Metro TV reporter is Journalist of the year

Posted o: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 23, 2010
A reporter from Metropolitan Television, Samuel Agyemang defied all odds to become the youngest journalist ever to win the coveted Journalists of the of the Year award for 2009.

For his prize, Mr. Agyemang, 29, received a professional enhancement package of $28,000 equivalent to GHC42, 000 from Unilever Ghana Limited as well as a visit to the International Centre for Journalist (ICFJ) in Washington DC in the United States to have attachments at some renowned media houses, depending on his area of specialty.

It was all excitement at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra, as the GJA celebrated its 15th awards night under the theme “Unethical journalism and corruption in the media: A danger to democracy.”

Journalists who thronged the venue had the opportunity to celebrate the night with Vice President John Dramani Mahama, Aidan White of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and a host of other dignitaries. They were treated to sumptuous music by Abrantie Amakye Dede and his Apollo High Kings band.

In all, 33 awards were given to journalists and some media houses while five individuals who have contributed in the flourishing of the media landscape including Mr. Aidan White were given honorary awards.

Two journalists and the famous crack cartoonist, Akosua of Daily Guide and Business Guide picked three awards at the ceremony night.

This was an improvement over last year’s awards when the leading private newspaper in the country and number two on the sales market picked an award for best design newspaper.

The journalists are Emelia Ennin and Esther Awuah who collected a plaque and citations for being the best journalists in Environment and Small and Micro Scale Enterprises, respectively were among 33 others who were honoured at the wards night.

Akosua the unsurpassed satirist cartoonist picked the newly instituted award for cartoon, sponsored by the renowned industrialist, Akenten Appiah-Menka of Apino soap fame.

In addition each award winner will receive a laptop computer.
The award winners included: News Reporting TV – Portia Solomon (TV3), News Reporting Print – Francis Tuffour (Ghanaian Times), News Reporting (Radio) – Evans Mensah (Joy FM), Features (Radio)-Kingsley Obeng Kyere (GBC), Features (TV) – Samuel Agyemang (Metro TV), Features (Print) – Doreen Allotey (Daily Graphic) and Investigative Reporting - Peter Dela Tenge (Metro TV).

Others were: Sports Reporting – Maurice Quansah – (Daily Graphic), Arts, Entertainment and Domestic Tourism - Kofi Akpabli – Freelance, Photo Journalism – Gabriel Ahiabor (Daily Graphic), Business, Finance and Economic Reporting – Edward Nyarko (GTV), Small and Micro Scale Enterprises, Health Reporting – Lucy Adoma Yeboah – (Daily Graphic), HIV/AIDS Reporting – Gertrude Anka – (Ghanaian Observer), Development Journalism for advancing MDGs - Portia Solomon - (TV3) and Rural Reporting – Samuel Akapule – (GNA)

The rest were: Crime and Court Reporting – Kingsley Hope - (Ghanaian Times), Hygiene and Sanitation – Dzifa Azumah (GNA), Disability Reporting – Issah Shaibu – (GBC), Telecommunications – Samuel Dowuona (GNA), Anti-Corruption – Anas Aremeyaw Anas (New Crusading Guide), Education - Isabella Owusu-Oppong – (GTV), Features – Vicky Wirekoh Andoh – (Daily Graphic), Cartoonist – Akosua – (Daily Guide), Best Layout and Design newspaper – (Daily Graphic), Best Rural Radio Station – (Radio Peace -Winneba), Human Rights - Sunrise Radio (Koforidua), Democracy and Peace – (Citi FM), Best Radio Programme in Akan – Wo haw ne sen (Peace FM), Best Radio Programme in Dagbani – (Diamond FM, Tamale) and Best Radio Programme (Talk) - Kusum Gboo Obonu FM.

Vice President Mahama who stood in for President John Evans Atta Mills as the guest of honour commended the GJA for recognizing that there are still unethical practices and corruption in the media.

“The fact that the GJA has chosen this theme means that the media is willing to be accountable to the people with whom the ultimate power rests,” he said.

He cited misreporting, poor language, mercenary journalism and lack of objectivity as some of the challenges that the media needed to overcome and added that there was the need for journalists to close their ranks and weed out charlatans from among them.

The Vice President also complained about the rate at which the media displayed photographs of dead persons and others he considered obscene and also noted that the serial calling phenomenon was making it impossible for the public to judge what he called “real public opinion.”

“If we want to purge our journalism of the negative tendencies then we must be able to discuss issues affecting the profession. So much is expected from the media. Our work should be fair, credible and responsible.”

He also bemoaned what he called “partisanship in our public discourse,” adding “everything in this country is interpreted based on our political prejudices.”
Vice President Mahama said the media has been in the forefront of fighting for media freedom and urged the media to continue to hold public office holders accountable.

Aidan White who chaired the ceremony admitted that journalism was facing enormous challenges, saying “journalism is in profound crises”.

He said the media needed to reassess itself if it wants to continue to fight for democracy and development and added “the media has to set the highest standard of accountability and transparency. If journalists are corrupt democracy is fatally flawed.”

“We need to lead the struggle for tolerance, give equal voice to majority and minority as well as expose corruption especially in high places”.

The Minister of Information, John Tia Akologu said it was refreshing that the GJA has realized that unethical journalism has gone beyond what he called “perception stage” and said the time has come for journalists to name and shame errant colleagues.

He said the journalists cannot say that the GJA Code of Ethics has achieved its usefulness and said writing unethically has become the order of the day.

Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) said the GJA showed humility and courage in selecting the theme for the ceremony and said “in recent months there has been assault on press freedom.”

He called on the government to empower the commission with funds so that it will be able to promote freedom of expression and also ensure a free and responsible press.

Oumar Farouk, President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) called for improved condition of service for journalists in order to make them immune from corrupt tendencies.

Ransford Tetteh, President of the GJA said by promoting excellence in Ghanaian journalism “we are helping to further consolidate freedom of the press in Ghana and to get the Ghanaian media to remain the toast of lovers of democracy across the world.”

Don’t underestimate power of Media – MTN Boss

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 23, 2010
The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Brett Goshen, has said the media’s role in consolidating democracy should never be underestimated by any institution or body.

“The media has extreme and enormous power and its capacity and ability to promote democracy and ensure accelerated development is not to be underrated,” he explained.

Mr. Goshen was speaking at the 15th Ghana Journalists’ Association (GJA) awards ceremony held at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra on Saturday night.

The event which had MTN, a mobile telecommunication giant, as its major sponsor, had the theme “Unethical journalism and corruption in the media: a danger to democracy.”

Mr. Goshen said the media in Ghana was promoting human rights, expanding the frontiers of freedom and supporting accelerated development and encouraged the GJA to continue to strive for improved media and professional standards.

He said the Information Communication Technology (ICT) revolution had demystified the way modern communication was done and said it was helping the media to effectively monitor every society.

Mr. Goshen commended the GJA for admitting that there were still unethical challenges facing the profession and said MTN was committed to assisting journalists to improve upon their performance to bring about professionalism and improved media standards.

Commenting on the awards, the MTN CEO said “MTN is delighted to support and be a major part of this event because of the importance that we attach to the role of the media in the success of our operations as a leading telecommunication service provider in Ghana.”

He commended the GJA for expanding the breadth of awards to include nine new awards.

He said “we hope this year’s awards ceremony will deepen the media’s resolve to live by the ethics of the profession. This will also encourage all journalists to aspire to higher standards of integrity and professionalism in their quest to use information to build a prosperous and better society.

“We at MTN will continue to uphold our values of integrity and relationship-building with our media partners as we develop innovative products and services to meet the telecommunication needs of our cherished subscribers.”

He said MTN committed so much into the GJA awards ceremony because it recognized “the capability and can-do spirit of the media” and said MTN shared similar values with the media in shaping the society positively.

“MTN will pursue its partnership with the media to enhance the knowledge of the Ghanaian public in telecommunication technology and ICT in general which are important instruments for empowering people.”

Mr. Goshen also said the company would continue to live up to its social responsibilities by its foundation (MTN Foundation) to help in the acceleration of development of the country.

Atta Akyea cries foul

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 23, 2010
Ata Akyea, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has expressed concern about the way and manner in which Papa Joseph Adom, owner of J. Adom Limited, a construction firm, is using the media and the police to tarnish his reputation by avoiding to pay him his legal fees.

Mr. Akyea has been accused of professional misconduct by his former clients who are claiming that the MP misused more than GH¢230,000 whilst he was legal counsel for the company.

Managing Director of the company, Kwabena Arhin, also alleges the MP withdrew $60,000 from the company’s account to purchase a house at the Airport residential area in a fictitious transaction.

But a news release issued in Accra and signed by the MP said “the pathetic story of my former client who I have faithfully served for the past seven years, and who is now hell-bent to destroy my reputation is a book to be written, but I will simplify the issues and facts and let the court of public opinion judge.”

