He said the limited days available to the house makes it impossible for it to consider the bill even if it is filed under a certificate of urgency.

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, after increased agitations from civil society groups like the Right to Information Coalition, pushing for the passage of the Bill, announced on Monday that the revised version of the Right to Information Bill has been approved by Cabinet and forwarded to Parliament.

“Cabinet has given approval for the Right to Information Bill to be laid in Parliament for debate and approval because it is very critical that we pass the Right to Information Bill,” Dr. Bawumia stated during the Norway-Ghana Business and Investment Forum.

But according to Inusah Fuseini, who’s also the MP for Tamale Central, Parliament’s outlined business for this week did not indicate that the bill will be laid before the house rises on Friday. He however did not rule out the possibility that it could be introduced to the house this week.

“There simply is no way [it can be passed in this session]. I can’t see how we can work within 4 days to pass that bill into law. And you want a good product, you want the bill to stand the test of time. Let’s just get the executive to lay the bill…. The most important is for the bill to be laid now in parliament so that we can take it through the normal legislative process. That will mean the next time we return to the house,” he said.

‘We’ll sit during recess’

Inusah Fuseini said the Committee has agreed to sit during Parliament’s recess to consider the bill and prepare its report on it to ensure that it is immediately put before the house when it resumes.

“My committee has said that because of the importance of the bill, even if the executive delay in laying the bill we will be minded to sit during the recess to consider all the proprietary steps towards a report in parliament when we return,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Offinso South Constituency, Ben Abdallah assured that the government will lay the bill before the house before Friday, March 23, 2018, when it rises to go on recess.

‘RTI will be passed by July 2018’

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu in November 2017 said parliament would finish work on the bill by the second meeting of the next session of the house which translates to July 2018.

Speaking at a training programme for journalists in Parliament, he said the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic will surely work hard to pass the Bill.

About RTI

The right to information is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the country’s 1992 Constitution and recognized as a right under International Conventions on Human rights.

The bill as it has been drafted, is to give substance to Article 21 (1) (f) of the Constitution which states that “All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society”.

The back and forth

The Right to Information Bill was first drafted in 1999 under the former president, Jerry John Rawlings. Various advocacy groups emerged to press for the immediate passing of the bill into law in 2002. The draft bill was reviewed in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its 2008 and 2012 election manifestos promised to ensure the bill is passed. In 2010, the bill was presented to Parliament for consideration.

In 2011, the government signed unto the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Initiative with a commitment to pass by the bill. In November 2013, the bill was formally laid before parliament.

Former Attorney General, Deputy Dominic Ayine in 2015, moved the bill for second reading in Parliament. In October 2016, the bill was withdrawn and a replaced with a new one which was immediately laid.

Following the dissolution of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic and the swearing-in of new Parliament in January 2017, the bill is no longer in parliament.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, extending services to already existing farmers cannot be considered as creating new jobs.

His comments follows the Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Afriyie Akoto’s announcement last week that 745,000 jobs had been created under the first phase of the programme with the caveat that the jobs were “unofficial jobs.”

The Minister explained to the media that, the jobs were created in rural areas, and were essentially not taxable, and did not contribute to pension funds following the earlier skepticism that met the announced figure.

The figures were based on the number of additional inputs as well as improved seeds and fertilizers supplied to participating farmers in 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Wele1g8diox1Wtj9YLBDlqvHliWletb1″]Speaking on the Big Issue, Inusah Fuseini said he had not seen any strategic plan for the implantation yet, but the Minister is out there claiming provision of jobs that do not exist.

“As I have said, I have not seen any strategic blueprint for the planting for food and jobs, they went and assisted farmers who are already in the field, they didn’t create new farmers, all they did was extend facility to them, is that creation of new jobs?, ”he said.

According to him, as long as the government cannot provide concrete evidence of people that have benefited from the planting for food and jobs project, there is still no solution to unemployment which is causing the youth to result to political vigilantism.

“The minister spoke about planting for food and jobs, can he give us evidence of people who were otherwise doing political vigilantism going to the farm?” he said.

Beyond Inusah Fuseini’s concerns, the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU), also opined that government’s estimate of 745,000 jobs provided under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme might be exaggerated.

The Union’s General Secretary, Edward Kareweh, contended that the figure provided by the government would have to be scrutinized.

