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Mahama persuades Brogya Genfi not to sue the party, Opare Addo

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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The 2020 presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, claims he has managed to convince a livid defeated national youth organiser candidate, Brogya Genfi, to rescind his decision to seek legal redress over the recently held national youth elections.

According to former President Mahama, he has had a meeting with Brogya Genfi, and the outcome is that the allegedly swindled national youth organiser candidate, who lost by 25 votes, will withdraw the case from court.

Mr. Mahama posted on his Facebook page earlier today to announce the meeting and its results.

He wrote, “I have had a meeting with Comrade Brogya Genfi following his decision to seek redress in court, and the outcome of our successful discussion is the decision to withdraw the case from court.”

He added that “we must work together, fully committed to Victory 2024, and the discussion with comrade Genfi was most encouraging.”

“We must focus on building a united front at all levels of the party, and this is a great beginning,” the post ended.

BACKGROUND

When the party held its national youth congress in Cape Coast and elected its national youth leader, Brogya Genfi, who, as announced by the Electoral Commission, had lost to the incumbent, George Opare Addo, alleged foul play and threatened legal action to overturn the outcome of the elections.

A day before the national congress of the NDC, Brogya announced on social media that he had secured an interim injunction against the NDC, his contender, George Opare Addo, the Electoral Commission, and others from swearing in the winner of the national youth organiser contest, George Opare Addo.

However, the party went ahead to swear in Opare Addo together with the other newly elected national executive chaired by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.

Responding to why he was sworn in against the injunction, Opare Addo said he had not received any injunction notice.

He continued that, as a lawyer, he respects the law but added that injunctions were not “served on social media.”

Minority fail to torpedo new VAT rate; but win battle over National Cathedral

By
AGNES ANSAH
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The leadership of Parliament in a discussion

After sitting for long hours, Parliament finally approved GH₵227.8B under the appropriations bill to enable government undertake her planned activities for the year 2023.

Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the speaker led the House to approve the bill under a certificate of urgency on Thursday dawn as the House prepared to adjourn sine die to enable it members spend the Christmas with their family and loved ones.

Per a memorandum accompanying the bill, government is expected to expend an amount of GH₵45.5B on wages and salaries, GH₵39.26B on pensions, GH₵1.85B on gratuities and GH₵3.95B on social security.

An amount of GH₵8.57B is also expected to be spent on goods and services while GH₵3.70B will be spent on annual budget funding. Interest payments will receive an amount of GH₵52B with GH₵31.29B set aside for the payment of domestic debt. The government will also spend GH₵21.25B to service external debt. An amount of GH₵350.54m will also be expended on subsidies on petroleum products.

Rejection of GH80m for National Cathedral

But these approvals were not achieved on a silver platter as the Minority caucus who had earlier promised to ensure the blockade of some nuisance taxes and expenditures worked tirelessly to achieve their aim.

It will be recalled that after the approval of the budget statement, which is the first stage of the budget consideration, many Ghanaians were aggrieved about the fact that the Minority had helped approved a budget laced with draconian taxes and other expenditures.

But the Minority indicated to Ghanaians to be calm as the statement was the just the first stage and that the actual work will be done when the House gets to the approval of the appropriation bill.

The Minority indeed honoured their promise by first rejecting the approval of GH₵80m for the construction of the controversial National Cathedral, which was captured as part of the estimates for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Therefore, instead of approving a total sum of GH₵260, 948,961.00m for the Ministry, the House ended up approving GH₵180, 948,961.00m.

Whiles the likes of Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo Markin all debated in support of the approval of the GH80m for the construction of the cathedral, Minority members including Mr Sam George also put up a strong argument against the motion and eventually won the debate.

 Even before the money was totally rejected, the Finance Minister had suggested it should be added to the budget estimates of the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Ministry of Communication, but that suggestion was also rejected.

Reinstatement of e-levy minimum threshold

The minority also put up a cogent argument to ensure that the minimum threshold of GH₵100 for the Electronic Transfer Levy, which had been removed was restored, whilst the fee for the each transfer was pegged at 1% as suggested in the budget statement.

Others blockades      

Other estimates, which the Minority caucus ensured did not find its way into the appropriation bill was the request for an amount of GH₵1.3B for the demolition and redevelopment of the Accra International Conference Center, an amount of GH₵1.4B deposit into the Contingency Vault and monies to establish new diplomatic missions in Jamaica, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago.

