KENNEDY AGYAPONG FIGHTS ANAS

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday May 31, 2018

The ‘fight’ between firebrand Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has reached an alarming dimension, with the splashing of Anas’ photographs on the social media.

Matters came to a head last week with the arrest of Kwasi Nyantakyi, Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, as an investigative piece by Anas and his Tiger Eye PI team allegedly captured the FA boss using the names of President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Bawumia and other top government officials to demand ‘bribe’ from some supposed foreign investors into the country.

Mr Nyantakyi’s arrest has sparked heated debate, bringing Anas’ investigative skills into the spotlight once again, with an accusation of entrapment.

Modus Operandi 

Mr Kennedy Agyapong, who clearly does not appear to be enthused about Anas’ modus operandi, has started questioning how the journalist - whose name apparently evokes fear in some people - conducts his investigations.

Last Tuesday, Kennedy, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP, threatened to ‘expose’ Anas because he claimed the journalist has cobwebs in his cupboard and that he is not what he is being portrayed in the eyes of the public.

According to the outspoken MP, the modus operandi of Anas in soliciting information for public consumption contravenes the law.

He claimed the journalist is being spurred on by some sections of the public to destroy people’s reputations by trapping them with ‘juicy’ offers.

He called for an injunction to be placed on the scheduled premiering of Anas’ latest video about corruption in the area of football dubbed, ‘No12,’ claiming the journalist has the agenda to destroy people.

People’s Privacy 

He said that Anas will soon be intruding into people’s privacy, including bedrooms, if he and his team are not checked.

So far, Anas’ work has brought down many prominent people, including superior court judges, custom officers, players in the cocoa sector, orphanages and some private medical facilities.

"I will stick my neck on the line for Ghanaians and the innocent people he has destroyed over the years. It's too much,” the MP fired on Adom TV on Tuesday.

“The guy is not genuine. He's blackmailing people. He's extortionist, taking monies from people. He is evil. He is a blackmailer,” Kennedy Agyapong fumed.

Dares Anas 

He said, “The guy shouldn't travel. The guy should not leave this country because I will take him on one-on-one and bring the evidence out. Because he's never been fair to the people that he has destroyed and institutions that he has destroyed in this country for taking monies...We're not small boys. We are human beings. We're all Ghanaians."

The MP claimed Anas had used his investigative skills to amass wealth, including landed properties and other businesses in plush areas of Accra in particular, claiming that he is not paying taxes for his businesses.

Anas’ Photos 

Mr Kennedy Agyapong released photographs he said were those of Anas and some of his workmen’s On Net2 Television, which forms part of Kencity Media owned by him.

He queried, “Why is he hiding if he knows he is not doing anything wrong?”

Ken continued, “He uses boys called Daniel, Desmond and Ahmed. The Dubai man he used to set up the NDC people is called Ridwan. His modus operandi is to lure the people, pretend to be an investor, take you to a hotel or an apartment fitted with secret cameras while he hides in one bedroom as Ahmed communicates with him via texts about what questions to ask as they interact with whoever is asking you questions.”

The MP charged, “Go to Midas residence, Dzorwulu and take a look at the kind of building the guy and his partner, Philips, have put up, because he destroys people and makes money? Verify if a genuine journalist in this country can make that kind of money. Also, check Finis Hostel along the Prampram Road. He also owns Finis Pharma, which sells drugs.”

Kweku Baako Responds

In the ensuing heat, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr., editor-in-chief of New Crusading Guide, said nothing would stop his boy Anas from continuously exposing corruption in the country and beyond, saying that the journalist cannot be distracted.

"The NPP people out there who are attacking me and attacking Anas, they are entitled to that but they should not underestimate me or Anas or the two of us put together. They should not underrate that in terms of capability to defend ourselves and to challenge anybody who says he is a blow man, a Tarzan. We are ready and capable to withstand the pressure,” the veteran journalist said on Peace FM yesterday.

He rubbished the photographs being circulated in the media, which Ken is purporting to be Anas.

Mr Baako posited, “I can't recognise Anas or any of the boys I know who works with Anas in any of those pictures.”

