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Tag: Paul Adom-Otchere

  • Paul Adom-Otchere, two others detained by OSP over suspected GACL contract irregularities

    Paul Adom-Otchere, two others detained by OSP over suspected GACL contract irregularities

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged and detained the host Former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom-Otchere, and two others.

    Mr Adom-Otchere is under investigation in connection with a revenue assurance contract between the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and a private firm owned by the proprietor of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).

    Mr Adom-Otchere is required to present two landed properties (of no specific value) registered in his name. However, he has informed the OSP that he does not own landed property in Ghana.

    As a result, he remains in custody until the bail terms are satisfied. The two other persons are Otchere Kwame Baffour Awuah, Group Executive, Commercial Services, GACL.

    An Albert Adjetey Adjei-Laryea, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Devnest Systems. The OSP is examining possible procurement breaches, including a sole-sourced contract awarded to a company other than the one approved by the GACL Board.

    Per reports, in an official letter dated July 25, 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has named Paul Adom-Otchere as a suspect.

    Reacting to the invitation, Paul Adom-Otchere noted that this is a “witch-hunt” as the relevant management officials are available and were directly involved in the operational decision.

    Meanwhile, Ghanaian investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has, in a yet-to-be-aired report, revealed that something untoward has or had happened at the Kotoka International Airport.

    In a Facebook post titled “SML DISGUISED AT KOTOKA”, he stated that the “immediate past GACL Board Chairman, Paul Adom Otchere; the Managing Director of GACL, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare; and the PPA CEO, Frank Mantey, have questions to answer to Ghanaians.”

    In June this year, the Office of the Special Prosecutor searched the Tema and Osu offices belonging to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML). The activities of SML came to light years ago after Manasseh Azure Awuni raised contractual breaches in a deal involving Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).

    The original purpose of the GRA-SML contract was to boost revenue assurance in vital sectors of Ghana’s economy, including the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the minerals and metals value chain.

    The goal was to streamline revenue collection, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in these high-revenue sectors.

    Following concerns, an in-depth audit was carried out by international firm KPMG, commissioned by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The audit was launched to examine the contractual agreements between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and SML, with a particular focus on the procedures and approvals related to the contract.

    The KPMG audit uncovered significant procedural errors and regulatory violations in awarding the contract. Specifically, the GRA did not obtain the required approvals from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and failed to seek parliamentary oversight before finalizing the agreement with SML

    GRA entered into six (6) service agreements with SML, utilising the single-source method without obtaining approval from PPA, as outlined below:

    a) Transaction Audit Services—1 June 2018

    b) Contract Extension—1 January 2019

    c) External Price Verification Services—1 April 2019

    d) Consolidation Services Agreement (Transaction Audit & External Verification Services)—3 October 2019

    e) Measurement Audit of Downstream Petroleum Products—3 October 2019

    f) Addendum to Measurement Audit for Downstream Petroleum Products Agreement—29 July 2020.

    The audit report also revealed that SML owes the government over GHC31 million in taxes.

    During the period from 1 September 2020 to 30 April 2021, a bulk payment to SML covering invoices for an 8-month period did not have VAT and WHT deductions, amounting to GHE13.38 million.

    This contradicts GRA’s standard practice of deducting such taxes for payments to SML between 1 June 2020 and 31 August 2023.

    Additionally, SML failed to fulfil its statutory obligations by neither filing returns nor remitting these taxes to GRA.

    Pursuant to Section 71(1) of the RA Act, the accrued interest on the tax liability is estimated at GHC18.50 million owed by SML to GRA as of 31 January 2024. Consequently, the total liability incurred by SML amounts to GHC31.88 million.

    In May 2024, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, noted that the then Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had a role to play in the controversial deal.

    “The SML or SMEL deal is a clear example of what Justice Dotse described as a create, loot and share. One thing Ghanaians must bear in mind is that all of these happened with the tacit approval of the then Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.”

    “As usual, he is trying to run under the radar and people are failing to realise, the key cardinal role he played in this entire arrangement,” he stated while speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, May 25.

    In February this year, SML dragged Azure Awuni to court, claiming that Manasseh referred to its agreement with the government as “the biggest scam” and labeled the deal as “shady” while branding the entire situation “the SML scandal.”

    Last month, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) granted bail to Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), Evans Adusei and three others who were arrested for their involvement in contracts between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and SML for revenue assurance services.

    The rest of the suspects granted bail are Philip Mensah, former deputy commissioner of Legal GRA and now legal consultant to SML; Joseph Kuruk and Faustina Adjorkor, both staff of the Public Procurement Authority; and Kofi Nti, former Commissioner General of GRA.

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on June 25 arrested Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Commissioner-General of the GRA; Isaac Crentsil, ex-Commissioner of Customs and now General Manager at Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML); and Christian Tetteh Sottie, former Technical Advisor and now MD/CEO of SML.

    These three individuals were detained after failing to meet bail conditions. The arrests are linked to ongoing investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of contracts between the GRA and SML for revenue assurance services.

    The probe also seeks to verify SML’s claims that its services have been saving the nation significant revenues.

    In July, the OSP declared former Chef de Cabinet (Technical Advisor) at the Finance Ministry, Ernest D. Akore, wanted over his alleged involvement in corruption-related offences concerning the Revenue Assurance Contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).

    In a public notice served by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Wednesday, July 16, the Office noted that the 67-year-old likely possesses dual citizenship (Ghana and America) and is probably in hiding in the US, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, or South Africa.

    An arrest warrant for Mr. Akore has been issued by the High Court’s Criminal Division under the case title Republic v. Ernest D. Akore.

    To aid his arrest, the OSP has urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mr Akore to alert the Office by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 0554494499/0554484488.

    .

  • Paul Adom-Otchere dragged to court for defamation, plaintiff demands GHC40m in damages

    Paul Adom-Otchere dragged to court for defamation, plaintiff demands GHC40m in damages

    The former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Dr. Tony Aubynn, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Paul Adom-Otchere, host of Good Evening Ghana. The suit, filed on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, also names Ignite Media Group as the second defendant.

    Dr. Aubynn, who currently serves as the Abakoma-Akyempimhene of the Damang-Wassa Division within the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area in the Western Region, alleges that remarks made by Mr. Adom-Otchere on his show were defamatory and intended to tarnish his reputation among “right-thinking members of society.”

    The plaintiff is seeking a High Court order in Accra to compel Mr. Adom-Otchere to issue a “retraction and an unqualified apology” using the same media platforms where the alleged defamatory statements were made.

    Additionally, Dr. Aubynn is requesting a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants and their associates from making further similar publications. He is also demanding general damages of GH¢30 million for the harm caused to his reputation, as well as punitive and exemplary damages of GH¢10 million.

    According to the plaintiff, the remarks portrayed him as “a dishonest, selfish, hypocritical, unpatriotic, corrupt, dishonorable, unscrupulous member of society who has the habit of inciting illegal miners to act in a manner as to destroy the environment.” These statements, he contends, “in their true and natural sense, have exposed the Plaintiff to public ridicule and contempt in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.”

    In his statement of claim, Dr. Aubynn highlighted several particulars of malice, stating that:

    • “The Defendants deliberately published the said defamatory statements and caused same to be widely circulated and distributed, knowing very well that same were false and/or with no honest belief in the truthfulness of the claims, to whip up negative public sentiments against the Plaintiff.”
    • “The Defendants deliberately, maliciously, and/or recklessly published the said impugned publications on the said show without considering the extent to which making such untruths can go to harm the reputation of the Plaintiff.”
    • “The 1st Defendant actually lied confidently and repeatedly that the statements made by the said ‘second speaker’ were made by the Plaintiff, in order to achieve his objective of defaming the Plaintiff.”

    Dr. Aubynn further stated that the defendants “failed, neglected, and/or deliberately refused or failed to contact the Plaintiff directly to clear all or any doubts about whether or not the Plaintiff was in fact the second speaker or made the statements ascribed to him.”

    The lawsuit, which underscores the plaintiff’s claims of malicious intent and disregard for journalistic standards, seeks to hold the defendants accountable for the alleged damage caused to his reputation.

  • Bawumia has changed the politics of Ghana and Africa – Paul Adom-Otchere

    Bawumia has changed the politics of Ghana and Africa – Paul Adom-Otchere

    Journalist with Metro TV, Paul Adom-Otchere, has lauded the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for introducing what he believes is a new approach to political campaigning in Ghana and Africa.

    He noted that, unlike previous candidates, Mr Bawumia’s campaign has been focused on articulating policy initiatives and achievements, much like political campaigns in advanced democracies such as the UK.

    Mr Adom-Otchere made this remark deemed as biased by some Ghanaians during a media engagement by Dr Bawumia on Sunday, August 26, 2024.

    “I have never seen a presidential candidate, whether in opposition or in government focusing his campaign to the people about policy initiatives and policies that have been achieved.”

    “They were always articulating policies. What could be done? You will find here in all of those historical elections that we were not doing that until Mahamudu Bawumia arrived on the scene. Mr Vice President, whatever happens in December, you have changed the politics of Ghana and Africa for a long time to come

  • How Paul Adom-Otchere bought Lordina Mahama’s car

    Paul Adom-Otchere, host of the “Good Evening Ghana” show, provided a detailed account of how he acquired Lordina Mahama‘s car.

    The Metro TV journalist stated that he had a cordial relationship with former President John Dramani Mahama and his wife during the time when Mahama served as Minister of Communications.

    Adom-Otchere mentioned that his residence was not far from the President’s home, and he would often visit with his mother.

    Speaking on the subject, he recounted a particular day when he visited the Mahamas’ residence with his mother and learned that Lordina Mahama was selling her vehicle.

    Without hesitation, he decided to purchase it, as he narrated on his show.

    “I bought Lordina Mahama’s car back then when Mahama used to serve as a Deputy Minister. I used to frequent their place with my mom on a daily basis,” Adom-Otchere shared.

    He also recalled how his mother advised him not to be overly critical on NPP and NDC.

    His comments have sparked mixed reactions on social media.

    Watch video below:

  • Paul Adom-Otchere shares analysis of how cross-examination of Serwaa Amihere in court could go

    Paul Adom-Otchere shares analysis of how cross-examination of Serwaa Amihere in court could go

    Host of Good Evening Ghana show on Metro TV, Paul Adom-Otchere, has waded into the conversation surrounding the leaked romantic video involving media personality, Serwaa Amihere and Businessman Henry Fitz.

    In the latest episode of the show, Paul gave an illustration of a cross examination Serwaa Amihere might face by lawyers of Henry Fitz in court.

    Henry Fitz, a former lover of media personality, Serwaa Amihere, together with two others, have been dragged to court by The Republic over the non-consensual sharing of an intimate image.

    In a writ sighted by The Independent Ghana, Henry Fitz’s actions and those of Edem Saviour Ketti and Candylove Kwakyewaa Ababio are contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (ACT29) and Section 67(1) (2) of Cybersecurity Act 2020 Act 1038.

    But a police report reveals that the three individuals did demand an amount of GH¢20,000.00 to be sent within a minute, or else Serwaa’s nude videos would be posted.

    On the 3rd of December 2023, Serwaa Amihere’s makeup artist, Colleen Nyin Affel-Som called to inform her that someone had texted her demanding an amount of GHC5,000.00 with the pretext that he had her nude pictures.

    The said amount should be sent to the MTN mobile money account number →0558247205, which bears the name Edem Saviour Ketti.

    Serwaa is said to have sent the money, yet still, the group went ahead and posted nude pictures of the media personality on social media handles.

    According to Paul Adom-Otchere, one of the questions Serwaa may answer would be if she filed a complaint to the police when she was blackmailed.

    He noted that if Serwaa had failed to file a complaint, she could be found complicit.

    Below is Paul Adom-Otchere’s analysis.

  • Paul Adom-Otchere jumps to the ‘rescue’ of SML; accuses Manasseh of forgery

    Host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, Paul Adom-Otchere, has defended Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) accused of unlawfully receiving a 10-year contract with an annual payment of $100 million from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

    In a December 2023 investigative report, The Fourth Estate implicated Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ministry of Finance in a contentious contract.