Lack of understanding

Despite the contentions with the figures from government, a Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Sagre Bambangi, said those doubting the number of jobs created by the programme needed to acquaint themselves with the situation on the ground.

According to him, the skeptics “have not been able to take time to appreciate the process involved in agricultural production.”

“In the course of agricultural production, we have input delivery, and in the course of the input delivery, a lot of stakeholders are involved and all these create jobs. For instance, if you are going to procure seeds and fertilizer, you are creating jobs for people who will haul the seeds and fertilizer. If you are going to haul the seeds and fertilizer, you are creating jobs for transport owners and haulers,” he explained.

The ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ programme, which was launched in 2017,  is expected to modernize agriculture, improve production, achieve food security and make Ghana more self-sufficient, whilst creating jobs for the youth.

The initiative is expected to increase the production of maize by 30%, rice by 49%, soybean by 25% and sorghum by 28% for current production levels.

The first phase of the policy is expected to cost the government about GHc 560 million.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.come/Ghana

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Martin Amidu, a member of the NDC and a former Attorney General, was named as the Special Prosecutor by the President today, Thursday, January 11, 2018.

He is expected to be vetted and approved by Parliament in the coming days.

[contextly_sidebar id=”USjFMG8RiKLALwi41HU3mbUIJDDfD0vy”]Expressing his views on the nomination on Eyewitness News, Inusah Fuseini said Mr. Amidu has shown that he has the competence and integrity to occupy such an office.

“I think that it is a refreshing news in 2018. It appears to me that the 2018 appointment of Martin Amidu clearly shows that Nana Akufo-Addo might want to change the course and look at an all-inclusive government.”

“Martin Amidu has also distinguished himself and has shown that he is beyond control and that is a plus for him. I have no doubt in my mind that if he gets the approval from Parliament he will not look at one side. He will look at both sides and will pursue corruption as it ought to be pursued,” he added.

Martin Amidu fights NDC

Mr. Amidu, although a member of the NDC, was an avid critic of his party especially during the 2016 election, where he wrote some disparaging articles against then NDC government led by John Dramani Mahama, because in his view, they were corrupt.

This led to some friction between Mr. Amidu and some members of the NDC.

But Inusah Fuseini said Mr. Amidu’s seeming dislike for some members of the NDC should not affect his neutrality in any way.

“Although there is a professed hatred or dislike from some members of the NDC, that should not be an impediment, that clearly should edge him on to look at the issue of fighting corruption without political lenses and fight corruption as it ought to be fought,” the Tamale Central MP added.

About Special Prosecutor office 

President Akufo-Addo last week signed into law the bill setting up the Special Prosecutor office after it was approved by Parliament in November 2017.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor marks the fulfillment of a major campaign promise of Nana Akufo-Addo in the run-up to the 2016 elections aimed at fighting corruption.

But members of the opposition NDC had complained that the office cannot be independent if the Special Prosecutor was going to be a loyalist of the NPP.

The President in announcing the name, said he received the nomination from the Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, and has accepted the nominee, whose name will be forwarded to Parliament for approval when the House reconvenes from recess.

“The Attorney General is by a letter dated to me Thursday 11^th January 2018 addressed to me exercised her power of nomination and submitted to me for my acceptance the name of the proposed special prosecutor. I have accepted the Attorney General’s nomination and will in turn submit for Parliament’s approval when it reconvenes on 23^rd of January 2018 for its first meeting of this New Year the name of Martin Alamisi Benz Kaiser Amidu to be the first Special Prosecutor under the law,” he said.

The President noted that, Mr. Amidu has the requisite integrity and independence of character to occupy such challenging office.

“I have done so because I am fully convinced that Mr. Martin Amidu, a prominent legal personality who held the high office of the Attorney General of the Republic in the government of the late President John Evans Attah Mills has the requisite integrity, competence, courage and independence of character to discharge effectively the responsibilities of this office.”

More About Martin Amidu

Martin A. B. K. Amidu was the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice from January 2011 till January 2012 under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills.

Amidu, a member of the NDC, served as the Deputy Attorney-General for about the last four years of the Provisional National Defence Council military government.

