Front Page: Daily Graphic, June 15, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has suspended the enlistment of persons into the Ghana Police Service this year because of inadequate housing facilities.
Accordingly, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, has tasked the Estate Department of the service to submit a status report of all police accommodation projects throughout the country within the shortest possible time.
The department is also to explore possibilities to secure private accommodation to be rented for personnel of the service.
Currently, most police recruits are sheltered in the offices, workshops and garages of police commands throughout the country.
Throwing more light on the decision by the Police Administration to suspend enlistment into the service this year, Mr Quaye told the Daily Graphic yesterday that one area where personnel were demoralisation was the provision of decent accommodation.
“We do not want to compound the already bad situation by recruiting personnel who will have no place to lay their heads,” he said.
He said within this period, the Police Administration was seeking to complete and renovate as many accommodation facilities as it could to ease the accommodation problem facing the service, saying, “The government has shown goodwill to support the Police Administration.”
Besides the financial support that the government was expected to provide to undertake those projects, Mr Quaye said he expected it to announce plans to deal with accommodation and improve on facilities at the various barracks.
When asked how the Police Administration intended to cope with the low number of personnel and the increasing demand for their services, he said it would use the period to organise in-service training programmes for the more than 24,000 personnel to improve upon their delivery.
He said there were question marks on the quality of service delivered by the personnel and was hopeful that with the re-training, their deficiencies would be addressed to deal with the absence of large numbers whose performance was questionable.
That notwithstanding, he said, the administration intended to deal with the accommodation crisis as soon as possible to start the recruitment exercise with the view to attaining the UN ratio of one policeman to 500 people. The current ratio in Ghana is 1:1,000.
Mr Quaye, however, explained that future recruitment was not going to be based on the availability of accommodation, saying, “We will ensure that quality of personnel is something we can rely on.”
Earlier, a statement signed by the Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Kwesi Ofori, had explained that the essence of improving accommodation facilities was to provide personnel with the requisite comfort and the enabling environment for maximum output.
It said notwithstanding the suspension of the recruitment exercise, the Police Administration was going to re-condition its human resource by way of personnel development and other measures to meet its mandate of maintenance of law and order, protection of lives and property, including fighting robbery, and ensuring security in the communities.
It gave the assurance that the Police Administration would come out with its calendar on recruitment and training programmes.
During his maiden visit to the Accra Regional Police Command on June 2, this year, the IGP had expressed concern over the poor manner in which recruit Constables and some Inspectors and senior officers were accommodated in single-room barracks and argued that personnel could not be expected to give of their best if they had no decent places to lay their heads when they retired from duty at the end of the day.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Call for more control of small arms
Page 47: Daily Graphic, June 15, 2009
Story: Albert K. Salia
AN expert on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, says the various programmes aimed at achieving human security cannot be attained without the proper control of small arms and light weapons.
He said programmes such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), NEPAD, Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy II, ECOWAS Protocols on Peace, Security and Development, among others, remain unattainable unless Ghanaians showed interest and took part in the eradication of small arms and light weapons.
Speaking in an interview to mark the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence, which runs from today, June 15 to June 21, 2009, Mr Sowatey said armed violence heightened tensions in societies experiencing conflict, undermined mediation efforts and created more insecurity.
According to him, armed violence had also increased criminality, destroyed infrastructure, disrupted agricultural activities as farmers tended to miss the rain, which in turn, meant that they would not be able to farm, thereby denying them their source of income.
Mr Sowatey said guns also created insecurity for domestic and local investors, and conflicts such as the one experienced in Bawku, had led to brain drain, thereby worsening the south-north socio-economic, educational, health and other developmental gap.
He said the frequent armed robbery incidents in the country, both urban and highway, the incessant use of weapons in Bawku and its consequences on life and property could not be overstated.
He noted that in most of those gun-related violence, women and children suffered disproportionately, and expressed the need for women to be included in peace processes in line with UN Resolution 1325, which calls for special provision and programmes to include women in peace process and also to protect them.
Mr Sowatey called on Parliament, media, civil society organisations and all peace-loving persons to support the government to pass a law backing the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), saying that “there are a lot of people who benefit from the lack of such stringent law and will want to impede the process. It is for this reason that we all need to support our governments across the world to pass this key document needed to reduce the illicit proliferation of SALW”.
