Leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has asked members of Ghana’s Parliament to be guided by maturity and avoid anarchy when the House resumes on Tuesday for business.
According to the private legal practitioner, who is also a cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, leaders from the two caucuses in the House must meet to agree on pertinent issues before Tuesday’s meeting.
“Parliament must, by all means, avoid a situation of seeming chaos and anarchy on Tuesday. I suggest the two leaders and the Speaker meet before then to agree or agree to disagree on the next steps.
Not long to Dec 7, let maturity be our guide and guard,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s advice comes in the wake of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant and the subsequent Supreme Court ruling that temporarily overturned the Speaker’s decision.
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Speaker Bagbin invoked Article 97(g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution to declare the seats vacant, citing the 2020 precedent involving Fomena MP, Andrew Amoako Asiamah.
However, on Friday, October 18, 2024, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on Bagbin’s ruling.
The Court directed Parliament to allow the affected MPs—Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena)—to continue representing their constituencies and performing their duties until a final verdict is delivered.
The Supreme Court’s directive will remain in effect beyond the 10 days initially requested, lasting until the Court delivers its final judgement on the matter.
The application to stay the Speaker’s decision was filed by Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who sought the Court’s intervention to prevent the ruling from affecting three of their members and one from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, the NDC caucus has asserted that, based on the Speaker’s declaration, they are now the Majority in Parliament and intend to assert their rights when the House reconvenes on Tuesday.
A key member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, believes that President Akufo-Addo’s leadership will be fully appreciated by Ghanaians after his term ends in 2025.
In a recent Face to Face interview on Channel One TV, Otchere-Darko expressed confidence that, despite the ongoing economic difficulties and global challenges, the achievements of Akufo-Addo’s administration will be recognized in the future.
Otchere-Darko emphasized the notable progress in infrastructure, particularly within the health sector, achieved during Akufo-Addo’s seven years in office.
He argued that the advancements made in healthcare under Akufo-Addo’s leadership are unmatched by any previous government in the Fourth Republic.
“If you consider the challenges of leadership, the challenges of managing an economy such as ours and those challenges being compounded by the global challenges that faced them, I think when Ghanaians sit back, and analyse his period, after he’s gone, they will appreciate the Akufo-Addo’s presidency. When you are in there, you can’t really see that much.
“Take a few sectors, health, I can say boldly, based on numbers, that in the 4th Republic, no government has been able to do the kind of things we have witnessed under Akufo-Addo’s presidency. Within the health sector alone, in terms of facilities, in terms of that amazing thing that former President J.A Kufuor built, the National Health Insurance Scheme, where he has taken it.
Highlighting the accomplishments in healthcare, he praised the expansion of health facilities, the hiring of over 2,000 new health personnel, and the significant increases in doctors and nurses.
“In terms of personnel, over the last seven to eight years, over 2,000 people have been employed in the health sector. Look at the number of doctors employed over the last few years, I believe over 22,000, nurses about 165,000 or so.
Otchere-Darko also mentioned the ongoing Agenda 111 project, noting that almost 95% of the hospitals are approximately 65% complete.
“The expansion that we have seen in the health sector, in terms of access to health, personnel, remunerations, so many polyclinics have been built,” Gabby told host Umaru Sanda Amadu.
Leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has challenged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to present proof of corruption involving President Akufo-Addo or his relatives.
He asserted that no corruption allegations under the current administration are as serious as the Airbus bribery scandal linked to former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC’s flagbearer.
Taking to social media following the Special Prosecutor’s conclusion of his investigation into the case, Mr. Otchere-Darko said “the hypocrisy of partisan politics is indeed most interesting.”
“Let us dare the opposition and their “squeaky clean” leader to name one clear case (not mere allegation) against Akufo-Addo, his family members or appointees that come anywhere remotely close to this Airbus case and its volumes of findings by investigators and admissions of guilt by the bribe giver.
“Let them put the Airbus case side by side to any of the charges they continue to lay on NPP’s doorsteps.
Yet, so desperate are they that they (led by JM himself) are eager to rely confidently & unashamedly on a book of fiction as their main dossier of evidence & to use same to draw links and conclusions from other instances to show that what Ghanaians are enduring today is worse than what they did see under Mahama’s NDC; never mind the tons of evidence of real developments and spendings that have gone directly into the welfare and wellbeing of families and communities across the country,” he wrote on X (former Twitter).
The comments from the President’s cousin come days after the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng exonerated former President John Dramani Mahama of any wrong doing in the Airbus deal.
According to Mr. Agyebeng, there is no evidence of corruption or bribery against the former President; an assertion that has been widely applauded by the opposition NDC and rejected by the governing NPP.
Reacting to the findings, Mr. Otchere Darko congratulated the former President for his victory.
“I am truly happy for John Mahama and his family and his party, it must have been 4yrs of utter agony having such a case of huge international proportions hanging around his neck.
It couldn’t have been easy! Still, Africa shall continue to rise and rise we shall! Let the torch of transparency and the scrutiny of civil society & the media continue to shine on us all for the Africa we want and deserve!
Read below the full post by Gabby Otchere-Darko
“The hypocrisy of partisan politics is indeed most interesting. Just a few days ago a senior opposition party official in Ghana held a press conference to condemn a relative of the vice president, who is a businessman, for his company allegedly benefiting from a public contract properly awarded. A week earlier it was about a former boyfriend (and “baby father”) of a daughter of the president and a contract for spare parts where no bribery allegation is said to be involved. Today that same propaganda chief is leading his party triumphantly (with support from the media), hailing his boss, the opposition leader and former president, as being “squeaky clean!” Why?
The former president and theNDC presidential candidatefor 2024 has been CLEARED of that major bribery charge that had hanged around his neck for 4yrs! Details are that reputable investigative institutions in UK, US and France have done thorough investigations which all implicated that Ghanaian leader and his brother in an indictment where the bribe giver (Airbus) admitted guilt and paid millions in fines (but not to Ghana).
Airbus admits to paying bribes which allegedly went to Ghanaian Govt officials. Emails and other facts in the public domain point to the unusual involvement of the “Government Official 1” as the main champion of the deal in the entire transaction from the onset (even promising more) and how his brother was later brought on board as agent for the company that admits to paying bribes. Today his party and its leadership are understandably mightily relieved and happy because investigators in Ghana say they found no evidence against the leader and his brother the agent. One can only be happy for them! They now point to how an “innocent” interest in a transaction can be so mischievously misconstrued even by reputable investigators as dodgy.
Thank God for Akufo-Addo’s meticulous OSP. Anaa? And, yet, that same party, the NDC, and that same leader, John Mahama, have made allegations of corruption against the current president, his family, friends and appointees their main campaign message; even to the point of using a patently fake document (not reports of reputable investigators) against the current president and his royal family to drive home the point.
But, this is what is interesting though! Let us dare the opposition and their “squeaky clean” leader to name one clear case (not mere allegation) against Akufo-Addo, his family members or appointees that come anywhere remotely close to this Airbus case and its volumes of findings by investigators and admissions of guilt by the bribe giver. Let them put the Airbus case side by side to any of the charges they continue to lay on NPP’s doorsteps.
Yet, so desperate are they that they (led by JM himself) are eager to rely confidently & unashamedly on a book of fiction as their main dossier of evidence & to use same to draw links and conclusions from other instances to show that what Ghanaians are enduring today is worse than what they did see underMahama’s NDC;never mind the tons of evidence of real developments and spendings that have gone directly into the welfare and wellbeing of families and communities across the country.
As we speak, there is another case in the US involving a senior staff of an international bank who was allegedly compelled to pay bribes in order to secure a take-or-pay power contract for a Turkish company under John Mahama. Remember the billions of dollars Ghanaian taxpayers have paid for those take-or-pay deals over the last 7 or so years? Ghana is, indeed, an interesting country.
But, I am truly happy for John Mahama and his family and his party, it must have been 4yrs of utter agony having such a case of huge international proportions hanging around his neck. It couldn’t have been easy! Still, Africa shall continue to rise and rise we shall! Let the torch of transparency and the scrutiny of civil society & the media continue to shine on us all for the Africa we want and deserve!
Stonebwoy, the Dancehall star, graduated on Friday, July 26, with a BSc in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
In a post on X, Otchere-Darko lauded Stonebwoy’s academic achievement, highlighting his determination to return to school as an inspiration to many.
“Congratulations to @stonebwoy for graduating from GIMPA, one of Ghana’s prestigious universities. Life is a journey of education, whether in a classroom or through life experiences. It’s never too late. Thank you for being a positive role model to many. BHIM!” he wrote.
Ghanaian reggae and dancehall icon Stonebwoy has recently released a stirring track titled “I Believe in Africa,” which has gained widespread attention across social media.
The song carries a strong message of African unity and solidarity, resonating with listeners through its powerful instrumentals and poignant lyrics that celebrate the essence of the continent.
However, a surprising revelation has sparked controversy regarding the song’s origins.
A post by a Ghanaian media personality claimed that the song was written by politician Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko but performed by Stonebwoy.
This revelation has left many netizens in shock, with some questioning the authenticity of the claim and others expressing disbelief at the alleged information.
Some expressed a comic reaction highlighting a part of the lyrics ‘Let’s come together and grab our share’ indicating such messages reflect Gabby’s.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the senior partner and co-founder of Africa Legal Associates (ALA), has commended President Akufo-Addo’s decision to appoint Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam as the replacement for Ken Ofori-Atta.
Otchere-Darko praised Dr. Amin Adam as both humble and competent, making him a suitable successor to his former boss.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Otchere-Darko emphasized that President Akufo-Addo’s choice could not have been better for the Finance Ministry.
“Congratulations to Amin Adam. Ghana’s President couldn’t have found a more prepared, competent, humble and conscious, personable replacement to take control of the country’s finances than you. Reactions from the public suggest strong approval.”
Congratulations to Amin Adam. Ghana’s President couldn’t have found a more prepared, competent, humble and politically-conscious, personable replacement to take control of the country’s finances than you. Reactions from the public suggest strong approval. https://t.co/1jT4pelxvx
President Akufo-Addo has nominated Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam as the new Finance Minister, replacing Ken Ofori-Atta, who served in the position for seven years. The announcement was part of the latest ministerial reshuffle released by President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, February 14.
Despite facing significant challenges and calls for his dismissal from some members of Ghana’s Parliament, Ken Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s longest-serving finance minister.
On October 25, 2022, around 80 NPP MPs demanded Ofori-Atta’s resignation due to the country’s struggling economy. Similar calls were echoed by the NDC parliamentary caucus in February 2023.
However, President Akufo-Addo rejected these calls for resignation, urging Parliament to wait until discussions with the IMF concluded.
Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) and Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates (ALA), Gabby Otchere-Darko, has highlighted the substantial achievements of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during President Akufo-Addo’s tenure.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show, Otchere-Darko emphasized the party’s success in several areas and stressed the importance of effective communication to celebrate these accomplishments.
Despite acknowledging existing challenges, Otchere-Darko expressed confidence in the positive impact of the current government’s initiatives. He particularly commended President Akufo-Addo’s dedication to shaping the country’s future through significant investments.
“Maybe when he [Akufo-Addo] leaves and he’s gone, then we will miss him. We will notice it, but not now. After he’s long gone, they’ll say it,” stated Otchere-Darko, suggesting that the full extent of the President’s leadership will be appreciated in retrospect.
Gabby Otchere-Darko urged the NPP to effectively articulate and communicate their achievements to the public, emphasizing that the party has much to celebrate when the deeds of the government are better understood. As the nation looks towards the post-2025 era, the discourse on the Akufo-Addo administration’s legacy gains significance.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, politician and one of the leading transactional lawyers in the country, opened up about his remarkable life journey, sharing insights into his upbringing that spans across the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland.
Born in the United Kingdom (UK), Gabby disclosed that his early years were shaped in a small town in the UK, providing the foundation for a life that would later span continents.
As one of the leading transactional lawyers in the country, his diverse background and experiences have undoubtedly contributed to his multifaceted approach to law and politics.
“ I wasn’t born here, I was born in the United Kingdom (UK), I have lived in Germany, Switzerland, Ghana and the rest and back in Ghana. I had my education, here and abroad,” Gabby Otchere Darko revealed in an interview on Starr FM.
The revelation of his international upbringing sheds light on the breadth of his cultural exposure and the diverse perspectives he brings to the political and legal arenas in Ghana.
Living in Germany and Switzerland, two countries known for their rich histories and distinct cultures, has undoubtedly contributed to Gabby’s broad worldview.
A solicitor and barrister trained in the UK and Ghana, Mr. Otchere-Darko is also among the shareholders and board members of Asaase Broadcasting Company.
NPP stalwart, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has responded to his connection with the contentious Agyapa Deal.
This deal was abandoned by the government in 2020 due to political resistance and protests from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
In a tweet posted on August 15, 2023, Gabby criticized the silence of the CSOs who brought the deal to a court in Abuja and saw it dismissed.
Despite the ruling occurring last year, these CSOs have not made any further statements regarding the outcome.
He insisted that the deal was going to be in the interest of Ghana ultimately and yet it was scuttled for political reasons.
“I wonder why Transparency International, Ghana Integrity Initiative and the CSOs who went to an international court over Agyapa have been quiet since July after their case was dismissed on all fronts.
“But, I thank them for that move. It is good for our democracy. And, I will urge you all to read the decision of the ECOWAS court. Agyapa, a very legitimate, even if controversial, move by govt to expand the use of its gold revenues, had no corruption about it. Zero!” he claimed.