“There is documentary evidence that I have worked assiduously for Papa Joseph Adom, as I affectionately call him, who is the owner and the sole directing mind of J. Adom Limited. In all my dealings with Papa Joseph Adom, I have never made the acquaintance of anybody called Mr. Arhin.”

“It therefore comes to me as a complete surprise that the said Mr. Arhin, claiming to be Managing Director of J. Adom Ltd, has fed inaccurate information to the press in clear manipulation of confidential lawyer-client communication between Papa Joseph Adom and me,” he said.

Lawyer Akyea said “it is with a clear conscience that I state that the recent smear campaign via the press is a ruse by Papa Joseph Adom to avoid his just debts, as he has refused to be persuaded that the labourer is worthy of his hire.”

He said he represented Joseph Adom and J. Adom Ltd in diverse ways, citing cases such as suit No. AC 2/2003 between Engineers and Planners Ltd and J. Adom Ltd, and his legal fees were GH¢ 53, 460. 98 and USD62,069. 00,which Mr. Adom had not paid.

In another case, suit No. AC 19/2007, between Vivendi Construction Company Ltd and J. Adom Ltd, his legal fees were assessed at GH¢ 17, 781. 76 but it remained outstanding while in suit No. 145/2007, between J. Adom Ltd and Harry Sintim Aboagye, his legal fees were assessed at GH¢ 6,600 .00 and not paid.

In the suit No. 154/2007, between J. Adom Ltd and International Structures Group Ltd, the MP said his unpaid legal fees were GH¢ 7, 850 .14 adding “in the botched property sale of an Airport Residential Area building, I charged the very reasonable amount of USD 9, 500. 00 which is ten per cent of USD 95, 000. 00 which I saved J. Adom from paying to a swindler.”

“On Papa Joseph Adom’s instructions to cause the arrest of Joseph Krampa aka Joseph Amissah through the engagement of private investigators, the cost of the operation was USD 5, 000. 00,” adding “for undertaking negotiations with the respective solicitors for SIC and one Eric Defour in respect of the acquisition of a property adjacent to Papa Joseph Adom’s house at Ringway Estates, my fees are assessed as USD 5, 000.00”.

“Based on all the work I have undertaken for Papa Joseph Adom, as summarized above, the total fees owed me are in the sum of USD 81, 569. 20 and GH¢85, 692. 88. The cold refusal of Papa Joseph Adom to pay me my fair and just legal fee surprises me, and I do not recognize him from the man I slavishly worked for, for seven years without strictly insisting on immediate payment of fees when they fell due.”

He said Papa Joseph Adom cooked up a story to the police that “I have been keeping his monies without his knowledge, while leaving out the glaring truth that he owes me a whopping USD 81, 569. 20 and GH¢85, 692. 88 which he wants to avoid paying at all cost.”

He denied colluding with Krampa to rip off his accuser of USD 60, 000. 00 saying “it was Papa Joseph Adom who walked into my law office with Joseph Krampa to introduce him to me in connection with a house that Papa Joseph Adom wanted to buy at the price of USD 155, 000 .00 which seemed to me to be lower than such a house should go for.”

“I do not think it is fair for my client to use the police in the manner he did. The record shows that he was stampeding the police to prosecute me. He knew that my name mattered to me and my political standing was sensitive and priceless. My doors are still open for accounts unless the singular aim of a man I have shared deep professional confidence with is to use the powers that be, i.e. the press and the police, to destroy me.”

Stop attacks on judiciary – Dame

Posted on: www.dailyguidegahana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 23, 2010
Lawyer Godfred Yeboah Dame, has said the ‘undue’ and ‘unnecessary’ politicization of every issue in the country is fast threatening the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

“The judiciary has always robustly acceded to its independence but the unwarranted attack it is receiving from a section of the public is bringing the work of judges and the entire administration of justice into disrepute. This is affecting the democracy we are all seeking to build,” he explained.

Mr. Dame was speaking as a panelist on TV3 Current Affairs programme Agenda hosted by guest presenter Francis Ankrah and the topic discussed was whether or not Ghana’s judiciary is currently under threat.

National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr. Kwabena Adjei at a news conference on Tuesday to show solidarity with the beleaguered Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould-Iddrisu who has lost a number of high profile cases against former New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials accused the Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood and members of the bench of a “grand conspiracy” to ensure NDC lose cases in the law courts.

As a result Dr. Kwabena Adjei warned the NDC will “clean judges” if the Chief Justice did not take steps to do a house cleaning in the judiciary.

He had threatened, “We will clean it if they don’t take steps to clean it. We will clean it and let everybody everywhere blame us for interfering in the judiciary and we will take them on … at the right time, you will see how we clean it. There are many ways to kill a cat.’’

But the young lawyer said the “inordinate” suspicion of judges is coming from what he calls the “over politicization of issues” adding “the fear is unfounded yet some people spread it.”

“Any objective assessment of the judiciary will show that they are performing. Their decisions have advanced our democracy. Largely, they have performed above reproach.”
Lawyer Dame said in law there is nothing like a ‘political case’ and judges strictly apply the law to settle disputes adding they ensure that justice is done “even if heavens fall.”

He lambasted the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) particularly it National Chairman Dr. Kwabena Adjei for bringing the administration of justice into disrepute saying “it was a direct attack on the integrity and independence of the judiciary and he (Dr. Kwabena Adjei) must be taken on.”

“It was totally misplaced and unfounded. There is an appellate procedure to go through but he chose to advocate a radical method of disciplining the judges in a manner that offends the 1992 Constitution.”

He also said the current situation where lawyers from the NDC legal committee proffer advice particularly in the media on who should be prosecuted should be condemned adding “the situation where the NDC legal committee is usurping the powers of the Attorney General must cease”.

Victor Kodwogah Adawudu, a co panelist said the NDC National Chairman was ‘misconstrued’ by the media saying “it was public opinion and perception of corruption in the judiciary that informed Dr. Adjei to come out the way he did.”

He said he said the media also helps to put pressure on judges when they continuously spread rumours about corruption in the judiciary.

Mr. Adawudu said the independence of the judiciary is always guaranteed and that the judiciary is not under any threat.

Kwadwo Asante, Programme Officer of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana also a panel member said the forum used by Dr. Kwabena Adjei to address the ruling party’s grievances was wrong saying “he had the right to speak but the tone was worrying. We have a right to question the work of the judiciary but there is a certain way to do it.”

He advised the public not to assess the Attorney Generals’ success as only prosecuting political opponents saying “the AG should be seen to be helping to provide justice for all.”

Mr. Asante said the issue of bias on the part of the judiciary had only surfaced whenever the matter involves politicians saying “the judiciary has helped to consolidate the rule of law but they need to work hard to clear the perception of bias.”

Konrad Adenauer Foundation Gets New Director

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday August 20, 2010
Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF), one of the five German political foundations that promote the ideals of good governance across the globe, has appointed Dr. Gregor Ryssel, 43, as its new director in Ghana.

He replaces Mr. Klaus D. Loetzer, another German who spent five years coordinating the foundation’s activities in the country.

A release issued in Accra and signed by Isaac Owusu-Mensah, Senior Programmes Manager of KAF aka Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), said Dr. Ryssel served as a desk officer for KAS in 1994 in St. Augustin, Bonn in Germany and coordinated the activities of the foundation in Poland, Balkan and Baltic States.

He moved to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina and served as the country representative for KAS from 1996 to 2000, creating and organizing projects for the country and inviting foreign experts to intensify the relations Germany between Bosnia.

Dr. Ryssel served in Belgrade, Serbia from 2000 to 2002 as the country representative.

He helped that country to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and returned to Berlin Germany and served as a desk officer for the Middle East from 2003 to 2006, coordinating the project activities in that region.

Dr. Ryssel was appointed the country director of KAS in Uzbekistan from 2006 to 2009 where he operated from Tashkent and boosted relations between Germany and Uzbekistan.

He was the country Director for KAS in Kazakhstan where he operated from Astana.
Dr. Ryssel was the member of the board of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Potsdam and a member of the German-Uzbek Association in Germany.

He is very familiar with political situations in countries, particularly former Soviet countries.

KAS, which has been in Ghana for more than four decades, has supported economic and social reforms.

It strengthens the role of Parliament and creates platform for people to take part in the decision-making process and consensus building to accelerate decentralization as well as helping to strengthen traditional institutions.

Judges in danger...Warns Justice Kludze

Dr. Kwabena Adjei is the Chariman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday August 19, 2010
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei’s statement threatening judges of a possible ‘cleaning’ is receiving wide condemnation from the public particularly legal dons in the country, with Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association boycotting courts until further notice.

A retired Supreme Court Justice, Professor Justice A. Paaku Kludze, has warned that the threat should not be taken lightly as judges in the country may soon become targets of physical harm and killings just as it happened in the revolutionary regime of Rawlings.

