Investigations conducted by The Chronicle have revealed that the Ghana Railways Company (GRC) is considering a massive retrenchment exercise as a result of the poor performance of the company and the effect it is having on the economy.
One thousand workers, out of the current workforce of 3,500 are, therefore, expected to go home with the bulk of them coming from the Eastern railway line. Revenue generation of the company has dropped to its lowest ebb of 10% over the past years. As a result of this, management could not pay the End of Service Benefit to some of the workers who were laid off sometime ago.
Currently, the company derives the bulk of its income from the haulage of minerals on its Western line. The immediate past government was supporting them with GH¢326,000 a month, which was not enough.
There seem to be a growing level of instability on the employment market, and just last week, one of the local newspapers reported a move by Vodafone-Ghana Telecom to compel about 850 of its staff to go on an early voluntarily retirement. This, according to management, will enable the affected workers to benefit from a customized transition support programme instituted by the company. Already, some public and private institutions are feeling the heat of the global economic downturn.
One of the major interventions adopted by these public and private institutions is to scale down the size of their human resource capacity as a means of cutting down on expenditure.
According to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Kwabena Dufuor, in the 2009 budget, non performing State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) would be closed down whilst pragmatic measures would be adopted to save those in good standing. This he said would save the economy some money as it is already facing some challenges.
Recently, the former Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to urgently address issues affecting the railways sector in the areas of the workers conditions of service, payment of end of service benefit to redundant workers, as well as honouring its tax obligation.
The Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways together with the Aviation Ministry have now been merged with the Transport Ministry with the sole aim of cutting down government expenditure by President Mills. In an interview with the Minister of Transport, Mr. Mike Hammah recently in Accra , he confirmed the massive job cut
at the Ghana Railways Company considering the sector’s inability to generate enough funds to run its operations, thereby posing a challenge to the government.
“We are running a parallel programme to ensure that there is a cut off point so that workers who are not productive, workers who are receiving salaries for no work done, we will have a way of probably making them redundant”, he noted.
According to him, workers who would not be affected by the exercise would be re-trained and retooled to be more efficient as part of the company’s restructuring plans to inject life into its operations.
He said government in its short and medium term would find money elsewhere to immediately pay all outstanding salaries of the railways workers before it goes ahead to implement its plan.
He said, since the Western rail line was the only source of generating funds for the Ghana Railways Company, government would do everything possible to rehabilitate that corridor to improve on its internal generated funds. “For now, the line is moribund. It has to be rehabilitated to improve on its internal generated funds to pay salaries”, he said.
The Western rail line has for the past decade received much attention from government to revive that corridor, but no serious investor has come forward to partner with government to give it the needed facelift. A number of groups including Spoornet of South Africa and Kampac Oil ME, a Dubai-based oil firm had shown interest back in 2003 and 2007 respectively, but failed in their bid to secure funds for the project. Other institutions have also turned up but none seems to be in good financial position for the task.
This, according to Mr. Mike Hammah, has come about because the country was not having a Transaction Advisor to advice the government right from the onset to determine the capacity and capability level of these investors. “Once the Transaction Advisor was not in place, it was difficult for the Ministry to really assess the capacity and capabilities of the company. That is why so many years along the line, the investors that showed up could not meet the financial clause”, he said. He was, however, happy for the passage of the Railways Act which now separates the regulatory aspect from the commercial activities of the company. With the passage of the Railways Act, the Ghana Railways Development Authority now has the mandate to plan, develop and to manage the activities of the sector. It also has the mandate to look at security and safety aspects of the operations of the company. Hon. Mike Hammah however reiterated government’s commitment to continue its support to the sector to make it more vibrant than its current position
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
Fiifi Kwetey wins at committee level
The Deputy Minister of Finance designate, Mr. Fiifi Kwetey was yesterday approved by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
His approval was as a result of a majority decision by Members of the Appointments Committee who voted on his nomination at the committee level.
The Minority Members on the Committee opposed the nomination of the Finance Minister designate, but their numerical disadvantage enabled Fiifi Kwetey to scale through.
By his approval at the Committee level, Members would then have the opportunity to debate his nomination on the floor of the House, scheduled for Friday, March 27th, 2009.
As happened during the nomination of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the Minority is expected to argue against Fiifi Kwetey’s approval, having raised so many issues against him during his vetting which lasted for about an unprecedented four hours.
His approval was as a result of a majority decision by Members of the Appointments Committee who voted on his nomination at the committee level.
The Minority Members on the Committee opposed the nomination of the Finance Minister designate, but their numerical disadvantage enabled Fiifi Kwetey to scale through.
By his approval at the Committee level, Members would then have the opportunity to debate his nomination on the floor of the House, scheduled for Friday, March 27th, 2009.
As happened during the nomination of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the Minority is expected to argue against Fiifi Kwetey’s approval, having raised so many issues against him during his vetting which lasted for about an unprecedented four hours.
Minority members delay parliamentary work -Agbesi
The Majority group in Parliament has accused their Minority counterparts of delaying the sitting of the House. “I am raising the issue of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) holding Press conferences at the time when Parliament should be in session”, Hon Alfred Agbesi, MP for Ashaiman said on the floor of the house yesterday. He said press conferences and meetings being held by the Minority Members of the House always delay business.
Hon. Agbesi was surprised that the MP for Sekondi, Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah was mute over the issue, since he made a lot of noise when his party was in the Majority. Hon. Agbesi’s comments did not go down well with Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah who described the Ashiaman MP’s statement as most irresponsible since his submission at that time was not that of the Majority stand.
“Indeed, I respect my friend very much, he is my mate but I’m sorry to say that the statement that he has made is most irresponsible”, he noted.
Hon. Agbesi did not take kindly to the comments from his colleague MP and requested him to reframe the statement. “To say that my statement is irresponsible, Madam Speaker, I want to say that I take serious offense to that statement and it must be withdrawn with a big apology to me”, he said.