    The report alleged that GRA had granted SML a purported 10-year contract with an annual payment of $100 million, raising concerns about possible irregularities. SML refuted this claim, asserting that it had a five-year contract instead.

    The GRA, in a statement on December 20, 2023, maintained that proper procurement procedures were followed. On January 3, 2024, SML welcomed President Akufo-Addo’s directive to suspend its ongoing revenue assurance operations and undergo an audit of its contract with the GRA and the Ministry of Finance.

    Reacting to this, Paul Adom-Otchere has alleged the Fourth Estate team led by Manasseh Azure put out fake documents to push their narrative. He failed to indicate the exact documents used. But he still called on the Attorney-General to take the media team on at the court.

    “I stood here and said that the SML is a good one and that the allegations that had been made by the Fourth Estate by were hogwash. We found out that Fourth Estate in keeping with their perceived criminality forged documents. We put out a video from here and they went on Facebook and responded with some statement. They forged that document. We know that. The Fourth Estate in wanting to show that the contract was signed for a number of years perpetrated forgery to all their readers. They should be charged for forgery by the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Special Prosecutor, if he is doing his work well.”

    Already, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has initiated an investigation into the controversial contract between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

    The focus of the probe is on potential breaches of procurement processes and allegations of corruption and corruption-related activities.

    Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo appointed KPMG, an audit, tax, and advisory services firm, to conduct an immediate audit.

  • Anas told German children he makes money from ‘lies’ and ‘tips’ – Paul Adom-Otchere reveals

    The host of “Good Evening Ghana,” Paul Adom Otchere, has alleged that investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas admitted to making money through the dissemination of ‘lies’ and ‘tips’ while engaging with German children.

    This revelation, as per Adom-Otchere, raises concerns about the credibility of Anas’ journalistic work.

    During one of his shows, Adom-Otchere accused Anas of prioritizing financial gain over ethical journalism practices, suggesting that the journalist’s commitment to the truth may be compromised.

    Anas has earned worldwide recognition for his undercover investigations, unveiling corruption and wrongdoing in diverse sectors.

    Adom-Otchere, however, claims that Anas is driven by excessive greed and questions the motivations behind some of his high-profile investigations.

    In addition to targeting Anas, Adom-Otchere extended similar allegations to the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng.

    He labeled both Mr Agyebeng and Anas as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and deemed them “wicked people.”

    “That day that Kissi Agyebeng was made special prosecutor, we should all have atoned for our sins and begged God for mercy on Ghana, praying that such wicked people no longer hold positions of influence. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, wicked people—they don’t inspire anything; they are just greedy. May the Lord forgive them,” he added.

    Adom-Otchere suggested that the day Mr Agyebeng assumed the role of Special Prosecutor should have been a moment for collective introspection and repentance for the nation, expressing concerns about such allegedly unscrupulous individuals holding influential positions.

    Adom-Otchere concluded by asserting that the partnership between Kissi Agyebeng and Anas involves fabricating lies to tarnish the images of individuals for financial gain.

  • Video: Angry Paul Adom-Otchere wages war on “greedy” Anas

    Video: Angry Paul Adom-Otchere wages war on “greedy” Anas

    Host of “Good Evening Ghana,” Paul Adom-Otchere, has raised questions about the integrity of investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

    In a recent episode of his show, Adom-Otchere passionately expressed his grievances against Anas, renowned for his undercover investigative work that has exposed corruption and wrongdoing across various sectors.

    Adom-Otchere accused Anas of harboring excessive greed and questioned the journalist’s motivations behind some of his high-profile investigations.

    His disapproval extended to Anas’s methods and approach in conducting undercover investigations, with Adom-Otchere alleging that the journalist prioritizes financial gains over ethical journalism practices.

    Furthermore, Adom-Otchere leveled similar accusations at the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, claiming that both Kissi Agyebeng and Anas are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and “wicked people.”

    He suggested that the day Mr Agyebeng was appointed as Special Prosecutor should have been a moment for collective introspection and repentance for the nation’s sins.

    Adom-Otchere remarked, “That day that Kissi Agyebeng was made special prosecutor, we should all have atoned for our sins and begged God for mercy on Ghana, praying that such wicked people no longer hold positions of influence. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, wicked people—they don’t inspire anything; they are just greedy. May the Lord forgive them.”

    He added that the duo, Kissi Agyebeng and Anas, are working together to fabricate lies and tarnish the image of individuals for financial gains.

    He specifically called on the Special Prosecutor to clear the name of the former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi.

    Mr Nyantakyi was removed from his position following allegations of fraud and corruption, as documented in Anas’s investigative exposé known as “Number 12.”

    The documentary purportedly reveals Nyantakyi accepting cash and gifts, as well as engaging in influence peddling.

    In one segment, Mr Nyantakyi was heard stating, “I have the president [Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo] in my pocket” during discussions about a potentially lucrative deal with individuals posing as ‘fake Arabs’ in Dubai.

    Subsequent to the documentary’s release, the president ordered Mr Nyantakyi’s arrest to facilitate an investigation into the actions captured on tape.

  • “Wicked people” – Paul Adom-Otchere jabs Kissi Agyebeng, Anas

    “Wicked people” – Paul Adom-Otchere jabs Kissi Agyebeng, Anas

    Host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, Paul Adom-Otchere has lambasted Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, and investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas for wasting the time of Ghanaians over the alleged persecution of former Minister of State for Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.

    President Akufo-Addo on November 14, 2022 requested the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences involving Mr. Adu Boahen contained in an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Economy published by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his associates operating under the corporate name of Tiger Eye P.I.

    Tiger Eye P.I. audio visually recorded Mr Adu Boahen in the act of his commission of corruption and corruption-related offences. Undercover agents of Tiger Eye P.I., posing as businessmen who were interested in investing in Ghana, met with Mr. Adu Boahen and tabled their investment plans and proposals to him.

    It was reported that sensing an opportunity to cash-in on his position as a Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Adu Boahen demanded twenty per cent (20%) of the value of the proposed initial investment or ten per cent (10%) upfront payment of the value of the proposed initial investment and post-investment sharing of the proceeds of the investment.

    During the OSP’s investigation, Mr. Adu Boahen is said to have stated that he politely accepted the cash gift in order not to offend the sensibility of a potential wealthy investor looking to invest half a billion United States dollars in Ghana.

    For the OSP, it was “improper” for Charles Adu Boahen to bargain for twenty percent of the value of the proposed investment and his receipt of a cash gift of US$40,000.00 from the supposed sheikh.

    “Mr. Adu Boahen exhibited lack of sound judgment. His claim that he accepted the cash gift to avoid offending the supposed sheikh lies very thinly; and his suggestion of the payment of an appearance fee of Two Hundred Thousand United States dollars (US$200,000.00) to the Vice President was quite reckless – especially as the Vice President was unaware of the business he was conducting and had not tasked him to demand money of whatever description on his behalf,” the OSP added.

    According to the OSP, the indices point to the conclusion that Mr. Adu Boahen’s principal motivation was his own personal gain though he intimated to the supposed sheikh that he was driven by the potential developmental benefits to Ghana of the proposed investment.

    The actions of Mr. Adu Boahen tantamount to trading in influence or influence peddling, the OSP said. This is the practice of using one’s influence or connections in public office or with persons in public office to obtain favours or preferential treatment for oneself or for another person, usually in return for payment.

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in October 2023, therefore, directed the closure of investigation in respect of allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences involving former Minister of State for Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.

    Drawing similarities between the allegations levelled against former FIFA Council Member, Kwasi Nyantakyi and Charles Adu Boahene, Mr Adom-Otchere called on the OSP to come and clear the former’s name and restore his reputation.

    He accused both Anas and Kissi Agyebeng of being greedy and having it out for the two individuals.

    In June 2018, Nyantakyi was captured on film accepting $65,000 in cash from an undercover reporter, who was actually journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

    “They do the same thing to Charles Adu Boahen. They call Charles Adu Boahen somewhere and give him 40,000 dollars and they film it. After we mounted pressure on Missi Agyebeng and after so much money. How did the pressure come? The pressure came because we made reference to money. So much money.

    “Then Kissi Agyebeng comes embarrassingly to come and clear Charles Adu Boahen. Now viewers, have a look at this. The circumstances of the Charles Adu Boahen video is the same circumstances as Kwesi Nyantakyi’s video. If therefore Kissi Agyebeng, one of the principal actors of both videos.

    “That day Kissi Agyebeng was appointed Special Prosecutor, I don’t know that day, we have to ask God to atone our sins and not to deliver us wicked people like this anymore. Wolves in sheep’ clothing. They inspire nothing. They are just greedy. Greed is in their hearts and minds. May the Lord forgive them.

    “Kissi Agyebeng came to say Charles Adu Boahen has done nothing wrong. It stands to reason therefore that Kwasi Nyantakyi’s did nothing wrong,” Mr Adom-Otchere said.

    The footage was aired by BBC Africa’s investigations unit, Africa Eye. Mr Nyantakyi believed the cash to be part of a sponsorship deal for the Ghana FA, an organization he had been presiding over since 2005.

    As a result of the documentary’s revelations, Nyantakyi lost his positions as FIFA Council Member and 1st Vice President of CAF, the Confederation of African Football.

  • Kissi Agyebeng works with evil people – ‘Bitter’ Paul Adom Otchere

    Kissi Agyebeng works with evil people – ‘Bitter’ Paul Adom Otchere

    Host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has accused the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, of working with an “evil” group of individuals who do not seek the best interests of Ghanaians.

    In one of his shows, Mr Adom-Otchere noted that he was quite familiar with the individuals in question but failed to disclose their identities.

    He was, however, convinced that these individuals, together with Mr Agyebeng, are not working for the betterment of the country.

    “He works with those clad faces; he works with evil people. Yes, I’ll say it evil again; they are evil people. Those his cabal; that’s his ring; they are evil. I know them well, they are evil people. That ring that he belongs to they are evil people,” he said.

    Mr Adom-Otchere made this allegation against Mr Kissi Agyebeng while also accusing him of hiring a majority of individuals who lack legal background or legal education at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

    According to the journalist, there are 300 individuals working at the OSP and out of this total figure, just 10 are legal practitioners.

    “From the information that we picked up yesterday, here is this guy who has employed in his office 300 people. The OSP has employed 300 persons at a matter of public record. Now look at the distribution here, only 10 of them are lawyers. He employs 300 in his office. The 300 on the taxpayers money, only 10 are lawyers.

    “Office of Special Prosecutor, what work are they doing there? Prosecutors work, when you go to the attorney general’s division where they are prosecuting and you see 100 people, 99 of them are lawyers because it is a lawyer’s work, it’s not marketing people’s work,” he said.

    He further noted that some 80 individuals have been employed to take up research and media work. Mr Adom-Otchere such a figure is preposterous as big-time media houses in the country do not employ the services of such a number of research workers.

    “Now check out, 80 of the people he has employed are media and research. Is he a TV station, he has employed 80 people as media and research sitting at the office of the special prosecutor.

    “Even we here Metro TV even the GBC they have plenty people other big TV stations, TV3 do they have 80 media research staff? What’s he doing there, what are they doing there and who and who does he work with?” he quizzed.

    He has therefore called on the Special Prosecutor to render an account to Ghanaians.

    Last week, the Office of the Special Prosecutor held a press conference where Mr Agyebeng condemned the interference by the judiciary in the OSP’s work.

  • Kofi Bentil rejects unfavorable comparison with journalist Paul Adom-Otchere

    Kofi Bentil rejects unfavorable comparison with journalist Paul Adom-Otchere

    Vice President of IMANI Africa and a lawyer, Kofi Bentil, has expressed his displeasure at being compared to journalist Paul Adom-Otchere.

    The unfavorable comparison, initiated by pro-opposition National Democratic Congress activist Hanan-Confidence Abdul in a Meta verified post with public audience settings, was deemed insulting by Kofi Bentil.

    “Clearly, Kofi Bentil is the educated version of Paul Adom-Otchere,” Hanan Confidence Abdul wrote.

    In a reply on Facebook that received over 100 reactions, Kofi Bentil said he found it insulting.