“When a PNDC or an NDC man talks about cleaning the judiciary, you remember in 1982 that some of them were eliminated, physical elimination is one way of cleaning the judiciary,” he told Citi FM yesterday.

Justice Kludze said “when you use that word it can spread terror in the minds of some judges…I am afraid it is very frightening. It looks like we are going back to the days of Nkrumah or the PNDC.”

In the PNDC days, three judges and a retired military officer were abducted during curfew hours and burnt to death in the Accra Plains.

The NDC, at a press conference in Accra, on Tuesday, showed solidarity with the beleaguered Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould-Iddrisu who has lost a number of high profile cases against former New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials.

Dr. Adjei threatened the judiciary saying “we will clean it (judiciary) if they don’t take steps to clean it. We will clean it and let everybody everywhere blame us for interfering in the judiciary and we will take them on … at the right time, you will see how we clean it. There are many ways to kill a cat.’’

The NDC had accused the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, and members of the bench of a “grand conspiracy” to ensure NDC lose cases in the courts.

William Kissi Agyebeng, Criminal Law Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana said “it is sad for our democratic dispensation;” adding the statement by the NDC chairman “is unnecessary and has the tendency to put undue pressure on the judges.”

He asked “if as a government it cannot trust the decisions of the courts, then what do you think the ordinary Ghanaian will do?”

Mr. Agyebeng said the merits of a case determine the outcome and the NDC cannot come out to say that once the ruling did not favour them the judges were biased adding “to say that judges are biased towards you and have twisted the law, you have to prove it.”

Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has already sent warning signals to the NDC that Ghanaians would not sit down for them to “muzzle the judiciary.”

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE, Dr. Tamakloe, one-time Ghana’s Ambassador to Serbia said “the NDC should be rest assured that if they should persist in their disturbing attacks on the judiciary, right thinking Ghanaians will not sit down unconcerned.”

He said “it is incumbent on Ghanaians to come out in support of our judiciary failing which the NDC might succeed in its aim to emasculate it.”

“If President Mills is indeed committed to the rule of law as a learned jurist and President of Ghana, he must call back his attack comrades who are currently prosecuting an agenda of persecution against the judiciary.”

“President Mills’ action is required since the current NDC judiciary-bashing is symptomatic of the breaking out of the rule of law that Ex-President Kufuor recently observed,” he added.

Dr. Tamakloe said the NDC must engage in “soul-searching if it wants to understand its recent losses in court,” adding “thus far the NDC has engaged in politically-motivated, Soviet-style show trials, hence its losses in court. These are not driven by rational legal analysis but rather a determination to please party faithful and also pacify the wild and scurrilous allegations that the NDC made during the 2008 elections.”

He said “the NDC’s attacks on the judiciary including vitriolic interventions made by its party functionaries and government appointees show that indeed a Leopard cannot change its spots.”

In a related development a group calling itself Agona Youth Confederacy (AYC) has condemned the NDC and its National Chairman and called on President Mills to arrest him for putting the judges’ lives in danger.

A statement jointly signed by Kojo Quainoo, and Richard Cobbold, Chairman, and Secretary of the AYC respectively said “These comments are very serious and should not be treated softly or taken for granted, because we have had a bad precedent before: during the (P)NDC era where three Honorable Judges and a retired army officer were abducted and killed by members of the (P)NDC for exercising their constitutional duties. And now the constitutional administration of the same callous and heinous fraternity which is now called the National Democratic Congress has publicly threatened the judiciary in a sovereign state.”

The statement said “we want to assure the NDC that the events of the 80s and early 90s respectively, would not be countenanced in the 21st century. The NDC, especially its national chairman, should be held responsible if anything happens to our Honorable Judges.”

“We would further appeal to the Security Agencies to invite Dr. Kwabena Adjei and put him on notice, for if anything abysmal happens to the members of the bench he would be held responsible,” the statement said.



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MEDISHOP EXPO slated for September

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday August 19, 2010
THE SECOND International Medical and Pharmaceutical Exhibition, MEDISHOP EXPO 2010 to harness potential of the health sector for national development has been slated for September 23-25, 2010.

The three day event will be organized by the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners Ghana in collaboration with Shem Pharma Services Limited under the auspices of the Ministry of Health (MOH). It has a general theme: “The emerging oil and gas wealth in Ghana: environmental and medical challenges to our communities.”

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE in Accra on Tuesday, Humphrey Tetteh, Chief Operating Officer of Shem Pharma Services said “it is our objective to ultimately provide the most comprehensive database of suppliers and manufacturers to the health care industry as well as specialist service providers in the sector both locally and globally.”

He said: “we want to help promote the provision of quality healthcare by facilitating information dissemination and working closely with consumer-oriented medical professionals such as the Society of Private Medical & Dental Practitioners of Ghana (SPMDP), Laboratory Technologists Associations, the Ministry of Health Ghana and other key players in the industry.”

He said the MEDISHOP EXPO is seeking to provide a platform for health practitioners in both the private and public sectors to exchange ideas in order to reduce the high incidence of medical errors in health care delivery.

Mr. Humphrey said the event will also expose exhibitors to what he called “huge potential market made up of the over 70 percent of Ghanaians who are enrolled with the National Health Insurance Scheme.”

He said “bringing medical suppliers, hospitals, other health institutions and health policy makers together to deliberate on how to position the country’s healthcare delivery system is the best thing that will happen to the country.”

He said the time had come for policy makers to accelerate efforts to make health care delivery electronically and technology based adding “the computing systems have not been fully utilized to facilitate healthcare delivery in the country.”

“Technology has come to change how hospital business and healthcare services are done. There is now the electronic medical record system. We must work hard to facilitate the implementation of such laudable systems so that the health sector will be strengthened.”

“People are getting to know that they have a right to basic healthcare. We are now in a global village and we do not have the luxury of repeating mistakes any longer. We must know that the wealth of any nation is measured by the health of its people”.
He said issues will be discussed in a frank and dispassionate manner to get the best for the country.”

Christians demand transparency

Reverend Fred Deegbe is the General Secretary of the Christian Council, Ghana

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday August 19, 2010
THE CHRISTIAN Council, in collaboration with the Ghana Pentecostal Council, wants to empower the Christian community to demand accountability and transparency from government in the management of the country’s natural resources, particularly oil.

As a result, the two bodies with sponsorship from the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (GRAP) are outlining a series of educational programmes that will sensitize the public on how the oil find should be managed to bring accelerated development.

At a media briefing in Accra yesterday, General Secretary of the Christian Council, Reverend Fred Deegbe said “the time has come for ecumenical bodies and civil society organizations to let the public have greater understanding of the management of the country’s natural resources.”

He said a section of the public are having what he termed as “high expectation” of the oil find and it needs dialogue and consensus building to get such people to understand how revenue accruing from the oil should be used.

“In line with our prophetic roles we have formed this coalition to contribute to the development of our oil and gas industry and help bring equitable distribution in the industry,” he stressed.

Rev. Deegbe said they will be working closely with civil society organizations and lobby policy and decision-makers with the view to influencing policies regulating the industry.

He said oil discovery and production has increased “resource nationalism and corruption which has combined to make a few people fabulously rich and driven the majority into extreme poverty. That is why we must all work together to avoid that situation in Ghana.”

The oil industry, he observed, has supported many economies in the world, stressing that Ghana should not be left out once oil has been discovered in commercial quantities.

Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi of the Ghana Pentecostal Council said “we believe the church’s voice must be heard in the management of the country’s resources. We are an important development partner. If we intensify the education of our people we will be empowering them to question how the country’s resources are used for our benefit.”

“We have taken into consideration the rate at which the country’s gold, diamond, bauxite, timber, among others have been misapplied and we will continue to engage the government and all stakeholders over the use of the country’s resources so that we do not repeat the past mistakes.”

Kwabena Adjei Sends Red Alert...NDC To 'Clean' Judges..Many Ways To Kill A Cat, He says

Posted on" www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday August 18, 2010
‘‘People in the judiciary can make a very good case look very bad. If the judiciary is biased, if the judiciary has made its mind in one direction, not even Jesus Christ who was appointed as the Attorney General(sic) can change things. We will clean it if they don’t take steps to clean it. We will clean it and let everybody everywhere blame us for interfering in the judiciary and we will take them on. … at the right time, you will see how we clean it. There are many ways to kill a cat’’. - Dr. Kwabena Adjei, NDC Chairman.

It started with irate activists and foot-soldiers of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) calling for the heads of some judges in the country following recent series of legal defeats the President John Evans Atta Mills administration has suffered in the law courts.

Now, it is official. The leadership of the party led by its National Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei has endorsed the undemocratic acts, saying that the judiciary is “becoming politicised and biased in dispensing justice.”