Mr Kweku Baako said Kennedy Agyapong was fighting desperately and making baseless arguments. According to him, the MP should have reported to the rightful institution to battle out his case based on Anas’ football investigation rather than just making “meaningless allegations” on radio and television to cure his mischief.  “ . . I’ve heard Ken Agyapong say he met him (Kwesi Nyantakyi) yesterday (Tuesday) for about 10 minutes or so and Kwesi gave him his side of the story and all that and that appears to have energized him in his attacks on Anas... So you ask yourself where and how did the political twist come into it? It’s a very important question,” Mr. Baako posed. He said nobody asked him questions about politics or political executives or the political establishment, but he introduced it himself. “ . . It came from the man you claim was set up. The man you claim was set up is the one who introduced the political twist by influence peddling...,” Kweku Baako indicated yesterday. He said he could not fathom why Kennedy Agyapong was claiming that Kwesi Nyantakyi was set up just because he feels the method used was not right.

AMERI DEAL BAD - AG

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday May 31, 2018

The contract signed between the erstwhile Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration and the Africa & Middle East Resources Investment (AMERI) Group, which experts described as a rip-off of public funds, is beginning to bite the country hard.

This is because after months of deliberations, the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, has stated emphatically that there are going to be damning financial consequences for Ghana, if the Ministry of Energy wants the deal abrogated.

The AG has not said the agreement is clean or good, although she agrees that it is a one-sided and unfavourable agreement the Mahama government signed on behalf of the people of Ghana.

The Agreement

The Mahama government signed the Built Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement with AMERI in 2015 for the supply of 256mw of power, but it is evident that Ghana is losing about $150 million as a result of lack of due diligence on the part of officials who negotiated the deal on behalf of the people of Ghana.

The agreement had been drafted with “the most ironclad clauses ever seen in Ghana’s agreements with private entities; and there is no way the government is not going to suffer if the deal is truncated,” noted a financial analyst.

Ministerial Committee

In the heat of the transition, Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko set up a 17-member Ministerial Committee chaired by Lawyer Phillip Addison, to look into the previous government’s AMERI deal; and the committee had recommended to the government that it should call back owners of the Dubai–based company for re-negotiation and advised that should the company refuse to honour the invitation for re-negotiation, the government should renounce the agreement on grounds of fraud.

The whole BOOT Agreement between Ghana and AMERI Energy was estimated at $510 million, and it involved among other things, the installation of 10 General Electric TM 2500 aero-derivative gas turbines at the Aboadze Power enclave, near Takoradi in the Western Region.

Minister’s Letter

On May 19 and October 31, 2017, the Ministry of Energy sought legal advice from the AG on the decision by the government to suspend monthly payments for AMERI; the necessity or otherwise of obtaining a court order in support of the suspension of payments and also to determine whether the case should be adjudicated in Ghana or outside.

On November 27, 2017, the AG in a letter sighted by DAILY GUIDE, provided legal advice and explained the circumstances under which the AMERI deal could be abrogated.

Payment Suspension

On the suspension of monthly payments, the AG stated, “No allegation of either a default or a breach under the BOOT Agreement on the part of AMERI has been made by the government. AMERI has provided and continues to provide power for the use of the government in accordance with the agreement, albeit through its agent, Power Projects Sanayi Insaat Ticaret Limited Sirket.”

The AG said documents made available indicated that “the BOOT Agreement was originally purportedly entered into on a sole source basis.”

She averred, “For the BOOT Agreement to be valid on the basis of single source procurement therefore, at least one of the exceptional circumstances provided under Section 40 of Act 663 as amended must have existed and the procuring entity must have received approval from the board of PPA.”

The AG pointed out, “It does appear however, that the then Ministry of Power did not originally follow due process in the procurement of the services of AMERI as per the BOOT Agreement via single sourcing.”

Power Crisis

Ms Gloria Akuffo said there was a power crisis in the country during the period within which the agreement was concluded and a decision to proceed under single or sole source procurement process would be justified under Section 40 (b) of the Procurement Act.

The AG said in her opinion, the Ministry of Power under Kwabena Donkor, subsequently obtained ratification for the procurement upon application by the PPA on January 25, 2016, adding, “The otherwise invalid agreement was rendered valid when it was ratified by the board of PPA.

“In the absence of any default or breaches of any obligations on the part of AMERI as specified in the agreement, the government is obligated to make payments to AMERI on a monthly basis under Section 10(a) of the agreement and non-fulfillment of government’s payments would entitle AMERI to draw down on the Stand-by Letter of Credit of $51 million per Section 11 (i).”