He said since most of the guns found in the sub-region and conflict theatres in Ghana were not in Africa, there was the need to have a more robust, which was internationally and legally binding instrument to control the flow of those weapons. That was why the Government of Ghana, who supported the ATT, should keep on with the enthusiasm it had shown in supporting the ATT.
He explained that drafting of international law was slow, and its processes so complicated that it tended to invite complacency and, therefore, urged all stakeholders to speed up the process when the discussions about the ATT resumed at the United Nations.
“It may seem odd, so early in the process to talk of urgency, particularly when such overwhelming support for the establishment of a treaty has been demonstrated in the United Nations. In December 2008, 133 countries backed the idea, with only the United States voting against it,” he said.
Mr Sowatey, who is a member of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), said anyone with experience of international law would know that composing a formula on the control of arms transfer was no easy matter, especially when that formula had to fit in with the legal and political reality of every country in the world.
“This work is as unglamorous as it is difficult, and the temptation to put it aside for another day will be strong. But that must not be allowed to happen,” he admonished.
He said the human suffering in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a brutal illustration of what could happen when arms transfers continued unchecked.
He said while promoting peace, the ATT was not really about disarmament.
“The ATT is a matter of human rights and of security; specifically, the right of people to live in peace. It is about economics too. The failure to regulate the arms trade has an incalculable human cost, but its impact can also be measured in hard cash. Every cent spent on repairing the damage done by armed conflict is a cent that could have been spent on development. The Millennium Development Goals may not have extended to cover weapons transfers, but they are made less achievable because of the failure to regulate the arms trade,” he added.
Mr Sowatey called on all those in possession of arms to endeavour to register their firearms and also renew the licences as required by law.
He also called on Ghanaians to report the activities of gun runners to the nearest security post for action.
Story: Albert K. Salia
AN expert on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, says the various programmes aimed at achieving human security cannot be attained without the proper control of small arms and light weapons.
He said programmes such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), NEPAD, Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy II, ECOWAS Protocols on Peace, Security and Development, among others, remain unattainable unless Ghanaians showed interest and took part in the eradication of small arms and light weapons.
Speaking in an interview to mark the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence, which runs from today, June 15 to June 21, 2009, Mr Sowatey said armed violence heightened tensions in societies experiencing conflict, undermined mediation efforts and created more insecurity.
According to him, armed violence had also increased criminality, destroyed infrastructure, disrupted agricultural activities as farmers tended to miss the rain, which in turn, meant that they would not be able to farm, thereby denying them their source of income.
Mr Sowatey said guns also created insecurity for domestic and local investors, and conflicts such as the one experienced in Bawku, had led to brain drain, thereby worsening the south-north socio-economic, educational, health and other developmental gap.
He said the frequent armed robbery incidents in the country, both urban and highway, the incessant use of weapons in Bawku and its consequences on life and property could not be overstated.
He noted that in most of those gun-related violence, women and children suffered disproportionately, and expressed the need for women to be included in peace processes in line with UN Resolution 1325, which calls for special provision and programmes to include women in peace process and also to protect them.
Mr Sowatey called on Parliament, media, civil society organisations and all peace-loving persons to support the government to pass a law backing the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), saying that “there are a lot of people who benefit from the lack of such stringent law and will want to impede the process. It is for this reason that we all need to support our governments across the world to pass this key document needed to reduce the illicit proliferation of SALW”.
He said since most of the guns found in the sub-region and conflict theatres in Ghana were not in Africa, there was the need to have a more robust, which was internationally and legally binding instrument to control the flow of those weapons. That was why the Government of Ghana, who supported the ATT, should keep on with the enthusiasm it had shown in supporting the ATT.
He explained that drafting of international law was slow, and its processes so complicated that it tended to invite complacency and, therefore, urged all stakeholders to speed up the process when the discussions about the ATT resumed at the United Nations.
“It may seem odd, so early in the process to talk of urgency, particularly when such overwhelming support for the establishment of a treaty has been demonstrated in the United Nations. In December 2008, 133 countries backed the idea, with only the United States voting against it,” he said.
Mr Sowatey, who is a member of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), said anyone with experience of international law would know that composing a formula on the control of arms transfer was no easy matter, especially when that formula had to fit in with the legal and political reality of every country in the world.
