Lawyers to expose FRAGA oil

An Accra-based legal firm has begun the first step in a series of actions to stop FRAGA Oil and its owner Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada from using the Cantonments Police to violate the rights of innocent Ghanaians.

In a motion filed at the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court on Wednesday, Cardinal Law Group said two of their clients, Messrs Owusu Ansah and Alex Denkyira are unfortunately caught in the web of Mr Agboada's intrigues to bastardise the Ghana Police Service.

An affidavit accompanying the motion recounts that the two individuals were arrested sometime in April 2014 on a complaint by Mr. Agboada.

"That since then, the 5th Respondent (Mr. Agboada) has been using his links with the police and using them to harass and interfere with our freedoms.
That even when we had been granted police enquiry bail at the Cantonments station, 5th respondent used his influence to ensure that the bond was not immediately executed till beyond midnight," the affidavit claims.

It further states, "…when we had been asked to make periodic report to the station, the 5th respondent once again influenced the police to re-arrest us on the preceding day before our report and we were arraigned before the court even without any opportunity for us to call our lawyers.

"That after we managed to call our lawyers who came to court to apply for bail for us, the 5th respondent again put impediments in our way and we spent 3 days in custody before the Registrar executed the bail bond for us," the affidavit explains.

According to the lawyers, the filing of the motion which was also served on the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police was to stop any further harassment of their clients by the police.
However, a very nasty development took place at the forecourt of the Accra District Magistrate Court when the police led by one Inspector Peter were served with the motion papers.

Eye witnesses at the court told this paper the police refused and instead insisted on re-arresting Messrs Owusu Ansah and Denkyira who were shortly that Wednesday acquitted and discharged by the Accra District Magistrate Court following the filing of a nolle prosequi by the state with a promise to pursue the matter in a High Court.

It was an extreme embarrassment for the Cantonments Police when they took a case involving some GHS 30,000 to an inferior court like the Magistrate Court.

The two individuals after being re-arrested that Wednesday at the court premises were later released after another caution statement was taken from them. This was under the supervision of the new commander at the Cantonments Police Station who has vowed never to allow his station to be compromised.
Court records show that for the best moments that the court sat for prosecution and Mr. Agboada's Fraga Oil to present their case, they were conspicuously absent without any explanation.

Mr. Agboada and Fraga Oil are alleging that the two individuals caused damage to their canopy and sign board erected at a filling station in Pokuase, an Accra suburb. The two have denied the charge, insisting the station does not belong to Mr. Agboada.

Mr Alex Denkyira who manages the filling station for the rightful; owner Mr S.A. Anom told Ghana Daily the only things at the station that belong to Fraga are two underground storage tanks and dispensing pumps.
"Fraga is doing these desperate things because we want to sever commercial relationship with him and move to a different Oil Marketing Company," Mr. Denkyira said.

Relating to Nana Owusu Ansah who owns a filling station around the North Industrial Area in Accra, Mr Agboada claims the former defrauded him when he issued two dud cheques over a consignment of bulk oil delivered.

In his caution statement to the police, Nana Owusu Ansah vehemently denied the charges, saying the values on the two cheques in question had been paid in cash to one of Fraga workers Mr Agboada had been sending to him in 2009.

"I have an arrangement with him (Mr. Agboada). Any time they bring the product, I issue them a covering cheque and later get my cheque back after paying cash. I suspect mischief and malice in these moves.
"Why did they hold on to these cheques for over 5 years without any demands on me if I truly owe them as they claim?" Nana Owusu Ansah asked.

He added that he would surely walk free from the charges in any court he would be taken to.
Police sources at Cantonments station told this paper Mr Agboada has abandoned the case of impersonation leveled against Nana Owusu Ansah when it was discovered that the latter was duly given a power of attorney by Mr S.A. Anom to oversee operations at the Pokuase Filling station.

The motion filed by lawyers is scheduled to be moved on 7th May, 2014 and this paper will report exclusively for our readers.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Law Group have also expressed their readiness to meet Mr Agboada squarely in the High Court to prove his allegations of causing damage to property.