    “That’s an insult. You’re off,” he said.

    The Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, encountered criticism from elements within the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) after publicly endorsing Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer primaries.

    Despite the backlash, Bentil did not clarify the specific reasons he found the comparison between him and journalist Paul Adom-Otchere insulting.

    Paul Adom-Otchere, a Ghanaian broadcast journalist, has been the host of “Good Evening Ghana,” a popular current affairs TV program in Ghana, for nearly 30 years.

    Beyond his media career, he served as a board member of the National Communications Authority and later assumed the position of Chairperson of the Board of Ghana Airports Company Limited.

    Adom-Otchere attended Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School for his secondary education and pursued higher education at the University of Ghana, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Classics.

    Subsequently, he studied Law at the same university, and he furthered his education at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, obtaining a Master of Science in Development Economics.

    “The NPP entreats its members to remain true to their duties as per Article 3(5) of the party Constitution. We further call upon our members to bear in mind that the Party’s focus is to unite its ranks and rally the support of Ghanaians to make history by winning the 2024 general elections,” the statement said.

  • “I am not a political animal” – Domelevo reacts to rumours of becoming NDC running mate

    “I am not a political animal” – Domelevo reacts to rumours of becoming NDC running mate

    Former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has unequivocally dispelled any speculation surrounding his potential candidature as the running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the upcoming elections.

    During an interview on TV XYZ on October 24, 2023, Domelevo firmly asserted that he is not drawn towards a career in politics. Instead, he emphasised that his primary focus lies in the sphere of ensuring correction and accountability, distancing himself from any political aspirations.

    “I would like to make it clear that on the political one, where somebody is talking about running mate, I am not a political animal.

    “I don’t think any party that makes the mistake of choosing me as a running mate will win the election, because on the platform where we are campaigning, I will be correcting them and we are not going to be successful,” he said.


    There were earlier reports by Ghanaian media personality Paul Adom-Otchere, suggesting a growing push for former President John Dramani Mahama to reconsider his 2020 running mate, Professor Jane Nana Opoku-Agyemang, and instead contemplate selecting Daniel Yaw Domelevo as his running mate for the upcoming 2024 general elections.

    Paul Adom-Otchere asserted that this recommendation was based on his belief in Domelevo’s innocence concerning corruption allegations.

    According to him, several voices have encouraged President Mahama to explore the possibility of having Domelevo as his running mate as a way to address and dispel all the corruption charges against him.

    These sentiments were shared during Adom-Otchere’s appearance on his “Good Evening Ghana Show” on Metro TV on June 10, 2023.

    He maintained that the pressure for this change had escalated following Domelevo’s legal victory in the Supreme Court regarding his dismissal by the president.

    “Can you imagine my friend Domelevo as the running mate to President Mahama? That is the new agenda being pushed.

    “There is immense pressure on President Mahama, which is why Professor Kwamena Ahwoi was compelled to state last week that John Mahama should retain Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang,” he alleged.

  • Angry Paul Adom-Otchere takes on social media user

    Angry Paul Adom-Otchere takes on social media user

    Host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Ochere is ready to unleash his wrath on a social media user whom he says has threatened his life due to his line of work.

    In a viral video on social media, Paul Adom-Ochere in one of his shows, broadcast a Facebook message by one Amorse Blessing Amos which read: “Now that we know the fine for invading studio is GHS2, 400, Paul Adom Otchere should continue fooling.”

    Amos Blessing Amorse, per reports is the Regional Deputy Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress in Greater Accra Region.

    This message comes after the 16 accused persons who invaded the United Television (UTV) studios at Tesano in the Greater Accra Region on October 7, 2023, were convicted and sentenced to a fine by the Achimota District Court.

    The group trooped in to demand the removal of musician Kwame A-Plus, from the programme for tearing up a letter said to be from the communication wing of the NPP.

    The accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge against them. They were, therefore, convicted on their own pleas and sentenced to a fine of 200 penalty units each which amounts to GH₵ 2,400.00, and in default 3 months imprisonment.

    They were also ordered by the Court to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for 6 months in default 6 months imprisonment.

    Responding to the message directed at Paul Adom Otchere, Mr Adom-Otchere noted that he would file a complaint with the police over the threat to his life.

    “Amorse Blessing Amos, I am going to tell the police. Get ready; you will pay legal fees because you will take a lawyer. You will come and stand in the court and explain what you mean by you know the price is, you can pay for it. You are so rich you can pay for it so Paul Adom Otchere should continue fooling.”

    According to the journalist, he will go through the democratic processes to ensure Amorse understands that the laws of the country do work.

    He advised Amorse against deleting the message, as he has disseminated it to several individuals who are encouraging him to take the matter up.

    “Amorse, I am coming for you. You will hear that this is a democracy. You will understand that Ghana is a democracy. You can’t be fooling like this. They think we are joking becuase it is (close) to election. I am going to invoke the democratic tenants of Ghana. Next time you watch Good Evening Ghana and you have an opinion to express, you will express opinion without threatening. This is a threat. He should go and read the Criminal Procedure Code.

    “They get promoted when they insult and threaten. He thinks that he can threaten and he is okay. People have sent this to me. Everybody is encouraging me that this one you have to deal with it. I am going to deal with it. He shouldn’t run away. Don’t delete your Facebook account. You have Ghana card, we will catch you. I’ve sent it out so they are monitoring you,” he said.

  • Paul Adom-Otchere goes after ‘arrogant’ Martin Kpebu

    Paul Adom-Otchere goes after ‘arrogant’ Martin Kpebu

    Host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has chastised private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, for his recent comments against the president and former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

    In his critique of President Akufo-Addo, Mr Kpebu said the president has personally been accused of corruption and will be prosecuted when he leaves office.

    According to him, President Akufo-Addo will not be allowed to avoid accountability.

    “Let’s come to the president’s own involvement in corruption, the reason why last year I said he was part of a criminal syndicate. Don’t forget Manasseh Awuni did a documentary in which the president personally asked for fumigation of schools, etc by Zoomlion at a cost of over ¢500 million and he is yet to bring his response.”

    “That is what the Manasseh investigation found about him personally. All the assemblies all the way to the ministries all said it was the president and even the assemblies showed that they could have done it at a cheaper cost yet President Akufo-Addo personally supervised that fumigation at over ¢500 million and he thinks we have forgotten?

    “He should wait until he leaves office, we will drag him. We will ask for him to be prosecuted. He shouldn’t forget. He will be prosecuted in this country,” he told host, Kojo Yankson.

    With regards to Cecilia Dapaah and her case with the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the legal practitioner has supported the seizure of the former Minister’s money as part of a probe into corruption-related activities by the OSP after it was revealed that millions of cedis and dollars in the home of Madam Dapaah are unaccounted for.

    He has proposed the search of the residences of all government ministers and appointees as part of the anti-corruption efforts.

    “Let’s search the officers at the Jubilee House, let’s search the Ministers, let’s search them…the monies are in their homes. If we don’t do this we are not fighting corruption. If we don’t search all the ministers forget it we are just playing.”

    But according to Mr Paul Adom-Otchere, Mr Kpebu lacks the moral right to chastise these individuals as he has failed to be upright in the past.

    He made reference to the Fred Kusim. A. Windaogo (Plaintiff) vs Martin Luther Kpebu (the 1st defendant) in 2020, where both lawyers went before the court over who has the ownership and copyright of a book titled “Annotated Evidence Law of Ghana”.

    Martin Kpebu told the court he re-wrote all the work done by Fred and therefore the final work is his handiwork alone and not a joint authorship.

    But the court ruled against Martin Kpebu, describing his actions as unjust and unlawful.

    “In dealing with the issues, I do not wish to rehash the facts further. Consequently, based on the aforementioned analysis and conclusion, it is my opinion that the general conduct of Martin Kpebu in the subject matter project with the Plaintiff was unjust and unlawful. One clear instance is Martin Kpebu’s decision to unilaterally change the order of the names on the book. That was unjust and unfair because the agreement he signed clearly stated how the names were to be on the book,” the judge is quoted to have ruled.

    Referencing the case, Mr Adom-Otchere said Martin Kpebu cannot call out individuals as he has stolen the work of a colleague once.

    “I really don’t like getting into that but when Martin Kpebu continues to call other people names when he, the practitioner of the deviant behaviour, then he is calling other people names. Then I am concerned to put this out in the public domain to see the kind of person – there is the message and messenger.

    “The message can be said by anyone but if it is said by the wrong person the message will not go anywhere.
    So he is coming to say Cecilia Dapaah is a thief. Do this to her. Nana Akufo-Addo is this. He is stealing people’s work and saying he is smart and popular,” he said on the show.

    Meanwhile, Mr Kpebu is nowhere on record to have called Madam Cecilia Dapaah a thief.

    The two individuals on October 11, had an engagement following the High Court’s consideration of arguments for expediting the confirmation of the freezing and seizure orders.

    Earlier reports suggested that there was a confrontation between the duo, but that has been refuted by the legal practitioner.

    But Mr Kpebu in an interview on TV3, said Madam Dapaah was polite to him. He explained that Madam Dapaah only asked about the “commentaries I have been running.”

    “To be very honest with you, considering what she is going through, as against the conversation we had, she was very cordial. She was a bit very polite. Polite is a better word. No, she wasn’t fighting me,” he added.

  • How a court judge dressed down Martin Kpebu who claimed to be ‘smart’ and ‘popular’

    How a court judge dressed down Martin Kpebu who claimed to be ‘smart’ and ‘popular’

    In 2020, Fred Kusim. A. Windaogo (Plaintiff) and Martin Luther Kpebu (the 1st defendant) both lawyers went before the court over who has the ownership and copyright of a book titled “Annotated Evidence Law of Ghana”.

    According to the host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, who discussed the matter on his show, while it is not disputed that Fred was the one who mooted the idea and invited Mr. Kpebu to join him to actualize the dream, it is the case of Mr. Kpebu that Fred lacks the intellectual ability to write a book as an author.

    “This is what Martin Kpebu was urging on the court that his colleague, Fred, doesn’t know anything. Martin Kpebu, knows everything. I even think it is disrespectful to speak of another colleague in that manner,” the host remarked.

    Mr Adom-Otchere noted that Mr Kpebu said he “re-wrote all the work done by Fred’ and therefore the final work is his handiwork alone and not a joint authorship. The court is called upon to deal with such issues as copyright and the allegation of breach of the agreement executed by the parties and the allegation of bad faith by Martin Kpebu.”

    The court in which Kweku T. Ackaah-Boafo sat as Additional High Court Judge is said to have ruled against Martin Kpebu, describing his actions as unjust and unlawful.

    “In dealing with the issues, I do not wish to rehash the facts further. Consequently, based on the aforementioned analysis and conclusion, it is my opinion that the general conduct of Martin Kpebu in the subject matter project with the Plaintiff was unjust and unlawful. One clear instance is Martin Kpebu’s decision to unilaterally change the order of the names on the book. That was unjust and unfair because the agreement he signed clearly stated how the names were to be on the book,” the judge is quoted to have ruled.

    The court added: “It is also clear that the eminent jurist who wrote the Foreword had that in mind in the way he referred to the authors in what he wrote. It is the opinion of the Court that Mr. Kpebu’s attempt to reverse the order of the names of the authors on the book contrary to the agreement he signed was disingenuous and an act of bad faith.

    “Apart from that, it is also my holding that Martin Kpebu’s insistence that the work done was separable and the final work is “my work” and “my book” in the face of the agreement and how the work was done also constitute bad faith behavior.”

    The court noted that with Mr Kpebu’s popularity, he should have accorded his colleague some respect.

    “In my view, even though the 1st Defendant might assume that he is “smart” and “popular” as he put it, he ought to give some modicum of respect to a colleague lawyer. Through his questions and answers, he was condescending towards the Plaintiff by his choice of words and how he described the plaintiff in the course of the proceedings. In the opinion of the Court the 1st Defendant’s approach was not only unacceptable but disrespectful and arrogant. I wish to put it on the record that this court did not appreciate same at all.”

