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• 11.01.2009

President Mills speaks on foreign travels

Abuja, Jan. 11, GNA- President John Evans Atta Mills on Saturday made his maiden trip outside Ghana, to Nigeria, three days after his inauguration and indicated his readiness to regulate the frequency of foreign trips during his tenure.

" I'll travel when I believe its really necessary," President Atta Mills told journalists, after joining other ECOWAS Heads of State at the Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in Abuja, Nigeria.

He said, he had been able to "kill a few birds with one stone" with his first travel.

President Atta Mill's presence at the Summit which discussed largely troubles in the Republic of Guinea following the death of President Lanssana Conte last year was at the instance of ECOWAS Chairman President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

However, President Atta Mills said the occasion was also used to thank fellow Presidents for their presence at his inauguration ceremony, their messages of solidarity and felicitations and also to show appreciation to the ECOWAS Election Observer Team at Ghana's last polls. A message read by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, on behalf of the Authority, congratulated the Ghanaian President on his victory at the recent polls and his successful inauguration as President and further wished him a successful tenure.

The Leaders also lauded Ghana for the matured manner in which it conducted the last elections, the fifth after it retuned to constitutional rule since 1992.

President Atta Mills said improvement in internal security would be one of the top priorities of his administration and promised to come out soon with the list of the personalities to work with him. He was assertive that Ghana was rich in human resources and that there was no lack of persons within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to fill responsible positions in the Government, and nobody faltered the NDC for the quality of persons who administered the affairs of the nation dururing the NDC's time in power for two successful terms.

"Ghana is rich very rich in human resources. We have the people," President Mills said.

Among those on President Atta Mills' entourage were Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesman, and Mr. Victor Gbeho, Chairman of the International Relations Sub Committee of the Transitional Team. 11 Jan. 08

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Let's put the elections behind us - Mahama

Tamale, Jan. 11, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called on all Ghanaians to put election 2008 behind them and forge ahead in unity to help develop Ghana to become a real haven of investment destination.

"We are all one people with common cultural and national bounding of which peace and unity must be seen among us so that we would remain the envy of the rest of the sub-region."

Vice President Mahama made the call in Tamale on Saturday when he attended the final funeral rites of Alhaji Baba Gariba, father of Dr Sulley Gariba, Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Alternative (IPA) who died last week.

Mr. Mahama said, "There is no reason why we should fight one another after the elections. We are all one with a common destiny and we need to be each other's keeper and guard jealousy against the peace in the country."

He described the late Alhaji Gariba as a peace loving person who lived a life worthy of emulation.

"The old man during the second round of the elections told me we would win and advised me to continue to spread the truth to Ghanaians," he said and indicated that with the humility in which he lived his soul was already in Heaven.

Mr. Mahama said the NDC, under President Evans Atta Mills would not disappoint Ghanaians who have reposed the confidence in the party and voted it into power.

"What we are asking for are the blessings and cooperation of Ghanaians and with God's blessing, Ghana would become a prosperous nation and we would ensure that good governance is brought to the door step of the people," he said.

He assured Muslims in the country that the NDC government would ensure that Pilgrims were airlifted direct from Tamale to Mecca to perform Hajj and appointed Mr. Haruna Iddrisu (MP) for Tamale South to constantly be reminding Cabinet to facilitate the implementation. The Vice President later paid courtesy calls on some traditional rulers within the Tamale Metropolis who prayed that, President Atta Mills would work harder to unite the country, which had been polarized over the years.

The occasion attracted high profile personalities such as Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, Leader of the People's National Convention (PNC) and his wife Comfort Mahama, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Leading NDC member, Mr. Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Moses Asaga, MP for Nabdam, Alhaji Ibrahim Adam, ranking member of the NDC and other national and regional executives of the party.

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GJA congratulates Atta Mills

Accra, Jan. 11, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has congratulated Professor John Evans Atta Mills on his election and subsequent inauguration as President of the Republic of Ghana. In a press release, the GJA stated that it is confident that President Atta Mills, who is no stranger to government machinery will provide decisive and inspirational leadership, and work hard with determination to provide Ghana with a better future.

"We are of the view that events of the fiercely contested December 2008 general elections have resulted in sharp political polarization and we urge His Excellency to build the necessary bridges with his defeated competitors to promote national reconciliation and cohesion which are critical to peace and stability."

"We, in the media look forward to a favourable working environment under his government. We are not oblivious of the challenges in the relationship between the last NDC administration and the media but hope this can be overcome and needs to be overcome in the interest of further deepening Ghana's democracy which has become the toast of the world. "We have in the last few years witnessed remarkable improvement in relations between the NDC and the media when the party was in opposition, and hope this will be further strengthened as they once again take over the reigns of government.

The GJA expressed belief that good government media relations are imperative if Ghana was to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the development of its media.

"We refer particularly to the latest challenge for which an otherwise vintage performance by the media in the coverage of the recent presidential run-off was nearly marred by dangerous and unethical behaviour by a few radio stations.

"We urge the new administration to treat as urgent, calls by the GJA and other stakeholders for the passage of a broadcasting law, to both promote and regulate operations in Ghana's broadcasting industry." There already exists a blueprint formulated by the Advocacy Committee for a Broadcasting Law which has been presented to the National Media Commission and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

The GJA also congratulates Mr. John Mahana on his assumption to the high office of Vice President and hopes that he brings his media knowledge to bear on the development of the media and the consolidation of freedom of expression in Ghana.

The GJA also wishes to further congratulate the Speaker of Parliament Mrs. Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo on her election to the high office of Speaker of the House. "Finally, we congratulate all Members of Parliament on their election."

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• 10.01.2009

Mills Stops 'stealing' of state vehicles

President John Evans Atta Mills has ordered a return of all state vehicles in the possession of former ministers and government appointees.

The directive follows reports of transfer of ownership of state vehicles into private hands.

Presidential spokesperson Mahama Ayariga told Journalists on Friday, the presidency is baffled by the mad rush by former government officials to re-register the state vehicles.

Consequently the presidency has also ordered the immediate suspension of the re-registration of state vehicles at the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

It has also demanded the list of all state vehicles whose ownership have been changed into private hands since June last year.

Mr. Ayariga said any transfers of state vehicles must be made with the express direction and knowledge of the Chief Director at the office of the presidency.

He gave the assurance that the presidency will not hesitate to give out vehicles to ministers and government functionaries who are entitled to those vehicles.

He however denied knowledge of the use of military personnel to de-confiscate some of the state vehicles.

A check by Joy News correspondents at the offices of the DVLA, on Friday, showed scores of military personnel in a scuffle with individuals attempting to re-register the vehicles.

Meanwhile Nana Akomea former Minister of employment says he will be surprised if reports of mass transfer of state vehicles into private hands were true.

He explained some former government appointees may be entitled to some of those vehicles depending on the rate of depreciation, but maintained any transfers should be at the behest of the transition team.

He insisted it is the responsibility of the transition team to structure and define the modalities under which those vehicles would be transferred.

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State Pool Of vehicles Disappearing

... AG's Department Shreds Documents and Destroys Softwares
...Chief Kufuor's Spanish Transaction Documents Cannot Be Traced

In the run-up to the December 7, 2008 elections, True Democrat intelligence sources in the Kufuor presidency revealed how NPP functionaries had embarked on a looting and destruction spree.

Confidential documents bordering on questionable transactions were reportedly being shredded in the presidency. Vehicles belonging to the State Protocol Department (SPD) had been disappearing from the pool with some traced to the Ejisu residence of a Minister of State in the out-gone J. A. Kufuor administration.

At the time we broke the story about the depth of looting and destruction, little did our intelligence realized the critical dimension it had assumed. At last Wednesday January 7, 2009 inauguration of the new President, His Excellency, J.E.A. Mills, one did not need the oracle of Delphi to tell the nation the reasons behind the shortage of State Protocol vehicles to convey dignitaries and other specially invited guests. The vehicles available were just handful as the NPP looting brigade had virtually wiped the pool clean before exiting from power.

According to True Democrat intelligence sources, the vehicles were not the only victim of these rapacious crooks, the documents and software bought to expedite easy programming and computation of salaries and wages of Ghanaian workers have also been targeted. At the Controller and Accountant-General's Department, a massive operation to destroy documents, invoices and other hard copy data was carried out on the dawn of Friday, January 2, 2009. A very reliable intelligence source who worked very closely with Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani told the paper that these documents and invoices bore traces of gargantuan thievery and corruption undertaken by the Kufuor administration. A similar exercise, the source stated, was reportedly carried out at the Bank of Ghana.

Intelligence chiefs packing out of the National Security Council Secretariat disclosed that the deliberate destruction of documents was on the expressed orders of the Presidency. Documents reportedly destroyed are those which dealt with the inventory of vehicles bought for Ghana @ 50. These vehicles have been looted and others sold at ridiculous prices to NPP functionaries and their cronies. What is even frightening is the connivance of officials of the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) to alter and fraudulently prepare documents changing the ownership of the vehicles into individual names.

It has also been confirmed to the paper that the Kufuor administration held the record number of vehicle purchases on behalf of the Government of Ghana into the country. Clearly, the records indicate that between 2001 and the third quarter of 2008, vehicles imported into the country by the NPP government under various guises was unprecedented. Also destroyed was a contractural agreement signed on behalf of the government of Ghana by one of the children of President J.A. Kufuor. It has to do with the Spanish government. J.A. Kufuor's son is not a member of government but he chose to sign an agreement on behalf of the people of Ghana. The issue of pair-trawling and its consequences on the local fishing industry has something to do with Chief Kufuor. The arrest of the Spaniard, Alfredo Diaz, a shipping magnate, for operating his fleet illegally in our waters resulted in a fictitious use of the tax-payers money of $3million to pay the Spanish for breach of contract.

As we reported in one of our previous issues, the fraudulent transaction by Chief Kufuor caused the nation to part with over C33billion for an act which is not only illegal but borders on criminality. For the NPP government to dip its hand into the treasury and use the tax-payers money to settle a criminal act committed by the son of the President must not be swept under the carpet. In the said contract signed by Chief Kufuor with the Spanish authorities, Spanish vessels were to undertake large scale fishing in Ghanaian waters. It was in response to this contract which prompted Diaz to embark on the fishing venture in Ghana, having being assured that all the necessary arrangements have been put in place.

We can report that Mr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, then the Deputy Attorney-General unaware of the criminal involvement of Chief Kufuor processed the docket and began court proceedings against the Spanish company. The case was handled by Mr. Justice Yaw Apau of the Court Appeal. He fined the Spanish company $1million. The court also ordered that the ship be auctioned. Incensed by the hostile attitude of the Government of Ghana, Diaz and his associates turned to the Spanish Embassy with the requisite documents to seek diplomatic resolution to the issue or else they go public.

In order to avoid the criminal act of the son of the President to become public knowledge, a top level meeting was held at the residence of J.A. Kufuor and attended by members of his kitchen cabinet. It was then decided that the monies be taken from the contingency fund to pay the fine on behalf of the Spanish Company. As part of the major cover-up, the government handpicked Mr. Moses Antwi as the auctioneer without going through the legally accepted procedure of tender. A further $2million was taken from the contingency fund and secretly given to the Spaniard to buy back the ship.