The Agyapa Royalties deal
In 2020, the government of Ghana proposed a deal which was meant to raise money by floating shares in a company called Agyapa Royalties Limited on the London Stock Exchange.
This deal was met with wide criticism from civil society groups and the opposition, who claimed that it was a secretive and corrupt deal that would allow politicians to enrich themselves at the expense of the country.
Later that year, it was confirmed by veteran journalist Kweku Baako that Gabby’s firm had been transaction advisors to the government in the failed deal.
He clarified that a UK-based law firm was the principal advisors on the deal and Africa Legal Associates worked for the firm.
“It is not true that Gabby’s firm got US$2 million from the deal. It is not true that his firm is a beneficiary of US$2 million. It’s not even up to US$105,000. It is the main transaction advisor that paid Gabby. It is about US$103,000. It is not US$2 million”.
One major issue that has emanated from the brouhaha surrounding the deal is the role of Osafo-Maafo’s son and Gabby Otchere-Darko.
Read Gabby’s post on the Agyapa Deal
I wonder why Transparency International, Ghana Integrity Initiative and the CSOs who went to an international court over Agyapa have been quiet since July after their case was dismissed on all fronts. But, I thank them for that move.
It is good for our democracy. And, I will urge you all to read the decision of the ECOWAS court. Agyapa, a very legitimate, even if controversial, move by govt to expand the use of its gold revenues, had no corruption about it. Zero!
You may not like it but to say, as they did, that a group of related persons were stealing Ghana’s gold was really sad and low. We the lawyers who worked on it were excited about the innovativeness of the whole MIIF institution which Parliament created and the things it was set up to do, including Agyapa.
We were never motivated by even our fees. How floating on the London Stock Exchange 49% of an entity 100% owned by Ghana could be described as stealing is indeed sad and baffling.
I have not loved Ghana less since my cousin became president. What some of us try to do is to go out of our way to help. Assist when we can. Occasionally it may get one into controversy and those who want to spin and blame one when they rather screw up may easier be believed than one. But that is the price…
Soon, Jan 7, 2025, Nana’s term will be over, and another Gabby may emerge. I can’t wait, frankly! I can only wish him or her (the next Gabby) the best of luck!
Whoever that may be, please just let your integrity guide you. Stay firm and do what you see to be right for God and country. Don’t let the propaganda get you down.
This article was written and first published in 2015
Former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute Gabby Asare Otchere Darko is imputing criminality in the contract awarded to West Blue Company by the presidency.
According to him, the presidency breached several sections of the procurement law in awarding the contract to the company.
In a new twist to the unfolding Destination Inspection Companies and Bankswitch scandal, it has emerged the presidency instructed the Finance Ministry to award a new contract to West Blue on sole sourcing.
Myjoyonline.com obtained a copy of a leaked letter in which the Chief of Staff, on the say so of president John Mahama, instructed the Finance Ministry to take steps in appointing West Blue Company as a new company to operate a national single window at the country’s ports.
The letter dated May 12, 2015, said: “In pursuant to his Excellency the president’s decision you are directed to formally engage West Blue Ghana Ltd to undertake the following services;
1. Software implementation and support activities to GRA and related agencies for takeover of functions of DICs on 1 September, 2015.
“…You should take the necessary steps to secure the Public Procurement Approval in order to engage West Blue on Single Source basis,” the letter said.
Myjoyonline.com can confirm that all five Destination Inspection Companies at the ports will not have their contracts renewed when it expires in August.
A National Single Window to be operated by West Blue Company will begin operations from September, 2015.
GCNet, a company within the ports, has written to the Trade Minister informing him about the possible breach of contract by government if it went ahead to give the Single Window contract to another company.
The company insists it is performing the same functions for which West Blue has been contracted.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko said the award of contracts to companies at the country’s ports have largely been influenced by corruption and not national interest.
According to him, the amount of money the five DICs made at the ports in a single year was $100 million which is one percent of the total revenue accrued from imports.
With the five DICs on their way out it means one company is likely to benefit from this largesse at the ports.
Copiously quoting portions of the Procurement Law, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko said the presidency has breached the law in appointing West Blue to takeover operations under a national single window.
“Act 663 of 2003, states in part that an entity may engage in single source procurement with the approval of the board:
(a) where goods, works or services are only available from a particular supplier.
(b) where there is an urgent need for the goods , works or service.
(c) where owing to a catastrophic event it is impractical to use other methods in procurement because of the time involved,” he quoted the law as saying.
He argued West Blue cannot be said to be the only company providing the services for which it has been contracted.
Indeed the five DICs and GCNet are performing the same function so under what condition was West Blue sole sourced to provide the services at the ports? he asked.
The former Editor of the Statesman newspaper also argued further that before a procurement can be sole sourced there has to be price quotations from a supplier or contractor. He does not understand how from the presidency, instructions will be given to the Finance Minister to, at all cost, give a contract to West Blue Ghana Limited when there has not been any price quotations.
He is convinced a breach of the procurement law is a criminal offence and the presidency must be guided.
Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has issued a comprehensive response to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s recent “Kitchen Scandal” exposé.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu alleged that Gabby’s law firm was involved in a plot to defraud the state of GH¢187.3 million on behalf of a client.
In a statement released on Friday, August 4, 2023, Gabby maintained that his firm was performing a legitimate duty on behalf of their client.
He clarified that since April 2021, his firm had been engaged by West Blue Ghana Limited to assist in the recovery of GH¢187,356,969.
This amount represented outstanding payments owed to West Blue by the Government of the Republic of Ghana under a contract dated 04 August 2015.
The contract was executed between West Blue on one hand, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on the other hand.
“Our client’s claim is founded on clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract, which sets out without equivocation, the fees due to our client under the NSW Contract. It was a contract duly crafted and executed by the John Mahama administration, of which you were a key member.
“Clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract provides that in consideration of its services, our client shall be paid a fee equivalent to 0.35% of the final invoice CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of import consignments entering into Ghana through the seaports, airports and land borders from time to time. Going strictly by the express terms of the NSW Contract, our client calculates the arrears still left outstanding to be in the sum of GH¢187,356,969. Indeed, a demand letter providing details of the sum of GH¢187,356,969 owed, was submitted to the Ministry of Finance on 28 July 2020 by the previous lawyers of our client, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah,” he wrote in his response.
According to Gabby, he mentioned that both the Ministry of Finance and GRA had consistently rejected his client’s claim, and despite several efforts by his firm to seek legal clarification on the matter, they were unsuccessful.
Gabby asserted that it was only after Mr. Ablakwa’s exposé that his firm became aware of the legal advice provided by the Attorney General, which now supports and confirms his client’s position.
“Until the release of your article, ALA had not been afforded notice of the content of the legal opinion of the Attorney General regarding our client’s claim. If, as purported by you, the chief legal advisor to the Government is of the opinion that our client’s claim is of merit, then this revelation by you is much appreciated by us, as it actually validates the legitimacy of our client’s claim,” he stated.
Gabby emphasized that no payment has been made to his client thus far. He questioned Mr. Ablakwa’s motives in the case, wondering if his interest was due to the substantial amount involved or the legitimacy of his client’s claim. Despite accusations from the MP, who alleged that Gabby was leveraging his position as a cousin to President Akufo-Addo, Gabby raised the question of whether Ablakwa’s stance would have been any different if another lawyer had been handling the case.
“If I may ask: is it the legitimacy of our client’s claim or the quantum of the sum claimed by our client that bewilders you? Further, is this not a simple matter of a legitimate claim arising out of the specific performance of the terms of a contract mutually entered into by the parties? Again, has the MoF and/or GRA agreed to pay or to even sit down to negotiate it down? Would this have been a matter at all, in your reckoning, if any other qualified lawyer was handling this matter? Is it your point that as a cousin to the President it is unethical for me to represent a client who has a legitimate case against the state?”
Read Gabby’s full response below:
To Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
My attention has been drawn to a publication by you under the title “The Kitchen Scandal”. In this thrilling publication, you seek to castigate me and my firm, Africa Legal Associates (ALA), for our provision of legitimate and bonafide legal services to our client, West Blue Ghana Limited.
ALA was engaged by West Blue Ghana Limited on 29 April 2021 to assist the company to recover outstanding payments due it from the Government of the Republic of Ghana under a contract dated 04 August 2015, executed between our client, on the one hand, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF), on the other hand. We have been on this matter for more than two years now and the MoF and GRA continue to dispute the claim in spite of what we consider to be the incontrovertibility of our client’s case per the contract. Our client’s claim is to recover arrears owed by the MoF and GRA for services it rendered to the Government of Ghana under the National Single Window and Integrated Risk Management System Contract (‘NSW contract’) dated 04 August 2015. Our client’s claim is founded on clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract, which sets out without equivocation, the fees due to our client under the NSW Contract. It was a contract duly crafted and executed by the John Mahama administration, of which you were a key member.
Clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract provides that in consideration of its services, our client shall be paid a fee equivalent to 0.35% of the final invoice CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of import consignments entering into Ghana through the seaports, airports and land borders from time to time. Going strictly by the express terms of the NSW Contract, our client calculates the arrears still left outstanding to be in the sum of GH¢187,356,969. Indeed, a demand letter providing details of the sum of GH¢187,356,969 owed, was submitted to the Ministry of Finance on 28 July 2020 by the previous lawyers of our client, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah.
Contrary to your assertion of West Blue’s contract being terminated before the claim period, note that West Blue continued to render services to the Government under the contract, following an extension of the said contract post 31 December 2018, instructively, a period not included in the claim of GH¢187,356,969, which is set between 2015 and 2018.
The MoF and GRA deny the claim of our client and state that our client’s fees were rather to be calculated on the total inspection fees, which is merely a constituent of the total CIF, paid on imports. This, if you like, constitutes the gravamen significado of the dispute.
ALA has written numerous letters to the MoF and GRA to explain the legal justification of our client’s claim. Per a letter dated 05 August 2021, the Attorney General, who is the chief legal advisor to the Government, was requested to assist the parties (MoF, GRA, and our client) with a legal opinion that would clarify the legal operation of the key terms of the NSW Contract. This request was made pursuant to a mutual understanding between lawyers from ALA and representatives of GRA during a meeting held to discuss our client’s claim.
On 13 December 2021, ALA wrote to the Attorney General for an update on the request for the legal opinion and our client’s claim in general, as all our efforts to procure an update from the MoF and GRA had thus far proven futile. In the Attorney General’s response to us, we were advised to contact the MoF and GRA as they had been furnished with the legal opinion by the Attorney General’s office.
The MoF and GRA have consistently refused to share the legal opinion with us despite numerous requests for the same. They have also refused to meet with our client since 2021 to explore a possible settlement of our client’s claim which, if not settled, could result in a hefty judgment debt against the country. It is imperative to emphasise that no money has been paid to our client since we made the demand on MoF and GRA on our client’s behalf. Not a pesewa. Indeed, the MoF and/or GRA have not sat down with ALA or the client directly to even attempt a negotiation.
Until the release of your article, ALA had not been afforded notice of the content of the legal opinion of the Attorney General regarding our client’s claim. If, as purported by you, the chief legal advisor to the Government is of the opinion that our client’s claim is of merit, then this revelation by you is much appreciated by us, as it actually validates the legitimacy of our client’s claim.
Further, a Notice of Intention to Sue was issued by ALA in a letter dated 01 March 2022. In a bid to further allow the Government ample opportunity to address our client’s claim, ALA, per a letter dated 22 July 2022, issued a reminder to the Attorney General to respond to our Notice of Intention to Sue. It was only in October 2022 that ALA received an invitation from the Attorney General’s office, to attend a meeting together with MoF and GRA to discuss matters relating to our Notice of Intention to Sue. At the meeting, the parties rehashed their positions following which the Attorney General requested written submissions from all parties. ALA complied and submitted its client’s position but has not received that of either the MOF or GRA. Indeed, until your generous release of the Attorney General’s opinion(s), as far as we were aware, no real progress had been made. We are, indeed, thankful.
If I may ask: is it the legitimacy of our client’s claim or the quantum of the sum claimed by our client that bewilders you? Further, is this not a simple matter of a legitimate claim arising out of the specific performance of the terms of a contract mutually entered into by the parties? Again, has the MoF and/or GRA agreed to pay or to even sit down to negotiate it down? Would this have been a matter at all, in your reckoning, if any other qualified lawyer was handling this matter? Is it your point that as a cousin to the President it is unethical for me to represent a client who has a legitimate case against the state?
Be assured that there are numerous other top-tier firms in this country that are currently representing clients whose legitimate causes of action stem from quite similar issues, regarding contracts signed around the same period by the government in which you served.
Again, I wish to underscore the fact that our client has not been paid any part of the amount claimed to be owed to it under the NSW Contract. Our client’s case is not a challenge to the termination of the NSW Contract. It is simply a dispute over arrears owed for work already done and a claim for monies due it in accordance with the express terms of the said contract between the parties.
It is intriguing that you, of all people, see as a scandal lawyers engaged in their legitimate work of seeking to recover arrears owed to their clients, even when their claim, per your own “leaked” documents, is not, in principle, disputed by the Attorney General. I wonder how you reconcile your stance against ALA with the claim against you by the then Attorney General when you were a member of government? See Peace FM website:
If a deputy minister at the Ministry of Education (and a non lawyer at that) could gather the moral courage and see no wrong in lobbying to be paid, a contractor, whose very claim was being challenged in court at that material time by the Attorney General, then the world may be forgiven to see as extremely curious your description today of the West Blue claim as a “scandal.” Assuming, of course, the claim against you by your Attorney General is true.