  • Bawumia vs Mahama will drown Alan when campaign season reaches its peak – Paul Adom-Otchere

    Host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has made a prediction regarding Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who recently resigned from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to pursue the presidency as an Independent Candidate.

    Mr Adom-Otchere anticipates that as the 2024 election campaign intensifies, Alan Kyerematen may fade into obscurity in the eyes of voters.

    Adom-Otchere’s analysis suggests that if Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia secures the NPP’s flagbearer position, the upcoming election will primarily revolve around a fierce competition between Bawumia and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

    On Monday, September 25, Alan Kyerematen formally resigned from the NPP to embark on his independent candidacy for the presidency.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr Adom-Otchere said, “I can tell you that by the time the campaign hits a crescendo, if Dr Mahamudu Bawumia becomes the NPP’s candidate, with the kind of campaigning he does, which he’s going to do. When the campaign reaches a crescendo, and it’s John Dramani Mahama versus Dr. Bawumia, people will even forget that Alan Kyerematen is contesting.

    “It’s going to be a stiff election, it’s going to be brutally fought. And nobody will remember that there’s a third candidate. I can assure you of that, we still need time to see how Alan’s campaign will pan out”.

    Adom-Otchere also conveyed his opinion that although certain Ghanaians, including youth from both the NPP and NDC, might express their support for Alan Kyerematen on social media platforms, they may ultimately choose not to cast their votes in his favor during the 2024 elections.

    “An NPP youth person will feel that voting for Alan means throwing his vote away, so they are more likely to vote for their party. NDC people on the other hand are a bit frightened by the break of the 8, they don’t want the 8 to happen.

    “They certainly want the 8 to be destroyed. They want the NPP out, they want their candidate to win. So NDC youth are not even going to pay attention to potentially vote for Alan. They may support him on social media. They will support him in rhetoric but in terms of casting the ballot, they will vote for John Mahama,” he said.

    Alan cited the intimidation of his supporters and the increasing divisiveness within the party as among the reasons for his resignation.

  • IGP’s “close to tears” moment is a PR gimmick – Paul Adom-Otchere

    IGP’s “close to tears” moment is a PR gimmick – Paul Adom-Otchere

    Host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere was not moved by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare’s emotional statement when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee tasked with probing a leaked tape on plans of his ousting.

    As he delved into his life journey and career within the Ghana Police Service on September 12, 2023, which included efforts to collaborate with all, including the three implicated officers from the leaked audio, the IGP’s emotions started to surface.

    He became visibly emotional when addressing the allegations made by two of the officers, particularly COP George Alex Mensah and Supt George Asare, characterizing them as unjust.

    The IGP’s eyes welled up with tears, and his voice trembled as he spoke. Cameras focused on his face at that moment captured the reddening of his eyes and a noticeable quiver in his voice.

    He exclaimed: “I am an innocent person, focusing on my job, working with my team members, all commands across the country to keep the country safe and make it to be at peace with itself. I’ve been asked to answer these allegations which are wide, baseless,” he said.

    “I’m free in my spirit that this is just unfair. It is just unfair,” he added as he nearly wept.

    But this act, according to Mr Adom-Otchere, is nothing but a Public Relation stunt by the IGP to win over Ghanaians with his sentiments.

    “I started smiling and said Dampare again. He went on this excessive PR. In doing the PR, he opened up a very humble demeanor. An extremely humble demeanor and he was going on.

    “Everything he was saying was to court public sympathy. It was so much PR that he was even about to cry. The IGP sat in front of a Parliament Committee, and giving his opening remarks, was pushing himself to cry,” he said.

    Mr Paul Ado-Otchere also condemned the IGP for revealing his multi-ethnicity. During his testimony, Dr Dampare noted that he is a multi-ethnic Ghanaian multiethnic Ghanaian from Begroo, Akropong, and Nkonya Worupong in the Oti Region.

    “I’m a Multiethnic Ghanaian that’s why I’m passionate about Ghana,” he said.

    In response, Paul Adom-Otchere noted that the IGP violated Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution in his bid to make known his patriotism.

    Which election is Dr Dampare running for. He was going on and on.. He comes from Nkonya, Akorpong, from the Eastern Region and then he run into difficulty of Article 17.

    That is what happens when the PR is excessive. The reason he was extolling his patriotism are things that run counter to the spirit of Article 17 of the 1992 constitution.

    Article 17 of the constitution deals with Equality and Freedom from Discrimination. Section 1, 2 and 3 are as follows:

    (1) All persons shall be equal before the law.
    (2) A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion,
    creed or social or economic status.
    (3) For the purposes of this article, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons
    attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by raw, place of origin, political opinions,
    colour, gender, occupation, religion or creed, whereby persons of one description are subjected to
    disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another description are not made subject or are
    granted privileges or advantages which are not granted to persons of another description.

    On the matter, the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has expressed concerns about the IGP Dampare’s display of ethnic, regional, and religious affiliation during his appearance before the committee on the ongoing investigation.

    “I was also struck by something. The expression of ethnic, regional, and religious solidarity was sickening for me. We are talking about Ghana.

    “In 2023, there is such a public display of ethnic, regional, and religious solidarity in a crucial matter such as the one that the committee is investigating,” he said.

  • I am not working to remove GACL MD – Paul Adom-Otchere

    Chairman of the Board of Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom-Otchere, has refuted any involvement in a scheme to oust the company’s Managing Director, Pamela Djamson-Tettey.

    On Wednesday, the Airport Workers Union claimed that Mr. Adom-Otchere was colluding to dismiss Pamela Djamson-Tettey due to her refusal to conform to his directives concerning certain aspects of the company’s management.

    “Our information is that the Board Chair is championing the course of removing the MD and this is causing a lot of agitations in the industry.

    “From where we sit the staff will not let us rest, they have been calling us 24 hours wanting to know what is happening,” the Divisional Chairman of the Public Service Workers Union at the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Abdul-Issaka Bamba, is quoted to have said by Joy News.

    He added: “It is based on that that we are communicating with our staff to stay calm while their leaders see how the story unfolds and get back to them.”

    The agitations, he said, affect the progress of the company as there is no harmony between the leaders.

    “We know where we came from…the past few years we were not having this harmony and were battered by Covid-19. All that is getting to normal as work is picking,” he said.

    He therefore pleaded with management not to engage in such disharmony to put the company in disarray.

    Meanwhile, Mr Adom-Otchere says the Union in their letter failed to give “real example of the said plot.”

    According to the GACL Board Chair, he will be meeting the Union to “understand because I have no idea of what they are talking about.”

  • Chaos at GACL as union leaders issue warning against Paul Adom-Otchere

    The leadership of the staff union at the Ghana Airport Company Limited has issued a cautionary message to Board Chair Paul Adom Otchere, urging him to distance himself from the Managing Director, Pamela Djamson-Tettey.

    According to the union, there is growing unrest among staff members due to circulating reports suggesting that the board Chair is actively involved in efforts to oust the MD. This purported action stems from her resistance to participating in certain decisions that are believed to be detrimental to the organization’s advancement.

    The atmosphere of harmony and tranquility that has characterized the Ghana Airport Company Limited in recent years now appears to be under threat.

    A memorandum addressed to the staff, which has been obtained by Starr News, originates from the Ghana Airport Company Division of the Public Services Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). In this memo, credit is given to the current MD for fostering stability within the organization.

    Chairman of the union, Abdul Issaka Bamba, cautioned that any endeavor to remove the MD could lead to disruptions in the smooth operations of the airports.

    Sources suggest that the board chairman, Paul Adom-Otchere, is scheduled to meet with union leaders tomorrow to discuss this unfolding situation.

    However, Paul Adom Otchere, the Board Chair, has refuted any involvement in orchestrating the removal of the MD.

    “I’m also seeing it for the first time, I have to go to the company and find out, if you want to quote me that’s what you can say, I’m also seeing for the first time and I have to go to the company and find out from the union people, that I’ve seen this document what is it about? Because I have engagements with them every now and then so if they have written something, I’ve seen it. So maybe by the time I finish with them, they’ll realize that there is nothing like that or it’s not like that. So I have to go and engage with them.”

    Asked whether he has a frosty relationship with the MD, Mr. Adom-Otchere expressed shock at such a claim given the good relationship between the board and management of the GACL.

    “I don’t know where that is coming from. We have a board meeting on Monday so you can ask some of the board members. I don’t know where this is coming from.”

    According to information obtained by Starr News, board chairman Paul Adom-Otchere will meet with union leaders tomorrow to discuss the situation.

    The media celebrity admitted to Ibrahim Alhassan of Starr News that the memo’s contents are not entirely obvious to him and that he has approached the union leaders for clarifications.

    However, he acknowledged that he and the MD, who will meet tomorrow [August 18] at a scheduled board meeting, have a friendly connection.

  • 4 major cases won by Godfred Dame saving Ghana several millions of dollars

    4 major cases won by Godfred Dame saving Ghana several millions of dollars

    The continuous efforts of Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Dame, have prevented Ghana from being hit by numerous judgement debts.

    His reputation has recently been questioned by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who says the Attorney-General is assisting senior New Patriotic Party (NPP) member, Gabby Otchere-Darko to exert influence on Ministry of Finance officials to release GHS 187.3 million to one of his clients, West Blue Company Limited.

    In his August 1st edition of the Good Evening Ghana show, broadcast journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere denied Mr Ablakwa’s claims.

    According to Mr Adom-Otchere, the Attorney-General cannot be considered to be “bad” as he is “resolving the problem.”

    He noted that the works of the Attorney-General show he is a man of integrity. The journalist noted that Ghana has saved millions of cedis and dollars due to the efforts of Godfred Dame.

    Mr Paul Adom-Otchere listed some major cases won by the Attorney-General.

    NDK’s GH¢1.2bn judgement debt

    In June 2021, a legal intervention by the Attorney-General (A-G) prevented the state from being liable for a judgment debt of over GH¢1.2 billion, which was being pursued by NDK Financial Services.

    NDK Financial Services had initiated legal proceedings to compel the government to pay them GH¢1.273 billion, claiming it as an outstanding balance along with accrued interest on a judgment debt.

    However, following the A-G’s challenge to the legitimacy of these claims, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state, awarding NDK Financial Services only GH¢14,699.74 with applicable interest.

    The dispute in question pertained to a credit facility granted by NDK between 2005 and 2008 to Ahaman Enterprises Limited. The credit was meant for the installation of electrical poles and related materials on behalf of the Ministry of Energy.

    Cassius Mining Limited vs Ghana

    On August 1, 2023, the Accra High Court granted an injunction against Cassius Mining Limited, an Australian-owned mining company. The injunction was issued following an application by the Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, at the Commercial Division of the High Court in Accra on July 12.

    In the application, the A-G requested an order of interim injunction against the mining company. The purpose of the injunction, as requested by the A-G, is to prevent Cassius Mining Limited from initiating or pursuing any arbitration proceedings outside the jurisdiction of Ghana.

    This pertains specifically to the Prospecting Licence Agreement dated December 28, 2016, which was entered into between the Government of Ghana and Cassius Mining Limited. The injunction was granted by Justice Akua Sarpomaa Amoah, who presided over the case.

    Earlier this year, the company had initiated an international arbitration against the Government of Ghana at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, seeking approximately US$300 million in compensation. However, this arbitration process was halted by the court due to objections raised by the Attorney-General.

    Following the suspension of the arbitration at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the company had opted for other international arbitration forums to pursue its case against the Government of Ghana.

    According to the Attorney-General, on October 12, 2016, Cassius Mining Limited had applied for a prospecting license from the Government of Ghana. This license covered an area of 13.791 square kilometers in the Gbane/Datoko region of Talensi, located in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

    Beijing Everyway Traffic & Lighting Technical Company Limited vs Ghana

    On February 1, 2023, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rendered a final award on January 30, 2023, in a case involving an investor-state arbitration brought forward by Beijing Everyway Traffic & Lighting Technical Company Limited against the government of Ghana.

    The tribunal ruled in favor of a preliminary objection raised by the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who represented Ghana in the case.

    The Claimant had initiated the arbitration based on the provisions of the Treaty between China and Ghana Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, which was concluded on October 12, 1989.

    In its claim, the company sought damages totaling “not less than $55 million.”