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NPP supporters now refugees

Intimidated, driven out of homes for supporting NPP

Some of the ‘political refugees’ picking up balls of kenkey provided by the party at the NPP national campaign office yesterday, while others, tired, await their turn.

Reports reaching The Statesman indicate that some New Patriotic Party supporters across the country are being brutalised, chased out of their abodes and evicted by some supporters of the National Democratic Congress.

This paper was further informed that some of the victims of harassment had sought refuge at the campaign office of Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP Presidential candidate for the December election, which is located at Asylum Down, Accra. They were said to have come from Agbogloshie Market, Nima, and some of the Zongo communities in the Accra Metropolis.

A verification visit to the campaign office by The Statesman yesterday established that the 'refugees', numbering over 150, were made up of young men and women, and were being catered for by the party leadership as well as some sympathisers of the NPP.

Abdul Mohammed, one of the victims, who said he lived at the Agbobloshie Market, told this paper that shortly after John Evans Atta Mills had been sworn-in as the President, some NDC thugs in the area began to attack NPP supporters, beat them up and also destroyed their properties.

It was gathered that most of the ‘refugees" were scrap metal dealers whose livelihood had depended on that trade for years now.

According to Mohammed, one NPP supporter was stabbed to death, maintaining that the police had been informed but no arrest had yet been made.

Asked what led to such a barbaric act, he said long before the declaration of the winner of the presidential run-off poll, some of the NDC supporters had threatened to ‘deal with’ the NPP supporters in the area.

Mohammed noted that the NDC attackers were motivated by the northern chieftaincy conflict between the Abudus and the Andanis, and therefore used politics as a smokescreen to achieve their diabolic plan.

"My brother let me tell you, no matter what I am going through, I will support the NPP.

No amount of intimidation can change my position,” he stated. Mohammed however, said the food they were being given was not enough and appealed to party sympathizers to come to their aid and to also compensate them for the destruction of their properties by the NDC thugs.

In a related development, reports reaching this paper as at press time suggested that some NDC ‘Aluta Boys’ in Tamale had gone haywire, burning houses of some NPP supporters, causing a chaotic situation in the Metropolis and allegedly resulting in one person being wounded by gun shot. Two persons, we gathered, had been arrested.

Abdul-Samed Yahaya, NPP activist and polling station agent at the Tamale North constituency in the December polls, re-echoed the point that the mayhem could be traced to the chieftaincy conflict in the Northern Region, and not politics.

According to him, people use politics to visit atrocities on their political opponents, especially in the north, and described such behaviour as barbaric which must be done away with.

Yahaya, who is eyeing the Tamale North constituency secretaryship of the NPP, maintained that the party remained the best political group in the country, and expressed the hope that it would return to power in 2012.

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Controversy rages over seizure of "state-owned" vehicles

Controversy looms large over the seizure of a fleet of state-owned vehicles which ex-government functionaries are believed to have attempted to re-register as private automobiles.

At least a former deputy minister and Chief Kufuor, son of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, were victims of a raid conducted by state security personnel detailed to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Accra, to impound suspected state-owned vehicles which were allegedly being given private labels.

Secretary to the NDC transition team Alex Segbefia confirmed the seizures on Joy FM’s news analysis programme, News File on Saturday but served notice that the vehicles would be returned to their owners if they were found not to be state assets.

Joy News investigations however indicate that Chief Kufuor’s four-wheel drive which was impounded was returned to him last night. The President’s son confirmed he had only been taking the car, registered in his uncle’s name, to the DVLA for a renewal of its MOT certificate.

Editor of the Crusading Guide newspaper, Kwaku Bako, had ealier on the programme stated that checks by his paper into the matter had revealed that although the vehicle had been in the possession of Chief Kufuor, it originally belonged to and had been registered in the name of Mr George Kufuor, an uncle to Chief Kufuor.

Mr Segbefia dismissed assertions that the government’s effort to retrieve the vehicles amounted to persecuting the opposition. The transition secretary stated that the programme is only to ensure that “the state takes what belongs to it.”

The “repossession exercise” being embarked upon comes at a time when the assets sub-committees of the transition teams of both the outgoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) are finalising protocols and proposals to ensure a smooth transfer of certain assets.

Meanwhile former Chief of Staff at the Osu Castle, Kwame Mpiani, who called into the programme condemned perceptions that the vehicles which were being registered belonged to the state.

He said his office had prepared a record of all state-owned vehicles including those secured for the Ghana@50 celebrations.

Mr Mpiani however supplied information that “most of the vehicles were sold.”

Although not sure of the exact number of vehicles on the government Assets of Inventory, the former Chief of Staff presented the following as vehicles purchased for the country’s 50th birthday: 50 Mercedez Benz saloon cars, 50 BMW saloon cars, 35 Chryslers, 40 Peugeots, 35 Jaguars and... a few buses.

He said his office disposed of all the vehicles except for some 35 Peugeot cars which were assigned to the police force, and 11 Benz and BMW saloon cars which currently remain at the Castle car park.

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NPP holds thanksgiving service

Accra, Jan. 10, GNA - The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday held a thanksgiving service to offer gratitude to God for seeing it through the December 2008 general elections. Hundreds of supporters clad in the party's paraphernalia who thronged the trade fair centre in Accra to partake in the service were full of jubilation, making one to hardly accept the fact that their party recently lost elections. Former Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and party big wigs attended the ceremony.

In a sermon, Reverend Professor Appiah-Poku of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology advised the supporters not to be discouraged but have faith in God for a better luck in future. Rev. Appiah-Poku, who drew lessons from the scriptures suggesting that people who persevered always succeeded, urged members of the party to fight on to enable them emerge victorious in subsequent elections.

He said the defeat of the party in the December 28, 2008 general election should not dampen their spirit and belief in the party's ability to wrest back political power in the country. He called on supporters to observe the democratic credentials of the NPP by remaining calm and tolerant even in face of provocation. Nana Akufo Addo, Presidential Candidate of the party for the December 2008 general election, called for unity among party members, saying it would make them resilient to enable them to come back to power.

He prayed for peaceful coexistence among the entire Ghanaian society for effective national development. He assured party supporters that the NPP would soon be back to assume the reigns power.

Former President, John Agyekum Kufuor said the party would continue to champion the freedom and justice of every individual in the country. He thanked Ghanaians for giving him and the NPP the opportunity to serve them for the past eight years.

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• 09.01.2009

Parliament: President's inaugural speech good, but  ...

organization of inauguration bad

Accra, Dec. 09, GNA-While expressing appreciation to President John Evans Atta Mills for his inaugural speech last Wednesday, Members of Parliament on Friday expressed concern over the chaotic and precarious manner the ceremony turned out to be.

"We have witnessed difficult and suffocating inaugural ceremonies in this country. But to put it mildly, this inaugural went over the imagination of everybody," Mr. Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader said, in a statement on the floor.

The ceremony, which should have taken place at the Parliament House, was moved to the Independence Square, both in Accra to accommodate the larger number of people desiring to witness the swearing-in of President Atta Mills.

However, the ceremony turned chaotic into a virtual political rally, depriving a number of the legislators from witnessing fully the activities of the event.

Mr Bagbin said: "The crowd over-run the security and turned the Parliamentary Sitting into a national political rally. As Majority Leader, I saw no arrival nor departure of any dignitary, including his Excellency and Madam Speaker. I heard no word from you, Madam Speaker, the President and the Vice."

At the ceremony, members of the Legislature were subjected to a scene of a struggle between the security personnel and perambulating members of the public, particularly the media.

Mr Bagbin, who is also MP for Nadowli (NDC) said the view of the legislators was blocked by both local and foreign media personnel who had clustered in group between them and the action spot.

"As nation, these repeated scene inaugural ceremonies pose a challenge that we should confront and provide a solution," the Majority Leader said.

Minority Leader Mr Osei Kyei-Mensa- Bonsu said members were trapped in the buses ferrying them from the Chamber Block of the House to the Independence Square for almost two hours due to traffic jam forcing them to get down and trek, with many drenched in sweat having covered a distance of over one kilometre in the suits and traditional garbs.

'While on the vehicles threats were flying from all directions as people kept on banging at the windows and others made all manner of gestures.

"Not too may police escorts were available that day and those who were present demonstrated they had not come because of the Members of Parliament," Mr Kyei- Mensa-Bonsu said.

The Minority Leader also complained of frequent movement by non-parliamentarians, poor public address system which prevented members from hearing the oath taking of the President and the Vice, and neither did they see the investiture, nor hear the inaugural speech of the President.

He suggested that the House resolved that the swearing-in of any President-elect shall have to take place right in the Chamber of the House.

"After the swearing-in, the President may then proceed to the Independence Square to deliver his inaugural speech to the nation," Mr Kyei- Mensa- Bonsu said.

Majority Chief Whip Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, blamed the State Protocol and the National Security Agencies for the disorder.

Source: GNA

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FIDA congratulates new speaker

Accra, Jan. 9 GNA - The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana on Friday congratulated Mrs Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo on her election as the Speaker of the Fifth Parliament of Ghana.

In a statement signed by Ms Ursula Owusu for the President, FIDA-Ghana said the association was thrilled to see that the retired Supreme Court Judge had been elected as the first woman in Ghana's history and seventh in Africa to take up that office.

The statement said she joined a selected group of just over thirty female speakers of Parliament currently in office around the world including Gambia, Swaziland, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Rwanda. The statement said FIDA-Ghana considered her appointment as an important and greater representation of women in decision-making positions in Parliament, given the current woefully low number of female Parliamentarians. Justice Bamford-Addo's leadership of the House would serve in no small measure to make up the deficit. "FIDA-Ghana also believes that this trend must continue in order to provide a yardstick for increased female participation in decision -making, as recognized by the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action." "We are convinced that with her track record of justice, fairness, and promotion of women's rights, she will bring her immense experience and expertise to bear on her current position as Speaker to enhance the status of women in this country," it added.

The statement also commended both sides of the House for taking the historic step of unanimously appointing a woman to the distinguished position and was hopeful that it was a first step towards approving the appointment of more women into executive positions in government to ensure that gender parity in the decision-making positions was achieved.

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Declare your assets -GII

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has resurrected the old debate over the declaration of assets by government officials which died a natural death sometime ago.

It has thus asked both members of the out-going New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) governments to declare their assets.

In a statement signed by Executive Secretary of the GII, Vitus Azeem, he noted that "as an anti-corruption civil empowerment organization, GII wishes to draw the attention of both the outgoing government and incoming government to Article 286 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550)."

Under the provisions of Article 286 of the Constitution, the President, his Vice, Ministers and Parliamentarians are required to declare their assets at the end of their term of office. In that regard, he has asked former President Kufuor, his Vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and all other Ministers and Parliamentarians, some of whom have resigned or were removed from office, and have not yet done so, to endeavour to do so without any further delay.

Similarly, the GII also called on President John Evans Atta Mills, his Vice, John Dramani Mahama and with their yet to be appointed Ministers and Members of the fifth Parliament of the fourth republic to declare their assets and liabilities even before they assume office.

Article 286 of the Constitution and Section 4 of Act 550 require states inter alia - "A person who holds a public office submits to the Auditor-General a written declaration of all property or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by him, whether directly or indirectly

(a) before taking office, (b) at the end of every four years and (c) at the end of his term of office.