After civilian rule was established in the Fourth Republic in January 1993, he continued to serve in the government of Jerry Rawlings as Deputy Attorney-General. This he did for both terms lasting eight years until January 2001.

In the December 2000 presidential elections, he stood as the running mate of John Atta Mills. They both however lost to President John Kufuor that year.

In January 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, President Mills replaced Cletus Avoka with Martin Amidu as the Minister for Interior. As Amidu is a Builsa, some people raised questions as to his neutrality in dealing with the Bawku conflict. He however went successfully through vetting by the Parliament of Ghana and has since assumed his post.

Following the second major cabinet reshuffle by President Mills, Amidu became the Attorney general and Minister for Justice of Ghana.

Removal from Office

Martin Amidu was relieved of his post on Thursday January 19, 2012, by President John Evans Atta Mills under circumstances described by aids as ‘his misconduct’ at a meeting chaired by the president at the Osu Castle on January 18, 2012.

He made allegations relating to alleged financial impropriety on the part of another cabinet minister, allegations he was asked by the president to substantiate.

Martin Amidu, the former Attorney General, single-handedly challenged the legality of the payments after being relieved off his post at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the money as Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court’s judgment, ordering Mr. Woyome to refund the cash to the state.

Following the delays in retrieving the money, Mr. Amidu in 2016, filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to examine Alfred Woyome, on how he would pay back the money, after the Attorney General’s office under the Mahama Administration, led by the former Minister for Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, discontinued a similar application.

In February 2017 however, Mr. Amidu withdrew his suit seeking an oral examination, explaining that the change of government under the New Patriotic Party under His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and his Attorney General, Miss Gloria Akuffo’s assurance to retrieve all judgment debts wrongfully paid to individuals Mr. Woyome in response prayed the Supreme Court to stay proceedings on the oral examination since he had filed for a review on the case.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to him, some politicians who served under the Kufuor administration, also own properties in the same area, and that the land was given back to original owners who in turn sold them out.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fiLA5PeyptP0BXNarOmnAQMk8tthoyFS”]His revelation follows claims by Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, that former President John Dramani Mahama’s residence on a military land in Accra is inappropriate, and that he must vacate the area.

Mr. Nitiwul had further indicated that, top officials of the erstwhile NDC administration sold the lands belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces to cronies.

“Top officials who are supposed to have provided and covered the Armed Forces, were now writing to the Armed Forces to say that if you have no money, then release the lands to the owners. Not knowing they were buying the lands themselves. How can you do this? I want to advise the former President that he should look for a place and leave…It is not good for him because he was a President. He should not live there. I am not satisfied with the state of that land, and I will advise the former President to leave that place because it is not good. He should have protected the Armed Forces, but today if you are living in that area you are giving others the impetus to do what they are doing and it is not good for us.”

“I am talking about the former President, John Mahama. I will say no more, but I am very disturbed about this. It is happening in Tamale, it is happening in Takoradi and Lands Commission is colluding to do that. People in Lands Commission were selling Armed Forces lands. Not under this watch, that cannot happen any longer, and anybody who decides to encroach on Armed Forces lands should leave. It is not in your interest. I am sorry; but that is the truth that we did not manage the Armed Forces lands very well,” Mr. Nitiwul stated.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Inusah Fuseini said there are members of the Kufuor administration and current Members of Parliament who have properties in the area as well, saying “I also know that other members of the Kufuor administration, members presently in Parliament and out of Parliament who have properties in that area.”

He however said the Minister appears to have gotten wrong information on the state of affairs regarding the land in question, saying the original owners won a court case and were given back the land, which they sold out because the Ghana Armed Forces could not pay for it, and so technically the land did not belong to the military.

He said he acquired his land in the year 2002, and developed the land and entered into his premises in 2006.

“There are several properties including churches and even Zenith College is on that military land. I don’t know what my brother is talking about. If he’s talking about a different land, then he should take time to understand the circumstances under which the lands were given. The land went back to the original owners and they set up a trust, the La Dadekotopn Trust to manage the land, so anyone who wanted to acquire land went to the trust, and most of the people with lands in that area have land title certificates.”

Asked whether he was aware former President Mahama owned a property sited on that military land, Mr. Fuseini said: “I am aware of a building which is close to my house. That building allegedly belongs to former President. And even if it was that building he’s talking about, it was built long before the NDC came to power let alone John Mahama becoming President. My land was acquired around 2002, I developed it and entered into it in 2006.”