At this point, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo intervened and condemned the word “irresponsible” used by Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah, since it was an unparliamentary word. She therefore asked Hon. Owusu-Ankomah to use another word.
Hon. Owusu-Ankomah therefore substituted his word “irresponsible” with “uncharitable”. After listening to both comments from Hon. Owusu-Ankomah and Alfred Agbesi, and considering the argument raised by the Minority Leader, Hon. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, who called on Hon. Agbesi to kindly use the right words when on the floor of the House, the Majority Leader, Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin demanded that both Members use the right words, which they obliged.
“Madam Speaker, I respect my honourable colleague opposite, the honourable Member for Ashaiman. I know he is a very responsible father, a very responsible husband, a very responsible lawyer and a very responsible Member of Parliament. If the statement was taken as a personal allusion to his behaviour, I’m sorry, I did not intend to mean that he is irresponsible, therefore, I withdraw my statement”, noted Hon. Owusu-Ankomah.
On the side of Hon. Agbesi, he said “Madam Speaker, I know the NPP has no intention of stalling the work of this House, I therefore humbly withdraw whatever I’ve said against them”.
Hon. Agbesi was surprised that the MP for Sekondi, Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah was mute over the issue, since he made a lot of noise when his party was in the Majority. Hon. Agbesi’s comments did not go down well with Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah who described the Ashiaman MP’s statement as most irresponsible since his submission at that time was not that of the Majority stand.
“Indeed, I respect my friend very much, he is my mate but I’m sorry to say that the statement that he has made is most irresponsible”, he noted.
Hon. Agbesi did not take kindly to the comments from his colleague MP and requested him to reframe the statement. “To say that my statement is irresponsible, Madam Speaker, I want to say that I take serious offense to that statement and it must be withdrawn with a big apology to me”, he said.
At this point, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo intervened and condemned the word “irresponsible” used by Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah, since it was an unparliamentary word. She therefore asked Hon. Owusu-Ankomah to use another word.
Hon. Owusu-Ankomah therefore substituted his word “irresponsible” with “uncharitable”. After listening to both comments from Hon. Owusu-Ankomah and Alfred Agbesi, and considering the argument raised by the Minority Leader, Hon. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, who called on Hon. Agbesi to kindly use the right words when on the floor of the House, the Majority Leader, Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin demanded that both Members use the right words, which they obliged.
“Madam Speaker, I respect my honourable colleague opposite, the honourable Member for Ashaiman. I know he is a very responsible father, a very responsible husband, a very responsible lawyer and a very responsible Member of Parliament. If the statement was taken as a personal allusion to his behaviour, I’m sorry, I did not intend to mean that he is irresponsible, therefore, I withdraw my statement”, noted Hon. Owusu-Ankomah.
On the side of Hon. Agbesi, he said “Madam Speaker, I know the NPP has no intention of stalling the work of this House, I therefore humbly withdraw whatever I’ve said against them”.
$3.4m needed to qualify Black Stars for 2010
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has indicated that the annual budget estimates to his Ministry for the 2009 fiscal year was not adequate, considering the sector’s huge responsibilities.
According to him, since his Ministry was one of the newly re-created ones, a lot would have to be invested in it.
He argued that since the two wings of his Ministry (Youth & Sports) were drawn from the Ministries of Employment and Education respectively, it had little input in the preparation of the budget and that was posing a major challenge to the Ministry.
Alhaji Muntaka was speaking on the floor of Parliament yesterday when he moved the motion for the approval for the 2009 annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to him, his Ministry has only two directors out of the four line directory that must be in place to ensure the smooth running of the operations of the Ministry, and this to him requires the recruitment of new personnel.
Another concern he raised was the renovation of the building housing the Ministry, which he said requires a lot of money.
He was disturbed about the inadequate budget allocation for the Ministry, considering the expenditure of the four agencies (National Sports Council, National Sports College, National Youth Council and the National Youth Employment Programme) under the Ministry.
He said the National Sports Council alone had thirty four associations under it. He noted that the Council’s annual budget estimate alone for the 2009 fiscal year stands at $3, 489,379million (GH¢ 8,424,025 million), a situation he said was not adequate looking at the various events the country would be participating in both at the continental level and at the global level.
Alhaji Muntaka, in accessing the money needed to qualify the Black Stars, the country’s senior national team, for the maiden world cup on African soil (South Africa 2010), said the team would need a total amount of US$3.4 million. In his statistics, he said the match which would be played against Benin on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi would cost the Ministry $US 662, 000.00 and the match against Mali in Bamako would cost $US 531, 000.00, against Sudan in Khartoum would cost $US665, 000.00 with the return league in Accra costing the country $US537, 000.00.
According to him, the Black Stars match against Benin in Cotonou would again cost the country a total amount of US$498,000.00 whilst the match against Mali in Kumasi would cost US$541,000.00.
He said by qualification to the world cup, the Black Stars would be entitled to a whooping sum of US$6million from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and therefore called for the needed support to his Ministry in order to help the Blacks Stars qualify to get the amount at stake to finance other sporting discipline.
He was, however, of the hope that the House would consider his Ministry when looking at the supplementary budget for the 2009 fiscal year.
In all, a total amount of GH¢45, 77,162.07 was approved for the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The House also approved the sum of GH¢ 147,681,167.00 for the Ministry of Finance, whilst GH¢4,206,832.00 was allocated for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The National Commission for Civic Education approved the sum of GH¢ 5,044,605.00 with the Electoral Commission being approved the sum of GH¢7,091,990 for the 2009 fiscal year.
According to him, since his Ministry was one of the newly re-created ones, a lot would have to be invested in it.
He argued that since the two wings of his Ministry (Youth & Sports) were drawn from the Ministries of Employment and Education respectively, it had little input in the preparation of the budget and that was posing a major challenge to the Ministry.
Alhaji Muntaka was speaking on the floor of Parliament yesterday when he moved the motion for the approval for the 2009 annual budget estimates of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to him, his Ministry has only two directors out of the four line directory that must be in place to ensure the smooth running of the operations of the Ministry, and this to him requires the recruitment of new personnel.