It goes further to state -"Failure to declare or knowingly making false declaration shall be a contravention of this Constitution and shall be dealt with in accordance with article 287 of this Constitution."

The Act states further that " and, shall in any event, be submitted not later than six months of the occurrence of any of the events specified in this sub-section".

For that matter, GII, which happens to be the local chapter of world-acclaimed anti-corruption civil organization -Transparency International, reminded all politicians and political parties of the promises they made to Ghanaians with regard to the fight against corruption and to view the requirement to declare their assets and liabilities as an anti-corruption tool, and accordingly comply with it if they are indeed committed to fighting corruption.

Furthermore, it has drawn the attention of the President to the fact that there are weaknesses in the Assets Declaration Law that need to be addressed for the law to be used as an effective anti-corruption tool.

Meanwhile, the GII and other key stakeholders including the Auditor-General have identified these weaknesses for redress. These stakeholders have come out with Regulations for Act 550, which are awaiting Parliament's approval.

It thus expressed the hope that the Attorney-General of the in-coming administration will bring them before Parliament within the NDC's first 100 days in office.

That notwithstanding, it has also made recommendations for amendments to the law and possibly to the Constitution and thus stressed -"we are willing to work with government to get these weaknesses addressed and hope that His Excellency will provide the necessary leadership in this regard."

The recommendations made by GII and its key partners for the Regulations and the proposed amendments, among others, include provision for verification of declarations by the Auditor-General, public disclosure to enable citizens challenge claims, more frequent declarations, either yearly or bi-annually, as happens in many countries, publication of names of people who have complied and those who have not, and the sanctions for non-compliance.

As a sign of exemplary leadership, it has therefore, asked the President and his Vice to permit the Auditor-General to publish the asset declarations that they have submitted, emphasizing that "in appointing and vetting Ministers and other appointees past compliance with the assets declaration law must be verified, as failure to comply bars such people from taking public office."

In order to make the assets declaration law operational and to supplement the Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), the Ghana Integrity Initiative has called on the NDC government to facilitate the speedy passage of the Freedom of Information Bill in fulfillment of its promise to Ghanaians.

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Samia Nkrumah asserts her independence in Parliament

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - Miss Samia Nkrumah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, on Friday said she would not be aligned with the majority NDC in Parliament but preferred to do business in the House guided by national interests and those of her constituents in Jomoro.

She said she was constrained to sit with the Minority NPP for now, pending the revision of the Standing Orders of the House which would enable her express full political independence and transact business in the House based on her conscience.

"I will sit with the largest Minority party pending the outcome of the revision of the Standing Order," she said in reactions to calls by the leadership of the House for the independent MPs and MPs from the two smaller parties, the PNC and the CPP, to declare their stand for the conduct of business in Parliament.

Based on the Standing Orders of the House and convention, independent MPs and those from smaller parties must openly declare their stance and alignment with either the majority NDC or the minority NPP party for the smooth conduct of Parliamentary business.

The need for independent MPs and MPs from smaller parties to state where they want to belong to came up on the floor of the House, when Mr. Alban Bagbin, the Majority Leader presented a report of the Committee of Selection to the House to enable the House to begin work on the composition of membership for Parliamentary committee such as the Appointments, Privileges, Standing Orders, Public Accounts and Education.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, said since there had been no formal communications from the four independent MPs, the CPP MP and the two PNC MPs as to which side they belonged to, it was wrong for the NDC to claim to have Majority strength for the placement of members in committees.

The leadership of the NDC and the NPP agreed then that in line with convention, Independent MPs and those from the smaller opposition parties should declare their position in a written form, which should be tabled before the House.

Mr Bagbin said the two MPs belonging to the PNC and two Independent MPs had declared their position through a written statement, which had been delivered to the Speaker, Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo.

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NDC, NPP in violent clash

Tamale, Jan. 9, GNA - Two persons sustained multiple gun-shot wounds following a clash between a youth group of the ruling National Democratic Congress and opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), at Changli in Tamale on Thursday.

The victims, Mohammed Muftawu, 23 and Yusif Rashid, 26, both supporters of NDC are receiving treatment at a herbal centre at Jakarayile, a suburb of Tamale.

They were allegedly shot by Rashid Abdulai, 18, during the clash, which led to the destruction of property, including a motorcycle belonging to an NPP supporter.

Mr Ofosu Mensah Gyeabuor, Northern Regional Police Commander, who confirmed the clash, said the police were yet to ascertain the cause of the incident.

Police Superintendent Peter Baba, Northern Regional Crime Officer, said Abdulai who allegedly shot the victims was in police custody with nine others.

He said the suspects would be screened and those found culpable prosecuted gave the assurance that the police had taken adequate measures to avert any future clashes in the area. Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Security Task Force has summoned leadership of the two political parties to an emergency meeting to resolve the persistent clashes between them.

Muftawu, speaking to newsmen said 17 pellets had so far been removed from his body while the remaining two were yet to be removed. He said he felt numbness in his left leg and was responding to treatment, while the pellets in Rashid's body are yet to be removed. The herbalist, Amadu Nnidoo, told GNA that the victims would be discharged within the next four days.

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Victor Smith Raids Castle With Soldiers

...he indeed went to the Castle with a team of soldiers but said the rationale was to take an inventory of the official vehicles there.
... some of the said vehicles had been sold to individuals...

...to ensure that the said sold cars were not illegally sneaked out...

THERE WAS pandemonium at the Osu Christianborg Castle, the seat of government, in Accra yesterday when Victor Emmanuel Smith, former aide to ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, led a group of soldiers in a typical coup d'état fashion to seize the keys to vehicles parked and others that had gone there to refuel.

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PNC in reverse "Maame Dokono"

The People's National Convention (PNC) Members of Parliament have made a u-turn in less than a month to join the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in parliament after declaring publicly to support the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Haruna Bayirga, MP for Sissala West, Moses Dani Baah, MP for Sissala East, and David Appasera, MP for Bolgatanga, then PNC Parliamentary candidates endorsed the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo for the December 28 Presidential run-off election, citing concrete reasons why they and the PNC should not support the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

All three were part of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) majority side in the last Parliament with Hon. Moses Baah getting Deputy Ministerial positions in the first term of the NPP administration.

The MP for Sissala West, Hon. Bayirga the only person to have won his seat among the group of three on the December 7, 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections has reportedly abandoned his pledge to be with the NPP by joining the now ruling NDC side in parliament with a colleague, leaving many tongues wagging about his political commitments.

Majority Leader and NDC MP for Nadowli West, Alban S.K. Bagbin was reported to have told the BBC yesterday that his party had written to the PNC for their MPs to join the side of the governing party in parliament and in return get ministerial positions.

According to Hon. Bagbin, the PNC wrote back accepting the offer, giving the NDC a Majority of 116 Members in 230-member parliament with two, Asutifi South and Akwatia constituency yet to be decided.

Hon. Bayirga confirmed to the DAILY GUIDE in an interview that the NDC had actually made some offers to the PNC, which the party had accepted including taking care of the family of the late Dr. Hilla Limann, a former president whose government was toppled on December 31, 1981 by ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, the founder of the NDC.

The Sissala West MP however pointed out that he was not privy to the details of the offers and therefore was not be able to confirm the full content of what the NDC was putting on the table. According to him his initial decision was to be with the NPP based on certain strong principles and ideals.

However, the leadership of the PNC he disclosed told him in unambiguous terms that he was not in parliament because of himself but on the ticket and interest of the party, a stand he must not ignore.

In their commitment to support the NPP and its presidential candidate in the presidential run-off, Hon. Haruna Bayirga, Hon. Moses Dani Baah and Hon. David Appasera, at the time announced that aside the official endorsement of the NPP candidate they were going to embark on regional campaigns to ask their supporters to vote for Nana Addo.

The MPs also debunked an assertion that their decision was in contravention of the position of the leadership of the PNC to remain neutral in the run-off.

“If the PNC as a party wants to remain neutral that does not mean that we cannot go ahead to endorse a candidate we want to support, and it is not we the three MPs alone who are endorsing Nana Addo, we have a lot of regional chairmen, organizers and party faithful with us to support Nana Addo,” Haruna Bayirga had noted in his response to questions from journalists.

They explained then that though all the opposition parties campaigned for ‘change’ prior to the December 7 election, they “simply have not been convinced that the NDC offers the kind of change that will fast forward Ghana’s development”.

They explained further that their decision to support the NPP was arrived at after a meticulous study of the visions of the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), an evaluation of the records of both parties in government, and a consideration of the historical relationship between the two parties and the PNC.

GhanaWeb-News.com  COMMENT :  MANY OF THE PNC MEMBERS ARE ANYWAY STILL SUPPORTES OF NDC!

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Rawlings pats Generals

Former President Rawlings has congratulated Brigadier General (Rtd) Nunoo Mensah and Vice-Admiral (Rtd) Owusu Ansah on their appointment and nomination as National Security Advisor and Defence Minister respectively. In a letter signed by his secretary, Kofi Adams and copied to Media Excel,

President Rawlings, who is also the founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) said he was convinced the “noble Generals would work to restore the quality of discipline of the security services to the levels they left it.”

“I take this opportunity to appeal to the other retired Generals to support them in their effort to restore their sense of professionalism to the services and institutions under their jurisdiction,” the ex-President said.

Former President also called on serving personnel to bring their influence to bear on the work that needs to be done to improve the sense of discipline and professionalism of the security services.

The security services, the former President said, had not escaped the corruption of values and standards that enveloped the country over the past eight years and it is only through a concerted effort at ridding this canker that the citizenry can have peace and confidence to be able to contribute their quota to the dream of building a better Ghana.

Commending President Atta Mills for the two appointments, former President Rawlings enjoined him to make appointments that will be approved by the masses through whose sweat and toil change came to Ghana.

“The electorate, particularly the youth expect the new government to practice real change through it appointments and subsequently policy decisions and it is incumbent on President Mills to listen to their voices in making appointments in these heady days of transition,” the former President said.

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President Mills to attend ECOWAS Summit

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills leaves for Abuja, Nigeria, on Saturday, January 10, to attend an ECOWAS Mediation Committee Summit.

A press release signed by his Spokesperson, Mr Mahama Ayariga said Parliament had already been notified. It said pursuant to Article 60, clause eight of the Constitution, the Vice President would act in his absence. President Mills is expected back home on Sunday, January 11.

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New names not ministerial appointments

Recent nominations by President John Evans Atta Mills are not ministerial appointments, transitional spokesperson has said.

According to Hannah Tetteh, the appointees will only play supervisory roles until substantive ministers are appointed.

President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday appointed a three member team headed by Tobgui Afede Aso to oversee the finance ministry. Former deputy finance Minister Moses Asaga and Kwabena Duffuor former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, are the other members.

Others appointed include, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah for National Security, with Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni and Vice Admiral E.O. Owusu Ansah heading the Interior and Defense Ministries respectively.

The appointments have ignited criticisms from certain quarters as the re-emergence of the old gurus of the erstwhile P/NDC.

Some have also questioned the inclusion of Tobgui Afede, a traditional head, in what is expected to be purely partisan political appointment.

According to the 1992 constitution, chiefs are not to take part in partisan politics.

But Hannah Tetteh explained to Joy News these appointees will not take any important political decisions.