Be assured that ALA is fully committed to pursuing our client’s legal rights in respect of its claim under the NSW Contract, and that should the MoF and the GRA decide to give us audience, we are duty-bound to assist our client to negotiate a settlement with the Government on the payment of the claim. In the event that this does not happen, our client reserves its rights to resort to a lawsuit for the recovery of the debt.
In the interest of the public, we are willing and ready as a firm to defend the integrity of our professional work in this matter before any appropriate forum and without prejudice to any course of action we may wish to take in the interest of our client.
Lastly, take note that I am a lawyer and Senior Partner of a corporate law firm and that I am entitled by the codes of my profession to provide legal services to clients who approach our firm, and will continue to do so without any other considerations, besides the legitimacy of the issues involved. …signed…
Lawyer and cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has in recent times, been embroiled in a series of scandals that have have rocked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government since 2017.
Gabby, who is described by some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the de facto “Prime Minster” and is often perceived as a powerful and influential figure behind the scenes, has faced allegations of leveraging his close ties with the president to interfere in deals and contracts, raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and corruption.
Here, we outline five major scandals linked to Gabby Otchere-Darko:
PDS Scandal
In 2019, the Ghanaian government terminated the concessionaire agreement with Power Distribution Service Ghana Limited (PDS) due to challenges with the financial guarantee provided for the deal. Critics accused the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of mishandling the negotiation and signing of the power concession.
It has been alleged that some influential figures and allies within the current administration attempted to share the shares of Power Distribution Service Ghana Limited. Among those mentioned in relation to the dubious PDS deal are Philip Ayensu, a board member of PDS; Edward Akufo-Addo, also known as Bumpty, who is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s blood brother; and Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the nephew of President Akufo-Addo.
Ameri Deal
The energy sector saw the dismissal of Boakye Agyarko as energy minister in 2018, partly due to the involvement of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in the Ameri Deal. Boakye Agyarko alleged that Gabby had renegotiated the deal without the consent of the government committee assigned to handle it.
When Agyarko confronted Gabby on the matter, he was reportedly told to remain quiet because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was already aware of the actions taken by Gabby. This incident caused controversy and added to the list of scandals involving Gabby Otchere-Darko.
Frimpong-Boateng Galamsey Report
Gabby, earlier this year, was mentioned in a leaked report by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the former environment minister, who accused him of interfering in his work to fight illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana. Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said that Gabby had provided legal services to a Chinese company that was involved in galamsey and had tried to influence him to grant them mining permits.
In response, Gabby sued for defamation, claiming that some of the allegations made by the professor were untrue and had damaged his reputation in society.
The Agyapa Royalties Deal
In 2020, the Ghanaian government proposed the Agyapa Royalties Deal, intending to raise funds by offering shares in Agyapa Royalties Limited on the London Stock Exchange.
This deal attracted criticism from civil society groups and the opposition, who saw it as a secretive and corrupt arrangement that would benefit politicians at the expense of the country.
Veteran journalist Kweku Baako later confirmed that Gabby’s law firm had served as transaction advisors to the government during this deal.
However, he clarified that Gabby’s firm did not receive the alleged sum of US$2 million, but rather a much smaller amount of around US$103,000. One issue that emerged from the controversy was the involvement of Osafo-Maafo’s son and Gabby Otchere-Darko in the deal.
The Kitchen Scandal
In a recent publication by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a Member of Parliament from the opposition National Democratic Congress, Gabby’s law firm was implicated in seeking GH¢187 million from the government for a contract that the NPP previously opposed and the current government varied upon taking office.
Ablakwa referred to Gabby as the “grand master of the government” and questioned the extent of power he wields.
These major scandals have raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and ethical practices within the government.
No government can completely protect itself against scandals, but how they are handled and who is involved when they do decide how much harm is done to the government.
There have been a number of incidents involving Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the president’s cousin, in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which is led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to the most recent “scandal” being reported by a member of parliament for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Gabby was trying to get the government to pay GH187 million for a contract that the NPP had previously opposed and that the current administration changed when it took office.
To support the authority he holds, Gabby, who recently declared that he was not a politician despite being closely associated with the NPP, has been given the title of Prime Minister of Ghana.
He was referred to by Ablakwa as the grand master of the government in his most recent book, the Kitchen Scandal.
Below are some scandals in which Gabby or his interests have been cited:
The Agyapa Royalties deal
In 2020, the Ghanaian government proposed a plan to raise funds by offering shares of a company called Agyapa Royalties Limited on the London Stock Exchange.
However, this proposal faced severe backlash from civil society groups and the opposition, who accused it of being a secretive and corrupt deal, benefiting politicians at the expense of the nation.
In a subsequent development, veteran journalist Kweku Baako confirmed that Gabby’s firm had served as transaction advisors to the government in this unsuccessful deal. He further explained that a UK-based law firm acted as the main advisors for the deal, with Africa Legal Associates working on behalf of that firm.
“It is not true that Gabby’s firm got US$2 million from the deal. It is not true that his firm is a beneficiary of US$2 million. It’s not even up to US$105,000. It is the main transaction advisor that paid Gabby. It is about US$103,000. It is not US$2 million”.
The role of Osafo-Maafo’s son and Gabby Otchere-Darko has been one of the most significant issues to arise from the controversy surrounding the sale.
PDS scandal
In 2019, the government was compelled to terminate a concessionaire agreement with Power Distribution Service Ghana Limited (PDS) due to issues with the financial guarantee provided for the deal.
The decision came as a result of the discovery of significant breaches in PDS’s obligation to provide payment securities (demand guarantees) for the transaction, which were detected during further due diligence.
Critics have criticized the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration for not acting in the best interest of Ghana during the negotiation and signing of the power concession.
Recent revelations indicate that certain influential individuals and associates within the current administration were allegedly planning to distribute the shares of Power Distribution Service Ghana Limited among themselves.
Three individuals frequently mentioned in connection with these questionable dealings surrounding the PDS deal are Philip Ayensu, a board member of PDS, Edward Akufo-Addo (also known as Bumpty), who is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s blood brother, and Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the nephew of President Akufo-Addo.
Ameri deal
In 2018, Boakye Agyarko was dismissed from his position as the energy minister due to his involvement in an energy sector transaction. It happened within just a year of his appointment.
Five years later, he has come forward to reveal that one of the reasons for his removal was the interference of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in the said deal, without his knowledge.
During a widely circulated interview on Kumasi-based Asanteman FM, Boakye Agyarko alleged that Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko took it upon himself to renegotiate the Ameri deal without consulting the government’s committee assigned to handle the matter.
When Boakye confronted Gabby about his actions, he was told to remain silent because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was already aware of the steps taken by Gabby.
Agyarko recalled receiving a call from Gabby while he was on a flight to the US.
Frimpong-Boateng galamsey report
The former environment minister Prof. Frimpong-Boateng referenced Gabby in a report that was leaked, claiming that Gabby’s legal services to a galamsey company had interfered with his work.
Since then, Gabby has filed a defamation lawsuit, claiming that some of the professor’s assertions were false and had damaged his reputation.
North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made startling revelations regarding what he refers to as the “Kitchen Scandal.”
The exposé centers around Mr. Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko, known as Gabby Otchere-Darko, and his alleged status as the “Prime Minister” of Ghana, with significant influence over government affairs.
Ablakwa claims that the Kitchen Scandal sheds light on the modus operandi and sophisticated schemes of the “Kitchen Cabinet,” of which Gabby Otchere-Darko is a central figure.
He alleges that Gabby’s influence extends to various multi-million dollar transactions, including the controversial PDS, Agyapa, and Ameri deals.
In particular, the former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, accused Gabby of unilaterally renegotiating the infamous Ameri novation agreement, leading to the minister’s dismissal.
The focal point of the scandal revolves around a staggering GHS187.3 million liability incurred for a contract awarded to West Blue Company Limited, which Gabby Otchere-Darko is said to have championed.
Ablakwa questions how Gabby managed to garner support from elements within the Finance Ministry and the Attorney-General’s office for this payment, considering the current economic challenges faced by Ghana.
Notably, the scandal exposes the alleged shifting stance of the government. Ablakwa points out that the same contract awarded to West Blue was fiercely opposed by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) when they were in opposition.
Gabby Otchere-Darko’s current advocacy for West Blue has raised concerns about double standards and betrayal, as he now seems to hold a position contrary to the party’s earlier stance.
Ablakwa has released a series of documents, purportedly intercepted by him, which appear to corroborate the perception that Gabby Otchere-Darko yields considerable influence and can get things done as the alleged “Prime Minister” of Ghana.
The North Tongu MP’s exposé has sparked public interest and calls for transparency and accountability from the government.
As the nation awaits further developments, questions loom about the veracity of the claims made by Ablakwa and the potential implications for Ghana’s political landscape.
In the interest of objectivity and accuracy, it is important to note that these claims have been made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and any further investigation and responses from the implicated parties are awaited.
The government and Gabby Otchere-Darko may issue official statements addressing the allegations in due course.
Read Ablakwa’s full report below.
The Kitchen Scandal
The Kitchen Scandal is a tale of betrayal, bravado, double standards, influence peddling, dishonesty, greed, collusion, arm-twisting, naked nepotism and blatant rape of the public purse.
The Kitchen Scandal will afford us a rare insight into how President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” operates and how destructive they have been to national progress.
This Kitchen Scandal reveals the modus-operandi and sophisticated schemes of the grand master in the “Kitchen Cabinet” — Mr. Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko, who prefers to be called Gabby Otchere-Darko.
Many people say Gabby is the “Prime Minister” of Ghana and what he wants always gets done — well, the volumes of intercepted documents in my possession appears to confirm this perception.
Gabby’s name has often come up in other multi-million dollar transactions such as PDS, Agyapa and recently Ameri when former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko accused him of unilaterally renegotiating the infamous Ameri novation agreement which led to the minister’s unceremonious exit.
Justice Dotse may likely describe this Kitchen Scandal as a well-hatched conspiracy to “Create-Loot-and-Keep,” perhaps in a Cecilia Dapaah-like fashion.
This Kitchen Scandal is valued at a stupendous GHS187,356,969.55.
How Gabby Otchere-Darko managed to get sections of government including the Attorney-General and elements within the Finance Ministry to agree that his new client: West Blue Company Limited must be paid the staggering GHS187.3million is most legendary.
It is absolutely insane for Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” to create this ginormous GHS187.3million liability for the Ghanaian taxpayer under this downgraded bankrupt IMF-bailout economy.
Put in proper context, GHS187.3million is more than the entire 2023 budgetary allocation for the following ministries: Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (GHS76.6million); Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (GHS44.9million); Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (GHS6.4million); Ministry of Information (GHS141.4million) and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (GHS180.9million)
The monetary value of this scandal is also greater than the full 2023 approved budgets for the following institutions: Office of the Special Prosecutor (GHS129.5million); National Development Planning Commission (GHS13.2million); CHRAJ (GHS45.4million); NCCE (GHS84.4million); National Pensions Regulatory Authority (GHS98.4million) and Office of the Head of Civil Service (GHS50.2million).
Ironically, the GHS187.3million exceeds the total annual 2023 budgeted expenditure for the salaries of all lawyers and staff at the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice (GHS155.6million); all staff at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (GHS109.3million); all staff at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (GHS80.8million); all staff of the Ministry of Roads and Highways (GHS74.6million) — just to highlight a few.
Strikingly, GHS187.3million is far greater than what the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is spending on numerous flagship programmes such as: Railways Development (GHS164.5million); Water and Sanitation Initiative (GHS74.4million); National Identification Authority (GHS37.6million); MASLOC (GHS14.4million); Fish Landing Sites (GHS26.3million) and Zongo Development Fund (GHS24.4million).
NPP’s POSITION ON THE WEST BLUE CONTRACT
In opposition, the NPP raised fire and brimstone and mounted the most fierce resistance to the National Single Window System and an Integrated Risk Management System contract awarded to West Blue Ghana Limited on 4th August, 2015.
The NPP’s Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu went to court in a spirited effort to stop the contract.
Not even a ruling by His Lordship Justice K.A. Okwabi on August 31, 2015 dismissing Afenyo-Markin’s injunction application deterred the NPP from continuing with further legal actions in a bid to scuttle the West Blue Contract. I must add that these NPP-led legal actions are still pending in court, albeit cold cases now.
The NPP continued to fight the West Blue contract in and outside the courts.
On the 16th of May, 2016 — the NPP’s Director of Communications, Nana Akomea issued a statement on what they said was President Mahama’s record of corruption. First on his list was the West Blue Contract. This is what Nana Akomea wrote: “President Mahama told a blatant lie when he said in London that he does not put himself in a position to be bribed as he does not involve himself and his Office in public procurement. As fate will have it, on 12th May, 2015, exactly a year ago to the day he granted the BBC interview, the President, through a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, personally and directly instructed the Minister of Finance “to formally engage West Blue Ghana Limited”, without any competitive tender. This was the contract for the implementation of the National Single Window for the inspection of goods at the ports. This contract is estimated to be worth more than $300 million over the next five year. By directing his Minister of Finance to give the contract to a particular company the President, by his own logic, had put himself in a position to be offered and receive bribe.”
The NPP won the 2016 elections and could now act on their opposition to the West Blue Contract.
The NPP Government discovered that the 4th August 2015 West Blue Contract had as a condition precedent to contract effectiveness, a value-for-money audit.
In August 2017, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government got Crown Agents to complete the value-for-money audit. The outcome was that the contract did not guarantee value for money. Crown Agents recommended either a cancellation or a termination. (Report attached).
