Spanish prosecutors are seeking eight years in prison and a €24m (£20m) fine for Shakira over alleged tax fraud.
The Colombian singer is accused of failing to pay €14.5m (£12m) in tax between 2012 and 2014.
Earlier this week Shakira refused an offer to settle and close the case. A trial date has not yet been set.
A statement from representatives of Shakira said she is “fully confident of her innocence” and sees the case as a “violation of her rights”.
The star was accused of tax evasion in 2018. Prosecutors said she was living in Spain between 2012 and 2014 while listing her official residence elsewhere.
People who spend more than six months in the country are considered residents for tax purposes. But Shakira says she did not mainly live in Spain at the time.
Scientistssay there is “compelling evidence” that Wuhan’s Huanan seafood and wildlife market was at the centre of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Two peer-reviewed studies published on Tuesday re-examine information from the initial outbreak in the Chinese city.
One of the studies shows that the earliest known cases were clustered around that market.
The other uses genetic information to track the timing of the outbreak.
It suggests there were two variants introduced into humans in November or early December 2019.
Together, the researchers say this evidence paints a picture that Sars-Cov-2 was present in live mammals that were sold at Huanan market in late 2019. They say it was transmitted into people who were working or shopping there in two separate “spillover events”, where a human contracted the virus from an animal.
One of the researchers involved, virologist Prof David Robertson from the University of Glasgow, told BBC News that he hoped the studies would “correct the false record that the virus came from a lab”.
Pandemic epicentre
Two years of scientific effort to understand the virus that causes Covid-19 have provided these researchers with a more informed perspective.
This has enabled them to address a key conundrum in the earliest patient data: That out of hundreds of people who were hospitalised with Covid-19 in Wuhan, only about 50 had a direct, traceable link to the market.
Image source, Science
Image caption, Early cases clustered around the Huanan market (c) Science
“That was really puzzling that most cases could not be linked to the market,” said Prof Robertson. “But knowing what we know about the virus now, it’s exactly what we would expect – because many people only get very mildly ill, so they would be out in the community transmitting the virus to others and the severe cases would be hard to link to each other.”
This Covid-19 case-mapping research found that a large percentage of early patients – with no known connection to the market, meaning they neither worked nor shopped there – did turn out to live near it.
This supports the idea that the market was the epicentre of the epidemic, said Prof Michael Worobey, lead author and biologist from the University of Arizona, with sellers getting infected first and setting off a “chain of infections among community members in the surrounding area”.
“In a city covering more than 3,000 sq miles (7,770 sq km), the area with the highest probability of containing the home of someone who had one of the earliest Covid-19 cases in the world was an area of a few city blocks, with the Huanan market smack dab inside it,” said Prof Worobey.
Image source, Worobey et alImage caption, Live animals, including species now known to be susceptible to Covid-19, were sold in Huanan market
That study also zoomed in on the market itself. The scientists created a map of the samples – swabs of fluid from drains and on market stalls – that tested positive for the virus.
“Most of the positive samples clustered around the south-western side of the market,” explained Prof Robertson. “And that’s the location where we report species like raccoon dogs being sold.
“So we have confirmation of animals we now know are susceptible [to Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19] were sold there in late 2019.”
The lab leak theory
Over the last two years, the search for the origin of the deadly pandemic turned from a scientific investigation into a toxic political row.
Viewers in the UK can watch this BBC documentary on the hunt for Covid-19’s origins.
One of the subjects of a fierce international blame game – primarily between politicians in the US and China – was a theory that the virus could have been leaked from a Wuhan laboratory, the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
But that hypothesis, said Prof Stuart Neil from Kings College, “can’t explain the data”.
“We’re now as sure as we can be, based on the fragmentary evidence we do have, that this was a spillover event that happened in the market.”
Crowded, live animal markets, many scientists agree, provide an ideal transmission hotspot for new diseases to “spill over” from animals. And in the 18 months up to the beginning of the pandemic, a separate study showed that nearly 50,000 animals – of 38 different species – were sold at markets in Wuhan.
Prof Neil said the pandemic was very likely to have been a consequence of an “unhealthy, cruel and unhygienic practice that Chinese authorities had been warned about”.
The major risk of being distracted by looking for someone in a laboratory to blame for all this, he added, “is that we run the risk of letting this happen again because we’ve focused on the wrong problem.”
Clarence House said it had been assured by PWCF that “thorough due diligence” had been conducted, and the decision to accept the money lay with the trustees.
“Any attempt to characterise it otherwise is false,” it told the BBC.
Clarence House also said it disputed a number of points made in the newspaper’s article.
Bin Laden was disowned by his family in 1994 and there is no suggestion that his half-brothers had links to his activities.
According to the report, Prince Charles accepted the money from Bakr Bin Laden, who heads the wealthy Saudi family, and Bakr’s brother Shafiq, following a meeting with Bakr at Clarence House.
The heir to the throne took the money despite objections from advisers at Clarence House and PWCF, the Sunday Times reports, citing multiple sources.
However, Sir Ian Cheshire, chairman of PWCF, told the newspaper that the 2013 donation was agreed “carefully considered” by the five trustees at the time.
“Due diligence was conducted, with information sought from a wide range of sources, including government,” Sir Ian added.
“The decision to accept the donation was taken wholly by the trustees. Any attempt to suggest otherwise is misleading and inaccurate.”
The PWCF awards grants to UK-registered non-profit organisations to deliver projects in the UK, Commonwealth and overseas.
No rule has been broken, no law has been broken. All appropriate checks were carried out and even the Foreign Office was called upon to give its opinion – it cleared the donation.
So how is this front page news?
A source at the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund told the BBC that “the sins of the father” – that’s Osama Bin Laden – should not disqualify other members of the family from making a donation. Which makes sense.
But equally, did Prince Charles or his inner circle really think it was a good idea to take money from the Bin Ladens? Or did they think it was fine so long as it was never made public?
Because once it was public – however many checks were made and rules were followed – it was always going to look horrible.
Just like the enormous cash donation from a former Qatari Prime Minister or the letter from Prince Charles’s close friend and aide promising a knighthood to a Saudi citizen who had promised and made substantial donations.
Ministers and members of parliament are, in the end, governed by the ballot box. The Royal Family derives its position and authority from a different place, from a settled acceptance by the public that overall they bring credit to the country.
Does a donation from the Bin Ladens – however remote from the evildoing of a disowned son – fit into this model of monarchy?
Osama Bin Laden was top of the US’ “most wanted” list. He is believed to have ordered the terror attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 – which killed almost 3,000 people – including 67 Britons.
He was killed by US forces in 2011.
A PWCF source told the BBC that “though the name [Bin Laden] has very unhappy history, the sins of the father should not be visited on the rest of the family, which is an eminent one in the region.”
The source added that the donation had been cleared by the Foreign Office.
Image source, CNN via Getty ImagesImage caption, Osama Bin Laden was disowned by his family nearly 20 years before the reported donation
This is not the first time that Prince Charles or his charity have been scrutinised over its donations.
It was reported last month that Prince Charles accepted a suitcase containing a million euros in cash from a former Qatari prime minister – one of three cash donations totalling around £2.5m.
Clarence House said at the time that donations from the sheikh were passed immediately to one of the prince’s charities and all the correct processes were followed.
The Charity Commission later decided against launching an investigation into the donation.
In February, the Metropolitan Police began an investigation into claims the charity offered honours help to a Saudi citizen.
Clarence House said the prince had “no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities”.
To millions of Saudis, the name Bin Laden is totally innocuous. In the West and much of the rest of the world, it will forever be associated with the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001.
But in Saudi Arabia, it is a byword for the Jeddah-based construction firm that used newfound oil wealth to fund mosques, palaces and other buildings by royal decree.
The family were not originally Saudi: they came from a part of southern Yemen, the Hadhramaut, that has produced many of Jeddah’s most successful and wealthy entrepreneurial families.
Osama, one of the many sons of the company’s founder, who emigrated from Yemen in the early 20th century, was long known as the “black sheep of the family”.
He spent much of the 1980s in Afghanistan helping the mujahideen fight the invading Soviet army, so essentially he was on the same side then as the CIA and Pakistan.
But by the 1990s, he had become a radical Islamic extremist and the family disowned him in 1994. Osama Bin Laden then moved first to Sudan, and soon after to Afghanistan. The rest is history.
Today marks 30 years since ex-president John Dramani Mahamaand his wife tied the knot to begin their journey of marital bliss. Take a sneak peek into the beauty of mature love deepened with commitment and devotion below:
Date each other consistently, consciously and passionately.