"The police have stopped being debt collectors since 1992. If Mr. Agboada thinks he's being owed, he should he to the civil courts and stop these antics," one of the lawyers of Cardinal Law Group stressed.

Your authoritative newspaper will in subsequent editions report extensively on current moves by an obviously infuriated Chief Justice Georgina Wood to investigate the alleged involvement of Mr. Nyonyo Agboada's Fraga in fixing and arranging for a Magistrate Court to sit after 4 pm without recourse to the usual administrative channels of the Judicial Service.
Stay tuned.

Source;ghanaweb

Kufuor vindicates Asiedu Nketia in Merbank saga - NDC

A member of the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) communication team wants the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to offer an unqualified apology to the ruling party for insults rained on them in the run-up to the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz Equity Fund.

Prior to the take-over of Merchant Bank’s 90% shares by Fortiz for GHc90 million, members of the NPP found it extremely intriguing that government could turn down higher bids from multinational companies for lower percentage shares.

The sale of the bank became a running debate and a majority of NPP MP’s openly voiced out their views. They raised several points, but their centralized message was that the sale of Merchant Bank to Private Equity Fund, Fortiz, was simply a fraudulent deal.

But now, some members of the NPP are not comfortable with the decision of former President Kufuor and his former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, to grace the official rebranding ceremony of Merchant Bank- now Universal Merchant Bank (UMB). The disgruntled NPP members have described the move as an act of betrayal.

However, with the tables seemingly turned, appendages of the National Democratic Congress say the presence of former President Kufuor and Kwadwo Mpiani at the function vindicates the General Secretary of the ruling party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who came under fire for having cautioned the opposition to rather point accusing fingers at the former President for granting a loan to Ibrahim Mahama during his tenure.

Speaking on Okay Fm’s Ghana Decides program, an NDC communicator, Godwin Ako-Gunn, posited that the truth has finally come out as the presence of Ex-President Kufuor at the launch has proven that the brother of President Mahama deserved the loan. He adds that, it is clear that President Mahama did not use his position to unduly help his brother as alleged by some members of the NPP.

“…..Asiedu Nketia has been vindicated…..NPP used to call Fortiz as ‘For thieves;’ Asiedu Nketia warned the opposition to be circumspect with their utterances because the loan to Ibrahim which supposedly crippled Merchant Bank was given during the tenure of Ex-President Kufuor...for Ex-President Kufuor and his former Chief of Staff to be in their best attire to grace the launch of Universal Merchant Bank means that the program meant so much to him…don’t forget he gave the huge loan to Ibrahim without any collateral or any guarantee,” he asserted.

Source;ghanaweb

We will not hasten to sign EPA – Mahama assures

President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians he will not hasten to append the country’s signature to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), at least not before a thorough review of the whole pact is done.

President Mahama stated, “…government is taking all views and concerns of all stakeholders including labour, consumers and exporters into consideration. Those views and considerations will absolutely inform any decision that we eventually take, which I assure you, will be in the best interest of Ghana.”

There is pressure on government in recent times, over the trade pact with the EU which could give Ghanaian importers unlimited access to the European Union market.

However, there is a school of thought that holds the view that Ghana has not done any assessment to ascertain the true benefits of the EPA and the disadvantages that may come with it.

This stems from the fact that Nigeria has done a fiscal impact assessment and believes that signing the EPA will cost them 1 trillion dollars.

However, there are others who also believe that the EPA will provide the best trade access to the EU market than any other regime and not signing could spell doom for the country’s economy.

During his address at the May Day parade, Mr. Kofi Asamoah, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) further impressed on President Mahama not to sign the EPA “in its current form” and in a response, the President allayed his fears by pledging to take all views and concerns onboard.

He also disclosed that there will be a meeting with Ghana’s neighbours in Accra on the EPA later this month, to review the pact and “renegotiating some aspects of it”.

The president also gave indication that the economy is recovering and assured that the future is bright.

According to him, though some of the ‘home-grown strategies’ being implemented to revive the economy are harsh, “I assure you my countrymen and women, that these measures are achieving the desired effect and the economy is gradually responding.”