On 21st September 2017, Ports and Customs World Ghana, with links in Dubai, wrote to the Ministry of Finance that it had taken over West Blue and expressed readiness to renegotiate the West Blue contract. (Letter attached).
On October 2, 2017, West Blue also wrote to the Ministry of Finance indicating that they had been taken over by Ports and Customs World. (Letter attached).
The Government of Ghana wrote to Ports and Customs World on 25th January, 2018 on the basis of Crown Agent’s value-for-money audit, revising the fees under the contract downwards from 0.35% FoB to 0.28% FoB and bringing forward the termination date from December 2020 to December 2018. (Letter duly attached).
Ports and Customs World/West Blue, per a letter dated January 30, 2018 accepted these reduced terms and new contract termination date. (Letter attached).
On March 14, 2019, government entered into a mutual understanding with West Blue to hold the fort by delivering services on the reduced terms until government replaces them.
DOUBLE STANDARDS AND BETRAYAL
Despite the NPP’s firm public opposition to the West Blue contract and termination of same, President Akufo-Addo’s cousin and grand master of his “Kitchen Cabinet,” Gabby Otchere-Darko has strangely become the chief advocate and super strategist for West Blue.
Gabby’s law firm, Africa Legal Associates (see articles of incorporation attached) now represent West Blue. Who would have predicted this considering the political tsunami Gabby and his collaborators created for President Mahama a few years ago in the aftermath of the West Blue contract?
Curiously, Gabby has not only surreptitiously departed from the position the NPP canvassed publicly and vehemently in opposition and in government, he has managed to get the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame to strongly agree with him.
Suddenly, to Gabby who may have transmogrified from Saul to Paul — contrary to the claims they made in opposition, the West Blue contract is no longer over priced due to sole sourcing; basically, it’s no longer a ripoff.
Now Gabby actually suggests that President Mahama’s government did not pay West Blue fully and fairly — wonders they say will never end!
In an unusual development, the Attorney-General has issued three pro-Gabby legal opinions on this matter.
What is even more worrying about the AG’s latest legal opinion dated 16th December, 2022 is that it failed to take into consideration inputs from the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority as both institutions had not submitted their written arguments. (Legal opinion attached)
Gabby and Godfred now state emphatically that despite the fact that the value-for-money condition precedent was not met, the contract is still valid.
The duo have also questioned the post value-for-money contract downward revisions and are insisting that the colossal West Blue demands are met.
These Gabby-Godfred positions run contrary to what the Finance Ministry had earlier communicated to West Blue through former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng on January 25, 2018 which the latter accepted in writing. (See letters attached)
Interestingly, the previous lawyer for West Blue, Mr. Ace Anan Ankumah wrote to the Ministry of Finance on March 10, 2020 proffering a different opinion from Gabby and Godfred although it related to a proposed market value audit when he asserted: “As you are aware, the written agreement dated 4 August 2015 that West Blue entered into with the Government of Ghana, acting through the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority, for a National Single Window System and an Integrated Risk
Management System (“Agreement”) did not come into effect as the conditions precedent for
the agreement to become effective were not fulfilled. An agreement that did not become effective cannot be used as a basis for the market value audit.” (See letter attached)
Is the Attorney-General suggesting the Finance Ministry and the GRA did not seek his legal advice when they were declaring the August 4, 2015 West Blue contract ineffective?
Why is Gabby and Godfred happy to impose this huge financial burden on Ghanaians when West Blue had earlier accepted in writing the “new understandings” which substantially protect the public purse? What could be their motivation?
Does Godfred Dame recognize that by issuing his one-sided legal opinion without the inputs of Finance and GRA as he concedes, he has undermined the position of the state should Gabby decide to proceed to court? Is this a conspiracy to cause financial loss to Ghana?
That notwithstanding, I must point out that even though Gabby Otchere-Darko doesn’t state his name in all his letters for this frightening GHS187.3million West Blue demand, I can confirm that he is the one signing the letters as I have obtained his GRA Taxpayer Registration Form which bears the same signature. (See attached).
What is increasingly troubling is the shifting position of the Ministry of Finance to align with Gabby. Insiders say Ministry officials are terrified as the “Prime Minister’s” pressure mounts. Already, it is suspected in several quarters that the former Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Patrick Nomo was transferred because he wasn’t cooperating on this matter.
The new Chief Director and Ken Ofori-Atta staunch ally Eva Esselba Mends seems more amenable and is piling pressure on GRA to respond to Gabby’s 6-week ultimatum for payment to be effected. (See her 30th June, 2023 letter to GRA attached).
Analysts agree that Eva won’t be writing those letters to GRA if she didn’t have Ken’s approval.
Also, Ken’s cousin Gabby won’t be getting bolder and bolder with his threats and ultimatums if the family had a genuine objection. A really complex nepotistic web.
By some sheer coincidence, Gabby’s 6-week ultimatum letter for payment of the colossal GHS187.3million is dated May 3, 2023 — the same month Ghana received US$603million from the IMF.
DEMANDS
1. President Akufo-Addo must immediately instruct his Finance Minister and the GRA to ignore Gabby’s 6-week ultimatum and not to pay the GHS187.3million;
2. President Akufo-Addo must instruct his Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to withdraw his lopsided pro-Gabby legal opinion because of the obvious dangers to Ghana’s interest in any likely litigation;
3. President Akufo-Addo must caution his cousin, Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko to back off and stop issuing threats to GRA officials;
4. President Akufo-Addo should as a matter of urgency constitute an independent panel to investigate these grave matters;
5. The Finance Committee of Parliament should urgently summon all parties and initiate a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into this GHS187.3million West Blue saga.
ASSURANCES
May I assure the top public officials working with me on this latest patriotic project, and the Ghanaian people that we shall not relent until this unconscionable GHS187.3million Gabby-orchestrated demand is defeated.
We are preparing to stage a mammoth “Enough of the Looting Demo” if we do not see urgent action from the President on this matter.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has stated that he is not a politician.
Despite his strong ties to the ruling party, Mr Otchere-Darko asserted that he does not identify himself as a politician.
He stated that his association is solely with the NPP, and being affiliated with the party doesn’t categorize him as a politician.
During an interview with Kwahu Ambassador, Odame Agyare, which was posted on Facebook on July 28, 2023, Gabby referred to himself as a public figure and a political strategist.
While the journalist was in the process of posing a question, he referred to Gabby as a politician, prompting Gabby to interject with the response, “I’m not a politician.”
“Yes, I’m a public figure; I have been a journalist, I have been on radio. I’ve been a political strategist. I have a political affiliation but I am not a politician,” he reiterated.
A prominent figure in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and brother to the President, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has been criticised by a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo over a 2015 tweet.
According to Prof. Gyampo, even though Ghana is presiding over abundant resources which shouldn’t have bankrupted the state, the deeds of the government justifies Akufo-Addo’s own “Yɛte sika so nanso ɛkɔm de yɛn” to wit we are in distress in the midst of abundance.
The lecturer said making certain utterances when in opposition does more harm than good to citizens of the country, referencing to Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s September 15, 2015 tweet.
His comment stems from President Akufo-Addo’s quest to return to the international capital market soon following Ghana’s bailout from the Bretton Wood Institution.
“If running an economy was all about borrowing your way into an unsustainable debt hole, then any halfwit can be president. Do you know who a halfwit is, a stupid or a foolish person. So I was a bit worried when the President just hinted that we may go to the capital market.
Buying into Dr. Theo Acheampong’s assertion that going to the capital market was something that shouldn’t be on the table now, Prof. Gyampo wondered “if we have all the resources here, why do we think about quickly going to the capital market? It’s the president who said ‘yɛte sika so nanso ɛkɔm de yɛn.’ It means we have all the resources here and in fact if we are truly going to go by some of the things the IMF is telling us to do and if we ourselves are going to look beyond some of the things that the IMF is telling us to do, then truly we’ll see that we are really presiding on resources where there would be no need for us to think about going to the capital market to be talking about borrowing.”
The former Director of the Centre for European Studies was explicit that “government of a developing country is too serious a business to be reduced to just borrowing and that if running an economy is all about borrowing your way into an unsustainable debt hole, then Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko says any stupid or foolish person can become aPresident.”
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has noted that the defamatory remarks for which he is suing former environment minister Prof. Frimpong Boateng damaged his reputation in the eyes of the public at large.
On page 9 of his lawsuit, Gabby cited Frimpong-Boateng’s remarks in reaction to his (Gabby’s) initial denial of any involvement in promoting the interests of those engaged in unlawful small-scale mining (galamsey) on April 19.
Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng
Gabby listed six reasons, claiming that the former minister’s retort to him often meant that:
a. That Plaintiff is a saboteur
b. That Plaintiff is disloyal
c. That Plaintiff is a law onto himself
d. That Plaintiff is an obstruction to the fight against Galamsey
e. That Plaintiff acts with impunity
f. That Plaintiff obstructs justice
The suit continued: “By reasoning of the foregoing Plaintiff has been greatly injured in his credit, character and reputation, and has been brough into public scandal, ridicule, distress and embarrassment and has thereby suffered damage.”
It is on the basis of the above that he is seeking aggravated and or exemplary damages.
Background:
Nearly a week ago, a report authored by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) in 2021, was released containing the names of NPP officials who are allegedly hindering the fight against illegal mining.
Some of the known names mentioned in the report include the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Gabby Otchere-Darko, Laud Commey, Joseph Quam, among others. While they have denied any wrongdoing, some alleged that Frimpong-Boateng was equally at fault.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng in his 36-paged report wrote that Gabby pestered him when the IMCIM was about dislodging the Imperial Heritage.
His report recalled how Gabby Otchere-Darko, a cousin of the president and an influential member of the ruling NPP, called him on phone to question his decision to order for the dislodgment of equipment of a Mining Company Imperial Heritage which Prof. Frimpong Boateng argues was mining illegally with a prospecting license in forest reserves.
“We were ready to dislodge Imperial Heritage from Kobro Forest when Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko called to inform me that he was the lawyer for Heritage Imperial Limited, a company that was destroying the Kobro and Apaprama Forest Reserves and in the process had also polluted and diverted the course of the River Offin, as can be seen in the satellite images below. I informed the President about the behaviour of Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and he promised to deal with it.”
Gabby in turn averred that the former minister had twisted the job of a lawyer to mean interference.
A leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has dragged former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng to court over galamsey allegations leveled against him.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng in the galamseyreport accused Mr. Otchere-Darko of interfering in the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) which he (Prof. Frimpong-Boateng) chaired.
But in a legal suit filed at the High Court, Mr. Otchere-Darko is demanding a sum of GH¢10,000,000 from the former minister in damages.
Mr. Otchere-Darko also demands an apology and retraction from Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
“An apology for and retraction of the words complained of and the particularized supra. A perpetual injunction restraining the defendant whether by himself, his servants, agents or assigns from repeating similar or other defamatory words against the plaintiff,” Mr. Otchere-Darko demanded as part of his reliefs.
Contention of Plaintiff
Lawyers for Otchere-Darko, in their statement of claim dated 28 April 2023, and signed by Bright Okyere-Adjekum, contend that the “defendant from his report sought to sensationalise the telephone conversation with the Plaintiff as Plaintiff never sought to direct or instruct defendant on his dealings with Heritage”.
“Defendant placed a slant on his telephone conversation with the plaintiff only to justify his self-acclaimed position that he was the last man standing in the fight against galamsey and thereby enhance his reputation at plaintiff’s expense.
“Defendant’s false statements about the plaintiff, which have gone viral, have generated and continue to feed several insults against plaintiff, especially on the internet, including plaintiff being derisively called galamsey lawyer.”
“Plaintiff’s conversation with defendant did not involve any illegal Chinese miners. Defendant is deliberately and maliciously confusing issues, events and dates” the statement of claim read.
“By the records available to plaintiff, the only Chinese nationals with work permits engaged by Heritage as its subcontractors who were arrested were discharged by a court of competent jurisdiction in July 2019. This was even before Heritage engaged ALA as its lawyers and plaintiff had nothing to do with that at all.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the plaintiff has made it clear that the allegations made against him by the Defendant are false, the defendant has not offered the plaintiff any apology or retraction.”
“Instead, he has made more damning false allegations against plaintiff. It is to be inferred that defendant has cynically failed to do so because he is indifferent to the truth, deliberate about causing reputational damage to Plaintiff, has a total disregard for plaintiff’s reputation and only seeks to court huge publicity at Plaintiff’s expense.
“Plaintiff contends that unless restrained by the court, defendant will continue to publish or cause to be published same or similar defamatory words concerning the plaintiff” Otchere-Darko’s lawyers said in their statement of claim.
A member of NDC’s communications team Baba Sadiq Abdula has named some known individuals who allegedly influenced Ghana’s fight against illegal mining activities that have since wreak havoc to Ghana’s natural water bodies.
According Baba Sidiq, the group of three he described as a ‘cartel’ used blackmail, and extortion to coerce Prof Frimpong-Boateng into yielding to their requests.
The 3, named by Baba Sidiq as Gabby Otchere-Darko, Kwaku Baako and Egbert Faibille were out to protect just one individual in the person of Emmanuel Donald Entsuah, owner of Imperial Mining and A&C Alaska.
Read Baba Sidiq full comment made on Accra-based TV station Onua.