They will only oversee to the key sectors of the country and brief the incoming substantive ministers to be appointed by the president, she added.

She lamented the delays in ministerial appointments as a result of parliamentary vetting; insisting, "government business must go on."

"The president only delegated his executive authority for them to act in a care-taker capacity."

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NPP supporters asked to stop "blame game"

WA, Jan. 9, GNA - Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have been asked to stop blaming individuals and groups of people they perceived were the cause of the party's defeat in Election 2008 and rather unite to face the challenges ahead. The defeat should not dampen their spirit but it should serve as a lesson that must help urge them to correct their mistakes to enable them win elections in the future.

Mr. John Ibrahim Donkor, Wa Central constituency organizer of NPP, made the call in an interview with GNA at Wa on Thursday. He stressed that this was not the first time NPP had lost elections, saying "When the party lost elections in 1992 and 1996, those defeats did not demoralize us. We went back to strategize and God rewarded us for our hard work with victory in the elections in 2000". Mr Donkor urged members and supporters to reorganize and strengthen the party's structures for 2012 elections.

He called on the national leadership of NPP to resolve all differences that worked against the party in Election 2008 and find ways of motivating party activists to start mobilizing support for the next elections.

Mr. Donkor commended NPP supporters in the Constituency for voting for the party in the last elections. He said even though NPP did not win in the constituency in the last polls, votes attained compared to previous election results indicated that the party was growing from strength to strength in the area.

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NDC and NPP youths urged to live in peace

Ayerede (B/A), Jan. 9, GNA - Madam Rose Appau, Assembly Member for Ayerede in Nkoranza South District of Brong Ahafo, has urged the youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to bury their differences and forge ahead in unity towards the development of the country.

She was addressing a large crowd of youth from Asuano, Nyamebekyere, Nkyinkamamu, Dimango, Grumakrom and Kramokrom at an entertainment show organised by the NDC to celebrate the party's assumption to power.

The Assembly member advised the people to regard each other as "his brother's keeper" and not to allow partisan politics to divide them, as that could adversely affect their developmental efforts.

Madam Appau commended the people for the decent and peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the last elections and urged them to maintain that spirit for the accelerated development of the area.

"The majority and minority in Parliament will collaborate and support our new President (Atta Mills) to move the nation forward and the youth in the various parties must do same," she stressed.

The Assembly Member advised the youth to be law-abiding and to respect persons in authority, so that they would receive God's blessings to become responsible and resourceful adults.

Madam Appau called on the people to actively participate in communal labour activities and to help initiate development programmes in order to attract support from the government and NGOs. Mr Adonteng Gyimadu, NDC Zonal Chairman, advised the youth of the NPP and the NDC to forgive any offence committed during the campaigning period and live peacefully as one people in the area.

"The immediate past President Mr John Agyekum Kufuor and his predecessor, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, as well as the current President John Evans Atta Mills were all at the inauguration ceremony at the Independence Square and this is the spirit that all other Ghanaians must exhibit,"

he emphasized.

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TUC congratulates Mills and calls for "living wage"

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - The Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday congratulated President John Evans Atta Mills, on his assumption of office and made series of demands including a living wage. "Even before you settle down for the onerous duties as the President of Ghana, we would like to draw your attention to the low wages and incomes in Ghana, especially the public sector, notwithstanding some pay increases over the past few years," the TUC said in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Mr Kofi Asamoah.

"We wish to reiterate Ghana TUC's long-standing demand for a living wage," it said, adding that the union expected President Atta Mills to pay priority attention to the demands to facilitate improved productivity and transformation of the economy.

The TUC drew attention to consultations and negotiations on the single spine pay structure with the previous administration and urged President Mills to implement it without further delay. The TUC also appealed to the Head of State to implement the Pensions Act (Act766), to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Commission in order to address low pensions. The TUC urged President Mills to name "a government of competence and dedicated Ghanaians" and not "those who will be in for accumulation of wealth at the expense of the poor".

It reminded President Mills about his commitment to an all-inclusive government, saying this was critical for the consolidation of national unity given the tension that characterised the election. The TUC urged President Mills to develop policies needed to transform Ghana into a middle income economy within the shortest possible time.

The TUC also drew attention to workers' rights, explaining that although the International Labour Organisation Convention; 158, provided that an employee should not have his/her employment terminated without reason, this has not been ratified by Ghana. He therefore urged the new President to ratify it.

"Some employers have taken advantage of this to sack their employees without any reason. This has become a source of great worry for many workers as employers, misuse their so-called management prerogative to terminate the employment of workers who want to legitimately exercise their rights as Ghanaians and as workers." The TUC urged the in-coming government to promote social dialogue among the social partners through the existing tripartite structures. "We want good governance, respect for fundamental human and workers' rights and freedoms. We want transparency and openness in the processes of governance.

"We would like to see a determined onslaught on corruption in all spheres of public and private life." The TUC said it also needed policies that would accelerate the eradication of poverty, greater access to quality health and education and decent employment.

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• 08.01.2009

* Tema vehicular accidents claim 127 lives in 2008

* Western Region records 673 road accidents and  155 deaths  in 2008

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President Mills confers with foreign delegations

Accra, Jan. 8, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday conferred with a number of foreign delegations at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC). They included those from Japan, Libya, Kingdom of Morocco and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The delegations conveyed separate messages of congratulations to President Mills from their governments and re-affirmed their countries' commitment towards closer cooperation with Ghana. Former Japanese Prime Minister Juichiro Koizumi led the delegation from Japan and that of Libya was headed by Dr Said Hafiyana, Special

Envoy of Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi, while Mr Mohammed Elyazjhi, a Minister of State in Morocco and Dr Bola Almed Tinubu, Former Governor of Lagos State, led the Moroccan and Nigerian delegations, respectively. Speaking to journalists, Dr Tinubu acknowledged the maturity of Ghana's democracy, saying the country had shown leadership and added,

"Ghana has made Africa proud".

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New government ask to redeem promises to Ghanaians

Accra, Jan. 8, GNA -   The Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD), on Wednesday asked the new government to redeem its promises to Ghanaians, especially the disabled.   A statement signed by Mr Yaw Ofori Debra, Chairman of GFD Advocacy Committee, said     "It is our firm belief that when President John Atta Mills talks about an all-inclusive government, it carries an implicit call for an all inclusive society in which the needs of all segments of the populace are considered".   It called on President Mills as well as the Appointments and Vetting Committee of Parliament to consider qualified persons with disability for higher political positions. The statement appealed to the President to inaugurate the National Council on Persons with Disability within his first 100 days in office, to indicate his commitment to the cause of persons with disabilities.   It congratulated President Mills and commended political parties for the smooth electioneering process towards the just ended polls.

Source:                                                                                  (c) PICTURE: EventPicture.co.uk  &  ghanaweb-news.com

GNA

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Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah named National Security Advisor

Accra, Jan. 8, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has appointed Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (Rtd) as his National Security Advisor.

Additionally, he has authorized the following persons to take temporary responsibility for some Ministries pending the nomination and approval of substantive Ministers.

Vice Admiral E.O. Owusu-Ansah assumes temporary responsibility for the Defence Ministry, whilst Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni takes charge of the Ministry of the Interior.

A three-member team, made up of Togbe Afede XIV, Mr Moses Asaga and Dr Kwabena Duffuor, goes for the Finance Ministry. Togbe Afede heads the team.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga, the Presidential Spokesperson, who announced this to journalists at the Accra International Conference Centre, said the temporary appointments were in line with Article 58 (3) of the 1992 Constitution. Meanwhile, President Atta Mills has directed that all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives should remain at post until further notice.

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Ghana's democracy is on the ascendancy - Chief

Kumasi, Jan. 8, GNA - Ghana has significantly moved ahead towards concretizing its democratic dispensation, Nana Bobie Ansah II, Chief of Bonwire in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality has noted. According to him, the smooth transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another was a clear indication of promising democracy in the country. Nana Bobie said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Thursday.

He said the improvement of Ghana's democracy was indeed an example for other countries on the African continent to emulate. He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to join hands with the new Government to promote unity and stability in the country. The chief observed that there must be positive comportment from all Ghanaians to facilitate development.

He reminded President Evans Atta-Mills to fulfil his promise of an all-inclusive government. Nana Bobie congratulated the other opposition parties for conducting themselves well during the polls.

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Kufuor's Last Decisions

Within the last 12 hours of his tenure, President Kufuor took the following decisions.

• Pardoned some 500 prisoners, including former Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) boss Tsatsu Tsikata, who was slapped with a five-year jail sentence on charges of causing financial loss to the state and misapplying public funds.

• He reinstated a former Police Director of Operations, ACP Kofi Boakye, who had been interdicted following a drug scandal he was accused of involvement.

• Increased public sector salaries between 16 and 32 percent.

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Ghanaians urged to put behind acrimonies of 2008 election

Winneba Junction (C/R), Jan 8, GNA - Mr Samuel Mintah, Chairman of the Central Regional Disciplinary Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has appealed to Ghanaians to put behind them acrimonies of the electioneering campaign and support the new government to deliver.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday Mr Mintah said since President John Atta Mills had promised to be a father to everybody it was important for the citizens to do away with partisanship and help him to implement his programmes. He appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders to rekindle communal spirit since the government alone could not provide the needs of the people.

Mr Mintah congratulated Prof. Mills for winning the 2008 presidential election and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party for putting up a gallant fight. He urged Ghanaians, especially supporters of NDC, to constantly remind the President about the promises he made to the people during the electioneering campaign to guide him to deliver on them.

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CV of the new Speaker

Accra, Jan. 8, GNA - The following is the full Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the new Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Justice Joyce Adelaide Bamford-Addo as issued by Parliament on Thursday.

NAME: JOYCE ADELINE BAMFORD-ADDO

DATE OF BIRTH: 26TH MARCH, 1937

PLACE OF BIRTH: ACCRA, GHANA

NATIONALITY: GHANAIAN

RELIGION: CATHOLIC

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: BARRISTER-AT-LAW, MEMBER OF INNER

TEMPLE LONDON 1961.

DATE OF CALL TO ENGLICH BAR: LONDON 1961

DATE OF CALL TO GHANA BAR: 1962 GHANA

EMPLOYMENT RECORD:

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PERSECUTIONS,

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OFFICE, ACCRA - GHANA (FIRST WOMAN)

SENIOR ADVOCATE OF GHANA (SAG) EQUIVALENT OF QC; U.K. 2ND DEPUTY

SPEAKER CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY (FIRST WOMAN) 1991

WOMAN SUPREME COURT JUDGE

DATE OF FIRST APPOINTMENT ENTERED THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S

OFFICE AS:

1.ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY - 27TH DEC. 1963;

2. PROMOTED TO STATE ATTORNEY 21ST APRIL, 1965

3. PROMOTED TO SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY - 1ST MARCH, 1970.

4. PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY - 1ST APRIL 1973.

5. PROMOTED TO CHIEF STATE ATTORNEY - 1ST OCTOBER, 1976

APPOINTMENT: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTION - 21ST JAN. 1986

PUBLIC OFFICES HELD: MEMBER OF GHANA LAW REFORM COMMISSION.

