A-G mounts hunt for missing files........

Attorney General, Dr. Benjamin Kumbour says there is a rigorous investigation under way to trace and retrieve all documents missing from his ministry.

He says some of the missing documents relate to other cases currently being prosecuted by him.

Dr. Kumbuor was reacting to allegations that several files relating to the Woyome case has been taken away by officials in the Kufuor administration.

He told Joy News detail interrogations have already taken place with some of the key political figures suspected to be in possession of the missing files.

“I’ve had the opportunity to take a closer look at the statements that were taken; we have a very clear idea about the classification of those files that cannot be found, the statements that we have not only from political office holders but also other functionaries at the Ministry of Finance and in other agencies has indicated clearly whatever role,” Dr Kunbour explained.

He said “we will try to find out exactly where these files are located. There is an indication of the movement of these files; there is also an indication of the destination and beyond which we don’t have any other further evidence.”

He says as the Attorney General he is considering legal options for retrieving the documents but will not say if the suspected former government officials will be arrested.

Chief of staff under the Kufuor administration, Kojo Mpiani and the former Minister of state at the Finance Ministry Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei have all been accused of taking away key files. They have both denied the allegations.

Liberian refugees reject repatriation, want stay in Ghana

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says majority of Liberian Refugees in Ghana are turning down the offer to be airlifted back to their homeland.

“A vast majority of the Refugees wish to remain in Ghana so we are also hoping that the Ghana government will come out with a local integration policy or step towards local integration or regularizing their stay in Ghana” Ewurabena Hutchful, the UNHCR PRO disclosed.

She added that “before the June 30th deadline where Liberian Refugees status end, the remaining population will have some legal status to remain in Ghana”.

She however confirmed that the first batch of 45 Liberian Refugees were airlifted to Liberia later Friday afternoon.

“I can confirm that 45 Liberian refugees will be travelling to Liberia [Friday] by air as part of our voluntary repatriation exercise and the second batch totalling 90 will be travelling by Sunday to Liberia".

She emphasized that by June 30 this year, all Liberian Refugees including those in Ghana will have their Refugees status revoked.

Madam Hutchful pleaded with the Government to institute early measures towards reintegrating those who are willing to be naturalized.

source:joyonline.

Goran makes u-turn; I never said I will resign

Under fire coach of the Black Stars Goran Stevanovic has denied ever saying he will resign as coach if the Black Stars fail to win the just ended AFCON tournament.

In a heated press conference, laced with boos and heckling, the Serbian trainer said he was not categorical about his decision to resign; he was merely conditional.

Days before the start of the Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012 Stevanovic held a press conference during which he announced his final 25 man list for the tournament.

During that press conference Plavi was asked if he will resign if the Stars fail to win the tournament and he responded : “If you want me to, Yes,” but the journalist, not convinced, pushed further asking, “would you?” then he said: “You know what, I am thinking about it. If we don’t play in the finals, yes. If we play in the final it will depend, if we lose for example [through] a penalty then I don’t know, maybe if my people [GFA] say we are not satisfied then I will resign” the coach responded.

The Black Stars failed to make it to the finals following a 0-1 loss to Zambia who were the eventual winners of the tournament.

So journalists who were not impressed with the performance of the coach demanded to know at the press conference if he will honour his own promise and resign.

But the Serbian trainer flatly denied ever saying he will resign if the team failed to win the tournament.

He apologized and took responsibility for the failure of the Stars to win the tournament and put his fate in the hands of the FA to decide whether he should stay or leave.

Meanwhile, the FA says it is yet to take a decision on the future of the Goran Stevanovic.

President of the Association Kwasi Nyantakyi said they are still meeting with stakeholders and the final decision on Plavi will be taken in due course.
source:joyonline

3 boys drown at Sofoline Interchange project site

The Suntreso Police in Kumasi have picked for questioning three officials of China Geo Engineering Corporation, contractors of the Sofoline Interchange project over the drowning of three boys at a project site.

The victims who were between 11 and 16 years fell and died in an open trench at the Kwadaso Under-pass of the Sofoline Interchange Project on Saturday.

The entire Kwadaso Township has been thrown into a state of mourning following the death of the three youngsters.

They have been identified as Richmond Osei-Sakyi and Kwabena Osei, both 16, and students of Bethel and Prempeh Junior High Schools, respectively.

The third victim was 11-year old Yuslar Mohammed, a student of Mount Olivet International School.

