STOLEN MONEY TRACED TO FOREIGN ACCOUNTS

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday February 17, 2018

It is emerging that huge sums of money believed to have been stolen from state coffers have been traced to foreign accounts.

Sources investigating the stolen cash have said the offshore accounts are held in Europe, Asia and some African countries where there is financial stability.

The sources said details of the said accounts had been identified and it is likely to attract the attention of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu, when he is given the nod by parliament.

Amidu’s Vow

During his marathon vetting on Tuesday, Mr. Amidu said that he has the capacity to track all stolen funds stashed in foreign accounts.

“We will trace them and then they have to decide whether they will come and pay reparation or bring the money back or we will deal with it,” he said, adding, “There is an international law on politically exposed persons. If you want to open an account with a certain bank, especially in the UK and America, they ask you to fill a declaration of consent that if questions are asked about you, the bank is at liberty to provide them.”

Legal Assistance

He said, “..... So, legal assistance gives us an opportunity for those who think they are smart enough to put their monies and go through the Kotoka International Airport because they are exempted from very critical screening and deposit them abroad.”

The former Attorney General posited, “I was once the Minister for the Interior and so I know the security methods of doing it. We will use these methods.

No Harassment

Mr Amidu said he was not coming into office to jail people and would be nice to all those who would show remorse and bring back their stolen public funds. He pleaded that there should not be any politicization of issues when people are arrested adding, “Crime is crime without political colouration and that is how the office will run if I am approved.

 “We should go back and look at the offences the Special Prosecutor can prosecute. Out of the 10 offences listed with the general provision of other offences, six of them are misdemeanours, two are felonies, two are unclassified. So for me, the issue is not necessarily wanting to fill Nsawam with people.”

Justifying his position, he said, “What is the use imprisoning him if you can’t get the monies back? If he agrees to get the monies back only for a conviction and probation, I think that is better for the nation than imprisoning him 10 years, feed him 10 years, give him prison clothing and if he is grown, he will have chronic conditions and be sending him to hospital. If you will bring part of the money back or all of it and it is reasonable, that is the thing I like about this section so that those who think that the office is just to be there locking people left, right and centre will realise that the office will act reasonably.”

Mr. Amidu added, “This plea bargaining thing has a good incentive. If people want to make reparation for the consideration of the court and go and sin no more, the office will have to take into consideration all the grounds upon which reparation must be accepted and the reparation must be reasonable because it will come to the knowledge of the people of this country.”

AMIDU CHASES WOYOME GANG

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday February 15, 2018

President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the position of Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu, is still insisting that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, should not go down alone in the infamous GH¢51.2 million judgment debt scandal that rocked the nation in 2011.

Mr. Amidu maintained, “If we are going to prosecute, we should prosecute everybody involved and not Woyome alone.”

The NDC bankroller, who fraudulently walked away with GH¢51.2 million for no work done, was said to have been aided by some staff of the Attorney General’s Department under Betty Mould-Iddrisu.

Some of the payments went into bank accounts of some staff at the Department and their wives, as well as NDC gurus.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP), ahead of the December 7, 2016 elections, released a list containing the alleged beneficiaries of the Woyome payout.

The GH¢51.2 million was fraudulently paid to the NDC man in 2010 by the government on the instructions of then Attorney General, Betty Mould Iddrisu, and her deputy, Ebo Barton-Odro.

Some of the beneficiaries were the late Professor Kofi Awoonor, who was the Chairman of the Council of State.

He was said to have received a cheque for GH¢75,000; Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC, GH¢20,000; Ade Coker, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, GH¢30,000 and Koku Anyidoho, Deputy General Secretary, GH¢113,000.

“On 8th February 2011, the NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman, in a receipt, penned in his own handwriting, Mr Ade Coker was given GH¢30,000 by Woyome. The handwritten receipt reads, ‘Received from Consul Afred Woyome an amount of GH¢30,000.00,’ Signed Ade Coker 8/2/11. Asiedu Nketia is also listed as a beneficiary of the Woyome cash. For example, on 2nd September, 2011, he personally received GH¢20,000 from Mr Woyome. It was a cash cheque with serial number 727292,” the NPP stated.