AG’s Concerns

The AG said the legal effect of the Stand-by Letter of Credit issued by the Mahama administration to AMERI “is unfavourable to the government and overly favourable to AMERI.”

According to Ms Akuffo, “It gives AMERI the opportunity to call on the full $51 million after collecting the required payments under the BOOT Agreement, without having to give notice to the government, even when there is an invoice dispute between the parties.”

The AG said the government’s legal position would have been better protected if it had signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which would have enabled a proper risk allocation.

Financial Aspect

The AG further said that the government’s main complaint stems from the financial aspect of the BOOT and related Agreements, claiming, “Whereas the deferred payment facility agreement provides that the maximum total cost of the projects over the five-year term is approximately $360 million, the BOOT Agreement itself provides the cost of the project will be a minimum of $510, a significant difference of $150 million.”

Ms Gloria Akuffo asserted that the then government sat down for AMERI - a private entity - to assume a stronger bargaining position in all aspects of the agreement and the current government has no option but to follow what AMERI has to say because the agreement was freely signed between the parties.

Norwegian Newspaper

“Responsible officers of government executed the agreement amid calls by a Norwegian and members of the public of the exorbitant cost of the project. But neither the government nor parliament, which subsequently granted approval for the agreement, found it necessary to conduct any due diligence that may have resulted in a better deal for the government.”

RAWLINGS IS NOT GOD - KUFUOR RETURNS FIRE

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday May 30, 2018

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has replied his colleague former leader, Jerry John Rawlings, over what he described as very damning and unpalatable comments the latter made recently.

He pointed out that he (Rawlings) is not God to determine who should go to heaven and who should go to hell.

Mr. Rawlings, who was once a military ruler, had called two of his successors, Mr. Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama, ‘evil’ and ‘rogue’ respectively at a meeting with some chiefs from the Volta Region.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) founder appeared to run down his immediate successor (Mr. Kufuor) and his own NDC party member Mr. Mahama, in the presence of chiefs and elders from Mepe who had called on him to formally invite him to the final funeral rites of Mamaga Awusi Sreku II, queen mother of the Mepe Traditional Area.

Mr. Rawlings’ office later released a statement apologizing to his former colleagues for his ‘inappropriate’ comments.

“The former President apologises to former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama for the choice of words. He deems the words as inappropriate and withdraws them,” Kobina Andoh Amoakwa of the Communications Directorate of the Office of Jerry John Rawlings, stated.

However, Mr. Kufuor has not taken issues lightly and has responded equally to Mr. Rawlings’ utterances.

“The attention of former President John Agyekum Kufuor has been drawn to the publication of a very damning and unpalatable diatribe about him by former President Jerry John Rawlings and his (Rawlings’) subsequent withdrawal and apology for same in the last few days,” Dr. Kwabena Osei-Adubofour, Senior Aide to ex-President Kufuor, maintained in a statement yesterday.

The statement indicated, “However, despite the fact that President Kufuor accepts the apology, he wishes to make it clear that he has never divested any state property to himself or his family members.

“All the divestiture of state properties and enterprises that took place during his tenure in office was done legally and according to laid-down procedures, rules and regulations, and to the utmost benefit of the people of Ghana.”

The statement further stressed, “President Kufuor never tried to unduly influence the promotion or appointment into the security services, more so, based on tribe. Emphatically, in his government policies, he never used tribalism in serving the regions and tribes of Ghana. As to Heaven, it is only God, who decides who goes there or not.”

To another claim by Mr Rawlings, the statement asserted, “Finally, as to the creation of the medal of the ‘Order of the Black Star and Eagles of Ghana,’ President Kufuor believes that it’s the prerogative of the president of the state to make such a creation; and he as such did so as the exclusive title of presidents when they attain that unique office. President Nkrumah had created all the others upon Ghana attaining independence.”

KUFUOR NOT EVIL – RAWLINGS BEGS

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday May 29, 2018

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has shown remorse and apologized profusely for what political pundits have described as unsavory remarks he made about his colleague former Ghanaian leaders.

He described the recent comments he made against the former presidents as ‘inappropriate.’

