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Feature: Is our presidential race turning into a freak show?

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The Author, Mr Kwadwo Afari

Ghanaian politics has become a freak show —- we mean a political culture that gives incentives to candidates, activists, partisans and the paid media that encourages personal attacks and stifles ideological debates. The incentives for fame, money and power now drives our politics. The reality is that the operators of the freak show operate at the very centre of our national politics.

Most of our politicians’ vision for the future is not grounded in reality at a time when voters are not satisfied with the general direction of the country and politicians job approval ratings are below average.

The rhetoric do not depict a clear path to tomorrow. Our would-be presidents, for lack of a clear vision, simply harness the poisonous strength of propaganda using corrupt pundits in the paid media.

Presently, money and buffoonery rule Ghanaian politics. Indeed, substance does not play any role on the presidential campaign trail. Observers who follow the campaign would have noticed that for some time now anger, sex and personal attacks and issues indirectly connected to issues of governance dominate the narrative. Ideas are the enemy of the freak show.

Undeniably, the legacy of the numerous military coups is that the bad people won. The outcome of the military dictatorship was a mutual victory for bad politicians, and a ‘soli’ infested press, epitomised first by ‘money for your story’ syndrome of the established and paid media.

Honest politicians find it difficult to find sufficient allies in their effort to clean the stable. Sadly, those who control the media, the bureaucracy and a large section of academia hold a common worldview —- the preservation of self, even if that mean accepting an unfair status quo.

2024 Presidential Race: Elephants and Midgets

Let us see if we can unravel the mind and motives of all the would-be presidents, who plan to announce their candidacy sooner or later. In 2020, no less than ten candidates filed for president – counting political parties and independents.

For 2024, it would be the same old story, with two elephants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the room with midgets.

Meanwhile, we expect to see more virtually unknown persons outside of their own circle of friends, to emerge as presidential aspirants. We should brace ourselves for the noise.

Some aspirants know the issues, but have not harnessed them to a greater vision.

Most retain a magical power of government to solve all problems. While ignorance of basic economics is not necessarily discrediting, it can introduce interpretive biases — particularly when it opens, wounds rooted in decades of authouritarian false promises — anti-wealth, anti-middle class and anti–market policies. The question remains if a few of the hopeful presidential candidates are up to the challenge of getting Ghana’s economy under control.

The short answer: Probably not.

What is the “plan’ to win next year?  To this date, there has been no major discussions on the list of problems that include corruption, weak property rights, noserious policy statements of any kind of a logical, effective, step-by-step policy by which the candidates would rule this country, motivate citizens, expand the Ghanaian economy and make it more efficient and more technologically advanced.

Most aspirants’ false choice narrative is clear when it comes to the economy. Most would like Ghanaians to believe that a growth-promoting strong economy and a roaring private sector only benefit the rich. FALSE.

Ghana does not have to choose between a strong local private-sector led economy and closing the poverty gap.

Ghana can do both with policies that encourages low levels of government intervention in the economy, low barriers to capital flows and reducing the high level of activity in the informal market.

Ghanaians have heard about certain strategies of putting money into the pockets of partisans, but nothing about any “long term policy,” on reducing inflation and strong property rights.

The rhetoric is simply on partial measures that will still make this country dependent on the generosity of the IMF and the World Bank.  The dynamics in 2024 will be the same. The would-be presidents have no intention of systemic reform.

The Political Elites

The political elite enjoy, and benefit from, the status quo. Political power has become personal and politics has become a type of business as political positions give access to economic resources.

The political elite cares absolutely nothing about the long-term welfare of the country, prefers partial measures that avoid short-term pain and sacrifice long-term prosperity. Their only goal is to stay in power and revel in the circle of followers that gives them that power.

For example, our aspirants talk blissfully about the ‘common man’. Elections have come and gone since 1992. But, instead of democracy widening and deepening, as we hope, power and wealth is slowly but unmistakably migrating into the hands of a few politicians and their cronies.