One other person, Paa Joe, who survived the tragedy, had been playing with his colleagues near the under pass.
At 5 p.m., they attempted to wash their feet in stagnant water when Mohammed slipped into the deep trench.

Osei-Sakyi and Osei attempted to rescue their colleague, but they also fell into it.
Personnel of the Fire Service had to pump out several tanks of water from the trench before they could retrieve the bodies.

The lone survivor, Paa Joe, told Nhyira News though he and his friends had been playing football there for a long time, they never knew of the trench because there is warning sign.

Assemblyman for Kwadaso North, Eric Assibey, and other residents blame the contractor for failing to erect warning signs to ward-off pedestrians.

“It was a sheer negligence on the company that dug that hole because they were supposed to fence it. They were suppose to provide a warning because we know in construction whatever hole you dig, you have to protect it”
He wants the law to take its course as he prepares to meet with the deceased families.

“For now we are heavily hurt so we are thinking about what we can do for now”, he said.

Meanwhile officials of China Geo Engineering Corporation have declined comment because the consultant is not available.

But the Suntreso police say statements would be taken from several witnesses.
District Crime Officer, Nana Kwadwo Nkwantabisah tells Nhyira News investigations have began into the matter.

O.B. Amoah arrested............

Former Deputy Education and Sports Minister O. B. Amoah has been arrested by the police for questioning in connection with the controversial GH¢51 million judgment debt award to businessman Alfred Woyome.

He faces the charges of corruption and willfully causing financial loss to the state, his lawyer has told Myjoyonline.com.

Sources close to the former deputy minister, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Aburi constituency in the Eastern Region, say he was picked up from his Parakuo Estates residence by about four armed policemen and driven to the Police Headquarters.

He was deputy sports minister in the erstwhile Kufuor administration when contracts awarded for the construction of stadia ahead of the CAN 2008 tournament were canceled and re-awarded.

Mr Amoah is reported to have instructed construction firm Waterville Holdings to move to site ahead of a formal contract for the rehabilitation of the Accra, Kumasi and Elwak sports stadia for CAN 2008.

It has subsequently been explained that a Memorandum of Understanding between Waterville and the Government of Ghana formed the basis for his letter.

Myjoyonline.com's security sources say O.B. Amoah is believed to have cashed GHS75,000 cheque from a bank account of Alfred Woyome, which was recently frozen by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office which investigated the case.

He is the fifth person to be arrested in connection with the matter.

Mr Woyome and three others, Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh and his wife Gifty Nerquaye-Tetteh and Mr. Paul Asimenu, a Director at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning are currently facing six charges.

It is unclear if the police action is based on the investigations and subsequent interim report, but O.B. Amoah and some other members of the erstwhile Kufuor administration including then substantive Education and Sports Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo, CAN 2008 Organising Committee chairman, Dr. Kofi Amoah went to court to restrain the EOCO from investigating the matter because the EOCO's action was unlawful and unjustified.

Said the EOCO interim report: “Mr. O.B. Amoah was the Deputy Minister who gave the green light for Waterville to proceed to site and start work at the time the contract had not been approved by Parliament.”

source:myjonline.

Rawlings booms again: NDC may loose in 2012..if

A former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, has cautioned the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the party risks losing the 2012 general elections if it does not revert to the values on which the party was built.

According to Mr. Rawlings, who doubles as the founder and chairman of the National Council of Elders of the party, the future of the party is bleak if it continues in its current path, adding that since June 4 through 31 December till the year 2000, the NDC had always won on all fronts due to its values.

The former President was speaking at Agona Nsaba in the Central region of Ghana on the occasion of commissioning a six-classroom block facility which was wholly financed by the National Security Advisor Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah.

Former President Rawlings, who has been quiet all through the Alfred Woyome ‘storm’ said “after 2000, a lot of things changed and good values were being replaced with financial incentives and money.

“We fought for 2004, it was stolen from us and 2008 we got it with the expectation that we would restore the good values that we used to know in the past. ”

Rawlings added: “Right now I’m not too sure whether we are not helping to perpetuate some of the wrong things that we should have done away with and now we’re going into elections?

“We used to beat them when they had all the money and we used to beat them with our convictions, our beliefs and what was right, do we still have those beliefs? I really wonder. ”

“Now, we’re going to fight on the terms where they are better equipped and we expect to be able to win an election, I keep saying it, I have been saying it, and time is fast gone, if we do not restore those noble values, it would be difficult to beat them on their terms," he pointed out.

