The drill ship, Discoverer 511, belonging to the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) was sold to defray a 19.5 million dollar judgment debt owed Societe-General Bank in 2001.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YYr7vrtmSk6MbrnX5VeLi2WAdl3JbkCz”]Akufo-Addo, under whose tenure the drill ship was sold was cited for causing financial loss to the state in the Sole Commission’s report, the commission established by the National Democratic Congress government to investigate judgment debt the state had paid over the years.

The report also directed the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to also investigate K.T. Hammond, a former Deputy Energy Minister on how he disbursed US$900,000 which was left after the sale of the drill ship.

Speaking at the Meet the Press session in Accra on Monday, Dr. Omane Boamah accused Akufo-Addo of not defending the state hence the sale of the drill ship.

“Talking about judgment debt, Nana’s failure to defend Ghana’s interest in the case of the Ghana National Petroleum Drillship’s matter Discoverer 511 also has serious implications and brings into sharp focus his personal lack of commitment, dexterity and competence to pursue the interest of the state and the tax payer. And this is why we have maintained that it serves no fruitful purpose if we play political football with judgment debt.”

Dr. Omane Boamah at the event touted President John Mahama’s achievements in fighting corruption and preventing further judgment debt payments in Ghana.

“…The NPP led by Nana Akufo-Addo and their surrogates will not win such a contest because President Mahama’s record on fighting judgment debt is superior and better. Tell me, in all the things that they have said, where have they nailed president Mahama right at the centre in any of these matters. The slightest attempt could not be sustained at the Supreme Court and it was expunged,” he added.

The Minister also hinted that government has saved the state from incurring close to one billion dollars in judgment debt payments

“President Mahama’s government has fought cases of judgment debts and potential judgment debts more vigorously than previous governments. In less than four years we have successfully defended and saved Ghana over one billion dollars…”

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to him, the NPP is enrolling its members onto the scheme, despite claiming that it has collapsed; describing it as double standards.

The NPP has consistently accused the Mahama-led administration of starving the scheme of the necessary funds hence leading to its collapse.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lmQsJL2lSkTwQIstogs9Kf61IlcCCE5F”]They have thus promised to revive it should they be given the opportunity on December 7, 2016.

The law that introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme, (NHIS), was passed during the regime of the Kufuor administration. At the time, the NDC then in opposition, voted against the Bill, but turned around to promise a one-time premium ahead of the 2012 elections, only to fail to implement it.

But taking his turn at the ‘Meet the Press’ session in Accra on Monday, Dr. omane Boamah said the NPP is being hypocritical because it trumpets the supposed failure of the scheme, yet touts it as an achievement after registering its members onto the supposed collapsed scheme.

“Is it not ironic that the health insurance scheme which some politicians tout as having collapsed has today become a major campaign tool for some members of parliament…and you hear them boast of the number of constituents they have enrolled onto the scheme. Which is which? Has the scheme collapsed or not? If it has collapsed, why are they being so wicked to their constituents that they will enroll them on a scheme that they believe has collapsed?”

He also insisted that, the Mahama-led government has invested heavily in the scheme as compared to the NPP government which started it.

“We have paid the highest amount to service providers. In 2015, we paid over one billion cedis which has increased remarkably from the very modest payments of the earlier years such as a paltry GHc183 million under the NPP government. Out-patient utilization alone stood at over GHc29 million in 2015, having increased tremendously from just above GH c9 million as at 2008. These are the facts,” he argued.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to him, the migration process is almost completed, adding that, it will give Ghanaians the opportunity to experience better picture and sound quality as well as more channels to watch.

Government few years ago commenced the process to switch television broadcasting platforms from analogue transmission to digital, but has postponed the deadline several times.

Speaking at the Meet the Press session in Accra on Monday, Omane Boamah, said government will distribute one million set up boxes nationwide after the migration is completed.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FyaHtKa1X9NTKtVABNLcuQ7vuAIP9DIS”]“Ghana’s quest to migrate from analogue television broadcasting to digital is in its final stage of construction and we are finalizing processes to support our universal access obligation efforts by distributing one million set up boxes. This is because every citizen is entitled to the better picture, sound quality and interactivity that digital television broadcasting provides.”

“Simply put, President Mahama’s government is bringing DSTV, apologies to their competitors, to your home, irrespective of your social and economic background,” he added.

Omane Boamah also used the opportunity to highlight on some government achievements in education, health, transportation, security, agriculture among others.

He further rejected claims by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has collapsed.

According to him, the scheme has improved tremendously due to massive investments by government into the sector.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Mahama bringing ‘DSTV’ to your home – Omane Boamah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Mr Amidu, Edward Omane Boamah made the allegations in ignorance, without referring to the appropriate legal documents.

He said, Dr Boamah in a recent interview said “Mr. Amidu lied when he claimed that the Attorney General’s firm was on the side of Mr. Woyome when in fact the firm was rather against Woyome.”

Martin Amidu in a statement copied to citfmonline.com challenged Dr Omane Boamah’s allegation saying his he “relied on the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court dated 29^th July 2014 making two declarations against Woyome and Austro-Invest, the client of Lithur-Brew and Co in my arguments to the Court on 10^th November 2016 and nobody should jump the gun by calling me “a big damn liar” and perjurer while the case is pending.”

