Politics

Akufo-Addo government spends ¢125m on judgment debts, surpassing Mahama by ¢56m

Published

2 years ago

September 5, 2022

Not just Woyome. You look at Waterville, it is the same pattern. You look at the others, you can see a similar pattern. It cannot be inefficiency. Kwaku (Baako) decides to call it recklessness. It cannot be recklessness. It is deliberate, it goes beyond people being reckless”

The words of the NPP’s Nana Akomea on Newsfile on the JoyNews on August 2, 2014.

This was a time the NDC’s John Mahama-led government had come under intense pressure to retrieve some ¢51.2 million judgement debt from businessman Alfred Woyome.

A host of other judgment debt payments had equally become the subject of heated public discussion

It, therefore, came as no surprise that the subject found expression in the NPP’s 2016 Manifesto. Page 134, point f provided as follows;

“f. payments of dubious judgment debts and questionable settlements”.

This was under the broad theme of “Current state of Public Accountability”. The Party promised as follows.The NPP will fight corruption head-on through preventive, detective, corrective and punitive actions. Our anti-corruption policy will be based on three key pillars: institutional reform, legislative reform, and attitudinal change/public education”.

The NPP has since taken over Government and JoyNews has been tracking the thorny issue of judgment debts.

A Right to Information request was first sent to the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of justice

The Office responded that the appropriate place to obtain this information was the Finance Ministry.

A subsequent request was therefore sent to the Finance Ministry where the Information was provided

The Highest Judgment debt was paid in 2018. An amount of 30.9 million cedis was paid to Jubilee Tractors and Assembly Plant Limited. This arose from a case filed against the National Security Council. In 2017, an amount of 29.5 million cedis was paid to NDK Financial Services.

A close comparison of the various years shows that the highest amount paid since the NPP took over government was in 2017 when payments totalled ¢54 million.

A 2021 research published by the Centre for Social Justice shows that this ¢125 million figure compares nowhere near the whopping ¢356.6 million debt paid by the NDC administration in 2010.

It, however, ranks higher when what was paid in the first 4 years of the John Mahama Administration is compared to the first 4 years of the Akufo-Addo administration.

A total judgment debt of ¢69.9 million was paid by the NDC administration between 2013 and 2016.President Akufo-Addo’s government between 2017 and 2020 paid 120 of 125 million cedis in total judgment dept. So far, ¢2.8 million in judgment debt has been paid by government in the year 2022

Politics

Limited voter registration: Resolve all difficulties to ensure seamless procedure – NPP to EC

Published

6 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Majesty

“Today is day one and it is expected that all those who are of age, the EC must come clear to us and let us know what is really happening. I mean, as I said, we can’t work out this situation where people have moved from their homes to registration centres only to be treated in this manner. “It is the reason I am saying that the EC must walk the talk and let us know what the challenges are.”

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has encouraged the Electoral Commission (EC) to resolve the issues raised on the first day of the restricted voter registration drive.

The NPP voiced fear that unsolved flaws might result in voting disenfranchisement if not addressed.

On the first day of the 21-day voter registration process, there were reports of equipment failures and network issues around the country.

Evans Nimako, Director of Elections and Research for the NPP, stated that the EC must do what is appropriate to guarantee that all eligible voters are registered at the conclusion of the process.

“Today is day one and it is expected that all those who are of age, the EC must come clear to us and let us know what is really happening. I mean, as I said, we can’t work out this situation where people have moved from their homes to registration centres only to be treated in this manner.

“It is the reason I am saying that the EC must walk the talk and let us know what the challenges are.”

Politics

I have trust in Bawumia to continue my excellent works – Akufo-Addo

Published

7 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Majesty

He cautioned that choosing John Dramani Mahama as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer will imperil his administration's achievements. "Also, after the voting period ends, our task is straightforward. The person I vanquished is dissatisfied with my efforts, thus I cannot hand up authority to them. "He will destroy everything we have done when he comes," he lamented. President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to vote in large numbers for Dr. Bawumia in order to solidify his accomplishments in government. "I implore you to vote for the person with whom I have worked for the past seven and a half years. "I have faith in him, and I know he will come and finish the work I have started," he concluded.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the December elections.

He expressed confidence that Dr Bawumia would continue the good job that was begun during his government.

Speaking at a brief rally in Doboro, Eastern Region, after visiting Blue Skies Limited, President Akufo-Addo stated that his Vice President is the best choice to replace him.

He cautioned that choosing John Dramani Mahama as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer would imperil his administration’s achievements.

“Also, after the voting period ends, our task is straightforward. The person I vanquished is dissatisfied with my efforts, thus I cannot hand up authority to them. “He will destroy everything we have done when he comes,” he lamented.

President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to vote in large numbers for Dr Bawumia in order to solidify his accomplishments in government.

“I implore you to vote for the person with whom I have worked for the past seven and a half years. “I have faith in him, and I know he will come and finish the work I have started,” he concluded.

Politics

Tina Mensah blames former MCE Patrick Kumor’s death on Akufo Addo

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2024

Majesty

"My late MCE did nothing to earn his dismissal; the only error he made was to back me, and I lost the primaries. "How can someone who been named the number one MCE at the national and regional levels be fired? He got various honours for his efforts as MCE. He was replaced without consulting me," she allegedly told Accra-based Onua TV/FM while visiting the grieving family to express her condolences.

Tina Ayele Mensah, a Weija-Gbawe Member of Parliament (MP), has conveyed her condolences on the tragic death of Patrick Kumor, the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

Madam Mensah has ascribed Mr Kumor’s death to his removal from government in February 2024, which she says was not the wisest decision.

The MP said that the dead backed her re-election in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries.

“My late MCE did nothing to earn his dismissal; the only error he made was to back me, and I lost the primaries.

“How can someone who has been named the number one MCE at the national and regional levels be fired? He got various honours for his efforts as MCE. He was replaced without consulting me,” she allegedly told Accra-based Onua TV/FM while visiting the grieving family to express her condolences.

According to the member, Mr Kumor was unable to endure the news and recover from the shock.

“Patrick isn’t as powerful as me. I don’t mind if you fire me; but, Patrick is not like me. Patrick couldn’t stop thinking about his bag, and his blood pressure continued to rise. “‘Afei se asa’ (it is finished), Patrick is gone,” she stated.