“They were never a match for us, we beat them all the way in 1992, 1996, lost in 2000, and we beat them in 2004 when Ghanaians woke up to the truth and 2008. But I don’t think we’ve done much to restore those values and now we’re going to fight on their terms with very little time,” Rawlings observed.

source:citinews          

GFA to clear out indiscipline players from the Black Stars

The Ghana Football Association Vice President Jordan Anagblah has exclusively told JOY Sports of a massive clear out of indiscipline players from the Black Stars team.

According to him, some top players in the team will be axed due to their unacceptable behavior which caused Ghana a disappointing end at the Nations cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

“We would clean the house very well. It is over for some of them”. He told JOY Sports

He added that as I long as he remains as the vice chairman of the Football Association, he will always recommend Captain John Mensah to any coach who comes for the Black Stars.

“Any coach that will come, I will recommend John Mensah to him. He is the perfect gentleman.”

The Football Association will meet Coach Goran Stevanovic next week to review his performance in the just ended tournament before taking a decision on his future.

source:myjonline

Woyome finally out of cells.....

he man at the centre of the contentious GhC 51 million judgment debt payment, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, has finally been released, five days after securing bail.

His aide Kwame Tawiah confirmed the news to Citi Eyewitness News on Friday evening.

“Glory be to God. .. he is full of joy,” he exclaimed.

The lawyers for the businessman on Thursday got the initial GhC 54 million bail bond slashed to GhC 20 million with three sureties. However, he spent an extra night in cells because they were unable to meet the required conditions for his release.

The marathon search for a landed property to stand surety for the beleaguered philanthropist came to an end on Friday afternoon paving the way for the touted National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier to be released.

Mr. Woyome and three others – Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh and his wife as well as Paul Asimenu - were arrested and charged a fortnight ago over their alleged involvement in the judgment debt payment scandal.

The businessman has been charged for defrauding by false pretense, conspiracy to commit crime and corrupting public officials in the infamous GhC51 million judgment debt paid him after an alleged contract to build and renovate some stadia ahead of the CAN 2008 tournament with the erstwhile Kufuor administration was terminated.

The Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) cited Mr. Woyome to have transferred about GhC 400,000 from his bank account to Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh’s wife right after the judgment debt was paid, but the interim EOCO report failed to mention reasons behind the payment.

Citifmonline          

Ghana blacklisted......

 An international money-laundering watchdog called Financial Action Task Force has added Ghana to its blacklist of countries that fail to meet international standards.

Ghana has been blacklisted alongside Tanzania, Thailand, Pakistan and Indonesia.

According to The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Ghana and the four other countries are flaunting recommendations made to them toward fighting money-laundering and financing terrorism.

The news comes just months after the Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre launched manuals on anti-money laundering and fighting financing of terrorism with the banking, insurance and securities industries.

The Financial Intelligence Centre has already revealed that in the last two years it froze $9 million dollars believed to be proceeds from crime.

Its acting Chief Executive Officer Samuel Essel said government has confiscated $2 million dollars.

The remaining $7 million is still under investigation. The action followed the centre’s investigation of 248 suspicious transaction reports it received over a two-year period.

The FIC has already admitted Ghana has not scored well in many international indexes on tackling money laundering, hence its efforts to tighten the loop holes in the key financial areas of the economy.

The international money-laundering watchdog that blacklisted Ghana does not have any powers to sanction but the announcement will certainly dent Ghana’s image and credibility on the international financial market.

According to the new report released yesterday in France, the blacklist now includes 17 countries. Aside from Ghana and the four new ones, the: Bolivia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Sri Lanka, Syria and Turkey.

No countries were taken off the blacklist, but Honduras and Paraguay were removed from an intermediary "grey-list" of countries found to be falling behind on international standards despite having committed to them.

"We are looking exclusively at the implementation of the standards," McDonell told journalists at a FATF meeting in Paris. "Countries that we look at wind up on the list because they have not implemented them."

The body can make recommendations to any of the 36 countries that have signed a membership charter, as well as other nations, but it has no power to carry out sanctions.

The FATF, whose recommendations reach more than 180 countries through regional networks, estimates that money laundering and related financial crimes cost between 2 percent and 5 percent of global gross domestic product.

In its report, the FATF also called on governments to consider tax evasion as a money-laundering offence. The agency is also extending its focus to target the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The FATF blacklist now includes 17 countries. Aside from the five new ones, they are the grey-list includes 22 countries: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Sudan, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
source:citinews          

Tuba gang ambush: Three most wanted surrender to police

Three of the six suspects declared wanted by the Ghana Police for taking part in the gun battle with the police at Tuba that resulted in the death of a policeman last Saturday, have surrendered to the police in Accra.