“This year is a turn-around year for Ghana and I am positive that the Ghanaian economy will show strong signs of recovery by the end of this fiscal year,” he stated.

Source;ghanaweb

Ghanaians are right to expect more after 57 years - Akufo-Addo

Presidential candidate hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has said Ghana needs inspiring leadership to rescue it from the current economic challenges.

“Our people are yearning for inspired leadership, and it is time to close our ranks as a people and unite with a singular purpose of developing our nation,” he said.

He was speaking at this year’s ETV Awards ceremony where he was named the most influential Ghanaian for the year 2013.

The award ceremony which is in its fourth year seeks to recognize the top 100 most influential personalities in Ghana who are making great impact in the society.

Addressing the gathering, Nana Addo stated that Ghanaians have the right “to expect a more developed and prosperous nation” 57 years after independence.

He disclosed that his travels across the country and through his interaction with citizens, he has realized “their wants are reasonable…we want good education for our children, we want jobs, we want to be able to afford three square meals, we want better healthcare, we want to live in decent homes.”

According to him, with the abundance of natural resources and a hardworking workforce, the needs of Ghanaians “can be satisfied.”

He called on political leadership to think of the country’s next generation rather than the next election “and we need above all, honest government.”

Below is Nana Addo’s full speech

SPEECH BY NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO ADDO AT THE AWARD CEREMONY OF GHANA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITY FOR 2013 AT MOVENPICK HOTEL, ACCRA, ON APRIL 30 2014

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank etv-Ghana for this initiative and I thank the public for the great honour done me by voting me as Ghana’s Most Influential Personality for the year 2013. I congratulate my fellow winners for their service to our nation. I am deeply humbled by the award and I accept the challenge that it poses in what the public expects of the leadership of our nation.

I understand that what earned me this award is the now famous election petition and my reaction to the majority verdict of the Supreme Court, a reaction which helped reinforce the peace and stability of Ghana. Obviously, I would have preferred to get such a prestigious award under happier circumstances, but to quote Shakespeare in “As You Like It”:

“Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything.”

As I said on the day of the verdict on August 29, 2013 and let me recall my very words: “Everything in my bones, in my upbringing and in what I have done with my life thus far, makes it imperative that I accept a decision made by the highest court of the land, however much I dislike or disagree with it.”

In other words, this is who I am. I believe in the rule of law and I believe that, when you are in a position of leadership, you are obliged to put the larger interest ahead of your personal considerations. I am glad that, when put to the test on my often stated beliefs, I was not found wanting. And I am very grateful that this has been acknowledged and rewarded by the viewers of etv Ghana.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, being influential means you are able to change, hopefully in a positive manner, the way people think and behave. If a few more Ghanaians would have been moved by my conduct in the election petition to become ardent believers in the rule of law and be persuaded to accept personal disappointments to the greater good of our nation, I daresay my adversity, which I consider to be temporary, would have been worth it.

Growing up as a young boy in the heart of Accra, it was my dream to fight for the cause of my country. Decades later, that dream still lives on and now, even more than ever. I have understood my calling as a lawyer, businessman and politician to serve my society, my people and my country. And it is my belief that we can only build a strong and prosperous Ghana on a solid foundation of personal integrity and love of our nation.

A strict adherence to the rule of law is the best protection for all citizens and those in government, in particular, who would be exposed to family and other pressures. If we play by the rules, there will be confidence in the governance system and it will be easier to gain the support of the people to sacrifice, if need be, during times of difficulty.

To gain the attachment of the people, we must restore hope and that is best done when all the people feel there is a level playing field to achieve their aspirations. We can tell that hope is restored and confidence is high, when our educational and training institutions are turning out skilled and well equipped young people who turn their energies into producing wealth for our nation.

We shall know we are on the right path when our young people see their future here in Ghana and are influenced by a political leadership that takes decisions based on the greater good, a leadership guided by the needs of the next generation, not the next election.

Our people are yearning for inspired leadership and it is time to close our ranks as a people and unite in the singular purpose of developing our nation. Throughout history, it is when things are at their most difficult that there has been the need for great leaders.