The current crop of candidates and rhetoric means continuation of what has been going on for decades—no accountability, no rule of law, no change.  Rule by corrupt tricksters who exploit corrupt influence for personal gain.

There will be no alteration of the current direction—more power in corrupt hands and that benefits the power hungry incompetent and their cronies.

Ironically, many voters will vote for their party next year, regardless of who the nominee.  In their view, their party winning gives them a place at the dinner table. FALSE

Whatever “plan” might exist is just to make enough noises to sound good to the base, but to ensure things do not change radically in Ghana.

We must understand that “sovereign development” is not the goal to most aspirants; the objective is to seek power, fame and wealth.  Their exhortations breed contempt, even hatred.

The actions they aspire is a political system that constantly stager toward the irrational. Thus, the common man is nothing but an irritant and exist only to help them accomplish their aim, which is to remain in power.

The Typical Follower

Good, decent Ghanaians are, no doubt, exceedingly frustrated by the freak show going on in governance. However, we are relatively naïve when it comes to picking our leaders. We accept and give unquestionable allegiance to candidates because they are from our parties.

Again, and this cannot be emphasized often enough, we are easily taken in by those whose primary goal is not our welfare but access to the power and influence they can use for their own purposes.

Experience has shown that when presidential aspirants talk about standing up for the many, not the few, they are just repeating a political cliché. As the 2024 campaign proceeds, we see aides who enable missteps, rather than check them, surround aspirants. At the moment just clichés to tinker with the status quo. Thus, nothing ever changes—except to get worse.

The NDC’s John Mahama’s ridiculous “you will all get poultry equipment to enable you rear chicken” is a perfect example.  It is a worthless pile of economic garbage, but he is selling it to a gullible electorate desperate for something, and it is exactly what Ghanaian politicians have been doing for decades. In this mode, it is impossible for leaders to entertain important course corrections.

John Mahama, the former president, and some of the others seeking our vote in 2024, say they want to “help create wealth.” Mahama, especially, failed to recognise that neither the poor nor leaders are omniscient. Nobody have the God-given right to create wealth for another.

He failed as a president because he did not understand the broad institutional framework within which economies function. So are some of the others.

The fundamentals of the Ghanaian economy is still weak. No amount of policy tinkering will reduce the current poverty levels.

We should ask all aspirants how they intend dealing with disastrous effects of chronic monetary instability, high inflation, punitive tax levels, or state appropriation of private property. And we must insist on the truth, not empty rhetoric.

We, the people, are going to have to change things.   We, the people, are going to have to let our politicians know that we are not going to tolerate their failures any longer.   The 1979 revolution brought nothing but indiscipline, ungodliness and envy.

The revolution that will bring Ghana back to godliness, decency, economic prosperity, national strength, and true freedom (not dishonesty) is not going to come from the top down, the army, or the pulpit.  It will not start in our political parties.

Ghanaian politicians are the problem, not the solution to our economic prosperity.  The revolution forward to true Ghanaian greatness will start with us.

If there are enough of us left to do it.

By Kwadwo Afari

Message For Fathers’ Day Celebration: To Be Celebrated Or Not To Be Celebrated?

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Prof. Emmanuel K. Asante, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana

There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers, those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their faith, those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful, those whose teeth are swords, and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind. -Proverbs 30: 11-14

Introduction

The fifth commandment charges believers to “honour one’s father and mother so that one may live long in the land the Lord has given one.” The passage I read at the beginning as a text for reflection brings to the fore a description of arrogance in the sense of pride and abuse of others. According to the passage, arrogance begins with a lack of appreciation for and respect of one’s parents.

It means refusing to obey the fifth commandment creates negative consequences in respect of one’s relationship with others. When we reject the fifth commandment it becomes difficult to relate positively to others.

Today (Sunday) is Father’s Day, a day set apart to celebrate our fathers. Not long ago we had the opportunity to celebrate our Mothers.

On this special day, it is important for us to refocus on fatherhood, and I believe we can better reflect on fatherhood by considering the fatherhood of God as our best example of fatherhood.