Another concern he raised was the renovation of the building housing the Ministry, which he said requires a lot of money.
He was disturbed about the inadequate budget allocation for the Ministry, considering the expenditure of the four agencies (National Sports Council, National Sports College, National Youth Council and the National Youth Employment Programme) under the Ministry.
He said the National Sports Council alone had thirty four associations under it. He noted that the Council’s annual budget estimate alone for the 2009 fiscal year stands at $3, 489,379million (GH¢ 8,424,025 million), a situation he said was not adequate looking at the various events the country would be participating in both at the continental level and at the global level.
Alhaji Muntaka, in accessing the money needed to qualify the Black Stars, the country’s senior national team, for the maiden world cup on African soil (South Africa 2010), said the team would need a total amount of US$3.4 million. In his statistics, he said the match which would be played against Benin on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi would cost the Ministry $US 662, 000.00 and the match against Mali in Bamako would cost $US 531, 000.00, against Sudan in Khartoum would cost $US665, 000.00 with the return league in Accra costing the country $US537, 000.00.
According to him, the Black Stars match against Benin in Cotonou would again cost the country a total amount of US$498,000.00 whilst the match against Mali in Kumasi would cost US$541,000.00.
He said by qualification to the world cup, the Black Stars would be entitled to a whooping sum of US$6million from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and therefore called for the needed support to his Ministry in order to help the Blacks Stars qualify to get the amount at stake to finance other sporting discipline.
He was, however, of the hope that the House would consider his Ministry when looking at the supplementary budget for the 2009 fiscal year.
In all, a total amount of GH¢45, 77,162.07 was approved for the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The House also approved the sum of GH¢ 147,681,167.00 for the Ministry of Finance, whilst GH¢4,206,832.00 was allocated for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The National Commission for Civic Education approved the sum of GH¢ 5,044,605.00 with the Electoral Commission being approved the sum of GH¢7,091,990 for the 2009 fiscal year.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Nigerians are not criminals-Bemoans Nigerian Envoy
The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency (H.E) Chief Muslim Obanikoro has expressed concern over how some Ghanaians perceive Nigerians to be criminals, as a result of the act of one person who might have mis-conducted himself. He attributed this to how some media houses have allowed themselves to be used by a section of the public, in using abusive words against some few miscreants, whenever there was an issue for discussion on their platform saying, “these are contrary to the ethics of the profession”. The High Commissioner was reacting to various media publications about how a section of the Ghanaian populace describes Nigerians as crooks and rogues, ever since the Amalgamated Bank story attracted media attention. According to him, he has followed with keen interest the various radio discussions, especially on Joy FM, on the Amalgamated Bank story and the extent to which some Ghanaians have described Nigerians whenever just one of his countrymen flouts the laws of the land (Ghana), which was disheartening. “The impression being created here is that all Nigerians are criminals. No, Nigerians are not crooks, we are hardworking, honest people and we have demonstrated that wherever we go. There is no institution in both America and Britain that you will not find a Nigerian doing extremely well. Some of our businessmen have distinguished themselves and can rub shoulders with any businessman anywhere around the globe. And this we have achieved through hard work”, he noted. He emphasized the friendship and cordial relationship that exists between the two countries which he described as “brother and sister”, and that he would not sit unconcerned for some people to jeopardize the relationship the two countries have built over the years. He gave accounts of how some Nigerians were expelled from Ghana in 1969 and 1981, Nigeria also repeated similar unpleasant act against Ghanaians, a situation he said he would never allow to happen again. “I can't sit down for God's sake, for such an incident to happen again. If there are issues, let us address them and don't let us generalize. I am here to smoothen and deepen the relations between the two countries and I can not sit back and allow people with ulterior motives to tarnish the image of my country and its citizens”, he said. The High Commissioner bemoaned the application of fallacy of hasty generalization against Nigerians, labeling them as criminals, which is gaining momentum and therefore called on responsible leadership to put an end to it. He said his outfit had designed a quarterly meeting with the Nigerian community in the country to help address these issues and to constantly remind them to abide by the laws of Ghana. He commended President Atta Mills for his stand in ensuring that justice is meted out to all inhabitants in the country, irrespective of nationality, gender, race or colour. H.E. Obanikoro tasked the media to be up and doing in their reportage by feeding the public with balanced information to enable them make informed decisions.
Monday, March 23, 2009
MPs extol Otumfuo
Members of Parliament (MPs) last Friday complimented the work of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom, for his contribution to the development of this country ever since he ascended the throne a decade ago.
The MPs contended that his ten year reign has not only transformed the image of the chieftaincy institution in the country but has also brought massive development into the lives of the people in health care, education and conflict resolution.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso Constituency in his maiden statement on the floor of Parliament recounted how the leadership of the Otumfuo has brought dignity and respect to the chieftaincy institution through a number of policies and programmes that he has pursued since his ascension to the throne of the Golden Stool.
According to him, the introduction of the Otumfuo Education Fund as a major instrument of social change and progress has not only benefited those in the Ashanti Region but also those outside the Region who are brilliant but socially disadvantaged.
He said the Health oriented programmes implemented under the auspices of the Otumfuo Health Fund had also been of tremendous help to a substantial number of people throughout the country.
“Madam Speaker, Otumfuo has initiated these social interventions in the belief that Central Government alone cannot shoulder the full burden of the needs of the people and that all hands are required on deck. His efforts have been met with success, and also won him great admiration all around”, he noted.
Dr. Akoto also commended the works of other traditional rulers whose efforts have brought the country this far. He mentioned in particular the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Payin II in the area of the environment, Togbe Afede in energy generation and the Naayiri, King of the Mamprusis in conflict resolution in the Northern parts of the country.
He was also very grateful to the Otumfuo for his role in the area of conflict resolution in the country, which has earned the Ashanti king the accolade of “King Solomon”.