Also, the minority caucus ensured that an amount of GH₵27.5m for the operations of the Special Development Initiatives Secretariat and the Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat at the Office of the President was rejected as well as the rejection of a tax measure intended to compel commercial drivers to produce tax clearance certificates as a requirement for renewing drivers’ license.

Failure in rejection of 2.5% VAT

Despite all attempts made, the caucus could however not block the introduction of the 2.5% Value Added Tax. The VAT is intended to raise additional domestic revenue for the development of the country and especially for the construction of more roads.

Ghana & Burkina Faso to fight terrorism

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admin
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Ghana and Burkina Faso have reaffirmed their commitment to work together in fighting terrorism in the sub-region.

Ghana’s National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah  disclosed this to journalists in Ouagadougou on Wednesday 21st December 2022 after conveying a message from President Akufo-Addo to the Burkinabe leader President Ibrahim Traore.

Mr Kan-Dapaah led a high-level delegation from Ghana which also included Security chiefs and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Flanked by the Burkinabe Foreign Minister Madame Olivia Rouamba, Mr Kan-Dapaah said “the two countries reviewed the strong cooperation between them and clarified to their mutual satisfaction recent reported discussions between Ghana and the United States with regard to the needed partnerships for sustainable peace in the region”

The Minister indicated that both countries have reaffirmed their support for a common fight against terrorism, welcoming early  operationalization of the Accra Initiative to enable Burkina Faso defeat the terrorists who have brought untold hardship and pain to the Burkinabe people.

“In that respect, we discussed concrete support that Ghana has advocated for Burkina Faso in the Accra Initiative and ECOWAS and called on West African States to act expeditiously on the matter” he said.

The two countries also  highlighted the importance of building resilience in vulnerable communities and support for those that have been displaced or lost livelihoods, and called for genuine partnership with the international community in this regard.

Ghana and Burkina Faso committed to hold more regular consultations.

Earlier Mr. Kan-Dapaah and his delegation was welcomed by a retinue of religious and traditional leaders.
Together, they reaffirmed the common histories and traditions of Ghana and Burkina Faso, and agreed to explore the possibility of periodic visitor exchange with their counterparts in Ghana.

NPP’s Xmas message to Ghanaians: Economy Is Being Restored … But we are not out of the woods yet

By
AGNES ANSAH
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Mr Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of NPP

Leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called on Ghanaians to exercise patience and have confidence in them, as they take steps to restore the economy back on track.

According to the party, its call is premised on the remedial interventions that the government is embarking on, which is yielding results.

“Finally, we appeal to the Ghanaian populace to be patient and have confidence in the NPP government, especially when its remedial interventions to socio-economic conditions in the country are gradually yielding results.

“We may not be out of the woods yet, but we are definitely on track to restoring our country to the path of sustained growth and prosperity,” he said.

They made the call at a media briefing organised in Accra yesterday.

Explaining why the party is confident that the Akufo-Addo led administration will steer the country’s economy back on track, the General Secretary of the party, Mr Justin Koduah Frimpong, told the media that the remedial measures had already seen the cedi witness significant gains in value in the past two weeks.

Mr Kodua Frimpong said the cedi has appreciated by some 63.7% against the US dollar as at December 15, and said many economic watchers have described this rate of appreciation as an unprecedented feat in the history of the country.

He also observed that, “Owing to the massive appreciation in the value of the cedi, prices of petroleum products at the pump have reduced, resulting in a 15.3% reduction in transport fares as announced by transport unions.”

The General Secretary again said that despite the lingering impacts of the global pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, resulting in the worst global socio-economic crisis, the NPP government, led by President Akuto-Addo, is still able to sustain its ambitious interventions such as the Free SHS and the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative among others.

“We have also been able to consistently pay salaries on time and have undertaken unprecedented building of roads and railway infrastructure. Even more significantly, we have been able to keep the lights on,” Mr Koduah said.

The General Secretary noted that, although these developments may not entirely address prevailing socioeconomic conditions in the country, he believes strongly that they may offer a sigh of relief to Ghanaians, “especially as we approach the festive season.”

He, however, appealed to all manufacturers and traders to reduce prices of commodities on account of the cedi appreciation, reduction in fuel prices and transport fares.

Meanwhile, Mr Koduah has welcomed the newly elected leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and indicated the party’s readiness to engage in politics of issues and not propaganda.

