CID GRILL FOUR MORE EX-MINISTERS

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday April 25, 2018

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has interrogated four more former ministers in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government headed by John Dramani Mahama.

The former ministers, who were/are Members of Parliament (MPs), have been caught in the ongoing double salary scandal.

Three of them, including Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former Minister of Youth and Sports, who doubles as the current opposition NDC MP for Odododiodioo Constituency and Alhassan Azong, former minister of state in charge of Public Sector Reforms and former People's National Convention (PNC) MP for Builsa South, were grilled by the CID yesterday.

As at press time, another ex-minister believed to be Alex Segbefia, former Minister of Health whose name was not readily available, was being interrogated by the police. It is not clear if Mr Segbefia was representing a client since he was not an MP, and so could not have drawn double salary. He had earlier represented some of the suspects at the CID headdquarters.

On Friday, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, who served as Deputy Attorney General under President John Mahama, was also at the CID headquarters to be interrogated.

When the scandal broke, Nii Lante Vanderpuye told Hot FM, Citi FM, among others, that he had not been invited by the police, claiming that DAILY GUIDE was defaming him. He threatened to sue the paper if an apology was not rendered.

But yesterday, DAILY GUIDE learnt that he was at the CID headquarters where he was granted police enquiry bail.

Bagbin Invitation

The 2^nd deputy speaker of parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin, who doubles as NDC MP for Nadowli Kaleo in the Upper West Region, was expected to appear before the CID on Monday in connection with the ongoing probe. But there was no information as to whether he honoured the invitation.

A number of ministers and deputy ministers who served under then President John Dramani Mahama and his NDC government (2012- 2016) are being investigated by the police for allegedly collecting double salaries - some for about four years.

Top-Up Alibi

Some NDC elements after cynically claiming that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is witch-hunting them through the police, are now admitting that indeed, the double salary claim happened.

However, they are now pushing the argument that it was a ‘top-up’ for the affected ministers and not the actual monthly salaries as being claimed by their political opponents.

It emerged that some of those who were MPs and were appointed as ministers at the same time by President Mahama, were supposed to take one salary for the double jobs, but they allegedly drew salaries as MPs and again as ministers every month, in a clear breach of the law.

Official Charge

According to the police, the alleged double salaries saga “is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) as amended in 2012 (Act 849).  Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.”

Dramatic Twist

The scandal took a dramatic twist when Special Prosecutor Martin A.B.K. Amidu waded into the debate and appeared to give tacit endorsement of the move by the police to prosecute the former appointees who might be involved.

Mr. Amidu, a former Attorney General, said on Citi FM last Thursday that if his former colleagues are found to have fallen foul of the law, they should not go unpunished.

“Indeed, that (double salary), is an offence of abuse of office for private gain,” he said without mincing words, before revealing that he also received double payment when he served as a minister during the NDC regime but added that he returned the excess money to the government chest.

Police Invitation

Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, former Minister of Transport and MP for Ketu South; Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, former minister of state at the presidency and MP for Wa Central and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, ex-Central Regional Minister and former MP for Mfantseman West, have all been interrogated by the police over the scandal.

Before then, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle and former Minister of Energy and Petroleum and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso who was the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, had also been interrogated and granted self enquiry bails.

Also, a certain Bashir Fuseini Alhassan, who is believed to be ABA Fuseini, NDC MP for Sagnerigu and former deputy minister for the Northern Region, was there to write a statement before being admitted to bail.

Three other former appointees - minister of state in-charge of Social and Allied Institutions, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, who is MP for Ada East; second deputy minority chief whip, Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South and former Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister and Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, MP for Tamale Central and ex-Minister of Roads and Highways, were also grilled.

They were all reportedly cautioned with a charge of stealing and are to reappear before the CID in May.

They have been appearing before the police with their lawyers and are all on bail.

BAGBIN STORMS CID HEADQUARTERS OVER DOUBLE SALARY

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday April 23, 2018

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin, is expected to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service today.

The invitation to the place is in connection with the ongoing probe into the double salary scandal that has rocked the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Some of the ministers and deputy ministers, who served under then President John Dramani Mahama and his NDC government (2012- 2016), are being investigated by the police for allegedly collecting double salaries, some for about a four years, and Mr Bagbin’s name features prominently.

Mr Bagbin, NDC MP for Nadowli Kaleo in the Upper West Region and former minister, according to sources, has been booked by the police for interrogation today; and he is expected to be at the CID headquarters with his legal team.