“Apart from the pace-setting role in the areas of education and health, the other important contribution which the reign of Otumfuo has brought to his Kingdom is in the area of conflict resolution. The countless Chieftaincy disputes and litigations that he has helped to resolve in the past ten years of his reign has manifested peace to the people of Asante within the jurisdiction and beyond the borders of the Ashanti Region”, he noted.
In contributing to the statement made by Dr. Akoto, Hon. Abukari Sumani, MP for Tamale North told the House how the Ashantis and the Dagombas have remained as one family from time immemorial, drawing into account a popular saying when relations of the two tribes meet “Asante Kotoko” and the other responds “Anyo Kotoko”.
He commended the Otumfuo for his numerous roles played in contributing to the development of the country especially in the areas of conflict resolution and education.
“Madam Speaker, the Otumfuo has made so much contribution to his Kingdom. His Educational Trust Fund is wonderful. He is concerned about development; he is concerned about the control of land use. Something that will set chaotic in many areas including my areas, he has set up regulations to guide them”, he said.
Mr. Sumani called on other chiefs to emulate his (Otumfuo) shinning example and wished him more years in his ruling. The former Ashanti Regional Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Kwabre West Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, also commended the Otumfuo for his contributions in improving the living conditions of Ghanaians.
According to him, one of the numerous projects initiated by the Otumfuo which was not popular to the public but making great strides was a secretariat he established, called Promoting Partnership with Traditional Authorities Project (PPTAP). The project, he said, had been of great help to the people of the Ashanti Region because of the numerous supports it has been receiving especially from the World Bank.
He also commended the Otumfuo for supporting the Agriculture sector by establishing a 400 acre palm plantation and a teak farm for Asanteman.
“Madam Speaker, the Otumfuo has shown the way in Agriculture. He has shown by example what a traditional ruler should show”, he noted. He described Otumfuo as a symbol of unity who uses the Akwasidae festival to unite the country.
Madam Catherine Abelema Afeku, MP for Evalue-Gwira, Jonathan Tackie-Komme, MP for Odododiodio, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, MP for Dormaa West, Inusa Fuseni, MP for Tamale Central and Haruna Iddrisu , MP for Tamale South and Minister of Communications all paid glowing tribute to the Otumfuo on his 10th anniversary as King of the Ashanti Kingdom. They lauded his various contributions made in the development of the country and urged other traditional rulers to do same.
The MPs contended that his ten year reign has not only transformed the image of the chieftaincy institution in the country but has also brought massive development into the lives of the people in health care, education and conflict resolution.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso Constituency in his maiden statement on the floor of Parliament recounted how the leadership of the Otumfuo has brought dignity and respect to the chieftaincy institution through a number of policies and programmes that he has pursued since his ascension to the throne of the Golden Stool.
According to him, the introduction of the Otumfuo Education Fund as a major instrument of social change and progress has not only benefited those in the Ashanti Region but also those outside the Region who are brilliant but socially disadvantaged.
He said the Health oriented programmes implemented under the auspices of the Otumfuo Health Fund had also been of tremendous help to a substantial number of people throughout the country.
“Madam Speaker, Otumfuo has initiated these social interventions in the belief that Central Government alone cannot shoulder the full burden of the needs of the people and that all hands are required on deck. His efforts have been met with success, and also won him great admiration all around”, he noted.
Dr. Akoto also commended the works of other traditional rulers whose efforts have brought the country this far. He mentioned in particular the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Payin II in the area of the environment, Togbe Afede in energy generation and the Naayiri, King of the Mamprusis in conflict resolution in the Northern parts of the country.
He was also very grateful to the Otumfuo for his role in the area of conflict resolution in the country, which has earned the Ashanti king the accolade of “King Solomon”.
“Apart from the pace-setting role in the areas of education and health, the other important contribution which the reign of Otumfuo has brought to his Kingdom is in the area of conflict resolution. The countless Chieftaincy disputes and litigations that he has helped to resolve in the past ten years of his reign has manifested peace to the people of Asante within the jurisdiction and beyond the borders of the Ashanti Region”, he noted.
In contributing to the statement made by Dr. Akoto, Hon. Abukari Sumani, MP for Tamale North told the House how the Ashantis and the Dagombas have remained as one family from time immemorial, drawing into account a popular saying when relations of the two tribes meet “Asante Kotoko” and the other responds “Anyo Kotoko”.
He commended the Otumfuo for his numerous roles played in contributing to the development of the country especially in the areas of conflict resolution and education.
“Madam Speaker, the Otumfuo has made so much contribution to his Kingdom. His Educational Trust Fund is wonderful. He is concerned about development; he is concerned about the control of land use. Something that will set chaotic in many areas including my areas, he has set up regulations to guide them”, he said.
Mr. Sumani called on other chiefs to emulate his (Otumfuo) shinning example and wished him more years in his ruling. The former Ashanti Regional Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Kwabre West Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, also commended the Otumfuo for his contributions in improving the living conditions of Ghanaians.
According to him, one of the numerous projects initiated by the Otumfuo which was not popular to the public but making great strides was a secretariat he established, called Promoting Partnership with Traditional Authorities Project (PPTAP). The project, he said, had been of great help to the people of the Ashanti Region because of the numerous supports it has been receiving especially from the World Bank.
He also commended the Otumfuo for supporting the Agriculture sector by establishing a 400 acre palm plantation and a teak farm for Asanteman.
“Madam Speaker, the Otumfuo has shown the way in Agriculture. He has shown by example what a traditional ruler should show”, he noted. He described Otumfuo as a symbol of unity who uses the Akwasidae festival to unite the country.
Madam Catherine Abelema Afeku, MP for Evalue-Gwira, Jonathan Tackie-Komme, MP for Odododiodio, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, MP for Dormaa West, Inusa Fuseni, MP for Tamale Central and Haruna Iddrisu , MP for Tamale South and Minister of Communications all paid glowing tribute to the Otumfuo on his 10th anniversary as King of the Ashanti Kingdom. They lauded his various contributions made in the development of the country and urged other traditional rulers to do same.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Parliament approves ‘Rescue’ budget
Parliament yesterday approved the financial policy of the Government of Ghana (GoG) for the year ending December 31st, 2009.