When we reflect on the fatherhood of God the following comes out: God’s role as the life-giver, his role as the Protector and his role as caregiver.

As the life-giver, he created us. In Isaiah 64:7 we read: Lord you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” God, as the Father, defines who we are.

He made us. Like a potter God shaped and moulded us to His likeness. So, we live to reflect not only his image but also his generosity, love, and creativity. In Him we have our being.

As the Protector, God is presented in Psalm 91: 1-6 as our shelter, our refuge in time of trouble, and as our protector who carries us through all the dangers, fears, and the changing scenes of life.

No matter how intense our fears when we put our trust and confidence in God by dwelling in Him, he protects us. As we entrust ourselves to His protection, He keeps us safe. We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but with God we can know perfect peace even in turmoil.

So, In Isaiah 26:3 we read, ‘You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you

As our Caregiver, God takes care of our needs including our daily bread. He is the Lord that heals us. Our pain and hunger affect Him. So even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil. God, who is our Shepherd, knows the “green pastures” and “still waters” that will restore us, and He leads us to them.

In sum, we call God Father because He created us, He protects, and takes care of our needs. From this brief description of the fatherhood of God we can present the biblical concept of fatherhood in terms of 1).

Generating and establishing household. 2). Feeding, nourishing, and protecting the family and 3). The maintenance and responsibility of the family. Let us do further reflection on this biblical concept of fatherhood.

Generating and establishing Household

Every household owes its existence to a father, mother, and children. No matter what type of family unit (conjugal or extended) under normal circumstances, the father plays the key role as head.

He controls and manages the family. Even in matriarchal societies the Patriarch holds the position of leadership.

The Father has the greater responsibility to provide a secure home for his wife and children, a home where a child can be free to be a child, and the wife a wife. It is the responsibility of the father to establish such a home for his family.

Parental Inversion

Where a father becomes irresponsible, immature, or ineffective in providing a home for his family parental inversion takes place. Under such circumstance, a child is forced to take responsibility to parent one’s parents, or a wife is forced to take leadership of the household.

This has dire consequences for the family. It has been said: “Chores and responsibilities are good training for children, but the weight of care and responsibility should rest on the parents’ [especially on the fathers’] shoulders, never on the shoulders of the [mother] or children.”

Time will not permit me to talk about the dire consequences of parental inversion in detail. One can present a few.

Children or wives who are forced by the failure of the father to take up parental or leadership responsibilities in their homes become far too busy and find it difficult to trust that others will hold up their end or do things rightly.

Such people cannot relax and be refreshed in the home. They lose an important aspect of who they are as children or wives.

A story is told of a man whose father was a heavy drinker and a gambler. As a lad of eleven, he was forced by his father’s failure in the home to work to earn money for the family. In every way he worked hard to support his family.

From then on, he became a compulsive caregiver compulsively feeling that he had to take of everyone – employees, friends, wife, children, church, God, anyone, and everyone. He became the compulsive Good Samaritan for every flat tire and trouble on the road.

He could not purchase and enjoy something for himself without feeling guilty. As a boy he had built into himself that he must give everything to save his family. Now he could not stop trying.

 The message here is, man be a father in your home and allow the children, if any, to enjoy their childhood so they can grow naturally into fatherhood or motherhood.

By your failure to build your household you have destroyed your family structure. Your children have lost their childhood, and this has serious psychological repercussion on their growth.

Your wife, having taken up the role of fatherhood, has had her motherhood disturbed. She has become a surrogate father and husband in the home playing the roles of husband and wife at the same time.

In such a situation, the family unit normally involving the father-husband, mother-wife, and children is dislocated, the normal family then suffers abnormality.

Human Beings are made

“At birth the human baby is completely helpless and absolutely dependent on others.”

In a strict sense “the infant is not a ‘human’ being but a little animal without speech or self-control, two of the most important attributes of the normal adult member of the human society. Growing up into a human is a process, which necessitates contact with other people.