The rest are Kwesi Pratt, Managing Editor of Insight newspaper, GH¢2,000; Steve Kpodzi, former Managing Director of ADB, GH¢60,000; Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini of Radio Gold, GH¢8,000 and Jewel Ackah, a musician, GH¢60,000.

Woyome also gave GH¢15,000 to the NDC office in Hohoe; GH¢42,000 to the party for the purchase of motorbikes; GH¢30,000 to renovate NDC party office and another GH¢1 million to the same party.

“On 15th February, 2011, a one-million Ghana-cedi cheque was paid into the Unibank Ghana Ltd account of the NDC. We have a copy of the exact ADB cheque, which carries the No. 230051. Woyome's bank statement shows that that cheque was cleared the very next day,” the party claimed.

“On May Day (May 1, 2011), Koku Anyidohu received from Woyome personally a cash cheque of GH¢13,000, with No. 809093. A few days after, on 10th May, 2011, Woyome again gave Koku Anyidoho an amount of GH¢100,000 and the purpose is stated as ‘Koku’s Trip With President (Mills).’

“There is also payment of GH¢60,000 from Woyome to Steve Kpordzie, who was at the time the Managing Director of ADB. This raises serious questions over propriety. What did the Bank Manager do to deserve a cash payment of that colossal amount?

“In fact, the Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho, is also listed as receiving GH¢10,000 from Woyome, from cheque No. 727745,” the NPP stated.

It said Woyome made the payments to the people and the NDC in 2011.

It was Mr Amidu’s efforts that led to the declaration by the Supreme Court that Mr. Woyome should be made to refund the huge amount he unlawfully took from the state during the erstwhile Mills/Mahama  NDC administration.

Bizarrely, a criminal trial mounted against Mr. Woyome collapsed after the high court judge, John Ajet-Nassam, acquitted and discharged him for lack of evidence.

It was also in the course of delivering the Supreme Court judgement that a member of the panel - Justice Jones Victor Dotse - described the deal as a case of ‘create, loot and share,’ which became a negative political mantra used against the NDC ever since - to connote the supposed corrupt deals of the party.

During his vetting in Parliament House in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Amidu, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, said, “As Attorney General, I had said that Woyome cannot be prosecuted alone and that all his accomplices must be prosecuted.”

Mr. Amidu, who did not name the supposed ‘accomplices,’ told parliament’s Appointments Committee that as the AG when he met his staff to deliberate the Woyome issues and “they all agreed that part of the fault is from this house (the Attorney General’s Department).

“That is one of the reasons why the hoodlums hounded me so that they would not be prosecuted. So Woyome alone was prosecuted and if you remember, in the judgement, the judge said that Woyome could not be prosecuted alone and that those who acted with him were not brought. So (John) Ajet-Nasam, who was proven to be a corrupt judge, later acquitted Woyome.”

In fact, his description of some NDC bigwigs as hoodlums attracted the attention of the Committee’s Chairman, Joe Osei-Owusu, who asked Mr. Amidu to retract the statement, which he did immediately.

Mr. Amidu said “If I had prosecuted that case, together with the accomplices, the result would have been different and my perception is that the prosecution was bundled to get that guy out.”

NDC RUNS TO COURT OVER AMIDU

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday February 13, 2018

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears determined to stall the President’s nomination of Martin A.B.K. Amidu as the Special Prosecutor.

He is expected to face the Parliamentary Vetting Committee today, but that might be postponed because one of the NDC Members of Parliament (MPs) has filed a suit at the Supreme Court, seeking to stop Mr. Amidu from being vetted to become Ghana’s first anti-corruption prosecutor.

Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga East, claims Mr. Amidu, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice - who is credited for his crusade against corruption - has crossed the mandatory age limit required to hold such an office.