When, 67 years ago, George Grant, J.B Danquah, R.S Blay, Emmanuel Obetsebi Lamptey, Ebenezer Ako Adjei, Cobbina Kessie, William Ofori-Atta, Edward Akufo-Addo and the others formed the United Gold Coast Convention, UGCC of most blessed memory, as the vehicle in the struggle for independence, they envisaged a just and equitable country.

Their aspirations were to build a free, modern and prosperous nation. I have no doubt at all in my mind that, when Kwame Nkrumah stood on the podium at the Old Polo Grounds that night of independence, shouting himself hoarse with “freedom, freedom, freedom”, present day Ghana is not reaping the fruits of freedom that he envisaged.

Fifty-seven years after independence, Ghanaians have a right to expect a more developed and prosperous nation. Over the past years, I have travelled the length and breadth of our country listening to the people of Ghana. Their wants are reasonable. From Zabzugu to Ada, Achiase to Zebilla, the call has been the same: we want good education for our children, we want jobs, we want to be able to afford three square meals a day, we want better healthcare, we want to live in decent homes.

For a country blessed with abundant natural resources and a hardworking population, these needs can be satisfied. There is a large pool of rich human capital available in our country and we only need to harness it to turn our dreams of a prosperous country into reality. For that, we need, above all, honest government.

The list of persons seen to be influential that has been presented to us tonight covers the world of politics, of business, of religion, of the arts, of sports and other critical aspects of life. Our people know that all the different aspects of our lives must function well and in harmony for the nation to move forward.

We have learnt through painful experience that, unless we get our politics right, it is almost impossible for the other parts to function well. As the business community is discovering in these tumultuous times, the most astute business person is bound to struggle if there is a loss of confidence in the political decision-making process and the management of the national economy. And as we have all been told recently in rather dramatic circumstances, even the business of saving souls suffers when the Bank of Ghana makes unexpected decisions.

Those in positions of leadership do not always realize the effect of what they say or do on the events and lives of the people. Admittedly, it is a great responsibility that leaders bear to have always to keep an eye out for the greater good. I do not know if many or any of my colleague award winners set out deliberately to influence the public. I do know that it is easier simply to try to do the right thing and do the things that you believe in. That is certainly what I have been trying to do with my life in the practice of law, in business and in politics these past how many years.

I thank the organizers once again for the award. It is good to be able to show that standing up for the rule of law and demonstrating strong leadership have their rewards.

Thank you and God bless Ghana.

Source;Ghanaweb

Non-performing ministers will be sacked, not Seth Terkper

One of the Senior Advisor’s to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has, in an exclusive telephone conversation told The Informer that, the impending re-shuffle will affect only non-performing Ministers of State, and not performing ones like Mr. Seth Emmanuel Terkper, of the Finance and Economic Planning ministry, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang of the Education Ministry, and Mr. Akwasi Opong-Fosu, of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

The advisor, who declined to be named for now, said this in reaction to incessant calls by certain misguided leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the President to fire his hardworking and uncorrupted Finance Minister, Seth Terkper.

He adds, “The President recently praised Seth Terkper for introducing reforms and ensuring financial discipline within the public sector; so it will be suicidal for the same person (President) to sack or even change him”.

According to him, those pushing for Mr. Seth Terkper‘s dismissal are only displaying their ignorance of the remarkable improvement that the Finance minister has brought into the management of the economy and advised that they be ignored.

“At least, those of us in the helm of affairs and, per documents available to us, know the solid foundation Seth is laying for the big take-off of the economy. In fact, the President is solidly behind his Finance Minister for the prudent manner he is managing the economy for the big take-off, and will not be ambushed by those calling on him to dismiss Seth Terkper," he stated.

“I can state unequivocally that, His Excellency President John Mahama, has confidence in his Finance Minister’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of this country, and will not bother one bit about the calls from Allotey Jacobs and his team,” the senior advisor pointed out; adding that those calling for the minister’s head are working in vain.

Leading members of the NDC, including its National Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, much uninformed, have persistently blamed Mr. Seth Terpker for the current economic challenges that the country is experiencing and, to some extent refer to him as “Judas," but the President disagrees totally with them.