Investigate sale of army lands – Inusah

Mr. Fuseini also called for investigations into the sale of lands under successive governments , saying  “I will advise my brother the Minister of Defence to tone down and use cool heads to manage the problem he is talking about. Such discharges will not solve the problem that he is talking about. . He should take time to investigate the circumstances of the release of the land.”

Mahama doesn’t own military land; Nitiwul is ‘reckless’ – Mogtari

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama’s aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has described as irresponsible and reckless claims by Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, that the land on which the former president’s residence is sited, belongs to the Ghana Armed Forces.

In a strongly-worded statement which was released in the wake of the Minister’s comments, Joyce Bawah Mogtari stated emphatically that the former President had not taken possession of any land owned by the military.

The statement added that the property in which the former first family currently resides has been at the site for years.

“We presume that the minister’s irresponsible claim is in respect of the current residence of the former first family. President Mahama has not appropriated or acquired any land or property belonging to the military and which he is currently occupying.”

“President Mahama has not appropriated or acquired any land or property belonging to the military and which he is currently occupying”, Joyce Mogtari stated.

“This Office is appalled at the minister’s unfounded accusation because any serious Defence Minister, with the Military Intelligence apparatus under him would know that President Mahama has no claim to the ownership of the land of the property in which he resides,” the statement added.

The statement further clarified that, “the former president and his family as is commonly known, currently resides in a residential estate developed by a private real estate development company. The estate has been in existence for several years and the former first family lives peacefully with several Ghanaian and expatriate neighbours.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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He believes Ghana is at a stage where it ought not to seek money from outside to provide something as basic as toilet facilities, saying “our incapacity to take care of our sanitation has manifested itself in taking loans.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”fXltjc3spFmDFb7UURd3wvgDGuBlCtqx”]Mr. Fuseini was speaking on the Floor of Parliament after a joint committee of Finance and Works and Housing, tabled a report seeking approval for an additional loan facility of $45.7 million from the International Development Bank to finance a sustainable rural water and sanitation project.

This project is to help expand access to, and ensure sustainability of water supply and sanitation services in rural and small-town communities in six regions of Ghana.

The MP’s initial comments on the matter, were to challenge the basis for seeking the $45.7 million when the scope of an earlier loan of $ 70 million, is yet to be accounted for.

Without demeaning the importance of toilets in Ghana, he followed this up by expressing his disappointment as part of the reasons for the loan facility.

“We are told that part of the component of the project will be used to build toilets. We know toilets are very important, but must we be taking facilities to build toilets? Do we need to go outside, make a case with our development partners for money to build toilets? I just simply can’t get it.”

According to the U.N. 2.5 billion people do not have access to toilet facilities, most of which are in developing countries like Ghana.

Ghana’s problems with open defecation are well documented, with local government criticized in the past for issuing permits to some persons to construct structures without toilets.

Mr. Fuseini asserted that “we ought as a people to know that building toilets for us in our homes and for public use will go a long way to improve our sanitation.”

He suggested further that, in the past,  “we have passed laws in this country to raise taxes to improve the delivery of certain services.”

“60 years after independence, we still think that we have to borrow to build a toilet in communities. Mr. Speaker, It might be laughable, but I think that we need a change of mindset… when we go to our development partners to look for money, we must be looking for money to do more serious things and not building toilets.”

This notwithstanding, Mr. Fuseini said he supported the approval of the loan and called for more accountability.

“Mr. Speaker, your committee must be forthcoming with the expanded scope of works that has warranted the accessing of an additional $45 million to complete the project,” he appealed.

Gov’t plan for toilet facilities

The government has indicated that, it intends to construct toilet facilities in various homes across the country as an effective measure of addressing open defecation, following threats by the World Bank to withdraw support to Ghana if measures are not taken to address sanitation challenges.

The World Bank is reportedly unhappy that many Ghanaians still do not have access to basic sanitary facilities, particularly household toilets.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Kofi Adda, has indicated that he is targeting the provision of one million toilets nationwide.