He filed the suit against the current Attorney General and Mr. Amidu himself yesterday, and he is being represented by Mr Tony Lithur, who represented former President John Mahama during the landmark presidential election petition in 2013.

Mr. Ayine, who was the Deputy Attorney General under the previous Mahama administration, wants reliefs, including “a declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190 (1) (d), 199 (1) (4) and 295 of the 1992 Constitution, the requirement age of all holders of public offices created pursuant to Article 190 (1) (d), is 60 years, anyhow not beyond 65 years.”

He also wants “a declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190 (1) (d), 199 (4) of the 1992 Constitution, no person above the age of 65 years is eligible for employment in any public office created under Article 190 (1) (d),” as well as “ a declaration that by reason of his age (66 years), Mr Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu is not qualified or eligible to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13 (3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959).”

The former Deputy AG further wants a declaration that “by reason of his age, Mr. Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu is not qualified or eligible to be approved by Parliament as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13 (3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959).”

Furthermore, the plaintiff wants a declaration that “by reason of his age, Mr. Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu is not qualified or eligible to be appointed by the President of the Republic as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13 (3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2018 (Act 959).”

He also wants a declaration that “any purported nomination by the Attorney General or approval by Parliament or appointment by the President of Mr. Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13 (3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2018 (Act 959) is unconstitutional and therefore null and void.”

The suit indicates, “In the event Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu has already been vetted and approved by parliament and or appointed by the President as a Special Prosecutor under Section 13 (3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959) prior to the final determination of this suit, an order annulling such nomination, approval and appointment.”

In his legal arguments, the plaintiff insisted among other things that the Office of the Special Prosecutor is “a creature of the Constitution to the extent that it is a direct offshoot of a power drawn from Article 190.

“Once parliament passed Act 959 and the President assented to it on 2^nd January, 2018, the Office of the Special Prosecutor became part of the public service and governed by the constitutional provisions relating to the public service and public office holders.

“Whatever designation one gives the Office of the Special Prosecutor created under Article 959, it is clear that it forms part of the public service, and its employees and appointees, once appointed, become public officers.

“The plaintiff said that the Office of the Special Prosecutor has no special constitutional guarantees beyond what is prescribed under the 1992 Constitution for all public office holders. The Act, which creates the office, can therefore not give it any features or attributes beyond what is constitutionally prescribed for the public services in general.”

NDC ALLERGIC TO FACTS – SAYS NANA

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday February 09, 2018

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has observed that members of the minority opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in parliament are "allergic to facts."

According to the president, the NDC MPs do not appreciate any facts put out, and noted that that is threatening smooth national debate and consensus building.

At his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered in parliament yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said that there was no doubt that the government he is presiding over inherited “a weak economy choked by an avalanche of debts and with many projects abandoned.”

He said although the then NDC government, led by President John Mahama, was claiming to have invested heavily on roads infrastructure, there was still serious issues concerning road traffic in many parts of the major cities, particularly Accra.

He said he was setting the records straight, irrespective of the heckling by the minority who clearly did not agree with him (President Akufo-Addo).

 “It is a shame that after seven years or so after work has started on the Eastern Corridor roads, we are nowhere near completion....and yet this is a strategic road that will provide a much shorter and cheaper link between the northern and southern parts of our country and suitable alternative road for the land-locked towns," he said.

President Akufo-Addo said for instance, that the Eastern Corridor road, which is supposed to serve as a major link between the southern and northern parts of Ghana, is not completed due to excessive propaganda of the NDC in their time in office, noting that the network of roads is suffering from deliberate unproductive propaganda.

He also lamented how massive cocoa cash was used to fund cocoa roads in the country at a time when cocoa prices were going down under the previous administration, saying, “It comes as no surprise that COCOBOD has issued directives to suspend work on all three sections (of the road network) which comes up to almost 100 kilometres.

“Mr. Speaker, we are determined to find the resources to complete the Eastern Corridor road...there is a crying need for work to be done on all our roads; the Western and Central  Corridor roads, trunk roads, feeder and town roads around the country for the required urgent attention.