The party has therefore decided to take the battle straight to the judges with threatening messages and inciting the party’s foot soldiers against the members of the Bench.

Dr. Kwabena Adjei, served notice that the executive arm of government could intervene and ‘save the image of the Judiciary’ if the Chief Justice does not act quickly to correct growing public criticisms that the Judiciary has increasingly become politically biased.

According to him some judges are fast losing credibility and therefore asked Chief Justice Georgina Wood, to intercede and reverse the trend otherwise the government could be compelled to intervene and save the image of the judiciary from sinking further, if the Chief Justice fails to fight what he sees as growing rot within the judiciary.

Dr. Kwabena Adjei said these in an interview with Citi FM yesterday soon after addressing a press conference in Accra to express outrage at recent court rulings which have all gone against the state.

The NDC boss asked members of the NDC who are outraged by recent court rulings against the state to redirect their anger at the Judiciary, instead of continuing to attack the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

But his attack has received equally harsh responses from legal brains who described the ruling party’s chairman’s comments as not only disgraceful but embarrassing.

According to Samuel Okudzeto, a former president of Ghana Bar Association (GBA), and Samuel Atta Akyea, MP for Abuakwa South, the comments by the NDC chairman were to effect undermine the very foundation of the constitution which President Atta Mills had sworn to defend.

Mr. Atta Akyea of Zoe, Akyea and Co, said it was a sad day for the country for the obvious intervention of the NDC in the judicial process.

The GBA, also in a statement, expressed concern about the unguarded comments by the public about the judiciary, asking the public to leave the judges alone to perform their duties.

In a statement issued in Accra and signed by Anthony Forson Jnr., PRO of the association noted that the criticism of judges should be carried out with utmost circumspection. “Criticise with decorum and not with venom,” it said.

Kwabena Adjei asked the foot soldiers to redirect their anger at the Judges instead of blaming the Attorney General and the party hierarchy. ‘‘Our party members are angry but we take the leadership decisions and they listen to us. We tell them that they should be patient and leave the A-G alone and they will do just that. Laymen are different from lawyers so from their perspective, it is because the cases are being lost, they put the blame on the Attorney General’’ he said.
 
At the press conference to state the NDC’s position on the recent Fast Track High Court’s decision on the Ghana @ 50 case, the party leaders accused the Chief Justice and the entire judiciary of “grand conspiracy” to ensure NDC loses cases in the law courts.

Reading a five-page statement which was titled “NDC news conference on the High Court decision on the Ghana @ 50 case and other issues” at the party’s headquarters in Accra yesterday, Dr. Adjei said “while the NDC remains committed to the rule of law for a better Ghana, we cannot help but take note of the growing perception and suspicion among the various segments of our society that the judiciary is becoming politicized and biased in dispensing justice.”

He said “we in the NDC wish to give the judiciary the benefit of the doubt and are convinced that there are men and women in the judiciary who are committed to maintaining the integrity of the law.”

He said “but it is pertinent to point to certain circumstances and events both before and after the coming into office of HE President Mills which cast doubts in people’s mind as to whether some members of the bench are committed to maintaining the integrity of the law.”

Dr. Adjei said “there are unfortunate rumours and allegations making the rounds that a leading member of the NPP has on weekly basis been having meetings with leading members of the judiciary for the purpose of aiding the defendants in cases affecting leading members of the NPP.

“There are those who believe these are not coincidences but may be linked to a grand conspiracy. In order to preserve the people’s faith in the independence and sanctity of the judiciary, we appeal to the Chief Justice to endeavour to take concrete and rapid steps to correct the growing public perception that the judiciary has become increasingly politically biased.”

The NDC warned that Dr. Wereko-Brobby, former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Ghana @50 Secretariat, and Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff in the erstwhile NPP administration, are still not free and would have to answer for the various roles they played during the 50th Independence Anniversary and the 2007 African Union Summit hosted by Ghana.

He added: “Following the High Court decision, the Chairman of the NPP, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and his cohorts have gone on a media propaganda rampage to create the impression that the discharge of Dr. Wereko-Brobby and Mr. Mpiani exonerates them from any wrong doing. This is completely false. The report of the Douse Commission and its recommendations still stand.”

According to the NDC chairman, the two men have caused “huge financial loss and must pay the appropriate penalty.”

Present at the news conference were Yaw Boateng Gyan (National Organizer), Anita de Souza (National Women’s Organizer), Richard Quashigah (Propaganda Secretary), Chris Ackumey (Member of the NDC legal team) among other party stalwarts.

Drama at Ya-Na trial

The late Ya Na Yakubu Andani II was the Overlord of Dagbon Traditional Area in the Northern Region of Ghana

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday August 17, 2010
The much talk-about trial of 14 people over the murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, chief of Dagbon, started on a dramatic note yesterday, when the trial was adjourned abruptly as the prosecution team suspected the judge, Mr. Justice Anthony Oppong of ‘bias.’

Matters came to a head when Rexford Wiredu, a Principal State Attorney prosecuting, shocked the court saying “the AG intends to object to the judge trying this case on the grounds of bias.”

As a result, Justice Oppong asked the prosecution to ‘formally’ file the application for the defense to respond so that the court could give a ruling on the matter and adjourned the case until August 23, 2010.

The police could not even bring the accused persons to the Fast Track High Court for the trial.

The only one who was present at the trial was Iddrisu Iddi a.k.a Mbadugu, believed to be in his eighties. He managed to appear before the court because he is currently on police enquiry bail but all the rest are still in custody.

Those committed by the Adjabeng District Magistrates Court presided over by Ms. Patricia Quansah to stand trial at the High Court are Alhaji Baba Abdulai Iddrisu aka Zohe, Kwame Alhassan aka Achiri, Mohamadu Abdulai aka Samasama, Sayibu Mohammed, Alhassan Braimah and Alhaji Mohammed Habib Tijani, 45, former District Chief Executive of Yendi during the NPP regime as 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th accused persons respectively.

The rest are Baba Ibrahim aka Baba Zey, Alhassan Mohammed a.k.a Mohammed Cheampon, Mohammed Mustapha, Sani Moro, Yakubu Yusif a.k.a Leftee and Hammed Abukari Yussif as 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th accused respectively.
So far it is Zakaria Yakubu aka Zakaria Forest, the seventh accused person who is still at large.

Phillip Addison, counsel for the accused, told the court that the defence got to know their clients were set for the court two hours before the trial.

Ms. Gertrude G. Aikins, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), reading the preliminary facts, said at the Adjabeng Magistrate Court “Zakaria Yakubu aka Zakaria Forest, the 7th accused person (now at large) was seen by witnesses in this case decapitating the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II near a kraal after he had been dragged there by Mahamadu Abdulai @ Samasama, 4th accused person and one other also at large. That the one who was at large is now the 12th accused person Shani Imoro.”

“Evidence will also be led to show that Alhassan Mohammed @ Mohammed Cheampon, Moro and others were seen with guns firing at the Gbewaa Palace on the 26th and 27th March 2002.

“Evidence will also be led to show that Abukari Nabeli, aka Kunkakums 14th accused person, held two used lorry tyres whilst Mustapha the 11th accused held a gallon of petrol. That the 14th accused person put the lorry tyres on the body of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and Mustapha, the 11th accused person poured the petrol on the body and set it ablaze.”

“That Yakubu Yusif aka Leftee 13th accused person was also holding a gun by the body. That Zakaria Yakubu aka Zakaria Forest (at large) the 7th accused person was seen with a Dorman Machine.

“That the 15th accused person, Abdul Razak Yussi,f aka Nyaa, was holding a camera and taking pictures of the scene. That, after all these, another group of men including the above led by Iddrisu Iddi aka Mbadugu came drumming, singing and dancing around the burning body,” the DPP said.

On page 34 of the NDC manifesto titled “Manifesto for a better Ghana 2008,” a portion headlined ‘Protecting the people’ promised to “Set up a new truly non-partisan professionally competent and independent Presidential Commission to re-open investigations into the murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and his elders in March 2002.”

Police need more than Single Spine

Professor Ken Agyemang Attafuah is a Criminologist and Lawyer

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 16, 2010
Professor Ken Agyemang Attafuah, a renowned criminologist and lawyer says the recent increase in salaries of police personnel will not automatically lead to improved security in the country.

He said “security will enhance if apart from the increased remunerations, police personnel are given all the necessary accoutrements and equipment to be able to combat crime effectively and also maintain peace and order.”

About 23,000 personnel of the Ghana Police Service reportedly witnessed substantial increases in their July pay following the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) and most people are of the view that once conditions of service is becoming better the police have a binding duty to ensure total public safety.

The Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye, interacting with the Implementation Committee of the SSSS at the Police Headquarters had said “personnel of the Police Service have been astounded by their pay-slips for July 2010. Most are still coming to terms as to whether it is a one-off event, a mistake by the payroll office, or a real commitment by government to implement a salary regime that adequately compensates them for their efforts".

