* Source: The Globe

Hardened criminals in Ghanaian jail houses may be coordinating armed robbery attacks and running narcotic drug businesses from behind bars, investigations by The Globe newspaper have revealed.

The Globe has established growing use of illegal cellular phones in Ghana’s jail houses, especially at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison. There is a long lasting ban on the use of mobile phones behind bars. Our investigations established that ever smaller handsets allow phones to be smuggled in by prisoners, visitors or corrupt staff.

As at January 9, 2012, the total number of inmates in the nation’s jail houses stood at 13,588. At the Nsawam Prison official figures put the population of inmates at January 3,512. But, it is unknown the unknown the number of inmates at Nsawam who have access to the smuggled mobile phones. “Indeed, the most precious commodity inside the Nsawam prison today is the mobile phone”, said a worried junior officer with the Ghana Prisons Service, who wished not to be named. There are fears illegal phones could fuel prison drug trading, bullying and gang problems.

Behind bars, phones can cost 300 Ghana cedis, the phones are usually paid for by relations and friends of phone-seeking inmates. Smuggled into the prisons by relations of inmates and in many cases prison officers, the phones are used to organise narcotic drug deals, intimidate victims, and plan armed robbery attacks from prison with criminal gangs outside the prison walls. “The use of mobile phones in our facilities has become a serious business raking in money for both inmates and prison officers,” the officer said.

“It is an issue that has been with us for some time now,” the young Prison Officer told the Globe newspaper, adding: “Top management of the Prison Service is aware, but has virtually refused to deal with the problem.” “Visitors to the facilities and some corrupt senior officers are the ones fuelling the illegal practice,” said the officer.

The revelations come at the time some European countries and some states in the United States have stepped up crack-down on illegal mobile phone use in their jail houses, after a series of bloody prison violence blamed on phones smuggled into prison cells.

* Source: XFM 95.1, Accra

The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has added its voice to numerous calls on the Attorney General to break his silence and reveal the identity of persons fostering corruption in the Mills-led administration.

According to the party¹s Communication Director, Nii Armah Akomfrah, it is the responsibility of the Attorney General; as the ³chief law officer² to take the necessary steps against those persons he suspect of committing ³gargantuan crime² against the state and not necessarily brood over the matter.

³As the chief law officer, if there are people in government or anywhere else that he believes are committing criminal offence, then it is not for him to simply inform the country that they want him to hide it; but for him to tell the country who this people are and the nature of the crime he is talking about², Nii Armah told Xfm morning show host, Abena Asiedua.

Martin Amidu had released a press statement to the effect that he is being hounded out of office because some government appointees committing what he described as Œgargantuan crime¹ against Ghanaians are not comfortable with him.

He failed to disclose those involved but said he will resist any attempt to undermine his professional integrity.¹

Nii Armah Akomfrah stated that the A-G would have done Ghana ³good² if he had named the said minister who is involved in the cover up, adding, ³it does not auger well for the country and its people².

Shifting his attention to the A-G¹s revelation that he was virtually forced into office, the CPP¹s communicator opined that ³raises issues about the judgment in appointing him (A-G) in the first place², wondering ³whether he can continue to serve in that office².

He said it was imperative President John Mills moves in quickly to investigate the allegations raised.

Story by Dennis Nii Lantey Lawson/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana.

* Source: NUGS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL UNION OF GHANA STUDENTS (NUGS) ON MONDAY, 16TH JANUARY, 2012 ATTORNEY GENERAL MUST SUBSTANTIATE ALLEGATIONS!!

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is frightened, astonished, and taken aback about the disbelieving information churned out in the recent press statement of the Attorney General of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Martin Amidu, which borders on probable misdemeanor and attack on freedom of speech, which mutually have undesirable consequences on Ghana’s democratic system. NUGS is extremely alarmed that the Attorney General concedes in his press statement that he refused to condone and conceal “gargantuan crimes” allegedly committed against the state and yet failed to provide the name(s) of the people involved in committing such enormous crimes. Consequently, NUGS refuses to join all those applauding the Attorney General for his supposedly boldness in releasing such a press statement since we find it highly disappointing and irresponsible that the Attorney General’s statement is deficient of naming, shaming and taking actions that will prosecute the said Minister of State and co-conspirators or collaborators in order to bring justice to the good people of Ghana. NUGS is also exceptionally apprehensive about certain portions of the Attorney General’s press statement which alludes to the impression that certain unscrupulous people in or society are making threats on his life. The right to life is an inalienable right guaranteed under the Constitution of Ghana and as such, NUGS wishes to condemn unequivocally all persons who have allegedly made threats on the safety of the Attorney General. We are of the view that in such a democratic dispensation, it is both desirable and proper to resort to civil discourse even when you disagree with others’ opinion, rather than resorting to such cowardly acts of threats on the life and safety of public officials.