NDC MPS FACE SUIT OVER CASH-FOR-SEAT

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday February 09, 2018

Lawyers for the Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF) are threatening to sue two opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament over their conducts in the cash-for-seat claim.

According to the MEF lead counsel Peter Zwennes, the two: Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak (Minority Chief Whip) and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs) have continuously churned out what he called “irresponsible and destructive falsehood” against his clients since the cash for seat issue came up and they were going to take legal action against them.

At a news conference in Accra on Tuesday, Mr. Zwennes said they were going to seek permission from the Speaker of Parliament to drag the two MPs to court to prove their claims against leading members of the MEF, the organization that hosted the 2017 Ghana Expatriates Business Awards on December 4, last year.

Destructive Falsehood

“The propagation of such irresponsible and destructive falsehood made against my client should not be availed the cloak of parliamentary immunity which if it had been said in anywhere else in the open will certainly be giving rise to a meritorious court action in defamation,” he fumed, adding “the foundation is still considering its options and they are still available to us.”

Affected Reputation

He said despite the exoneration of the foundation, its president, Ashim Morton, feels the reputation he has built for himself within a period of twenty years has been affected.

“Despite the untruths now having been laid to rest and though much gladdened by his exoneration, my client has found that this acquittal has come at a heavy cost to his hitherto unsullied and unquestionable reputation.”

“This not to mention the heavy cost that these false allegations have caused the country also to suffer in terms of the commitment of foreigners towards foreign direct investments, market confidence, and the image of the leadership of the Republic of Ghana on the international scene”

“After steadily building up his reputation of integrity over a period nearing two decades, it is an abysmal shame for the foundation to realize that some choose merely to see it as an institution worthy of sacrifice on the altar of common mischief for the sake of what they see as political expediency,” he added.

Bogus Allegation

The MEF held the news conference after the five-member Parliamentary Committee set up by the Speaker to investigate the Minority’s claim that during Ghana Expatriates Business Awards, all those who sat close to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo were charged between $25,000 and $100,000, submitted its report on the floor of the house.

The special parliamentary ad hoc committee after a thorough investigation, some of which were telecast live, exonerated officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Millennium Excellence Foundation because there was no extortion as claimed by the NDC Minority.

There was confusion when the minority said its members on the committee wrote their own report called ‘Minority Report’ that sought to challenge the findings of the committee.

Financial Loss

Later, Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, whose ministry was tagged as ‘extortionists’ said the NDC MPs caused financial loss to the state through their motion to recall parliament to set up the committee to investigate the allegation which turned out to be bogus.

He insisted that the emergency recall of the house to discuss the matter was unnecessary saying “it may be possible that the associated cost for recalling this may be a case of causing financial loss.”

However, the minority was adamant and even left the floor of the house by boycotting the debate on Cash-for-Seat Committee Report.

Insincere Group

Yesterday, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Investigative Committee that looked into the issues recounted how members of the minority on the committee ‘played games’ with them when they were concluding their report.

He specifically mentioned on radio that Dr. Dominic A. Ayine, NDC MP for Bolga East, who was part of the committee, representing the minority, was disingenuous in his dealings with the committee members when they were compiling the final report.

He also said another NDC MP on the committee James Klutse Avedzi left the committee’s work and travelled to Uganda on an assignment, saying “I was supposed to travel to the United States but I had to prioritize the committee’s work but he could not; maybe it was because of the per diem.”

Two other majority members on the committee were Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah and Yaw Buaben Asamoa.

PRESIDENTIAL CARS ARRIVE…100 GO TO POLICE

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday February 07, 2018

The specialized vehicles - some bulletproof - ordered by then President John Dramani Mahama at the tail end of his National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration on January 3, 2017, have arrived.

The acquisition of the vehicles, which sparked heated political debate during the transition in early 2017, reportedly arrived via air cargo; and DAILY GUIDE understands that they include Mercedes Benz (S600), BMW and Toyota Land Cruisers.