“This work is as unglamorous as it is difficult, and the temptation to put it aside for another day will be strong. But that must not be allowed to happen,” he admonished.
He said the human suffering in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a brutal illustration of what could happen when arms transfers continued unchecked.
He said while promoting peace, the ATT was not really about disarmament.
“The ATT is a matter of human rights and of security; specifically, the right of people to live in peace. It is about economics too. The failure to regulate the arms trade has an incalculable human cost, but its impact can also be measured in hard cash. Every cent spent on repairing the damage done by armed conflict is a cent that could have been spent on development. The Millennium Development Goals may not have extended to cover weapons transfers, but they are made less achievable because of the failure to regulate the arms trade,” he added.
Mr Sowatey called on all those in possession of arms to endeavour to register their firearms and also renew the licences as required by law.
He also called on Ghanaians to report the activities of gun runners to the nearest security post for action.
3 Policemen face disciplinary action * For reporting at wrong duty posts
Page 3: Daily Graphic, June 13, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
Three policemen who were found at wrong duty posts in Accra last Thursday have been arrested in a special exercise to curb indiscipline in the Ghana Police Service.
The culprits, who are currently in police custody, are Lance Corporal Emmanuel Togah of the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), L/Cpl Collins Amoako of the Accra Central Division and Constable Asamoah Sarpong of the Airport Police.
Surprisingly, L/Cpl Togah, who until his arrest on Thursday was on interdiction for a series of police misconduct cases, was found in police uniform and combat helmet on traffic duties along the Graphic Road.
L/Cpl Amoako, who was supposed to be on guard duties at the Knutford Avenue branch of the Barclays Bank, was rather found at the Tudu branch of the SG-SSB in a T-shirt, while his uniform, which had the rank of a corporal lay in a kiosk close by.
Constable Sarpong was found loitering at Kantamanto when he was expected to be on guard duties at the Dzorwulu branch of the GT Bank.
Five others whose names are being withheld are also being investigated for deserting their posts.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Director of Police Operations, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richmond Nii Boi-Bi-Boi, and the Special Operations Assistant (SOA), Superintendent Alhaji H. A. Yakubu, who led the exercise on Thursday, said the exercise was in response to directives by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, to instil discipline and the right attitude in personnel.
Following the directives, ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said, the Operations Department and the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS) decided to embark on surprise checks at duty posts to ensure that personnel performed the tasks assigned them with diligence and professionalism.
He said the IGP was concerned about the increasing indiscipline and the involvement of police personnel in criminality, as well as their attitude of deserting their posts.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said the team set up by the two departments started the exercise on Thursday by visiting roads, banks, checkpoints and traffic lights to examine the turn out of personnel and whether they had been mandated by their commanders to conduct those exercises.
“The team is to find out whether the personnel behave well while on duty, they professional, properly turned out in uniforms and whether they are undertaking lawful duties,” he explained.
According to him, the exercise had become necessary because it had been reported that some personnel assigned themselves certain duties without recourse to their commanders, call their colleagues in other jurisdictions and indulge in illegal activities such as debt collection and road checks.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said some of the complaints also related to personnel abandoning their officially assigned bank duty posts for other banks, while others absented themselves from duty, as well as left their weapons behind.
He said the exercise, which would be replicated across the country, was also to ensure that personnel conducted themselves well and did not put up insulting behaviour in their dealings with members of the public.
He explained that such behaviours did not augur well for the image of the service, hence the directives by the IGP to deal with the growing canker.
For his part, Supt Yakubu said it was in line with the vision of the IGP that the exercise was mounted on Thursday to send signals to others in the Police Service that “they must change their attitude to work, be professional or be blown off”.
Since his assumption of duty, the IGP has warned personnel of the service to embrace the wind of change blowing in the service or be blown off.
Story: Albert K. Salia
Three policemen who were found at wrong duty posts in Accra last Thursday have been arrested in a special exercise to curb indiscipline in the Ghana Police Service.
The culprits, who are currently in police custody, are Lance Corporal Emmanuel Togah of the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), L/Cpl Collins Amoako of the Accra Central Division and Constable Asamoah Sarpong of the Airport Police.