This was after Members of the House have deliberated on the financial policy statement which was moved on the floor of the House by the Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Dufuor on March 5th, 2009. The debate on the budget have lasted for almost two weeks drawing various criticism from the Minority Members who described it as ‘Sakawa’ budget which does not contain nothing new and is intended to bring hardship condition on the people. The Majority Members on the other side of the House see the budget as a ‘Rescue’ financial policy from the government intended to bring smiles on the faces of the citizenry since the previous government under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) failed to achieve their numerous targets it set for itself in 2008, resulting in huge deficit in the economy.
Moving the motion in support of the budget statement on the floor of Parliament, the immediate past minister of state at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo Constituency drew into accounts various criticisms the then NPP government in 2001 faced at the hands of some minority members of the NDC when it presented the financial policy on the floor of Parliament for deliberations.
He reminded Members on the various micro-economic targets the NDC set for itself when in power in 2000 which it failed to achieve. According to him, the NDC targeted a 5% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2000 but ended up realizing 3.7%. On inflation, he said the NDC target to bring the trend down to 12.5% but ended up at 40.5% with a budget deficit of 8.5% instead of 6.1%. Mr. Akoto Osei the NDC again failed to achieve a zero percent balance of payment it set for itself in 2000 but ended up with a $-194million.
There were interjections from both sides (Majority and Minority) of the House.
Advancing his argument, Mr. Akoto Osei outlined the track record of the NDC when in government from 1996-2000. According to him, per capita income under the NDC government at that time kept dwindling thereby bringing hardship conditions on the people.
“As I look through the budget statement and the performance of the NDC government over a period, the growth of per capita income has consistently from 1996-2000 gone backwards”, he noted.
On the contrary, Dr. Akoto said when the NPP took over the reigns of power from the NDC in 2001; the growth of per capita income has kept soaring which was a clear indication of putting money into the pockets of the people.
“Since 2001, the NPP has consistently increased the growth of per capita income which is a clear indication of putting more money into the pockets of the people”, he said.
Per capita income is the average total income per person of a country’s overall income level. For example, if a country has a collective income of $1 million and 20 residents, the per capita income or average income per person is $50,000.00.
According to him, the growth rate per capita in 1996 dropped from 2.0 to 1.96 in 1997 and a further dip to 1.42 in 1998. Again, he said the trend continued to dip further in 1.42 by the time the NDC government was leaving office in 2000 adding “Madam Speaker, if you keep that trend, you will be taking money out of the peoples’ pocket”.
Comparing the achievements of the NPP when in power from 2001-2008 on the subject matter, the former minister of state noted his government was able to turn around the fortunes of the country resulting in a per capita income of 2.46 in 2006.
This, according to him, brought money into the pockets of Ghanaians.
Dr. Akoto Osei was of the view that the cost savings as outlined in the budget cannot be realized looking at the economic condition of the country and that of the world economy which is been faced with challenges. He complained bitterly on the increase in airport taxes, user fees among many others. “If you put all these together, the NDC government is increasing taxes to the tune of almost $90m”, he added.
He therefore called on the Finance Minister to go back and study the budget statement well and come back to the House with a new budget statement that would alleviate the plight of the people.
Dr. Kwabena Dufour on his part thanked Members of the House for their contributions to the budget statement. According to him, he would appear before Members of the House at the appropriate time to address the various issues they raised concerning the budget.
He noted “we are not poor because we don’t have the resources but poor because we don’t know how to manage our resources”. He therefore emphasized that government would focus on efficiency in managing the economy to achieve best results for the country.
This was after Members of the House have deliberated on the financial policy statement which was moved on the floor of the House by the Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Dufuor on March 5th, 2009. The debate on the budget have lasted for almost two weeks drawing various criticism from the Minority Members who described it as ‘Sakawa’ budget which does not contain nothing new and is intended to bring hardship condition on the people. The Majority Members on the other side of the House see the budget as a ‘Rescue’ financial policy from the government intended to bring smiles on the faces of the citizenry since the previous government under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) failed to achieve their numerous targets it set for itself in 2008, resulting in huge deficit in the economy.
Moving the motion in support of the budget statement on the floor of Parliament, the immediate past minister of state at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo Constituency drew into accounts various criticisms the then NPP government in 2001 faced at the hands of some minority members of the NDC when it presented the financial policy on the floor of Parliament for deliberations.
He reminded Members on the various micro-economic targets the NDC set for itself when in power in 2000 which it failed to achieve. According to him, the NDC targeted a 5% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2000 but ended up realizing 3.7%. On inflation, he said the NDC target to bring the trend down to 12.5% but ended up at 40.5% with a budget deficit of 8.5% instead of 6.1%. Mr. Akoto Osei the NDC again failed to achieve a zero percent balance of payment it set for itself in 2000 but ended up with a $-194million.
There were interjections from both sides (Majority and Minority) of the House.
Advancing his argument, Mr. Akoto Osei outlined the track record of the NDC when in government from 1996-2000. According to him, per capita income under the NDC government at that time kept dwindling thereby bringing hardship conditions on the people.
“As I look through the budget statement and the performance of the NDC government over a period, the growth of per capita income has consistently from 1996-2000 gone backwards”, he noted.
On the contrary, Dr. Akoto said when the NPP took over the reigns of power from the NDC in 2001; the growth of per capita income has kept soaring which was a clear indication of putting money into the pockets of the people.
“Since 2001, the NPP has consistently increased the growth of per capita income which is a clear indication of putting more money into the pockets of the people”, he said.
Per capita income is the average total income per person of a country’s overall income level. For example, if a country has a collective income of $1 million and 20 residents, the per capita income or average income per person is $50,000.00.