43 vrs 34

However, the deal, which was worth $9.1 million for the procurement of 43 special vehicles with communication squadron and ambulances, was re-negotiated by the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, and as a result, the contract sum reduced to $8.8 million.

In the end, the NPP government took delivery of 34 vehicles instead of the original 43, and the money that was to have been paid on the nine outstanding vehicles was used to purchase 100 Toyota Corolla cars for the Ghana Police Service (GPS).

Sources said additional 100 Toyota Camry cars may be added to the deal.

Setting The Records

Information Minister Mustapha Hamid said at a news conference yesterday that the “government is bound by the terms of the contract signed with Amalgamated Securities Limited,” and added that “abrogating the contract may incur significant liabilities for government.”

He indicated that “in doing so, government has however, made sure to obtain maximum gain for the public purse and also for ensuring the security of the state. The government of President Mahama ordered 43 VIP vehicles at a cost of $9.1 million.”

Mr. Mustapha Hamid stated that the government renegotiated the terms of the contract such that it was able to reduce the number of vehicles ordered from 43 to 34, which is nine short of the original number.

Police Cars

“In place of the nine, we have acquired 100 Toyota Corolla cars for use by the Police Service in line with our commitment to retool the Police Service to enable it play effectively, its role of protecting the Ghanaian people. We have done all this with a total amount of 8.8 million United States Dollars,” he underscored.

The minister said, “This decision is consistent with our approach towards contracts that we came to meet, where if possible, we have renegotiated the terms to make them more favourable to the Ghanaian people.”

Education Sector

He said for example, that the Ministry of Education renegotiated the cost of printing textbooks, which the former government had signed with printers and instead of GH¢134 million, the ministry was able to renegotiate downwards to GH¢89 million.

“It is in this same spirit that the Finance Minister asked the Auditor General to audit the financial liabilities that had been bequeathed to us, and which has revealed that some GH¢5.4 billion of legacy debts are dodgy,” Mr Hamid pointed out.

The minister said the government remains committed to protecting the public purse while ensuring value for money and securing the greater good of the people.

Transition Heat

In the heat of the transition, it emerged that then President Mahama, with only three days to leave office after failing to secure a second term bid, ordered a fleet of expensive vehicles for the presidency to the chagrin of the incoming NPP administration.

Per the contractual terms, the vehicles were to be delivered within 60 days after which payment would be made.

However, their delivery ran into difficulties due to some unresolved issues, including the indefinite moratorium placed on the acquisition of new vehicles by the Akufo-Addo-led NPP administration.

But with the valid contract between the importing company and the Ghana government, huge judgement debt loomed if it (government) had gone ahead to abrogate the contract.

The contract was signed on behalf of the previous NDC government by Alhaji Salifu Osman, a Deputy National Security Coordinator, who is currently standing trial in the $4 million National Communications Authority (NCA) scandal.

The Vehicles

Per the contract, the fleet was to cover the president, vice president, first and the second ladies and the presidential press corps.

The vehicles are mostly Mercedes Benz (S600) bullet-proof made for the security of the president and his vice, as well as their wives, and Cross-country vehicles, for long distant treks and escorts and two Cross-country rapid intervention vehicles, two Cross-country ambulances and a pickup with radio and communication as lead car.

A large number of the cars were to be allocated to the office of the president and the vice president, while the remaining ones were to go to the office of the first and the second ladies, as well as the security agents.

NDC’s Defence

In the heat of the debate, the NDC leaders insisted that the previous Mahama administration indeed placed the order to re-stock the depleting presidential fleet for the incoming regime in order to make room for the smooth running of the new administration.

Currently, the president uses 10-year old BMW which occasionally breaks down with high servicing costs; and when the car go for servicing, he uses his private ones, which is detrimental to his personal security.