While two of them, Sanie Adam Agotey alias Nartey and Kamalrudeen Assimey alias Nartey, both aged 28, reported themselves to the Accra Regional Police Command at about 5 p. m. Wednesday, the third suspect, Seidu Tetteh, 36, the driver of chief Hussein Mikail Agbo Narh III alias Munkaila, who was arrested last Wednesday, reported himself to the police at about 12:45 p. m. Thursday.

They surrendered themselves after reading the Wednesday, February 15, 2012 edition of the Daily Graphic that the police were looking for them to assist in investigations.

The three are currently in custody.

Those still on the run are Dawood Tetteh, the principal suspect, Alex Akunette alias Yusif Tetteh and Habib Iddrisu.

The deputy crime officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Superintendent Baffour Appenteng, confirmed the latest developments in an interview Thursday.

He said following the publication of the list of persons suspected to have taken part in the gun battle, Sanie and Kamalrudeen informed the police that they wanted to surrender to state their side of the story.

He said the two did not show up until 5 p. m. on Wednesday.

Supt. Appenteng said Seidu Tetteh also reported himself to the police Thursday afternoon in the company of a pastor.

He said the suspects were still being interrogated and expressed the hope that at the end of the questioning, the police would make a major breakthrough in their investigations.

A chief of Tuba, Hussein Mikail Agbo Narh III, alias Munkaila, was arrested together with 75 others in a swoop by a combined team of police and military personnel at Tuba and its environs to clamp down on criminals within the area last Wednesday.

Chief Narh, 48, is alleged to have asked Dawood Tetteh, the principal suspect, whose attempted arrest last Saturday led to the killing of a policeman and injury to three others, to flee the town before the police could organise any swoop.

Lance Corporal Ernest Asamoah who was shot at, died instantly. The three others who sustained injuries are Corporal Joseph Engme, Corporal Samuel Owusu and Lance Corporal Prince Okyere. They are currently on admission at the Police Hospital in Accra.

The robbers opened fire when the police reached Dawood Tetteh’s residence, where they (robbers) had laid ambush.    
source:citinews    

Bail Day 5: Anxious Woyome languishes in CID cells

            The man at the centre of the contentious GhC 51 million judgment debt payment, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, has still got his fingers crossed and waiting anxiously to be released from the Police CID cells five days after securing bail.

The lawyers for the businessman on Thursday got the initial GhC 54 million bail bond slashed to GhC 20 million with three sureties. However, they are still unable to meet the required conditions for his release.

Sources close to Mr. Woyome, touted as the financier of Ghana’s ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), indicate that the revised bail condition of GhC 20 million and three sureties is still on the high side for the philanthropist to meet.

Mr. Woyome and three others – Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh and his wife as well as Paul Asimenu - were arrested and charged a fortnight ago over their alleged involvement in the judgment debt payment scandal.

The businessman has been charged for defrauding by false pretense, conspiracy to commit crime and corrupting public officials in the infamous GhC51 million judgment debt paid him after an alleged contract to build and renovate some stadia ahead of the CAN 2008 tournament with the erstwhile Kufuor administration was terminated.

The embattled philanthropist has been in police custody since his arrest on February 3. The Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) cited Mr. Woyome to have transferred about GhC 400,000 from his bank account to Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh’s wife right after the judgment debt was paid, but the interim EOCO report failed to mention reasons behind the payment.  

source:citinews       

Charge Nana Addo for sexual harassment...

National Democratic Congress (NDC) communications team member, Peter Boamah Otokunor says the flag-bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should be charged for sexual harassment.

Otokunor says Nana Addo has been caught in a clear case of sexual harassment because he fondled a married woman at state broadcaster, GBC and was only stopped from advancing further by the woman who resisted and shrugged him off.

He was commenting on a publication by the Daily Post newspaper which Wednesday drew attention to a video clip on Youtube showing Nana Addo tickle a lady who had just finished make-up for Nana at the studios of state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation prior to his appearing on a programme. The video is a clip from Jarreth Merz's “An African Election” documentary on Ghana's 2008 elections.

According to Daily Post, Nana Akufo-Addo while getting up after the lady had finished polishing his face groped her mid-section and fondled her before moving away.