“To conclude, the NPP warmly welcomes the new Ieadership of the NDC to the political table…We are also ready to engage them on politics of issues, and NOT propaganda and deceit. We invite them to debate us on the records of good governance to enable the Ghanaian people make an informed decision in 2024,” he said.

Scammers use deputy minister’s name to dupe job seekers

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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A scammer

Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapa’s name has been allegedly used to defraud job seekers to the tune of GH¢564, 000.00.

Mr Krapa’s name was deployed as vehicle for a criminal scheme by William Kwame Addo, 42, a businessman and one Kwasi, who is currently at large. A total of five people were allegedly defrauded, including a farmer, teacher and businessmen.

Kwame Addo had been arrested and was arraigned on charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, to wit, defrauding by false pretence.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded into police custody for two weeks. According to the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Isaac Anquandah, Kwame Addo, the accused, is a businessman and lives at Amasaman-Fise, in Accra.

He informed the court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah that in the year 2021, Kwame Addo posed as a Personal Assistant to the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapa and informed the complainants that the deputy Minister could assist them to be enlisted into the security agencies and employment with other government institutions.

The accused also informed some of the complainants that the Deputy Minister could assist them to buy government auction vehicles and demanded various sums of monies from them to be given to the Minister for that purpose.

The complainants then paid various sums of money, totalling GH¢564,000.00 to the first accused, to be given to the Deputy Minister to secure employment, as stated above.

The accused also allegedly extorted GH¢20,000 from Thomas Adongo, one of the complainants, with the claim to use the money to lobby Mr Krapa for appointment as Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

Another complainant, Seth Opoku, allegedly paid the accused GH¢78,000.00 with the hope that it would be used to lobby the Deputy Minister for the appointment of MCE, as well as recruitment of his relatives into the security agencies

Farouk Awudu paid GHC43,000.00 for MCE appointment and state security agencies recruitment for his relatives, whilst  Moses Batidu paid lobbying fee of GH¢28,000.00 to the accused for a position in the Oti region and the  recruitment of his relatives into the security agencies.

Yaw Ahenkora, also a complainant paid GH¢395,000.00 to the accused for appointment as District Chief Executive (DCE), the recruitment opportunities for his relatives into the security agencies and the offering of auction vehicles.

The court was told that none of the complainants seeking MDCE and regional coordinator jobs got the opportunity or had their relative recruited into the security agencies.

Similarly, the auction vehicles were not offered on sale to Yaw Ahenkora, which collectively, made the complainants furious to demand for their monies from the complainant.

Kwame Addo, after receiving the monies blocked calls from the complainants and went into hiding.

“A report was made to the Police and first accused was later arrested. He admitted having received the monies from the complainants, but said he gave all the monies collected from the complainants to the second accused person to be given to the Minister,” the prosecutor stated.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister was said to have denied receiving any money from the accused persons. Efforts are underway to get the second accused person arrested.

Court of Appeal dismisses TI Microfinance quest to bounce back

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Gavel (Court Hammer)

The Court of Appeal has quashed an application filed by TI Microfinance to challenge the revocation of its license by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

The ground for striking out the case includes the High Court was in error when it entertained a motion for certiorari by Emmanuel Babuboa, Director of TI Microfinance.

The court, presided over by a three-member panel – Justice Margaret Welbourne, Justice P. Bright Mensah and Justice Novisi Aryene – delivered the judgement on November 23.

As a result, the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the Human Rights Court, as well as its consequential orders.

This was as the lower court dismissed a legal objection raised by BoG against the competence of the action brought before it.

As a result, BoG took a step further above the High Court to file an appeal to challenge the decision of the lower court.

On this basis, the Court of Appeal quashed the High Court decision, by reason of Section 16(7) of Act 930, during an emergency or in the interest of the public, to revoke the licence of a bank or specialised deposit-taking institution without notice.

Despite recognising the importance of Section 16 of Act 930, which the BoG is required to give notice to the defaulting company before revocation.

“Therefore, the fact that a particular procedure was not adopted did not in itself imply that the rule of natural justice has not been complied with,” it stated.

However, the applicant was seeking a declaration that the decision of BoG to revoke the licence of TI Microfinance without complying with the mandatory requirements of Section 16(3) of Act 930 contravened Articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana renders the said decision null and void and of no legal effect.

