Jon Benjamin, who is very active on social media especially Twitter, has been heavily criticized by some Ghanaians for what many have described as controversial comments.

There have also been a number of criticisms by Ghanaian politicians who have argued that Jon Benjamin has no business meddling in local politics, and that his comments were often undiplomatic.

Despite these developments,  the President stated that, Ghanaians will miss the “controversies” that Jon Benjamin found himself in while serving his role as UK High Commissioner in Ghana.

“A lot of people are very sad… We appreciate your style and many of the controversies that you were in…We appreciate your contribution to our national development, “ the President said when Jon Benjamin paid a courtesy call on him at the Flagstaff House.

Jon Benjamin was at the Flagstaff House to bid the President farewell, describing his experience in Ghana as “special.”

“I am privileged to have had series of amazing chapters in my life in different countries and this chapter in Ghana has been extremely special. Our relations between your government and our government is exceptionally close; many of which are not public knowledge but are very valuable to both countries.”

Reminiscing activities that characterized his stay in Ghana, Jon Benjamin said “It’s been a privilege and an honour to travel extensively around Ghana and I have often said that many mistakes many diplomats make is staying in the capital of the country and they don’t travel around the country. It is by travelling that you really know the people, and the culture and it has been our privilege to do that. It has been an experience we will treasure.”

“ We will retain fond memories of this wonderful country and this beautiful people, and we leave with great sadness. My wife and I will always hold the name of Ghana high. We will remain very committed.”

Iain Walker appointed new British High Commissioner to Ghana

The Foreign Office of the UK in February 2017, announced the appointment of Iain Walker as Her Majesty’s British High Commissioner to Ghana.

Iain Walker will thus replace Jon Benjamin, a man whose tenure in Ghana as a diplomat has been deemed controversial due to some of his utterances and actions.

–

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

The post We’ll miss you – Nana Addo tells UK’s Jon Benjamin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, UK pumped about 4 million pounds worth of medicines into Ghana which were destroyed in the fire hence the UK Parliament’s seeming interest in the case.

“In the Central Medical stores, there were 4 million pounds worth of medicines bought by the UK through our DFID programme that were there and were destroyed and we had to account for that money and questions were asked in the UK Parliament. So we had to say what had happened and what was being done about it. So I think that was a legitimate reason for us to raise our concerns,” added Jon Benjamin.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nyNkASfMpauVEm7jq5YSKybfuxz7yOyY”]About $80 million worth of medicines were burnt into ashes in 2015 when fire razed the Central Medical Stores at Tema in the Greater Accra Region resulting in the destruction of medical supplies and equipment.

A committee established to investigate the case blamed it on arson, naming one Samuel Dogbe, a labourer at the Medical Stores as being behind the fire.

In 2016, 12 officials of the Ghana Health Service who were also accused of playing various roles in the arson were also interdicted.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, the outspoken Jon Benjamin subtly called for the prosecution of persons indicted in the arson.

He noted that the interdiction of the officials was in the right direction but called for “sanctions for people found lawfully guilty of being the perpetrators.”

Donors threaten to cut funds to Ghana

Jon Benjamin’s remark comes on the back of comments by the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu that some donor partners have threatened to cut funds to Ghana if government fails to bring the suspected arsonists in the Central Medical Stores case to book.

The Minister said the donors are “threatening to withdraw some of the donations they give to us until some issues have been resolved.”

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, had also questioned the lack of action or prosecution on the matter of the arson.

He insisted that the arson could not be swept under the carpet because the warehouse had about $7 million worth of items donated by American taxpayers.

–

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

The post UK Parliament worried over Central Medical Stores fire – Jon Benjamin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Jon Benjamin, who is very active on social media especially Twitter, has come under intense criticism for commenting on issues many say are beyond his jurisdiction.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6A0s8RQHjhB72m3ye6xrUO9MpiH4HFTz”]One of his tweets which appeared to be mocking former President John Mahama for his many projects ahead of the inauguration, did not sit well with some Ghanaians who took to social media to express their anger.

Aside this development, there have been a number of criticisms by Ghanaian politicians who have argued that Jon Benjamin has no business meddling in local politics.

But speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Benjamin made a strong case for commenting on these developments, saying “there is a way to go through a three-year posting without causing any controversy or ruffling any feathers, and that is to sit in your office, say nothing, do nothing and maybe hide under the desk metaphorically and what’s the point in that?”