The NPP has since rubbished the publication, describing it as a diversionary tactic by the NDC to drown the Woyomegate scandal which they claim has crippled the integrity of the government.

However, Peter Boamah Otokunor on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, said based on the video and pictorial evidence, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) should be arresting Nana Akufo-Addo without interrogating the victim.

He said it was indiscrete and morally unacceptable for a leader of the largest opposition party in the country to fondle a married woman in the name of reciprocating a kind gesture.

Otokunor added that the exposé by the Daily Post newspaper proves beyond reasonable doubt that Nana Akufo-Addo is a womanizer.

The NDC youth activist said that for someone whom the International Community has described as “having morality problems”, (as per the wikileaks reports) he would be a diplomatic embarrassment to Ghana if in the most unlikely situation he (Nana) is elected the president.

Otokunor wondered why the NPP would elect someone who constantly use sexual imagery and publicly confesses his sexual prowess ahead of a crucial elections in December.

He said that the infamous ‘bottoms’ comment Nana Addo made in his tribute to the late Madam Theresa Tagoe, his reference to female students in Volta Hall as a ‘cynosure of all healthy males’ amongst others, expose the moral ineptitude of the man desiring to be president.

Otokunor, bewildered by what he said was Nana’s unbecoming conduct remarked; “I can’t imagine leaving my daughter in the hands of Nana Addo.”

Another member of the NDC communications team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, also on the programme, supported Otokunor's position and said the issue is serious and should not be trivialised at all, more so when Nana Addo's name is regularly associated with imoral issues such as drug dealing and womanizing.

He said Nana Addo's record as a minister shows he lacks competence.

In a quick rebuttal however, the communications director of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Henry Asante said the ruling party must concentrate on the bread-and-butter issues confronting Ghanaians than on trivialities.

He said attempts by the ruling party to paint their biggest threat (Nana Addo) black ahead of the 2012 general elections would backfire.

Henry Asante in an apparent retaliation, taunted the NDC that even the morally upright President J.E.A Mills was voted for to become President of Ghana inspite of having a son out of wedlock. 
source...myjonline

Nzema chiefs angry over gas plant

THE CHIEFS and people of Western Nzema Traditional Area have expressed regret that the alleged relocation of the proposed Gas Processing Plant (GPP) project from Domunli, near Bonyere in the Jomoro district to Atuabo in the Ellembelle district, is being spearheaded by two persons they loved and trusted.

The Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC), Dr. Sipah Yankey, have been accused by the people of Western Nzema for allegedly scheming to have the project transferred from the Jomoro district to the Ellembelle constituency because they are natives of Ellembelle.

The Omanhene of Western Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, and the people from the area who are fuming, have called on Dr. Sipah Yankey and Armah Kofi Buah to make sure they restore all the coconut and other trees that were cut down on the 18.9 sq. km land at Domunli in the Jomoro district, which was given to the government for the project.

The gas processing facility, which is estimated to cost $1.2billion, is expected to produce 300 million cubic feet of gas per day and create as many as 5,000 jobs for indigenes.

Addressing a press conference to vent his spleen on the two prominent personalities of Nzema, Awulae Adjaye indicated that in 2009, the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) engaged experts to study the soil and land suitability in the area for the project.

He noted that after studying the land suitability for some time, the experts finally settled on Domunli, after which GNPC approached the chiefs for land for the project and the chiefs allocated a land size of 18.9 sq. km.

The Awulae mentioned that over 300 coconut trees and other cash crops belonging to the people on the land were therefore destroyed to give way for the project to take off without the initial compensation arrangement.

“In all these, the GNPC kept on promising the people of Jomoro of the take-off of the project in 2012 so it was therefore surprising when the newly-appointed CEO of the GNGC, Dr. Yankey, spilled the rumour in the various media that the project would be relocated to the Ellembelle district,” he added.

He pointed out that the Atuabo enclave where the project was allegedly being relocated to, was a perennial flood-prone area and that it would cost the nation more money to use tailings to fill every 1 sq. km to a height of about 1 metre to enable the project to be sited there.

“We strongly believe that Dr. Sipa Yankey and Hon. Armah Buah are greedily motivated by the fact that they have had access to the Subsidiary Loan Agreement and have full knowledge of the benefits that the catchment area stands to gain,” he alleged.

“We therefore find the whole relocation attempts as personal and parochial interest motivated other than technical and economic considerations,” he noted.

Source:ghweb

Nduom's boys arrested...