He called former Presidents Kufuor and Mahama evil and rogue respectively.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings appeared to run down his immediate successor, John Agyekum Kufuor, and his own National Democratic Congress (NDC) member and former President John Dramani Mahama, in the presence of chiefs and elders from Mepe in the Volta Region, who had called on him.

They had gone to him to formally invite him to the final funeral rites of Mamaga Awusi Sreku II, queen mother of the Mepe Traditional Area.

Moral High Ground 

In the course of discussions with the delegation, Mr Rawlings, who is the founder of the opposition NDC, in an unprovoked fashion, reportedly described Mr. Kufuor as ‘evil’ and Mr. Mahama as a ‘rogue’ who destroyed the country.

He reportedly said, “I know with my integrity, when I die, I will go to heaven but when I see these corrupt leaders, I will ask permission from God and flog them.

“If they don’t leave heaven for me, I will go and leave the heavens and join Satan in hell, because I cannot stay in the same place with them.”

The former military leader claimed Mr. Kufuor sold some state-owned companies to foreigners and awarded himself with the ‘Grand Order of The Star and Eagle’ of Ghana.

Ewe Soldiers 

Mr. Rawlings also said former President Kufuor, during his tenure, tried to sideline Ewes in the military, adding that it came to a time when the force was looking for senior officers and enlisting 40 in every region.

“When it got to the Volta Region, they tried to substitute the well-known names with their own people, but when the list got to Burma Camp they did the right thing,” he claimed further.

Corruption Tag 

He turned his attention on Mr Mahama, describing the former president as a rogue who superintended over corruption.

Mr. Rawlings noted that during former President Mahama’s era, he personally negotiated for a project to be established at Vorlor in the North Tongu area of the Volta Region “but before I realised, some party executives had shared the land among themselves.”

He said people from the region had faithfully voted for the NDC on many occasions but they have nothing to show in terms of infrastructural development.

Public Concerns 

However, the office of Mr. Rawlings appears to have been inundated with concerns from the public over the harsh comments and subsequently issued a statement yesterday withdrawing the said comments.

“The office of former President Jerry John Rawlings wishes to inform the general public that the former President has taken due note of concerns raised over certain publications arising out of a meeting he held with a delegation of chiefs and elders from Mepe in the Volta Region last Tuesday,” Kobina Andoh Amoakwa of the Communications Directorate of the Office, stated.

“The former President apologises to former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama for the choice of words. He deems the words as inappropriate and withdraws them,” according to the statement.

LAWYER RAISES ISSUES WITH MAHAMA COMING BACK

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday May 29, 2018

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi in the Western Region, Andrew A. Mercer, has claimed that former President John Dramani Mahama is constitutionally barred from coming back to contest for the presidency.

The contention of the MP, who is a lawyer by profession, is likely to trigger a further debate as to whether the former president can contest again; but Mr. Mercer insists that the 1992 Constitution is clear on what Mr. Mahama can do in the circumstance.

Legal Challenges

Lawyer Mercer insisted that any such move by Mr. Mahama could be fraught with legal challenges as the constitution is clear on his eligibility as a former president, insisting that his interpretation of the constitution is that the former head of state does not have a chance of returning to the presidency.

“My understanding of Article 66 and 68 is that he’s barred from ever contesting the presidency again, but when you raise that conversation they are quick to say that you’re afraid of them; but these are express words of the constitution,” he told Starr FM in Accra last Thursday.

Term Limit

“The man has left office as president; the constitution doesn’t say that when you leave office after one term or two terms you have a right to contest twice, and my interpretation of those provisions is that, the two terms is a continuous term,” he explained, adding, “When you leave office your benefits that are not varied until you die are there in the constitution.

Mr Mercer said, “it’s clear under Article 68 but they say the constitution gives him two terms. He’s done one so he’ll go and chop all the benefits for 20 years if he so desires and come back to continue. In this case he’s coming back after four years. For me I say he has no right to contest.”

Facebook Declaration

Former President Mahama, after being humiliated at the polls on December 7, 2016, announced last week via Facebook that he was lacing his boots to contest again; but his comeback attempt is even starting another round of ‘serious infighting’ in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He had posted that he has ‘listened’ to the numerous ‘calls’ of the rank and file of the NDC and has accepted them and was ready to lead the party into another election in 2020.