He further explained that most of his tweets are mostly for persons seeking clarification on pertinent issues.

“A lot of the time, I am answering questions people put to me but what I don’t do is to engage in personal insults and call people the sort of epithets that I get called and I think it is very sad when people descend to that level,” said Jon Benjamin.

According to him, most of his activities, which would largely be viewed as “traditional diplomacy” were done behind the scenes.

“Everyone concentrates on the fact that I’ve been active on social media, but what you see in public in its entirety is actually the smaller part of what we do. Most of what I do is still defined as traditional diplomacy, it’s behind the scenes, it’s not known, it is government to government negotiations, it is dealing with bilateral issues that come up…”

I’ve grown to love Ghana

Reminiscing his stay in Ghana, Mr. Benjamin said:”I think Ghana is a country I’ve grown to love enormously. I’m going to miss being here and observing what goes on here. I personally and the UK want nothing more than the very best possible future for Ghana.”

–

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

The post ‘I don’t engage in personal insults’ – Jon Benjamin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the lawyers, the grounds for the imposition of the ban were unfounded.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QR4agKJvEPS4feHv7FS58MzZyotAypto”]The British High Commissioner, Jon Benjamin, in a letter leaked to the media earlier this week, announced that 4 legislators including the former MP have been banned for 10 years from entering the UK by capitalizing on their diplomatic passport privilege to undertake various illegal immigration actions including helping supposed relatives overstay their visas in that country.

But in a letter addressed to the British High Commissioner, Jon Benjamin, and the Commission, lawyers to George Boakye said he did not travel on his diplomatic passport as the High Commission alleged.

“In respect of the period in question, my client traveled to the UK with a normal Ghanaian passport with passport number H1050729, and not a diplomatic passport. My client was granted two years UK visa from 14/9/12 to 14/9/14 with visa number 011164422.”

The lawyers noted that, it was wrong for the High Commission to blame the MP for his daughter’s long stay, especially as she is an adult and both applied for their visas independently.

“The purpose of the visit to the UK by the client and his 37-year-old daughter was a private one. My client returned as scheduled. His daughter, who is an adult failed to return as scheduled. My client cannot in any way be blamed because his adult daughter overstayed her Entry Permit into the UK.”

The lawyers further suggested that, the Commission peddled falsehood in its letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye on the matter, urging it to “in the interest of justice and fairness” to “put out the true story.”

“My client has not engaged in any form of visa fraud. All documents presented by the client were genuine, and he made the application directly to the UK Commission and not through any supposed third party. He has not abused the privileges and responsibility as a Diplomatic Passport Holder.”

The lawyer further threatened to drag the High Commission to court over the matter if it fails to publicly clear the former MP of any wrongdoing.

“We are expecting that based on the information we have provided, we expect your high office to reverse any travel ban imposed on my client and also come to the public domain to clear the issues. Youth failure to do so will compel my client to use all legal means to appeal against any decision to impose a travel ban on him to the UK and also clear his name”.

Meanwhile, the former MP, George Boakye, has told Citi News that his 37-year-old daughter tricked him into taking her to London under the pretext of going to see her uncle, but disappeared on their arrival in the UK.

According to him, although he knew he was being irresponsible by not reporting his daughter’s disappearance once he couldn’t find her, he feared a report to security officials would have had her incarcerated.

His daughter, in a separate interview with Citi News said that she should be blamed for her father’s woes.

According to her, she deliberately cut contact ties with her father after she told him she was leaving the house to visit an uncle in London, ahead of their scheduled departure date.

She appealed to Ghanaians to forgive her, although her story doesn’t seem to add up.

“I am pleading with my father and Ghanaians to forgive me. When I arrived, my father and I went to see the British High Commissioner and we pleaded with him too,” she said.

George Boakye’s offense

According to the British High Commission, “On 11/09/2012, the then Honourable and now former MP for Asunafo South George BOAKYE applied for visas for himself and his 37-year old daughter, Joyce BOAKYE to visit a friend in London for 17 days The visas were granted on 14/09/2012. On 17/01/2013 Joyce BOAKYE travelled to the UK with her Honourable father. Joyce BOAKYE did not leave the UK with her father, but remained until 06/01/2017.