Two supporters of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom’s political grouping, were yesterday arrested and detained at the Kaneshie Police Station.

The two were part of a number of activists of the newly-formed PPP who congregated at the Mallam end of the road, ahead of yesterday’s commissioning of the Tetteh Quarshie/Mallam Millennium Challenge Account-sponsored road project, to protest against what they claimed was a denial of the role played by their leader in accessing the US facility to undertake the project.

They assembled under the Mallam overpass early in the morning to commence the demonstration and defied the order by a detachment of policemen which was drafted to the scene.

The police ordered them to leave the spot in five minutes but when they failed to do so, the two were arrested and whisked away.

A DAILY GUIDE correspondent who captured the scuffle between the picketers and the police had her camera seized by security personnel on the scene.

In contrast to a previous incident in which photojournalist Gifty Lawson’s camera was seized at the High Court, this reporter had only the images erased from the camera’s memory card and the gadget returned to her without any assault.

Prior to the arrest of the two supporters, a group calling itself ‘the Concerned Youth of Ghana’ (CYG), said to be sympathetic to the cause of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, in the morning clashed with members of the ruling NDC at the Mallam end of N1 of the Highway.

The CYG, before the clash, demanded that the highway be named after Dr Ndoum, the onetime Public Sector Minister in the erstwhile Kufuor government who engineered the process that led to the country accessing the $547 million, part of which has been used to construct the road.

The spokesperson of the group, Alista Nelson, told DAILY GUIDE that the group was not happy with the actions of the NDC because the ruling NDC had hoisted its party flags and posted ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ banners all over the place, ostensibly to credit President Mills’ administration for the completion of the road.

The group, as early as 7am, lined up on the Mallam end of the highway and held various placards.

They also chanted war songs to express their displeasure against the NDC.

It almost turned bloody when CYG members clashed with NDC supporters who claimed the group did not have the right to condemn the ruling party or place any banner under the Mallam overpass.

With the intervention of the police, the NDC supporters left the scene but placed another banner with the inscription ‘Believe in the president because he would do it’, whilst the PPP’s banner also had the caption; ‘This High Way was constructed under the Millennium Challenge Account’.

Some of the placards the PPP supporters wielded had inscriptions such as ‘This High Way Was An Initiative Of Papa Kwesi Nduom’ and ‘NDC Very Selfish’.

Fire guts OLA SHS dometries

Students of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Senior High School in Ho, the Volta regional capital, last Tuesday escaped two separate mysterious fires that hit two of her dormitory facilities.

The cause of the fires, which started in the box rooms of two dormitory blocks of the school, is unknown.

The fire destroyed over 50 trunks and chop-boxes of students. Some of the items destroyed included text books, clothes, money, provisions, stationery and other valuables of the students.

According to sources close to the school, the fire first started at the St Joseph House at about 12:30 pm. He said they saw a carpenter of the school running towards the administration to inform them about the fire.

Not long after that, some students started running helter-skelter and screaming that there was smoke emanating from the box room of St. Joseph’s House.

The Fire Service was immediately contacted and within ten minutes they arrived at the scene. The girls were then dispersed to their various classrooms and to attend to other duties. An hour later, another smoke was discovered in the box room of the newly built GETFund Dormitory, christened St Augustine House.

Due to the timely intervention of the Fire Service, only two boxes were affected.

Preliminary investigations of the Fire Service ruled out the possibility of an electrical fault since the fire started nowhere near an electrical cable. They noted that it might either be accidental or orchestrated. They however noted that investigation was still ongoing to find the true cause of the fire.

A source however hinted to this paper that some wrapped old newspapers were found at the spot where the second fire was discovered, therefore suggesting that the newspaper might have been used to start the fire.

The emergence of the second fire raised some suspicions, which led to an emergency meeting between some members of the school’s administration, board members, regional education director, municipal chief executive and other stakeholders to find the cause and possible culprits of the fire.

This was followed by an assembly of students who were addressed by the MCE, Isaac Kodobisah, the Education Director, Gabriel Kploanyi and other members of the board.

DAILY GUIDE’s investigations also suggested that the students might have had some concerns, and thus expressed them through the fire scare.

At the assembly, the various speakers urged the students to always be of good behaviour and always consider the reputation of the school before acting. They also urged them to use appropriate quarters to voice out their problems and concerns instead of mischievous means. They also assured the students of their support and urged them to study hard.

Students affected by the fire and some members of the school’s administration who spoke to DAILY GUIDE appealed to philanthropists, donor organisations and government to come to the aid of the affected persons.

