic market.

CHRAJ further charged the Minister take measures in preventing Primary Dealers who are also bookrunners or transaction Advisors from gaining the unfair advantage because of their dual roles.

It had found the Primary Dealers also doubled up as bookrunners or transaction advisors, and that dual role gave them an undue advantage.

Group sues Ofori-Atta, AG, CHRAJ over $2.25 bn bond

A group calling itself Dynamic Youth Organisation of Ghana, has sued the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, the Attorney General and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice [CHRAJ] over the $2.25 billion bond issue.

The Convener for this new group, Edward Tutor, speaking on Eyewitness News last week explained that, the decision to clear Mr. Ofori Atta of any wrongdoing contravenes Article 284 of the constitution.

Mr. Tutor said their suit is to therefore to invoke the Supreme Court to interpret Article 284 of the 1992 constitution.

Ofori-Atta to sue CHRAJ

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, may be dragging CHRAJ to court, over its handling of the petition in relation to the $2.25 billion bond issue.

He is heading to court to compel CHRAJ to overturn some of the declarations it considers irrelevant to the petition.

Addressing a news conference in Accra today [Thursday], the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, said the Finance Minister believes CHRAJ went “beyond the matter of conflict of interest to make pronouncements on other matters that it was not seized with the capacity to make.”

This was announced after the Minority in Parliament had reiterated their calls on the Minister to resign or be forced out constitutionally based on the findings of the CHRAJ report.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post CHRAJ exceeded its limit in $2.25b bond investigation – Lawyer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

CHRAJ, in its 140-page report concluded that although Mr. Ofori-Atta was not guilty of conflict of interest, he breached some processes in the issuance of the bond.

But the law lecturer argues that the Commission erred when it determined differently from the evidence available to it.

His argument was premised on basis that “the findings of CHRAJ points to one direction” while its “decision on the findings points to another direction.”

“Basically, what it means is that, the findings do not support the decision that CHRAJ made. CHRAJ’s findings that the Minister was in a potential conflict of interest situation shouldn’t have ended with a conclusion that the minister was not guilty of a violation of the conflict of interest rule. It should have actually gone ahead to say that potential conflict of interest whether or not, the minister benefited and it’s still conflict of interest.”

The lawyer didn’t understand why the CHRAJ report cleared the Finance Minister despite making contrary findings, adding that Mr. Ofori-Attah had the opportunity to challenge the findings should it have gone against him.

“It is possible that CHRAJ’s findings did not reflect the actual facts, but when that happens there is an opportunity for the Minister to apply to the courts to review the findings of CHRAJ, but so far as these facts are on record, CHRAJ couldn’t have come to the conclusion that the Minister is cleared of these allegations,” Justice Sai added.

CHRAJ report grounds for Ofori-Atta’s removal – Brogya Genfi

In a related development, Yaw Brogya Genfi, the National Democratic Congress [NDC] member who petitioned CHRAJ to investigate the Finance Minister, has said Mr. Ofori-Atta risks being removed from office over the findings made against him in the report.

According to Mr. Genfi, failure to follow statutory procedures in the issuance of the government’s $2.25bn bond could cost the Finance Minister his job.

“..the evidence so far indicts him [Ken Ofori-Atta] of several illegalities which constitutes enough grounds for his removal from office,” he said.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Sixtus Dong Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Bond saga: CHRAJ erred in clearing Finance Minister- Law lecturer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

CHRAJ, in its investigation of a conflict of interest allegation leveled against Ken Ofori Atta by a known member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Brogya Genfi, said although it found no concrete evidence on conflict of interest against the Minister, he [Ken Ofori-Atta] breached several procedures.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jYXu6hNFlcr4oWKto8Y0iiRIPErtF7km”]In its 140-page report on the matter, CHRAJ made some suggestions to the Minister of Finance to ensure that due diligence is ensured in subsequent deals.

Among other directives, it said the Minister must as a matter of urgency, pass regulations, rules or guidelines to regulate the format of and criteria for the auctions, and the procedures for participation, bidding, and allocation in auctions in relation to the issuance of securities in the domestic market.

CHRAJ further charged the Minister take measures in preventing Primary Dealers who are also bookrunners/Transaction Advisors from gaining the unfair advantage because of their dual roles.