According to him, the growth rate per capita in 1996 dropped from 2.0 to 1.96 in 1997 and a further dip to 1.42 in 1998. Again, he said the trend continued to dip further in 1.42 by the time the NDC government was leaving office in 2000 adding “Madam Speaker, if you keep that trend, you will be taking money out of the peoples’ pocket”.
Comparing the achievements of the NPP when in power from 2001-2008 on the subject matter, the former minister of state noted his government was able to turn around the fortunes of the country resulting in a per capita income of 2.46 in 2006.
This, according to him, brought money into the pockets of Ghanaians.
Dr. Akoto Osei was of the view that the cost savings as outlined in the budget cannot be realized looking at the economic condition of the country and that of the world economy which is been faced with challenges. He complained bitterly on the increase in airport taxes, user fees among many others. “If you put all these together, the NDC government is increasing taxes to the tune of almost $90m”, he added.
He therefore called on the Finance Minister to go back and study the budget statement well and come back to the House with a new budget statement that would alleviate the plight of the people.
Dr. Kwabena Dufour on his part thanked Members of the House for their contributions to the budget statement. According to him, he would appear before Members of the House at the appropriate time to address the various issues they raised concerning the budget.
He noted “we are not poor because we don’t have the resources but poor because we don’t know how to manage our resources”. He therefore emphasized that government would focus on efficiency in managing the economy to achieve best results for the country.
On the right top of the story is the Speaker of Parliament of Ghana, Rt. Hon Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo.
ET tells NDC supporters, Atta Akyea cann't be removed from Appointments Committee
The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Deputy Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah has ridiculed the demand by the Forum for Setting the Records Straight (FSRS) for the removal of the MP for Abuakwa-South, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea from the Appointments committee of Parliament.
“He cannot be removed from the Appointments Committee for asking questions”, he said.
He said one’s removal from the committee would have to be determined by the group (Minority or Majority) that he or she belongs to, who would then furnish the Chairman of the Select Committee, Justice Joyce Adelaine Bamford-Addo, who doubles as the Speaker of Parliament for consideration.
Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show programme, in response to claims by the FSRS, that they are pushing for the removal of the Abuakwa-South legislator from the Appointments Committee, Mr. E.T Mensah said the Speaker in turn would discusses the issue at the Select Committee level, and then lay it on the floor of Parliament for deliberations, where the outcome will become the final decision of the House.
According to him, it was only when a member violates the Standing Orders of the House that he/she can be removed from the Committee. In the case of Mr. Atta Akyea, he noted that it is only the Minority who can decide his removal from the Appointments Committee when he flouts the Standing Orders of the House, since he belongs to that group, stressing that “it would have to pass through a whole lot of processes.”
Considering the fact that everybody has the right and freedom to join any association of his/her choice, he noted that the group can still go ahead with its petition to the Chairman of the Select Committee for redress.
Mr. Atta Akyea and other members from the Minority have come under severe criticisms from sections of the general public, especially from the NDC fraternity, who seem not to be comfortable with his hard-line of his questioning.
Some have labeled him as trying to score political points rather than facing the realities and competence of the nominee, Mr. Fiife Kwetey, who appear before the Committee to be vetted for deputy Minister designate for Finanace. The Minority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu supported E.T Mensah’s position, describing the demand of the FSRS as “impossible and laughable.” According to him, a person can only be removed from the Appointments Committee when he/she is in obvious breach of the Standing Orders of Parliament, adding that “the action of the FSRS shows how ignorant they are.”
At a press conference last Friday, the Forum for Setting the Records Straight called on the Speaker of Parliament to remove Atta Akyea from the Appointment’s committee for making false presentations about Mrs. Betty-Mould Iddrisu and Fifi Fiave Kwetey, during the ongoing vetting of Ministerial nominees.
The group believes that the removal of Mr. Atta Akyea would restore credibility at the Appointments Committee.
“He cannot be removed from the Appointments Committee for asking questions”, he said.
He said one’s removal from the committee would have to be determined by the group (Minority or Majority) that he or she belongs to, who would then furnish the Chairman of the Select Committee, Justice Joyce Adelaine Bamford-Addo, who doubles as the Speaker of Parliament for consideration.
Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show programme, in response to claims by the FSRS, that they are pushing for the removal of the Abuakwa-South legislator from the Appointments Committee, Mr. E.T Mensah said the Speaker in turn would discusses the issue at the Select Committee level, and then lay it on the floor of Parliament for deliberations, where the outcome will become the final decision of the House.
According to him, it was only when a member violates the Standing Orders of the House that he/she can be removed from the Committee. In the case of Mr. Atta Akyea, he noted that it is only the Minority who can decide his removal from the Appointments Committee when he flouts the Standing Orders of the House, since he belongs to that group, stressing that “it would have to pass through a whole lot of processes.”
Considering the fact that everybody has the right and freedom to join any association of his/her choice, he noted that the group can still go ahead with its petition to the Chairman of the Select Committee for redress.
Mr. Atta Akyea and other members from the Minority have come under severe criticisms from sections of the general public, especially from the NDC fraternity, who seem not to be comfortable with his hard-line of his questioning.
Some have labeled him as trying to score political points rather than facing the realities and competence of the nominee, Mr. Fiife Kwetey, who appear before the Committee to be vetted for deputy Minister designate for Finanace. The Minority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu supported E.T Mensah’s position, describing the demand of the FSRS as “impossible and laughable.” According to him, a person can only be removed from the Appointments Committee when he/she is in obvious breach of the Standing Orders of Parliament, adding that “the action of the FSRS shows how ignorant they are.”
At a press conference last Friday, the Forum for Setting the Records Straight called on the Speaker of Parliament to remove Atta Akyea from the Appointment’s committee for making false presentations about Mrs. Betty-Mould Iddrisu and Fifi Fiave Kwetey, during the ongoing vetting of Ministerial nominees.
The group believes that the removal of Mr. Atta Akyea would restore credibility at the Appointments Committee.