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By: Caleb Kudah & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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“We have always had that fear. The Minority has always had the fear that this office can be used to witch-hunt political opponents,” the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Inusah Fuseini said to Citi News.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8rirW5fikPYcHs5VMGpdbpX94U0eCflW”]Speaking after the Bill was passed, Mr. Fuseini said the Special Prosecutor position was open to abuse like any other political appointment because, ultimately, the President is going to appoint the Special Prosecutor.

“I am not saying that it is not a political setup by the NPP for the purpose of the NPP. I am saying that it is a political office, established in pursuant of a political promise. It now becomes an institution of State because it is a political office and set up in pursuant to the Manifesto of the NPP, it can be abused,” he asserted.

“The Special prosecutor must not only look backward. It must also look to the present and future. It is not only the Minority that is concerned. Many people are concerned. History shows clearly that when the powers of such an office is not circumscribed in such a way that it respects the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, it can be abused.”

Though not directly related, the Akufo-Addo administration has indicated that it is building cases against officials in the Mahama administration who have been found to have wasted the public funds with impunity.

Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Kpemka, said on a Citi News platform that NDC officials who dared the New Patriotic Party government to prosecute suspected corrupt officials will soon be put before the court for their involvement in various scandals.

The setting up of the office of the Special Prosecutor was one of the key campaign promises made by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Special Prosecutor’s office will be independent of the Executive, and the newly passed Bill is expected to, among other things, define the modalities for the appointment and operations of the Special Prosecutor.

The office of the Special Prosecutor will have the mandate to investigate and prosecute cases of alleged corruption under the Public Procurement Act and other corruption-related offenses implicating public officers, political office holders and their accomplices in the public sector.

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

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The MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, described the upcoming budget as an ‘ahokyerɛ’ budget which translates as ‘suffering or hardship’ budget, suggesting that it would not address the employment or income challenges of Ghanaians.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3pgLJJEbiGr3pgELJgb4zKkKLXY6qAKv”] According to him, government had failed to meet its revenue targets, resulting in them being unable to fulfill a number of promises and assurances they had made Ghanaians.

He believes that despite the “fanciful” words that will be used by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, in his presentation on Wednesday, the budget will ultimately “produce nothing in the end”

“This budget will be an ahokyerɛ budget.Revenue targets have not been met, commitments to promises have not been delivered, money is not available, there is deep doubt that employment can be created because employment creation is production-driven. Industries must produce and production is demand-driven. And for people to have demand for goods and services, people must have income,” he said.

“The economy is not expanding because there’s no money. Because there’s no money, industry can’t produce a stockpile and because of that they retrench workers to be able to stay afloat or they won’t employ at all. Because there’s no employment, the teeming masses will go to the public service for jobs. The government won’t spend because they aren’t getting the revenue. In the first three quarters, the government is under-performing in terms of revenue mobilization. There’s no money to spend so how will it provide the impetus for the economy to grow and expand and create the necessary conditions for employment?”

Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini also expressed similar sentiments, stating that there is little hope that the 2018 budget will stimulate the growth of the economy.

According to the legislator, checks from Ghanaians who had celebrated following the presentation of the 2017 budget in March would show that those same people were in better conditions under the NDC administration.

He believes that Wednesday’s budget will be “another round of huge doses of bible quotations and sloganeering” which will eventually “have nothing impactful by way of transformation”

“It’s important that we recollect what was promised and ask ourselves if, beyond the media blitz that greeted the 2017 presentation, there is something on the ground that justifies what we saw. It’s important that we talk to the people at the ports and at Abossey Okai who jubilated earlier, as we await the 2018 budget. I am convinced that they will have no other verdict than what the Minority predicted at the time that this was a budget with very little by way of transforming the economy and creating jobs,” Alhassan Suhuyini told Citi News

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, hinted over the weekend at the Association of Ghanaian Industries Awards (AGI) dinner, that electricity tariffs will be reviewed downwards soon.

According to Nana Addo, details of the review will be announced by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta at the 2018 budget reading in Parliament.

The high electricity tariffs were a major part of the NPP’s campaign ahead of the 2016 elections, with many of the party’s communicators claiming that electricity cost more than rent.

However, Suhuyini believes that Ghanaians paid less for electricity and petroleum products and had better prospects for quality infrastructure under the NDC.

“The Ghanaian used to pay less for electricity and fuel under the NDC than they do today. The Ghanaian used to have more hope of government extending roads to their areas than they have today.