MEMBER OF LEGAL AID BOARD

MEMBER OF LEGAL CLASS BOARD

GHANA REPRESENTATIVE ON UN COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

MEMBER OF JUDICIAL COUNCIL MEMBER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCTION: CATHOLIC LAWYERS GUILD, FIDA (INTERNATIONAL), GHANA BARASSOCIATION. COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS ATTENDED:

1. CONFERENCE AT TUNIS ON STATUS WOMEN 1983

2. CONFERENCES ON COMONWEALTH COMMONWEALTH LAW MINISTERS IN SRI LANKA, 1983

3. CONFERENCE IN ETHOPIA ADDIS-ABABA 1983

4. QUADRIPARTITE MEETING OF HEADS OF STATE OF BENIN, GHANA, TOGO AND NIGERIA IN NIGERIA IN NIGERIA IN DECEMBER, 1984.

5. QUADRIPARTITE MINISTERIAL MEETING IN LOME 1984.

6. LAW MINISTERS CONFERENCE IN HARARE ZIMBABWE JULY, 1986.

7. LAW CONFERENCE IN ECHO RICE JAMAICA SEPTEMBER, 1986

8. MEMBER OF DELEGATION OF STATE VISIT TO MAURITANIA AND CAPE VERDE IN 1988.

9. U.N. AFRICAN REGIONAL PREPARATORY CONFERENCE ON

CRIME PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS JUNE, 1989 ADDIS ABABA.

10. 34TH U.N. SESSION ON COMMISSION ON COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN VIENNA AUSTRIA IN FEBRUARY, 1990.

11. COMMONWEALTH, SENIOR LAW MINISTERS CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND APRIL 1990.

12. U.N. CONFERENCE ON CRIME PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OR OFFENDERS IN CUBA SEPTEMBER 1990.

13. 35TH U.N. SESSION ON COMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN FEBRUARY, 1991

14. COMMONWEALTH AFRICAN DPPs CONFERENCE, BANJUL, GAMBIA, MARCH 1991

15. INTERNATIONAL COCIETY FOR THE REFORM OF CRIMINAL LAW, LONDON, 1997

16. INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE REFORM OF CRIMINAL LAW, BARBADOS 1998

17. SEVENTEENTH CAMBDRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ECONOMIC CRIME, JESUS COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, 1999 OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

ELECTED AS "WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2000" BY AMERICAN BIOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE RETIREMENT: RETIRED FROM PUBLIC SERVICE IN OCTOBER 2004AFTER 43 YEARS AS A PRACTICING LAWYER. SHE SPENT 13 YEARS AS A JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT LEGAL EXPERIENCE: OVER 43 YEARS LEGAL EXPOERIENCE ACQUIRED AS:

1. PRIVATE LAW PRACTITIONER 1961-63 IN LONDON AND GHANA

2. AN ATTORNEY IN THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPT. 1963-1991

3. SUPREME COURT JUDGE 1991-2004

4. ACQUIRED LEGAL KNOWLEDGE FROM MANY CONFERENCES

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• 07.01.2009

Crowd overwhelm Security as Mills is sworn in

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - As thousands of people gathered at the Independence Square in Accra on Wednesday to watch the new President John Evans Atta Mills take office, the security arrangements made for the day almost collapsed as the security operatives and personnel assigned to ensure orderliness were overrun by the sheer numbers of the jubilant crowd who thronged the Square.

The ceremony, which was marked with pomp, pageantry and colour, attracted a milling crowd consisting of most National Democratic Congress (NDC) functionaries and supporters draped in the party's colours of black, red, white and green to the Square that burst at its seams from the east, west, north and even southwards as many trooped to savour the first formal address of newly-sworn in President.

The flanks of the Square brimmed with supporters resplendent in party paraphernalia, cheering at party notables. But as President Atta Mills took to the dais to give his inaugural address, the crowd abandoned their holding area and surged on the inner parameter close to the presidential dais to get a closer view of what one supporter shouted "our beloved President".

"Leave us to celebrate our president, the man has struggled to get to where he is now; we want him to see that we are happy for him," an emotionally charged supporter said. The police, clearly outnumbered by the crowd, found it tough bringing the surging crowd under control. And at a point the security collapsed. The Police at this point were compelled to hit people, young and old, male and female, with sticks and truncheons to drive them away from the middle of the grounds.

"It is not like the security arrangement was poor. We did not anticipate the large crowd that converged on the grounds," said DSP. Kwesi Ofori, Director of Public Affairs of the Police Service.

"But you can see that we have contained the situation, and we have also done our best to ensure that nothing untoward happened here," he told the Ghana News Agency.

"The security arrangement was not satisfactory to me. I mean it was

so problematic. Next time it should be done well," said Dt Benjamin Kumbuor, out-going MP for Laura/Nandom.

The Rev. Fred Deegbe, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, said the ceremony was impressive "but the security arrangement left much to be desired".

But the crowd who were pleased at being allowed to an area perceived as "first class" had a different opinion of the situation.

"Me, I don't think the security was flawed. At least they were magnanimous to allow us to also get close to our President.They couldn't

have done otherwise," said Mawuli Dovlo, a resident of Hohoe in the Volta Region who had come all the way to Accra to witness the occasion.

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Atta Mills sworn-in as President

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills was on Wednesday sworn in as President of Ghana for a four-year first term following his victory in the December Presidential election. Wearing a rich kente cloth with a jumper underneath, he took the Presidential Oath and the Oath of Allegiance administered by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood. He swore on the Bible.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama, dressed in white flowing "agbada", also took the oath of office. He took the oath of the Vice President and the Oath of Allegiance. He also swore on the Bible. They then signed the oaths they swore. The ceremony took place at the Independence Square, which was turned into an open air Parliament. The function was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life.

Several West African Heads of State and dignitaries from several countries also attended the swearing-in.

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Whole Square is filled

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Ghanaians from all walks have converged at the Independence Square to witness the swearing-in of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

The whole Square is filled with people adorning NDC t-shirts and other party paraphernalia while others were displaying their skills at riding motorbikes. The whole Independence Square is draped in the national colours of red, gold and green. A set of huge Fontomfrom drums has also been mounted at the Square. Also, the seats of the President and Vice-President are set and ready for the ceremony.

Security is very tight with security personnel doing their job including directing people to their designated seats. Traditional rulers, Queens, Queen Mothers and religious leaders from all over the country have started arriving for the ceremony. As all is set to receive the in-coming President, the road leading to the Independence Square from the ministries is clad in the NDC colours.

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Free Tsatsu Campaign rejects presidential pardon

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - The Free Tsatsu Campaign on Tuesday rejected the pardon granted to Mr Tsatsu Tsikata by President John Agyekum Kufuor who left office at midnight on Tuesday describing it as "offensive". The "free, absolute and unconditional pardon" that the President has granted to Mr Tsikata on his last day in office is as offensive as the manipulation of the judiciary by the executive and confirms the injustice done to Mr Tsikata, the Campaign said in a statement signed by Mr Kwesi Pratt for the Convenor.

The statement read: "We have learned in the last few hours that President Kufuor has issued an unconditional pardon to Tsatsu Tsikata in the dying hours of his administration. "The Campaign has on several occasions stated its stark opposition to any presidential pardon.

"We believe that the prosecution and conviction of Mr Tsikata represents a rank abuse of power and corruption of the legal system for political and personal vendetta.

"The perpetrators of this injustice will not be allowed to get away with their active attempts to subvert judicial and constitutional processes." Mr Tsikata is currently receiving medical treatment at the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital and is pursuing his appeal against the conviction on June 18, 2008 by Mrs Henrietta Abban for wilfully causing financial loss to the state. 7 Jan. 09

Source:

GNA

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Politics MPs Swearing-in MPS sworn in

Source:

GNA

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NDC Position On Presidential Palace

A leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that an NDC government would not have built the plush Golden Jubilee House, the new seat of government.

Mahama Ayariga who has been appointed the spokesperson of the incoming President, John Evans Atta Mills, made the remark in a radio interview in Kumasi on Tuesday.

Mr. Ayariga insisted that the NDC has not changed its earlier position on the building of the edifice, saying “NDC still stands by its disapproval about the building of the Golden Jubilee House”.

He contended that an NDC government would have used the huge sum of money used for the construction of the building for developmental projects across the country to the benefit of the masses.

Building of hospitals and expansion of universities to accommodate more students, he indicated, would have been some of the projects an NDC government would have used the money to embark on.

He answered in the affirmative when asked whether Prof. Atta Mills would occupy the Golden Jubilee House after he is sworn in today Wednesday January 7 as the next president of Ghana. The former Bawku Central Member of Parliament explained that “they have built it for the state and we cannot allow it to go waste so we would inhabit it”.

He promised an open door policy when it comes to dealing with the press and called on the media to collaborate with him as he prepares to serve the country.

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World Bank paints gloomy picture of Ghanaian economy

The World Bank has painted a gloomy picture of the Ghanaian economy, saying that the macro-economic situation that the incoming government will inherit is “extremely worrisome”.

In a January Report signed by the bank’s Country Director in Accra, Ishac Diwan, and copied to the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Paul Acquah, it warned that the incoming administration would inherit high fiscal and balance of payment deficits that were unsustainable, given the current state of international financial markets.

Quoting mid-December data provided by the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance, the World Bank said in the coming years, the country would have to spend 14 per cent of its total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to service its fiscal deficit, while the balance of payment deficit would be larger.

In that circumstance, the Bank predicted a “socially painful financial crisis” if urgent steps were not taken to reduce the twin deficit.

It explained that in the past, the fiscal deficit had been financed from proceeds that accrued from the privatisation of state assets and the leftovers of the Eurobonds issued in 2007, while the current account deficit was financed with foreign reserves.

However, it said, those sources were no longer available. The World Bank pledged to support the new government to, among other things, address the macro-economic imbalances, attain macro stability and protect the poor and the vulnerable in Ghana.

Towards effecting that assistance, it disclosed that Ghana had a generous IDA allocation of about $450 million per year and a large IDA portfolio that the bank could help to “front-load” for urgent use.

Furthermore, it revealed that it had developed fast-track procedures to support countries that had been hit by the international financial crisis and which could be applied to Ghana.

The World Bank also pledged its preparedness to continue the analytical work it had already started with the outgoing government for the effective use of the anticipated revenue from the country’s oil find.

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Fifth Parliament makes history

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Mrs. Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, retired Supreme Court judge, on Wednesday made history when she was elected as the first woman to assume the high office of the Speaker of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

She becomes the third in the leadership hierarchy in the country after the President and Vice President. Mrs Justice Bamford-Addo was elected unopposed as Speaker in sharp contrast to what her predecessor, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, went through.

The immediate past Speaker was elected Speaker of Fourth Parliament after a gruelling balloting following opposition from the late Peter Ala Adjetey, a former Speaker, who was nominated by the opposition. Mr Alban Bagbin, Member-Elect of the Fifth Parliament from the Majority NDC side, who moved a motion for the election of the Justice Bamford-Addo had an easy task, as Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Member-Elect from the NPP Minority side quickly, endorsed her nomination.

The former Supreme Court Judge was born on March 26, 1937 and attended the Holy Child Secondary School in Cape Coast. She trained as a lawyer in the United Kingdom and practiced briefly in London and relocated to Ghana. She joined the Attorney-General's Department in Ghana as a State Attorney in 1963 and rose to become the Director of Public Prosecution in 1986. Between 1991 and 2004 she served as Supreme Court Judge. She also served on various boards including the Legal Aid Board and the Judicial Council.