TWUM-BOAFO ARRESTED OVER ‘STINKY’ AUDIT REPORT

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday February 06, 2018

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) yesterday picked up Kwadwo Twum-Boafo, immediate-past Executive Secretary of the Ghana Free Zones Board under the erstwhile Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, for questioning.

A source told DAILY GUIDE that Mr Twum-Boafo went to the head office of the EOCO in Accra at about 10 am and was subjected to questioning until about 5pm before being released on bail; but his passport was reportedly seized by the anti-graft body.

He was said to have ‘honoured’ the EOCO invitation in the company of his lawyer, and he was asked to write a statement, which he did.

It is unclear what sent him there, but a source said it had to do with forensic audit report on the Free Zones Board; and the EOCO has been brought in to investigate those who might be culpable for any wrongdoing.

The audit report, which has been described as ‘stinky,’ is said to have captured the rot under Twum-Boafo - a very loquacious NDC hatchet man.

DAILY GUIDE understands that auditing of state institutions is ongoing and the EOCO is playing a lead role in the effort.

Mr. Twum-Boafo, who is noted for the use of intemperate language, especially on radio, was first appointed to the Free Zones Board in an acting capacity by the late President John Evans Atta Mills and was later given full endorsement by former President John Dramani Mahama on April 11, 2013.

RAS MUBARAK DUMPS WIFE FOR MUNTAKA'S DAUGHTER

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday February 06, 2018

Rasheeda Adams, ex-wife of National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu in the Northern Region, Ras Mubarak, has claimed that the MP was ‘extremely abusive’ towards her and that forced her to quit the marriage.

Rasheeda, who was working in the media, said she abandoned the ‘ship’ about a year ago and is currently in court with the young MP over the custody of their two children.

The Kumbungu MP, who was once Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA) under the erstwhile Mahama’s NDC administration, on Sunday, reportedly married Huseina Mubarak, daughter of Asawase MP in Kumasi and Minority Chief Whip in parliament, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak.

Breaking Silence

Mr Ras Mubarak later took to social media to rebut claims that he was taking a second wife, insisting that he has only one wife whom he officially tied the knot with over the weekend at a ceremony attended by MPs from both sides of the political divide.

“I've just woken up to news that I married an additional wife yesterday. Let me put it on record that though I am unapologetically a believer in polygamy and my religion, and my proud Dagbon tradition and culture permit polygamy, I just remarried yesterday after my wife then packed out and sued for divorce a few weeks before the 2016 elections,” he posted on Facebook.

Ras added, “While we appreciate the media interest in reporting what is news, we wish to encourage the media to report what is factual. Mrs. Huseina Mubarak - my new and only wife - and I are very grateful to colleagues from the NDC and NPP, friends, family and everyone who supported us in diverse ways. May God bless us all and strengthen every marriage.”

Unconfirmed report says Sunday’s ceremony was the third marriage the young MP had contracted, having kissed goodbye to his previous two spouses.

Ex-Wife’s Rebuttal

The MP’s former wife, Rasheeda Adams, was incensed that people were claiming that she was still married to Ras Mubarak and sought to set the records straight.

She revealed that she divorced the MP because she could not take his constant physical and verbal abuses, saying, “The marriage ended due to extremely abusive behaviour from Mr. Mubarak towards me. We have not lived together for the last one year.”

She also took to Facebook to say that her union with the MP resulted in two children, and added that they are currently in court over who is the rightful person to take custody of the children.

“I woke up this morning to a barrage of calls sympathizing with me, because my ‘husband,’ Ras Mubarak, took a second wife. I wish to categorically state that this information is wrong.”

She said, “I have refrained from commenting on this issue because I believe my time and energy would be put to better use by working hard and nurturing my children. However, it has gotten to a point where I am avoiding business calls just so I do not have to speak to another sympathizer.

“I was married to Mr. Mubarak, which resulted in two beautiful children. The said marriage has been over for more than a year, as we are now in court over custody matters. The marriage ended due to extremely abusive behaviour from Mr. Mubarak towards me.