"Majority of personnel would now be free from the severe and unbearable financial constraints that used to confront them on daily basis, a situation which used to impact negatively on their performances."

"The SSSS would create a more relaxed mental environment that would enable personnel to be more dedicated towards work and enhance their productivity in the long run. Personnel now know that, their efforts are now being significantly and appropriately rewarded," he added.

Public Affairs Director of the Police Service, Superintendent Kwasi Ofori said that the increase in emoluments would boost the morale of personnel and engender discipline and professionalism in the service.

But in an interview with the Daily Guide in Accra on Friday, Prof. Attafuah, Executive Director of Human Rights Institute noted that “we cannot continue to expect so much from the police if we do not work hard to improve their general condition, training accommodation and their mobility.”

“They need other tools and facilities to work with. It is only when we do that we can have legitimate basis to challenge their performance.”

He said that the increase in emoluments is a step in the right direction adding “it will further motivate those personnel who are already committed to high ethics and high performance.”

Prof Attafuah said “there are police officers who before the introduction of the SSSS were decent, highly ethical and hardworking. This will constitute a significant boost to their moral and motivate them to even greater performance.”

He regretted that there are “a crop of police officers who have become inordinately addicted to bribe taking and other corrupt practices”, adding “for such people increased remunerations may mean very little and may not make a dent in their bribe taking behaviour.”

He said once the police officers are now getting improved remunerations, corruption as he put it “can reasonably be expected to go down because they will not be lured by petty bribes that are given to them.”

“The performance of police officers is a combination of many things. The public should take into consideration their level of training, the logistical support, the corporation they enjoy from the public and the validation or affirmation they receive from their superiors.”

He said it will take a while for the new SSSS to alter the material circumstances of police officers.

NDC chases judges

Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood is the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday August 13, 2010
Irate activists and some senior members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have turned their anger on the judiciary over the abysmal performance of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould–Iddrisu, in the face of recent series of legal defeats that have been trailing her.

Following the defeats suffered by the NDC government in court in their bid to jail some New Patriotic Party (NPP) members, the NDC members led by their National Women’s Organizer, Anita de Souza in particular, have made scandalous statements that seek to incite the party’s foot soldiers against the entire judicial administration of the country.

Ms. De Souza, as a panelist on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, yesterday, openly attacked Chief Justice Georgina Wood and Justice Samuel Marful-Sau of the Court of Appeal, the judge who stopped the NDC government from prosecuting Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby and Kwadwo Mpiani, President Kufuor’s former chief of staff, for their roles in the Ghana @ 50 celebrations.

Anita said they had a list of judges who they knew “are pro-NPP” and called on the President to remove them.

She claimed the judges were thwarting the efforts of the NDC government to prosecute NPP appointees who were perceived to be corrupt.

Another panelist, whose name was given as Eben, from the Office of the President, said Justice Anin Yeboah of the Supreme Court was pro-NPP and went on to castigate judges for sabotaging President Mills and the NDC government.

Kwadwo Twum-Boafo, the defeated NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon and acting Executive Secretary of the Free Zones Board, also called into the programme describing the judiciary as “activists’ judiciary.”

He said “They have tilted the balance of power to one particular party. They are using technicalities to throw away NDC cases.”

Twum-Boafo said the Chief Justice was rewarded with her current position by Ex-President Kufuor adding “the NDC government must sit up. Government for all is not working. If it is not careful it will be removed for what it did not do.”

Already, some pro-NDC newspapers have started accusing Anthony Gyambiby, the Chief State Attorney who handled Dr. Wereko-Brobby and Mr. Mpiani’s case, of being in bed with the NPP.

According to the NDC activists, Mr. Gyambiby, who was brought back from the Eastern region, was now doing the biddings of the NPP, citing his comments on the ruling as an affront to the ruling party.

Mr. Gyambiby had said “this is a well reasoned ruling. It goes to confirm that rule of law and democracy is deepening in Ghana.”

Kofi Adams, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and aide to Jerry Rawlings, had also said he believed some elements within the Attorney-General’s Department had been sabotaging Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, which had resulted in the loss of several high-profile cases.

Mr. Adams, who was not willing to give out names, claimed “the authorities who are supposed to act know” those he is intimating, adding that the unnamed persons were “making sure that they do not succeed”.

The NDC Deputy General Secretary said in order for the government to win high-profile cases, its representatives would have to act. “If they do not act, then what is happening will continue to happen”.

On Dr. Wereko-Brobby and Mr. Mpiani’s case, Mr. Adams said “I am convinced that there were massive acts of corruption and it is the responsibility of government and, therefore, the Attorney-General’s Department to prosecute the offenders.”

A member of the NDC legal team, David Annan, confirmed Mr. Adams assertion, adding that the Attorney-General’s Department was already “stocked and filled” with personnel supposedly aligned to their political opponent.

Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Information, according to Joy FM, asked both the NPP and the NDC commenting on the issue to exercise restraint and avoid politicisation of such cases.

Ga Chiefs condemn Homowo ban

Nii tackie Tawiah III is the Ga Mantse

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday August 13, 2010
The Ga Traditional Council says it was never consulted by anybody before the Greater Accra Coordinating Council released a circular purporting to restrict this year’s Homowo celebration of the Chiefs and people of Ga.

A news release issued in Accra yesterday and signed by Nii Dodo Nsaki II on behalf of the council said “the Ga Traditional Council comprises of chiefs of the seven quarters of Ga Mashie and those of Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua and Tema. The council wishes to protest and condemn that circular in no uncertain terms.”

The release said the chiefs as custodians of the Ga land were not consulted before the circular was sent to the media adding “Ga Mashie is not the only flash point in chieftaincy matters in Ghana.”

“Even in areas where there are shootings and bloodshed the people celebrate their annual festivals without interference whatsoever,” the release said.

It will be recalled that on Monday August 9, 2010 the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council issued a circular restricting the forthcoming annual Homowo festival to designated areas.

The restriction was contained in a press statement signed by Fats Nartey, Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council on behalf of the Greater Accra Regional Minister.

The Regional minister has directed that the festival be restricted to only family homes where there are no disputes.

The sprinkling of “Kpoikpoi” the directive went on should also be done in such family homes and not extended unto the streets at the trouble spots.
Persons the minister referred to as malcontents should not be allowed into any of the palaces or the stool rooms.

According to the release the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander has been requested to monitor the celebrations to ensure that peace according to the minister prevails in the region, saying “the due process of law should be made to take its course to ensure that peace and harmony prevail during the celebration and any person who flouts the law should be dealt with in accordance with the dictates of the law.”

The Minister said “the government will not sit down for anybody to take the law into their own hands and that the security services have been put on full alert to deal with any malcontents according to law.”

The annual festival has been marred with what has been described by interference of people with vested interests in the Ga chieftaincy affair.

Volta NDC Youth whacks Mills

Alhaji Bello Misbaw is a leading member of the Concerned Volta Youth.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

William Yaw Owusu

Thursday August 12, 2012
IT APPEARS all is not well with President J.E.A Mills and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

A group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Volta Region has also entered the fray taking a swipe at the president for neglecting former President J.J Rawlings, founder of the NDC and the man who made him who he is today.

They are threatening to withdraw their support for the NDC if President Mills does not take steps to see to the needs of the former President.

A news release issued in Accra and jointly endorsed by Alhaji Bello Misbaw (Spokesperson), Kennedy Amewu (Secretary) and Dzila Tsikata (Organizer) titled “Maltreatment of HE JJ Rawlings by the Mills Administration” said “we, the Concerned Youth of Volta Region have observed with utter dismay and shock the maltreatment that our beloved former President H.E .Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the National Democratic Congress and his family are going through at the hands of his own NDC government led by HE Professor JEA Mills.”

They said “we want to state categorically that we are not happy about the maltreatment being meted out to our former President whose toil the current Mills administration are enjoying and we have resolved to use any legitimate means to protect the legacy of our founder.”

The release said “since the NDC government came to power we have not seen any step taken by President Mills and his appointees to appreciate the man whose fruit of labour the government is enjoying now. All we see from the government is a strenuous effort to glorify Kwame Nkrumah and his CPP instead of finding ways to build a solid NDC for the future by concentrating on the remarkable path created by HE JJ Rawlings.”

It continued: “Currently what is going on in the Volta region is that some natives in the region from the Presidency are going about polluting the people that our former President is frustrated and that people should not take him seriously. This is unacceptable and we are ready to lay our lives down to protect the integrity of our founder. In fact we are prepared to face squarely anybody who goes around any part of the country to spread this unfounded and wicked propaganda.”

The release said JJ Rawlings is an experienced leader and knows what he is about adding “He does not speak for the sake of it. He speaks with wisdom. Whatever he says is to the benefit of President Mills and his government and for the Better Ghana Agenda to be realized.”