Far right is the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Constituency, Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
ZoomLion to the rescue of Akltamafu
Experts in waste management, ZoomLion Ghana Limited under the auspices of the Ministry of Health has embarked on a fumigation exercise at Akltamafu, a village near Hohoe in the Volta Region to rid it of flies and other insecticides to save the people from environmental borne diseases.
The initiative by ZoomLion was in response to a front page publication in the Ghanaian Times, dated Wednesday 11th March 2009, on the invasion of flies in the aforementioned village.
The exercise was performed over the weekend under the supervision of the Vector Control Coordinator of ZoomLion, Mr. Samuel Nortey.
The Communications Director of the company (ZoomLion), Mr. Oscar Provencal in his address to the gathering noted that his outfit’s response to the situation was part of its social responsibility of attending to needs of the people which also felt in line with the President’s initiative of making the country clean in hundred days and beyond.
The company, he said, after its preliminary investigations, have decided to clear the heap of refuse close to the village and fumigate the entire community after it was discovered to be the main the cause of the fly invasion.
The paper learnt that the company has decided to probe further into the matter to find lasting solution to the problem in the area. To this effect, twenty-three local hands would be employed and trained to stay in the village for the next six months to address the issue.
The Chief of the area, Togbe Keh XII in his address expressed his profound gratitude to the government and ZoomLion for their swift response to the aid of citizens of Akltamafu.
He appealed to the government to help upgrade the road network linking the village to other communities and also provide school and health care facilities to the people in order to improve their standard of living.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed reiterated the government’s commitment in ensuring good health of the citizens which he believe is the cornerstone to national development.
According to him, the presence of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health in the area was a clear testimony of the government’s zeal to tackle environmental problems to ensure good sanitation in the country and assured the people of government’s support to bring the situation under control.
He said the government has made allocations in this year’s budget to deal with sanitation issues to ensure a safe environment and therefore called for all hands on deck in the fight against environmental issues since its effects are enormous.
“Flies we all know can be very harmful to our health since they stand the chance to contaminate our food and water. They can also promote epidemic but we should not encourage this situation of ours where we need funds to develop our country. It is therefore paramount for us to promote and protect the health of our citizens”, he said.
Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso South Constituency commended ZoomLion for its effort in ensuring a cleaner environment and urged other stakeholders in the health sector to do same.
He however, promised Ghanaians of the Committee’s determination to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in the health sector to respond to such situation irrespective of where it happens.
The initiative by ZoomLion was in response to a front page publication in the Ghanaian Times, dated Wednesday 11th March 2009, on the invasion of flies in the aforementioned village.
The exercise was performed over the weekend under the supervision of the Vector Control Coordinator of ZoomLion, Mr. Samuel Nortey.
The Communications Director of the company (ZoomLion), Mr. Oscar Provencal in his address to the gathering noted that his outfit’s response to the situation was part of its social responsibility of attending to needs of the people which also felt in line with the President’s initiative of making the country clean in hundred days and beyond.
The company, he said, after its preliminary investigations, have decided to clear the heap of refuse close to the village and fumigate the entire community after it was discovered to be the main the cause of the fly invasion.
The paper learnt that the company has decided to probe further into the matter to find lasting solution to the problem in the area. To this effect, twenty-three local hands would be employed and trained to stay in the village for the next six months to address the issue.
The Chief of the area, Togbe Keh XII in his address expressed his profound gratitude to the government and ZoomLion for their swift response to the aid of citizens of Akltamafu.
He appealed to the government to help upgrade the road network linking the village to other communities and also provide school and health care facilities to the people in order to improve their standard of living.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed reiterated the government’s commitment in ensuring good health of the citizens which he believe is the cornerstone to national development.
According to him, the presence of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health in the area was a clear testimony of the government’s zeal to tackle environmental problems to ensure good sanitation in the country and assured the people of government’s support to bring the situation under control.
He said the government has made allocations in this year’s budget to deal with sanitation issues to ensure a safe environment and therefore called for all hands on deck in the fight against environmental issues since its effects are enormous.
“Flies we all know can be very harmful to our health since they stand the chance to contaminate our food and water. They can also promote epidemic but we should not encourage this situation of ours where we need funds to develop our country. It is therefore paramount for us to promote and protect the health of our citizens”, he said.
Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso South Constituency commended ZoomLion for its effort in ensuring a cleaner environment and urged other stakeholders in the health sector to do same.
He however, promised Ghanaians of the Committee’s determination to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in the health sector to respond to such situation irrespective of where it happens.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Prosecute me if ...
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni has indicated his preparedness to give up his position and also would avail himself for prosecution if found guilty of breaching the Constitution of the country.
“It is my solemn pledge to the good people of Ghana that should it be shown or proven that I, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, has stolen a single pesewa of the taxpayer’s money or taken a personal benefit whether directly or indirectly, or been corrupt or abused my office, or been guilty of “By failing to properly manage State funds leading to their loss, Alhaji Mumuni’s acts have gravely prejudiced the interests of the State. Monies that would otherwise have been used to address the needs of the needy and less privileged have been lost. He is therefore unfit to occupy the office that he presently holds and must resign”, he noted.
It would be recalled that in the said audit report prepared by Messrs Baffour Awuah at the instance of the Auditor-General, the NVTI was cited as a conduit for siphoning an amount of over 19.6 billion old Ghana cedis of government funds to known and unknown persons, through huge and fraudulent payments to companies and enterprises as well as a member of individuals.
It made specific findings against Alhaji Mumuni and his other colleagues including Victor Selormey of blessed memory, who was then the Deputy Minister of Finance and the former Controller and Accountant-General, Mr. R.K. Tuffuor.