“You remember Erastus Asare Donkor did an investigative documentary where one of the companies he focused on was the same Imperial Mining which Gabby is today claiming that they were doing prospecting. If you see all the videos that came out at the time, nobody will tell you it was pure mining and not prospecting as claimed. Rather interestingly, you will see the linkage. The person involved, Donald Entsuah, the A&C Alaska guy was my colleague at Viasat 1. He was a sales manager working in the media. But his friends are the likes of Gabby, Kwaku Baako and Egbert Faibille…
“So it is a whole cartel that is involved in this thing. The Coffee Shop Mafia is a den of blackmail and extortion,” he stated on Onua TV’s morning show, Onua Maakye.
“The whole essence of the Coffee Shop Mafia is blackmail and extortion. Which politician doesn’t know this? Ask every senior politician and they will tell you. Frimpong-Boateng spoke about it when he said some journalists were sabotaging his good work by publishing stories about him and threatening him. Is this not extortion and blackmail? It is pure blackmail and extortion,” he stressed.
Former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has lashed out at NPP stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, over his defence to claims by the Professor in the IMCIM report.
In a statement responding to Mr Otchere-Darko, he noted that: “I don’t think you have retrograde amnesia, but I still want to refresh your memory about the destruction of the environment that had been perpetrated by your client over the years with the accompanying videos and pictures from Diaso forest and Apaprama.”
“Even if your clients had all licences and permits, with the destruction that they caused, not only should they have been stopped from operating a mining company indefinitely, but they should also have been prosecuted, probably jailed, made to reclaim the land, vegetate it and clean the water bodies,” he stated.
Former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, has hit back at Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko for describing details of his report submitted to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on illegal mining as silly.
According to Prof. Frimpong-Boateng who was chairperson of the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, while he believes Mr Otchere-Darko does not suffer from memory loss, he finds it necessary to remind him of the illegal mining activities of his client.
“Mr. Otchere-Darko, I don’t think you have retrograde amnesia, but I still want to refresh your memory about the destruction of the environment that had been perpetrated by your client over the years with the accompanying videos and pictures from Diaso forest and Apaprama.” The former minister said in a statement shared by 3news.com.
In a March 2021 report submitted to President Akufo-Addo via his chief of staff, the former Minister recounted an instance when Mr. Otchere Darko called to question his decision to order the dislodgment of equipment of a mining company, Imperial Heritage, which Prof. Frimpong-Boateng argues was mining illegally with a prospecting license in forest reserves.
Excerpts of the report pointed out, “We were ready to dislodge Imperial Heritage from Kobro Forest when Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko called to inform me that he was the lawyer for Heritage Imperial Limited, a company that was destroying the Kobro and Apaprama Forest Reserves and in the process had also polluted and diverted the course of the River Offin, as can be seen in the satellite images below.”
The report further added, “I informed the President about the behaviour of Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and he promised to deal with it.”
But reacting to the claims by the former minister, Mr Otchere-Darko described as silly the decision by the minister to report him to the president who is his cousin.
“He is going to report me to the president as if he is a teacher, and the president is a master and I am what? A school prefect and I have done something wrong. What kind of silliness is that?” He fumed.
Mr Otchere-Darko who is a private legal practitioner contended in an interview with Citi FM’s Vivian Kai Lokko that the Minister only demonstrated his lack of appreciation for his own office.
He explained that contrary to the notion created, his call to the minister was to enquire why the minister had taken action against his client who had painstakingly acquired all the licenses and permits from legally clothed entities to perform legitimate operations at the said location.
“Heritage had a mining exploration permit issued in July 2019, a forest entry permit issued in November 2018, and also an EPA permit yet the soldiers went and seized the equipment of Heritage and so I called the soldiers and was told that it was the Minister who had sanctioned them and so I asked the Minister what the issue was with the equipment seizures and the Minister said they were prospecting and not exploring and that was the conversation that we had.
“My intervention was to understand why a legitimate company with all the requisite permits was stopped from doing their work and that is what lawyers do.” Gabby cleared.
But responding to Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Mr Frimpong-Boateng downplayed his claims that his client had the required license covering their mining activities.
According to the former minister, the company even if it had any license had gone beyond the remits and was actively engaged in illegal mining for which appropriate legal sanctions should have been applied.
The former minister in his response shared and referred to official documents which cited Heritage Imperial Limited for engaging in illegal mining.
Presidency describes Frimpong-Boateng’s galamsey report as hearsay of personal claims and grievances
Meanwhile, the presidency despite failing to act or respond to the report which was submitted to the Chief of Staff some two years ago has reacted to the former minister’s claims after the report was recently leaked to the media.
According to the presidency, the document authored by the former minister is without supporting evidence despite the various allegations implicating government officials as being involved in illegal mining or interfering in the fight against the same.
“Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay. It is instructive that since Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s meeting with the Chief of Staff in March 2021, he has taken no step nor acted in furtherance of the matters contained in the document,” the presidency said in a statement dated April 22, 2023.
The presidency in the rejoinder dated Saturday, April 22, 2023, said “The document being discussed was not an official report formally delivered to the Office of the President. On the contrary, it can only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of the IMCIM.
“The document was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President on March 19th 2021, in an informal meeting, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng complained about public attacks and criticisms made about his tenure as Chairperson of the IMCIM.”
According to the presidency, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s report did not have any official status and was not supported with any evidence despite the allegations contained in it.
“The document did not have a transmittal or cover letter nor, indeed, an addressee, such as to suggest that it was submitted to the Chief of Staff for action. It is noteworthy that the IMCIM was a creature of Cabinet, and any formal report on its activities would, normally, be submitted to Cabinet through the Cabinet Secretary, or directly to the President of the Republic as Chairperson of Cabinet. Till date, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has done neither.
“It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated,” the presidency noted.
Director of Communications for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi has hit back at NPP stalwart, Gabby Otchere-Darko over his response to the IMCIM report authored by Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
Mr Gyamfi rubbished the justification given by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in response to allegations of interference made against him by the former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Frimpong Boateng.
According to him, Mr Otchere-Darko’s argument of acting professionally as a lawyer when he called Prof. Frimpong-Boateng on phone does not conform to the ethics of the legal profession.
“He said he is a lawyer and that if his client had been asked to stop work because they are engaged in alleged illegality he had a right to act through a phone call. Which law school or course thought you that as a lawyer when a minister stops your client, a mining company from working for going beyond what their prospecting licences permit you pick a phone to call the minister?” he questioned during an interview on Adom TV.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng in a 36-page report recalls how Gabby Otchere-Darko, a cousin of the president and an influential member of the ruling NPP, called him on phone to question his decision to order for the dislodgment of equipment of a Mining Company Imperial Heritage which Prof. Frimpong Boateng argues was mining illegally with a prospecting license in forest reserves.
In response however, Gabby pointed out that he was only acting in his capacity as a senior partner of Africa Legal Associates and legal representative of the company.
But according to Sammy Gyamfi, Mr Otchere-Darko’s decision to call the then minister on phone was nothing short of influence peddling.
“[As a lawyer] you write a letter to the institution that stopped your client. Once you start picking up phones and calling… If he was not the cousin of President Akufo-Addo would have been able to call Prof Frimpong-Boateng on phone? Lawyers we don’t work with phones when it comes to government, you write a letter. The phone call he made was just to peddle his influence, he was flexing his power; he was trying to show the minister that the people you were touching are my clients, my peopled and I am the president’s cousin, the de facto prime minister,” Sammy Gyamfi who is also a legal practitioner argued.
The report by Prof. Frimpong Boateng was authored in March 2021 and details the challenges he faced during his tenure as chairperson of the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
The former minister in the report submitted to the Chief of State alleged that some officials of the government and political actors were actively involved in illegal mining,
He further accused some individuals of interfering in the fight against galamsey.
Meanwhile, the presidency despite failing to act or respond to the report which was submitted to the Chief of Staff some two years ago has reacted to the former minister’s claims after the report was recently leaked to the media.
According to the presidency, the document authored by the former minister is without supporting evidence despite the various allegations implicating government officials as being involved in illegal mining or interfering in the fight against same.
“Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay. It is instructive that since Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s meeting with the Chief of Staff in March, 2021, he has taken no step nor acted in furtherance of the matters contained in the document,” the presidency said in a statement dated April 22, 2023.
The presidency in the rejoinder dated Saturday, April 22, 2023, said “The document being discussed was not an official report formally delivered to the Office of the President. On the contrary, it can only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of the IMCIM.
“The document was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President on March 19th 2021, in an informal meeting, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng complained about public attacks and criticisms made about his tenure as Chairperson of the IMCIM.”
According to the presidency, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s report did not have any official status and was not supported with any evidence despite the allegations contained in it.
“The document did not have a transmittal or cover letter nor, indeed, an addressee, such as to suggest that it was submitted to the Chief of Staff for action. It is noteworthy that the IMCIM was a creature of Cabinet, and any formal report on its activities would, normally, be submitted to Cabinet through the Cabinet Secretary, or directly to the President of the Republic as Chairperson of Cabinet. Till date, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has done neither.
“It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated,” the presidency noted.
A cousin of President Akufo-Addo has fought off claims that he interfered with his efforts to fight the illegal mining menace as indicated in a report by the former Environment Minister, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng .
In an attempt to set the record straight, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko accused the Professor of twisting the events.
He said he never asked the cardiothoracic surgeon, who doubled as the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), to engage in any illegality or to condone same.
This comes after Prof Boateng submitted names of people in government frustrating his effort to fight what is locally called ‘galamsey’ when he was Environment Minister.
A 36-page document written by Prof. Boateng addressed to the president, the Chief of Staff, and the police included Mr Otchere Darko’s name.
Portions of the report read: “We were ready to dislodge Imperial Heritage from Kobro Forest when Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko called to inform me that he was the lawyer for Heritage Imperial Limited, a company that was destroying the Kobro and Apaprama Forest Reserves and in the process had also polluted and diverted the course of the River Offin, as can be seen in the satellite images below.
“I informed the President about the behaviour of Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, and he promised to deal with it.”
But Mr Otchere-Darko is fighting back.
According to the NPP stalwart, he only called the renowned medical doctor to seek information on his client – a company that had the permits to mine in the country.
“Heritage had a mining exploration permit issued in July 2019, a forest entry permit issued in November 2018, and also an EPA permit yet the soldiers went and seized the equipment of Heritage and so I called the soldiers and was told that it was the Minister who had sanctioned them and so I asked the Minister what the issue was with the equipment seizures and the Minister said they were prospecting and not exploring and that was the conversation that we had.
“My intervention was to understand why a legitimate company with all the requisite permits was stopped from doing their work and that is what lawyers do,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Thursday.
He added that Prof Frimpong-Boateng deliberately twisted his mediation to cause public disaffection for him.
“The Minister deliberately twisted the inquiry by a lawyer of a client’s issue to be an interference and the thing is, it was even a phone call that lasted not more than four minutes, and he ended by saying Heritage shouldn’t have been issued with the license,” Mr Otchere-Darko explained.
The outspoken politician said the former minister misunderstood his responsibilities.
“It tells you how weak the [former] Minister’s understanding of his position is. If what I did was illegitimate, why didn’t he take the right action? He said he had reported me to the president as if he is a teacher and the president is a headmaster, and I am a prefect,” he added.
Mensah Thompson, the executive director of ASEPA, claimed that a recent assault on retired Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo was regrettable, but that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s remarks on the subject are even more troubling.
On February 15, Thompson stated to Metro TV news that it appeared the president and the presidency had approved of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s attack on the former CJ.
Otchere-Darko is a stalwart of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“Akufo-Addo, office of president, nobody has come out to issue a statement to categorically dissociate themselves from the statement of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
“What it shows is that there is a certain level of tacit approval and support on the part of government and President Akufo-Addo for the comments of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
“So, you will see that Gabby was insulting the Chief Justice on behalf of the president and that is the gospel truth. But who am I to intervene in a fight between two elephants?” he quizzed.
Thompson described Gabby as delusional and a spin doctor for government.
“Gabby has always been delusional we all know and we know one job he has been doing for this government is (as) a spin doctor. If you follow Gabby on social media, he is a spin doctor.
“What he does is that, he does damage control, political calumny, tries to drive attention from substantive issues, tries to set political agenda and try to dissuade people from taking certain decisions,” he stressed.
Gabby gets served by Sophia Akuffo
The ex-Chief Justice has become topical in the last few weeks after she joined colleague pensioner bondholders who had been picketing at the Ministry of Finance since February 6 demanding total exclusion from theDomestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP.)
Mrs. Akuffo’s involvement also saw her slam government’s handling of the programme and the general economic situation of the country.
She received heavy backlash via social media from New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
In her second appearance at the picket this week, she responded to Gabby’s critique among others by referring to him as a nuisance who did not matter to her and her life.
Meanwhile, government has closed the subscription window for the DDEP announcing an 85% subscription rate.
Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta told picketing pensioners on February 15 that their maturing coupons will be honoured even though they had opted against signing up, as in self-exempted from the programme.
Ofori-Atta appeared before Parliament to answer questions over the programme on February 16, 2023.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, executive director of the Danquah Institute, saw Manchester City defeat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the English Premier League.
On February 15, 2023, Manchester City defeated Arsenal 3-1 in their standout game of the current campaign to take the top spot in the Premier League standings.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko after the game met the two Ghanaians in the Arsenal squad, Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey and striker Eddie Nketiah who is yet to decide on his possible nationality switch from England to Ghana.
“Had lunch today with my good friend @Thomaspartey22 and the young man who calls me “Uncle”, @EddieNketiah9 after their training session. They are both in very high spirit and determined to see @Arsenal returning to winning ways, starting from Saturday against @AVFCOfficial,” Gabby Otchere-Darko wrote on his Twitter post with a picture of the meeting sighted by GhanaWeb.