My inspiration, my strength, my soul mate. You make life better for all those whose lives you touch…https://t.co/YyT5jR9N14
Happy 62nd Birthday @JDMahama, whatever gifts we get for you, cannot match the gift that God gave us, in the form of you. #iTrustJMpic.twitter.com/VxzPaZFTR0
It’s been an amazing marriage journey with you my Love. Happy 28th wedding anniversary to us. 28years down, and forever to go.#endlesslovepic.twitter.com/36ojiEh3kK
The couple received tons of well-wishes from a host of Ghanaians including celebrated singer, Empress Gifty.
On Tuesday, the wife of NPP’s Hopeson Adorye shared a photo of John Mahama planting a kiss on his wife’s cheek as part of their anniversary photoshoot.
Empress in a heartwarming post disclosed how the couple offered her support some years back.
She named the 2020 NDC presidential candidate and former First Lady as her ‘parents’ and gave reason for her public appreciation.
“I want to celebrate MY PARENTS, I have my reasons for calling them MY PARENTS. They stood in the gap for me when I lost everything. First Lady, @Lordina Mahama was there for me as a MOTHER and made sure I was okay.
“Former President @John Dramani Mahamastood by me as a FATHER. I will never forget what they did for me. I celebrate you today on your 30th marriage anniversary, it is not a small journey and I tap into this blessing. May God continue to bless your path Mummy and Daddy. I dedicate your favourite song F3f33f3 from my repertoire to you as you celebrate how far you’ve come NOKO CONGRATULATION,” she wrote in a Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb.
Fans of the gospel singer showered praise on her for being grateful and celebrating Mr Mahama and his wife despite their political difference.
Asonaba Kwadwo Nomafo reacting to the post wrote: “Wow this is what we call Integrity. No wonder you are the first female musician I play her song when am on air. God bless you Sis.”
Another Dela Torgbenu had this to say: “And to u Gifty u are an epitome of faithfulness. My love n respect for u have increased Noko fine. Noko beautiful
Noko u do all.”
According to the MP, Koku, despite being a benefactor of the benevolence of former President Mahama, has rather decided to return the favour with disdain for the former President.
“Koku’s campaign as deputy general secretary was partly financed by me and Lordina Mahama. Ask him who the Land Cruiser he went around the entire country to campaign with belongs to. It was mine. Who was giving him money to fuel the car? Lordina Mahama and Julius Debrah. We don’t want to talk.
“I won’t say everything, but what I can say is that if there is anyone justified to be bitter because of ingratitude, it is rather John Mahama who should get hurt. But President Mahama is all forgiven; he has forgotten about it. Every day he keeps asking what the problem with Koku is? It worries him because he loves him. Lordina calls me sometimes and asks what the problem with my brother is,” he stated during an interview on Power FM.
Koku Anyidoho, who served as director of communications at the presidency during the era of the late President Mills, fell out with former President Mahama, who was vice president under the late President.
Following the demise of President Mills, Koku Anyidoho also fell out with the NDC after he lost his bid to move from the party’s deputy general secretary to the general secretary position.
But according to Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Koku, who feeds on attention, has allowed that trait to lead him into a state of bitterness which is causing his own downfall.
“The message I have is that those who love him should call him and advise him that he is hurting himself. I looked at him yesterday and I realized he looks older than me even though I am more advanced in age than him. This is because he is engulfed with bitterness. He does not listen to advice,” the MP stated.
Koku Anyidoho has accused former President John Dramani Mahama of harbouring hatred toward him.
He also accused the former President of undermining the late President Mills when he was his vice.
Koku Anyidoho, the founder of the Atta-Mills Institute has reacted to criticisms that he has arrogated the name of former President John Evans Atta-Mills to himself without recourse to his Mills’ family.
He has also been accused of engaging with the government to refurbish the Asomdwee Park, the final resting place of the late President without recourse to the family of Professor Mills.
In a radio interview Monday morning, Anyidoho dismissed the criticisms and said for four and half years while former President John Dramani Mahama was in office [July 24, 2012 to January 6, 2017], he pleaded with President Mahama to erect a tombstone on Mills’ grave but he was ignored.
He said when he initiated moves to plead with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo when he succeeded President Mahama to erect the tombstone and rehabilitate the Asomdwee Park, NDC folks told him to wait till Mahama was in power again so he could be it.
Mr Anyidohocommended President Akufo-Addo for agreeing to his request for the state to rehabilitate the park to a status befitting the stature of the late President Mills.
He gave an assurance that he would ensure the regular maintenance of the park.
Today, we look at the childhood sports of all the men who have occupied Ghana’s presidency since the beginning of the 4th republic in 1993.
Children and their preference for a particular sport is mostly influenced by their community or the school they find themselves in.
Some children after falling in love with a particular sport tend to pursue it as a career with the needed talents but others abandon it because of their parents.
Here is a list of Ghana’s 4th Republican presidents and their childhood sports:
Born June 22, 1947, the late president of the 4th Republic of Ghana is best remembered for promoting boxing in Ghana and helping nurture several talents across the country.
Rawlings according to his son Kimathi had hoped in Ghanaian boxers because they had a strong disciplined mind to become great.
Ghana’s legendary boxer Azumah Nelson has on countless occasions credited the successes he archived in his career to the late Jerry John Rawlings who was also an amateur boxer.
Though JJ Rawlings couldn’t pursue his boxing career, he made sure that other young talents would get all the needed support from the State to be useful.
During his reign, Ghana won three world titles through Azumah Nelson, Ike Bazooka Quartey, and the late Alfred Kotey.
There isn’t much to be said about the footballing career of Ghana’s second president in the 4th Republic aside being in the school team during his days in Prempeh Colleague in Kumasi.
However, John Agyekum Kufuor was an established football administrator before occupying the high office in Ghana.
His love for football also made him commit more resources to help the Black Stars qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in Ghana’s footballing history in 2006.
Kufuor renovated the Accra Sports Stadium and the Baba Yara Stadium as well as built the Essipong and Tamale stadium in 2008 to host the CAN 2008.
The late former President was a professional hockey player but also worked as a football administrator for giants Accra Hearts of Oak.
He played for both the hockey teams of Achimota College during his Secondary School education and the University of Ghana, Legon in his tertiary days.
As a State Man, Atta-Mills changed the face of Ghana hockey by supporting the construction of the first ever water-based Astro-turf hockey pitch in 1999, and an ultra-modern world-class National Hockey Stadium which was built in 2009.
He is also a founding member of the Veterans Hockey team in Accra which was established in 1972.
Just like John Agyekum Kufuor, John Dramani Mahama was also a talented footballer but his father Emmanuel Adama reportedly made him ditch football to focus more on his education.
Though John Mahama couldn’t pursue a career in football, his son Sharaf continues from where his father left off to become a professional footballer.
Sharaf Mahama has played for several clubs in Eurpe inclduing Tempo Overijse, KV Mechelen, Charleroi and Rostocker FC.
As President, John Mahama’s love for football was seen through the government’s sports policies.
He built the Cape Coast Sports Stadium to ease the pressure of the four existing stadiums in Ghana. Mahama also built Ghana’s only boxing arena in Bukoum to promote the sport which sold Ghana to the world after football.
The current president is a football fan but his love for boxing precedes every sport in the world.
Young Akufo-Addo played football in his high school days and was in the University of Ghana, Legon’s hockey team together with the late John Evans Atta-Mills.
Akufo-Addo was an all-around athlete amongst all the presidents we have seen in the 4th Republic.
As the president, Akufo-Addo has invested heavily in sports infrastructure with the building of the multi-purpose sports complex in all the 16 regions in Ghana.
He will also be the 4th president to taste a FIFA World Cup after Kufuor, Mills, and Mahama.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has charged Members of Parliament in the Minority Group to keep a keen eye on the activities of the Executive arm of government.
Delivering a speech at a closing ceremony of a retreat for Minority Group MPs at the Volta Serene hotel in Ho on Sunday, July 17, 2022, Mahama said the style of this administration has been to subjugate and dominate institutions for parochial and partisan gain, and as such, there is a need for it to be monitored.
“These institutions have thus become pliant tools for the furtherance of the political ends of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and President Akufo-Addo,†he added.
He named the Electoral Commissionas one of such institutions “which instead of making it easy for our citizens to take part in elections, rather takes delight in making it difficult.â€
“They appear determined to ensure the disenfranchisement of sections of our population at all costs through a misguided insistence on the use of the Ghana Card as the only source of identification for a voter card. How do you do this, knowing that the Ghana Card is not available to everyone who should have one?â€
“You [Minority MPs] have become the immediate hope of a people who labour under irresponsible governance and abuse of office. There is the need therefore to meet this expectation by injecting further impetus into your work by keeping an even keener eye on the activities of the Executive.â€
He admitted that the Ghana Card is a relatively new feature of the country and has its merits in the scheme of things.
His contention is that it is being brandished more as a political tool around which all manner of schemes is being fashioned ahead of the elections.