Top-Up Alibi 

Some NDC elements, after cynically claiming that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is witch-hunting them, are now admitting that, indeed, the double salary payment happened.

However, they are now pushing the argument that the payments were ‘top-ups’ for the affected ministers and not the actual monthly salaries as being claimed by their political opponents.

It emerged that some of those who were MPs and were appointed as ministers at the same time by President Mahama were supposed to take one salary for the double job, but they allegedly drew salaries as MPs and again as ministers every month in clear breach of the law.

Insiders Accused 

Already, Mr Bagbin appears to be pointing accusing fingers at elements in his own party for leaking the double salary information to the public.

Official Charge 

According to the police, the alleged double salaries saga “is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), as amended in 2012 (Act 849).  Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.” 

Dramatic Twist 

The scandal took a dramatic twist when the Special Prosecutor, Martin A.B.K. Amidu, waded into the debate and appeared to give tacit endorsement of the move by the police to prosecute the former appointees and MPs who might be involved.

Mr. Amidu, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said on Citi FM last Thursday that if his former colleagues were found to have violated the law, they should not go unpunished.

“Indeed, that (double salary) is an offence of abuse of office for private gain,” he said without mincing words, before revealing that he also received double payments when he served as minister under the NDC administrations but added that he returned the excess money to the government.

Police Invitation 

The double salaries scandal appears to have rattled the opposition NDC which MPs - some past and present - have been visiting the police to assist in investigations over their respective involvements in the saga.

Last Wednesday, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, former Minister of Transport and MP for Ketu South; Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, former minister of state at the presidency and MP for Wa Central and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, former Central Regional Minister and former MP for Mfantseman West, were interrogated by the police over the scandal.

Bail 

Before then, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle and former Minister of Energy and Petroleum and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso, who was the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, had also been interrogated by the police and granted self enquiry bail.

Also, a certain Bashir Fuseini Alhassan - who is believed to be ABA Fuseini - NDC MP for Sagnerigu and former deputy minister for the Northern Region, had also been engaged by the police and was made to write a statement before being admitted to bail.

On Tuesday, three former appointees under President Mahama - minister of state in-charge of Social and Allied Institutions, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, MP for Ada East; Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South and Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister and Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, MP for Tamale Central and Minister of Roads and Highways - were also grilled.

They were all reportedly charged with stealing and are to reappear before the CID in May.

EX-MINISTERS FOR COURT OVER DOUBLE SALARY MARTIN AMIDU HINTS

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday April 21, 2018

The prosecution of former ministers in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration and Members of Parliament (MPs) who have been caught in an alleged double-salary scandal is imminent.

It follows what looks like the special prosecutor’s endorsement of the move by the police to prosecute the former appointees, who served under then President John Mahama - majority of who are MPs in the current parliament.

Clearest Indication 

Martin A.B.K. Amidu, the special prosecutor, told Citi FM last Thursday that his former colleagues had fallen foul of the law and should not go unpunished.

“Indeed, that (double salary), is an offence of abuse of office for private gain,” he said without mincing words, before revealing that he also received double payments when he served as minister during the NDC regime but returned the excess money to the government.

Specific Charge 

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has said officially that the alleged double salaries saga “is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) as amended in 2012 (Act 849).  Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.”

Some of the MPs’ allegedly involved have been interrogated by the CID and granted police enquiry bail, but it is unclear if the special prosecutor’s office will be handling the case, should the Attorney General’s Department decide to arraign them for court.

Patriotic Duty 

“Money was ever paid into my account. When my bank notified me I told them to return it because that is not what me and the Attorney General agreed, I could have kept it. This is what they should have done.

“You don’t keep the money for six months, one year, two years or three years, you’ve left office, one-and-a-half years, you’ve not made any efforts to return it. Then when the CID begins seeing it now, you are rationalizing it and yet when the ordinary man takes plantain one bunch, he goes to jail for 15 years. So what is the political elite telling us?”

Mr Martin Amidu, former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, did not agree with those who are insisting that the double payment to government appointees, who were MPs is an old age problem in the country.

He asserted, “If it’s been happening since 1992 and no one has seen it, now it has been seen; those responsible should bear the consequence.”

Conscience To Prosecute 

Mr Amidu said as special prosecutor, he will not have the conscience to prosecute ordinary Ghanaians if the double salary matter is not dealt with appropriately.

“Why should a special prosecutor be prosecuting ordinary Ghanaians and your honourables will be involved in these things then they will be talking to the president to wash it up? Then I have no need sitting here. I won’t even have the conscience to continue,” Amidu, known as citizen vigilante for his anti-corruption stance, fired.