    Background

    On December 16, 2011, Ghana entered into a Master Facility Agreement and related Finance Documents with the China Development Bank to secure a term loan facility for the development of 12 infrastructure projects, including the AITMS Project, in the country.

    The AITMS Project was awarded to the Claimant, Beijing Everyway Traffic & Lighting Technical Company Limited, around April 2012. Following this, on September 17, 2012, the Claimant and the Ministry of Roads and Highways of Ghana entered into the EPIC Contract.

    Under the terms of the EPIC Contract, Beijing Everyway agreed to supply equipment and offer technical services to the Ghanaian Ministry in relation to the AITMS Project in Accra. The Contract Price was set at US$100 million, and an initial payment of 30% was agreed upon.

    Parliament of Ghana approved the EPIC Contract on December 22, 2018. The project’s commencement was set for August 26, 2019, with a completion timeframe of 24 months.

    The Claimant asserted that between November 12 and 15, 2019, a delegation from the Ministry of Roads and Highways of Ghana visited their facilities in China to inspect equipment for the AITMS Project. In January 2020, the Department of Urban Roads of Ghana confirmed that the equipment could be shipped to Ghana. Additionally, the Department issued an onsite work permit for the project in January 2020, and the first installations for the project were initiated in February 2020.

    During the project’s progress, the Claimant issued two Interim Payment Certificates totaling US$21,995,728 for completed work. By the time of the Notice of Arbitration in February 2021, the Claimant maintained that works with a contractual value of at least US$21,995,728 had been accomplished.

    However, a series of events unfolded. In March 2020, the Minister of Finance of Ghana called for discussions regarding the AITMS Project. Subsequent meetings involving various Ghanaian officials led to decisions about the project’s supervision and responsibilities. Notably, the Parliament of Ghana rescinded approval of the EPIC Contract on November 19, 2020, leading to the Claimant’s termination notice on December 30, 2021.

    The Claimant alleged that Ghana’s actions constituted a breach of the China-Ghana Investment Treaty, including unlawfully expropriating the Claimant’s investment and violating the Umbrella Clause.

    Ghana contended that its actions were in the interest of national security and that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction over the Claimant’s claims. The dispute centered around differing interpretations of the Treaty and the legality of Ghana’s actions within that context.

    $15.3m Heritage Imperial ‘galamsey’ judgment against State

    The High Court in Kumasi on May 2, 2023, overturned a $15.3 million judgment that was previously ruled in favor of Heritage Imperial, a mining company.

    The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, initiated the application to nullify the judgment, asserting that the high court lacked jurisdiction to address the case.

    In 2018, Heritage Imperial took legal action against the Ghanaian government due to the intrusion on its mining site in the Ashanti Region and the confiscation of its excavators by the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Mining.

    Following a comprehensive trial, Justice Samuel Diawuo, presiding over the case, determined on July 30, 2020, that the government’s actions were unlawful. Consequently, the court ordered the government to pay $15,304,714.20, the equivalent value of the machinery and equipment seized, or its present value in Ghanaian Cedis. The court also awarded general damages of GH¢500,000 and imposed costs of GH¢100,000 against the government.

    However, when Godfred Yeboah Dame assumed the role of Attorney-General in 2021, he moved to set aside the judgment, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. He later revealed that he had learned about the judgment through a news program on Joy FM, Newsfile, and hadn’t been aware of it during his tenure as Deputy Attorney-General.

    Mr. Dame presented the application at the High Court in Kumasi on July 23, 2021. He highlighted several procedural discrepancies in the plaintiff’s case and contended that the plaintiff’s initiation of the legal action did not adhere to the obligatory statutory provisions of the State Proceedings Act, 1998 (Act 555), rendering it unlawful.

    Furthermore, he asserted that the order for the government to pay $15,304,714.20 lacked a valid basis, as there was no endorsement on the writ of summons issued in support of the action.

  • Pathetic! – Okudzeto claps back at Paul Adom-Otchere over “Kitchen Scandal”

    Pathetic! – Okudzeto claps back at Paul Adom-Otchere over “Kitchen Scandal”

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has slammed Metro TV broadcaster broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere over his derogatory remarks regarding the recently released “Kitchen Scandal“.

    In a recent publication titled “Kitchen Scandal on August 1,” Mr Ablakwa claimed that Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is exerting influence on Ministry of Finance officials to release GHS 187.3 million to one of his clients, West Blue Company Limited.

    He also accused the Attorney-General of issuing “three pro-Gabby legal opinions on this matter.”

    “The duo have also questioned the post value-for-money contract downward revisions and are insisting that the colossal West Blue demands are met.

    These Gabby-Godfred positions run contrary to what the Finance Ministry had earlier communicated to West Blue through former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng on January 25, 2018 which the latter accepted in writing,” Mr Ablakwa added.

    In response, Mr Paul Adom-Otchere chastised the MP for being dramatic over a matter that cannot be considered a scandal looking at the details involved.

    “The ‘Kitchen Scandal’ drops at 5 am, a Member of Parliament, former minister, you can you do that… You know that this letter that you have received, you have received it in the privileged position as a Member of Parliament because somebody has given it to you.

    “Let’s get serious in this country… This one is a no, no, because there’s no scandal anywhere anyway. And if you were to look at it, the people who have really created a scandal are his colleagues whose names we don’t want to mention tonight, because they did their work for government and we assume that they did their work faithfully,” he said.

    According to Mr Adom-Otchere, the Attorney-General cannot be considered to be “bad” as he is “resolving the problem.”

    In a sharp rebuttal, Mr Ablakwa described Mr Adom-Otchere’s remarks as pathetic.

    The North Tongu MP noted that he found it worrying that Mr Adom-Otchere was not concerned by the fact that the Attorney General failed to receive input from the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority but “is only worried that I put same in the public domain.”

    He slammed the broadcaster for feeding Ghanaians stories that have no substance or basis.

    “Ghanaians have really had enough of Paul’s cock-and-bull stories — so Paul actually expects Ghanaians to believe that Gabby didn’t know about the AG’s legal opinion but for my publication?” he quizzed.

    Mr Ablakwa is of the opinion that Mr Adom-Otchere did not peruse the documents he presented to confirm his assertions.

    “Had Paul read the documents I put out, he would have observed how Gabby’s law firm could state categorically in their 3rd May, 2023 letter to the Board Chair of GRA that they know that the Attorney-General hasn’t received the written arguments of GRA and the MoF after their 1st November, 2022 meeting.

    If Gabby can know on authority what letters the Attorney-General hasn’t received on this matter, how can any reasonable person believe that Gabby didn’t know about the AG’s opinion long before my publications?” he further quizzed.

    Meanwhile, Mr Ablakwa has raised the GHS187.3million “Kitchen Scandal” on the floor of Parliament for formal notification and further legislative action.

    These are the findings of Mr Ablakwa:

    On 4th August, 2015, the National Single Window System and an Integrated Risk Management System contract was awarded to West Blue Ghana Limited.

    The MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, went to court in a spirited effort to stop the contract.

    His Lordship Justice K.A. Okwabi on August 31, 2015, dismissed Mr Afenyo-Markin’s injunction application but the NPP continued with further legal actions in a bid to scuttle the West Blue Contract.

    In August 2017, the Akufo-Addo led government got Crown Agents to complete the value-for-money audit. The outcome was that the contract did not guarantee value for money. Crown Agents recommended either a cancellation or a termination.

    On 21st September 2017, Ports and Customs World Ghana, with links in Dubai, wrote to the Ministry of Finance that it had taken over West Blue and expressed readiness to renegotiate the West Blue contract.

    On October 2, 2017, West Blue also wrote to the Ministry of Finance indicating that they had been taken over by Ports and Customs World.

    The Government of Ghana wrote to Ports and Customs World on 25th January, 2018 on the basis of Crown Agent’s value-for-money audit, revising the fees under the contract downwards from 0.35% FoB to 0.28% FoB and bringing forward the termination date from December 2020 to December 2018.

    Ports and Customs World/West Blue, per a letter dated January 30, 2018 accepted these reduced terms and new contract termination date.

    On March 14, 2019, government entered into a mutual understanding with West Blue to hold the fort by delivering services on the reduced terms until government replaces them.

  • When Paul Adom-Otchere met Cecilia over stolen cash and OSP search

    Paul Adom-Otchere, the host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana show, recently recounted a meeting he had with Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former sanitation minister, and her husband at their residence in Accra. This meeting took place amidst controversy surrounding missing funds from her home.

    According to Paul, he was specially invited by the former minister to her house, and they met during the day before his appearance on the July 27 edition of his show. During the meeting, one of the main topics discussed was the reports that the Office of the Special Prosecutor had conducted a five-hour search at her residence earlier that week, allegedly leading to the discovery of a fresh stash of money.

    Paul asked Mrs. Dapaah about the search and whether this was the entirety of her house, to which she responded, questioning the existence of any five-hour search.

    He continued to describe the meeting, mentioning that the house was built in 1976, and the Dapaahs had been living there since then. He also made a remark about the OSP, accusing them of arresting the former minister and showcasing photos and videos of her residence during the search – an allegation that the OSP denied.

    During the encounter, Paul mentioned that despite facing challenges, Cecilia Dapaah was in high spirits. He shared a touching moment where the 84-year-old husband blessed him genuinely, and despite being offered food, he politely declined, appreciating her positive demeanor even in troubled times.

    The encounter shed some light on the situation, but the controversy surrounding the missing funds from the former minister’s home continues to be a matter of public interest.

  • Even British media protected Partey in his alleged rape case – Paul Adom-Otchere to OSP

    Even British media protected Partey in his alleged rape case – Paul Adom-Otchere to OSP

    In June 2022, a prominent sports news outlet in the UK, The Athletic, reported on the arrest of a Premier League star who was accused of rape.

    The player’s identity, club affiliation, and nationality were not disclosed in the publication, but they provided hints about the individual’s profile.

    The player was described as a 29-year-old international footballer who was set to represent his country in the 2022 World Cup.

    Additionally, it was revealed that the accused footballer resided in Barnet, London.

    The news report and other UK media sources refrained from directly mentioning the player’s name or any direct links to the rape allegations.

    However, on July 25, 2023, broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere revealed that the footballer in question is Thomas Partey, a Ghanaian player.

    According to Paul Adom-Otchere, it was suggested that Thomas Partey himself informed some Ghanaians about his alleged involvement in the rape scandal, which has been a major topic in the Premier League news cycle since it first broke in June 2022.

    The player’s bail term was extended to August, further prolonging the ongoing investigation and media attention on the case.

    “Recently our hero Thomas Partey had a problem with the British police. Did you see how scanty the information was? All of us were looking for the person but the British police will not tell anyone.

    “All we heard were rumors and Partey himself telling some Ghanaians. That is how we got to know.

    “They just put a small one line Thomas Partey is being investigated for this. They don’t come to have videos and its live on TV and all that”.

    Context

    Paul Adom-Otchere expressed his dissatisfaction with the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s handling of the arrest of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

    To highlight his point, Adom-Otchere referred to an alleged incident involving Thomas Partey, drawing a comparison between how the Metropolitan Police of London, UK, handled the situation and how Kissi Agyebeng and his team handled it publicly in Ghana.

    As a devoted Manchester United and Asante Kotoko fan, Adom-Otchere likened the conduct of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to Andre Dede Ayew’s actions during Ghana’s game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in March 2023.

    “Special prosecutor, we love you but you are not Dede Ayew. You aren’t the captain of the Black Stars. You are not Black Sherrif, Shatta Wale, Piesie Esther, DKB, Delay or Afia Schwarzenegger.

    “You are the distinguished Special Prosecutor, a barrister at law and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

    “Don’t be arresting people with funfair. It shouldn’t be live on radio and you shouldn’t be tweeting about it. If you are going to arrest people then you call media to follow you. We don’t want to see how you do your work just deliver to the nation. You are stigmatizing the people,” he fumed on his show.

  • Video: Paul Adom-Otchere interesting revelation about $800K stolen from Cecilia Dapaah

    Metro TV journalist Paul Adom-Otchere, has slammed the Office Of President (OSP) for what he claims is a ‘funfair arrest and unnecessary search’ exhibited by the office meted out to the former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah.