He believes there is the need to allow sufficient time for its full integration “before this kind of unhelpful exclusion of all other legitimately acquired, credible and time-tested forms of identification is implemented.â€
Mr. John Mahama suspects foul play with the “haste on the part of the Electoral Commission to exclude all other means of identification.â€
Even though the Electoral Commission has clarified that it is only demanding the Ghana card for continuous registration and is not in the process of compiling a new one, Mr. Mahama is not convinced.
He is demanding a system that enables all political parties and relevant stakeholders to possess the capacity to monitor same in real-time, to avoid fraud and exploitation to the undue advantage of any party.
This comes on the back of the $1 billion syndicated loan presented to Parliament.
Delivering a speech at a closing ceremony of a retreat for Minority Group MPs at the Volta Serene hotel in Ho on Sunday, July 17, 2022, the former President said Ghana is in an economic hole, and it will not be prudent to continue digging with more loans.
â€We do not believe that the existence of crisis permits even more reckless decision-making. All decisions and policy choices made at this critical juncture could offer relief or exacerbate our problems and make recovery extremely difficult. We are in a massive hole and, and we do not need further digging.â€
The 2022 budget noted an international financing programme to raise at least $750 million, with an option to increase it by a further $750 million for budget support and liability management.
Although the budget captured $750 million, a $1 billion loan agreement is currently before the House.
At a Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, the Minority stalled the approval processes owing to what they call the discrepancies between the loan presented to the house and what has been presented to the committee for consideration.
A Ranking Member on the Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson said “the budget is saying that, in the course of the year, they will be taking a term loan of $750 million. Why do you ask us to approve $1 billion?â€
Reacting to the development, Mr. John Mahama insisted that until the terms of the $250 million loan component are renegotiated to make them “favourable†and same captured in subsequent budgets, the Minority MPs will not support its approval.
“Our position on the $250 million component remains unchanged, as such unfavourable terms as the $40 million insurance payment and total interest of over $80 million make it too expensive and inimical to the economic interest of Ghana. It is also not programmed in the 2022 budget statement.â€
On the $750 million component, Mr. Mahama noted that after he raised concerns, some effort has gone into renegotiating the costs and terms, which now appear more favourable.
He is however unclear on the exact purpose of the loan.
Mr. Mahama said the NDC will only support its approval if â€evidence of its use for specific growth-related projects leading to improvements in the lives of people is presented.â€
Former President, John Dramani Mahama says the Electoral Commission is seeking to use the Ghana Cardas a political tool to frustrate Ghanaians in their quest to secure voters Card for the next elections.
According to him, the Commission is one of many state agencies that have become pliant instruments in the advancement of the parochial interest of the Akufo-Addo administration.
“One such institution is the Electoral Commission, which instead of making it easy for our citizens to take part in elections, rather takes delight in making it difficult. They appear determined to ensure the disenfranchisement of sections of our population at all costs through a misguided insistence on the use of the Ghana Card as the only source of identification for a voter card.
“How do you do this, knowing that the Ghana Card is not available to everyone who should have one? The Ghana Card is a relatively new feature of our national life and has its merits in the scheme of things. At the moment, it is being brandished more as a political tool around which all manner of schemes is being fashioned towards elections. There is the need to allow sufficient time for its full integration into our way of life before this kind of unhelpful exclusion of all other legitimately acquired, credible and time-tested forms of identification are implemented,†Mr Mahama said during a speech at the closing ceremony of a Minority caucus workshop.
He stressed: “The National Identification Authority cannot claim to have covered every Ghanaian who should be registered or distributed all the cards printed to those who have been captured in their system. They have failed to distribute hundreds of thousands of cards to people who have registered. Until full and total coverage is achieved in the roll out of the Ghana Card, room must be made for those who are yet to be served, to exercise their democratic rights of voting. They cannot be excluded from the voter register due to no fault of theirsâ€.
President Akufo-Addo, his predecessor John Dramani Mahama and other dignitaries on Saturday were at the burial service of the late Mrs Emily Akuffo.
The former First Lady died on Friday, April 8, 2022 at the age of 88. Her death occurred a day after the death of former Second Lady, Ramatu Aliu Mahama.
Former First Lady, Emily Akuffo and husband, late Gen FWK AkuffoThe late Mrs Akuffo was the wife of a former Head of State, Lt. General Fred Akuffo (deceased) who was Head of State and Chairman of the Supreme Military Council in Ghana from 1978 until his overthrow by Jerry John Rawlings on June 4, 1979.
Former First Lady Emily Akuffo
He was executed at the Military Shooting Range in Teshie along with other senior military officers on June 26 that same year.
Mrs Emily Akuffo was the First Lady of Ghana during that period.
Former President John Mahama [middle] and some NDC officials
Following the execution of her husband, Mrs Akuffo spent the rest of her years at Akropong in the Eastern Region.
President Akufo-Addo and First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has proposed a number of measures be believes will salvage Ghana’s sinking economy.
According to Mahama, these measures are to be deployed as quickly as possible in order to avert a total collapse of the economy.
He made the recommendations during a June 30, 2022 presentation in Accra.
He listed a number of factors he believed were responsible for the downturn before making the proposals on how to avert an economic catastrophe.
The 2020 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress also tasked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take action to avert what he termed a “catastrophe.”
“This government must act now and seek help to avert imminent national catastrophe. Ghanaians did not hand over the reins of power to them to crash the ship of state through empty pride.
“President Akufo-Addo has a responsibility to keep the ship afloat, the same way he met it,” he added.
The sufferings of Ghanaians not enough to jolt Akufo-Addo to action – Mahama
GhanaWeb picks out five of the proposed solutions Mahama proffered:
Fire Ofori Atta and ‘dead wood ministers’
Mahama singled out Ofori-Atta for stern critique, calling on the President to fire him as a first step to resetting the economy.
“Meanwhile it will serve the President well to use some instruments from the Presidential tool kit in times of crisis such as this. Fire your finance minister,” Mahama said in the latter part of his presentation.
According to the former president, aside Ofori-Atta, other non-performing Ministers needed to be shown the exit.
“… conduct a major shake-up of Government to remove the many dead woods that have turned ministries into their fiefdoms and finally huddle with the best brains.”
E-Levy has been a spectacular failure, mother of all nuisance rexes – Mahama
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Gather best brains and formulate economic recovery plan
According to Mahama, even after he had used local measures via the Senchi Forum to seek a solution out of the woods during his time in office, his advice in that direction has not been heeded to.
Allied to sacking ministers, Mahama added that it was time for government to consult all stakeholders with the view to find a solution to current economic mess.
“… this country must formulate a comprehensive recovery plan for our economy,” he stressed.
Seek help from IMF
Amid recent talk of government contemplating whether or not to turn to the International Monetary Fund, IMF, the former president has asked government to seek assistance because of the deep rooted nature of the present challenges.
“In the last few days, there has been talk from some regime actors about a potential or impending IMF programme. Due to the nature and depth of our economic problems, this government virtually has no other sustainable option.
“IMF programmes come with fiscal consolidation and insistence on fiscal discipline, which can lead to some recovery and improvements on the macro-economic front. Government has however so mismanaged our economy and left it in such a terrible state that fiscal consolidation alone will not do the trick.”
Government has collateralized all revenue sources – Mahama
— The Independent Ghana (@independent_gh) June 29, 2022
Debt restructuring
Mahama also strongly advised government to look at restructuring Ghana’s debts with the view to freeing fiscal space.
“I suggested that this government immediately enters negotiations with multi-lateral partners with the view to engaging our commercial creditors to restructure our debt and ease the debt service burden to offer us desperately needed respite even as corrective measures are applied to our seriously ailing economy.
“Government has shown no inclination towards doing this despite not having any clear plan to deal with the problem,” he added.
Other issues raised:
Mahama further accused government of having their priorities wrong and squandering funds meant to fight COVID-19.
According to him, the country is fraught with several challenges because all sources of the country’s revenues are no longer available because government took the monies upfront and squandered it.
He asserted, for instance, that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has collateralized the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA) until 2035.
This means that from now till 2035, no government can access cash from ESLA. John Dramani Mahama added that GETFUND has also been used to float a bond.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia on Tuesday, May 17, joined Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to sign a book of condolence for the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former president
Professor Opoku-Agyemang, signing the book of condolence on behalf of the former President said Mr Mahama “notes the inspiring legacy that His Highness has bequeathed to his people and the worldâ€.
She added, “may the family, government, and people be comforted, and may Allah grant him eternal restâ€.
Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for the former president
On his part, Mr Asiedu Nketia wrote: “President Mahama and the entire NDC join our brothers and sisters of the UAE to mourn the demise of our great King. He has been a blessing, not only to the people of the UAE but, to humanity in generalâ€.
Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former president
Professor Opoku-Agyemang, who is the 2020 Vice Presidential candidate of the NDC, and a former Minister for Education was also accompanied by the Director of International Relations of the NDC, Alex Segbefia.