The Headmistress, Benedicta Afesi, as at press time yesterday, was tied up in a series of meetings and so could not speak on the issue.

Minority reacts to Presidents address

Minority Members of Parliament Thursday clad in black with red bandanas round their necks mourned what they called the sorry state of the nation.

The Minority said the state was in a moribund state and staged their dramatic mourning on a day the president presented his fourth State of the Nation address before congress.

The Minority did not mourn in silence as the president delivered his message; they heckled incessantly attracting the president’s light-hearted comment that “even though I expected to be heckled, I did not expect the heckling to be so gargantuan.”

No sooner had the president finished his delivery than all Minority members of the House came to their feet waving red cards and chanting ‘a-w-a-y, a-w-a-y, a-w-a-y’.

New Patriotic Party MP for Adansi Asokwa and former Deputy Energy Minister, K.T. Hammond faulted the president for criticising the judiciary.

“In many of these matters that reflect negatively on governance, the Judiciary as the institution of state with the mandate to dispense justice, and the Executive with the mandate to implement the law, must act as partners engaged in a collective effort to rid the country of corruption, drugs and other harmful activities.

“Any perception that the Judiciary is on the side of wrongdoers undermines democracy and the institutions of democracy.

“Whilst urging our Honourable Justices to live up to their noble calling of independent arbiters, I would also like to remind them that they are an arm of government and that they have as much responsibility as the other arms of government in ridding the society of criminal elements, thereby ensuring justice for the citizenry and other persons,” President Mills had said.

But Mr Hammond said that amounted to an unnecessary attack on the judiciary.

He also faulted the president for conveniently avoiding the over-flogged Woyome judgement debt issue.
 source:ghweb

Woyome...still not out..!

Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the businessman who was granted bail in the sum of GH¢54 million, with two sureties, one of which is to be justified, for the offence of defrauding the state to the tune of GH¢51.2 million, has been unable to meet the bail conditions.

He is, therefore, still in custody, pending appeal for the variation of the bail terms.

At the Financial Division of the Accra High Court Wednesday, attempts by his lawyers to have the bail terms varied did not materialise because the Attorney-General was short-served with the motion and needed time to respond to it.

The rule is that three clear days are required for the hearing of a motion when it is filed and a party which is not given three days is said to be short-served, for which reason the other party must be given three days within which to respond if it wished.

Consequently, the court, presided over by Justice John Ajet-Nasam, adjourned the matter to February 16, 2012.

Lawyers for Woyome, Mr Robertson Kpatsah and Alhaji Musah Ahmed, were in court very early to take the motion for variation of the bail terms but the representatives of the A-G had not arrived in court.

Counsel, however, informed the court that representatives of the A-G were on their way to the court and for that reason the matter be stood down.

The judge obliged and stood down the matter about 9.35 a.m. until 10 a.m. when it was recalled, on the arrival of the state prosecutors.

Mr Kpatsah told the court that the issue before it related to the conditions of bail which were entirely within the discretion of the judge. However, if the state was asking for time, then it should be given today.

A Chief State Attorney, Ms Cynthia Lamptey, said her office was served at the close of day on February 14, 2012 and for that reason it needed some time to respond appropriately.

Justice Ajet-Nasam said at the court’s last sitting when bail was granted to the applicant, the A-G did not object to the bail and so “if, today, they say they need time to react, nobody knows what the A-G has to say”.

“I believe the rules of procedure need to be followed. We do not need to twist the rules, while judicial discretion should also be exercised judiciously,” he said and adjourned the matter.

Woyome was in court but it was agreed that his presence was not relevant in the matter and he should not be brought to court.

Woyome is standing trial with a Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh; the Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Paul Asimenu, and Nerquaye-Tetteh’s wife, Gifty, into whose account Woyome had deposited GH¢400,000.

Woyome is alleged to have put in false claims to defraud the state to the tune of GH¢51.2 million, with the active connivance and assistance of Nerquaye-Tetteh and Asimenu. The three were remanded on February 6, 2012 but were granted bail when they appeared before the court Wednesday.

Nerquaye-Tetteh and Asimenu had been granted bail in the sum of GH¢6,000 each, with two sureties each, one each to be justified.
The court ordered each of the accused persons to report himself twice a week to the police.

Woyome has pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, defrauding by false pretence and corrupting a public officer.

Nerquaye-Tetteh has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and corruption of public officer, while his wife also pleaded not guilty to one count of abetment of crime.