The report noted that the acts of omission and commission perpetrated by the former Minister and his colleagues in the release of an amount of 19 billion old Ghana cedis to the Director of NVTI did not only result in a financial loss to the state of over 15 billion old Ghana cedis, being total amount fraudulently paid out of the sum of 19 billion old Ghana cedis to private companies and individuals, for goods not supplied or services not rendered, but also constitute misconduct and gross negligence under the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
“It is my solemn pledge to the good people of Ghana that should it be shown or proven that I, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, has stolen a single pesewa of the taxpayer’s money or taken a personal benefit whether directly or indirectly, or been corrupt or abused my office, or been guilty of “By failing to properly manage State funds leading to their loss, Alhaji Mumuni’s acts have gravely prejudiced the interests of the State. Monies that would otherwise have been used to address the needs of the needy and less privileged have been lost. He is therefore unfit to occupy the office that he presently holds and must resign”, he noted.
It would be recalled that in the said audit report prepared by Messrs Baffour Awuah at the instance of the Auditor-General, the NVTI was cited as a conduit for siphoning an amount of over 19.6 billion old Ghana cedis of government funds to known and unknown persons, through huge and fraudulent payments to companies and enterprises as well as a member of individuals.
It made specific findings against Alhaji Mumuni and his other colleagues including Victor Selormey of blessed memory, who was then the Deputy Minister of Finance and the former Controller and Accountant-General, Mr. R.K. Tuffuor.
The report noted that the acts of omission and commission perpetrated by the former Minister and his colleagues in the release of an amount of 19 billion old Ghana cedis to the Director of NVTI did not only result in a financial loss to the state of over 15 billion old Ghana cedis, being total amount fraudulently paid out of the sum of 19 billion old Ghana cedis to private companies and individuals, for goods not supplied or services not rendered, but also constitute misconduct and gross negligence under the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
After being mauled by court MILLS TO DECIDE MUMUNI`S FATE…As Minority prepares for real battle
Following a court ruling against the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni in a case he filed against Daily Guide, a private daily newspaper, the minority Members of Parliament (MP) have indicated their intention to pursue the matter until it is laid before Parliament for deliberation, since the substance of the findings raised by the Auditor-General still hangs over the Minister's neck. Explaining the rational behind the stand taken by the minority in a telephone interview with this reporter, its leader, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu who doubles as the MP for Suame said since the court had ruled against Alhaji Mumuni, it means he has been indicted by the Auditor-General and it would be prudent for the House to debate on the issue and recommend to the State Attorney for prosecution, but added that “for now we are awaiting what President Mills will say”. “Clearly, we will press that the matter comes to Parliament, after which we would definitely take it up and then recommend to the state Attorney General to prosecute him”, he noted. Mr. Mensah-Bonsu held the notion that it would be prudent for Alhaji Mumuni to step down from his Ministerial position and fight in the law courts to extricate himself just like Dr. Richard Anane did sometime ago before the President reinstated him. “He should put himself in the shoes of Dr. Richard Anane. If you don't get a Ministerial position, that shouldn't be the end of your life, you can still work in a different capacity for government”, he noted. In the wake of a new era, when things appear to be working as planned, recent happenings from some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) seem to cast a slur on the image of the new administration, which is gradually dampening the confidence reposed in the newly appointed Ministers by the President. From the authorization of the controversial Chinery-Hesse report to the purported Baffour Awuah and Associates forensic audit report into the activities and operations of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) by the Auditor-General, inside sources at the Castle have indicated the President's desire to crack the whip on any erring Minister. According to the source, the President was not aware of the existence of such a forensic audit report against Alhaji Mumuni, until during his vetting where he (President Mills) requested for a copy of the report to study. The source said the President was shocked with the findings of the report against Alhaji Mumuni and even belatedly attempted to withdraw his nomination and substitute him with Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, but for the fact that the matter is still pending before court, the President has deemed it fit to wait for the outcome and then decide on what to do next. Now that the court has ruled, luck seems to be running out on Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, as he has, however, declared his intention to fight to the end by appealing against the ruling, in a desperate attempt to cling on to his position. Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, MP for Akim Abuakwa South, in an interview with this reporter ruled out any possibility of Alhaji Mumuni staying in office to continue the fight against his alleged defamation of character, since the court ruling has justified the publication by Daily Guide newspaper. According to him, the character exhibited by Alhaji Mumuni, who was then the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare does not augur well for him to assume the position of the first diplomat of the land, and therefore, advised him to resign his post whilst he continues his fight against Daily Guide in the court, since his appeal won't change anything until the decision has been set aside. “The ruling is still binding on him and if I'm to advise him, I will ask him to resign and clear his name first, before assuming the high office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, he noted. According to the Akyim Abuakwa legislator, if Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni had complied to the advice of the minority during his vetting, he would have been in the best position to decide whether to accept his nomination or not. He was of the strong conviction that even when the minority fails to take the matter up, a lot of his colleagues in Parliament would be forced to go to court for redress. It would be recalled that Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni's vetting witnessed one of the most rigorous intellectual exercises in the history of the work of the Appointments Committee of Parliament when he appeared before it on February 9th, 2009. During Mumuni's vetting, the minority walked out from the Speakers Conference room, venue of the event, in a situation it described as misuse of discretionary powers by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, when they (minority) raised issues concerning Alhaji Mumuni's indictment by the forensic audit report which was conducted by Messrs Baffour Awuah and Associates at the instance of the Auditor-General. Alhaji Mumuni escaped by a vote of Parliament, through a majority decision of 116 to 74, and he has since been sworn into office by President Mills. In the said report, the NVTI was cited as a conduit for siphoning an amount of over 19.6 billion old Ghana cedis of government funds to known and unknown persons, through huge and fraudulent payments to companies and enterprises as well as a member of individuals. It made specific findings against Alhaji Mumuni and other colleagues including the late Mr. Victor Selormey, who was then the Deputy Minister of Finance and the former Controller and Accountant-General, R.K. Tuffuor. The report noted that the acts of omissions and commissions perpetrated by the former Minister and his colleagues in the release of an amount of 19 billion old Ghana cedis to the Director of NVTI did not only result in financial loss to the state of over 15billion old Ghana cedis, being total amount fraudulently paid out of the sum of 19billion old Ghana cedis to private companies and individuals for goods not supplied or services not rendered, but also constitute misconduct and gross negligence under the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
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