It had found the Primary Dealers also doubled up as Bookrunners/Transaction advisors, and that dual role gave them an undue advantage.

“Respondent [Ken Ofori-Atta] is either a director, former director or shareholder, or beneficial owner, of several companies whose objects relate to the securities market sector. The companies include Databank and EGL. As such, Respondent’s interests in the growth and wellbeing of those companies, have the potential to conflict with the interests of the state in relation to the securities market such as the issuance of bonds.

It stated that, “The Respondent has business partners and associates related to the securities industry where, according to the Respondent, he has been working for over thirty years. These business partners and associates include partners in Databank, Enterprise Group Limited, Ventures and Acquisitions Limited, as well as Keli Gadzekpo, Trevor Trefgarne and Angela Ofori Atta, also Respondent’s spouse.”

CHRAJ further urged the implementation of section 56 of the Public Financial Management Act, 921 of 2016 in the shortest possible time, due to the imperative of Bonds becoming a feature of the country’s debt payment system and the appetite of investors.

It said section 56 (1) provided that, “The terms and conditions of all government borrowing shall be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless the terms and conditions are approved by a resolution of Parliament in accordance with article 181 of the Constitution”.

“The issuance of bonds is a form of borrowing and therefore operationalising section 56 (2) of the PFM Act with standard terms and conditions for government borrowing through a legislative instrument or through a resolution of Parliament to enable greater transparency in all borrowings is long overdue,” CHRAJ stressed.

CHRAJ clears Ofori-Atta of Conflict of Interest in $2.25bn bond saga

On the substantive matter of conflict of interest however, CHRAJ cleared Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta of any wrongdoing, stating that “On the basis of the evidence available to the Commission, it has come to the conclusion and therefore holds that, the allegations by the complainant that the respondent has contravened Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution by putting himself in a conflict of interest situation in relation to the issuance of the 5-year, 7-year, 10-year and 15-year bonds, have not been substantiated,” it said in its report on the matter.”

Click here to read the full report.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ofori-Atta breached processes in issuance of $2.25bn bond – CHRAJ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The board is chaired by Michael Opam, a technical Adviser at the Ministry of Energy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”N7DClWy5jlDVO350nNGLU3prmxP6w8Ya”]This comes barely two weeks after the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, recommended to the Commission the review of electricity tariffs in the country.

Government has promised to reduce electricity tariffs by between 13 and 21 percent in the coming days.

But some analyst including Frankling Cudjoe, President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, called on government to tread cautiously in order not to balloon the debt stock in the energy sector.

“There is a debt profiling known as ESLA in place, and we ought to be careful because we are not out of the woods yet, when it comes to our generating capacity. The fact that some persons do not pay the tariffs on time, the fact that there are technical and commercial losses, this may as well affect the debt restructuring procedure,” he added.

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, has accused the government of trying to usurp the mandate of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), by announcing an average reduction of between 13 and 21 percent in electricity tariffs for residential and industrial consumers.

Below is the full list of the PURC governing board:

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Gov’t reconstitutes PURC board ahead of electricity tariff cuts appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said the country required sustainable measures to help provide jobs for the youth to avoid serious problems in the future.

Mr. Ofori-Atta, who was speaking at the PwC 2018 budget forum, said the programme would be planned to ensure that it did not negatively affect the public sector wage bill.

The forum is an annual initiative by the PwC to help break down government policies as announced in the budget to partners and stakeholders of the audit and accounting firm.

Mr. Ofori-Atta said the graduates would be engaged in critical areas such as; the collection of taxes, enforcement of sanitation rules and delivery of health and education services in the various district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies.

Mr. Ofori-Atta said the NBC was a well-thought-out programme meant to address the national security risk posed by growing graduate unemployment.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund would be reviewed to allow for additional resources to be committed to the fund.

He said the move is to restructure the Fund to allow for mobilization of foreign and private capital for critical infrastructure development.

“We are looking at the GIF law so that we move the fund to about US$1 billion or even US$2 billion to be a key player in our infrastructure drive,” he stated.

The GIIF was established in 2014, in pursuant to the GIF Act, Act 877 of 2014, with the mandate to provide financial resources to manage, coordinate and invest in a diversified portfolio of infrastructure projects in the country for national development.