He said the Minister’s utterances and conduct confirms the Government’s impunity and abuse of power in acting unconstitutionally to control the content of even private media houses such as Multi TV/Joy FM where the minister made the allegations against him.

“The drunken tantrums cowardly thrown by Omane Boamah shows the shallowness of his education, understanding, and lack of diligence and industry in researching matters he is to defend the Government on in public. Simple common sense would have informed the almighty Minister of Communications who sought to take over Multi TV/Joy FM to insult me that in arguing my case before the Supreme Court on 10^th November 2016 I referred the Court to its own unanimous decision given in my favour on 29^th July 2014,” he stated.

Read Martin Amidu’s full statement here

Read the 29^th July 2014 court judgement here

The anti-corruption campaigner recently filed an application at the Supreme Court, praying it to allow him to examine businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, in the controversial GHc51 million judgment debt paid to him.

Mr. Amidu’s action came after the Attorney General announced that it will no longer orally examine Mr. Woyome, despite serving an earlier notice it would do otherwise. .

The post Omane Bomah’s drunken tantrums show shallowness of his education – Martin Amidu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In an exclusive Citi News interview, the Executive Director of the IEA, Mrs Jean Mensah told Umaru Sanda Amadu that the Communication Minister failed to execute a Presidential directive to arrange for the debate.

[contextly_sidebar id=”HVnExtMaLkw1HgoPQ3MCnA54D2tKQkZ8″]According to her, Omane Boamah has failed to open discussions with the IEA despite a clear directive contained in a letter written by the President’s Secretary.

“…Although we haven’t received a firm confirmation from the President’s office we’ve received letters from his office asking us to start discussing modalities with his team. They want us to start discussions. The letters were signed by the Secretary to the President asking us to start discussions with the Minister of Communications.”

She explained that several efforts to get the Minister to begin the process have been futile.

“…we’ve tried but it’s not been possible and I take it that he’s been busy but we are still working on it. We’ve initiated some discussions with the party at the party level and we believe that those discussions would be successful,” she added.

Mahama, NDC officially boycott IEA debates

The governing National Democratic Congress in June 2016 directed all of its candidates [Presidential and Parliamentary] not to participate in any debate organized by the IEA ahead of the November polls.

A statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah stated that the decision was taken by the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee.

“The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has, at its Functional Executive Committee (FEC), Meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, decided not to participate in any debate to be organized by the Institute Of Economic Affairs (IEA), as far as it is related to the 2016 General Election.”

NDC accuses IEA of lack of consultation

The NDC took the decision because it has not been happy with the IEA’s decision to hold a separate debate for flagbearers for the two leading political parties, NPP and NDC as well as what they term as IEAs lack of consultation ahead of its debates.

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

The post ‘Omane Boamah blocking Mahama’s participation in IEA debate’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Omane Boamah made this comment at the launch of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) manifesto at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Saturday in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Dr. Omane Boamah, who has been critical of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, said the administration of President Mahama had performed tremendously and deserves a second term.

The NDC has largely touted the NPP as a divisive party particularly following its internal wrangling that saw the suspension of the party chairman, Paul Afoko, General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong, and 2nd National Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe.

In the view of the NDC, the NPP cannot lead the country considering that they are not united, whiles they in the NDC remain intact.

“On December 7, you will be called upon to make a choice between unity and divisiveness, Come December 7, you will be called upon to make a choice between progress and retrogression; On December 7, you be called upon to make a choice between humility and arrogance. We and the generality of Ghanaians, have decided to choose to unity, to choose progress and to choose humility, and that is why we are saying JM-Toaso [JM Continue]. We in the NDC, we believe all men are created equal.”

Gov’t to engage more than nurses from 2017

Touting President Mahama’s achievements particularly in the health sector and his vision going forward, the Communications Minister said the next NDC administration, will open up more job opportunities for graduate nurses.

Dr. Omane Boamah said various hospital projects to add some 6,000-beds across the country from 2017, would ensure the above-listed jobs.

He said over the next four years, President Mahama will build 35 Polyclinics across the country, as some of the projects are already ongoing.

“Under health, President Mahama is saying that he stands on a solid rock of achievement. And that solid rock of achievement can also be found here in the Brong Ahafo Region. Five polyclinic projects are underway. In the Ashanti Region, by the end of 2017, at least he would have added a 1000 hospital beds to their current stock. I am referring to the Military hospital in Afari, the district hospital in Bekwai, Fomena and Tepa, and other district hospitals all around the country. But that is not all, in the Greater Accra Region you talk about Ridge Hospital, Police Hospital, University of Ghana Teaching Hospital and the District hospitals for Madina and Kwabenya.

“…But the future is far more important than the past and the present. And that’s why President Mahama is saying that over the next four years, he is going to build 35 polyclinics across the country.”

“And all these Hospital projects will add 6,000 additional hospital beds to our stock and so if you are a nurse, whether private or government trained and you are looking for a job, the opportunities are right here; because assuming two nurses will even be assigned to each of the 6,000 beds, that’s 12,000 nurses to be recruited.”

In recent times, several graduate nurses have lamented the lacks of jobs in the public health institutions and have demonstrated over government’s refusal to post them to various health facilities.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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