He also wanted an order that by revoking the licence of Tl Microfinance without giving notice to it, and the opportunity to be heard, the said revocation by BoG breached the rules of natural justice, specifically, the audi alteram partem rule, hence it was null and void and of no effect.

Similarly, he wanted an order of certiorari to quash the decision of BoG revoking the licence of TI Microfinance.

The applicant prayed for an order directed at BoG to restore the licence of TI Microfinance as well as a prohibition directed at BoG and all its officers, workmen, assigns or privies including the appointed receivers from interfering with the lawful activities of TI Microfinance.

Presidency – 15 Court of Appeals Justices sworn in

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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Court

President Akufo-Addo has sworn in 15 justices to the Court of Appeals. They were sworn in yesterday at a solemn ceremony held at Jubilee House.

The new Court of Appeals Justices are: Justice Alex Owusu-Ofori, Justice Emmanuel Ankamah, Justice Jerome Noble-Nkrumah, Justice Gifty Agyei Addo (Mrs.), and Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe (Mrs.).

Others are: Justice Samuel Obeng-Diawuo, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba (Mrs.), Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Justice Jennifer Abena Dadzie, and Justice Charles Edward Ekow Baiden.

The rest are Justice Stephen Oppong, Mr. Patrick Kwamina Baiden, Mr. Christopher Archer, Professor (Mrs.) Olivia Anku-Tsede, and Dr. Ernest Owusu-Dapaah.

The President led the ten men and five women to take three oaths, after which they signed the oath book.

ADDRESS

President Akufo-Addo addressed the new justices by expressing his honour to appoint them upon the advice of the Council of State and in accordance with law.

According to the President, the 15 justices had the impartiality of mind and independence of spirit and were thus fit for the position.

He told them to bear in mind that the growth of the nation depended on them.

“So, to our new justices of the Court of Appeal, it is important to bear in mind that the growth of our nation demands that we have a judiciary that commands respect of the people by the quality of its delivery of justice, as well as by its comportment of its judges. It is vitally important that we have judges who are honest, possess integrity and a sound knowledge of the law,” he said.

The President continued: “The situation where judges proffer judgment on the basis of decisions from lower courts and cite them as law is not acceptable, and even less so, when judges cite no authority at all for their rulings, and give orders without reasons.”

He asked the justices to be “learned, know your cases, and ensure that your judgments are based on law.”

The President further told the justices to ensure that when a person falls foul of the law, he or she is dealt with accordingly.

INTERVENTION

He outlined the measures his government had put in place since assuming office, including the E-Justice system.

He mentioned that the establishment of a modern court complex in Kumasi would help handle cases in the northern parts of the country.

He recalled the program to construct 120 accommodation facilities for judges to help deal with the lack of accommodation issue.

The President stated these interventions to demonstrate the government’s commitment to providing safe and sound working environments for the judiciary.

He wished “the newly appointed justices of the Appeals Court well” and ended his address.

RESPONSE

Responding to the President’s charges to the new judges, Her Ladyship Justice Afia Serwaa expressed “our profound gratitude to the President for the opportunity given us to serve our country.”

She further thanked the Judicial Council for taking them through rigorous procedures before recommending them for the appointments.

He assured the President and Ghanaians that “we shall continue to live up to the trust reposed in us…”

Aisha gave us Chinese biscuits after land sales for galamseyer -Witness

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

The prosecution fifth witness (PW5), Timothy Teye Ali, has told an Accra High Court that he, together with three others, were allegedly served Chinese biscuit after a successful sale of land, meant for mining purposes by Eni Huang, properly known as Aisha Huang.

He said this to the court while being cross-examined by Miracle Attachey, Defence Counsel for the embattled Chinese iron lady, Eni Huang aka Aisha Huang.

The witness told the court, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, yesterday, that they were served the Chinese snack after the assessment of the land in question, as well as a down payment of GH¢1,000.00 to each of them.

Mr. Ali also informed the court that after the down payment, he subsequently, received GH¢3,000, GH¢4,000 and GH¢5,000 in 2018, from James Ogbey, an alleged associate of Aisha Huang.

According to him, he was later given GH¢2,000, following several demands for his balance.
Cross examination by Miracle Attachey
Do you know Eliot Awniponyeh?

A. No.
Do you know Nana Prempeh?
A. I have heard the name before, but I don’t know him.
Q. Do you know Edward Koranteng?

A. No.
Q. Do you know a company called Volta Resource Limited?
A. Their signboard is located at Bepotenten, but I don’t know where they are located.
Q. Do you know Nembreso?