Dr. Eric Osei-Asibey, a lecturer at the Economics Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, commended the government for fiscal consolidation and a stable economy, but wondered if the growth would be sustainable over the medium to long-term.

 On lending rates, Dr. Eric Osei Asibey, urged the government to put in place measures that would ensure a rapid decline of lending rates in the country, insisting that the move would be a major first step to ensure private sector drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

However, he said there was the need for government to adopt measures to mobilize enough domestic revenue to avoid a cut in expenditure to ensure fiscal consolidation.

“If you want to ensure fiscal consolidation, you look at either increasing your revenue generation or cutting expenditure or a combination of the two, but we have so far achieved fiscal consolidation largely because we cut expenditure and that is good, but to what extent can we continue to do that,” he explained.

Mr. Abeku Gyan-Quansah, Associate Director, PwC Ghana, said it was time stakeholders developed a home grown dispute resolution mechanism to deal with business disputes between partners.

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Source: GNA

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Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr. Carbonu said government must instead find sustainable ways of funding the free SHS programme.

“You cannot be certain the amount of contributions that will come, and without certainty you cannot plan,” he explained.

[contextly_sidebar id=”GEm9bPCpel61arcPgDFrjat8V3Npiw6A”]The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, while presenting the 2018 budget statement to Parliament on Wednesday, said government is in the process of setting up a fund to receive voluntary contributions from individuals to support the implementation of its flagship Free Senior High School programme, and the education sector as a whole.

The move has been criticized mostly by members of the minority who say it has exposed government’s inability to secure the needed funding to sustain the programme.

Mr. Carbonu also reiterated earlier claims by some civil society organisations that the over GHc1 billion budgetary allocation for the free SHS programme in 2018 is “woefully inadequate.”

“Let me say that, information getting to me indicates that, we do not even have the full complement of even the 20 percent that has to go to the schools. The amount of money quoted as the budget for free SHS, when you put all the items on the table, it does not cater for all the needs… There is the need for us to sit down as a people, and stop this I want to look good mantra, and let us tackle the hard core issues – to provide for ourselves resources to be able to run our country. What we are doing is the blanket doling out of people to go to senior high school, and it will not be sustainable in the future,” he cautioned.

The incoming NAGRAT President also called on government to channel its attention to basic schools in the country, which are severely challenged in many areas.

You can’t rely on voluntary contributions for Free SHS- Ablakwa

National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said the government cannot afford to rely on voluntary contributions to fund education, particularly free SHS, as projections for those funds may not materialize.

According to Ablakwa, putting a lot of expectations on money which would be accrued from the fund could backfire as it may not appeal to Ghanaians enough to voluntarily contribute to it.

“No country runs public education on just voluntary funds. What if the Fund is not considered attractive and you don’t really get as much as you are expecting. We can’t leave the destiny of our children’s quality education to just a voluntary fund where we don’t really know the projections. You cannot just depend on voluntary funds, you can’t run education that way. You need a concrete plan and you need a well-defined funding source. It’s clear that government is struggling to fund it and struggling to identify a clear funding source.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Voluntary Fund for Free SHS needless – Carbonu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme ‘The Big Issue’ on Saturday, President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, said although reduction in electricity tariffs “is a good thing, we must be very cautious.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”egb7Tw5GJABrEXffKBD7V97GJdGD0ozH”]The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, while presenting the 2018 budget statement to Parliament last Wednesday, said government has recommended to the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) a review of electricity tariffs by between 13 and 21 percent.

But according to Franklin Cudjoe, government must make sure the review does not adversely affect Ghana’s debt profiling of the energy sector.

“There is a debt profiling known as ESLA in place, and we ought to be careful because we are not out of the woods yet, when it comes to our generating capacity. The fact that some persons do not pay the tariffs on time, the fact that there are technical and commercial losses, this may as well affect the debt restructuring procedure,” he added.

Government in the past subsidized electricity tariffs aimed at cushioning businesses and domestic consumers following intense pressure from the public.

Some had described the tariffs as “killer tariffs.” Meanwhile, the subsidy cost government millions of Ghana cedis.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tread cautiously with electricity tariffs cut – IMANI warns gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.