Johnson Asiedu-Nketia
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan died on May 13, and has since been buried in line with Islamic customs.
Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former presidentMahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former president
Former President John Dramani Mahama says it is shameful for Africa to over-depend on imported goods.
Speaking at the 24th African Business Conference organised by the Harvard Business School, Mahama observed that intra-African trade must be encouraged on the continent to boost trade and promote self-reliance.
He said, “We must push for self-reliance for key strategic commodities and supplies such as rice, tomatoes, onions, and vegetable oil for which we have a comparative advantage. It is such a shame that Africa continues to import these commodities when we have favourable conditions to produce them.
â€Africa must take greater control of the trade and processing of its natural resources like cocoa, and the minerals and build stronger capacity to respond to global energy shocks stemming out of situations such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict.â€
The former President as part of his speech, advocated for the reintroduction of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) to help Africa deal with its rising public debts.
“Many African countries, including Ghana have reached debt distressed levels with debt to GDP ratio ranging between 70% and 80%.â€
â€I am advocating for a reconstitution of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative to offer our countries some fiscal space to make investments in critical states such as education and health,†John Dramani Mahama stressed.
The main opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) has downplayed the Economic Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) report suggesting that the party cannot win the 2024 general elections with former President John Dramani Mahamaas its presidential candidate.
The EIU projected that the NDC will win the 2024 polls but says it expects the biggest opposition party to revitalize its prospects with a fresh face on the ballot box rather than former President John Mahama.
“The next parliamentary and presidential elections are due in 2024. Under constitutionally mandated term limits, the incumbent president, Mr Akufo-Addo, cannot run for a third term”.
“The former president, John Mahama, is reportedly considering running again, but we expect the opposition NDC to try to revitalize its prospects with a fresh candidate,” the report said.
The report noted: “Our baseline forecast is that ongoing public dissatisfaction with the slow pace of improvements in governance—such as infrastructure development, job creation and easing of corruption will trigger anti-incumbency factors and push the electorate to seek a change”.
“The NDC, therefore, stands a reasonable chance of winning the 2024 elections”.
Apart from Mr Mahama, who is rumoured to be considering a comeback, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, who also served as Finance Minister under President John Mills, has publicly expressed interest in becoming the flagbearer of the NDC ahead of the 2024 elections.
An aide to Mr Mahama, Mr Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, reacting to the report, said: “As a party, we will fight the next elections like a man fighting his estranged wife over the custody of his children”.
He noted that the NPP is bent on covering up its tracks as well as the rot it has created in government, warning that the next NDC government will uncover all those things after winning the election.
He was of the view that the NPP would elect Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia or Minister of Trade Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten as its presidential candidate and that since 1992, no first-timer apart from the late Jerry John Rawlings has ever won an election.
Mr Tameklo said former President John Agyekum Kufuor contested twice before winning in 2000, just like the late President Evans Atta-Mills and current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“We like to take a calculated risk with former President John Dramani Mahama, who polled over two million votes in the 2020 general elections,” he said on Accra-based Okay FM today, Wednesday, April 20, 2022.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged the Gonjaland Youth Association to increase its advocacy for the government to live up to its responsibility and respond to the needs of the people.
He noted that the Savanna Region, being a new region, should have had its development priorities expedited.
He, however, assured the association that the next administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would attend to the region’s developmental needs.
Courtesy call
Former President Mahama stated this when the newly elected executive members of the Gonjaland Youth Association last Tuesday paid a courtesy call on him to introduce themselves and also discuss issues of concern to the Savanna Region and other parts of the north.
A statement issued by the Office of former President Mahama said the issues discussed included the falling standard of education in the region, concerns about insecurity, chieftaincy conflicts, lack of potable water in many communities, the state of roads and tension between communities and Fulani herdsmen.
College of Education
It said Mr Mahama decried the government’s seeming lack of interest in continuing with a proposed College of Education project started by the NDC administration.
The college, he explained, could have provided teachers for schools in the region to help address the poor standard of education complained about by the executive members.
On how to resolve the matter of Fulani herdsmen, the former President suggested that the group liaises with the government to provide fodder for cattle grazing.
That, he explained, would forestall the cattle herds entering and destroying farms in search for food.
It said former President Mahama thanked the association for the visit and the opportunity to interact and discuss issues.
The statement said he also applauded the association for its efforts geared towards contributing to the development of Gonjaland.
For the first time after the 2020 election petition at the Supreme Court, the former President, John Dramani Mahama, has spoken about the problems the NDC had with the judiciary.
He, has, however, called for urgent internal reforms from the judiciary when he addressed the United States Chapter of the NDC at the Bentley University on Sunday, March 27, 2022.
He charged the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, to as a matter of urgency ensure that those reforms take place so that it will restore the confidence the public has in the judiciary.
“We do have problems with the judiciary, I must say. I think that it is necessary for some internal reforms to take place there. It is necessary for the Chief Justice or whoever is responsible to make some reforms.
“Most of the governance institutions have been politicized. I give the example of the judiciary. It is only in Ghana that a Supreme Court will make a decision that a birth certificate is not proof of citizenship,” John Dramani Mahama said.
He added, “there are many such funny judgements that have been given. I remember at one time, our colleague Professor Raymond Atuguba said that from research he had done, judges turn to give their judgements in favour of the political party or leader that appointed them.
“He was subjected to such a whirlwind of indignation by the judiciary but if you bring it down to what is happening today, and you look at it and see who appointed who, you will find that there was some truth in the research.
“The thing is, our constitution gives the security of tenure to judges. Once you have been appointed you cannot be removed. That is why we give security of tenure so that you will have the courage no matter who appointed you to give judgement according to your conscience. That is what our judges should do. They must rise up to the occasion,†John Dramani Mahama stressed.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Ghana is currently under an incompetent government and issues of corruption continue to worsen the plight of the ordinary citizen.
According to him, despite mouthwatering promises by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration, the country has been plunged into a harsh economic situation occasioned by general incompetence by the government.
“The failure of this government has been spectacular in all fronts,†he said, stressing that for the National Democratic Congress, they were poised to use all constitutional means to get the government to be accountable to the people.
Mahama reminded Ghanaians that the Akufo-Addo-led government arrived in 2017 on the “back of mouthwatering promises to make life easier for Ghanaians and ensure rapid development of our country.Â
“Indeed, we all recollect some of those mouthwatering promises including one by the current President to transform this country Ghana within 18 months,†he added.
According to him, those promises have turned into the current economic downturn that citizens are facing, one that he said had never before been witnessed under the Fourth Republic.
Mahama made the remarks on March 21, 2022, at the launch of the TEIN (Tertiary Education Institutions Network) app at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, UPSA.
He also stressed the need for the youth within TEIN and in the informal sector to be better organized by the party to help sell its message and secure its political fortunes because “the issues that affect the youth of Ghana who dominate our population are many.â€
Former President John Dramani Mahama has advised public and intercity drivers to exercise more caution on the roads with the lives of citizens left in their care.Â
In a Twitter post, John Mahama, while commiserating with the families of the accident victims, described the accident tragic and unfortunate.
“What a sad waste of young lives in the Asuboi accident! My condolences to the families of the dead, and speedy recovery to the injured,†John Mahama tweeted.
Nine passengers including 4 students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), have reportedly died in an accident that occurred Sunday dawn at Asuboi in the Eastern Region.
The accident involved a Hyundai universe commercial bus with registration number AK 324-22 and a 40-footer container loaded with wood.
The bus is said to have been transporting the students from Sunyani towards Accra but on reaching a section of the Asuboi road, the driver failed to observe traffic ahead. He was alleged to be sleeping.
He crashed into the 40-footer container loaded with woods which had fallen partially on the road after a previous accident.
Eight passengers died on the spot, and one later died at the Suhum Government Hospital, where the injured were rushed to.
The Public Relations Officer of Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, says the police are making effort to remove the accident vehicles from the road.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Public Sector Reforms, Mr. Thomas Kusi- Boafo, has said Ghanaians could not trust former President John Dramani Mahama for any better economic management as people are suggesting.
According to him, the former president never managed the country’s economy, even when he was president.
Speaking to Agya Wusu on Hot 93.9FM’s political talk show ‘Dwene Ho Bio’, Mr Kusi-Boafo revealed that the IMF managed our economy during John Dramani Manama’s reign.
He noted that those calling for the intervention of the IMF on Ghana’s economy are proposing nothing but stiffer measures to freeze employment and other social intervention put in place by the current administration.
He explained that if the former president had a solution to today’s economic problems, he would have solved it under his leadership.
Mr Kusi-Boafo then called on Ghanaians to accept the introduction of the E-levy bill to help generate revenue for the government to embark on the construction of roads, create more jobs and ease us from our huge debts as a nation.