A child grows to acquire the standards of the social group into which it has been born through the process of socialization. The parents are the primary agents of the process.

Through the socialization process what it means to be human are inculcated into a child. So, you are what you are through socialization, the primary agents of which are your parents.

Social values are hardly inane qualities of the human being. In other words, human beings are not born with social values already inculcated in them.

This, of course, is not to deny that the human being by the law of nature knows that one must seek the highest good, which, in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas includes seeking after God, intellectual development, and being on good terms with those with whom one has relationships.

Human beings, however, are made particular social beings through the process of socialization, a sociological term which refers, in a general way, to the process of growing up into a human being, a process which necessitates contact with other people.

The human being acquires the language, the thought forms, and standards of the social group into which he has been born through the process of socialization.

The sociologist, Eleanor E. Maccoby confirmed this when she wrote as follows:

From the standpoint of the larger society, one of the objectives of the socialization process is to produce individuals who will not only conform to the socially prescribed rules of conduct but will, as members of society, accept them as their own values.

The State of the Question

The state of the question is there seems to be a serious break down of social values in our society. People seek immediate sexual gratification without any reservation as regarding time, age, place, rights of or obligations to the partner or may seek to be rich without regard to hard work, honesty, probity, and accountability.

Indiscipline and corruption seem to be having a field day.  One of our own, the late Rev Prof. Joshua Kudadjie, captured the state of the question when he wrote:

In private as in public life there is irresponsibility, dishonesty, corruption, subterfuge, people of all walks of life and status engage in currency and drug trafficking, abuse of office, cheating, fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement, nepotism.

It looks as if we cannot distinguish between right and wrong and have no recognizable standard of behaviour.  We are pompous, extravagant, materialistic, and vain; there is lawlessness, lack of respect for authority.  We are ungodly, and do not have much fellow-feeling or love for country.

How do we explain this moral state of the question?  Clausen noted well when he wrote that if the socialization apparatus functions effectively, most individuals will acquire the necessary motives, skills, and knowledge to perform competently the social roles expected of normal adults in their society.

For our purpose, it would suffice to say that the problem of the general moral decadence of our society cannot be considered in isolation from the moral state of the wider society.

The problem is the problem of inadequate moral socialization, which in itself points to parental failure, breakdown of the family unit, and the lack of moral rectitude in the wider society.

This certainly comes as a serious indictment on all agents of moral socialization in our country. All agents of moral socialization- family, Church, educational institutions, the state  are culpable.

Truly all have sinned.  Daniel Maguire said it all when he wrote, ethics is not the consuming passion of our time as it has been in the past.

Home and Parental Training

There is the need to intensify home training and find appropriate ways of making it work.  It has been said that the child is the parent of the adult.

What this means is that much of what the adult will be in society is what the child is as it lies in its mother’s lap.

Parents must help children to form the right habits and values right from the beginning both by precept and by example. Proverbs 22:6 reads train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not turn from it.

This saying is true.  Once a good foundation has been laid in the home, the possibilities that children will grow up to be responsible, upright citizens are high.

As fathers we have the greater responsibility in the matter. To be celebrated as fathers we must demonstrate a fatherhood that is grounded in the biblical conception of fatherhood.

A Methodist minister, Esther Magill, who taught at the Trinity Theological Seminary (then Trinity College) said: “at all stages of a child’s development relationship will have a deeper influence than verbal teaching.”

Magill further notes: “the person by whom a child is first surrounded are the most important in the child’s whole life. It is from them he will, first of all, receive his right, or it may be, his wrong ideas of God.”

John and Paula Sandford echoed the same idea: “Parents color God to children so that whether consciously or hiddenly the child’s picture of God begins to resemble the failing parent(s).” To be celebrated as parents, parents must earn it.

By Prof. Emmanuel K. Asante, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana and past Chairman of the National Peace Council

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

Tsatsu Accuses Dame Of Insulting Gyakye Quayson … Files motion to halt daily hearing of the case

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Mr Tsatsu Tsikata and Godfred Yeboah Dame, Ghana's Attorney-General and Minister for Justice

Lead Counsel for James Gyakye Quayson, until recently the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, has registered his displeasure over what he considers extremely prejudicial and insulting remarks made by Attorney-General (A-G) Godfred Yeboah Dame, about his client.