In the light of the seriousness of the allegations raised in the press statement by the Attorney General, NUGS wishes to state as follows: 1. That within seventy-two (72) hours, the Attorney General, Hon. Martin Amidu must, as a duty he owes Ghanaians;

a. Reveal the identity of the Minister of State he alleges leaked official documents from his office and also paying pro-government newspapers to publicize negative stories about him because the said Minister feels threatened by his (Attorney General’s) apparent refusal to conceal gargantuan crimes against the people of Ghana.

b. Name the criminals in our society who are holding membership cards of major political parties as an unconstitutional insurance against crime and criminal prosecutions. Anything short of the above demands, NUGS would rally its constituents who are ready and on standby, to march to the office of the Attorney General to prevent him from entering his office until he provides the name of the said Minister of State and the coconspirators or collaborators. 2. NUGS also wishes to send a strong caution to His Excellency President John Atta Mills to quickly institute an investigation into the alleged criminal acts of some of his appointees and bring those found guilty to book. This action would not only be in line with the NDC government’s much touted principles of Probity and Accountability, but it would also show the President’s avowed commitment or otherwise to fighting corruption.

3. As a result, His Excellency the President must not hurriedly relieve the Attorney General of his position, as others are clamouring for; but the President must provide the with all the security he needs to safe guard his personal safety, even as he (the Attorney General) complies with the demands of Ghanaians to name and shame the supposed criminally minded Minister of State.

Meanwhile, NUGS would in the coming days, watch with devoted attention how government and the Attorney-General deals with the emerging and potentially “cancerous” issues from the press statement of the Attorney General. As the largest organized student Union in Ghana, NUGS would be evaluating what alternatives are accessible and available to us in efficiently and effectively representing and upholding the dreams and aspirations of the people of Ghana whose good senses have been stirred by the Attorney General’s press statement. Finally, we wish to fully assure government that NUGS would stop at absolutely nothing in showing its assertiveness in our democratic dispensation by holding our leaders accountable, and this is a non-negotiable stance.

ALUTA CONTINUA, VICTORIA ACSERTA!!
………………………………....
AYARIGA OSMAN ABDULAI

(NUGS President) 024 – 384 6252.

* Source: Front Page Newspaper

Cocaine Here, Cocaine There, Cocaine Everywhere (2)

…As Woyome scandal rocks NDC

The faith of one of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) financiers, Alhaji Sulemana Musah, popularly known as ‘Alhaji Dan’ seems to be diminishing as plans to send in lawyers to defend him hanged balance.

The suspect, who was arrested in the USA in December last year was waiting for his party to come to his aid to at least if found guilty would not be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment but as luck eluded him on his trip to Uncle Sam’s town, another luck has also eluded him here in Ghana as the Woyomegate scandal sets all government machinery into confusion.

As was reported by this paper in its last edition, the embattled NDC guru who allegedly donated pick-up trucks to the party during the 2011 July Sunyani congress was expecting some help from the party to his defence to squash the jailed sentence to a minimum.

Signals picked up by Front Page alleged that a meeting was to be held by the NDC to summon the Attorney General (A-G) Mr. Martin Amidu to put in defence by sending somebody to Uncle Sam’s land to help Alhaji Dan when the Woyome scandal rears its head involving the gargantuan GH¢58million.

According to the investigations, it was alleged that Alhaji Dan, a close pal to certain personalities in government (names withheld) was arrested with seven others in possession of substance suspected to be cocaine worth US$5million. It was alleged that as the NDC legal team was preparing to go into “battle” with the Uncle Sam’s legal team to try to defend or reduce the sentence if found guilty, A-G, Mr. Martin Amidu has chicken out due to his response to the pro-NDC newspaper publications. A close friend to Alhaji Dan who gave this information on the condition of anonymity hinted that, the wife who recently went and gave birth in the USA and other relatives are currently persuading some NDC party big shots for assistance but only to be ignored by the NDC government on the grounds that the opposition will take them on if it come to public.