Internal Opposition

Other NDC chieftains who have declared their intention to challenge Mr. Mahama are second deputy speaker of parliament, Alban Bagbin; former NHIS boss, Sylvester Mensah; former Trade and Industry Minister, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former UPSA Rector, Joshua Alabi and Kweku Rickett Hagan, former Central Regional minister.

Although he is the main contender to beat in the yet-to-be organized NDC primary to select a flag bearer for the 2020 presidential election, some of Mr. Mahama’s opponents within his own party are having issues with him over the declaration.

Mr Alabi for instance, has said among other things, that it would be too dangerous for the NDC delegates to give Mr. Mahama the nod for 2020 because in his view, he (Mahama) is scandal-prone and has corruption tag on him.

More Fire

Former Consul to Dubai, Daniel Osei, who has become a thorn in the flesh of Mr. Mahama, says it will be a disaster for the NDC to allow the former president to lead the party again as its flag bearer for the 2020 election.

Nii Amasah Namoale, former NDC MP, La Dadekotopon, insists that the opposition party cannot win the 2020 election with Mr Mahama as its standard bearer.

KWESI BOTCHWEY ENTERS NDC RACE

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday May 28, 2018

It is becoming increasingly clear that former Finance Minister under the JJ Rawlings’s administration, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, is gearing up  to contest for the position of flag bearer on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 presidential election.

DAILY GUIDE is reliably informed that Prof. Botchwey, who is Ghana’s longest serving finance minister, is fast catching the ‘eyes’ of the NDC founder - former President Jerry John Rawlings - who is believed to prefer any candidate apart from former President John Dramani Mahama.

Prof. Botchwey’s campaigners believe that presenting Mahama again for the 2020 elections will provide a great weapon for NDC’s opponents and that all the other aspirants are connected with Mahama in one way or the other, since they were in his government.

The aspirants who have so far made their intentions known are Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban K.S. Bagbin; former NHIS boss, Sylvester Mensah; former Trade and Industry Minister, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former UPSA Rector, Joshua Alabi and Kweku Rickett Hagan, former Central Regional Minister.

It is turning out that it was because of the ‘attempts’ by some NDC elders and the party’s cadres to float the candidature of Prof. Botchwey which allegedly has compelled Mr. Mahama to announce his comeback earlier than expected.

As a prelude to the announcement, Kwesi Botchwey is sharing a platform with the NDC founder at the June 4th Revolutionary Lecture Series on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

If confirmed, it will be the second time the economics and finance guru is trying to lead the NDC, the first one being in 2002 when he faced the late John Evans Atta Mills for the NDC slot to contest then President J. A. Kufuor, who was seeking a second term in office.

A source indicated to DAILY GUIDE that as one of the speakers, Prof. Botchwey is going to use the 2^nd edition of the Revolutionary Lecture Series - which forms part of activities marking the 39th anniversary of the June 4th 1979 uprising - as a prelude to the announcement of his interest in the NDC flag bearer race.

The lecture will be delivered under the general theme, “Revolutionary Economic Trends, Ghana In Focus: Past, Present And The Future.” It is being organized under the auspices of the Office of former President Rawlings.

According to DAILY GUIDE sources, Kwesi Botchwey has not hidden his interest to lead the NDC as he was said to have disclosed it to some members when he was charged to tour the country to collate views in connection with the NDC’s humiliating defeat in the 2016 general elections. He was made the leader of the 13-member committee which after the investigation, released a damning verdict on former President Mahama and members of his administration.

The Mahama camp has already started firing since it became clear that Prof. Botchwey could enter the contest, accusing him of skewing the Committee’s Report to suit his presidential ambition.

They are also ridiculing the camp of former President Rawlings who, they say, is now shopping for a candidate.

Mr Rawlings per se is reportedly keeping his cards close to his chest, but most party elders and cadres are in total support of Prof Botchwey because they believe he stands a better chance than Mr. Mahama since they say there is no corruption tag on him.

They are also pushing for the former finance minister because they claim the NDC stands on the threshold of unity, unlike Mr. Mahama who has been accused of ‘surrounding’ himself with the same people that led the party to lose the 2016 elections.