Mr. Tsikata, who made the argument in court yesterday, told the presiding judge, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, that the A-G insulted his client during his submission before the court. The legal luminary quoted the AG as saying that Mr. Quayson was irresponsible to have considered the decision to contest for the Assin North seat, when a criminal trial was pending against him.

“We referred to extremely prejudicial, unjustified and insulting remarks made by the A-G against the accused person, while seeking an application for day-to-day hearing of the case between today (June 20) and June 23,” he stated.

He said the prejudicial and insulting remarks were made after one of his colleagues, Justin Pwavra Teriwajah had, during the previous sitting, prayed the court for long adjournment to enable the accused to campaign for the upcoming by-election in Assin North.

Arguing on why the case must be heard on daily basis, the A-G had said: “He is introducing political matters, which are extraneous. He is saying the accused is involved in a national assignment. Who gave him a national assignment?

“It is a selfish quest to contest in this election, knowing very well that there is a criminal case pending before him. The Supreme Court has declared your election unconstitutional and you know that he is facing a criminal prosecution and he could be convicted and jailed.”

Although the court last week upheld the prayers of the A-G, Mr Tsikata has filed a motion, seeking a variation of the orders of the court to conduct the case on day-to-day basis.

The Counsel told the court that, there is also another case pending before the Supreme Court in respect of this same case, which the hearing date (June 20, 2023) clashes with the instant suit, hence the High Court must afford lawyers of the accused time to respond.

He also prayed the court to adjourn the hearing of the motion, particularly when it raises serious legal issues.

Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, opposed the adjournment and urged the court to carry on with the business of the day, which was the continuation of cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.

The Deputy A-G added that they will respond to the motion and file their affidavit in opposition by the close of yesterday, Tuesday 20th June, for which the hearing of the case must continue.

Her Ladyship adjourned the hearing of the motion to today, June 21, 2023.

Background

James Quayson is being tried for deceit of Public officer, forgery of passport or travel certificates, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury and false declaration for office.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to all five charges and currently on bail.

The Supreme Court last month ordered that Mr. Quayson’s name be expunged from the records of Parliament as Assin North Constituency’s representative.

Supporters

The court was well attended by big wigs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Some of them were Tony Lithur, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Betty Mould Iddrisu, Ahmed Mohammed Baba Jamal, Abraham Amaliba, Alexander Percival Segbefia and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Public health alert: Don’t buy food from vendors with long artificial nails

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An artificial nail

Mr Emmanuel Yawlui, the Hohoe Municipal Environmental Health Officer, has advised the public to be cautious of where they buy food and what they eat.

Mr Yawlui, who spoke in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the environment in which cooked foods are sold must be very clean and devoid of houseflies hovering over the food, whilst the Vendor must be healthy and fit to provide the service in an acceptable manner.

He said it was unhygienic for food Vendors to keep long artificial and painted nails and leave their hair uncovered, as these could attract pathogens that could contaminate the food being sold, to cause harm to consumers.

Briefing GNA further on a screening exercise held for food and drink vendors in the Municipality, Mr Yawlui said the exercise had so far been successful.

He said a total of about 3,000 Vendors had so far been screened, which was encouraging and indicated that the Department would make monthly or quarterly follow-up to ensure that the Vendors adhere to health and safety protocols and are physically fit to offer these services.

GNA  

Coup trial: I Never Plotted To Overthrow Akufo-Addo –A4

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Court hammer

Johannes Zikpi, the fourth accused (A4) person standing trial for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Akufo-Addo government, has denied the charge, insisting that he never made the attempt to conspire with anyone to remove the President from office.

According to him, the accusation by the prosecution – that he conspired with the other accused persons to forcibly remove a constitutional government can, therefore, not be true.