“We have not lived together for the last 1 year. No, I do not know his new wife. Don’t ask me if she is his sister; I don’t know. Yes I’m fine with it. The Ashantis have a proverb to wit; ‘after one pushes an old lady, where she falls is not one’s business.”

According to Rasheeda Adams, “A man cannot have a second wife when he does not have a first, and I AM NOT HIS WIFE. I am very happy for him as the father of my children and wish him marital bliss so he can completely forget my existence. I feel nothing but relief.”

She called on the media to ‘verify’ the facts of the matter before publishing it, saying, “It will save us all a great deal of stress.”

EC ‘TRIAL’ BEGINS

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday February 05, 2018

The committee set up by the Chief Justice to investigate Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies for abuse of office and conflict of interest will commence official sitting today.

DAILY GUIDE has gathered that both the petitioners and the respondents have filed their witness’ statements, thereby paving the way for the hearing to begin in earnest.

Mrs. Osei had reportedly asked for more time to enable her to file her witness’ statements before the five-member committee being chaired by Justice A.A. Benin of the Supreme Court begins sitting.

Sources say her two deputies - Amadu Sulley, in-charge of Operations and Georgina Opoku-Amankwa, for Corporate Services - who is currently on interdiction, have both filed their responses together with the petitioners as far back as mid-January.

The EC chairperson had reportedly asked for more time to enable her respond appropriately to the issues raised by the petitioners because the notice of the establishment of a prima facie case by the Chief Justice allegedly did not reach her on time.

Sources said Mrs Osei was to submit her statement on January 23, 2018, but upon receipt of a letter indicating that a prima facie case had been established for the investigation to go on, she needed to amend parts of her statement to ensure that she is able to respond to the issues appropriately and in proper context; and had therefore requested for more time per a letter written on January 24, 2018.

According to sources, today’s sitting may dwell on preliminary issues, setting the stage for a full ‘trial’ of the commissioners.

The operations of the EC have been in limbo since the commission had not met for the past one year, contrary to the enabling EC Law which mandates it to meet at least once in every two months.

In effect, Mrs. Charlotte Osei has been operating without her deputies.

Official Announcement 

On December 19, last year, Chief Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo officially confirmed that she had set up a committee to investigate allegations brought against the top EC officials.

A statement by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong, had indicated that proceedings of the five-member committee were going to be held in camera.

“The public is hereby informed that Her Ladyship the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo, in accordance with Article 46 of the 1992 Constitution, has set up a five-member committee to investigate allegations brought against the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opoku-Amankwa,” the statement posited.

“The committee, which will sit in camera, in line with normal practice, consists of three Justices of the Superior Court appointed by the Judicial Council and two other persons appointed by the Chief Justice, on the advice of the Council of State. The committee is chaired by a Justice of the Supreme Court,” it indicated.

According to the statement, “The committee was established after the Chief Justice had determined that there was a prima facie case against the three officials of the Electoral Commission.”

Initial Petition 

The whole action against the EC gurus was triggered by a petition sent to President Akufo-Addo by Lawyer Maxwell Opoku-Agyemang, who was acting on behalf of some unnamed staff of the commission who were seeking to trigger impeachment proceedings against Charlotte Osei under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.

A litany of allegations have been leveled against Mrs. Osei, including spending GH¢3.9 million to partitioning of an office, receipt of a Toyota Land Cruiser from the previous government, spending about $14 million when the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) had authorized her to use only $7.5 million, as well as attending Cabinet meetings under President John Mahama’s administration, among other things.

Charlotte Fights Back

Following these, the EC boss, through her lawyers - Sory@Law - who are also the commission’s external solicitors, hit back at her accusers, insisting that she had not been corrupt or abused her office and rather accused her two deputies of deliberately scheming to frustrate her stay in office.

The chairperson, in her initial response, openly accused Mrs. Opoku-Amankwaa of signing contracts worth over $40 million without her knowledge and authorization between May and September 2015.