In 1992, she served as a Deputy Speaker of the Consultative Assembly and retired from public service in October 2004, having served as a practicing lawyer for 43 years and as a judge of the Supreme Court for 13 years.

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Independence Square overflows

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Ghanaians from all walks of life have converged at the Independence Square to witness the swearing-in of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. The whole Square is filled with people adorning NDC t-shirts and other party paraphernalia while others were displaying their skills at riding motorbikes.

The whole Independence Square is draped in the national colours of red, gold and green. A set of huge Fontomfrom drums has also been mounted at the Square. Also, the seats of the President and Vice-President are set and ready for the ceremony.

Security is very tight with security personnel doing their job, including directing people to their designated seats. Traditional rulers, Queens, Queen Mothers and religious leaders from all over the country have started arriving for the ceremony. As all is set to receive the in-coming President, the road leading to the Independence Square from the ministries is clad in NDC colours.

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NDC supporters troop to the Independence Square

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Thousands of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday trooped to the Independence Square to witness the inauguration of Professor John Evans Attah Mills, as the third President of the Fourth Republic.

As at 0700 hours, the supporters clad in party paraphernalia had convened at some locations to join buses and long trucks to convey them to the venue.

On the Kasoa-Accra Central highway the supporters were seen in taxi cabs and other vehicles singing party songs while those waiting danced to the music.

Sale of NDC paraphernalia in markets and along the principal streets where GNA toured was also on the increase whilst some who had painted themselves with NDC colours also took advantage of the opportunity to make money.

A trader at the Kaneshie market, Grace Ameley told GNA that though she had an urgent business to attend to, she would attend to that after the ceremony.

At the Tema station market, trading was not brisk as usual and traders attributed this to the occasion. Whilst some traders had closed their stalls, others were not bothered with the event and were doing their normal business. At the Ministries area, both the young and old could be seen trotting to the venue and blowing whistles to express their jubilant mood.

Also taking part were supporters of the opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who were also clad in their party colours to join in celebrating Ghana's victory. The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood would swear in Prof. Mills and his vice, John Dramani Mahama later in the afternoon. The ceremony is the second time in Ghana's political history that the government in power would be handing over power to a leader from the opposition party.

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Chiefs congratulate Mills

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - The National House of Chiefs on Tuesday congratulated President-elect John Evans Atta Mills and said as custodians of the country's culture and tradition, "we see your successes as a monumental event sy mbolising the very essence of our unity and togetherness".

A statement by Wulugu Naba-Naa Prof. John Nabila, President of the House, said the president-elect's personal attributes as "peace maker" and his decades of professional experience as a "teacher", combine to assure the chiefs that under his presidency, the peace being enjoyed would be deepened and "we will continue to learn new lessons and teach others about human dignity and sustainable development". "We know that you will; deploy your personal commitments and professional attributes to unite the country after a highly competitive and sometimes divisive election campaign."

The House of Chiefs also congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo, losing candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for accepting the results and out-going President John Agyekum Kufuor for his preparedness to facilitate a smooth transition to the next government. The House of Chiefs urged all Ghanaians to desist from all the rivalry and acrimony which characterised the elections, saying "Let us resolve to work together as we continue to build our nation in unity, peace and stability through dialogue and reconciliation." It said the House was in the process of preparing its strategic plan to elaborate its vision for effective and cooperative governance that would consolidate democracy and ancestral heritage.

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Hottest Ticket In Ghana Goes to Cronies

Accra, Jan 7 2009:The hottest tickets in Ghana now,the tickets to the Independence Square, where Parliament would convene for the historic swearing-in of the President-elect Professor John Attah Mills is suspected to be given to cronies and party functionaries.

The opposition National Democratic Congress leaders were seen yesterday bitterly complaining that the ruling Party gave the incoming NDC 200 tickets out of a total of 2000 requested for the outdoor event at the independence square! Majority suspected that the tickets are being diverted to cronies and party functionaries of the NPP.

Members of the International NDC who were given a total of 20 tickets were highly disappointed when they noted that the tickets were all given to a group from the United Kingdom by Honourable Kofi Arthur.

Honourable Kofi Arthur admitted that he knows the UK delegation very well hence he gave all the tickets to them.This old way of doing business or better the "sweet old school boy" network must be eschewed from the new NDC administration if Ghanaians are to expect the change that Attah Mills preached whilst he was running for the highest office in the land!

Meanwhile workers were seen yesterday putting finishing touches to the elaborate celebrations that includes a cocktail later in the evening and traditional drumming and dancing at the forecourt of the jubilee House. Source:

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West African heads of state expected at Mills' inauguration

Accra, Jan.6, GNA - Six West Heads of State are expected to attend the inauguration on Wednesday of President John Evans Atta Mills. The ceremony will take place at the Independence Square where Parliament will convene in an open-air sitting after electing a Speaker earlier in the da

President Mills will swear Presidential Oath and the Oath of Allegiance to be administered by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood. The Vice President John Dramani Mahama will also be sworn in. The official delegation for the inauguration obtained by the Ghana News Agency listed the Heads of State as Togo, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Benin and Nigeria, who is expected to be the Guest Speaker.

Other dignitaries expected are the Chairman of the African Commission, Mr Jean Ping, the Liberian Vice President, Niger Prime Minister, South African Foreign Minister, US Director of Peace Corps, a delegation from Guinea and the Governor of Delta State, Nigeria.

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Speaker assures Fifth Parliament of diligence

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker of the Fifth Parliament, on Wednesday urged members of the new Parliament to work together in unity to make just laws that would be beneficial to nation-building.

She said as representatives of the whole of Ghana, they should cooperate and aim to build a better Ghana. Justice Bamford-Addo was giving her maiden address in Parliament shortly after being sworn-in as Speaker by Justice Georgina Wood, Chief Justice.

The retired Supreme Court judge made history as the first woman to assume the high office of the Speaker of Parliament. She thanked members of the House for endorsing her candidature and expressed the hope that she could rely on them to steer the affairs of Parliament during her tenure.

She said she hoped to bring her public life experiences to bear on her duties in the House.

"I hope to bring my experiences in public life to my new role in the discharge of my duties in line with the constitution. with humility, fairness and maturity."

She paid tribute to former Speakers of the House, and mentioned in particular Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, the immediate past Speaker. Earlier, after being elected unopposed, Mr Alban Bagbin, who led the Majority NDC side, commended the Speaker for making herself available to serve in the position.

Mr Bagbin said by the election of a female Speaker, Ghanaians were waking up to the realities of gender equality and the democratic principles of fairness and justice, including an all-inclusiveness agenda at the top. He said it was significant that women were now making gains with the Executive arm of government having men and the two separate arms of governance being headed by women.

He assured the Speaker of the cooperation of both sides of the House, saying "we sincerely assure you of cooperation..We are serious minded people and committed. and together we would move this nation forward. Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, leading the NPP Minority side, said the Speaker had a distinguished career to bring to bear on work in the House.

He touched on the need for truth in all transactions in the House and said the minority side was ready to cooperate and work with the Speaker. Mr Kyei-Mensah Bonsu said the minority must be allowed to have their say and urged the Speaker to be guided at all times by her conscience, the Standing Orders of Parliament and the Constitution.

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Doe Adjaho, Mike Oquaye elected first, second deputy speakers

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Parliament on Wednesday elected Mr Doe Adjaho, National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Ave Avenor, and Professor Mike Oquaye, New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Dome Kwabenya, as the First and Second Deputy Speakers.

Mr Adjaho has been in parliament for 16 years and has for 12 years been in the leadership of the NDC in Parliament. Prof. Oquaye was former Minister of Energy and Minister of Communications under the NPP administration.

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Germany congratulates Prof Mills

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Horst Koehler on Wednesday congratulated Prof. John Atta Mills on his election as the new President of Ghana.

A statement from the German Embassy in Ghana said;

"Please accept my sincere congratulations and those of my fellow Germans on your appointment as President of the Republic of Ghana".

"Your victory in an election that was fair and transparent is an impressive endorsement of 16 years during which democracy and respect for the constitutional order have taken hold in your country. I was impressed by the way the close result was accepted by all political factions and by the Ghanaian public at large. You and all of Ghana's citizens may be proud of what has been achieved."

"I wish you every success in tackling the challenges that lie ahead, and particularly in further strengthening democratic institutions and boosting the economy,"

the statement said, adding, Germany will continue in its time-tested manner to stand by you and the Ghanaian people in a spirit of partnership.

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France congratulates Prof Mills

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - The government and people of France on Wednesday congratulated Prof. John Atta Mills on his election as the new president of Ghana.

A statement from the Embassy in Accra on behalf of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said, "At the end of your remarkable campaign and as the Ghanaian people have just given you their confidence, I wish now to send to You my most cheerful congratulations".

"Your victory is a victory for democracy, and I feel convinced that you will be able to accompany your country towards new progress, in the respect for institutions and liberties which was now characterized in the eyes of the international community as a whole".

"Following presidential balloting that was universally hailed for its transparency and lawfulness, the Ghanaian people once again demonstrated their attachment to democracy. "

France is pleased that the values we share with Ghana have taken root in that friendly country. The statement said Prof. Atta Mills' election as well as the withdrawal of President John Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo's acceptance of the results under the terms of the Constitution stood as an example for Africa.

"On this occasion, I send you my best wishes for a full success in the pursuit of an undertaking which has made Ghana an example for African countries to emulate."

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06.01.2009

NPP Still Living In Fear

Supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been living with fear over the last couple of days, since the declaration of election results in favour of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) by Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan’s Electoral Commission, on Saturday. Whilst some have suffered brutalities at the hands of ...

>  CLICK HERE  and  READ MORE  <

Source:
The Chronicle

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All set for Mills' inauguration

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - All is set for the investiture of Ghana's third President under the Fourth Republican Constitution on Wednesday, January 7 at the Independence Square in Accra. The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood would swear in President-Elect, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Vice-President-Elect John Dramani Mahama.

Wednesday's investiture is considered by political experts as another step on the road to strengthening the country's multi-party democracy, as outgoing President John Agyekum Kufuor hands over to Prof. Mills of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The ceremony is the second time in Ghana's 52-year political history that an elected leader would be handing over power to another elected leader.

Former Vice President Mills sets a personal record of being the first Ghanaian democratic leader to lose power, stay in opposition for eight years and then win power back from an incumbent. Meanwhile, vigorous preparations are underway at the Independence Square where Parliament would convene for the historic swearing-in of the President.

The Square is being draped in the national colours of red, gold, green and black.

The country is in a jubilant mood for the smooth transfer of power, as a tour of some principal streets of Accra on Tuesday by Ghana News Agency revealed.

Traders are making good sales of paraphernalia of the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, whilst that of the outgoing party have virtually disappeared. Interesting coincidences at Wednesday's coronation are that a John (President Kufuor) who took over from a John (Former President Jerry Rawlings) would be handing over to a John (President-Elect Mills) while a Vice President Mahama hands over to another Mahama (Vice-President Aliu Mahama to Vice-President-Elect John Mahama).