He queried, “Will I have the conscience to prosecute any other body for corruption if the CID finds something prosecutable and are not allowed to prosecute because Members of Parliament are involved? That is not fair.”

Element of Bias 

Mr Amidu’s assertions appeared to have incensed Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, former Deputy Attorney General under President Mahama and MP for Bolgatanga East, who accused him (Amidu) of exhibiting bias towards the NDC.

Dr. Ayine, who has filed a suit at the Supreme Court to stop Mr Amidu from becoming the special prosecutor using the age argument, said on Citi FM that the former Attorney General is still hounding the NDC members.

“He has never investigated the Mahama administration yet he keeps piling one allegation upon the other, that there was massive corruption in the Mahama administration,” Ayine fumed.

He insisted that Mr Amidu is not exhibiting neutrality, given the position he now occupies, saying, “I think it’s unfortunate for a man who is supposed to be impartial and neutral in investigating crimes.

“I am very disappointed that he will still be making those types of statements at this stage of his career as a prosecutor.”

Clandestine Move

Even though some elements in the opposition NDC have been going about claiming that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is witch-hunting them politically, their minority leader in parliament is on record to have met President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to seek a way out of the embarrassing episode.

Majority leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, threw the bombshell last Tuesday when he said his minority counterpart, Haruna Iddrisu, tried to persuade President Akufo-Addo to intervene in the double salary case against appointees of the erstwhile NDC government, claiming that it would damage the reputation of parliament if it went on.

Haruna Iddrisu later admitted meeting the president but refused to disclose what transpired at the meeting.

Cynical Reaction 

Even with the minority leader’s admission, some NDC elements, including Victor Kodjoga Adawudu, a private legal practitioner, who is representing some of the affected MPs in the case, created the impression that the majority leader had been untruthful to the media about Iddrisu’s meeting with the president.

The double salary scandal appears to have rattled the opposition NDC which MPs - some past and present - have been visiting the police to assist in investigations over their respective involvements in the scandal.

Last Wednesday, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, former Minister of Transport and MP for Ketu South; Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, former minister of state at the presidency and MP for Wa Central and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, former Central Regional Minister and former MP for Mfantseman West, were interrogated by the police over the scandal.

Self Enquiry Bail 

Before then, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle and former Minister of Energy and Petroleum and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso who was the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, were also interrogated by the police and granted self enquiry bail.

Also, a certain Bashir Fuseini Alhassan - who is believed to be ABA Fuseini, NDC MP for Sagnerigu and former Deputy Minister for the Northern Region - was also there at the weekend and was made to write a statement before being admitted to bail.

On Tuesday, three former appointees under President Mahama, including minister of state in-charge of Social and Allied Institutions, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, NDC MP for Ada East; second deputy minority chief whip, Eric Opoku, former MP for Asunafo South and Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister and Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, MP for Tamale Central and former Minister of Roads and Highways, were also grilled.

They were all reportedly cautioned with a charge of stealing and are to reappear before the CID in May.

They appeared individually with their lawyers at the CID headquarters in Accra and after writing their statements, they were said to have been subjected to questioning before they were granted police enquiry bail.

CID GRILLS 3 MPS OVER DOUBLE SALARY SCANDAL

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday April 18, 2018

Reports reaching DAILY GUIDE indicate that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service yesterday grilled three Members of Parliament (MPs) who served as ministers in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government over the raging double salary scandal.

They were reportedly cautioned with a charge of stealing and are to reappear before the CID on May 14.

The former appointees, according to reports, are Minister of State in-Charge of Social and Allied Institutions, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, who is NDC MP for Ada East and Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip; Eric Opoku, NDC MP for Asunafo South and former Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister and Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, NDC MP for Tamale Central and Minister of Roads and Highways.

The former NDC appointees are being accused of taking double salaries as ministers and MPs while serving in government under President John Mahama.

The minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, was said to have held a meeting with his three colleagues in the morning before honouring the CID invitation.

They appeared individually with their lawyers at the CID headquarters in Accra and after writing their statements, they were said to have been subjected to questioning before they were granted police enquiry bail.

Already, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle and former Minister of Energy and Petroleum and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso, who was the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, are said to have been interrogated by the police and granted bail.

Also, a certain Bashir Fuseini Alhassan, who is believed to be ABA Fuseini, NDC MP for Sagnerigu and former deputy minister for the Northern Region, was also there at the weekend and was made to write a statement before being admitted to bail.