    According to him, the OSP’s modus operandi was far from ideal. He expressed dissatisfaction with the approach used by the OSP, suggesting that it could have been handled better or more effectively.

    “ There is a reason why the CID department does not wear police uniforms. The reason is Because an individual is innocent until proven guilty, you don’t want to generate a stigma or a narrative that someone is guilty. So until the person has committed a culpable like an armed robber etc they go in plain clothes so that the individual is not stigmatized. If a special prosecutor goes to arrest in a dramatic fashion and it is live on TV.

    “ You have to wait for the court to judge, the OSP cannot say that Cecila Dapaah has stolen the money.

    “Old people don’t trust internet banking, the banking laws do not frown on keeping monies at home, the police do not cannot prosecute you for keeping money at home,” he added. 

    His comments come after the OSP searched the home of the former Minister, in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence.

    Mr Adom-Otchere also denied OSP’s discovery of additional money at Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s residence.

    “We understand that it is untrue and the OSP must come out and clarify, we tried to search about this and what we have is that it is not true.

    “We don’t know why TV3 has been carrying this story since midday. It has no source, neither the Special Prosecutor or his deputy. If TV3 has further and better particulars, they should publish it tomorrow or even tonight.

    “Because our sources indicate that the Special Prosecutor has said it is not true,” he added.

    On Friday, July 21, 2023 the home of the former minister was reported to have been robbed of US$1 million, €300,000 and other valuables by two of her domestic servants.

    According to Madam Dapaah, the reported amounts of money stolen in the media is inconsistent with the original complaint she filed.

    She stepped down from her position owing to pressure from National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament 48 hours after it was revealed that she had lost millions of dollars and cedis in her home.

    According to Madam Cecilia Dapaah, her decision is to prevent the matter from becoming a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time.

    “Whereas I can state emphatically that those figures do not represent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position.”

    She also assured of her willingness to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts.

    “I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the process, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations that have filled the public domain in the past 24 hours,” she added.

  • ‘Funfair’ arrest and search unnecessary – Paul Adom-Otchere chides Special Prosecutor

    Metro TV journalist Paul Adom-Otchere, has slammed the Office Of President (OSP) for what he claims is a ‘funfair arrest and unnecessary search’ exhibited by the office meted out to the former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah.

    According to him, the OSP’s modus operandi was far from ideal. He expressed dissatisfaction with the approach used by the OSP, suggesting that it could have been handled better or more effectively.

    “ There is a reason why the CID department does not wear police uniforms. The reason is Because an individual is innocent until proven guilty, you don’t want to generate a stigma or a narrative that someone is guilty. So until the person has committed a culpable like an armed robber etc they go in plain clothes so that the individual is not stigmatized. If a special prosecutor goes to arrest in a dramatic fashion and it is live on TV.

    “ You have to wait for the court to judge, the OSP cannot say that Cecila Dapaah has stolen the money.

    “Old people don’t trust internet banking, the banking laws do not frown on keeping monies at home, the police do not cannot prosecute you for keeping money at home,” he added. 

    His comments come after the OSP searched the home of the former Minister, in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence.

    Mr Adom-Otchere also denied OSP’s discovery of additional money at Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s residence.

    “We understand that it is untrue and the OSP must come out and clarify, we tried to search about this and what we have is that it is not true.

    “We don’t know why TV3 has been carrying this story since midday. It has no source, neither the Special Prosecutor or his deputy. If TV3 has further and better particulars, they should publish it tomorrow or even tonight.

    “Because our sources indicate that the Special Prosecutor has said it is not true,” he added.

    On Friday, July 21, 2023 the home of the former minister was reported to have been robbed of US$1 million, €300,000 and other valuables by two of her domestic servants.

    According to Madam Dapaah, the reported amounts of money stolen in the media is inconsistent with the original complaint she filed.

    She stepped down from her position owing to pressure from National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament 48 hours after it was revealed that she had lost millions of dollars and cedis in her home.

    According to Madam Cecilia Dapaah, her decision is to prevent the matter from becoming a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time.

    “Whereas I can state emphatically that those figures do not represent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position.”

    She also assured of her willingness to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts.

    “I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the process, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations that have filled the public domain in the past 24 hours,” she added.

  • “Top police hierarchy allegedly ordered killing of civilians in Tamale” – Paul Adom-Otchere says

    “Top police hierarchy allegedly ordered killing of civilians in Tamale” – Paul Adom-Otchere says

    Broadcaster and host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has alleged that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare is shielding and empowering an elite force that exists within the Ghana Police Service with the Police Intelligence Department (PID). 

    Speaking on one of the Good Evening Ghana episodes, Mr Adom Otchere said he received intel from a member of the Ghana Police Service regarding these claims, following the leaked plot to oust the IGP. 

    “He [the informant] said there’s something in the police called P.I.D ( Police Intelligence Department) and that the PID is being used by Dr Dampare, allegedly, to empower a certain elite police group and they do anything and nobody can talk to them and they talk only to IGP and IGP has said that nobody should grant an interview,” he said. 

    The Police Intelligence Department, among other things, is responsible for intelligence gathering on crime and criminal activities across the country; track and predict crime; passing on processed information to appropriate Schedule Officers and Commanders for the necessary arrests, investigation and actions to be taken; liaise with Directors-General, CID and Operations to profile criminals and analyze crime trends; develop and maintain a database for persons of interest; ultimate credible informants, etc.

    However, Mr Adom-Otchere claims staff from this department of the Police Service are being used to commit heinous crimes (under the orders of the ‘top police hierarchy’), including and especially murdering innocent civilians, among others. 

    “This guy [the informant] tells me there’s murder and that’s where I was worried; that there’s murder going on. Policemen are being killed and policemen from the PID are killing civilians indiscriminately,” he said, adding that the claims were accompanied by picture evidence of how the policemen in the PID look like, which he is willing to make available to authorities.

    “They wear earrings, and they look different a little bit and they are commiting murder. In November, some young men in Tamale were on the wrong side of the Law or so it was thought. He said they have been killed by the P.I.D on the instructions of the hierarchy – that the hierarchy has asked them to kill these young men and they shot them dead in November.

    Referring to a habeas corpus application filed against the police in the Northern Region regarding the alleged killing of four young men in November 2022, Paul Adom Otchere highlighted concerns about the involvement of the so-called “elite force.” Additionally, he expressed reservations about Dampare’s decision to centralise police communications across the country.

    Regarding the widely circulated leaked tape advocating for Dampare’s removal, Adom-Otchere stated that the president is in favor of Dampare and has no intention of replacing him.

    “Nobody wants to change Dr. Dampare even Akufo-Addo will not. When his MPs said change Ken Ofori-Atta did he change him? We are still here. Ken Ofori-Atta has won a major success by delivering the IMF, nobody is going to change him,” he added.

  • We are uncertain about Dampare’s political affiliation – Paul Adom-Otchere

    We are uncertain about Dampare’s political affiliation – Paul Adom-Otchere

    The host of the Metro TV program Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has responded to the leaked recording in which a politician and a senior police officer are purportedly heard discussing how to remove Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare.

    Adom-Otchere’s name and his program were mentioned in the audio, as the police officer makes reference to an episode in which he identified Dampare as a potential vice-presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in his analysis.

    Dampare was cited as an outsider who might complement either an NDC or the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket, according to Adom-Otchere, rather than as a politician.

    He added that Dampare might be a liability for the NPP if Dr. Bawumia is selected as the party’s nominee.

    “We do not know whether Dr. Dampare is NDC, as a matter of public record, we threw in the ticket of Dampare as running mate to John Mahama and also as Dampare as running mate to the NPP candidate if it is Dr Bawumia.

    “If it is Dr. Bawumia, then Dampare’s ticket is being talked about by some people and that is true. People in both NDC and NPP have thought about the Dampare ticket, not as a partisan ticket but a ticket which brings in an outsider of sorts,” he stressed.

  • Your consistent lies about me is because of the cancellation $74m contract awarded Jospong – Manasseh to Paul Adom-Otchere

    Your consistent lies about me is because of the cancellation $74m contract awarded Jospong – Manasseh to Paul Adom-Otchere

    Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has leveled serious allegations against fellow journalist Paul Adom-Otchere, accusing him of consistently spewing falsehoods against him. 

    Manasseh claims that Mr Adom-Otchere’s motive for these alleged lies stems from the cancellation of a $74 million contract awarded to the Jospong Group of Companies, a prominent waste management company in Ghana.

    In a Facebook post, Mr Azure, however, said he was not surprised by Mr Adom-Otchere’s conduct towards him, given the fact that he was once an employee of the Jospong Group.

    “I know deep down my heart that you don’t hate me. We don’t have any personal issues or disagreements. You started your attacks and editorials on me in 2017 when my investigation resulted in the cancellation of a $74MILLION fraudulent contract awarded to Jospong. As an employee and longtime defender of Jospong, I don’t expect you to praise me,” he said.

    The investigative journalist responded to allegations made by the host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana that he was dismissed from the Multimedia Group due to unethical journalism. Presenting a letter from the Multimedia Group refuting the claims, Mr. Azure maintained that the allegations are untrue.

    “Dear Paul Adom-Otchere, You have consistently told your viewers that I was sacked from The Multimedia Group for unethical journalism. Here is a media release from The Multimedia Group in response to your lies. It is not meant for you. It is meant for your viewers who believe what you repeat all the time.

    “I say it is not for you because, with a pinch of elementary intelligence, any sane human being would realise that The Multimedia Group would not dismiss a journalist for unethical works and still work closely with him, publishing his freelance stories and his works as the leader of The Fourth Estate,” he said.

    He further noted that Mr Adom Otchere’s claims are unfounded, given the fact that he still maintains a cordial relationship with the company and the company publishes his works, even though he now works with a different media house.

    “I know you’re intelligent enough to know this. And I know you know the truth because everybody in The Multimedia Group, from the CEO to the cleaner, knew that I resigned but still have a cordial working relationship with The Multimedia Group, a relationship so cordial that if I wanted to go back there to work, I don’t believe there would be a hindrance. You know this so this letter is not meant for you.

    “Kindly share it with your audience who may not have the benefit of knowing what you know. And after sharing this letter with them, you may proceed to tell them every day that I was dismissed. You have a job to do and, if constantly lying about me is what will put food on your table, I’m kind enough to permit you to continue,” he said.

    “…so keep up your “good work” for Elder Agyepong, but kindly let your audience see this letter. Have a good day,” the letter added. 

  • “If lying about me is what puts food on your table, then go ahead” – Manasseh to Paul Adom-Otchere

    “If lying about me is what puts food on your table, then go ahead” – Manasseh to Paul Adom-Otchere

    Investigative journalist with The Fourth Estate, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has slammed a colleague in the media industry, Paul Adom-Otchere, for spreading spurious remarks with regards to his departure from Multimedia Group Limited.

    In 2019, Mr Azure Awuni parted ways with the Kokomlemle-based media house and due to the lack of sufficient reasons for the decision, speculations were birthed. This was shortly after Mr Azure produced a documentary titled ‘Militia in the Heart of the Nation’ which the National Media Commission, in its ruling following a complaint by government, described as sensational, unethical and misrepresentation of facts.

    Ghanaian broadcast journalist and the host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, matter, pinned the blame on Manasseh, accusing him of being a quack media practitioner, hence his sacking.

    “He (Manasseh) doesn’t put across any story unless there is whispering, there is some gossip. That is not what journalists do. There are so many things happening. So many analysis that a journalist can put across. Those of us who build news programs every day, those who are reading news on Joy FM, every hour they have to do the news, if they were just waiting for whispering and gossip, will they have work to do? That is why they sacked him. That is why he lost his job because this is the kind of journalism he was doing.”

    “He doesn’t have any analysis to present, he doesn’t have any real things to look at. He is not doing anything intellectual. His cameras are gone off so he is sitting down and he is waiting for whisperings before he can write a story. He has not written a story forever. His first story is whisperings we need to pray for this guy because he has too much hatred within him. He has too much bitterness from his exit from Multimedia. He thinks everyone is responsible for it. You put out your work, your work goes to the National Media Commission, NMC ruled against you because you did a bogus documentary animated by hatred,” Mr Adom-Otchere said in 2021.