Fatal accident

Five people are feared dead at Kuntunse near Nsawam in a fatal accident that occurred Thursday afternoon.

An eyewitness who spoke to Peace FM in Accra moments after the motor crash, said the tyre of a Benz bus traveling from Accra to Kumasi got burst and skidded off the road, hitting an Accra-bound car.

He said the number of deaths cannot be confirmed, but there seem to be casualties.

The eyewitness stated the injured have been rushed to the Nsawam Hospital for treatment.

According to the eyewitness, the police have arrived at the scene to manage the huge traffic that is building up.
sourc:myjoyonline

Plavi must go-Yaw Preko

Former Black Stars player, Yaw Preko says Goran “Plavi” Stevanovic should be a man and leave his post.

The Head Coach of the Black Stars has been under critical scrutiny after the team’s dismal showing at the AFCON 2012 with some calling for his exit and others calling for a second chance.

But the former Black Star winger in an interview on Multi TV’s Badwam Sports, Agokansie on Thursday, said this should not be a matter of whether to keep him or not because the embattled coach made a categorical statement that he will have to go by honourably.

He told us he was going to win the cup and if he fails to get to the final he will resign so why the hullabaloo, he quizzed.

I expect him to be honourable and live by his statement because nobody forced him to make that statement, he added.

Yaw Preko currently is imparting his expertise as the Head Coach of Westland FC, a Division Two side.
source:myjoyonline

State of the nation address

In his election-year State of the Nation address, President Mills enumerated a long list of economic achievements, many of which centered on macro-economic stability and growth.

He said, for three years that he has been president, the country has moved in the right direction in accordance with the NDC manifesto, despite internal and external constraints.

With latent pride, President Mills told Parliament that, under his watch, Ghana recorded the highest ever growth rate in the annals of the nation’s history with a provisional growth rate approaching 14%.

The country, he said, also recorded the most sustained single digit rates of inflation in decades, with the rate of inflation of 8.55% for 2011 being the lowest in 42 years since 1970.

As at the end of September (2011), the president said, the budget deficit was 2% of GDP as compared to 14.5% of GDP in 2008.

“The credit belongs to all Ghanaians and to the Government as the direct managers of the economy as well as Parliament as its monitors” he stated.

He said the achievements recorded have resulted in an increase in investor confidence in Ghana, which reflect in a significant increase in foreign direct investment.

President Mills disclosed that a recent report published by the Ghana Investments Promotion Center show an increase in projects registered at the GIPC amounting to over $7billion in foreign direct investment.

“Even though we have experienced internal and external constraints, we have reason to be hopeful of Ghana’s future. Notwithstanding the global economic uncertainties, this administration has continued to make progress in the management of the national economy” the president told the august House.

President Mills disclosed that Ghana earned $444 million in oil revenue in the past year and pledged his administration’s continuous commitment to make full disclosure of earnings and lifting of oil from the shores of the country.

On education, President Mills said Accra is bringing an end to the school shift system which has been a drawback in the fight for quality education.

“Several classroom structures have been constructed, providing accommodation for hundreds of pupils who now benefit from a full day classroom teaching. Contracts for the construction of over 1,700 classroom blocks for schools under trees have been awarded throughout the country”, he said.

On completion, President Mills said, the 4,320 schools under trees that existed in 2009 would be reduced by about 40%.

President Mills promised “We are on course to eradicating the schools under trees phenomenon. We have distributed over 3 million school uniforms to needy pupils nationwide. This means that with a basic school population of about 5.2 million, we have supplied school uniforms to three out of every five children in basic school".

He said, under the NDCs free exercise books scheme, over 40 million exercise books have been supplied to all pupils in basic public schools.

On the average, he stated, eight exercise books have been supplied to each pupil per year in both 2010 and 2011.

Infrastructure development also featured prominently in the address. “We have done a lot in terms of road infrastructure. Tetteh-Quarshie is 80% complete, Achimota-Ofankor 80%, Madina-Pantang 45% complete, Kumasi-Techiman road completed”, he told the House.

Once again, the president acknowledged the role of his predecessor, Kuffuor, in the construction of the motorway extension/Mallam Junction highway, saying “NPP procured the money for the Mallam-Tetteh Quarshie highway and we constructed it, so the value is the same”.

Meanwhile, reaction to the president’s address, themed “Still Building a Better Ghana Agenda”, has been varied”. 
source:myjoyonline