Illegal Transfer 

She also turned her attention to Amadu Sulley and said apart from transferring votes illegally in the run-up to the 2016 general election, he (Sulley) also pocketed huge amounts of money from some political parties.

“The deputy chairperson in-charge of Operations collected funds above GH¢6m in cash from some political parties for the organization of party primaries without recourse to the structures of the Commission, and without the involvement of the finance department of the Commission,” she said.

Counter Petition 

The fight became nastier when other unknown persons who appeared to be on the side of Mrs. Osei sent a counter petition to the president to investigate her two deputies also for corruption and abuse of office.

Accusations and counter accusations have since ensued between the EC boss on one hand and her two deputies on the other.

They are fighting back strongly, trying to parry the chairperson’s allegations.

Corporate Services 

Mrs. Opoku-Amankwaa, for instance, said in a 25-point response to the EC chairperson’s statement that “the chairperson’s claim that there was a deliberate strategy to frustrate her work and tenure is palpably false and a figment of her own imagination.”

The deputy commissioner appeared to suggest that it was rather Mrs. Osei who was the problem at the commission and not her or Amadu Sulley.

“Her managerial deficiencies, coupled with her poor human relations and lack of appreciation for team work, are too manifest to escape public judgement,” she said.

She also described as “frivolous, useless, fabrications and figment of Mrs. Charlotte Osei’s imagination, the allegations leveled against her and asked that they be treated with contempt.

Sulley Reacts 

Amadu Sulley did not take issues lightly when he was accused of pocketing GH¢6 million from the parties.

“I don’t understand the motive of the chair to come out now to make this unfortunate allegation against me and the Deputy Chair, Finance/Administration.”

He also accused Mrs Osei of sidelining him in the daily operations at the commission.

EC BOSS BEGS FOR MORE TIME

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday February 03, 2018

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Charlotte Osei, has reportedly asked for more time to enable her to file her witness’ statement before the Committee set up by the Chief Justice to investigate her alongside her two deputies for abuse of office and conflict of interest.

According to sources, the time given by the five-member committee chaired by Justice A.A. Benin of the Supreme Court to both the petitioners and the respondents to file their documents had elapsed.

Sources said Mrs. Osei was to submit her statement on January 23, 2018, but upon receipt of a letter indicating that a prima facie case had been established for the investigation to go on, she needed to amend parts of her witness’ statement to ensure that she was able to respond to the issues appropriately and in proper context; and therefore, requested for more time per a letter written on January 24, 2018.

She was said to have finally submitted it on Thursday, February 1, 2018 - a week after the initial date.

It is unclear if the two other deputy commissioners - Amadu Sulley (in-charge of Operations) and Mrs. Georgina Opoku-Amankwa (in-charge of Corporate Services) had filed their statements; but the petitioners have reportedly filed theirs.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that the petitioners were given up to sometime mid-January to file their statements and the respondents were given up to January 23 to do so.

The sources said the committee is expected to use about a week after the filing of the witness’ statements to do its preliminary assessment before official commencement of the hearing.

Official Announcement

On December 19, last year, Chief Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo officially confirmed that she had set up a committee to investigate allegations brought against the top EC officials.

A statement by Judicial Secretary Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong had indicated that proceedings of the five-member committee were going to be held in camera.

“The public is hereby informed that Her Ladyship the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo, in accordance with Article 46 of the 1992 Constitution, has set up a five-member committee to investigate allegations brought against the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opoku-Amankwa,” the statement posited.

“The committee, which will sit in camera, in line with normal practice, consists of three Justices of the Superior Court appointed by the Judicial Council and two other persons appointed by the Chief Justice, on the advice of the Council of State. The committee is chaired by a Justice of the Supreme Court.”

According to the statement, “The committee was established after the Chief Justice determined that there was a prima facie case against the three officials of the Electoral Commission.”

The statement added, “It is the expectation of the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council that the public will treat the committee with respect and dignity it deserves as it carries out its constitutional duty and refrain from making any comments that will undermine the work of the committee, since infractions may amount to contempt.”