“Is it not a fact that people are becoming disillusioned about the Better Ghana Agenda? And when he tries to help for it to be achieved some people in the NDC and those on the outside who do not want to see the party progress for selfish and parochial interests try to castigate him.”

“His accommodation issue is still in limbo and those in the government do not seem to care. They only sit in their comfort and make outrageous statements.”

“We would like to tell those who are having infantile feelings that the NDC as it is now can win an election without our founder and his spouse had better go back and rethink this because they know it will be extremely difficult or impossible for that to happen,” the statement said.

“We want to tell them that if they feel the kitchen is too hot for them they can leave the party. We want them to know that if they leave today they will not be able to take even one per cent of the party’s members away. They should find out from all those who left the NDC.

The group also served what it called a “final notice” to Omane Boamah, Haruna Iddrisu, Inusah Fuseini, Alhaji Iddrisu Bature and others “to render an unqualified apology to our founder for trying to bring the former first family’s name into disrepute otherwise we will withdraw our support for the Mills administration in the region.”

“We also want to make it clear that if they want to hoard money and think they can use it to buy our conscience then they must be dreaming. This is because Ghanaians are now mature democratically and nobody can use money to buy anybody’s conscience any longer.”

“The hypocrites around the President are too many. There are a lot of stomach politicians too. They did it when former President Rawlings was in office and they are doing it to President Mills. We are reminding the President that when he becomes a former President he will understand what we are talking about,” the group added.

AFAG SERVES NOTICE

Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG)is a political pressure group in Ghana.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday August 12, 2012
Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has given the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) two weeks ultimatum failure of which it says “the PURC should be responsible for the embarrassment our actions may bring to Government.”

At a news conference in Accra yesterday to denounce what it calls “astronomical increases in utility tariffs which has brought untold hardships to Ghanaians”, Abu Ramadan, a leading member of AFAG said “we regret the inability of the PURC to review downwards utility tariffs in spite of the Presidential directive and continuous calls on Government and the PURC by civil societies, employers (Association of Ghana industries etc), labour & trade unions.”

He said “AFAG finds this defiant posturing of PURC rather strange, unfortunate and one daring enough to elicit a sustained embarrassment to the Government.”
“We stand by our earlier submission that, any such increases in utility tariffs must be commensurate with good services and more so not at a time that the purchasing power of the Ghanaian is quickly eroding and the real value of worker income is nothing good to write home about.”

“Indeed, if the PURC justified increases in tariffs based upon the levels of depreciation of the cedi and average inflation rate, where lies the justification for tariff increases as inflation keeps dropping?”

Abu Ramadan said AFAG believes that, the current threat by employers to lay off over 60, 000 workers is “a real threat to the socio-economic stability of the system and this must not be taken for a prank.”

“Households are facing great difficulties contending with their bills and we can say for a fact that, there is a measurable challenge facing the economy of petty traders i.e. ice water sellers, car washing bays, chop bars, soft drink retailers, domestic appliance retailers etc.”

He said AFAG holds the opinion that, the Ghanaian can no longer be burdened for the luxurious provisions, system inefficiencies and capital management flaws of the Volta River Authority (VRA).

“Whilst we welcome the installation of pre-paid meters at the various MDAs, AFAG on behalf of the good people of Ghana is demanding from the VRA to make public its 2009 audited Financial Statement.”

AFAG called on the PURC to organize a consumer forum as a matter of urgency for deliberations on utility tariff increases in the country.
He also said AFAG will communicate to the public their next line of action within two weeks.

Tarzan, Mpiani Freed

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

Dr. Charles Wereko Brobby and Mr Kwadwo O. Mpiani were standing trial for causing financial loss to the state

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday August 11, 2010
An Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday stopped another NDC attempt to prosecute Dr. Charles Yves Wereko-Brobby aka Tarzan and Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani for causing financial loss to the state in the matters of Ghana@50.

The court held that the Attorney General’s attempt to prosecute the two men “would lead to judicial absurdity”.

In his ruling, which lasted an hour and nine minutes, Mr. Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, Court of Appeal judge, described the Attorney General’s action as “unconstitutional” and said the action was an “abuse of the AG’s powers under Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution.”

The court said the prosecution of Dr.Wereko-Brobby and Mr. Mpiani was based on the white paper issued by the government after the Ghana @ 50 Commission of Enquiry report adding that the Constitution frowned on any attempt to mount criminal proceedings against any person who testified before a Commission of Enquiry and the prosecution was based on adverse findings of that Commission.

The judge said the essence of a Commission of Enquiry was to afford the President the opportunity to establish an independent body to investigate any wrongdoing and make adverse findings. Once the President went ahead to issue a White Paper, the findings became a judgment of a High Court.

“If the intention is to prosecute public officials then the way to go is not to use findings of a Commission of Enquiry. The state is at liberty to use the traditional way of prosecuting public officials so that the AG can exercise the powers rightly,” the presiding Judge said.


The latest ruling has dealt a big blow to National Democratic Congress (NDC) government as it makes strenuous efforts to fulfill their campaign promise of prosecuting New Patriotic Party (NPP) appointees and sympathizers under the Kufuor administration.

Within a week, the government has suffered major losses in the court in its attempt to cage NPP people to satisfy its supporters. The opposition has always maintained that the charges preferred against it are politically motivated.

It started with the acquittal and discharge of Zulieka Asamoah-Boateng, wife of Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, former Minister of Information, by an Accra Circuit Court on August 4, 2010. An ace actress, Grace Omaboe, aka Maame Dokono, was also freed two days after Zulieka by another Circuit Court.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby, a former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Ghana @50 Secretariat and Mr. Mpiani, former Chief of Staff in the NPP administration and Chairman of the National Planning Committee for the celebration were put on trial for the various roles they played during the 50th Independence Anniversary and the 2007 African Union Summit hosted by Ghana.

In reaction, the two NPP stalwarts filed separate motions that the charges against them by the state “are a violation of their constitutional right under Articles 278 (1) (a) and 280 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) of the 1992 Constitution.” The state insisted the two men had a case to answer in the Ghana @ 50 celebrations.

The court said since the 1992 Constitution made it clear that the Ghana @ 50 Commission of Enquiry report was a judgment of the High Court, it is impossible for the court to review its own judgement saying “by the time the prosecution initiated these proceedings, the finding was already a judgement of the High Court.

“This trial will amount to a High Court evaluating its own judgement, a duty reserved for the Court of Appeal. This court has no jurisdiction to review the Commission’s findings since it is the work of the Court of Appeal.

“Even though the AG has the powers to prosecute under Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution, going by the same constitution, the AG is not required to take any step to initiate criminal proceedings against the applicants since the prosecution is being mounted based on the Commission’s report,” Justice Marful-Sau said.

The court held that the constitution guarantees the right of appeal to persons who a Commission of Enquiry has made adverse findings against and since Dr. Wereko-Brobby and Mr. Mpiani were no exception, “the absence of court rules to regulate the commission does not take away their right to appeal. The persons affected by the adverse findings should have the right to appeal.”

The Judge said the prosecution’s action violates defendants’ fundamental rights under the Constitution. “The findings of the Commission should not develop into a criminal trial. What the prosecution is seeking to do is unconstitutional.”

The court said the terms of reference of the Ghana @ 50 Commission of Enquiry were clear that the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat was the subject matter and not Dr. Wereko-Brobby or Mr. Mpiani, adding that the two men were there as witnesses and could not have been the subject matter.

“The AG is legally wrong to mount this prosecution. I will sustain this application and discharge them accordingly.”


Justice Marful-Sau quoted Acts 25: 8-12 to buttress the point that Dr. Wereko-Brobby and Mr. Mpiani should be allowed to exercise their right to appeal against the Commission’s findings.

When the judge concluded his ruling, Anthony Gyambiby, Chief State Attorney who was to prosecute the case said “this is a well reasoned ruling. It goes to confirm that rule of law and democracy is deepening in Ghana”.

For his part Akoto Ampaw, counsel for Dr. Wereko-Brobby said “this should inform the AG’s office that we must always try to follow the dictates of the constitution.”

Yoni Kulendi, representing Mr. Mpiani added “we are extremely grateful. This is a very useful guidance for us as a society”.

After the proceedings, some sympathizers of the two NPP men jubilated and gave thanks to God amid pouring powder on an elated Mr. Mpiani to signify victory.

Okudzeto Ablakwa exposed

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is a Deputy Minister of Information in Ghana

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wedneday August 11, 2010
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Michael Omari Wadie has called on Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a deputy Minister of Information to be humble enough and admit that he benefited from key NPP members when he was a student at the University of Ghana Legon.

Mr Omari Wadie, a former Chairman of the Ayawaso West Wugon Constituency who made the call claimed he personally led Mr. Ablakwa to solicit for funds from some NPP ministers and sympathizers when the deputy minister was vying to become the President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).