Surprisingly, L/Cpl Togah, who until his arrest on Thursday was on interdiction for a series of police misconduct cases, was found in police uniform and combat helmet on traffic duties along the Graphic Road.
L/Cpl Amoako, who was supposed to be on guard duties at the Knutford Avenue branch of the Barclays Bank, was rather found at the Tudu branch of the SG-SSB in a T-shirt, while his uniform, which had the rank of a corporal lay in a kiosk close by.
Constable Sarpong was found loitering at Kantamanto when he was expected to be on guard duties at the Dzorwulu branch of the GT Bank.
Five others whose names are being withheld are also being investigated for deserting their posts.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Director of Police Operations, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richmond Nii Boi-Bi-Boi, and the Special Operations Assistant (SOA), Superintendent Alhaji H. A. Yakubu, who led the exercise on Thursday, said the exercise was in response to directives by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, to instil discipline and the right attitude in personnel.
Following the directives, ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said, the Operations Department and the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS) decided to embark on surprise checks at duty posts to ensure that personnel performed the tasks assigned them with diligence and professionalism.
He said the IGP was concerned about the increasing indiscipline and the involvement of police personnel in criminality, as well as their attitude of deserting their posts.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said the team set up by the two departments started the exercise on Thursday by visiting roads, banks, checkpoints and traffic lights to examine the turn out of personnel and whether they had been mandated by their commanders to conduct those exercises.
“The team is to find out whether the personnel behave well while on duty, they professional, properly turned out in uniforms and whether they are undertaking lawful duties,” he explained.
According to him, the exercise had become necessary because it had been reported that some personnel assigned themselves certain duties without recourse to their commanders, call their colleagues in other jurisdictions and indulge in illegal activities such as debt collection and road checks.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said some of the complaints also related to personnel abandoning their officially assigned bank duty posts for other banks, while others absented themselves from duty, as well as left their weapons behind.
He said the exercise, which would be replicated across the country, was also to ensure that personnel conducted themselves well and did not put up insulting behaviour in their dealings with members of the public.
He explained that such behaviours did not augur well for the image of the service, hence the directives by the IGP to deal with the growing canker.
For his part, Supt Yakubu said it was in line with the vision of the IGP that the exercise was mounted on Thursday to send signals to others in the Police Service that “they must change their attitude to work, be professional or be blown off”.
Since his assumption of duty, the IGP has warned personnel of the service to embrace the wind of change blowing in the service or be blown off.
Friday, June 12, 2009
'Prosecutions shouldn't become a witch-hunt'
Front Page: Daily Graphic, June 12, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), a London-based think tank, has cautioned that if not properly handled, the prosecution of officials under the Kufuor administration who are alleged to be corrupt can degenerate into “a witch hunt”.
In its June monthly review of Ghana, the EIU acknowledged increasing agitation among the public and some civil society organisations for the prosecution of officials of the previous administration who had been accused of corruption or misusing their office for private gain.
It, however, cautioned that the prosecution of that agenda could slip into a game of political point-scoring and heighten the tension between the two major parties in the country if it was made to follow the example set by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when it was in power.
“There certainly does seem to be an element of political point-scoring involved. Indeed, the NPP set the example when it pushed for the prosecution of former NDC ministers of state, including the Minister of Finance and his deputy, when the NPP unseated the NDC to take power in 2000,” it said.
According to the EIU, “This is a major problem with the battle against corruption in Ghana, as well as across Africa, in that an anti-corruption crusade is all too often designed to persecute political enemies rather than being an attempt to make the lives of ordinary citizens better.”
The think tank also expressed concern over rising tribal tensions in northern Ghana, especially in respect of the Dagbon dispute.
It said although the two Royal gates, Abudu and Andani, had a history of antagonism that periodically escalated into violence, tension had been especially fraught since 2002 following the killing of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and 40 others in March 2002.
It said the Abudu Gate members had often been blamed for the deaths, with the then ruling NPP accused of “turning a blind eye to events, a feeling which has gained credence, given that the former government failed to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
The EIU said it was generally perceived that the Abudus were supported by the NPP, while the Andanis were backed by the NDC, and indicated that there appeared to be a growing feeling within the Andanis that they now had the upper hand since the NDC won the 2008 elections.
“How the NDC government handles the situation in Dagbon will have implications across Ghana, especially in the north, where there are numerous similar tribal disputes simmering,” it noted.