Some aggrieved members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Fomena constituency have demonstrated against the leadership of the party.
They demonstrated against “A no polling station election†in that area.
On Monday, March 7, the aggrieved members were seen changing the traditional colours of the NPP office which is, Red, White, and Blue into Red, White, Green, and Black, the traditional colours of their political rival, NDC.
Earlier some aggrieved youth of the party vowed to reject any move by the party to impose the 2nd Deputy Speaker, Andrews Asiamah on them.
The youth have also questioned the rationale behind the exemption of the constituency in the polling station executive election.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, February 23 in Fomena, Micheal Ankapong, aspiring youth organiser said: “we will resist any attempt by NPP party executives to impose the independent candidate together with his supporters on the faithful NPP supporters within the constituency.â€
The youth have alleged, the leadership of the party met the independent candidate.
“Some executives have met with the Independent candidate for Fomena constituency, Hon. Andrew Amoako Assiamah to bring on board his supporters to contest on party internal elections,†he said.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a known #FixTheCountry convener, has dismissed claims that he served as a presidential staffer in the Mahama administration.
He said the allegations levelled against him by the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe aka Abronye DC are “factually inaccurate.â€
A release from the private legal practitioner and law academic who is currently in prison custody, said available public information does not support the claims Abronye DC made in his statement to the Ghana Police Service.
“I have today furnished the Police with a list of officers appointed by the former President, under the Office of the President Act and which was reported to Parliament by the office of the former President during all his time in officeâ€, he said.
“As the Police will confirm, the list does not contain my name, and there is no record anywhere that presents me as a presidential appointee to who the term presidential staffer properly applies,†he added.
The Cambridge PhD student, facing a treason felony charge, noted that he worked as a civil servant at the Foreign Affairs Ministry but was never appointed as presidential staffer.
He said, in April 2013, he was seconded by the Foreign Affairs Ministry to serve as a liaison officer.
However, “consistent with the practice of the Civil Service, I remained at all times a staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this role, I discharged my duties to the institution of the Civil Service and was subject at all times to the direction of the Civil Service, even at the Presidency.
“Also, I was at all times on my civil service pay, earning between ¢800 to ¢1000 net monthly.â€
Barker-Vormavor explained why he decided not to react to the claims of Abronye DC all this while.
“I have ignored all these allegations for the same reason one does not interrogate why a fly is drawn to excrement. A person who lives in the gutters craves companionship, and I have little appetite for the gutter politics the 4th Republic has normalised.â€
He is hoping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take steps to clarify his status as a foreign service officer during the period of his secondment to the office of the President.
Members of the clergy who recently visited former President John Dramani Mahama, had held similar talks with members of the Executive and Legislative arms of government.
According to Most Rev. Dr. Paul K. Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church of Ghana, who was leader of a delegation that met Mahama earlier this week, they had met among others, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
He also summarized the reason for their intervention as, taking proactive steps to forestall a recurrence of the violent scenes that were witnessed in Parliament during the post-2022 budget debate especially with the matter of the Electronic Transactions tax (E-Levy). Â
“We have come as heads of churches of the various associations and groupings in Ghana. Our history has it that the church has played a very significant role in our development and the welfare of our people.
“And so, the major stakeholders, when things come of concern, we are all to take it up and find answers and resolutions to it, so that at the end of the day what we preach and what governance is all about can be achieved to the glory of God, he added.
On the back of the chaos in Parliament, he added: “Christian bodies became alarmed and said will not sit but see how best we can together, find a solution to it. So we have made various approaches.â€
The list is below:
1 – Minister of Finance on two occasions 2 – Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3 – Some members of the Minority 4 – Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin 5 – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo their last meeting
Why the meeting with Mahama
Rev. Boafo explained that after all those meetings: “We have seen that there are other major stakeholders we need to make approaches to and see how best we can find answers to what is happening to us, looking at all the circumstances and the conditions around us.
“It became very necessary during our series of interventions and interactions … it became necessary that we cannot leave His Excellency the Former President behind but to also make a move to see him.
“And see how best we can all have discussions and look at what is happening to us in our country and if there is a way out by which we can all look at it and come to a resolution,†he added.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo against the oppression of people he (Akufo-Addo) feels have offended him.
The ex-president said Akufo-Addo could not continue to criminalise statements against him since offensive speech is a civil issue.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Mahama said,
“President Akufo-Addo, you cannot continue to oppress the people, criminalise speech when these matters are essentially civil in nature; if you feel offended by them.
The ex-president went on to list some actions by journalists that were wrongly criminalised, including the detention of radio and TV presenter Captain Smart and the recent arrest of radio presenter Oheneba Boamah Bennie who allegedly made offensive statements against the first family.
He lamented the silence of the senior journalists, the Ghana Journalist Association, and leaders of the various faith-based organisation in the country on frequent abuse of journalists by the government.
“It is even more sad that the Journalists Association and its senior members, many of our clergy and other moral leaders, scared because of the oppressive and dictatorial regime you are running, have remained quiet in the face of this disturbing development in our maturing democracy,” he said.
“This is a dangerous blueprint you are fashioning for our dear nation, and it must not be encouraged. Your actions as president have totally discredited your self-acquired accolade as a human rights lawyer and activist. Ghana has long emerged from the unfortunate past where journalists were cowed by incarceration and brutalisation,” he added.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed disappointment at hefty sums slapped on some radio stations whose licenses were recently reinstated by the National Communications Authority, NCA.
Among those stations were pro-National Democratic Congress stations Radio Gold and Radio XYZ whose operations were terminated under the current government for failure to settle some statutory payments.
Mahama is also worried that the NCA, which should ordinarily promote the growth of media outlets had rather turned into the hunter, crippling these outlets for offences that could have been sorted amicably without the extreme measure of closure.
“Radio Gold for example had been asked to pay 53,000 cedis for their license. Where will they get that money for a station that has been closed for God knows how long?
“It took my fundraising effort to get the funds for them to settle the cost to be able to get back into operation. It is not Radio Gold alone, several of those that were closed were slapped with these huge fines,†he submitted in an interview on Power FM / TV XYZ.
“They could have even been asked to pay in instalments. The order was that they needed to settle the amount within 60 days,†he appealed further.
Last month, the newly inaugurated governing board of the NCA under the chairmanship of Isaac Emmil Osei-Bonsu, has approved the licence applications placed in by Radio Gold, Radio XYZ and 131 others.
In a press statement, the NCA noted that two stations that applied for renewal and others, including Radio Gold, Radio XYZ which were shut down in 2019 have their licenses renewed.
“The Governing Board of the National Communications Authority (NCA), at a Board meeting held on 11th October 2021, approved the grant of a total of One Hundred and Thirty-Three (133) FM radio broadcasting authorizations which include new applications from entities whose FM radio stations were closed down after the 2017 FM Audit as well as existing stations which applied for renewal of their expired FM Radio broadcasting authorizations,†part of the release said.
The statement added that the applicants who have their licenses renewed will be obliged to attend a sensitization workshop on the terms and conditions of FM radio broadcasting authorizations in Ghana.
The workshop will give the applicants insight into the legal, regulatory and technical requirements for the establishment of radio stations in the country.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has criticized the Akufo-Addo administration for having nothing to show for the borrowings that the administration has engaged in over the past four and a half years in office.
He observed that the government borrows only for consumption, hence, the inability to point to projects being funded from borrowed monies.
“They are borrowing for only consumption. Between 2016, GHS120 billion debt, you have taken us to 375 billion in four and a half years for only consumption,†he said.
He further told the government to up its game to deal with the hardship Ghanaians are saddled with at the moment.
Mr Mahama said time is hard for Ghanaians.
The economy, in his view, is not doing well hence the hardships.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has criticized the Akufo-Addo administration for having nothing to show for the borrowings that the administration has engaged in over the past four and a half years in office.
He observed that the government borrows only for consumption, hence, the inability to point to projects being funded from borrowed monies.
“They are borrowing for only consumption. Between 2016, GHS120 billion debt, you have taken us to 375 billion in four and a half years for only consumption,†he said.
He further told the government to up its game to deal with the hardship Ghanaians are saddled with at the moment.
Mr Mahama said time is hard for Ghanaians.
The economy, in his view, is not doing well hence the hardships.
Speaking on TV XYZ, as part of his tour of the Greater Accra Region, Mr Mahama said, “I think that this government has to sit up.â€
Editor of the Whatsup news portal, David Tamakloe has advised former President John Mahama to channel his energy into working towards the 2024 election rather than crying foul over the 2020 elections.
According to the editor, it is good that the former President has identified what went wrong in the last election. However, it will be unreasonable to focus on the past without working for the future.
Speaking in an interview with Sefa-Danquah on the Happy Morning Show, he stated: “This is the time for former President Mahama to get his party together and for them to open their eyes in the next election because without that they will cry all the time that the ballot papers have been added and nothing will be done about it.