According to NDC sources, the cadres, especially are rooting for Prof. Botchwey because they suspect that another powerful faction in the party (Ahwoi brothers) is allegedly pushing former President Mahama to contest again to pave the way for them to get one of their brothers, who was a former minister, to serve as the NDC running mate for 2020.

Ex-President Mahama, in his Facebook announcement, had said that he had ‘listened’ to the numerous ‘calls’ of the rank and file of the NDC and had accepted them; and so was ready to lead the party into another election in 2020.

“To you the teeming supporters and sympathizers calling and requesting me to declare my intentions for the future, I wish to assure you today, that as a servant-leader, I have listened to your calls and reflected. I will not disappoint you even as we await the publication of the party’s guidelines for selecting a new leader,” Mr Mahama had posted.

 His comeback attempt, however, is starting another round of ‘serious infighting’ in the NDC.

EC BOSS MISSING IN COURT

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday May 28, 2018

The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, was missing last week when a case in which she has sued a lawyer for defamation was called at an Accra High Court.

It is unclear why the EC boss was not in court, but lawyer for Maxwell Opoku Agyemang the defendant, - who is leading some EC staff in the impeachment proceedings against Mrs. Osei - was present.

Defamation Suit

On July 25, 2017, Mrs Charlotte Osei sued Mr. Opoku- Agyemang for defamation after the lawyer had assisted some petitioners (EC staff) who were calling for the impeachment of the EC chair, to present a petition to President Akufo-Addo.

She had claimed that there were no petitioners from the EC who were calling for her dismissal, and that the defendant was only tarnishing her image.

She is pleading with the court to direct Mr. Opoku-Agyemang “to publish a retraction and an apology with the same prominence as the defamatory words on his Facebook page, as well as one publication in DAILY GRAPHIC.”

She is also seeking an injunction restraining the defendant and his assigns from authorising or causing to be published similar words against her.

She is further urging the court to award costs, including legal fees, and award general and aggravated damages against the defendant - Mr. Opoku-Agyemang.

In the suit, lawyer for Charlotte Osei, Thadeus Sory, argues that “the false and malicious publications by defendant has injured the image of plaintiff and brought her hard won reputation into hatred, ridicule, odium, discredit, contempt, opprobrium and reproach.”

She is therefore seeking among others, a declaration that “the statements that plaintiff is managerially and administratively inept” because plantiff has no respect for the organizational structure of the Electoral Commission, “has poor human relations not befitting of any leader in public space” has “unilaterally transferred District Electoral Officers perceived to be pro-NPP,” “…polarized the Commission along political lines” and disunited its members stated at paragraphs 11, 12, 13, 20, 21 and 26 of the petition attached to Defendant’s letter conveying the petition to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, are defamatory of plaintiff.”

Motion On Notice

After Mrs. Osei’s suit had been filed, the defendant, Mr. Opoku-Agyemang, filed a motion on notice through his counsel, Julius Opoku Agyei, asking the High Court to strike out the EC boss’ suit.

He, in the alternative, asked the court to grant an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain Thaddeus Sory and other lawyers from his law firm (Sory@Law) from further defending her in the matter.

“That Sory@Law is the law firm retained by the commission and Thaddeus Sory is the sole owner and head of chambers of Sory@Law,” Lawyer Opoku-Agyemang had submitted and insisted that the allegations in the petition sent to the President to order the Chief Justice to initiate impeachment proceedings against the EC boss put her in the performance of her duties at the EC and her personal interests against the interest of the EC and the Republic of Ghana.

He further argued that Mr. Sory had participated in meetings and was privy to happenings at the EC which he could use to prosecute the defamation suit against him (Mr. Opoku-Agyemang).

The applicant had said he would plead justification in the course of the hearing of the defamation suit against him, as well as the manner in which the services of Sory@Law were engaged and retained by the EC.

The applicant further said the engagement of the services of Sory@Law was part of the dispute in the petition and for that reason, it was imperative for the court to place an interlocutory injunction on the applicant.

Later Withdrawal

Later, Mr Opoku-Agyemang caused the withdrawal of the interlocutory injunction application filed against Mr. Sory for representing the EC chair; and the court, presided over by Justice Ackaah- Boafo, imposed a fine of GH¢4,000 against the lawyer.