It also expressed concern over how the opposition NPP chose to approach the situation, as the early signs were that it would attempt to use tribal tensions as a means of attacking the government.
According to the EIU, the recent flare up in tribal tensions in the Dagbon area was made worse by the comments of Nana Akufo-Addo, the defeated NPP presidential candidate in the 2008 elections, when he held a press conference “castigating the NDC government and accusing it of inciting violence”.
It noted that Nana Akufo-Addo’s comments were criticised by most political analysts, especially “as many of the problems he highlighted were inherited by the NDC from the previous NPP government”.
It said among the critics of Nana Akufo-Addo was a senior member of the NPP, Professor Wayo Seini, who argued that the comments were inaccurate and portrayed an intention to drive the Andani faction away from the NPP when the party should be seeking to be more inclusive.
“Such comments from a senior NPP member hint at the divisions still affecting the party, with Nana Akufo-Addo working hard to maintain his influence. His provocative statement on the Dagbon issue probably reflects this, as the opposition leader attempts to keep himself in the limelight,” it added.
The EIU projected that similar bold statements could be expected in the future, with Nana Akufo-Addo also likely “to continue to attempt to distance himself from the previous NPP government under the former President, Mr John Kufuor, who still maintains some influence in the party and is not a strong supporter of Nana Akufo-Addo”.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), a London-based think tank, has cautioned that if not properly handled, the prosecution of officials under the Kufuor administration who are alleged to be corrupt can degenerate into “a witch hunt”.
In its June monthly review of Ghana, the EIU acknowledged increasing agitation among the public and some civil society organisations for the prosecution of officials of the previous administration who had been accused of corruption or misusing their office for private gain.
It, however, cautioned that the prosecution of that agenda could slip into a game of political point-scoring and heighten the tension between the two major parties in the country if it was made to follow the example set by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when it was in power.
“There certainly does seem to be an element of political point-scoring involved. Indeed, the NPP set the example when it pushed for the prosecution of former NDC ministers of state, including the Minister of Finance and his deputy, when the NPP unseated the NDC to take power in 2000,” it said.
According to the EIU, “This is a major problem with the battle against corruption in Ghana, as well as across Africa, in that an anti-corruption crusade is all too often designed to persecute political enemies rather than being an attempt to make the lives of ordinary citizens better.”
The think tank also expressed concern over rising tribal tensions in northern Ghana, especially in respect of the Dagbon dispute.
It said although the two Royal gates, Abudu and Andani, had a history of antagonism that periodically escalated into violence, tension had been especially fraught since 2002 following the killing of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and 40 others in March 2002.
It said the Abudu Gate members had often been blamed for the deaths, with the then ruling NPP accused of “turning a blind eye to events, a feeling which has gained credence, given that the former government failed to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
The EIU said it was generally perceived that the Abudus were supported by the NPP, while the Andanis were backed by the NDC, and indicated that there appeared to be a growing feeling within the Andanis that they now had the upper hand since the NDC won the 2008 elections.
“How the NDC government handles the situation in Dagbon will have implications across Ghana, especially in the north, where there are numerous similar tribal disputes simmering,” it noted.
It also expressed concern over how the opposition NPP chose to approach the situation, as the early signs were that it would attempt to use tribal tensions as a means of attacking the government.
According to the EIU, the recent flare up in tribal tensions in the Dagbon area was made worse by the comments of Nana Akufo-Addo, the defeated NPP presidential candidate in the 2008 elections, when he held a press conference “castigating the NDC government and accusing it of inciting violence”.
It noted that Nana Akufo-Addo’s comments were criticised by most political analysts, especially “as many of the problems he highlighted were inherited by the NDC from the previous NPP government”.
It said among the critics of Nana Akufo-Addo was a senior member of the NPP, Professor Wayo Seini, who argued that the comments were inaccurate and portrayed an intention to drive the Andani faction away from the NPP when the party should be seeking to be more inclusive.
“Such comments from a senior NPP member hint at the divisions still affecting the party, with Nana Akufo-Addo working hard to maintain his influence. His provocative statement on the Dagbon issue probably reflects this, as the opposition leader attempts to keep himself in the limelight,” it added.