What they need to do is to get down there and prepare for 2024 so that nobody in their infantile imagination will think that they can just rule abysmally, deliver any kind of governance to the people and use the ballot box to retain power.â€
Former President John Mahama has accused the Electoral Commission of thumb-printing more than one million extra ballot papers in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to him, “over one million extra ballot papers were printed, which the EC claimed happened by mistake but on the day of the elections, some of the more than one million extra ballot papers had already been secretly thumb-printed in favour of the NPP.â€
However, EC boss Mrs. Jean Mensa in a High-Level Meeting of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Winneba, Central Region described the 2020 elections as historic for the transparency, credibility, cost-effectiveness, high turn-out and peaceful conduct that characterized it.
Former President John Mahama and the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday visited members of the party at the Frante branch in the Ejura constituency of the Ashanti Region, who were involved in an accident in the run-up to the December 2020 elections.
The November 21 accident, which occurred when the supporters were travelling to Ejura for a constituency rally, resulted in some deaths while a number of the NDC supporters including the Branch Chairman had their legs and arms amputated.
Ahead of his tour of the Ashanti Region to thank the people for their support and votes in the election, the NDC 2020 Presidential Candidate visited Frantie to console the families of the dead, thank the chiefs and people for their care for the injured and also personally visit the injured.
The family of the victims and the injured, speaking through the Branch Chairman for Frante thanked Mr Mahama for his support, through the MP for the area, for their welfare.
He but indicated that many of them are no longer able to go to their farms and have other challenges, and appealed to the party and President Mahama for assistance.
President Mahama presented ¢50,000 to the victims and announced that all those with amputations will receive prosthesis, an artificial replacement for a missing limb.
Others with any complications will also be given further treatment in Accra. He urged the MP for Ejura Sekyedumase, Bawa Braimah Mohammed, to facilitate with his office for the treatments.
President Mahama, accompanied by his running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang and other officials earlier paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Frante, his elders are and queen mother to thank them for their support.
A group calling itself the Young Patriots in Sissaland has said that they are no longer interested in a bid by the former president, John Dramani Mahama, to lead the country.
In a statement made available to GhanaWeb, the group said that all that is needed from the former president politically have been seen already and so, it would be needless for him to make any more attempts at returning to the high office.
Authored by Bawah Chakilia Latif, the Acting Communication Director of the group, he said that it is unconscionable that even after people have advised him against it, John Dramani Mahama will still be hatching plans of returning to office as president.
“After John Mahama’s humiliating defeat in 2016, his younger brother, Mr Ibrahim Mahama, told a group of senior journalists on behalf of John Dramani Mahama that John Dramani Mahama has given his all in politics to the NDC and Ghana and it is fair for him to rest.
“According to Mr Ibrahim Mahama, they have advised John Dramani Mahama not to make a comeback in 2020 and he has agreed with them. Unfortunately, a few days later, he started embarking on “Unity Walks†across the then ten regions of Ghana,” the statement said.
They continued that the fact that John Mahama eventually announced on Twitter that he is coming back, shows that he does not have the nation at heart.
They added that even if he wins the primaries at the National Democratic Congress level, he will suffer a massive defeat on the national scale.
“It appears former President John Dramani Mahama has mistaken the gullibility of the NDC members for all Ghanaians. In 2024 again, we will remind him and the NDC of the disdainful treatment that his government meted on us. We are well-discerning Ghanaians without short memories who are willing to remind former president John Dramani Mahama and the NDC that there is a tolerable level which our wisdom would be undermined,” it said.
Besides, the statement added, the former president has been at all levels of political administration and as such, there will be nothing new for him to present to the people and for which reason he should not even consider the thought.
“The good people of Ghana do not need former president John Dramani Mahama and the NDC in 2024. We have seen and felt it all in him. He had been a Member of Parliament, a deputy minister, a vice president and a president in the fourth republic. He has nothing again to prove,” the statement explained.
It has emerged that the government of Ghana paid $179 million to the company that executed the Saglemi Housing Project despite only $64 million worth of work on the ground.
This was revealed by the Attorney General in a fact sheet submitted to the Accra High Court and sighted by www.ghanaweb.com.
The Attorney General details that the contractor managed to work on 651.75 acres of land as opposed to the 2172 acres of land for which the entire project was billed for.
The court papers revealed further that of the 668 housing units executed by the contractors, not a single of them is suitable for residential use.
“Even though a total amount of $196,428,891.66 has been spent on the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, with the contractor having been paid $179,904,757.78, investigations revealed that the cost of works executed on the site, including consultancy services, is about $64,982,900.77. Only 651.75 acres of land out of the 2,172 acres of land made available by the MWRWH to the contractor for the project has been developed.
“Investigations further revealed that only 668 housing units were completed by the contractor. These houses are however not habitable. Not a single house under the project has been sold and the facility remains unpaid, resulting in huge financial loss to the Republic of Ghana.â€
Five persons including forme Works and Housing Ministers Collins Dauda and Kwaku Agyeman Mensah have been charged with 52 counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state over their roles in the execution of the Saglemi Housing deal.
The Executive Chairman of the company that undertook the project, Andrew Clocanas and former Chief Director of the Ministry Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu and Tetteh Angelo, the majority shareholder of Ridge Management Solutions DWC-LLC are the other accused persons.
Theophilus Tetteh Chai, the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rubbished claims that the umbrella family is trying to impose former President John Dramani Mahama on party members.
He however adds that if it is the wish of the party supporters to file Mr. Mahama then the party would have no option other than to file him as a candidate.
He was speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm.
He said if people want to contest in the presidential primaries they would not be prevented but if it is the wish of delegates to vote for Mahama, so be it.
He said these people may consider his performance and there is nothing people can do anything about it.
The former legislator indicated that over 6 million Ghanaians voted for Mahama in 2020 hence those claiming that he is a lame horse are only expressing their views.
He noted the party has taken stock of what happened in 2016 and 2020 and going forward, they will work towards victory for 2024.
Whilst waiting for the verdict from the Justices of the Supreme Court, President John Dramani Mahama and his Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur (now deceased), donned white linen jumper attire and sat quietly monitoring the court proceedings on TV.
After Justice William Atuguba, the President of the panel declared that John Dramani Mahama had been validly elected in the 2012 election, John Dramani Mahama and Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur were seen smiling and clapping their hands.
The two then hugged each other while some party members at the Jubilee House cheered them on.
President Mahama had an important phone call. Vice President Amissah-Arthur confirmed to journalists at the presidency that it was the NPP candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who had called to congratulate President Mahama on his victory.
How Akufo-Addo reacted in 2021
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia were earlier seen in a viral photo on social media seated in the comfort of the president’s office at the Jubilee House while watching the proceedings on TV.
The Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who delivered the two-hour-long plus verdict of the seven-member panel, is heard declaring: “your petition is dismissed without merit”.
In a video that has emerged after the judgement, the president and the vice president are seen celebrating in what can be described as a mild way, with the only more exciting aspect of what the video shows being the moment Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia momentarily claps his hands on the news of the verdict.
He then gets up from his seat, turns to President Akufo-Addo, who is still seated, greets him with an elbow in the coronavirus-style and takes a bow.
It is unclear if former President John Dramani Mahama has called to congratulate President Akufo-Addo like it was reported Akufo-Addo did in 2013.
The former President has, therefore, urged Ghanaians to disregard any rumour about the vaccine and avail themselves to be vaccinated in order to safeguard them against the virus.
Mr Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama were vaccinated on Tuesday, 2 March 2021 at the Police Hospital in Accra.
In a post on Facebook, the former President said: “Lordina and I this morning took our COVID-19 vaccine at the Police Hospital in Accra. I agreed to take the vaccine publicly, to encourage and assure all Ghanaians that the vaccines are safe.â€
He also stated that: “As a former Ambassador for the GAVI Alliance, I can confidently say that vaccines are useful in preserving our health. Ghanaians must, therefore, disregard all the rumours about the vaccine.â€
The former President also encouraged Ghanaians to continue to mask up and wash their hands regularly to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Ghana’s mass vaccination exercise against the deadly virus began on Tuesday, 2 March 2021.
Some 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in the country last week for the vaccination exercise.
The exercise is taking place in 43 districts with high infection rates.
They include 25 in the Greater Accra Region, 16 in the Ashanti Region, and two in the Central Region.
The first batch of people to be vaccinated include healthcare workers, frontline security personnel, persons with underlying medical conditions, persons 60 years and above, and frontline members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
The Petitioner in the 2020 Election Petition, John Dramani Mahama, is expected to file witness statements and the accompanying affidavits on his petition at the Supreme Court registry today, Thursday, January 21, 2021.
The Supreme court on Wednesday ordered the petitioner to do so by 12 noon on January 21, 2021.