The former NPP chairman stormed the offices of Daily Guide in Accra yesterday to protest what he called “Mr. Ablakwa’s lies”.

According to him he heard the Minister interrupting a live radio discussion programme to say he had never benefited from Ex-President Kufuor and his NPP regime after a panelist, Samuel Awuku of the NPP made a comment to the effect that Mr. Ablakwa “cannot bite the finger that fed him”

He said “Mr. Ablakwa’s claim that he never benefited from the NPP cannot be true because I personally took him to various NPP members including high profile Ministers for him to solicit for funds for his NUGS campaign.”

He said “I was the chairman of the NPP in the constituency where University of Ghana is located and when Martin Agyei Mensah then TESCON president introduced him to me, I supported his efforts by making sure he got some funds.”

Mr. Wadie claimed that the Deputy Minister had said he was a close relative of Mrs. Agnes Okudzeto, a former NPP National Vice Chairperson adding “because he mentioned our Vice Chairperson’s name I was willing to help. I felt he was one of our own.”

The former NPP Chairman mentioned former Ministers like Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, Francis Poku, Dan Botwe, O.B. Amoah, and the late Kwasi Ankamah, MP for Atiwa as some of the NPP stalwarts that supported Mr. Ablakwa financially to become NUGS President.

Other NPP members mentioned included Paul Afoko, Steven Amoah, Adu Gyamfi; one Amoakohene who he said printed Mr. Ablakwa’s posters and gave some money.

“He cannot come today to say he never benefited from the NPP for his political expediency. He fell out in our books when we got to know that he had collected money from Former President Rawlings. We felt he was playing double game.”

“He can never stand anywhere to deny that he never benefited from the NPP under President Kufuor.”

Police cover up NDC man’s assault case

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday August 11, 2010
THE POLICE in Anyaa, a suburb of Accra stand accused of doing selective justice following a reported case of assault on a media practitioner by a man said to be a die-hard supporter of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The suspect, Kwasi Nyame an auto mechanic in his early thirties is said to have slapped Eddie Owusu Afram of Pink FM, a Kasoa-based radio station when the Mr. Afram pleaded with him to stop using abusive language on Ex-President Kufuor but when the case was reported to the police in Anyaa, the officers there have allegedly made no serious effort to apprehend the suspect.

Narrating his ordeal to the DAILY GUIDE in Accra over the weekend, Mr. Afram said the incident occurred at Ablekuma Pentecost Junction on June 13, the day Ghana played against Serbia at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when he had gone to a popular bar called Julie’s Spot to watch the match.

“When I got there Kwasi Nyame had bought kenkey and soup was eating and but was nevertheless engaged in a heated argument with other customers,” he said.

“He was shouting at the top of his voice repeatedly and I heard him say that Ex-President Kufuor is the most stupid president ever to have ruled Ghana.”

“I then told him to calm down since it was a day for every Ghanaian to rally behind the Black Stars to beat Serbia. That’s when he stood up and gave me a hefty slap smearing the kenkey and soup in my face,” Mr. Affram explained.

“Three days later, I reported the matter to the Anyaa Police and two plain-clothed policemen were detailed to arrest him. Upon reaching his workplace however he told the policemen that he slapped me because I spat into his food”.

He said instead of the police arresting Kwasi Nyame, they rather asked him to report himself to them at Anyaa.

Mr. Afram claimed Kwasi Nyame goes about in the area boasting that he had already seen some big people at both the NDC and Police headquarters to get the case dropped.

He has also allegedly claimed that the Ga South Municipal Chief Executive, Sheriff Dodoo had contacted the Anyaa Police in connection with the case while an NDC executive member in the area had also been there with Kwasi Nyame.

When contacted, the detective in charge of the case whose name was only given as Opata confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that a case of that sort had been reported to them but denied that the police were not prepared to apprehend Kwasi Nyame.

Asked why it has taken the police about seven weeks in arresting the suspect the detective said “we are still investigating the case. We have asked him to bring his witness after which I can forward the report to my Boss.”

Alan others, pledge support

Nana Akufo-Addo has been elected as the flagbearer of the NPP for the second time.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu
Even before the Electoral Commission (EC) declared Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as winner of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer contest, all the aspirants conceded defeat and pledged their unflinching support for the new flagbearer to ensure a resounding victory for the NPP in December 2010.

The Efua Sutherland Children’s was bustling with activities when three of the four losing aspirants namely, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Isaac Osei and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen made the solemn pledge amid jubilation by party supporters who had thronged the venue to witness the declaration which many political scientists have hailed as the best thing ever to have happened to Ghana’s democratic process.

John Kwame Koduah, a Kumasi based lawyer and Evangelist a fifth contestant was not at the grounds but was said to have sent his congratulatory message to Nana Akufo-Addo according to the National Youth Organizer, Anthony Karboo.

Among the high profile personalities of the NPP family that came around to witness the momentous occasion were former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his Vice Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng who was the first to declare his support for Nana Akufo-Addo looked shell shocked at the trend of voting and his demeanor showed clearly he had been overtaken by events.

With a quavering voice, he said “I am not ashamed to lose to Nana. I congratulate him for the resounding victory,” adding “I will be available for him during the 2012 election”.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng had earlier expressed shock about his performance, querying where the figures were coming. “The figures are strange”, he had told Joy FM.

Then came Isaac Osei who said “today marks the coronation of the transformation of our party into a modern democratic party. Nana Akufo-Addo achieved a formidable result. It is evident that our party battle-ready for 2012.”

He said “now that the contest is over and we should all support him to be victorious in 2012. I will be available with whatever I have to make sure Nana becomes the next President of this country.”

For his part, Alan Kyerematen, one of the front-runners who was tipped to give Nana Akufo-Addo stiffer competition said “I wholeheartedly accept the verdict of the delegates and concede to my brother and friend Nana Akufo-Addo.”

“We have proved to everybody that democracy is within the NPP. I wish to assure him of my full support,” he said, adding “I urge all my supporters to work tirelessly to make Nana the next President.”

Aviation industry not gold mine – GCAA Boss

Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey (Rtd.)is the GCAA Boss

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 9, 2010
The Director –General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey (Rtd.) says running an airline business is a “high risk and non-profitable venture” that needs courage and determination to run it.

“Countries, organizations and individuals are in the airline because of sovereignty, national pride and prestige. If we go into profitability, then probably there will be very few airlines that can stand the test of time.”

Air Cdre Mamphey was speaking at a forum organized by the GCAA in collaboration with the League of Aviation Journalists Ghana (LAJG) to sensitise media personnel on the need to report accurately in the aviation industry.

The forum, a first of its kind under a general theme “Ghana Civil Aviation in perspective” forms part of the GCAA’s effort to open the aviation industry to the public through the media.

Air Cdre Mamphey said the aviation industry has transformed tremendously and the GCAA is positioning itself to be able to meet the challenges in the industry saying “risks and safety management systems are crucial for us and every stakeholder has to be involved in reducing risks in the industry.”

He said “aviation is a high risk venture so it needs to be highly regulated with stringent policies and measures” adding “the industry is going in a direction where every activity has to be licensed.”

He said that there is no what he calls ‘let me try and see’ attitude in the aviation industry and noted “everything has to be done with precision.”

Air Cdre Mamphey said it is in the interest of the airline operators to ensure that there are no accidents because anytime that happens it affect the industry tremendously and that particular airline stands the risk of folding up.

He said the GCAA had been facing challenges with the international airlines in the payment of bills but they recently signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to collect the debt for them.

He also said IATA will be running training courses for players in the industry saying “we want to bring back the training of staff and other collaborators. Next year we will be active in this area.”

The GCAA Boss further said the oil boom is attracting a lot of international airlines into the country adding “we should not restrict airlines from operating from here if they meet our requirements. Let them come and the market forces will determine who will survive.”

He said the GCAA is working hard to bring Ghana into category one in the industry.”

JJ Is Loose Cannon...CPP Hits Back At NDC

Flt Lt JJ Rawlings is a former President of Ghana


Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday August 6, 2010
General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, says if the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is looking for a mole they should look no further than the founder of their party, Jerry John Rawlings.

“If criticism is the yardstick by which NDC determines what a mole is, then the real mole the NDC should be concerned with is their own loose canon; founder Jerry John Rawlings,” Greenstreet said in reaction to a recent NDC attack on the CPP National Youth Organiser, Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called Kabila over the STX housing deal.

The NDC Propaganda Secretary, Richard Quashigah had accused Kabila of being a mole of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), following the latter’s decision to take the STX deal to court for interpretation.

Kabila, on Monday August 2, 2010 had filed a suit at the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the controversial STX Housing Project between the Government of Ghana and a Korea construction firm STX Korea. He sought, among other reliefs, a declaration that the deal was null and void.