The EIU projected that similar bold statements could be expected in the future, with Nana Akufo-Addo also likely “to continue to attempt to distance himself from the previous NPP government under the former President, Mr John Kufuor, who still maintains some influence in the party and is not a strong supporter of Nana Akufo-Addo”.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Agyekum to answer for contract payment
Page 72: Daily Graphic, June 11, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
FORMER Deputy Information Minister, Mr Frank Agyekum has been invited by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to answer questions on an GH¢86,915.85 (¢869 million) contract he awarded to Plexiform Ventures for the renovation of the offices of the Information Minister and his deputy and the washroom of the Ministry of Information.
Although some portions of the work, which involved the fixing of new floor tiles were done, the manner in which the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr D. A. Y. Sampong wrote a letter to the Ministry of Finance and Economic PLanning, dated May 29, 2009, without the knowledge of the substantive Minister, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, brought in the BNI after the Finance Ministry rejected the request, raising concerns that there were no supporting documents covering the transactions.
The acting Chief Director, Mr Sampong, the Deputy Finance and Administration Director identified only as Mr Denkyira and the Principal Accountant of the ministry, Mr Lawrence Dzakpaa, have already been quizzed by the BNI.
Sources close to the BNI told the Daily Graphic that Mr Sampong wrote to the Finance Ministry for the release of GH¢86,915 to be paid to Plexiform Ventures for works it undertook for the Ministry.
They said the Finance Ministry queried the request because there were no appropriate documents including award of contract by the Procurement Committee of the Ministry of Information.
The sources explained that the Principal Accountant had earlier raised objections to the paymnent for the same reasons but was allegedly ignored.
They said when Mrs Okaikoi's attention was drawn to it, she denied knowledge of it and alerted the BNI to take up the matter.
The sources said it was at that point that Mr Agyekum was mentioned as having signed the contract documents awarding the contract to Plexiform Ventures, owned by Ms Irene Lorwia.
Story: Albert K. Salia
FORMER Deputy Information Minister, Mr Frank Agyekum has been invited by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to answer questions on an GH¢86,915.85 (¢869 million) contract he awarded to Plexiform Ventures for the renovation of the offices of the Information Minister and his deputy and the washroom of the Ministry of Information.
Although some portions of the work, which involved the fixing of new floor tiles were done, the manner in which the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr D. A. Y. Sampong wrote a letter to the Ministry of Finance and Economic PLanning, dated May 29, 2009, without the knowledge of the substantive Minister, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, brought in the BNI after the Finance Ministry rejected the request, raising concerns that there were no supporting documents covering the transactions.
The acting Chief Director, Mr Sampong, the Deputy Finance and Administration Director identified only as Mr Denkyira and the Principal Accountant of the ministry, Mr Lawrence Dzakpaa, have already been quizzed by the BNI.
Sources close to the BNI told the Daily Graphic that Mr Sampong wrote to the Finance Ministry for the release of GH¢86,915 to be paid to Plexiform Ventures for works it undertook for the Ministry.
They said the Finance Ministry queried the request because there were no appropriate documents including award of contract by the Procurement Committee of the Ministry of Information.
The sources explained that the Principal Accountant had earlier raised objections to the paymnent for the same reasons but was allegedly ignored.
They said when Mrs Okaikoi's attention was drawn to it, she denied knowledge of it and alerted the BNI to take up the matter.
The sources said it was at that point that Mr Agyekum was mentioned as having signed the contract documents awarding the contract to Plexiform Ventures, owned by Ms Irene Lorwia.
Monday, June 8, 2009
MDAs directed to reduce fuel usage
Page 3: Daily Graphic, June 8, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE government has announced fuel saving measures by all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) following the 30 per cent price increase in petroleum products at the weekend.
The measures are geared towards reducing government expenditure on fuel for ministers and other officials by 30 per cent.
The Information Minister, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, told the Daily Graphic last Friday that as part of the measures, all government vehicles were to be re-branded in the names of the designated MDAs to check their indiscriminate use.
She said there was evidence of some government and public officials who used state vehicles for funerals and commercial purposes, at the expense of the taxpayer.
She said with the new policy of re-branding the vehicles, it would be difficult for anybody to use state vehicles for such purposes.
In line with that, Mrs Okaikoi said the number plates of government vehicles would revert to GV registration, a policy which was in place until it was relaxed some years back.
