Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Allotey Jacobs - I'm seeing a new leadership'

Former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has applauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Tuesday, March 9 in parliament.

b>I Support Akufo-Addo

Allotey Jacobs further declared his full support for President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government.

“What is happening in this country, my years in politics; there’s a vast change in our governance system. I’m seeing a new type of leadership. In every organization, if it dwells very well, it depends on leadership and we’re seeing this country, when you place Kwame Nkrumah aside; for me, I will say I’m seeing a new leadership,” Allotey eulogized the President.

He added; “I’m seeing a change in our governance system . . . Building a nation, it doesn’t take one person; so, sometimes, we should put our political affiliation aside and look at what the current system is doing and give our massive support because at the end of the day, it will benefit all of us.”

Allotey further expressed delight over the President's speech saying “I enjoyed the President’s state of the nation address”.He made these remarks on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''. 

President Akufo-Addo touched on the various sectors of the economy and outlined his achievements as well as vision in his second term in office.

Some notable things the President said are:''Mr. Speaker, Government, in four years, has recorded a number of significant milestones in our quest to formalise and modernise the Ghanaian economy. We believe it is the fairest and fastest way to achieve our goals. The National Identity Card rollout, the National Digital Property Addressing System, the interoperability of mobile money transactions, the introduction of the paperless operations at the port, e-business registration system, and access to digital financial services are all part of the drive to formalise our economy, and enhance its productivity."

''Four years ago, it sounded recklessly optimistic, but Free SHS and Free TVET are now entrenched parts of our educational setup. In a few years’ time, we can guarantee that the basic education for the workforce in our country would be at the secondary level. It is a transformational step we have taken, which should quicken the pace of development all round, and give us confidence in our future."

"Mr. Speaker, Ghana rice is the preferred choice in an increasing number of our homes, as the growing, processing and packaging of rice become a more established and attractive industry."

"During this COVID crisis, we have, mercifully, been spared the spectre of food shortages. On the contrary, thanks to Planting for Food and Jobs, food has been in abundance in our markets across the country. Throughout the ages, food processing has provided the takeoff point for the industrialisation of many nations, and we are taking that lesson to heart as we pursue the goal to industrialise, modernise and create jobs for the young people of our nation."

"The One-District-One-Factory programme is part of the anchor on which we are building the comprehensive industrialization of our country. Much of the work has now been done to put in place the framework for the rapid implementation of projects. The factories, that are currently in place and in production, reflect the underlying principle of the programme, which is the equitable distribution of development projects around the country. The prospects of our becoming the automobile hub in West Africa are growing stronger every day, with the investments being made in the country by global manufacturing giants in the automobile industry."

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Reasons why Minority MPs rejected 3, deferred 5 of Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees

 

The Minority MPs on the Appointments Committee have so far rejected three of President Akufo-Addo’s 30 ministerial nominees while five others have been deferred to reappear for further questioning.

Information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson and Minister-designate for Food Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto have been rejected for various reasons.

Mavis Hawa Koomson

1.a) The Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development could not

provide convincing grounds for the shooting incident during the Voter Registration

Exercise in Kasoa on 20th July, 2020 even though we acknowledge her belated

apology for her recklessly dangerous conduct.

b) Furthermore, claims of an ongoing investigation by the Police did not come across as

credible considering that there has been no update from the police more than 8

months after the unfortunate incident. Our checks also point to the fact that she has

not provided any statement to the police as at yet.

c) The nominee confirmed the identity of closed associates who have unleashed a

reign of terror on helpless political opponents in the pursuit of their narrow political

ends.

d) The Minister-designate displayed an alarmingly abysmal lack of knowledge on the

sector she was nominated for, making her unfit for the portfolio and therefore

untenable to secure the approval of members of the NDC caucus.

Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto

2. a)The Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture was untruthful under oath to the

Committee on the circumstances leading to the abrogation of the Fruit and Export

Terminal Contract of 2015 by GPHA on his express instructions as contained in a

letter dated 11th January, 2021.

b) He was untruthful under oath about his directive ordering GPHA to issue a license to

Fruit Terminal Company Ltd and how his actions could lead to a US$50million

judgement debt.

c) The nominee was grossly insincere with the Appointments Committee on his special

relationship with the Director of AMG Company Limited, Mr. Ernest Appiah and the

latter’s control of fertilizer contracts awarded by the Ministry.

d) The Minister-designate was particularly discourteous, downright condescending and

offensively arrogant in his appearance at the committee which is not the kind of

attitude expected of public servants.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

3. a)The Minister-designate for Information was not the least candid with the committee

on the multiple infractions of the law leading to the Bank of Ghana’s revocation of

the license of Oval Microfinance – a company in which he was 83% majority

shareholder.

b) He failed to admit ethical liability for the related party lending between Oval

Microfinance and West Brownstone which also belongs to him. He also denied

outstanding obligations to Oval Microfinance despite the BoG’s examination report

establishing the contrary.

c) He peddled untruths under oath about the circumstances leading to investigative

journalist Manasseh Azure relocating to South Africa with the assistance of the

Media Foundation for West Africa when the journalist faced threats to his life.

d) The nominee was quite evasive on his association with MX24 TV which is owned and

managed by his wife with other family members such as Kwabena Oppong Nkrumah

serving as shareholder/Trustee for the parent company of MX24 TV known as Black

Volta Publications Limited incorporated recently on the 4th of April, 2017 when the

nominee was serving as Deputy Minister for Information.

Those deferred are Communication Minister nominee, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful; Railway Minister nominee, John Peter Amewu; Roads Minister nominee, Kwasi Amoako-Attah; Attorney General and Minister of Justice nominee, Godfred Dame and Health Minister nominee, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.

Made up of a total of 26 members – 13 each from the NDC and the NPP Caucus – the Committee begun the constitutionally mandated vetting process on February 10 and are expected to finish on March 9.

The NDC MPs led by Haruna Iddrisu, a Ranking Member on the Committee, has have outlined reasons why they took such a decision.

Reasons for the rejection

The Minority MPs said they were not satisfied with the answers he gave regarding his private businesses.

According to the NDC MPs, the Ofoase Ayeribi MP has an 82% share in a company called Oval Market Finance. This finance company is believed to be involved in some suspicious third-party lending.

Again, they say he has dealings with MX24 GH, a content creation, digital agency and media production house located in East Legon, which he said he didn’t have anything to do with during his vetting.

Overall, the NDC MPs accuse Mr Oppong Nkrumah of being untruthful with his answers during his vetting.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister-designate, Hawa Koomson, who was vetted on the same day as was turned down mainly for the gun-shooting incident that occurred during the registration of voters in her constituency.

During her vetting, the 55-year-old admitted to firing warning shots in self-defence and apologised to the Committee and Ghanaians in general for her conduct.

Although MP for Asawaase, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka questioned the genuineness of her apology owing to the fact that she had failed to follow up on her constituents who may have been injured or lost their property in the incident, Mrs Koomson stated that she was unaware of any such injuries or losses.

Regarding the Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, Afriyie Akoto, he is accused of unilaterally cancelling a horticulture contract with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority on January 11, 2021 without authority.

This cancellation according to the Minority Group is unauthorised as he was only a caretaker Minister.

Further, the cancellation, they say, will lead to a $50 million judgment debt for the country.

Following the rejection of these candidates, their nomination will be presented to Parliament for a vote.

Meanwhile, the NDC MPs say their reasons for the deferment of Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is for overseeing the discriminatory closure of some radio stations.

The nominee during her vetting two weeks ago said, the NCA acted in accordance with the Electronic Communication Law of 2008 in shutting down radio stations.