The respondents will also file their processes on January 22, 2021. Meanwhile, should the parties after receiving the processes have any more processes, they should file by January 25.
A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court presided by Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has adopted five major issues that the Supreme Court would be considering for the 2020 Presidential elections.
The apex court after a pre-trial on Wednesday said the Court would be considering the following issues of whether or not the petition reveals any reasonable course of action.
The court will also be determining whether or not any of the candidates obtained majority votes, to be declared winner.
Another issue the apex court would be dealing with is whether or not the EC met the provision of Article 63 (3) of the constitution.
The panel said it will also determine whether or not the EC violated Article 63 (3) of the constitution and whether or not the allegation of the vote padding if considered will affect the vote obtained by the winner.
The hearing at the Supreme Court will commence on January 26, 2021.
Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah will lead a panel of seven justices hearing the 2020 presidential election petition filed by former president John Dramani Mahama.
The Chief Justice announced the other members of the panel at the beginning of the hearing today. The six other justices are as follows:
Her Ladyship Justice Mariama Owusu Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo His Lordship Justice Yaw Appau His Lordship Justice Samuel K. Marful-Sau His Lordship Justice Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher His Lordship Justice Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey
Today, during the case management or pre-trial stage, preliminary issues were heard by the court. Key decisions on day one included the clearance for live broadcast and for the petitioner to make some amendments.
The court has maximum 42 working days to give a ruling on the petition. The petitioner was in court today for hearing. Only one of the respondents was present in the person of the Electoral Commission chair. President Akufo-Addo was absent.
The Ghana Police Service deployed some of its personnel to carry out their duties at the Supreme Court as the hearing of the Mahama-Akufo-Addo election petition case commenced today.
As at the time GhanaWeb got to the Supreme Court, some of the policemen were seen at the entrance of the court monitoring the movement of both persons and cars that went to and fro the premises.
With the serene environment at the court premises, only a few lawyers could be seen moving about in their apparels.
The presidential election hearing was filed by John Dramani Mahama who is calling on the Supreme Court to order a rerun of the December 7, 2020 elections.
The NDC flagbearer in his petition to the court claims neither him nor his main contender, Akufo-Addo got more than the 50 per cent of the valid votes cast on the election day.
Meanwhile, the election petition will be broadcast live on television after the NDC requested for it.
Per the rules governing the case, judgement on the petition is expected to be delivered by February 10, 2021.
Apart from seeking to remove doubts and other reliefs in the yet-to-commence election petition, the petitioner and National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate in the just-ended polls, Mr John Dramani Mahama is also seeking to ensure that institutions in the country work effectively.
“I want a Ghana that our institutions of the state can be held to account where we can stand on principle and demand transparency without the risk of losing our livesâ€, the latter reacting in a televised message to Ghanaians after his party officials filed a petition on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.
“Indeed in 2012 when the election was called in my favour my opponent challenged the results as was his right and he took the matter to court. Eight long months of an election petition filed from destroying our democracy rather reinforced our commitment to it and affirmed the strength of our institutions particularly the Judiciary…â€, the former President recounts.
“Some people have asked me what I hope to gain by challenging the results of this election. Let me tell you! I want perhaps the very same thing that my opponent wanted when in 2012 he challenged the results of that electionâ€, Mr. Mahama said.
Background
Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the Supreme Court to annul the results of Election 2020.
Ex-Mahama further wants the court to order for a re-run of the polls hence the need to issue a fiat restraining President Akufo-Addo from holding himself as the President-elect.
Other reliefs
Other reliefs sought by the Former President include a declaration that the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, breached the 1992 constitution, specifically Article 63(3) with the declaration that she made on December 9, 2020.
Also, the former President is asking the apex court of the land to declare that based on the data contained in the declaration “no candidate satisfied†the more than 50 percent threshold required to be declared a winner of the presidential poll.
The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed that his party is challenging the results of the 2020 elections in the Supreme Court.
Mr Mahama said in a tweet “The National Democratic Congress has decided to proceed to the Supreme Court to contest the results of the rigged elections of December 7.”
“The decision follows a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our party on Tuesday in Accra. RespectMyVote.â€
He added “While in court, the NDC will continue all legitimate actions, including protests, to demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana.â€
The party has rejected results of the elections since they were declared on Wednesday, December 9 by Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) Jean Mensa.
Protests have been staged nationwide by supporters of the party to express their sentiments.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a firm decision to head to the Supreme Court to contest results of the December 7 elections.
The decision was taken on Tuesday, December 29.
“The NEC decided that the NDC will contest the results of the rigged elections in the Supreme Court and other appropriate fora,†a statement issued by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia after a NEC meeting announced.
“In addition, the party will continue all legitimate actions, including protestations, to press home its demands for the government of President Akufo-Addo to enforce the rule of law and protect life and property in Ghana and, in particular, to take all necessary measures to bring to swift justice those responsible for the murders and injuries and destruction of properties before, during and in the aftermath of the general elections.â€
Former President John Dramani Mahama celebrated Boxing Day with his children and other kids in his hometown Bole in the Savannah Region of northern Ghana.
The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) revealed that he has been doing this almost every year.
Mr. Mahama wrote on His Facebook page that “I returned to my hometown with my children to celebrate Boxing Day with the children of Bole. Together, we enjoyed our annual Christmas meal.
“This has been a tradition for many years, and one that my family and I always look forward to.
“My people have always welcomed me back home with prayers and an outpouring of love, since my days as their Member of Parliament.
he presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama and some members of the party have visited the families of those who lost their lives in clashes that erupted in the Odododiodoo constituency during the just-ended 2020 general elections.
Mr Mahama was accompanied by his running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and the Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye on Tuesday, 22 December 2020.
Two persons were confirmed dead in Odododiodoo after a gunfight and clashes erupted between the supporters of the two main political parties in the area on Monday, 7 December 2020.
The incumbent MP, who was re-elected, was arrested in connection with the clashes.
Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended elections John Dramani Mahama insists the results are “flawed and discreditedâ€.
He also says the declaration by the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) on Wednesday is a violation of the law.
He said Jean Mensa declared over 100 percent of the results, a clear case of a wrongful act.
“On account of this, my party is confident that what has happened is a violation of the law. It is a violation of due process and, therefore, tantamount to an illegality.†The former president expressed these sentiments as he addressed journalists on Thursday, December 10.
It comes a day after Mrs Mensa declared the presidential results in favour of incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr Mahama, who was president between 2012 and 2017, the EC fell for the influence of state machinery controlled by President Akufo-Addo as the Commission engaged in “blatant attempts at riggingâ€.
To him, this has taken the credibility of the Commission to an all-time low.
“It is also a violation of an understanding we hold dear in this country, an understanding that this is not dictatorship or a monarchy run by a single family for the benefit of a family.
“Ghana belongs to the people of Ghana, all of the people of Ghana.â€
He, therefore, announced his intention to challenge the results.
“We will take legitimate steps to reverse this travesty of justice.
“There is no doubt that every Ghanaian in this country voted for change. We did so both in the presidential and parliamentary elections.â€
Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended elections John Dramani Mahama insists the results are “flawed and discreditedâ€.
He also says the declaration by the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) on Wednesday is a violation of the law.
He said Jean Mensa declared over 100 percent of the results, a clear case of a wrongful act.
“On account of this, my party is confident that what has happened is a violation of the law. It is a violation of due process and, therefore, tantamount to an illegality.†The former president expressed these sentiments as he addressed journalists on Thursday, December 10.
It comes a day after Mrs Mensa declared the presidential results in favour of incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr Mahama, who was president between 2012 and 2017, the EC fell for the influence of state machinery controlled by President Akufo-Addo as the Commission engaged in “blatant attempts at riggingâ€.
To him, this has taken the credibility of the Commission to an all-time low.
“It is also a violation of an understanding we hold dear in this country, an understanding that this is not dictatorship or a monarchy run by a single family for the benefit of a family.
“Ghana belongs to the people of Ghana, all of the people of Ghana.â€
He, therefore, announced his intention to challenge the results.
“We will take legitimate steps to reverse this travesty of justice.
“There is no doubt that every Ghanaian in this country voted for change. We did so both in the presidential and parliamentary elections.â€
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo to concede defeat in the ongoing presidential election.
His comment comes on the back of the NDC projecting a win for its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, Asiedu Nketia charged President Akufo-Addo to place a congratulatory call to John Mahama for what he describes as a projected win.
“He [President Nana Addo] should call His Excellency John Mahama and congratulate him,†he said at the third in the series of press conferences held by the opposition party after Monday’s polls.
Mr Nketia also accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of conniving with the Electoral Commission to turn the tables round in its favour to take over Parliament.
He has therefore urged persons who have voted for NDC parliamentary candidates to ensure that ballots are protected to safeguard the seats they have already acquired in Parliament.