The NDC, in a statement issued and signed by Richard Quashigah, had said “the NDC has observed the utterances, association and action of Mr. Bomfeh over the last three years, one is amply convinced that he is being used by the NPP to create the impression that they are not alone in the unreasonable effort of preventing a project that is intended to benefit the larger interest of Ghana.”

The NDC expressed ‘surprise’ that the CPP National Youth Organizer had gone to the Supreme Court with the aim of preventing Parliament from approving what it called a ‘pro-poor’ STX Housing Project.

Responding, Mr. Greenstreet said “the NDC founder is the greatest critic of His Excellency the President and in a most shameful and disgraceful manner.
“NDC, please wake up and stop embarrassing the President by your endless gaffes and vile propaganda. Your Better Ghana is being endangered and your honeymoon period is most definitely over. Leave Kabila alone.

“The CPP would like to make it absolutely clear that it considers recent remarks by the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, suggesting that the CPP National Youth Organizer is a mole for the New Patriotic Party as totally baseless and without foundation,” Greenstreet stated.

“In this regard, we urge the NDC to behave like a party in government. They should stick to defending their policy decisions without resorting to personal accusations casting false slurs on people’s characters that are worthy of legal redress,” the statement added.

Spare Parts dealers spit fire

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday August 5, 2010
Executives of Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association say they will not sit for some of its members to politicize issues affecting the spare parts industry.

At a news conference in Accra yesterday, Joseph Paddy, Chairman of the association, which is made up of sub-groups with 14 zones, said the association was established many years “but some of our members are trying to politicize our area of operation.”

“Some people have been moving from one media house to the other speaking on behalf of the mother association and making comments that are highly political, but their views cannot be that of the association. This association was formed devoid of political lines and the leadership will continue to tow that line.”

He said when President Mills visited the spare parts area recently to obtain first-hand information about their activities, he promised to ensure that the government adopts necessary measures to improve the industry in the country, adding, “So far the government has taken steps to fulfill the promise.”

Mr. Paddy said “what we have observed in recent times is that somebody who claims to be chairman of one of our sub associations came on air saying that the President promised to construct our roads, but nothing has been done since then and claimed that he spent his own money to buy gravels to repair some of the roads.”

“It was the same person who came on air some time ago accusing our table top brothers of selling parts that has been used in Ghana. It was this same person who made statements which dragged the name of the association into politics.”

“We want to make it categorically clear that the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association is the only official mouthpiece of the entire spare parts area. Any statement that comes from any sub association or any member must be ignored.”

Asked who were behind the politicization of the activities of the association, Mr. Paddy declined to mentioned names but said even though there is freedom of expression and association, nobody could purport to speak for them adding that “we always use dialogue to resolve our issues and we are not going to depart from this.”

He alleged that the undue politicization of the associations’ activities had compelled the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to re-evaluate all spare parts imported into the country, thereby making them to pay more than what they previously paid.

Govt. won’t gag media - Veep

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

John Dramani Mahama is the Vice President of Ghana

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday August 4, 2010
The first-ever Ghanaian Times National Development Forum has commenced in Accra with a pledge by Vice President John Dramani Mahama that government is not interested in ‘muscling’ the media.

The two-day event is being organized by the state-owned New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of the Ghanaian Times, Weekly Spectator and Sporting Times under the theme, “Re-orientation for accelerated development.”

Expected to be an annual event, the forum is seeking to lead a national discourse and debate using experts selected from the academia, business community, religious organizations, among others to find solutions to the numerous developmental challenges facing the country.

Opening the forum in Accra yesterday, Information Minister, John Tia Akologu, who read a speech on behalf of the Mr. Mahama, said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has demonstrated that it is “open to new and fruitful ideas.”

He said Mills administration welcomes ‘constructive criticisms,’ stating that the withdrawal of the STX Housing deal in Parliament was a testimony of the government’s resolve to listen to everybody.

“We are not always right but when we are wrong we do not pretend to be gods. We are not interested in seeing journalists in jail. In the recent police/Joy FM and Ghanaian Times debacle we have no hand in it.”

Mr. Tia Akologu, in a speech, said the NDC administration believes that there can never be democracy without a vibrant media, adding “whenever government officials get richer in any country it means that the press had gone to sleep or were facing serious restrictions.”
He bemoaned the high level of indiscipline in the country and called on the media to intensify the crusade against indiscipline.

“We need a national orientation to get our priorities right. We need to change our attitude towards national development.”

Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of National Media Commission (NMC), who chaired the forum said, “It is reassuring that the government is not interested in stifling press freedom. It is a signal to state agencies and operatives that the government does not want to muscle the press. This assurance should guide the enthusiasm and their actions.”

He commended the New Times Corporation for the initiative, indicating that “a culture of dialogue and discourse is what we need for the nation to develop.”

David Newton, Board Chairman of NTC and Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), stressed the need for the media to continue to highlight issues that hinder economic growth and development of the country, saying that “constant interchange of ideas on important national issues is what the NTC is seeking to lead".

Kofi Asuman, Managing Director of NTC, in his welcome address, said his outfit would continue to chart a path that would accelerate the development of the country.

CRC Holds Regional Fora

Raymond Atuguba is the Executive Secretary of the Constitution Review Commission in Ghana.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday August 2, 2010
THE CONSTITUTION Review Commission (CRC) set up by government to recommend possible ways of amending the 1992 Republican Constitution has outlined the next phase of its consultation process.

A notice titled “Schedule for regional, regional mini and national mini consultations August – October 2010” issued by the CRC said from today, Monday, August 2, 2010, it will start the Upper East Regional Open Forum and Minis in Bolgatanga at the Catholic Social Centre, St Charles and St John Primary School and round it up with a Regional Commission Hearing at the same venue the next day.

On Thursday, August 5, 2010, the commission will hold the same forum at Tamale, the Northern Regional capital and host a Commission Hearing in Tamale the next day.

The CRC will hold mini consultations with the media and political parties on Monday August 9, 2010, from 9:00 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 5pm respectively.

On Wednesday August 11, 2010, there will be a mini consultation on gender and youth from 9:30 am to 1 pm and 2pm to 5pm respectively while on Friday August 13, 2010, there will be a Mini Consultation on general governance and human rights from 9:30am to 1 pm and 2pm to 5pm respectively.

It further said on Monday August16, 2010, it will switch its attention to the Brong Ahafo Region with an Open Forum and Regional Minis in Sunyani and a Commission Hearing the next day at the same venue.

On Thursday August 19, 2010, the Upper West Region Open Forum and Regional Minis will be held in Wa, with a Commission Hearing the next day.

On Monday August 23, 2010, there will be a Mini Consultation from 9am to 12noon on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), followed by a consultation on Persons with Disabilities between 2pm and 5pm.

The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) and the Electoral Commission will have their turn in the mini consultation on Wednesday August 25, 2010, from 9am to 12noon and 2pm to 5pm respectively, while the mini consultation for Traditional Authority will be held on Friday August 27, 2010, between 10am and1pm.

On Monday August 30, 2010, the Ashanti Regional Open Forum and Regional Minis will commence in Kumasi with the Commission Hearings the next day.

The Eastern Regional Open Forum and Regional Minis will follow in Koforidua on Thursday September 2, 2010, with the Commission Hearings the next day.

On Monday September 6, 2010, there will be a Mini Consultation on the Council of State between 9am and 12noon and 2pm to 5pm and Decentralization on Wednesday September 8, 2010.

On Thursday September 9, 2010, there will be a Mini Consultation on the Academia (Faculties in Political Science, Philosophy, African Studies, Law, GAAS etc) between 9am and 12noon, with another one on Children and the Private Sector on Friday September 10, 2010, from 9am to 12noon and 2pm to 5pm respectively.

Western Region takes its turn with an Open Forum & Regional Minis in Takoradi on Monday September 13, 2010, followed by Commission Hearings the next day, with a mini consultation on Natural Resources, Oil and Gas, from 9am to1pm.

The Central Regional Open Forum and Regional Minis will be held in Cape Coast on Thursday, September 16, 2010, with the commission hearings taking place the next day.


Another consultation on Natural Resources and Security will be held on Monday September 20, 2010 and Tuesday September 21, 2010 respectively.


On Thursday September 23, 2010, the Volta Regional Open Forum and Regional Minis will start in Ho, the regional capital, followed by the Commission Hearings the next day.

The Greater Accra Regional Open Forum and Regional Minis will take place in Accra on Monday September 27, 2010, with the commission hearings the next day.

There will be a mini consultation on Parliament on Thursday September 30, 2010, from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm and another mini consultation on Faith based Organization (FBO) the next day.

On Monday, October 4, 2010, there will be a Mini Consultation on the Judiciary from 9am to 12noon and 2pm to 5pm, with another on the legal sector the next day, at the same time.