‘Narrow’ And ‘Broad’ 

In the ensuing heat, Haruna Iddrisu, who is believed to be part of the former appointees, who allegedly took double salaries, has offered to give both what he calls ‘narrow’ and ‘broad’ interpretations of the matter.

Mr Iddrisu, who is scheduled to appear before the CID on Thursday, told Joy FM yesterday that if the issue is viewed ‘narrowly’ the affected MPs could be said to have taken double salaries, “but that should not be the case.”

He said rather the police should conduct a holistic investigation into the matter and that that would point to discrepancies which would not warrant criminalization of the matter.

Using Article 71 for his explanation, the former minister of employment and labour relations said the issue of double salary will hold if only “current ministers and MPs will not tomorrow accept any addition to what is being paid them today as salary advance.”

He noted, “That will be interesting and intriguing for us as a Republic. It means tomorrow when President Nana Akufo-Addo finally sets up this committee (Emoluments Committee), the committee will make recommendations which will in most instances occasion them receiving salary arrears which will affect even payment of their gratuity and ex-gratia.

“So viewed narrowly you can say that ministers of state and MPs are involved in double claims.”

No Escape 

However, a private legal practitioner, Gary Nimako, who was also on Joy FM, said the former appointees cannot escape blame over the double salaries issue.

“There is a cause for concern and there is a question to answer. The Parliamentary Service, they pay the MPs and the Accountant General pays the ministers and their deputies,” he stated on the Newsfile programme, adding, “Some of them even took double salaries as MPs and ministers.”

According to the lawyer, “The fact of some people saying that we did not know that we were receiving double money is not correct. There is a source for every money you receive. If for instance, you are an MP and you take MP salary of X amount, and you have been appointed as a minister, clearly you do not have to take the MP salary again.”

Frantic Efforts

During the weekend, some of the former NDC appointees being investigated were said to be making frantic efforts to submit their bank statements to the CID.

It emerged that a number of them sent their bank statements for scrutiny by the CID, despite the claim by top-notch members of the party that the move to investigate them was a case of ‘political witch-hunt.’

Specific Charge 

The police have said that the alleged double salaries saga “is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) as amended in 2012 (Act 849).  Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.”

The list appears to show that a good number of the ministers, who served under former President John Mahama, took double salaries for four years, whilst others received double salaries for two and three years, probably because they were reshuffled.

MPS GET BAIL OVER DOUBLE SALARY SAGA

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday April 17, 2018

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has granted police enquiry bail to some former ministers in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and Members of Parliament (MPs), who have been caught in an alleged double-salary scandal.

The formal arrest and the grant of bail are said to have started last Thursday when some of the appointees honoured the CID invitation.

It is unclear the number of the former appointees who honoured the police invitation, but DAILY GUIDE understands that Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso, are said to have been interrogated by the police.

More of the appointees are expected at the Financial Forensic Unit at the CID headquarters this week, with Inusah Fuseini - who served as Minister of Roads and Highways under President Mahama - indicating during a number of radio interviews that he is reporting today.

As at press time yesterday, another NDC MP, whose name could not be disclosed, was said to have arrived at the CID office to be interrogated.

A certain Bashir Fuseini Alhassan, who is believed to be ABA Fuseini, NDC MP for Sagnerigu and former deputy minister for the Northern Region, was also there last week and was made to write a statement before being admitted to bail.

All those who have been to the CID headquarters and are said to be technically under arrest were made to write statements before they were granted bail. They all honoured the invitations with their lawyers.

According to sources, the police had already written to the accounts department of parliament for more information concerning the double salary saga.

The affected people have also been asked to submit their bank statements.

Frantic Efforts

Over the weekend, some of the former NDC appointees being investigated were said to be making frantic efforts to submit their bank statements to the CID.

It emerged that a number of them sent their bank statements for scrutiny by the CID, despite the claim by top-notch members of the party that the move to investigate them was a case of ‘political witch-hunt.’

Anomaly Detection 

DAILY GUIDE learnt that some of the former ministers cum MPs, who allegedly drew salaries as MPs and ministers of state, detected the double salary anomaly and notified the authorities for the right thing to be done.

However, it is unclear whether the monies that had already been credited to the accounts of such people were returned to chest.

Bernard Allotey Jacobs, NDC Central Regional Chairman, who conceded that some of the ex-ministers who were MPs actually received double salaries, said they were ready to use their ex-gratia to offset them.