Eddie Nketiah lasted the entire duration of the game in the defeat to Manchester City while Thomas Partey couldn’t feature because of an injury.
Manchester City are now on top of the ongoing 2022/2023 English Premier League table on goal difference as they are tied on 51 points with Arsenal having played a game more than the Gunners.
The Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson has taken a swipe at NPP stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko over his comments concerning the economy and other matters concerning the state.
Mr Thompson says Gabby is a spin doctor for the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
Thompson told Metro TV news on February 15 that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart has serially been helping the government deal with negative publicity by his actions especially on social media.
He described Gabby as “delusional” and averred that the recent attack Gabby launched on former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo bore the signs of one that had the blessings of the president and the presidency.
“Gabby has always been delusional, we all know, and we know one job he has been doing for this government is (as) a spin doctor. If you follow Gabby on social media, he is a spin doctor.
“What he does is that, he does damage control, political calumny, tries to drive attention from substantive issues, tries to set political agenda and try to dissuade people from taking certain decisions,” he stressed.
Gabby gets served by Sophia Akuffo
Ex-Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has become topical in the last two weeks after she joined colleague pensioner bondholders who had been picketing at the Ministry of Finance since February 6 demanding total exclusion from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP.)
Mrs. Akuffo’s involvement also saw her slam government’s handling of the programme and the general economic situation of the country.
She received heavy backlash via social media from New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
In her second appearance at the picket this week, she responded to Gabby’s critique among others by referring to him as a nuisance who did not matter to her and her life.
Meanwhile, government has closed the subscription window for the DDEP announcing an 85% subscription rate.
Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta told picketing pensioners on February 15 that their maturing coupons will be honoured even though they had opted against signing up, as in self-exempted from the programme.
Ofori-Atta appeared before Parliament to answer questions over the programme on February 16, 2023.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has taken a swipe at NPP stalwart, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, over his comments against former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo.
Sophia Akufo joined pensioners demanding their total exclusion from government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) with Gabby describing her participation in later tweets as a big error on her part.
He also questioned whether there was the need at all to engage in a picket over a DDEP that was voluntary according to the Ministry of Finance.
Reacting to Gabby’s attack on the former CJ, Sam George, defended the Madam Akuffo whiles slamming Gabby for exhibiting arrogance in his reaction to the incident.
He said on TV3’s New Day programme (February 13, 2023) that the issue was more of a family fight referencing the relationship between both actors and their common relative, president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“Under normal circumstances we would have said this ‘ebusua ntɔkwa‘ (family feud), but we can’t leave them because what they’re fighting over is public welfare, public funds, public monies that have been mismanaged”, the MP said.
He added; “And the arrogance with which Gabby is shouting down the Chief Justice who’s raising critical issues about mismanagement of our economy gets me worried.”
It may be recalled that Sophia Akuffo, joined the retirees picketing the Ministry of Finance in Accra.
The pensioners have been picketing at the premises of the ministry since Monday, February 6, 2023, over the government’s plan to involve their bonds in the DDEP.
Sophia Akufo was captured in a front-seat position at the premises of the Ministry holding a wooden placard.
Her placard read: “We use our bond yields to pay our: rent, medical bills, electricity, and water bills.”
On the other hand, leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Otchere-Darko, has stated that the gesture by the former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo to picket at the Finance Ministry together with pensioner bondholders was done in error.
According to him, the offer to self-exempt has been given to pensioners, therefore, there is no need to picket when they could just self-exempt.
In a series of tweets on February 12, 2023, he wrote: “The former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, may mean well but she erred big time in her basic appreciation of the issues. Rather than asking the Govt for exemption at this late hour, why did she simply not ‘exempt’ herself from exchanging her original bond for the new one!”
“Why picket over something you don’t like (the improved offer) when you have the right not to sign up? Sorry, but I struggle to get her emotional outburst over exemption! I hope she won’t volunteer to picket tomorrow and on the same issues when the time to sign up has expired,” he added.
He made a case for the trading of gold as a means of sustaining Ghana’s economy in the current economic climate.
“Ukraine’s central bank has sold US$12.4 billion of gold reserves since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24, the bank’s deputy head said Sunday. This is a country with only 50 tonnes of gold deposit. In times of crisis gold is a safe haven. We produce much much more in Ghana!” he posted on Monday, July 18.
Read the full story originally published on July 18, 2022 by www.ghanaweb.com.
Leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has made a case for trading in gold as a means of sustaining Ghana’s economy in the current economic climate.
He asserted that Ukraine which accounts for only 50 tonnes of gold deposits recently sold US$12.4 billion of gold reserves following tensions with Russia.
In a post shared on Twitter, Gabby Otchere-Darko argued that Ghana produces more gold from its vast gold deposits whereas the country currently does not have enough gold reserves.
“Ukraine’s central bank has sold US$12.4 billion of gold reserves since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24, the bank’s deputy head said Sunday. This is a country with only 50 tonnes of gold deposit. In times of crisis gold is a safe haven. We produce much much more in Ghana!” he posted on Monday, July 18.
Following this assertion, some users on Twitter have questioned whether Gabby Otchere-Darko is making a case for the re-introduction of the controversial Agyapa Royalties transaction.
“Gabby just tested the water again…Agyapa on the pipeline,” a tweep wrote.
Meanwhile, the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has disclosed moves to list 49 percent of Agyapa Royalties on the London Stock Exchange and the Ghana Stock Exchange.
The intended listing on both exchanges, which is likely to take in the fourth quarter of this year is expected to raise between US$450 million and US$700 million from gold royalties.
Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, said proceeds from the intended listing will be invested into national infrastructure and socio-economic amenities.
He added that special focus will be placed on mining communities across the country.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a private legal practitioner, has advanced reasons why individual bondholders must embrace the government’s debt restructuring offer.
According to him, the Ghanaian economy could crash if the bondholders do not quickly accept the offer as outlined by the Ministry of Finance.
Gabby, in a series of posts on social media, warned against the agitations surrounding the deal and encouraged the bondholders to play their role in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
“Ghana is in a very difficult place. What we are seeing with the mobilisation of agitation on individual bondholders poses a real and serious risk worse than what we witnessed when opposition to E-Levy succeeded in derailing an already shaky macroeconomic situation from 2021,” portions of his tweets read.
“The debt exchange programme is voluntary for individual bondholders but a very necessary evil for our economy.
“Its success is critical to restoring macroeconomic stability, securing an IMF prog. It hits those of us holding bonds very hard. A straight no to it is no solution!”, Mr Otchere-Darko stressed.
“If the no-compromise opposition to it wins, what then has been achieved? It may lead to national debt default.
“So what then happens to the value of your bonds after! Potentially worthless. If participation is low, we jeopardize resolving the economic crisis and hardships”, he wrote.
Gabby Otchere-Darko concluded his tweet storm by reminding Ghanaians that the country’s economy is not in a good shape and that certain uncomfortable measures ought to be taken to restore it.
“I’m sorry but we have to face the hard/painful truths. We ain’t sitting pretty. Our focus must be on how the burden to individual bondholders may be possibly eased; but not to take the hardline position of simply saying no to participation. It will come back to hit us harder!”.
This comes after two extensions of the expiration date by the Finance Ministry.
The decision to include individual bondholders was necessitated after government was forced by labour unions to abandon plans to include pensions in the debt exchange programme which was first announced in December 2022.
He emphasized that the economy will have fully recovered from both internal and foreign shocks by April of this year.
“The year of austerity in 2023. But for the Ghanaian economy, it should also be the year of macro stability and predictability. Although it won’t be simple, businesses thrive on stability, and because of that, I see a slow but steady rebound for the economy starting in April “GhanaWeb read what Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko wrote in a post.
Read the full story originally published on January 5, 2023 by www.ghanaweb.com.
Leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has labelled 2023 a year of austerity with a projection that proper economic recovery will kick in from April.
In his view, even though austerity is expected, 2023 should also be a year of macro stability and predictability for the economy.
Gabby’s views were contained in a January 3, 2023 tweet which read: “2023 is the Year of Austerity. But it should also be the year of macro stability and predictability for the Ghanaian economy.
“It will not be easy, but businesses thrive on stability and with that I can see a slow but gradual recovery for the economy from April.”
Ghana had a torrid 2022 amid an economic crisis that forced government to seek an International Monetary Fund (IMF) facility at a time the cedi was rapidly depreciating, inflation was galloping and government was faced with multiple downgrades by rating agencies.
The government has serially blamed the crisis partly on the aftershocks of the COVID pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
It has promised to turn around the economic fortunes of the country after sealing a Staff-Level agreement with the IMF with the hope that funds from the US$3 billion facility will be released early this year.
According to him, the girls senior high school would give girls the chance to complete their senior high school education while the rural bank, which would be dubbed the New Juaben Rural Bank, would largely offer soft loans to individuals in the area.
On Monday, December 26, 2022, as a part of the local Christmas celebrations, the Omanhene announced his plan at a banquet and awards night.
The dinner was attended by a number of dignitaries such as the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for New Juaben South, Isaac Appaw-Gyasi, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, the Aburihene, Otoobour Djan Kwasi as well as other prominent citizens of the area.
The Omanhene said such establishments had become necessary because Koforidua, headquarters of the paramountcy as well as the Eastern Regional capital and the most populous in the region does not have a girls senior high school.
The already existing rural banks in the town, the Omanhene said have not been able to satisfy the needs of the numerous traders with loans.
The Omanhene explained that he had decided to establish the rural bank in view of the fact that many people within the paramountcy were in dire need of soft loans to establish micro businesses.
That, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng said would relieve the people from securing loans from money lenders and other sources with high interest rates that would not be in the interest of the people.
He said the bank should engage consultants to develop business plans for all those interested in acquiring loans for their businesses to enable them to succeed.
Mr Otchere-Darko urged New Juaben citizens both at home and ub the diaspora to support the Omanhene’s transformation agenda.
The Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong said the government had decided to partner the New Juaben Paramountcy to revive the Akwantukese Festival to be one of the best in the country.
The festival is celebrated at specific periods of the year to mark the migration of the people of New Juaben from Juaben in the Ashanti Region to their present abode at Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
Medals and trophies were also presented to winners of the Daasebre Table Tennis competition held on Thursday, December 22, at the forecourt of the Yiadom Hwedie Palace.
The New Juaben Table Tennis Club also presented a citation to Daasebre Kwaku Boateng for his commitment to developing the sport in Koforidua.
But reacting to that particular tweet, Economist and Political Risk Analyst, Dr. Theo Acheampong, explained that the view of Gabby and the Minister was misleading.
Quoting Gabby’s tweet that read: “There will be no haircut on the principal of your domestic bonds,” Mr. Acheampong clarified: “That’s NOT TRUE, boss.
“The Fin Min said treasury bills are protected (full redemption) but other local debt instruments (e.g. fixed dep., bank debt holdings) are to to be exchanged for 4 instruments with different maturity dates & coupon payments. So there are implicit haircuts!”
The other two key points in Ofori-Atta’s announcement relative to domestic bonds were: “Treasury Bills are completely exempted and all holders will be paid the full value of their investments on maturity,” and “Individual holders of bonds will not be affected.”
What Ofori-Atta said:
The Minister of Finance announced a number of measures under government’s Domestic Debt Exchange (DDE) programme late Sunday.
He stated in a 4-minute address that the announcement was in line with government’s Debt Sustainability Analysis as contained in the 2023 budget he presented to Parliament on November 24.
The Minister laid out among others the exchange of existing domestic bonds with four new ones as well as their maturity dates and terms of coupon payments.
He also addressed the overarching goal of the government relative to its engagements with the International Monetary Fund as well as measures to minimize impact of domestic bond exchange on different stakeholders.
“The Government of Ghana has been working hard to minimize the impact of the domestic debt exchange on investors holding government bonds, particularly small investors, individuals, and other vulnerable groups,” he said before outlining three main measures:
• Treasury Bills are completely exempted and all holders will be paid the full value of their investments on maturity.
• There will be NO haircut on the principal of bonds.
• Individual holders of bonds will not be affected.
Private legal practitioner and a member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko says the current economic crisis could worsen should the 2023 Budget not be passed on time.
According to Gabby the budget to be presented on Thursday, November 24, cannot suffer the fate of the previous one, referring to the 2022 Budget that saw a long debate and a protracted procedure.
According to him, failure to pass the budget could derail the progress made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
Thursday’s 2022 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures. It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed. Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana.
In a tweet on Wednesday, the founder of the Danquah Institute think tank pleaded with parliamentarians belonging to the opposition National Democratic Congress to help get the budget passed.
The outspoken politician added that revenue generation measures in the proposed budget are critical to solving the economic quagmire the country faces currently.
“Thursday’s 2023 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures.
“It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed.
“Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana,” he tweeted.
Embattled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to present the budget despite agitations within Majority MPs for him not to do so.
The MPs have threatened to boycott the reading should he insist on presenting it, however, on Tuesday, November 22, the Council of Elders of the NPP and the national leadership of the party held a crunch meeting with the aggrieved MPs to reconsider their decision.
Per JoyNews sources say the meeting was able to whip the non-conformist MPs in line, however it is unclear if the Minority who have filed a censure motion against the minister, will be present for the budget reading.
Founder of the Danquah Institute think tank, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, says Ghana’s economic crisis could worsen should the 2023 Budget not be passed on time.
According to Mr Otchere-Darko, the budget to be presented on Thursday, November 24, cannot suffer the fate of the previous one, referring to the 2022 Budget that saw a long debate and a protracted procedure.