A. Yes.
Q. Where is it located?
A. In the Amasie District.
Q. You will agree with me that Nembreso is different from Bepotenten?
A. Yes.
Q. Your alleged land, does it form part of the concession of Volta Resources Limited?

A. I don’t know that.
Q. As we are in court today so you still farm?
A. Yes.

Q. You still farm on your land?
A. I have many lands on which I farm. The particular land in question has [been] destroyed because of the illegal mining activity, so that particular land was not reclaimed to be used for anything.

Q. And this alleged land you claimed cannot be used for farming was mined by the people you sold the land to?
A. Before I sold the land to Aisha, there were cocoa and fruit trees in the land. After they mined the land they were destroyed.
Q. You know James Ogbey?
A. Yes.

Q. You have dealt with him personally. Is that not it?
A. It was during the purchase of the land for Aisha that James Ogbey contacted me.
Q. So at all material times, regarding the purchase of your land, you have dealt with James Ogbey?

A. During the purchase of the land for Aisha, James Ogbey contacted me that Aisha was interested in purchasing our land for mining purposes, so I informed our relatives. We all agreed to sell the land. We decided to visit the land, and when we got to the site, we asked where was Aisha who wanted to buy the land, because he works with Aisha.

So he told us that Aisha is on her way coming and that we should continue with the measurements. We measure the land and priced it because they usually give us the price at which they want to purchase the land. We got four acres, and they told us the price. Immediately after the negotiations, Aisha came to the farm. On her arrival, she asked us to go to her site in her car.

When we got to the site, she asked us to wait for her and she gave money to Mr. Ogbey to be given to us.
On that day, there were four of us whose lands were measured, and each person was given GH¢1,000.

After we were finished, she gave us Chinese biscuits and we shared it among ourselves, after which, she took us in her vehicle and brought us to Sukumu. From there, I went home.

Q. Do you have any document of your sale of the land to the accused before this honourable court?
A. We were not given any receipt. However, we wrote some amount on some pieces of papers, which were given to us. Usually, when they measure a land and price it, they pay us on the spot. But this time around, they did not do that, so she wrote the amount on a paper and gave it to us.

Q. Do you want the court to believe that this is a usual business you do of selling your lands for mining?
A. No, my Lady. That is not my usual work. They approached me to buy my land.

Q. In page 20 of your witness statement…you were paid…by James Ogeby. Is that not so?
A. Yes my Lady. It is so. However, he informed us that Aisha gave him the money to be given to us.

Q. You later in 2021 received an additional sum of GH¢2,000 from Ogbey?
A. Yes. When we heard that Aisha had been arrested we contacted James Ogbey as to how we can get the balance of our money, and he told us that Aisha had a lot of properties, so he will sell some to pay us. Subsequently, he sold an excavator belonging to Aisha and from that he gave me GH¢2,000.

Q. I put it to you that the excavator you claim belonged to the accused person actually belonged to James Ogbey; that was why he was able to sell it to pay the debt he owed you?

A. My Lady, that is not true. We all lived in the same community, and we all knew that James Ogbey worked for Aisha, so the excavator that James sold belonged to Aisha.

Q. I put it to you further that James Ogbey does not work for Aisha?
A. That is not true.
Q. Based on the fact that James Ogbey owes you, you reported him to the Jacobo police?

A. My Lady, I did not report James alone, I reported him and Aisha at a time he was the one representing Aisha.
Q. You can speak and write English, right?
A. I can speak and read a bit.

Q. I put it to you that the accused person never met you to discuss the purchase of your land?

A. That is not true. We were in the process of discussing settlement on some plot for mines with Aisha herself and James Ogbey. We did not conclude in that, because of her arrest. Indeed, I had discussions with Aisha herself.

Q. I put it to you that this claim that you had discussions with the accused is an afterthought, as there was no documentation of the alleged sales.

A. The usual tactic is that immediately they buy your land they pay you on the spot, so we don’t demand any receipt or any document over the transaction. How we, this one sure did not pay us in full, that was why she gave us a week to pay us, and those amounts were written on those pieces of paper.

Q. I put it to you further that this statement is an afterthought, and the accused never promised you any payment for the sale of your land?
A. Counsel was not there when we did the transaction.