It’s not clear if they had ever been paid double from 2013 to 2016 as being alleged.

In all, about 48 names are on the list spanning five years from 2012.

Inside Job 

Mr Bagbin, the second deputy speaker of parliament and NDC MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, has already confirmed that he had been contacted by the CID.

On his Twitter handle on Wednesday, April 11 - after the minority’s press conference - Mr Bagbin alleged that some selfish individuals who want to lead the opposition party might have leaked the names to the CID.

“If anybody thinks that leaking our names to the police CID thwarts our chances and advances their selfish claim to leadership in our party, then my brother, think again because when we go down, we go down together. A word to the wise...,” according to the tweet.

Haruna Iddrisu had also been contacted and is likely to meet the CID on Thursday, April 19, having told the police that he was out of the country.

Specific Charge 

The police have said that the alleged double salary saga “is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) as amended in 2012 (Act 849).  Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.”

The list appears to show that a good number of the ministers, who served under former President John Mahama, took double salaries for four years, whilst others received double salaries for two and three years, probably because they were reshuffled.

Salary Permutation 

In 2012, four of the ministers, who reportedly took double salaries, are currently not serving in parliament, but by 2013 the double salaried appointees had increased to 22 while in 2014 about 18 were said to have been involved.

For 2015 and 2016, 15 and 12 appointees purportedly took double salaries respectively.

This list showed that the appointees received double salaries at least once a month, whilst others received them monthly throughout the years.

Clear Target 

In the ensuing heat, one of the affected MPs, Inusah Fuseini, said on Peace FM yesterday that the NPP government was targeting them, saying, “There is some level of criminal targeting of former appointees.

“It appears that the value of fairness, equity and justice is not being followed. If a public servant has been given a double salary, they are not reported to CID. The person is called to refund the money and if that is not done, that is when you report the person to an investigative authority. But this was not done... why the discrimination?”

DOUBLE SALARY PAY SAGA! CID GRABS EX-MINISTERS BANK STATEMENTS

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday April 16, 2018

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that some former ministers in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and Members of Parliament (MPs), who have been caught in an alleged double-salary scandal, are submitting their bank statements to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

It has emerged that a number of them have already sent their bank statements for scrutiny by the CID, despite the claim by top-notch members of the NDC that the move to investigate them is a case of ‘political witch-hunt.’

According to sources, there were frantic efforts by some of the former ministers last week to get through to their bankers to get details of their monthly salary structure for onward submission to the police.

DAILY GUIDE has learnt that some of the former ministers, who allegedly drew salaries as MPs and ministers of state, detected the double salary anomaly and notified the authorities for the right thing to be done.

However, it is unclear if the monies that had already been credited to the accounts of such people were returned to chest.

Bernard Allotey Jacobs, NDC Central Regional chairman, who conceded that some of the ex-ministers who were MPs actually received double salaries, said they were ready to use their ex-gratia to offset them.

A list stumbled upon by DAILY GUIDE has the names of sitting MPs like Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, former Majority Leader Alban Bagbin, former Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, former Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister Eric Opoku, former Petroleum Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, among others, on it.

It’s not clear if they had ever been paid double from 2013 to 2016 as being alleged, while former MPs like Alhassan Azong, Mustapha Ahmed and Aquinas Tawiah Qunasah also made it to the list as likely to have had similar benefits for the same period.

Alhassan Azong flatly denied it when DAILY GUIDE reached him last night.

Attempts to reach others were unsuccessful, but the CID indicates that it’s going ahead with the probe.

In all, about 48 names are on the list spanning five years from 2012.

Edward Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former sports minister and MP for Odododiodioo, whose name appeared on the list, had flatly denied the allegation, saying that he had not received any invitation from the CID, likewise Mr. Azong.  

Mr. Bagbin, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and NDC MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, has already confirmed that he had been contacted by the CID and even said on social media that he suspected that people within his political fraternity might have leaked the information to the authorities after which he had to honour a police invitation.

On his Twitter handle on Wednesday, April 11 - after the minority’s press conference - Mr Bagbin alleged that some selfish individuals wanting to lead the opposition party might have leaked the names to the CID.

“If anybody thinks that leaking our names to the police CID thwarts our chances and advances their selfish claim to leadership in our party, then my brother, think again because when we go down, we go down together. A word to the wise,” according to the tweet.

Haruna Iddrisu had also been contacted and is likely to meet the CID on Thursday, April 19, having told the police that he was out of the country.