In other words, she finally returned to Ghana just this month, having been in the UK illegally for over three years, and only then at our strong urging of Mr Boakye to bring her back. Mr Boakye is highly unlikely to be issued any further visas to visit the UK in the next ten years for his role in facilitating his daughter’s travel to the UK, including should he be re-elected to Parliament in a subsequent election.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Former MP to sue UK High Commission over Visa fraud claims appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A confidential letter the British High Commission in Ghana wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye and sighted by citifmonline.com accused the MPs of facilitating the entry of some of their relatives to the UK using their Diplomatic Passports.

According to the letter, the MPs left these relatives to live in the UK illegally.

The letter cited Richard Acheampong, MP for Bia East in the Western Region, Joseph Benhazin Dahah, MP for Asutifi North in the Brong Ahafo region, Johnson Kwaku Adu, MP for Ahafo Ano South West, in the Ashanti Region and George Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South in the Brong Ahafo region for engaging in the fraudulent act.

“The British High Commission considers the actions completely unacceptable. In some cases these behaviors may arguably be criminal in nature,” the British High Commission noted.

The British High Commission further informed the Speaker that it “will henceforth only entertain and prioritize requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit.”

Three of the four, George Boakye, Johnson Kwaku Adu and Joseph Benhazin Dahah are members of the Majority in Parliament and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) while Richard Acheampong is a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress and the Minority.

This action by the British High Commission against the MPs is the first of such by any embassy or high commission in Ghana.

There has however been concern about the issuance of Diplomatic Passports to certain individuals in Ghana.

Below is the full letter from the British High Commission:

Dear Mr Speaker.

The British High Commission (BHC) would like, in confidence, to bring the following matters to your attention, regarding the apparent involvement of three serving MPs and one former MP in visa fraud directly affecting the United Kingdom.

In doing so, we note the powerful words in your impressive inaugural address as Speaker, to the effect that, for Members of Parliament, holding a Diplomatic Passport is both a privilege and responsibility which should not be abused: and that those who abused that trust would be appropriately dealt with.

In that regard:

1. On 11/09/2012, the then Honourable and now former MP for Asunafo South George BOAKYE applied for visas for himself and his 37-year old daughter, Joyce BOAKYE to visit a friend in London for 17 days The visas were granted on 14/09/2012. On 17/01/2013 Joyce BOAKYE travelled to the UK with her Honourable father. Joyce BOAKYE did not leave the UK with her father, but remained until 06/01/2017. In other words, she finally returned to Ghana just this month, having been in the UK illegally for over three years, and only then at our strong urging of Mr Boakye to bring her back. Mr Boakye is highly unlikely to be issued any further visas to visit the UK in the next ten years for his role in facilitating his daughter’s travel to the UK, including should he be re-elected to Parliament in a subsequent election.

2. On 27/11/2015 the Honourable MP for Bia East Richard ACHEAMPONG applied for a UK visa using Diplomatic Passport number DX001490. The Hon ACHEAMPONG stated in his application form that he would travel to the UK for a two week holiday with his “wife” Esther TIWAA. On 10/12/2015 Mr ACHEAMPONG and Ms TIWAA were issued with UK visas. On 24/12/2015 Esther TIWAA travelled to the UK, but alone: the Hon ACHEAMPONG did not accompany her as both his and her visa applications said that he would. She has hot left the UK since that time, and is therefore now there illegally. The Hon ACHEAMPONG did not declare the illegal presence of his wife in the UK until he was challenged with the facts by us on 10/10/2016 He then repeatedly promised me personally that he would bring documentation to prove that Esther TIWAA was, indeed, his wife, but has consistently failed to do so Neither has he been prepared to share any useful information to help us track down Ms TIWAA’s current whereabouts. Should Mr ACHEAMPONG now apply for another UK visa at any point up until 08/12/2025 his previous actions with regard to Esther TIWAA will weigh heavily against his application and he is likely to be refused.