He also suggested that the Minority had been vindicated in their criticism of the NPP’s Free SHS programme stating that they had predicted the challenges with capacity which had characterised the initial stages of the rollout of the policy.

“When we in the NDC said in the past that free SHS was impossible, it was not because the government at the time could not find money to erect billboards or do a launch and declare it commissioned. But it was because of the practical impossibilities. When you go to the schools, are the conditions the students studying under the same conditions you would want your siblings to be in? We said that if they introduced the Free SHS as they promised, we’ll have students sitting outside.”

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, questioned government’s revenue mobilization ability and their failure to meet a number of the commitments they put out in the 2017 budget.

He told Citi News that he expects the government to outline strategies towards achieving the targets stated in the 2017 budget, whilst offering solutions to their revenue generation problem.

“My expectations for the budget is really how the government plans to address a number of pledges made in the 2017 budget which have not been fulfilled. The one million dollar per constituency disbursement did not take place. The 2018 budget would have to address it because they pledged in their manifesto that every year constituencies would get one million dollars so that means they’ll have to raise 2 million in 2018 because last year is in arrears.”

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ofori Atta will present ‘ahokyerɛ’ budget – Minority MPs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, there is a risk of “paralyzing” the EC from carrying out its constitutionally mandated functions if the allegations against the EC Chair and other officials of the Commission are allowed to fester without any timely resolution.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8vo6PTviymJHcRm204XuiedrfnM1uI4y”]“The petition must be disposed of quickly, that’s why in the Office of the Special prosecutor’s Bill we are setting out timelines for the determination of prima facie issues in a petition of that nature. We cannot determine the merit of the petition in perpetuity, there must be timelines,” he said.

“The fact that there are no timelines means that the recipients of the petition must determine with alacrity, whether or not, there is merit. That is the only way that you can restore some modicum of confidence in the generality of Ghanaians and also ensure that the EC can function and function well.”

Two petitions, calling for the impeachment of Charlotte Osei as the EC Chair, were submitted to the President in July and August 2017, and were subsequently forwarded to the Chief Justice to determine whether a prima facie case could be established.

The first petition was presented by some unnamed staff of the EC, whilst the second was submitted by one Douglas Seidu, and was said to contain at least 15 allegations against the Commission’s head, including the unilateral award of contracts in the run-up to the 2016 general election.

However, since the petitions were forwarded to her office, the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, is yet to make a determination on whether a prima facie case has been established against Madam Osei.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, the Tamale Central MP, Inusah Fuseini, stated that the failure to resolve the issues at the EC was worrying and could affect the timelines which had been set out for various elections set to be held in the country.

“The office will be paralyzed in carrying out its functions, and that will be very disastrous for our democratic transition and democratic governance. We have got key timetables to meet certain basic requirements. Requirements for the election of assembly members clearly must be met,” he noted.

“We are thinking of creating districts which will be a function of the EC. The EC must in conjunction with the Local Government Act demarcate the districts in such a way that they don’t traverse constituencies so they clearly have a lot of roles to play. At that level, it’s a functional problem.”

The Coalition of Domestic Elections Observers (CODEO), expressed reservations about the silence of the agencies investigating the disappearance of money from the Electoral Commission (EC)’s Endowment Fund.

According to the Coalition, it is imperative that the country’s election supervisory body is free from any issues that might raise doubts about its integrity.

His point was reiterated by Inusah Fuseini, who argued that the impasse at the EC had also dented the public’s confidence in the Commission’s ability to fairly oversee the country’s elections.

“At the level of elections at the Parliamentary and Presidential level, it’s a question of credibility and transparency. The credibility of every election is very important and the people who occupy the office must inspire confidence in the generality of Ghanaians.”

‘No right to ask officials to go on leave’

EOCO commenced investigations into the activities of three officials of the EC; Georgina Opoku Amankwah, Chief Accountant, Kwaku Owusu Agyei-Larbi, and Finance Officer, Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, after over 480,000 cedis reportedly went missing, resulting in the officials being asked to proceed on leave.

However, the Policy adviser for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Kofi Asamoah Siaw, has questioned this action,l stating that the officials could only have been asked to go on leave once a prima facie case was established.