The Information Minister said the policy would also include a reduction in the volume of fuel allocated to various MDAs, including ministers who draw fuel from government depots.
The National Petroleum Authority last Friday announced a 30 per cent upward adjustment in petroleum prices.
Following the price hikes, a litre of petrol that sold at 85.7Gp now costs GH¢1.11. Diesel is also up from 86.2Gp to GH¢1.12; kerosene from 66.5Gp to 86.45Gp and LPG now goes for 79.82Gp from the previous 61.4Gp.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE government has announced fuel saving measures by all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) following the 30 per cent price increase in petroleum products at the weekend.
The measures are geared towards reducing government expenditure on fuel for ministers and other officials by 30 per cent.
The Information Minister, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, told the Daily Graphic last Friday that as part of the measures, all government vehicles were to be re-branded in the names of the designated MDAs to check their indiscriminate use.
She said there was evidence of some government and public officials who used state vehicles for funerals and commercial purposes, at the expense of the taxpayer.
She said with the new policy of re-branding the vehicles, it would be difficult for anybody to use state vehicles for such purposes.
In line with that, Mrs Okaikoi said the number plates of government vehicles would revert to GV registration, a policy which was in place until it was relaxed some years back.
The Information Minister said the policy would also include a reduction in the volume of fuel allocated to various MDAs, including ministers who draw fuel from government depots.
The National Petroleum Authority last Friday announced a 30 per cent upward adjustment in petroleum prices.
Following the price hikes, a litre of petrol that sold at 85.7Gp now costs GH¢1.11. Diesel is also up from 86.2Gp to GH¢1.12; kerosene from 66.5Gp to 86.45Gp and LPG now goes for 79.82Gp from the previous 61.4Gp.
CID clears premises of vehicles
Page 44: Daily Graphic, June 8, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE premises of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have been cleared of impounded and exhibit vehicles.
The exercise followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye to the leadership of the CID to rid the premises of what he called “the unsightly picture depicting a carefree environment”.
The Deputy Director of the CID, Mr Ken Yeboah told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the next line of action was to level the frontage of the premises to keep it in shape.
He explained that the absence of an appropriate place to relocate the vehicles delayed the clearing exercise but was happy that it had finally been done.
As to whether measures had been put in place to forestall a situation where impounded or exhibits vehicles were parked for long periods resulting in some of them becoming scraps, Mr Yeboah said there was nothing the police could do.
He said the way forward was for the courts to expeditiously deal with the cases since they were exhibits.
He said unless the courts gave an order, the police could do nothing on its own.
Mr Yeboah said relocating the vehicles had not been easy since private garages were also not the best since anything could happen to them.
He said there was also not enough space at the Police Workshop to relocate them.
At a meeting with staff of the CID on Friday May 22, 2009, Mr Quaye likened congested and haphazard litter of vehicles at the frontage of the CID to a mismanaged vehicle scrap yard and demanded that the entire premises be cleared within one week.
He described the CID headquarters as an important establishment which must wean itself of such messy environment.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE premises of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have been cleared of impounded and exhibit vehicles.
The exercise followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye to the leadership of the CID to rid the premises of what he called “the unsightly picture depicting a carefree environment”.
The Deputy Director of the CID, Mr Ken Yeboah told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the next line of action was to level the frontage of the premises to keep it in shape.
He explained that the absence of an appropriate place to relocate the vehicles delayed the clearing exercise but was happy that it had finally been done.
As to whether measures had been put in place to forestall a situation where impounded or exhibits vehicles were parked for long periods resulting in some of them becoming scraps, Mr Yeboah said there was nothing the police could do.
He said the way forward was for the courts to expeditiously deal with the cases since they were exhibits.
He said unless the courts gave an order, the police could do nothing on its own.
Mr Yeboah said relocating the vehicles had not been easy since private garages were also not the best since anything could happen to them.
He said there was also not enough space at the Police Workshop to relocate them.
At a meeting with staff of the CID on Friday May 22, 2009, Mr Quaye likened congested and haphazard litter of vehicles at the frontage of the CID to a mismanaged vehicle scrap yard and demanded that the entire premises be cleared within one week.
He described the CID headquarters as an important establishment which must wean itself of such messy environment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)