    Two years later, Multimedia Group Limited on June 20, clarified that Manasseh was not sacked from the company.

    “He resigned of his own accord at the end of July 2019 after serving the necessary notice and going through all exit protocols per company policy,” a statement from the media house explained.

    Following the elucidation, Mr Manasseh Azure in a Facebook post on June 26, called out Paul Adom-Otchere for being a liar.

    He jeered Mr Adom-Otchere for being unable to realise that “The Multimedia Group would not dismiss a journalist for unethical works and still work closely with him, publishing his freelance stories and his works as the leader of The Fourth Estate.”

    “I know you’re intelligent enough to know this,” he added.

    Since Mr Paul Adom Otchere informed a pool of audience of what has now been described as a lie, the victim, Mr Azure, has entreated him to share the company’s letter with those “who may not have the benefit of knowing what you know.”

    “And after sharing this letter with them, you may proceed to tell them every day that I was dismissed,” he stated.

    As part of his concluding remarks, the investigative journalist announced his intention to permit Mr Paul Adom-Otchere to “constantly lie” about him if that is “what will put food on your table.”

    “You have a job to do and…… I’m kind enough to permit you to continue,” he wrote.

    Mr Azure however clarified that he has no bad blood with Mr Adom-Otchere, but for cancellation of a $74million fraudulent contract awarded to Jospong which was uncovered in his documentary, he has been attacked.

    “As an employee and longtime defender of Jospong, I don’t expect you to praise me. So keep up your “good work” for Elder Agyepong, but kindly let your audience see this letter,” he added.

  • Bawumia will get more votes in the north because of his father – Paul Adom Otchere

    Bawumia will get more votes in the north because of his father – Paul Adom Otchere

    Ghanaian broadcast journalist and the host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has suggested that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will sweep majority of the votes in the northern part of the country in the 2024 elections should he be declared flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    In his recent documentary on Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s candidature aired on June 20, Paul Adom-Otchere attributed the Vice President’s victory to the good works of his father, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia.

    Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia was a teacher, lawyer and politician, a Mamprugu Royal and Chief of the Kpariga Traditional Area at the time of his death in September, 2002.

    He was a founding member of the Northern Peoples’ Party alongside Chief S. D. Dombo, Chief Abeifa Karbo, Yakubu Tali, the Tolon Naa, and J. A. Braimah, Kabachewura.

    The Northern Peoples Party, together with the National Liberation Movement and other opposition political parties, later merged into the United Party, the forebearer of the current New Patriotic Party.

    Alhaji Bawumia served under various Ghanaian governments including that of Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s in various capacities, including member of the Northern Territories Council, the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly, a Member of Parliament of the First Republic, Northern Regional Minister, and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He was the Minister Local Government in the second Parliament of the First Republic.

    Alhaji Bawumia also served as chairman of the Council of State under the presidency of Jerry John Rawlings from 1993 to 2000 in the 4th republic.

    Per the documentary, due to “Dr Bawumia’s father’s influence during Rawlings’ regime and that of Nkrumah, he is likely to receive support from individuals in the north who held his father in high esteem.”

    Paul Adom-Otchere asserted that with the current majority of parliamentary seats in the north held by the NPP, the Vice President has a comparative advantage.

    Currently, the NPP holds 16 parliamentary seats in the north while the NDC has 15 seats.

  • A Paul Adom-Otchere documentary: How Bawumia changed voting pattern of the North

    A Paul Adom-Otchere documentary: How Bawumia changed voting pattern of the North

    The northern part of Ghana has drawn to itself significant attention as the country prepares for the next polls.

    For the first time, the north is likely to have two of its sons lock horns to battle for the highest title of the land – the President.

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be represented by former President John Dramani Mahama, who hails from Bole in the Savannah Region for the 2024 elections.

    The ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) is yet to elect its flagbearer but among those competing is Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, born in Tamale in the Northern Region. He is the only northern among the 10 competing for the flagbearer position.

    Already, Speaker Alban Bagbin has informed Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunutu Jewu Soale, at his residence in Damongo of the likelihood of two northerners comepting for the first time.

    “This is the time that the two main parties in Ghana are both deciding that the flagbearers will be our sons from the North. What I plead with all of you is for us to accept our differences and see how we can come together to prepare to receive the development that is coming our way.”

    Should that be the case, the question of the day becomes – How will the people of the north vote? This has become crucial as the NPP has a marginal advantage over the NDC with regards to the number of Parliamentary seats in the north.

    But this has not always been the case.

    In a documentary detailing Dr Bawumia’s candidature, Ghanaian broadcast journalist and the host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, revealed that 15 years ago, the NDC dominated the number of northern Parliamentary seats but have now lost majority of the seats to the ruling party.

    Findings of the documentary are as follows:

    2008 elections

    In 2008, the NDC led by late former President John Evans Atta Mills as flagbearer and John Mahama as his running mate secured 21 parliamentary seats in the north out of the total 26 seats.

    The NPP led by current President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, his then running mate won 4 seats. The remaining seat was secured by an independent candidate.

    2012 elections

    The number of seats out for grabs were 31. Out of the total, the NDC secured 20 while the NPP won 10 seats.

    The NDC lost one seat while the NPP won 6 more seats. During this period, the NPP were led by the same duo but the NDC was not. The NDC was now led by John Mahama as flagbearer following the demise of John Evans Atta Mills. Mr Mahama picked the late Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as his running mate.

    2016 elections

    With the same number of seats for grabs, the NDC secured 18 and the NPP increased their seats to 13. Both parties were represented by the same candidates.

    2020 elections

    In 2020, the NPP managed to take the majority of parliamentary seats in the north by securing 16. The NDC picked up the remaining 15. Following the demise of Vice President Amissah-Arthur, Mr Mahama picked former Education Minister, Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his running mate.

    Rationale

    The NPP’s growth and NDC’s regression can be attributed to several factors such as government performance, performance of respective Member of Parliament with regards to development. However, the influence of whoever leads the party cannot be ruled out as a contributing factor.

    Who takes it all?

    Flagbearer hopeful, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has touted his optimism in widening the number of seats in the north for the NPP.

    “They know John Mahama cannot take me on in the North. I will beat him in the North. This is why they don’t want me be to flagbearer,” he said to some NPP supporters over the weekend.

  • Akufo-Addo became president without using the ‘mysterious spiritual path’ laid down by Nkrumah – Adom-Otchere

    Akufo-Addo became president without using the ‘mysterious spiritual path’ laid down by Nkrumah – Adom-Otchere

    The host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, Paul Adom-Otchere has said that President Akufo-Addo is the first to eschew from the purportedly predetermined spiritual route put forth by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s first leader.

    Speaking on the Tuesday, April 25, 2023, edition of his program, the journalist explained that during the era of Kwame Nkrumah, he laid down some spiritual processes that all presidents after him were supposed to follow, and the failure to do so meant that they would never get to the end of their tenures.

    He explained that it is this path that the likes of Edward Akufo-Addo, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, and Dr. Hilla Limann did not follow in, that led to their overthrow as political leaders of Ghana.

    “You may not believe it, but it is true. This is Osagyefo the president. Now, since Osagyefo the president left, and when he died, it is believed that he determined how every other person should become president of Ghana. It’s a spiritual matter so you’d have to believe it or not; it’s not verifiable.

    “Osagyefo had determined that for you to become president of Ghana, he had determined a certain spiritual path. This story I am telling you has quite a bit to do with our good friend who died, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey… for the presidents that came after him… Edward Akufo-Addo and Prime Minister Busia, together they formed the executive of the second republic, both of them determined that they would not follow the path, or they probably didn’t even know that Nkrumah had determined some path.

    “For those who didn’t know that Nkrumah had determined a path for you to become a president of Ghana, they were overthrown. Edward Akufo-Addo and Prime Minister Busia were overthrown because they didn’t know, or didn’t use the path that Nkrumah had determined…

    “Then comes Dr. Limann who either did not know or didn’t go along the path to be president of Ghana, so he was overthrown. Then comes the famous JJ. JJ started by a coup d’état and later transferred to a constitutional rule. When he was about to transfer to constitutional rule, he was told that, ‘chief, for you to be president of Ghana, like Nkrumah was elected, you have to go through a certain spiritual path, and also do certain things,’” he explained.

    Paul Adom-Otchere continued his narration by saying that while Jerry John Rawlings started as a military ruler, he also agreed to follow in this strange, mysterious route before he was able to fully complete his democratic two-term political tenure.

    He stated some of the things that, for instance, JJ Rawlings had to do that are evidences of this mystery.

    He added that the coming of John Agyekum Kufuor as president was also through the same path.

    “Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings agreed. That is the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum at the old Polo Grounds; that was his creation. It’s related to this story I’m telling you… JJ putting up the Nkrumah Mausoleum to honour Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at the old Polo Grounds, bringing his body from Nkroful to Accra, is related to this story. So, JJ did that for two terms. Then comes John Agyekum Kufuor; he was told that if he did not go through this path to be president of Ghana, ‘you will never be president of Ghana.’ Well, he obeyed.

    “So, during Ghana at 50, billboards were put up of Nkrumah and Kufuor sitting in a chair… laughing… and then the renaming of the Kwame Nkrumah University… President Kufuor restored the Nkrumah name into that university… because if you don’t do something to enhance the Nkrumah name, forget it, if you win the election, they will overthrow you,” he added.

    According to Paul, when President John Evans Atta-Mills also came into office, he did the same things, just as John Dramani Mahama.

    He explained, for instance, that John Mahama restored the Kwame Nkrumah Circle with the statue of Nkrumah, as a way of enhancing the name of the country’s first president, as proof of this spiritual mystery.

    However, the veteran journalist stated that during Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s time, for the first two times he tried to become president (in 2008, 2012), he vehemently fought this spiritual path and paid the price for it.

    “Fast-forward, Nana Addo, as he was then called, was told that to become president of Ghana, you have to pass here, and you have to do something, and he said no. he said he would never do it, and it’s not because ‘I am a Christian or religious; I won’t do it.’ And that’s why I said Obetsebi-Lamptey is in the mix.

    “So, in 2008, when he lost the election, he was told that, ‘Chief, you see why you lost the election? You lost this election because you didn’t do the thing.’ He must have given it a thought, I think. Then comes 2012 and he said he won’t do it, but they said if you don’t do it, you can’t become president of Ghana, but he still insisted. 2012 came and he lost.

    “So, after the election, they went back to him… so, he gave it a thought and so he called some spiritual people. And this story I’m telling you, Ken Ofori-Atta is very involved in this story, because he went to South Africa, met some guy who was talking to him about why it is difficult for his cousin to be president, and this South African person said there is something you people need to do. And Ken said I know; we’ve been told, but it’s difficult for us – that’s not our faith; that’s not our worship, we can’t.,” he explained.

    Paul Adom-Otchere further stated that eventually, it had to take the intervention of some religious leaders in Ghana to break this spiritual aura around the country before Akufo-Addo could rule without any challenges.

    He also claimed that the confusion around the change of date for the national elections from December 7 to November 7 in 2016 forms part of this.

    He added that until that spiritual bondage was broken, Akufo-Addo would not have been able to successfully run a two-term presidency in Ghana.

    The journalist added that it is for this reason that he supports the government of Nana Akufo-Addo.

    “So, Ken came back and organised spiritual people… and said can we go and overturn this thing? Well, about 12 or 16 of them listened and said ok, Mr President, where is the thing? Eh said the thing here; I’ve been there before… they organised cars and went to look at it… They said what we need to do is a prayer chain – a very serious prayer chain… and we have to start now. They start and discover a lot more in the narrative, so they need to move from that spot to other parts of the country.

    “They came and told the president that they were on it and that they could release Ghana from these shackles, however, we need more time. However, we have been told that you and your party want the election on November 7 – this 2016…

    “So, Akufo-Addo is the only president who has ascended the throne not going through that and that is why I stand with him. He’s the only one president who is going to do a two-term, who has not gone through the path, that is why you see the things that are happening happening.