Interestingly, the names of NDC MPs like Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central) and Casiel Ato-Forson (Ajumako Enyan Essaim), who have been vocal on the double salary saga, are not on the list.

The police have said that the alleged double salary saga “is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) as amended in 2012, (Act 849).  Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.”

The list appears to show that a good number of the ministers, who served under former President John Mahama, took double salaries for four years, whilst others received double salaries for two and three years, probably because they were reshuffled.

In 2012, four of the ministers, who reportedly took double salaries, are currently not serving in parliament, but by 2013 the double salaried appointees had increased to 22 while in 2014 about 18 were said to have been involved.

For 2015 and 2016, 15 and 12 appointtees purportedly took double salaries respectively.

This list showed that the appointees received double salaries at least once a month, whilst others received them monthly throughout the years.

On Thursday, the CID said that it had not suspended any investigations into the allegations.

That response followed a claim by the minority MPs that the CID boss had embarrassed them by inviting them over the alleged scandal.

A communication issued by the CID indicated that some NDC MPs, who were invited over the allegations, would again be summoned for questioning.

Initially, 25 NDC MPs were said to have been invited by the CID, but the minority in parliament held a press conference on Tuesday and attacked the CID boss and DAILY GUIDE over the invitation and the publication of the story respectively.

48 NAMES POP UP OVER NDC MINISTERS’ DOUBLE SALARY SAGA

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday April 14, 2018

It has emerged that about 48 Members of Parliament (MPs), who served as ministers under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, are said to have received double salaries.

They are being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

Interestingly, those who are very vocal are not part of the ‘double taker’ salary ministers.

Earlier report suggested that 25 MPs had been invited by the police.

Documents available to DAILY GUIDE indicate that about 48 former NDC appointees were involved, with some of them admitting taking double salaries.

The police said the alleged action by the MPs “is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offence Act 1960 (Act 29) as amended in 2012, Act 849.  Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.”

A list sighted by DAILY GUIDE showed that a good number of the ministers, who served under former President John Mahama, took double salaries for four years, whilst others received double salaries for two and three years, probably because they were reshuffled.

In 2012, four of ministers took double salaries, and are currently not serving in parliament, but by 2013 the double salaried appointees had increased to 22 while in 2014 about 18 were said to be involved.

For 2015 and 2016, 15 and 12 appointtees took double salaries respectively.

From 2012 to 2016 when the NDC was booted out of office, some of the appointees were captured in all the data collated as having received double salaries.

This list showed that the appointees received double salaries at least once a month, whilst others received them monthly throughout the years.

On Thursday, the CID said that it had not suspended any investigations into allegations.

That response followed a claim by the minority MPs that the CID boss had embarrassed them by inviting them over the issue.

A communication issued by the CID indicated that some NDC MPs, who were invited over the allegations, would again be summoned by the CID for questioning.

Initially, 25 NDC MPs were said to have been invited by the CID, but the minority in parliament held a press conference on Tuesday and attacked the CID boss and DAILY GUIDE over the invitation and the publication of the story respectively.

But the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and NDC MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, Alban Bagbin, who was cited among the initial 25 invited by the police, is said to be very furious with some members of his own party whom he is accusing of leaking the names of the affected NDC MPs to the CID.

On his twitter handle on Wednesday, April 11 after the minority’s press conference, Mr Alban Bagbin alleged that some selfish individuals wanting to lead the party might have leaked the names to the CID.

“If anybody thinks that leaking our names to the police CID thwarts our chances and advances their selfish claim to leadership in our party, then my brother, think again because when we go down, we go down together. A word to the wise…,” according to the tweet. 

In the new communication, the CID indicated that all those MPs would have to provide more information to help it properly investigate the matter.

The CID, which is investigating the matter, earlier invited and met with some of the accused MPs but has now said they would be recalled for further questioning by the Director-General of the CID.
It, however, did not state the exact date they would be invited again.

“Prior to the invitation of the affected MPs, the CID duly notified the leadership of parliament.”

The police assured the public that due process would be followed in the investigation into the matter, the letter stated.

Meanwhile, some cadres of the party in the Greater Accra Region have described the indictment of ex-ministers over the supposed double salaries as a misadventure.

Fred Atsu Anthony and Nelson Adu, the two cadres who addressed a news conference in Accra yesterday, said it was a well-known fact that MPs do not receive their salaries and benefits until they had finished serving their tenure at which point the government would have set up a committee to determine their benefits.

“Since those benefits are determined by a committee, how can anyone claim that any MP has received double salaries?” Mr Anthony quizzed.