Q. I was not there for the alleged transaction, so I cannot tell if you are telling an untruth to this court?
A. I will not agree with you, because I am testifying in court under oath, so I cannot tell an untruth to the court.

Q. Per page16 and 17 of your witness statement, you will agree with me that you never saw the accused person mine on your land?
A. Respectfully, I sold the land to Aisha, and when they started the mining activity on the land, I went there and I saw Aisha herself there.

Q. I put it to you that the accused person never mined on your land?
A. That is not true, because I met Aisha herself on site several times.
Q. What was she doing when you allegedly met her?

A. The accused person herself was not operating any machine, but she was directing her workers as to what to do.
Q. What happened to your report to the Jacobo police against James Ogbey?
A. ….

Q. What about your court case against him?
A. James and the accuse person bought my land, for which they have not paid, so I took them to court.

Q. What was the outcome of that case?
A. The case is still in court.

Q. I put it to you that you have dealt with James Ogbey over the purchase of your land, for which he constantly made payments to you, even as late as 2021?

A. James acted together with the accuse person, that is why all payments that were made were from Aisha to me, though James signet. But when Aisha traveled James had to sell the excavator that 2,000 in 2021, and because they still owe me that was why I took the matter to court.

Q. I put it to you that you have not been a truthful witness?
A. Before God; before the revered presence of my Lady; I have been truthful to the court. If they had not bought my land, why would I travel this long distance to come and testify? Indeed, my Lady, I had been truthful.

Editorial: Construction of National Cathedral: cool heads must prevail

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

A  Member of the Joint Committee of Trades, Industry and Tourism and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole Bamboi, Mr. Yusif Suleiman, has, according to a story we carried yesterday, told journalists that the Minority members on the Committee had voted against the GH¢80 million budgeted for the National Cathedral, as part of the Ministry of Tourism’s budget estimate for the year 2023.

“We have voted against it, and we are saying that this is not the time for us to be spending such huge sums of monies in building a Cathedral,” he said. According to him, what led to the Minority’s decision was the inability of the National Cathedral Secretariat, which met the Committee to account for the GH¢339 million that it had already expended on the edifice.

He also alleged that the Secretariat could not explain why the Cathedral had been brought under the Ministry of Tourism. He said the Minority perceived that the Secretariat only wanted to use the Ministry as a conduit in order to get money to continue with the construction of the Cathedral, hence the decision to vote against it.

He, however, assured the members of the Parliamentary Press Corps that the Minority side of the House was not against the Ministry of Tourism’s budget, and that they would go ahead to approve it, excluding the GH¢80 million money for the National Cathedral.

First of all, the Minority side in the House has every right to reject the money set aside in the Ministry of Tourism’s budget estimate for the 2023 fiscal year. Indeed, that is the beauty of democracy. Just recently, the same Minority filed a vote of censure motion against the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, but lost at the end of day.

These are all signs of good governance and democratic practice, and The Chronicle cannot begrudge them.

We are, however, alarmed with the antagonistic stance they have adopted towards the construction of the National Cathedral. In saying this, we are not oblivious of the strong public criticisms against the construction of the Cathedral. Indeed, apart from the Minority MPs, some opinion leaders in this country have also kicked against the project due to Ghana’s economic woes.

But our concern is that the National Cathedral is being constructed in a strategic location in Accra. Before the construction began, several buildings in the area were demolished. Should we, therefore, abandon the project the cost the State of Ghana will incur will be more than the GH¢80 million that is being blocked by the Minority. Again, looking at the deep level the foundation has reached it will start collecting rain water and eventually flood the whole Ridge area, if the project is abandoned.

We must, therefore, abandon our political stance towards the project and see to its completion on time. The State simply cannot afford to allow the land in such a prime area to lie fallow, because we disagree with the construction of the Cathedral. It is upon the basis of this that we think the Minority, even though it is their right to reject the project, seems to have overstretched the issue.

Should the government concede to the public criticisms and even decide to abandon the project, reclaiming the degraded land alone is going to cost us millions of cedis.

That is why we are calling on those criticising the project to look at both the merits and demerits of it. Abandoning the project will certainly come at a huge cost to the nation, and it is time we allowed cool heads to prevail.

Letter to Senior Opupulepu (214)

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admin
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Opinion

All Obolos banished from entering Yahweh’s Kingdom

Dear Senior Opupulepu,

How are you do? As for me and my mine, we are do fine.