"For the second time in the history of our nation, a president has been elected through universal adult suffrage to take over from a democratically elected leader," Mr Baffour Dokyi Amoa, President of West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA), told the GNA. "By achieving this feat, Ghanaians have lived up to and probably surpassed the high expectations of the international community," he said.

Political experts have described Ghana's Election 2008 as a sign of the maturity of politicians and that the vigilance of the electorate has proved that Ghana was capable of determining the fate of its leaders through democratic means.

This is reflected in the results of the elections where the parliamentary majority of the ruling NPP slumped from 128 in 2004 to 107, while that of the minority NDC jumped from 98 to 114 seats. (Two seats are yet to be declared).

When the country approved the Fourth Republican Constitution in 1992, it said very loudly that it was bidding farewell to military rule. And the people proved conclusively during Elections 2008 that they are abiding by this pledge.

Leading members of the NDC have appealed to Ghanaians to participate fully in the swearing-in of President-Elect Prof. Mills to make it a national event that would unify Ghanaians after the partisan elections. Ms Hannah Tetteh, NDC Communication Director, told the GNA that after the successful general election, the swearing-in ceremony should be 'like an icing on the cake' to complete the success story.

She appealed to those, who would be at the Independence Square, to cooperate with the security agencies and comport themselves to avoid any hitches and embarrassment.

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Kufuor pardons Tsatsu, Kwame Peprah, 500 others

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - Outgoing President John Agyekum Kufuor has pardoned over 500 prisoners of various categories with immediate effect, a statement signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, Outgoing Deputy Minister of Information, said on Tuesday.

It said seven personalities have also been granted "free, absolute and unconditional pardon".

They are Mr Akenteng Appiah-Menkah, an Industrialist and Mallam Yussif Ali Issah, Former Minister of Youth and Sports in the first term of the President Kufuor Administration.

Others are Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance during the First National Democratic Congress Government until 2001; Mr Ibrahim Adam, Minister of Food and Agriculture under the NDC until 2001 and Dr George Sepah-Yankey, a Director of Agriculture under the NDC until 2001, all of whom served various sentences for wilfully causing financial loss to the state in the Aveyime Rice Project

The others are Mr Dan Abodakpi, Member of Parliament for Keta and Former Minister of Trade and Industry in the NDC Government, who also served a jail term for causing financial loss and Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, Former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), who was serving a five-year term for causing financial loss to the State.

The statement said the Outgoing President also granted amnesty to all first-time offenders, who had served more than half of their term and nursing mothers found guilty of non-bailable offences.

The sentences of all on death roll have been commuted to life imprisonment while those on death roll, who have served more than 10 years, have had their sentences reduced to 20 years.

It said those serving at the "President's pleasure" who have done more than 15 years of their time are to be freed.

Also seriously ill prisoners, who have neither been sentenced to death or life, are to be released upon the advice of a medical board. First-time offenders above 70 years have also been granted their freedom.

Source: GNA

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No witch hunting says the NDC

Sunyani, Jan 6, GNA - Mr John Owusu Agyeman, Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, has given the assurance that the party would not witch-hunt members or supporters of the New Patriotic Party in the Region or elsewhere.

"We shall play politics with them for the next four years in a matured way, so nobody should entertain any fears. "We need reconciliation in the country as Professor John Evans Atta Mills (President-Elect) has indicated to be President of a united Ghana," he said.

The Regional Chairman was addressing a press conference organised by the party to express the party's appreciation to traditional authorities, the people, Electoral Commission, the media "as well as all those who helped to make the general election from December 7 to January 2 successful".

Mr Agyeman congratulated Professor Mills for winning the Presidency as well as NDC Members of Parliament-Elect.

He said it was the hope of the party in the Region that with its majority in Parliament and with the cooperation of the minority parties including the NPP, "Professor Mills and his government would deliver the goods so we can have a better Ghana.

"As a party in the Region we shall give the Mills government our total support since without unity we cannot move the country forward," Mr Agyeman stressed.

The Regional Chairman said the NDC had realized that under the NPP the country was politically polarized as almost every State institution was politicized and gave assurance that the NDC government would correct this.

"We shall help Professor Mills to correct this politicization of institutions so that we can live in peace as one people in a country with a common destiny," he said.

Mr Agyeman said the NDC had learnt from its past mistakes "and we shall ensure that the new administration of Professor Mills would deliver to the satisfaction of all Ghanaians".

The Regional Chairman was flanked by Mr Kwadwo Opoku Atuahene, Vice Chairman, Mr Samuel Adjei, Regional Secretary, and other officials of the party in the Region.

In attendance were some ecstatic members and supporters of the party who danced to music provided.

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Ghanaians Disapprove of Outgoing Presidential Transition Team

... government hiding some of the figures?

Some Ghanaians are expressing their displeasure with President John Kufour's transition team after failing to meet with the team of President-Elect John Atta-Mills ahead of Wednesday's swearing in.

The meeting between incoming and outgoing administrations failed to come off Monday after the outgoing team said it needed to conduct presidential tours.

Some are speculating that the outgoing administration is procrastinating because it has things to hide. President Kufuor is expected to leave office Tuesday at midnight ahead of Mr. Atta-Mills' taking the oath of office as constitutionally mandated. Political analyst Alhaji Idrissu Bature tells reporter Peter Clottey that Ghanaians are disappointed hearing what they consider lackadaisical claims by the outgoing transitional team.

"We are less than five days from the handing over, so Ghanaians were expecting that the transitional team of both sides will get to work and then try to do the handing over notes prior to seventh January. And President-Elect Atta –Mills has already indicated that before even the run-off, his transitional team is ready and is in motion. So Ghanaians were surprised that as at Sunday and Monday, the transitional teams of both the NDC (National Democratic Congress) and NPP (New Patriotic Party) couldn't hold that joint meeting for the comparing of notes and then handing over of ministerial portfolios assets and liabilities," Bature pointed out.

He said the failure of the outgoing transitional team to meet the incoming transitional team led to speculation that perhaps President John Kufuor's administration has something to hide.

"Some people believe that it is a deliberate ploy by the ruling New Patriotic Party because the figures or the micro-economic stability indices that they have been telling us about are suspect. So that when the joint transitional team meet, some of these things are likely to come up. For example, the cost of building the presidential palace has not been disclosed to Ghanaians, and skeptics believe that the NPP administration is trying to delay the meeting in order to cover up," he said.

Bature said although the outgoing transitional team assigned reasons for yesterday's failed meeting, many Ghanaians were not satisfied with the explanation.

"In fact, the chief of staff of (President Kufuor) currently at the seat of government, Mr. Kwodwo Mpianim, gave the reason that because the president had to introduce the president-elect to the facilities at the seat of government that was the reason why they couldn't meet. And this for many was taken with a pinch of salt because the president is not part of the transitional team," Bature noted.

He reiterated some Ghanaians' expression of suspicion over the explanations offered for the failure to meet.

"Analysts believe that the government wants to hide some of the figures so that on Wednesday, seventh January, there is a handing over, then the work of the transitional team would be curtailed or truncated," he said.

Bature said the practice of non-cooperation of the outgoing administration is not new to Africa's body politic.

"Under normal circumstances the transitional period could even last up to one year. But what we have in this part of the world is that as soon as a government is put in place, the whole process is truncated because cooperation doesn't come properly. So it is going to be difficult. Today for example, one of the major tasks of the transitional team is to set the rule of engagement prior to even proper sitting. And I don't even think that we would have a full disclosure of the state of the nation. It is just for the procedure of the meeting and the rules of engagement. So we are not going to have a full disclosure before the Kufuor administration exists on Wednesday morning," Bature pointed out.

Meanwhile, the European Union observer mission that monitored Ghana's election described the independent electoral commission as competent and transparent in organizing the just-ended election.

In a released statement, the European Union observer mission said, "the Electoral Commission of Ghana has done a good job in organizing these elections and it has worked competently and transparently and its role should be acknowledged."

The Chairman of Ghana's independent Electoral Commission, Kwadwo Afari Gyan declared NDC flag bearer John Atta Mills the president-elect of Ghana on January 3, after a second round of voting. Both the ruling New Patriotic Party and the NDC failed to garner more than 50 percent of the vote to win the December 7 first round of a general election. Atta Mills won the runoff with 4,521,032 votes, representing 50.23%, while Nana Akufu-Addo of the ruling party received 4,480,446, accounting for 49.87%.

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National Security lifts ban on retired top security officers

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - The National Security Council Secretariat announced on Tuesday that the ban imposed on seven retired top military and police officers has been lifted with immediate effect.

A statement signed by Dr Sam G. Amoo, National Security Coordinator, named them as;

Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, Former General Officer Commanding; Admiral Owusu Ansah, Former Chief of Naval Staff; Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, Former Chief of Defence Staff; Brigadier General Bruce Konuah, Former Defence Adviser to Pakistan; Mr C.K. Dewornu, Former Inspector-General of Police: Mr F.Y. Asare, Former Regional Police Commander, Greater Accra and Mr W.K. Aboah, Former Commissioner of Police and Director of Immigration.

The ban was imposed on September 17 2008 after they had lunch with Former President Jerry John Rawlings.

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Nana K. A. Rawlings calls for commitment to women, children issues

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - Former first lady and president of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has called on political leaders to show more commitment to women and children's issues in 2009.

In a New Year's message issued in Accra on Tuesday, Mrs Rawlings said 2009 must be a year for women and children's issues to be recognised and for politicians to appreciate the impact their policies and actions had on women and children in particular.

She said the bitterly contested nature of the presidential elections had exposed negative traits of politics that "we cannot allow to serve as a legacy for our children to (follow)".

"The political atmosphere has been tainted with accusations and counter accusations, lies, intimidation, insults and acrimony. These embarrassing manifestations of our current political dispensation must be exorcised as we start a fresh year," Mrs Rawlings said. She said in 2008 the movement saw a significant rise in its membership as more women subscribed to its programmes.

Mrs Rawlings said "We adopted a ward at the Princess Marie Louis Hospital in Accra and it was a joy to see the happiness we brought to the children all year round. Christmas was marked with decorations and other activities and in 2009 we hope to expand our scope."

She said on the women's front, the Movement provided credit facilities for women in various levels of small-scale business and "we are happy to note that our activities brought joy and empowerment to most women and succour to their families, particularly the children. "Majority of our women are still underprivileged, lack education and are regarded as lacking the ability to become significant breadwinners for their families. The DWM has over the years been working hard to reverse that trend especially in the rural areas and I must say we have made significant inroads and will consolidate those gains in 2009," Mrs Rawlings said.

She called on civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations working on child issues to pool their resources to ensure that women and children's issues received adequate attention in all sectors of society particularly the Executive and Parliament. "I also call women to show more interest in political issues. The ratio of men to women in parliament is an indictment on women's participation in politics. We cannot seek political and economic empowerment if we consistently choose to play second fiddle to our men folk in decision-making,"Mts Rawlings said.

She thanked diplomatic missions in Ghana for responding positively to the call to send monitors to observe the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. She said: "Their overwhelming response is touching and has gone a long way in protecting the sanctity of the election. I dread what the situation would have been if so many international organisations had not shown interest in the ongoing elections."  - 6 January 2009

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Pirates take French ship, nine hostages

PARIS (Jan 6, 2009):

Pirates off the Nigerian coast have seized a French ship and taken its nine crew members hostage, the ship owners said yesterday in Paris.