According to him, even though the country at the moment is experiencing some economic challenges, government’s measures at stabilising the economy are yielding positive dividends.

Addressing Ghanaian Workers on this year’s May Day celebration, the President hinted that, though some of the home-grown strategies being implemented to revive the economy are considered unkind, the measures are achieving the desired effect and the economy is gradually responding.

“This year is a turn-around year for Ghana and I am positive that the Ghanaian economy will show strong signs of recovery by the end of this fiscal year,” President Mahama is reported to have said.

According to him, clear measures had been instituted to deal with the corruption canker which is fast eating into the fabric of the economy, indicating his government’s commitment to plugging all loopholes in the revenue system to ensure sustainable economic growth.

He also hinted of government’s efforts at cleaning the payroll of ghost names, to a perpetual extinction, with a massive audit system so as to save the public purse.

However, intelligence picked up by this paper has it that, the incessant attack on Mr. Seth Terkper is being masterminded by a former Finance minister (name withheld for now) who has sworn heaven and earth to bring the current Finance minister down.

In fact, The Informer is serving notice as its calls on those behind the said attacks on Mr. Seth Terkper, particularly the said former Finance minister, to immediately refrain from their wicked ways or face our wrath.

Meanwhile, we urge Mr. Seth Terkper not to listen to his misguided and uninformed detractors, but remain focused to work for the progress of Mother Ghana.

source;ghanaweb

New SADA board should implement audit report - Azeem

An anti-corruption campaigner has advised the new Board for the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to implement the findings and recommendations of a damning audit report.

Vitus Azeem, speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, said in view of the whistle-blowing work done by Joy FM's Manasseh Azure Awuni on a SADA audit report, the new board must move to restore some public confidence in the Authority.

President John Mahama appointed a new SADA board headed by corporate lawyer and former Deputy Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs. Angelina Mornah Domakyaareh.

Scandals and allegations of impropriety contained in an audit report and further investigations by Manasseh Azure into the operations of SADA seems to have undermined the credibility of the previous board.

The revelations christened the Sad SADA saga, showed the rot was caused by poor decision-making, according to Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey.

Vitus Azeem of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption says the new board "needs to have the commitment and the time" and not sit around only to show up months later for board meetings.

They need to get involved in the work of sub-committees they set up, he explained.

He called on government to give the board a free hand to recruit "top management staff...in a transparent way."

SADA was created to scale up development in the northern parts of Volta, Brong Ahafo, as well as the three northern regions- Northern, Upper East and Upper West.

These regions lags behind in terms of development, causing large numbers of the youth to migrate to the South in search of non-existent jobs.

SADA received substantial funds for projects such as tree-planting, rearing of guinea fowls and mango plantations, but the money has largely been mismanaged. For example, SADA paid for 5 million trees but got 700,000.

Nonetheless, Vitus maintained, "the focus should not change"


Source;ghanaweb

Demand for pay rise will cause job cuts - Asiedu Nketia

Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said that constant agitations by labour unions for a salary increment will only result in job cuts.

He noted that the situation will also hurt job creation in Ghana saying, “…agitations for higher salaries in times of austerity can only work against job creation efforts in the economy.’’

“If all your workers are demanding higher wages in a situation where you are not making profits; you can only cut costs by reducing the number of people you have employed,’’ the NDC General Secretary said in an interview.

Organized labour served notice to resist any attempt to institute a wage freeze in 2014 as being considered by the Finance Ministry.

Though 2014 has not experienced many sit down strikes, 2012 and 2013 recorded some of the highest labour unrest in a bid to demand increased salaries.

The labour groups known for their frequent threats of industrial action include teachers, doctors and nurses.

But the General Secretary of the ruling NDC in an interview with Citi News said the implications of demands for higher wages is for government to reduce employment.

"…if unions are interested in employment generation, then they have to understand the implications of higher wage demands; agitation for higher wages in this time of crisis is not an option that we should be looking at currently,” Mr. Nketia reiterated.

Labour is currently negotiating an upward adjustment in the national daily minimum wage of GHc5.24 pesewas.

The National Tripartite committee is expected to release a communiqué to that effect soon.

|Source;ghanaweb