“Article 146 is very clear that the President can suspend a deputy Chair or Chairperson when the Chief Justice has set up its Committee and there’s constitution being made. It appears that if there’s a misconduct on the part of a member of the Commission, and when an investigation is being undertaken post the establishment of a prima facie case, that’s when we can suspend anybody or ask anybody to go on leave. An investigation by EOCO cannot usurp the constitutional protection given to chairpersons of the Commission,” he said on Eyewitness News.   

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Deal with Charlotte Osei petitions to save EC’s integrity – Inusah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, revoked Exton Cubic’s  exploration license for bauxite in the Tano Offin Reserve because they did not have some statutory documents to back the lease.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cqOSm7GNnWv1kkyQ7MdWm9Sso1hmbYmj”]Speaking to Citi News’ Duke Mensah Opoku, the Tamale Central MP said government should have considered the business interest of Exton which is wholly Ghanaian owned.

“It was under the term of John Dramani Mahama that we started ratifying some agreements and as I speak to you, there are companies in this country operating without parliamentary ratification so when you are treating companies based on non-gratification, you must treat all companies equally. That is fair treatment. You don’t select and pick. Selecting and picking suggests that you are discriminating against certain people.

“The motivation is status and identification; and this goes to buttress the point that empowering the private sector under Nana Akufo Addo is not inclusive… ” the former Minister complained.

Why permit was revoked 

Mr. Amewu had explained that the directive was issued because the company’s three mining leases were invalid.

The Minister said the company’s failure to provide key documents covering its acceptance of the lease, notice of pendency, environmental impact assessment and other statutory requirements rendered the leases invalid.

In a letter to Exton Cubic, Mr. Amewu said “the absence of publications of the Gazette of notice of the pendency of the company’s applications and service of the notice on the various entities specified in the law is contrary to both section 13(2) of Act 703 and Regulation 177 of L.I. 2176 [Minerals and Mining Regulations.]”

We’ll sue over withdrawal of exploration permit – Exton Cubic 

In another development, Exton Cubic has said it will turn to the court over government’s revocation of its exploration license.

The Public Relations Officer of Exton Cubic, Sammy Gyamfi, had indicated that his outfit is currently “studying the letters received from government” before “seeking redress by taking the necessary legal steps.”

“We will take the appropriate legal steps to seek redress… These are technical and legal issues which our lawyers will go through,” he stated.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Gov’t is discriminating against Exton Cubic – Inusah Fuseini appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BWegX2NNJUniBKyYJcfxZnhfSTrRHsBq”]This comes a day after Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Kpemeka indicated that officials suspected of corrupt acts in previous administration will soon be put before court.

“Some of these persons who have been daring us on TV or radio have questions to answer in court,” Mr. Kpemka revealed.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Fuseini supported this call saying,  “If you are in public office and you misconducted yourself in public office which is bordering on corruption or any other matter , you should be prepared to answer for it. If they [NPP government] come to the conclusion that the person is found culpable then that person must pay a price for it.”

He was however quick to remind the NPP government to abide by the laws in prosecuting these officials.

“The legal ethics particularly binding on lawyers of the court requires that when they are preparing their cases for court, they go to court before they speak so I am just saying that the ethics of the profession requires that you go to court, prosecute the persons you feel are corrupt…They [corrupt officials] also have the opportunity because the constitution guarantees them some rights. The sanction regime is defined by law and so whatever sanctions should be imposed, will be imposed by law,” he said.

Mr. Inusah indicated that Mr. Kpemka’s threats to prosecute corrupt NDC officials do not come as a surprise to him since other appointees had earlier indicated that “they are preparing dockets for the prosecution of former government officials who misconducted themselves.”

The Mahama administration was rocked with a number of corruption cases including the GHC3.2 million bus branding, GYEEDA and the Subah scandals.

The then opposition NPP, promised the creation of the Special Prosecutor Office which would deal with the various corruption cases.

Government is expected to begin the prosecution of corrupt officials in the Mahama administration in October.

Mr. Kpemka who made this revelation on Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News on Thursday said: “…By October when we start moving to court with some of the cases, Ghanaians will know that we are serious and we are ready to fight corruption as a canker in this country and uproot it once and for all.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Inusah Fuseini supports prosecution of corrupt NDC officials if… appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.