Johannes Zikpi told an Accra High Court, presided over three justices, Mrs. Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, Mrs. Hafisata Amaleboba, and Mr. Stephen Oppong – on Monday, this week, that the accusation was false, because he did not know seven of the accused persons.

Giving his evidence-in-chief, A4 said he knew the deceased, Dr. Frederick MacPalm, through Col. Samuel Kodzo Gamali (A5), a senior military officer.

According to him, he had known A5 since 2015, and that the latter introduced him to the deceased in 2018 to assist him with the treatment of his high blood pressure. A4 further stated that the relationship between him and the deceased had been doctor-patient and nothing more.

He also denied the accusation that he was put in charge to procure a communication jamming machine to distort the broadcast of radio stations.

“I did not perform any role by way of working out any communication support or plan for any coup plot contrary to the claims of the prosecution.

“I did not propose the acquisition of Gota phones to any of the accused persons to conceal any communication contrary to the claims of the prosecution,” he added.

The accused further informed the court that some time ago, Dr. MacPalm informed him that he was having problems with his telephone communication at his hospital.

So the deceased asked him if he knew someone to who could provide him with a Gota phone to overcome his poor telephone network problems. As a result, he also approached a work colleague, Sergeant Ghartey, to help a friend to buy a Gota phone.

The court was informed that Sgt. Ghartey responded in the negative – that Gota phone was solely for the use of the security services and personnel, and that was the end of the matter.

He also denied being a communications expert, as put out by the prosecution, as well as sending message to the deceased (MacPalm) on March 9, 2019 at 20:26 hours that “we need communication jamming vehicles to stop transmission of all the radio stations except the one we shall use to announce to the Ghanaians that we have taken over….because most of the journalists are corrupt.”

He also denied hailing from Kpando Alloyi as purported by the prosecution, and that he was not the person identified as Zikpi Gums on the deceased’s phone.

A4 said his father was a farmer and not an army officer as indicated by the prosecution.

Ghana rakes in US$3.5bn from Non-Traditional Exports in 2022

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Director of Projects, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Alex Dadzawa

Ghana earned US$3.5 Billion from Non-Traditional Exports in 2022, representing a 6% increase in the figures recorded in 2021. Cocoa Paste and Cashew Nuts were the leading products representing US$520.3 million and US$294.2 million respectively.

Officials of Ghana and Kenya during the launch of Ghana Trade House in Nairobi

A Director of Projects at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Mr. Alex Dadzawa, has attributed the success to favourable climatic conditions and deliberate government incentives among other trade factors.

Participating in an Eye on Port panel discussion, Mr. Dadzawa revealed the growth in cashew numbers is boosted by a strong demand from Asia, citing Vietnam and India.

“Cashew is also a cross-border product so it is also grown in our neighbouring countries, so there is also some cross-border trade in it also. That also contributed to shoring up the quantities we did,” he added.

The Director of Projects at GEPA said the inception of the Tree Crops Development Authority “has come to rationalise and sanitise the system for cashew and other tree crops” helping to increase the export volumes and values of cashew and similar tree crops.

He was full of praise for cocoa processing companies in the country with notable mention of Niche Cocoa, whose efforts have even earned recognition in North American markets.

He said Ghanaian exports also benefited from the strong resurgence in consumption rates that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the promising gains, the Ghana Exports Promotion is not resting on its oars, recognising there is much more work to do to meet the ambitious 25 Billion-dollar-target by 2029.

This has led the Authority, per its mandate, to embark on an aggressive intra-continental promotion of made-in-Ghana products.

One initiative is the establishment of the Ghana Trade House in Nairobi, Kenya.

The one-stop shop business centre, located in Nairobi’s Sameer Business Park, aims to create a platform for Ghanaian exporters to promote their products and services in the East African country.

“Already, trading has started and people are patronising. The good thing also is that it will have a warehouse where the products when shipped will be distributed from there. We are very hopeful we are going to get a lot of orders,” he expressed.