He argued that failure to pass the budget could derail the progress made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
Thursday’s 2022 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures. It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed. Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana.
Private legal practitioner and a member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the Minority to support Mr Ofori-Atta.
Meanwhile, the Majority in Parliament has rescinded its decision to be absent from the Chamber when Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, presents the 2023 budget and economic statement.
The Majority’s earlier position was that Mr Ofori-Atta could no longer be the face that represents the economy, thus should be replaced.
As part of measures to ensure the president accepts their request, some 98 NPP MPs threatened to boycott the budget reading.
On November 22, 2022, the leadership of the NPP engaged the Caucus to find an amicable resolution to the impasse.
After deliberation, the party’s leadership resolved that the President will act on the earlier demands of the MPs after the 2023 budget has been read and appropriated.
In view of this, the Majority Caucus has decided that its members will attend to all government business in the house, particularly, the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy and all related matters.
He claims that the 2023 budget will be crucial to Ghana’s negotiations with the IMF and to regaining investor trust in the nation.
He also lamented the events related to the 2022 budget, saying that past mistakes cannot be repeated.
On his Twitter page on November 23, he wrote: “Thursday’s 2023 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures. It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed. Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana.”
The NDC MPs have stated that the Finance Minister must be removed, therefore proposing a censure motion which was referred to an eight-member ad hoc committee to probe.
98 NPP MPs agree to support Ofori-Atta after Minority, NPP leadership meeting
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has mended all cracks in their front ahead of the November 24 reading of the 2023 Budget Statement by embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
A meeting between the lawmakers and leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was held on November 23 at which a number of agreements were reached.
The main points are that the Minister will be supported in presenting the budget and seeing through its appropriation as well as be allowed to see through the current phase of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, IMF.
The meeting comes on the back of a renewed call by some 98 NPP MPs who had threatened to boycott the budget presentation if Ofori-Atta appears to present it.
A statement co-signed by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong read in part: “At a meeting this evening, the 22 of November 2022, involving the Majority Caucus, the Leadership of the Party and the Council of Elders, it has been agreed by all to refocus and recline to the earlier position requested by the President.”
The three broad areas agreed on were as follows
1. The demand be stood down until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which would feed into the 2023 Budget;
2. The presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on the 24th November 2022 by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President; and
3. The subsequent presentation and passage of the Appropriation Bill
“The meeting agreed that the President would act upon the initial request of the NPP Parliamentary Caucus after the conclusion of these matters,” the statement added.
Find the full statement below:
22nd November 2022.
RESOLUTION OF IMPASSE IN THE NPP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP.
Over the past two weeks, especially, after the President had engaged the Majority Caucus over calls for the ouster of the Minister of Finance as well as the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and a statement on the engagement had been issued, the country has, witnessed a heightened public/media discussion on same subject matter.
There have been occasional individual interventions some of which have not helped the resolution of the issue in contention. On the other hand, some of these interventions have contributed to escalate tensions and suspicions.
At a meeting this evening, the 22 of November 2022, involving the Majority Caucus, the Leadership of the Party and the Council of Elders, it has been agreed by all to refocus and recline to the earlier position requested by the President, to wit:
1. The demand be stood down until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which would feed into the 2023 Budget;
2. The presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on the 24th November 2022 by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President; and
3. The subsequent presentation and passage of the Appropriation Bill
The meeting agreed that the President would act upon the initial request of the NPP Parliamentary Caucus after the conclusion of these matters.
In the meantime, the Leadership of the Parliamentary group and the Leadership of the Party counselled the Honourable Members of the Parliamentary Party to resort to the Caucus ‘communication channels and, to the largest extent possible, work together as one Caucus unit.
Leadership and the Party in this regard call upon the Members of Parliament to attend to all Government Businesses in the House including, in particular, the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy and all connected matters.
SIGNED
HON. ANNOH-DOMPREH, (MP) MAJORITY CHIEF WHIP, PARLIAMENT OF GHANA
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG, GENERAL SECRETARY NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has described as refreshing a decision by a High Court to dismiss a suit challenging the election of Jomoro Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey.
According to him, the decision by the court among other things is a clear indication of the fairness of the judiciary system of Ghana.
“Congrats! It is refreshing to be amply reminded that the legal system works! That, Lady Justice remains blind,” Mr Otchere-Darko wrote in a tweet in reaction to NDC member, Joyce Bawa Mogtari’s celebration of the court’s decision.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has over the period accused the bench of being bias against the party.
Some NDC members have cited the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the party’s petition against the 2020 presidential election result to back their claim.
However, the Sekondi High Court on Monday, November 21, 2022, dismissed a petition against the NDC Member of Parliament for Jomoro.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court, presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
The petition was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party,Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has described as refreshing a decision by a High Court to dismiss a suit challenging the election of Jomoro Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey.
According to him, the decision by the court among other things is a clear indication of the fairness of the judiciary system of Ghana
“Congrats! It is refreshing to be amply reminded that the legal system works! That, Lady Justice remains blind,” Mr Otchere-Darko wrote in a tweet in reaction to NDC member, Joyce Bawa Mogtari’s celebration of the court’s decision.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has over the period accused the bench of being bias against the party.
Some NDC members have cited the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the party’s petition against the 2020 presidential election result to back their claim.
However, the Sekondi High Court on Monday, November 21, 2022, dismissed a petition against the NDC Member of Parliament for Jomoro.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court, presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
The petition was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has described as refreshing a decision by a High Court to dismiss a suit challenging the election of Jomoro Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey.
According to him, the decision by the court among other things is a clear indication of the fairness of the judiciary system of Ghana.
“Congrats! It is refreshing to be amply reminded that the legal system works! That, Lady Justice remains blind,” Mr Otchere-Darko wrote in a tweet in reaction to NDC member, Joyce Bawa Mogtari’s celebration of the court’s decision.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has over the period accused the bench of being bias against the party.
Some NDC members have cited the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the party’s petition against the 2020 presidential election result to back their claim.
However, the Sekondi High Court on Monday, November 21, 2022, dismissed a petition against the NDC Member of Parliament for Jomoro.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court, presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
The petition was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
Congrats! It is refreshing to be amply reminded that the legal system works! That, Lady Justice remains blind. https://t.co/xmsC29EbfY
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a member of the governing NPP, has paid a glowing tribute to the late Finance Minister, Professor Kwesi Botchwey.
In a tweet, the NPP stalwart indicated the deceased NDC cadre’s leadership and commitment to the structural changes to the country’s economy in the late 80s were remarkable.
He said, Professor Botchwey’s deeds some decades ago, are still having an impact currently.
“Former finance minister Kwesi Botchwey is dead – his leadership and commitment to the structural changes to our economy in the late 80s were critical and the impact still with us today.
“May he rest in perpetual peace”, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko tweeted.
Kwesi Botchwey died at the age of 78 after a short illness at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra on Saturday, November 19.
As part of his political career, he served in the Rawlings’ Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) – military regime – and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) – civilian regime – as the Secretary for Finance and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning respectively.
He was described as the longest-serving finance minister in Ghana’s history.
Prof Botchwey attended Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School before proceeding to the University of Ghana to pursue an LLB. He was at Yale Law School for his LLM and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with his doctorate.
Prof. Kwesi Botchwey served as an advisor to World Bank on the 1997 World Development Report.
He had vast expertise in economic management as he was a member and Chairman of IMF‘s Group of Independent Experts who conducted the first-ever external evaluation of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility under the Fund.
Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for the late scholar, especially from his close associates and sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress.
Former finance minister Kwesi Botchwey is dead – his leadership and commitment to the structural changes to our economy in the late 80s were critical and the impact still with us todqy. May he rest in perpetual peace. https://t.co/iRYmXlUfQW
On November 18, 2022, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will testify before an eight-person ad hoc committee of Parliament looking into a vote of censure against him.
The minority in Parliament brought the motion of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta.
Seven claims were made against the minister, including extravagant spending, conflicts of interest, financial irresponsibility that caused the Ghana cedi to plunge, and egregious economic mismanagement.
On Tuesday, November 18, 2022, when the first sitting was held, the minority was represented by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and, Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, proponents of the motion.
There seems to be some sort of tension brewing in the camp of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as two of its leading members are at each other’s throats.
Tempers seemed to have been high when the majority leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, expressed his disappointment regarding an alleged comment made by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asserted that, Mr Otchere-Darko had accused him of instigating the calls by some members of his caucus for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Denying the accusation, the fuming Suame MP stated that the statement made by Otchere-Darko was unfounded.
“From nowhere, we hear Gabby Otchere-Darko on his Asaase Radio accusing me of instigating what was happening, for what? What do I stand to gain from that?” Mr Osei-Kyei Mensah quizzed.
The majority leader in parliament, who was irritated by the alleged allegation, questioned Mr Otchere-Darko’s role in the current government.
“That Gabby Otchere-Darko, who does he think he is? I serve Akufo-Addo, and I serve the party as well as the government… when we talk about the government itself, what is your locus standi to be accusing me of being an instigator?”
Background
On Tuesday, October 25, 80 NPP MPs unhappy about the crippling economy called for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
In response, President Akufo-Addo has asked that Mr Ofori-Atta be allowed to complete Ghana’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund for an economic recovery programme before he takes a decision on the matter. The group, after deliberation, succumbed to the President’s plea.
Meanwhile, the minority caucus in parliament, who jumped into calls for the dismissal of the minister, filed a censure motion against Ken Ofori–Atta.
However, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, referred the censure motion to an 8-member ad hoc committee to look into the matter.
The 8-member ad hoc committee, chaired by Adansi Asokwa MP, K.T. Hammond, and Bolgatanga East MP, Dominic Ayine, began its deliberations yesterday, November 15.
The Lawyer for the Finance Minister in the ongoing censure motion hearing, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darkohas pleaded with the 8-member committee to furnish him with documents supporting the allegations against his client.
He revealed that his legal counsel does not have the full particulars of the evidence provided by the minority group in parliament pushing for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta.
He is of the view that the documents provided to the ad-hoc committee by the minority group will enable his client better assess the allegations based on which his removal is being pushed for.
Failure to provide a detailed document, he says will be tantamount to ambushing Ken Ofori-Atta.
“It would not be fair for the Minister of Finance to be ambushed right here without any preparation to start answering questions. All we are asking for in the interest of justice is that we should be furnished with the full particulars of the facts in support of each of the allegations contained in the letter and then the supporting documents,” Mr. Otchere-Darko said.
Background
On October 25, 2022, the Minority in Parliament filed a censure motion against Mr Ken Ofori-Atta.
The minority group, among others, accused the Finance Minister of acting outside the powers of the office and largely blamed him for the country’s current economic woes.
Following a heated debate in Parliament over the vote of censure, Speaker Alban Bagbin instituted an ad hoc committee to be co-chaired by MP for Bolga East, Dominic Ayine and Adansi-Asokwa legislator, Kobina Tahir Hammond to look into the matter.
Other members of the committee include North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Klottey-Korle, the Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, and Okaikoi North MP, Emmanuel Ahiaku, from the Minority side.
Representatives from the majority side are Okaikwei Central MP, Yaw Boamah, Asante-Akim Central legislator, Kwame Anyimadu- Antwi, and Sekondi MP, Egyapa Mercer. The clerk to the committee is Mr Boamah Camilo, the Speaker added.
The Speaker said that following the procedure, a report would be brought before the House for a vote.
The first day of the public hearing of the committee on the motion of censure against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, was characterized by heated exchanges and clashes between the Minority members and some members of the Majority side.
The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, also engaged in heated exchanges with counsel for the Finance Minister, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
Mr Otchere-Darko had sought to advise Mr Ablakwa to reserve some of his comments for a press conference and not the committee sittings, but in a sharp rebuttal, the North Tongu MP asked the seasoned lawyer not to attempt to teach him his job.
“You can’t come here and teach me how to do my work,” Mr Ablakwa said, adding, “you can’t come here and throw your weight about. This is Parliament, you can’t tell me what to do, you are not the chairman so don’t tell me what to do,” a livid Ablakwa retorted.
Mr. Otchere-Darko had earlier expressed concern that his client would be caught off guard by the evidence and requested “full particulars of the facts in support of the allegations against the [Finance] Minister.”
He also said there would not be enough time to scrutinise the evidence outlined by the Minority.
“It would not be fair for the Minister of Finance to be ambushed right here without any preparation to start answering questions.”
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, also dismissed suggestions that the current economic crisis in Ghana was mainly caused by the war being waged on Ukraine by Russia.
Addressing the Committee, the Tamale South MP said the “reckless borrowing” and “reckless spending” by the Finance Minister are the cause of Ghana’s woes.
“Did you borrow to support the war in Ukraine,” Mr Iddrisu asked, arguing that, it was because of Ofori-Atta’s recklessness that caused Ghana’s economic woes.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has denied ever sponsoring a candidate within the governing New Patriotic Partyto unseat the Majority Leader as a lawmaker for the Suame Constituency.
According to the NPP stalwart, he considers Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu a strong loyalist in the party and will never do such a thing to him.
The Suame MP, in an interview on Kumasi-based Sompa FM, accused the co-founder of the Danquah Institute of unsuccessfully sponsoring a candidate against him in the party’s parliamentary primaries leading to the 2016 elections.
“He wrote something for someone to go on his radio station [Asaase radio] and say that if I contest Suame seat again I will lose and that is why he is saying he won’t contest again. Gabby Otchere-Darko, have you contested an election before?” the Majority Leader asked.