Senior,as you are awarewe are prepare to celebrate Christus-Mass, not that Mass that members of Katholico worshipers’ assembly celebrate, where they can kneel, stand and sit more than hundred times as they force themselves on Yesu Christus Emmanuel to love them, small.

Senior, as you know this Christus-Mass is the birthday of Yesu Christus Emmanuel. The only difference between this birthday and the ones we celebrate is that, Homo Sapiens buy presents for themselves and not for the birthday boy.

Senior, yes, no one buys anything for the birthday Boy, Yesu Christus Emmanuel. And most annoyingly, the daughters of Eve will produce a list of demands to whomever it may concern, to buy everything on that list and parcel them and give it to them as gifts. These lists can outclass and outnumber the list an Abusuapanin presents to a prospective son-in-law who is wanting his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Senior, the atmosphere, climate and weather in Ogyakrom at this time of the year promises a very sweet and wonderful Christus-Mass, not the Katholico Mass, some.

Senior, all and sundry, sundry and all, are feverishly and malaria-ly, preparing for the event of the year, hoping it will the best since our Omanhene, the Great Leopard, sat his fat something on the throne.

Senior, the main reason for this anxiety and anticipation of the rejoice and rejoicing mood coming was that, events some few moons past made it look like there will be eclipse of the sun all over Ogyakrom throughout the birthday celebration of Yesu Christus Emmanuel.

Senior, first some kubolor boys took the Trump village cowry called dolla, and tied it to a long string and went into the opening and flew it as they would a kite. This dolla, started enjoying fresh clean air and flew higher and higher, over the hills and far away.

Senior, this created panic and fear because try as Ogyakromians could our cowry refused to fly. He said that he is not a fool to fly this kind of flying. “What if the rope tear and I fly to a land of cannibals and be eaten alive or used to lit fire to cook human meat? Or what if I come tumbling down and fall down poom, like Humpty Dumpty did?”

Senior, our cowry refused to fly laa, and the result was that prices of goods and services, without permission decided to fly in his place. Forty pieces of kelewele which sold for five cowries, went two pieces for ten cowries.

A basket of tomato which cost twenty cowries, settled on,at two tomatoes for fifteen cowries. Even chewing stick which went at buy one get two free at one-tenth of a cowry for one, shot up to one stick for five cowries. And here, some people stopped brushing their teeth.

Senior, in the midst of all these hardships Ogyakromians daughters of Eve, continue to make demands on the akupas. Some of the sons of Adams had to relocate on by-force transfer and promised to come back only after the Christus-Mass celebrations.

Senior, then Ogyakromians heard a loud cry in the skies, when they look up they saw the Trump dolla diving down fast and shouting “Help, help, somebody protect me.” What was wrong? Dollasaw something no human must see and he was so terrified.When he finally landed, he suspended himself at the level he used to be before. All and sundry and sundry and all saw that he was too frightened even to talk.

Senior, then the Ogyakromian cowry, laughed out loud and took his rightful place among the peoples. Then prices of goods and services fell down poom and there was rejoice and rejoicement in the whole of Ogyakrom. With a just a few cowries, one could do three moons shopping. This has never happened in Ogyakrom before.

Senior,all in the Ogyakrom, the slim ones and the skinny ones, those who were like pencil that have been sandpapered; the body ones and the macho and the last but not the least, the obolos, were busily preparing for the Christus-Mass celebrations.

Senior, suddenly a certain senior foreman of the Potter’s Village Church, called Okomfo Nyamenipa Nasei, shouted and said he was visited by Yahweh and had this message for all and sundry, sundry and all.

Senior, he said Yahweh has decided that no obolo will be accepted in His Kingdom, ever again. When asked WHOW? A combination of Why and How, he said, Yahweh said the obolos in His Kingdom are overeating too much and are causing food shortages and creating famine up there.

Senior, what is even frightening is that this Okomfo Nyamenipa Nasei is speaking in the wilderness, like John the Water-Baptiser, the cousin of Yesu Christus Emmanuel.

Senior, as it is most of the obolos in Ogyakrom have diverted course and instead of buying food, meat, sweets and drinks, they are now buying waist bands, sliming tablets, exercising machines and jogging shoes.

Senior, as for some of the obolos, they are saying, “what will si, should si!” In short, what will happen can happen.

Senior, luckily like you I am not obolo, so I am safe and I am Dan, sorry I am done.

Its, me!

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