Alex Dadzawa said this move is strategic in stimulating increased trade relations between Ghana and the East African region, as Kenya serves as the gateway to that market.

The launch of the Ghana Trade House coincided with the Ghana Expo 2023, an endeavour made possible through collaboration with the National AfCFTA Coordination Office.

In addition to allowing Ghanaian companies showcase their products, the conference between 23rd to 27th May,2023 in Kenya also created the avenue for public and private sector players to discuss the numerous export opportunities that can be explored under AfCFTA.

The official from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority revealed that indeed these activities tie into Ghana’s mission to be one of the front runners of continental trading.

“Only 8 countries in Africa have declared their readiness to trade under AfCFTA agreement where Ghana and Kenya are part of it.

“In order not to let these opportunities become one of those things on paper, where we sign agreements and not implement them, we thought of testing the waters by fielding a big mission to Kenya,” Mr. Dadzawa explained.

Carpenter, trader on trial for stealing raincoat

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

Nii Tetteh Ashong, a carpenter, and Kojo Adu, a trader, have been accused of stealing umbrellas and raincoats valued GH¢1,480.00.

The duo alleged stole the raincoats from a trader by name Jamiratu Tackie Oblie at the Rawlings Park in the Accra Central Business District.

They were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing.

They also pleaded not guilty to the offences when presented before His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah yesterday.

The court admitted them to bail in the sum of GH¢5,000.00 with one surety each, and were further ordered to report once a week to the police.

Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Daniel Danku narrated the facts of the case that the complainant is Jamiratu Tackie Obli, who lives at Mamprobi, while Ashong and Adu are residents of Opetekwei and Kantamanto respectively.

C/Insp. Danku said on June 13, 2023, at about 12:30am, the Accra Central Patrol Team had information that the accused persons were allegedly stealing from a kiosks at the Rawlings Park.

The Police Patrol Team arrested the accused person at the scene of the crime, and when a search was conducted on them, 36 pieces of umbrellas, 26 pieces of raincoats and two lace materials were retrieved from them.

The accused persons were sent to the police station. Later, the complainant went to the police station to file a report on the missing items, of which the aforementioned items were identified by her.

The accused persons denied the offences in their investigation caution statements.

Man, 31, remanded for stealing ECG cable

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Accra Circuit Court

An Accra Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, has remanded 31-year-old unemployed Geoffrey Oboubi for allegedly stealing an electricity copper cable valued at GH¢1,900.00.

The accused was charged with internationally interfering or knowingly interfering with the supplier’s distribution systems, meters and other equipment, causing unlawful damage, and stealing.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence, but after his explanation, a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.

Prosecuting the case was Paul Assibi Abariga, General Manager of Prosecution at the Electricity Company Ghana (ECG), who said the complainant was Francis Quansah, a staff of ECG, Roman Ridge District, whilst Geoffrey Oboubi was unemployed and resides at Nima.

He said for some time now, the Accra East District of the ECG had been experiencing the rampant stealing of electrical cables in its transformers at Nima and its environs.

On June 9, 2023, some copper cables were stolen from the ECG transformer at Nima, but they were replaced.

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the complainant and a team of technician went to work on the same ECG transformer, but after they left the accused also went there with a cutter and started cutting the copper core cable 1 x 185.

An alarm was raised and the accused was arrested by the people in the neighbourhood with the ECG copper core cable 1 x 185 valued at GH¢1,900.00 in his possession while trying to run away. He was handed over to the Nima Police and later referred to the ECG investigation unit.

The accused denied the offence in his caution statement to the police, but was charged and arraigned before court.

Okada rider on trial over possession of EGC meter

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

A 20-year old commercial motorbike rider, also known as Okada, Issah Akuffo, has been arraigned for possession of a stolen electricity meter. The accused was charged with another offence of internationally interfering or knowingly allowing interference with the supplier’s distribution system, meters or any equipment.

The accused pleaded not guilty on both counts and has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties.

The court, presided over by His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, adjourned the case to June 30, 2023 for continuation.