3. On 06/04/2016, the Honourable MP for Ntotroso. Joseph Benhazin DAHAH applied for a UK visa using Diplomatic Passport number DX001459 to go on a two week holiday. The Hon DAHAH slated that he was travelling with his wife Gloria DANSU and his niece Beatrice MENSAH On 11/04/2016 the visas of the Hon DAHAH and Gloria DANSU were issued; the visa of his niece Beatrice MENSAH was refused. On 13/05/2016 the Hon DAHAH applied in another country for a visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland with his wife and daughter. The identity of his wife had changed from Gloria DANSU in the UK application to Ruyling APPAU in the Irish one. More significantly, a birth certificate was submitted showing that Beatrice MENSAH was now his daughter and not his niece as she had been described when applying to visit the UK. The Hon DAHAH’s UK visa was cancelled and a 10-year UK visa ban has been imposed on him. He has been informed of this.

4. On 20/06/2016 the Honourable MP for Ahafo Ano South West, Johnson Kwaku ADU applied for visas for himself, his wife Grace YEBOAH and their 16-year old daughter Emmanuella ADU in order to visit London for a ten day holiday. The Hon ADU applied using Diplomatic Passport number DX002267; all three visas were granted on 07/07/2016. The family of three travelled to the UK on 25/07/2016. The Hon ADU left the UK just two days later on 27/07/2016 leaving behind his wife and child, if that indeed is what they are, who have not left the UK to date and are therefore now illegally resident there. This is in some ways the most serious of the cases outlined in this letter, given the possibility that Hon ADU knowingly facilitated the movement of a minor – who cannot currently be traced – into the United Kingdom. That has been noted with alarm by UK authorities.

The British High Commission considers the actions outlined above to be completely unacceptable. In some cases, these behaviours may arguably be criminal in nature. As already outlined, administrative measures have been taken to ensure that the Honourable members mentioned here will most likely not be granted visas for the UK within the next 10 years. I should add that the Party affiliation of these MPs is, in this context, irrelevant to us: we simply state the facts as we have discovered them.

We are continuing to investigate whether any other current or former MPs have engaged in similar behaviour and will inform you, if we discover any further such cases.

Furthermore, the British High Commission has information that points strongly to some of the aforementioned Honourable members having used the same unofficial visa agent (also known as a‘Goro boy’) in their applications, specifically a gentleman called Appiah. We are sure that Mr Speaker shares our view that an institution as respected and vitally important as the Ghanaian Parliament should not be a location where unregistered visa agents approach Honourable Members and act as a conduit for them to participate in visa fraud. The British High Commission will happily cooperate fully with any parliamentary and law enforcement investigation into such agents operating in the vicinity of the Ghanaian Parliament.

Given what has transpired, the British High Commission would request the Ghanaian Parliament to be aware of the following:

a) we will henceforth only entertain and prioritise requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit;

b) however, MPs wishing to make private visits to the UK or to be accompanied on official visits by non-official relatives must apply online and through our Visa Application Centre at the Movenpick Hotel like any other applicant;

c) could you kindly confirm whether and why it is legitimate for ex-MPs to continue to possess and use diplomatic passports, in some cases for many years after they have ceased to be parliamentarians? In that regard, we would humbly like to ask, Mr Speaker, what procedures are in place to ensure that diplomatic passports are removed forthwith from all those 133 former Members who have just ceased to be MPs?

d) the net effect of such visa fraud by a very few Honourable MPs as outlined in this letter is to raise the bar of suspicion against all such applicants, which is of course regrettably to the huge disadvantage of those very many MPs who do act honourably at all times.

The British High Commission looks forward to a constructive relationship with yourself, your officers and the new Parliament in general and on specific issues, such as the work currently being sponsored by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to bolster Parliament’s research capacities. We hope, at the same time, that measures taken by us all collectively will prevent any repeat of the sort of cases described in this letter. We would warmly welcome your views on the issues raised in this letter, both in regards to the specific cases and generic issues.

I am copying this letter to your Protocol Office, and to the Executive Secretary and Chief-of-Staff to the His Excellency President; and to the Ministers-designate of Foreign Affairs and National Security. We are also circulating this letter widely to other Diplomatic Missions which issue visas in Ghana in the expectation that some of them will consider similar action to ourselves against the above-named individuals.

May I take this opportunity to repeat to you assurances of our very high regard for you and your office; and to wish you, Mr Speaker, every success in your new role. Please be assured of our commitment to collaborate with you, and through you with Parliament, wherever we can usefully be of assistance.

Signed,

Jon Benjamin

British High Commissioner

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Four MPs barred from the UK for ‘visa fraud’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.