The family’s hope was also slammed when the Mr. Martin Amidu dropped his bombshell that some people allegedly fleecing the state in the name of political party which has initiated his exit from government that is yet to be confirmed. The A-G’s assertion that there has been some crime against the nation by some criminal-minded individuals parading as party members were causing harm to the corporate body of Ghana in the name of their political affiliations and that he was against the use of the party name to commit crime.

This brings to mind when the President said to the whole world that he does not trust his own men when it comes to drugs and since then there has been many drug related issues against the NDC government who preached Heaven on Earth for Ghanaians.

The NDC after three years in power have rocked by huge financial malfeasance including the Alhaji Muntakas, the Stan Dogbes, the Woyomes and other gargantuan crimes the A-G is yet to give names.

Question the political watchers are saying is that is President Mills ready to fight corruption, because sacking Mr. Martin Amidu, the A-G what he was supposed to do by law was asked to resign and those who were fingered in various malfeasance are still in government and untouchable.

* Source: JoyFMonline

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Subsidiary Legislation has accused the Auditor General, Richard Q. Quartey, of denigrating his office and must therefore, resign.

Osei Kwame Prempeh said the conduct of Mr. Quartey in the ongoing Woyome saga is reprehensible and must be forced to resign if he fails to do so honorably.

Mr. Quartey had early on submitted the 2010 Audit report to Parliament, in which it stated that government had paid an amount of ¢58 million in judgement debt to Alfred Woyome.

The Auditor General indicated on page 49 of the report that on June 4, 2010, Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome was paid GH¢41,811,480,59 as judgement debt arising out of the rehabilitation of three stadia.

The Auditor General (A-G) indicated on page 51 of the same document that Mr. Agbesi Woyome was again paid GH¢17,094,493.54 on September 22, 2010, bringing the total payment to GH¢58,905,973.

His disclosure provoked a heated partisan controversy.

Last week however, the A-G again presented an amended copy of the same report claiming to have made a mistake with the first report he submitted to Parliament.

In the amended report, Mr Quartey explained that the first payment on June 4, 2011, did not happen and that only the payment in September was done in the year 2010.

But his explanation has been rejected by the opposition in Parliament.

Mr Osei Prempeh said the amended report by the A-G does not even tally with the sequence of events in terms of payments made to Woyome.

He contended that Mr. Quartey is under “duress” and engaging in “damage control” for the government.

“He has undermined the integrity of his office” he said, adding Parliament will not take him serious if he brings another report.

He said they will put pressure on him if it means going to court, demonstrating or forcing him out of office.

*Source: The Chronicle

Information reaching The Chronicle from unimpeachable source indicates that the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould Iddrisu would address a news conference this week, to state her side of the GH¢58 million that was paid to Mr. Alfred Woyome, as judgement debt.

Ever since The Chronicle broke the story about the controversial payment and her subsequent accusation that she failed to defend the case, when Mr. Woyome sued the government in his personal capacity for breach of contract, over the renovation of Accra and Kumasi stadia for the CAN 2008 tournament, Betty Mould Iddrisu has never commented on the issue.

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which was in government during the CAN 2008 tournament has, on several occasions, indicated that they never signed any contract with Mr. Alfred Woyome, regarding the renovation of the aforementioned stadia, and that it was wrong for the government to have dolled out such a huge sums of money to Woyome as judgement debt.

The Attorney General at the time, Joe Ghartey also addressed a news conference in Accra, where he challenged the government and Mr. Alfred Woyome to produce the contract the latter claimed to have signed with the former government, which was breached to warrant the GH¢58 million payment.

The Source, which spoke to The Chronicle, hinted that Madam Betty Mould Iddrisu would set all the records straight this week, and will raise legal argument as to why the payment was made.

The source further told The Chronicle that the former Attorney General believes those commenting on the issue and castigating her in public, do not have access to all the facts of the case, hence their persistent attacks on her.

Rift between Korle-Bu Board and management widens

* Source: Joyonline

The rift between Board members of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and management deepens as more and more issues crop up about the hospital.

The country’s premier hospital has been in the news recently as accusations ranging from corruption to administrative lapses have been leveled against the CEO, Professor Otu Nartey, whiles a fierce blame game seems to be going on between the Board and the Management.