“I believe that the NPP is in a very uncomfortable situation because whatever they do, it is clear that NDC controls Parliament now so that is why they want the Electoral Commission to try and find ways to try to collate results that have been declared for our parliamentary candidate. That is why I am calling on the electorate to rise and protect their votes.â€
Ghana’s voting ended on Monday in 38,622 polling stations within the 16 regions across Ghana.
They cast their ballots in the general election to elect a president and 275 members of the parliament.
The voting process was generally peaceful except for two persons sustaining gunshot wounds after a shooting incident in one of the polling stations in Kasoa.
The tampering of presidential ballot papers in some polling stations in two constituencies was also witnessed, but the EC reacted swiftly.
The EC has assured the public it will declare the results within 24 hours after the end of voting.
The chiefs and elders of Ayirebi in the Ofoase Ayirebi constituency of the Eastern Region on Wednesday declared their support for the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, ahead of the December 7, 2020, general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the chiefs during a visit by Mr Mahama, Okyeame Oman-Boadi said the support of the chiefs and elders of Akyem Ayirebi for the NDC presidential candidate is non-negotiable.
Okyeame Oman-Boadi said the government has failed to develop their area, adding all the development projects in the Ayirebi area, including electricity, Senior High School block, clinic and potable water were all initiated by the NDC government.
“If the NDC has been able to do all these for Ayirebi and its environs, why can’t we give them our votes? So we are assuring Mr Mahama that the people of Ofoase Ayirebi are ready to give him our votes and also support his parliamentary candidate,” Okyeame Oman-Baodi declared.
He appealed to Mr Mahama to create a new district for Ayirebi and urged him to upgrade their clinic to a district hospital status when he is elected on December 7, 2020.
With 6 days to the general elections, the United Front Party (UFP) has thrown its weight behind the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the presidential race.
This comes after the party was disqualified by the electoral commission at the early stages and several attempts to make the court hear their case proved futile.
In a press release copied to GhanaWeb, the party urged its supporters to vote massively for the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama on December 7.
The release highlighted that “we have therefore called you here to declare support and endorse H.E John Dramani Mahama and the NDC in the upcoming presidential election. Our party arrived at this conclusion at a just ended National Executive Committee meeting. We are therefore calling on all our rank and file and all our party supporters to canvas for votes and also vote massively for H.E John Dramani Mahama in the presidential election.â€
The UFP explained that Akufo-Addo has in the past years mismanaged the economy hence, the need to be replaced by John Dramani Mahama to put the country back on track.
“The level of corruption, incompetence, state of insecurity, nepotism, family and friends and the height of deception by this Akufo-Addo sakawa government is sickening to say the least. We are therefore using this platform to plead with all Ghanaians to join the rescue mission and vote massively for H.E John Dramani Mahama, to put this country back to the path of progress and development,” the release added.
Naba R. S. M. Sayeed Musah Abubakari Sadik, Chief of Gambigo in the Bolgatanga East Constituency, has enskinned Mr John Dramani Mahama, Presidential Candidate, National Democratic Congress (NDC), as Naba Amalitinga I (King of Development).
The enskinment was in recognition of the numerous development projects that Mr Mahama brought to the traditional area during his first term of office as President.
Naba Sayeed Musah Abubakari Sadik conferred the honour on Mr Mahama at durbar of the chiefs and people of Gambigo and surrounding communities in the Bolgatanga East Constituency.
The Chief noted that during Mr Mahama’s tenure, the traditional area had its fair share of the national cake, such as the Senior High School (SHS) E-block complex, which was now serving nearby communities such as Zuarungu and Bolgatanga Central.
The Chief mentioned rural electrification projects, roads and bridges construction projects as some of the achievements of the NDC Government in the area.
He also lauded Mr Mahama for appointing Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Member of Parliament of the area to serve as Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General during his first term.
Naba Sayeed Musah Abubakari Sadik appealed to Mr Mahama that should he be given the mandate by Ghanaians on December 7 to adding boarding facilities to the Gambigo Community Day SHS.
He also asked for the fixing of some roads and bridges, which were abandoned since the Mahama administration left office.
The Chief wished both Mr Mahama and Mr Ayine well in the December 7 polls.
Mr Mahama thanked the Chief and Elders of Gambigo for the honour done him and the NDC and gave the assurance that the Chief that his next administration would add boarding facilities to the Gambigo SHS for boys and girls respectively.
This, he said would enable school children who come from communities that were a bit far to be able have a place to stay and learn in order for them to make their full potential.
He noted that their roads and bridges would be fixed by his next administration.
“I am happy to see this beautiful school building standing here, I think it is a mark of some of the good works that we left, not only in the education sector, but in the health sector, in water, provision of electricity, good quality roads across the lengths and breaths of this country.”
He said quality education was one of the most important ingredients needed in creating the human resource that any country needed.
“And it is important for us to continue to provide the infrastructure so that all our children can have access to good quality education,” he said.
Mr Mahama said: “We introduced the free SHS programme in 2015, that is when inaugurated it, I declared the free SHS begun in 2015. And the video is there where I announced the beginning of free SHS.
“By the time we were leaving office in 2016, we had all the day students on free SHS and we had added 146,000 boarding students to the free SHS programme. “That is the fact. And so if some comes to tell you that when NDC comes it will cancel the free SHS that person is obviously telling a big lie because we cannot cancel what we have started.”
He said if the current Government had used their method of implementing free SHS, they would not have ended with the double-track system and the next NDC administration would maintain the free SHS programme and improve upon it.
Mr Mahama reiterated that his next administration would eliminate the double-track system within one year and appealed to Ghanaians to vote the NDC back to power to continue its good works.
Mr Ayine thanked Mr Mahama for providing the Gambigo Community with an E-block.
“I brought you here tonight to thank you profusely for the E-block that you gave to the chiefs and people of Gambigo,” he said.
“Your Government gave us this beautiful edifice, which is serving to enhance the educational needs of the communities in the Bolgatanga East Constituency.”
The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated his commitment to the implementation of Free Primary Healthcare when he is elected in the December 7, 2020, presidential election.
Addressing NDC supporters at Agogo on Friday as part of his campaign tour of the Ashanti Region, he said Free Primary Healthcare will remove cost as a barrier to healthcare and ensure that all Ghanaians are able to access healthcare for free.
“The implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare plan will cost the government GH¢ 1.4 billion annually and it will be funded through Ghana’s oil revenue”, Mr Mahama said.
He explained that the Free Primary Healthcare plan, when implemented, will ensure that all Ghanaians get free access to healthcare in District Hospitals, Polyclinics, Health Centres and Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds.
He said the Free Primary Healthcare will complement the National Health Insurance Scheme, especially as currently only 40 per cent of the population are able to access healthcare because the cost is a barrier to healthcare services.
“The Free Primary Health Care plan will deliver preventive health, health promotion interventions and curative care, and will seek to provide quality healthcare for all Ghanaians at no cost to the individual”, Mr Mahama added.
He, therefore, urged the electorates to vote for him in the upcoming December 7 general elections to enable him to work hard to provide jobs, implement Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Free T-VET) and state-sponsored National Apprenticeship Programme to empower the youth with employable skills.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has chided the Police Administration over their failure to sanction some police officers who were captured in a viral video cautioning Ghanaians against any acts of violence on election day.
In the viral video, an armed police officer was seen asking voters to go home after they cast their ballot on December 7, 2020.
The police officer who was in a brown uniform and headgear said the election was not about violence hence Ghanaians should not engage in violence otherwise the police will deal with them ruthlessly.
Speaking in twi, the officer said: “The election is not about violence. If you finish voting on election day, go home. Do not engage in violence because if you do, the police are prepared to deal ruthlessly with youâ€.
Reacting to this, the former president described this as a threat and indiscipline.
According to him, the officers who were seen in the video must be sanctioned because they acted unprofessionally.
He opined that the service has lost its trust and professionalism because the ruling government has recruited its vigilante groups into the service.
The police after the video went viral admitted that the officers in the video are trained.
In a statement issued to announce the official uniforms for Election Day, the police said: “the persons seen in the video are sworn officers of the Ghana Police Service, who were engaged in special operations of a route march in the Upper East region. The brown uniform and headgear worn by some of them are training apparel.
In view of public enquiries on police uniforms, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh has directed that Police Officers performing Election 2020 duties should wear the traditional police uniforms which are in the colours of blue-black, black and police camouflage.â€
Mr. Mahama reacting to this raised concerns over the production of the uniforms and the companies behind them.
He was worried there has been a lack of transparency in this regard and asked the police service to be transparent with Ghanaians.
Meanwhile, he has expressed fear the governing NPP will recruit some vigilante persons into the security services for their agenda.
He asserted in an interview on CTV on Sunday, November 22, 2020, the service must not allow the government to use them for their selfish interest.