The ship, which conducted transport of materials and personnel for oil companies, was taken on Sunday night, shipping company Bourbon said.

The crew includes five Nigerians, and men from Ghana, Cameroon and Indonesia. They were reportedly in good condition...

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Fire at Tema industrial area

Tema, Jan 6, GNA - A fenced yard near the Driver and Vehicle License Authority (DVLA) in the Tema industrial area caught fire on Monday morning and it took personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Tema Oil Refinery three hours to bring the blaze under control.

The cause of the fire, which started around 1130 hours, is yet to be known.

Station Officer Ebenezer Tagoe of the industrial area branch of the GNFS said GNFS was yet to identify the owner of the yard and what the premises were used for but they found vehicle tyres, pallets and metals. When the Ghana News Agency visited the scene at 1400 hours, two fire tenders from the GNFS were spotted battling the blaze and a thick black smoke hung over the area.

Mr Daniel Sarppoh, an eyewitness, said they called the GNFS when they saw smoke emanating from the yard.

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Parliament to go into dissolution at mid-night

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, Speaker, on Tuesday urged Ghanaians to stay united and do away with tensions resulting from religious and political differences. He said the nation should draw lessons from legislators of Fourth Parliament, who were able to forge a common front and work together in harmony.

The Speaker was giving his last address in Parliament hours before the House would go into dissolution at the stroke of mid-night to usher in the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. Mr Sekyi Hughes said although members of the House saw issues from different perspectives they all had one common vision for the nation and this should serve as a lesson to all Ghanaians to help address the challenges of poverty and injustice.

He touched on some challenges of the Fourth Parliament, saying the lack of funds hindered the completion of some projects. He urged the incoming Parliament to draw upon the experiences of the outgoing parliament for some hindsight and perspectives. Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, urged Leaders of the next Parliament, Membership and Staff to ensure that the process of autonomy of the Ghanaian Legislature, which began in the outgoing Parliament was enhanced and entrenched. He congratulated the Speaker, Members who re-elected as well as those who lost their election bids for their high sense of duty in the last Parliament.

Mr Aidooh suggested resourcing the Legislative Drafting Unit of the House to place it in a better position to provide legislative drafting services to Members of Parliament and added that Leaders of the House should lead in the preparation of a Constitutional Instrument on the conditions of service of parliamentarians. The Parliamentary Service Regulation (C.I 11) deals mainly with the Staff of the Service and not the Members of Parliament. Deputy Minority Leader Edward Doe Adjaho paid tribute to the House on its consensus building.

The Speaker of Parliament later inaugurated a GH¢ 350,000 first phase of a refurbished building, located at Ridge in Accra, to be used as Parliamentary Committee Rooms and Offices for Research. The project, which was achieved with financial assistance from the Danish Government, consists of a meeting room, a secretariat, lighting, acoustics, a parking lot and fenced premises.

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US congratulates Mills, commends EC

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - The US on Tuesday congratulated Professor John Evans Atta Mills on his victory in the Presidential race.

"We commend the Ghanaian people on their resolve and deep commitment to the democratic process demonstrated in their participation in their nation's presidential and parliamentary elections," a statement by Mr. Sean Mccormack, Spokesman for the State Department, said.

He said the US and Ghana continued to enjoy a close friendship based on a shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. "Once again Ghana has shown itself to be a beacon of stability and peace in Africa."

He said the US would be sending a delegation, led by Peace Corps Director Ronald Tschetter, to Professor Mills' inauguration on Wednesday January 7.

Mr Mccormack said the US was looking forward to deepening relationship with Ghanaians and working closely with Professor Atta Mills' administration as he worked to unify the nation and build consensus and confidence in established institutions to serve all Ghanaians.

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 Outgoing  (NPP) Minister suggests aeroplane for Parliament...

Accra, Jan 06, GNA- Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, outgoing Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, on Tuesday suggested that Members of the incoming Parliament acquired funds for Parliament to purchase its own aeroplane to facilitate the travels of the Speaker, Members and staff. He said the acquisition of the aeroplane was important because a lot of money was spent on travels...

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05.01.2009

President-Elect Tours Jubilee House

Accra, Jan. 5, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday took the President-Elect Professor John Evans Atta Mills on a tour of the Jubilee House in Accra.

Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, Presidential Adviser, Mrs Mary Chinnery-Hesse, and Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr D.K. Osei, were among the officials with President Kufuor.

President-Elect Mills was accompanied by the Vice-President-In-Waiting, Mr John Dramani Mahama; Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader in the outgoing Parliament; NDC National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei; NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and other NDC officials.

Prof. Mills will be sworn in on Wednesday.

President Kufuor's emotional farewell message to Parliament

Accra, Jan. 05, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday bade farewell to the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic with an emotional address focusing on the State of the Nation. He recounted: "As I leave office after eight years .. you must know that I have served in Parliament twice, first in the Second Republic on the government side, again in the Third Republic on the other side.

"I have had the privilege of serving in government as a Junior Minister. I have suffered political detention twice, because of military coup detats. I have come through the ups and downs of the changing fortunes of politics over the past 40 years and thank God, I am now ending my active political life at the pinnacle of the greasy pole of politics as President of the Republic."

In a touching tone, President Kufuor said; "I had hoped that after my tenure I will be succeeded by a candidate from my own political tradition. But as things have turned out, the Electoral Commissioner has declared that the electorate of Ghana has decided otherwise. "As a democrat, I acknowledge this declaration. I, therefore, congratulate once more the President-Elect, Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on his election.

"It is hoped that he will bring the wealth of experience garnered while in government and subsequently out of it to forge a sense of unity within the body politic, which is a sine qua non for nation building."

The Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic came into being on January 7 2005 for a four-year journey of law making and policy appraisal of the country.

The President also congratulated his party's Presidential Candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who lost the election narrowly, saying through the election, Nana Akufo-Addo has acquitted himself with valour and the greatest sense of dignity. "Nana Akufo-Addo more than anyone else should know that our Danquah-Busia Tradition has been fashioned and tempered with perseverance, resilience and resolve to stay the course of never giving up," the President stated.

Amidst occasional outburst of laughter from members of the House, President Kufuor acknowledged the contribution of other Presidential candidates and challenged them to continue to contribute to the enrichment of the political discourse by offering alternative views for the development of the country. He reminded politicians that the formation of political parties was not only for elections purposes but also for veritable nurturing grounds for leadership development in the interest of society. "Political parties bridge many divides within the nation including ethnic; religious; ideological and gender," he stated.

Focusing on the act of governance, President Kufuor admitted that in the current information age, incumbency was proving to be extremely challenging in a vibrant democracy. He said "it demands being on the alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every action of government is put under constant scrutiny for questioning while a spin is put on almost every policy decision. "This attitude tends to ignore the need for gestation periods for programmes, and thereby promotes a negative culture of instant gratification and unrealistic expectations, which is often exploited for undue political gain."

President Kufuor said if politicians across the board continued to criticize programmes and policies of incumbent governments just to score political points, they might in the long run breed cynicism, undermine the whole political system and weaken democracy to everybody's disadvantage. He charged the next Parliament to lead the effort to curb the negative tendency of political cynicism "so that it does not become endemic".

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Journalists Assaulted At Polls

On 28 December 2008, Alex Kobina Mensah, a journalist with Joy FM, an Accra-based independent radio station, was allegedly assaulted by supporters of Ghana's main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Ashaiman, a town in the Greater Accra Region. The NDC supporters apparently were displeased with a report prepared by Mensah.

The MFWA's correspondent reported that Mensah was punched several times and was almost lynched, but was saved by the timely intervention of other NDC supporters. The journalist lost his cellular phone and 250 Ghana Cedis (approx. US$250) were stolen during the assault.

The assault followed a report that Mensah submitted to the radio station about acts of vandalism at a hotel believed to be keeping already-printed ballot papers in favour of Nana Akufo-Addo, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate.

The Ashaiman Constituency is a NDC stronghold.

On the same day, in the Ashanti Region, two journalists were also assaulted while covering the run-off elections.

Bright Abayie, a correspondent for Nhyira FM, a Kumasi-based radio station, was attacked by NPP supporters in the Asokwa Electoral area. An Nhyira FM official, Alex Asamoah, told MFWA that Abayie came upon on the NPP supporters as they were allegedly engaging in electoral irregularities.

Asamoah said that the NPP supporters were outraged by Abayie's presence and accused him of reporting on their actions. The matter is currently being investigated by the police.

Journalist Hackman K. Afriyie was also slapped by a policewoman at a polling station in Offinso North Constituency and was detained for about an hour at the Akomadan police station. MFWA learned that the policewoman accused the journalist of interfering with the electoral process.

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EC says staff members threatened

Accra, Jan. 5, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday said some members of staff had been issued with threats through SMS text mobile calls, radio broadcasts and on political platforms.

In a statement signed by Mrs Sylvia Annoh, Public Relations Officer, the EC said some people had resorted to making wild allegations of wrongdoing against members of staff.

"In particular, a so-called Dina Twawiah, who purports to be a worker of the Commission and made villainous allegations against Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Elections, and other members of staff, is not and has never been known to the Commission."

It expressed "utter displeasure" at the attacks on Mr Arhin's life, family and property.

"The Commission wishes to inform the general public that it will take all necessary steps to protect its integrity and the safety of its members of staff," the statement said.

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Ex-security chiefs commend security agencies

Accra, Jan. 5, GNA - Ex-security chiefs have commended the Armed Forces and security services for exhibiting a very high sense of objectivity and professionalism during their handling of the electoral process.

This was contained in a statement issued on their behalf by General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (rtd) and Admiral Owusu Ansah (rtd). "There were several incidents of violence and potentially violent situations, but wherever they were called upon the forces and security services in spite of the negative behaviour of some of their personnel, performed creditably in their handling of the situations," they said.

The former generals who were banned by the outgoing-NPP government from security installations after they met to discuss the security of the elections, however, cautioned against complacency within the security services and forces, stating that a lot of problems that engulfed the just-ended elections were due to some security services and forces allowing themselves to be compromised politically and overlooking obvious threats to the safety of the state.

"It is important that the security services and forces remain vigilant and flush out miscreants who may still be hell bent on sowing seeds of confusion even as we switch governments.

"A lot of arms and ammunition were illegally issued to troublemakers and to protect the sanctity of our democracy every effort must be made to recover all these.

"Governments come and go and the armed forces and security services need to appreciate that their duty is to ensure the safety of the state. "Some of us worked tirelessly to instil a sense of discipline and professionalism into the security services and forces and today they have proven that Ghana is more important than individuals or political parties."

They said, they were aware of the attempts that were made to compromise the integrity of the great institutions of the Ghana Army, Ghana Police and others but when they were on duty the responsibility to their motherland remained paramount.

The former Generals counselled the forces and security services to use the challenges of the just-ended elections to restore a sense of discipline within their ranks.

"Today it has been proven that Ghanaians can feel safe under the current political dispensation. Thank you for a yeoman=B9s job.

"The onus is on the new government that will be sworn in on January 7 to further instil a sense of professionalism and discipline within the security services and forces by putting in place policies that show a respect for the law and a desire not to abuse incumbency through nepotism and abuse of authority," the former Generals said.

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