The seeming confusion has indeed affected health delivery in the hospital, which is a tertiary health facility that serves neighbouring countries like Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

The latest issue coming up is the 2009 Auditor General’s report on the hospital which claims that about 30 people have been wrongly interdicted by the Board.

But in a response, one of the Board members, Mr Eric Attieku said his attention had not been brought to this report.

Speaking on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, Mr. Attieku said as far as he is concerned, things are going on smoothly at the hospital and desrcibed sections of the media who have being reporting on the administrative lapses at the hospital as nation wreckers.

Mr Attieku also claimed he was not aware of allegations that four management members had taken over the running of the hospital and that mosquito nets were being rented out to nursing mothers at the hospital.

On the allegation that a Board member was sacked from the Board Chairman’s office by one Mrs Commey, Mr. Attieku said he was not present at the time of the incident but was later informed about it.

Recently Mr. Eric Attieku and another government appointee, Miss Stella Acquaye wrote to President Mills about administrative lapses at the hospital.

The two had previously written to President Mills but their letters did not get to him. This time around however, the two managed to get their letters to the president.

Mr. Attieku said since President Mills appointed them, they are accountable to him so if things are not going right in the hospital the president should be the first port of call.

I’ll not resign – Martin Amidu

* Source: Citifmonline

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Martin Amidu, has rubbished calls for his immediate resignation for revealing that a colleague minister is concealing “gargantuan crimes against the people of Ghana. ”

He told a private radio station - Joy Fm - that he does not have any intention of resigning now although some pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) newspapers have been on his heels to resign for non-performance.

Mr. Amidu served notice that he intends to serve his term until the President, John Evans Atta Mills, thinks otherwise. He said he will ensure that all cases involving corruption are fought in court in the best interest of Ghana.

The A-G last Wednesday issued a strongly-worded statement throwing salvos at what he termed “criminal NDC media” - the Daily Post; the Informer; the National Democrat; the Ghanaian Lens - for allowing themselves to be “rented” to soil his reputation.

* Source: The True Statesman

The man in the controversial Muntanka pampers case that rocked the Ministry of Youth and Sports some three years ago is at his games again in his new post as the Director of Birth and Death Registry Department under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Though demoted, insiders in the department have hinted  "The True Statesman" that Mr. Albert Anthony Ampong, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports at the time of the Muntanka case, finds himself comfortable in his new post because he has the free hand to run the place with an iron hand, with the connivance of his deputy, Mr. Ignatius Akwesi Faibi.

The sources indicated that the two are involved in massive corruption in the department, and that in order to cover up their dubious activities, Mr. Ampong is conniving with his deputy to succeed him.

Mr. Ampong has, reportedly, reached his retiring age, and will be going on retirement this year.

Insiders call him “very cunning and diabolic”, and told  "The True Statesman"  that “he is lording himself over the staff as the Director with an iron fist, thereby abusing the rights of many of his subordinates”.

In addition, they say that he “is engaging in indiscriminate and illegal termination of appointments and transfer of staff and condoning fraudulent activities perpetrated by his right hand man who also acts as his deputy director, Mr. Akwasi Faibi”.

Recently, the insiders said, Mr. Ampong embarked on a witch- hunting scheme against a section of his staff who are believed to be pro- NDC and Gas that witnessed the immediate transfer of some workers

Documents available to  "The True Statesman" reveal how birth registration documents of Mr. Faibi have been falsified on several occasions, sometimes reducing his age to make him four or fifteen (4 or 15) times younger than his real age in official documents to fleece other public institutions, including SSNIT.

“Interestingly, the issue of Mr. Faibi’s birth date falsification is public knowledge here, but due to the intimidating and obnoxious nature of the Director, none of his staff dare question the unfortunate developments going on within this department”, said a staff.

Speaking to this reporter, Mr. Ampong confirmed that there are rumours of forgery going around the Death and Birth Registry Department, but has nobody has brought documentary prove to back those claims.

“There are lots of noise about forgery, but I haven’t seen anyone produce evidence, this is an attempt to tarnish my hard won image”, Mr Ampong said.

"The True Statesman" can confirm that a petition is pending at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the supervising ministry, on the matter.

We can also confirm that there is uneasy calm at the Birth and Death Registry Department and that things may get out of hand if steps are not taken to remedy the situation.

The True Statesman

info@thetruestatesman.org.