Mr. Opoku Agyei, in his submission for withdrawal on behalf of his client, had said that the move became necessary because Mr. Opoku Agyemang had caused another lawyer to enter appearance on his behalf in the same matter in a different court.

However, Justice Ackaah- Boafo insisted that he was minded to grant the application because there was no rule that prevented him from doing same.

Main Case

Subsequently, Mrs Charlotte Osei, through her lawyers, filed for directions and Mr. Opoku-Agyemang’s lawyers appeared before the court for further deliberation, but the plaintiff and her lawyers were nowhere to be found in court.

Interestingly, the matter (petition to the president) for which the EC boss sued the lawyer for defamation, is being determined by a five-member judicial committee after the Chief Justice had established a prima facie case against her.

NDC CAN’T WIN 2020 WITH MAHAMA – NAMOALE

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday May 25, 2018

Nii Amasah Namoale, former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for La Dadekotopon, has insisted that the opposition party cannot win the 2020 elections with former President John Dramani Mahama as its flag bearer.

He said the NDC should try Professor Joshua Alabi because Mr. Mahama’s track record cannot secure victory for the NDC.

Namoale, a former deputy minister of agriculture in-charge of fisheries under the late Mills administration, was reacting to a recent declaration by Mr. Mahama that he was coming back to lead the NDC into the 2020 presidential election.

The former president, after being humiliated at the polls on December 7, 2016, announced over the weekend via Facebook that he was lacing his boots to contest again; but his comeback attempt is starting another round of ‘serious infighting’ in the NDC.

Even though he had always admonished his competitors not to peak against the ongoing reorganization of the party, he has taken to the social media to announce his readiness to contest for the position of president once again.

But his announcement did not surprise the teeming members of the party because it is an open secret that he would contest in the 2020 polls.

Other NDC chieftains who have declared their intention to challenge Mr. Mahama are second deputy speaker of parliament, Alban Bagbin; former NHIS boss, Sylvester Mensah; former Trade and Industry Minister, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former UPSA Rector, Prof. Joshua Alabi and Kweku Rickett Hagan, former Central Regional minister.

However, Nii Amasah Namoale, who is a staunch supporter of Prof. Joshua Alabi, is doubtful that the former president can win the next election for the opposition party.

He said on Angel TV on Tuesday, “If we bring him back it will be difficult for us. We will do our best but it is going to be very hard.

I am telling NDC rank and file, let us change him. Let us have a new leader; let us have a new flag bearer so that we will be able to win 2020.  

“The leader of the party should make sure things go on well. The leader should ensure that there will not be a disconnection between the seat of government and the party when we come to power.”

Nii Namoale rubbished the recent conference held by some MMDCEs who served under Mahama’s administration, trying to suggest that the former president was being opportunistic.

“How many times did he (Mr. Mahama) meet the Council of Elders? How many times did he meet the DCEs? Now that he wants to come back he is meeting former DCEs.

“When he was in government he didn’t meet DCEs. Rawlings did and Prof. Mills also did it,” Namoale fired, adding. “If he wins that will be fine; but he will not win. Prof. Alabi will win it,” he added.

Former Consul

Already, former Consul to Dubai, Daniel Osei, has lambasted Mr. Mahama saying it would be a disaster for the opposition NDC to allow the former president to lead the party as its flag bearer for 2020.

He said Mr. Mahama, who appointed him consul, does not have the ‘discipline,’ ‘focus’ or the ‘moral turpitude’ to be the NDC’s flag bearer for 2020, adding that  there’s no way Mr. Mahama, whose life has been characterized by indecision as he stated in his autobiography, can lead the party to victory.

“If possible, Mahama should not contest in the flagbearership as that will not be in the NDC’s interest,” Mr. Osei fired on Kasapa FM in Accra on Tuesday.

He said, “Mahama was not simply defeated by Akufo-Addo; he lost the Ghanaian electorate across board because his reign was terrible and his personality also didn’t help matters.”

The former consul added, “He gave deaf ears to issues raised by doctors and several other professional bodies. For the first time we lost the military and we started losing the military as early as 2014.”

Kidding Himself

According to Mr Osei, “Mahama is kidding himself if he says he’s coming back because the grassroots are calling for him. When he becomes our flag bearer he’s going to face the whole nation and these groups of persons are still there and they remember what he did to them.”