“In 2016, these same people were hiding behind a candidate saying that if he wins the Suame primaries, he will lose the general election; then they sponsored a candidate against me and it didn’t work for them. I had the confidence of the President who, two days before the primaries said ‘no I want to come and speak to your [Suame] people’ but I told him to stop [because] I am in control of affairs…
“The President was very worried and he wanted to fly in the night to Suamebut I had to tell him not to bother himself and God willing after the primaries those that Gabby Otchere-Darko and his people sponsored lost massively; their votes were not closer to what I had. I don’t know what Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko holds against me…,” Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated.
But Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in a reply said on his Facebook timeline, November 15, “I have never sponsored any candidate against the Majority Leader for the Suame seat.
“I would never do such a thing to a person I considered a strong loyalist even within the NPP.”
Who does Gabby Otchere Darko think he is? What is his locus? – Kyei Mensah-Bonsu fumes.
On the first day of the hearing of Parliament’s ad hoc committee set to investigate a vote of censure motion against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, there were heated exchanges at different points of the hearing.
These were either between the chairmen and members or between ordinary members and in some instances between the chairmen and the lawyer for the embattled minister as well as between members and the minister’s lawyer, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
One of the stand-out episodes was between Gabby and a committee member in the person of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu Member of Parliament.
The trigger was when the MP started asking questions about supposed government expenditure that could be said to have led to fiscal recklessness, one of the grounds against which the Minority is seeking to remove the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
While Ablakwa attempted to use the National Cathedral project to buttress his point, Gabby interjected stating that the MP would be better off using a press conference for what looked like a political issue which was not stated in the seven-point censure motion.
This triggered an over two-minute back and forth between the two men as other members of the committee and the chairmen moved in to mediate.
Read the full transcript of the exchange below:
Gabby: he can hold a press conference to deal with those matters, I think that we are here for specific reasons, grounds have been stated, let’s stick to that. You know, we are not here for… it is not a political platform to make some political pronouncements. These are serious allegations, they are serious allegations, please, please
Ablakwa: Chairman, I think he would not teach me how to do my work in Parliament, this is Parliament. You can’t teach me how to do my work in Parliament.
Gabby: No, there are rules here
Ablakwa: No, no, no. You won’t teach me how to do my work. No, no, no, he can’t come here and throw his weight around. He can’t teach me how to do my work. I take strong exception that I should go and hold a press conference. I won’t accept that.
Gabby: I am only 78 kilos, I am not going to throw it about.
Ablakwa: And you are not the chair, you don’t tell members what to do.
KT Hammond: Sammy, we appreciate the point you want to make.
Mr. Chairman, I think that those who appear before this committee must be guided. We work with Standing Orders and if you go through our Standing Orders, this committee can decide not to hear strangers.
KT Hammond: Who is the stranger now?
Ablakwa: Once you are not a member of Parliament, this is how the Standing Order describes him. That is how the Standing Orders describe them. You can’t come and say we should go and hold a press conference, we are working and we are here to do a job, so, please. Let that be clear.
According to Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, the NPP’s representative for the Sekondi Constituency in the Western Region, the Minority in Parliament is bringing up old, disproved claims against Ken Ofori-Atta, the minister of finance.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reportedly rejected the claims of false reporting as inaccurate when they were initially brought up in May 2020, according to Mr. Mercer.
Because of this, he questioned why the Minority would cite the same reasons as justification for a vote of censure against Mr. Ofori-Atta.
The MP made the statement at the first hearing of the Ad Hoc Committee on the motion of censure brought against the Finance Minister.
Egyapa Mercer’s claim was also in response to Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s presentation which was centred on the misreporting of the fiscal deficit, fiscal treatment of expenditures above or below the line and general public sector accounting.
“Indeed, the said Dr Touna Mama was the Country Representative of the IMF. He was called to respond to allegations on misreporting of figures that the Finance Ministry had presented to IMF and he said all the figures were known by the IMF and therefore it was untrue that there was misreporting,” Mr Mercer said.
Meanwhile, in May 2020, Dr Touna Mama said that whilst his outfit tried “as much as possible to stay out of debates” they felt compelled to clarify statements made by Fact Check Ghana concerning the $1 billion IMF COVID-19 relief fund to the government.
Fact Check Ghana, an affiliate of the Media Foundation for West Africa, through its website, stated that government of Ghana presented data to the IMF which was different from figures in the annual budgets for 2018 and 2019.
But speaking on Joy FM’s News File Programme in May 2020, the IMF Country Representative to Ghana, Dr. Albert Touna Mama suggested that Fact Check Ghana misrepresented the facts because the government was not the one that presented the figures that the IMF published in its statements as Fact Check Ghana reported.
The IMF Country Director explained that the difference in figures was as a result of a difference in the methodology of calculation, adding that the figure in fiscal deficit in their statement was a figure they generated themselves from the data government presented to them, having added financial and energy sector payments in line with their methodology, which is different from government’s methodology.
Earlier, Mr Ofori-Atta, asked the committee for a fair hearing.
He asked that he be furnished with the documents that they intended to rely upon, to execute the motion of censure initiated against him.
The minister’s lawyer, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, said the rules of natural justice and fair hearing required that the accused was not only heard but also necessarily be furnished with the documents that formed the bases of the allegations made against him.
Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has asked the Minority caucus in Parliament to furnish him with documents that they will rely upon to execute the motion of censure initiated against him.
This is according to the Minister’s lawyer, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, who made the request on behalf of Ken Ofori-Atta on Tuesday morning when the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee commenced sitting to hear the motion.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko said the rules of natural justice and fair hearing required that the accused was not only heard but was furnished with the documents that formed the bases of the allegations made against him.
He, therefore, insisted that the Minority, led by its Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, provide the documents to him and his client.
The request was met with hesitance from the Minority, who appeared unprepared and insisted that the documents were already in the public domain and did not have to be tendered.
Following a debate on the matter, co-Chairs of the Committee K.T. Hammond and Dr Dominic Ayine, ruled that the Minority presented the documents to the finance minister and the committee.
The documents were then subsequently listed.
Below are the seven-points for which the Minority want Ofori-Atta censured:
a. Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang
b. Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution, supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral.
c. Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution.
d. Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament.
e. Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world
f. Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis.
g. Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship.
The Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has expressed anger over some allegations levelled against him by a stalwart of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
According to the Member of Parliament for Suame, Mr Otchere-Darko has wrongly accused him of being the mastermind behind some NPP MPs demanding the sacking of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
“From nowhere, we hear Gabby Otchere-Darko on his Asaase Radio accusing me of instigating what was happening, for what? What do I stand to gain from that?” he retorted.
Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Sompa Radio, the majority leader questioned the authority of the cousin of the finance minister for leveling such allegations against him.
“There are people who would rather want to cause disintegration while you are committed to integrating. But now this has brought about another sense of anger. That Gabby Otchere-Darko, who does he think he is? I serve Akufo-Addo, and I serve the party as well as the government… when we talk about the government itself, what is your locus standi to be accusing me of being an instigator?” the majority leader questioned.
The majority leader noted that it rather took his intervention to instill calm when a group of MPs in the NPP made public demands for the dismissal of the finance minister.
“With the way the thing started, if I had not been hinted at by a colleague to intervene, we would have been in a bad place. Today is November 15, and we were supposed to present the budget today, but we had to postpone to 24th because I realised we may not be prepared after studying the situation. I sat with the finance minister and agreed with him to postpone it. After doing this and you turn to accuse me of being an instigator, what if I decide to watch and let everything fall apart?” he stated.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who also doubles as the Minister for Parliamentary Business, further accused Gabby of sponsoring a contestant against him in the 2016 primaries of the NPP, noting that he failed in his agenda.
“You (Gabby) are the same person who wrote something for someone to publish on his radio station that I will lose if I contest for re-election, hence my saying that I will not contest again. Gabby Otchere-Darko, have you contested an election before? They are the same people who sponsored people to contest against me in 2016, it didn’t work for them.”
According to the majority leader, Gabby Otchere-Darko accused him of instigating calls for the finance minister’s sacking just so the leader of government business in parliament can be considered as a replacement for the under fire Ken Ofori-Atta.
There have been public calls for the sacking of Ken Ofori-Atta, with his critics citing him as responsible for Ghana’s current economic challenges.
In a recent press conference, NPP members in parliament demanded the minister’s dismissal, claiming that doing so would help restore confidence in the Ghanaian economy.
Their demand, however, is said to have been met by a request from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who asked that Ken Ofori-Atta be allowed to conclude Ghana’s ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
The president further demanded that the minister be allowed to present the 2023 budget before the demand for his removal may be considered.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, has commented about President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s October 30, 2022 address on the economy.
Gabby is particularly excited about the move by government to curb import of some products whiles booting local production capacity of same.
“Government is targetting the ff products: rice, poultry, vegetable oil, tooth picks, pasta, fruit juice, bottled water and ceramic tiles, to curb imports and boost local production,” part of a tweet he posted on October 31 read.
It continued: “Measures must be stringent but well timed to work. President gives a hint of “review” in 6 months.”
Akufo-Addo addresses nation on economic headwinds:
President Akufo-Addo admitted that times are hard economically and that his government is working assiduously to provide relief to the citizenry.
He stressed in an address on the economy that his administration was ready to work towards restoring and resetting the economy on the path of progress and stability.
These views were contained in his October 30, 2022 address to the nation on the state of the economy.
“For us, in Ghana, our reality is that our economy is in great difficulty. The budget drawn for the 2022 fiscal year has been thrown out of gear, disrupting our balance of payments and debt sustainability, and further exposing the structural weaknesses of our economy.
“We are in a crisis, I do not exaggerate when I say so. I cannot find an example in history when so many malevolent forces have come together at the same time,” he added.
“But, as we have shown in other circumstances, we shall turn this crisis into an opportunity to resolve not just the short-term, urgent problems, but the long-term structural problems that have bedeviled our economy.
“I urge us all to see the decision to go to the International Monetary Fund in this light,” he stressed.
On other issues, he updated citizens on progress made with IMF negotiations and also efforts to stabilize the economy in the midst of rapidly depreciating currency and galloping inflation.
Former president John Dramani Mahama’s assistant Joyce Bawah Mogtari expressed regret about the state of the Ghana cedi a few weeks after Bloomberg named it the currency with the worst performance against the US dollar.
According to her, bringing up that situation amounted to criticizing those whose poor economic decisions had caused the cedi to depreciate against the dollar.
She expressed her opinions in a tweet that said, in part: “The world’s worst performing currency at the moment is the Ghanaian Cedi.
Since the Cedi is not a person, how can we speak down to it? By speaking up for the leaders whose poor economic management brought the Cedi to ruin!
I’m grateful.”
The issues about talking down the cedi replies a recent admonition by New Patriotic Party, NPP, member, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, about how the media’s coverage of the currency could lead to speculation and further worsening the status of the cedi.
Gabby holds that whenever journalists report negatively on the cedi, they become accessories to fueling speculation about the currency and thus become complicit in its depreciation.
He wrote in a Facebook post of October 20 thus: “Journalists can report and influence. But where the default mode is to influence negatively, such media houses run the risk of becoming partners in speculation.
“It is not the job of journalists and analysts to fix the cedi; but fixing it is not helped if they make it more their job to fuel speculations.
“The cedi may be worth 60% less now than what it was to the US dollar last year. But it is not worthless! My sympathies go to the many, many businesses and consumers out there who simply do not know to where to turn,” the post added.
Bawah Mogtari, in another tweet acknowledged that President Akufo-Addo will be addressing the nation on the economy, whiles expressing the hope that Vice President Bawumia will also be invited to answer some pressing questions.
“Hopefully after the President Akufo Addo’s presentation, he will invite his Vice President Bawumia to respond as succinctly and as loquaciously as he did in 2016 to the 170 questions he set for our late VP Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur! Thank you,” her tweet read.
Mr. Otchere-Darko warned NPP members to cease comparing their party’s accomplishments to those of the NDC since doing so was not wise given the current economic climate, notwithstanding Mr. Addo’s assertion that the NPP cannot equal the NDC in the country’s development program.
Communicators of the two parties have been making spirited arguments about which of the two parties have been the better manager of the economy and the comparisons have been triggered by the depreciation of the local currency and other challenges facing the economy.
Mr Otchere-Darko urged members of his party to stop comparing NPP’s achievements with NDC over ‘politics of equalisation’ as it was not prudent amidst the economic hardships being experienced by the citizenry.
He stressed that there was a need for the party to focus more on highlighting the government’s policies, programmes and social interventions instead of bantering with NDC which should not be the posture of the party in the wake of economic difficulties.
“NPP should not play the politics of equalisation with the NDC on inflation, interest rates and depreciation of the cedi since the world is facing an economic crisis like never before in a time of peace and Ghana has been hit hard because our economic recovery is being delicately managed in a pre-COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Otchere-Darko postulated.
The country is currently reeling under intense economic pressure due to consistent increments in the rate of inflation, depreciation of the cedi, increasing debt stock, unemployment and high cost of living still rising by the day compelling the Ghana Union of Traders to close down their shops over hardships.
The government is on the verge of concluding negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on interventions that can transform the country’s economic fortunes.
Reacting, Mr Addo insisted that the NPP had performed poorly and could not win the ‘equalisation game’ against the NDC regime because the NPP’s penchant for ‘reckless spending’ and ‘Ponzi-like borrowing’ was the cause of economic woes.
He indicated that NPP could not win the equalisation game because Ghana was not the only country hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but reckless borrowing had accounted for the worst economic performance ever recorded.
“These engagements do not augur well for the NPP, hence the need for the party to draw the attention of citizens to what the government is doing to alleviate their plight,” Mr Addo noted.