The court was told by the General Manager of Prosecution of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Paul Assibi Abariga, that the complainant in the case was Gideon Asare Ampofo, Drywall installer and resident of Amasaman.

He said somewhere in the year 2020, the complainant needed an ECG meter for his house at Amasaman, and, therefore, contact one Amos Kwaku Duah, an electrician currently at large, for assistance.

Amos allegedly charged the complainant and took cash in the sum of GH¢400.00 and installed meter number 1704P32107615 for him. However, when the power credit got finished and the complainant went to an ECG vendor to purchase more, he was told the meter recharge card was invalid.

Amos told the complainant that the card was valid, but the challenge was due to the ECG network system failure. Amos then sent someone who used a different ECG prepaid card to recharge the meter for him at a cost of GH¢100.00. A practice not approved by the company.

Amos allegedly assigned Issah and he had been recharging the ECG power for the complainant at a cost ranging from GH¢50 to GH¢100.00 respectively.

The complainant reported the matter to the ECG Project Office and Issah was later arrested at the complainant’s house while about recharging the meter on June 14, 2023.

The case was referred to the ECG investigation unit for investigation.

Editorial: Ambulance trial: State should accept plea bargain if…

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Office of the Attorney General is prosecuting a former deputy minister for finance, who is the National Democratic Congress’ leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and two others for causing financial loss to the state.

He, together with a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, Sylvester Anemana, as well as a private businessman, Richard Jakpa are standing trial for willfully causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.

A private company, Big Sea Trading LLC, the company that sold the ambulances to Ghana, has offered to refund €2 million to the state on behalf of the businessman, Richard Jakpa, the agent, in order for the state to discontinue the prosecution.

The company has proposed to refund the cedi equivalent in two tranches of €500,000 when the agreement is signed and then the remaining €1.5 million in six months.

The Daily Guide newspaper reported that the company, as part of the proposal, is also seeking the government of Ghana to return the 30 defective ambulances with all the accessories they came with, once repayment has been made, as well as discontinue the criminal prosecution of all three accused persons.

According to the newspaper report, the proposal sent to the Attorney General was necessitated by Big Sea’s desire to protect its interest across the West African sub-region, especially when it is not part of the ongoing trial and hence would not have the opportunity to defend itself against allegations that irreparably damage its reputation and business interests.

It has been reported, however, that the Office of the Attorney General has rejected the terms proposed by the company for various reasons, among which is the fact that the proposed money does not make up for the entire amount of money the state lost.

Another reason for the rejection of the proposal is that it only covers one of the three accused persons, the agent, but there is no admission of guilt by Mr. Jakpa or any of the accused persons, with respect to the charges leveled against them. The court adjourned the case to allow Mr. Jakpa to further negotiate with the Office of the Attorney General on the proposal put forward.

We appreciate the proposal that has come and the decision of the court to allow for further negotiations, which is the essence of the plea bargain, as entailed in the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1079). However, the posture of the Attorney General, we believe, is also based on law, as none of the accused has admitted to guilt.

On the other hand, Big Sea is not a party to the suit and may not be held liable in the event of default. It is, therefore, our hope that the lawyers of the defendants will take a cue from the reasons given by the Office of the Attorney General to regularise the procedure.

Our interest as a Ghanaian media house is that both parties resolve the issue in a manner where the state will recoup the funds. Considering the current state of the economy, we dread that any attempt at losing a pesewa would definitely not be in the interest of the nation.

The two million euros, if refunded, would help shore up the country’s foreign reserve, especially at a time when stringent measures have been executed and aimed at achieving debt sustainability.

It is our hope that both parties would eschew political interests, if any, to agree on conciliatory terms that would result in the refund of the money, which we believe is of paramount necessity to every well-meaning Ghanaian.

The state, in the case of Ato Essien of Capital Bank agreed, upon admission of guilt, for the accused to refund the money to the exchequer, instead of pursuing custodial sentence, which is highly commendable. On this basis, we suggest that the same, if possible, should be replicated in this case.

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