    “The furore against his candidature at the beginning, it came out of the noise of evil; it’s out of the noise of evil… because the spirits knew that he would not obey that path,” he said.

  • Why Adom-Otchere’s name was mentioned in Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s letter addressed to Oppong-Nkrumah

    Why Adom-Otchere’s name was mentioned in Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s letter addressed to Oppong-Nkrumah

    Paul Adom-Otchere, host of Good Evening Ghana, earned a spot in a letter addressed to Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.

    He appeared in the letter for defending some government officials cited in the damning report on illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in Ghana.

    One such officials is Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information who was accused by former Environment Minister, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng of undermining him during his leadership as head of government’s anti-galamsey taskforce.

    In defending Oppong Nkrumah on his show last week, Adom-Otchere chided the former minister for aspects of his report that said Oppong-Nkrumah organized a media team to attack him in the galamsey fight.

    Adom-Otchere said even if the information minister had any plans to undermine his colleague cabinet minister, he would use more coded means and not call a meeting at a public hotel as alleged by Frimpong-Boateng.

    “If Kojo Oppong Nkrumah wants to do something, that is not how he will do it. He is not going to have a meeting at Forest (Hotel in Dodowa). No, no, no.

    “He is going to send a text to somebody… Charlie what we go do… that is how they talk among themselves and they decide that what’s the plan, this is the thing. Ok, so, how do we execute?

    “You won’t know, they don’t even talk normal, they talk in code. When they mention somebody’s name as Kofi, the person may not be Kofi, he is some other person…,” Adom-Otchere submitted on his show.

    In his 23rd April reply to Oppong Nkrumah’s rebuttal to claims the former minister made in a 2021 report Frimpong-Boateng authored, he tasked Oppong Nkrumah to desist from coded and evil tactics in undertaking his responsibility as minister.

    He specifically mentioned journalist Paul Adom-Otchere who had last week weighed in on the former minister’s report calling it into question and exonerating some of the persons implicated.

    “I will urge you to do your work diligently and avoid the coded and evil tactics Mr. Paul Adom Okyere boastfully and unashamedly told the world on ‘Good Evening Ghana’ that you employ to deal with your real and perceived enemies,” the statement read in part.

  • Video of Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah’s alleged galamsey site surfaces

    The former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation and ex-chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has shared a video of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) site allegedly linked to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

    Prof Frimpong-Boateng, who shared the link to the video in a statement he issued while responding to the information minister’s reactions to a report on government officials behind galamsey in Ghana he (Frimpong-Boateng) released, said that he received the video from a constituent of Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency.

    The former science and technology minister said that even though he does not want to believe the claim made in the video about the ownership of the galamsey site, Oppong Nkrumah must take the necessary actions to stop the menace happening close to his hometown.

    The man who recorded the video can be heard alleging that the galamsey site belongs to Oppong Nkrumah and he (the minister) has hired some Chinese people to work for him.

    He said that the illegal mining site was in Akyem Brenasi, along the Pra River.

    “He (Oppong Nkrumah) has brought the Chinese here to work for him. This is what they have done to the Pra River,” the man said as he was taking a shot of the river.

    “This place is called Akyem Brenasi, along the Pra River, there are about 15 excavators here,” the narrator added in Twi.

  • Come back to us – Adom-Otchere ‘mocks’ Haruna Iddrisu after calls for his return to the NPP

    Come back to us – Adom-Otchere ‘mocks’ Haruna Iddrisu after calls for his return to the NPP

    Broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere has alleged that some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) want the former minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, to rejoin the party.

    According to him, the NPP supporters are not happy with the treatment of Haruna Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, by the leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    He added that the NPP supporters argue that Haruna was an NPP member before he was snatched by a leading member of the NDC, Mohammed Ibn Chambers, and he is welcome if he wants to return to the party.

    “Some NPP supporters called me as I was coming into the studio and guess what they said. They said “Haruna Iddrisu has been removed as minority leader, tell him to come back to us.

    “They said “Paul didn’t you know that Haruna Iddrisu was with the NDC before he joined the NPP? He was with the NPP before Mohammed Chambers took him to the NDC,” Adom Otchere said during his Good Evening Ghana programme, which was monitored by GhanaWeb.

    The broadcaster went on to play the hit song Lucky Mensah, Old School Girl, which was requested by the NPP supporters.

    The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.

    The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.

    According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.

    While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, he will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.

    Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.

    Some MPs of the party have petitioned the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.

    The NDC MPs calling for the suspension, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East) and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.

  • Kwabena Yeboah speaks on controversies around Paul Adom-Otchere’s Christmas tree

    According to Kwabena Yeboah, a board member of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), if given the opportunity, GACL board chair Paul Adom-Otchere would behave differently in the case of the acquisition of materials for the décor of the Kotoka International Airport last year.

    Paul Adom-Otchere may respond differently if the circumstances were reversed, Kwabena Yeboah argued in an interview with Blakk Rasta on 3FM.

    He said that because of the criticism his actions received, Adom-Otchere would have assigned the CEO of KIA to undertake the task of making purchases for the airport’s decorating.

    He disclosed that this year’s decorations were fully-funded by the Ghana Oil Limited (GOIL) and that the processes were fully handled by the CEO .

    “We hadn’t been sworn as a board yet. I haven’t spoken to him specifically about this but I want to believe that if he had an opportunity, he would have loved the CEO to do that.

    “For example, this coming Christmas, we are decorating the place but it has got nothing to do with us. It’s GOIL who have decided to sponsor the whole package.

    “As I said, I didn’t not know the peculiar circumstances under which he decided to have his name on the invoice but considering the furore and uproar, if he had the opportunity, he would have been better off staying away and letting the CEO do that job,” he said.

    Paul Adom-Otchere got a lot flak after it emerged that the procurement of Christmas trees for the airport were done by himself, the Board Chair.

    The procurement process a well as the cost of the decoration drew the ire of some Ghanaians who accused Adom-Otchere of engaging in profligacy.

    It was reported that it cost the GACL GH₵84,000 to decorate the place but Adom-Otchere refuted the allegations, mentioning GH ₵34,000 as the cost because portions of the works had been fully sponsored.

    “The beautiful Christmas tree standing at Terminal 3 and 3 others altogether cost GHC 34,000, which was graciously provided by Jandel Limited at a heavy discount. (We thank Jandel Limited)”

    “The other inspirations were provided by Favors and Arts for a total cost of GHC 84,000 out of which GHC 50,000 was obtained via sponsorship,” he said on his Good Evening Ghana programme last year.

  • Kwabena Yeboah wades into Paul Adom-Otchere’s Christmas tree saga

    Kwabena Yeboah, a board member of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) has opined that given the chance, the board chair of GACL, Paul Adom-Otchere will act differently in the matter of the purchase of materials for the decoration of the Kotoka International Airport last year.

    Kwabena Yeboah suggested in an interview with Blakk Rasta on 3FM that Paul Adom-Otchere would react differently if the situation was to be reversed.

    According to him, owing to the backlash that his actions generated, Adom-Otchere would have delegated the CEO of KIA to handle the matter of purchasing items for the decoration of the airport.

    He disclosed that this year’s decorations were fully-funded by the Ghana Oil Limited (GOIL) and that the processes were fully handled by the CEO .

    “We hadn’t been sworn as a board yet. I haven’t spoken to him specifically about this but I want to believe that if he had an opportunity, he would have loved the CEO to do that.

    “For example, this coming Christmas, we are decorating the place but it has got nothing to do with us. It’s GOIL who have decided to sponsor the whole package.

    “As I said, I didn’t not know the peculiar circumstances under which he decided to have his name on the invoice but considering the furore and uproar, if he had the opportunity, he would have been better off staying away and letting the CEO do that job,” he said.

    Paul Adom-Otchere got a lot flak after it emerged that the procurement of Christmas trees for the airport were done by himself, the Board Chair.

    The procurement process a well as the cost of the decoration drew the ire of some Ghanaians who accused Adom-Otchere of engaging in profligacy.

    It was reported that it cost the GACL GH₵84,000 to decorate the place but Adom-Otchere refuted the allegations, mentioning GH ₵34,000 as the cost because portions of the works had been fully sponsored.

    “The beautiful Christmas tree standing at Terminal 3 and 3 others altogether cost GHC 34,000, which was graciously provided by Jandel Limited at a heavy discount. (We thank Jandel Limited)”

    “The other inspirations were provided by Favors and Arts for a total cost of GHC 84,000 out of which GHC 50,000 was obtained via sponsorship,” he said on his Good Evening Ghana programme last year.

  • When will Ken Ofori-Atta break the curse of being a one-term finance minister? Adom-Otchere inquiries

    Paul Adom-Otchere, the anchor of Good Evening Ghana, questioned if Ken Ofori-Atta would be reappointed as finance minister.

    No finance minister has served a second term since the fourth republic, even when the president who selected them does.

    “If Ken Ofori Atta is appointed finance minister.
    Ghana will have the chance to elect a finance minister for a second term for the first time in history, he said.

    The host of Good Evening Ghana Paul Adom-Otchere is asking whether former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta will be re-appointed to man Ghana’s finances.

    In the country’s Fourth Republic history, no finance minister has served in office for the full two terms of a president.

    However, Paul Adom-Otchere is asking if Ofori-Atta is likely to break the one-term cycle in the face of his track record.

    Speaking on the Good Evening Ghana Programme, Adom-Otchere said finance ministers do not last in Ghana.

    “Since the 4th republic, no finance minister has made a second term even when the president who appointed them gets a second term.

    If Ken Ofori Atta is made a minister for finance. This will be the first time that Ghana will have the opportunity to give a finance minister a second term”, he said.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to nominate persons to steer the affairs of various ministries.

    History beckons

    Although Professor Kwesi Botchwey served as Finance Minister for 13 years nonstop, a greater part of those years was under the military regime. Under the Fourth Republic, Prof. Botchwey was only Minister of Finance between January 1993 and 1995 before he handed over to Mr Richard Kwame Peprah, who served in that capacity until January 2001.

    Since then, all Finance Ministers (Messrs Yaw Osafo Maafo, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Anthony Akoto Osei, Kwabena Duffuor, and Seth Terkper) served for a maximum of four years, with Dr. Akoto Osei, who replaced Baah-Wiredu, serving the shortest period.

    Thus, should President Akufo-Addo reappoint Mr. Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister, the latter will be on his way to breaking the pattern that all finance ministers have suffered since the advent of the 1992 Constitution.

    It will also set him up on becoming the second longest-serving Finance Minister in independent Ghana, should he remain in that position until the end of the President’s tenure in January 2025 (without prejudice to the election petition at the Supreme Court).

  • Today in History: I started Databank with a loan at Kantamanto – Ken Ofori-Atta

    Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed that he obtained a loan from Kantamanto to launch his Databank.

    I borrowed $25,000 to launch my business, Databank, in Kantamanto in 1990.
    You don’t open an investment bank in Kantamanto, high-skilled or not, do you?

    And it is the humility of being aware of the difficulties of entrepreneurship everywhere you go.
    You decide to leave if you fail.
    On the “Good Evening Ghana” program, Ken Ofori-Atta said, “There is a clear empathy and understanding of what it takes to be able to establish a business

    Ken Ofori-Atta says he started his investment company, Databank Financial Services Limited, with a loan of $25,000 in Kantamanto.

    According to him, that process taught him the humility of understanding where he wanted to go with his business.

    He disagreed with the assertion that at the time he started his business, he was a high-skilled labourer.

    “I started my company, Databank, in 1990 in Kantamanto and I borrowed $25,000. Whether it is high-skilled or not, you don’t start an investment bank in Kantamanto, do you?

    “And that is the humility of understanding wherever you want to go and the problems of entrepreneurship. You fail, you pick you to go. There is a clear empathy and understanding of what it takes to be able to build a business and it is not short term,” Ken Ofori-Atta told Paul Adom-Otchere on the ‘Good Evening Ghana’ show.

    The Finance Minister was defending the YouStart initiative in the 2022 ‘Agyenkwa’ budget.

    The initiative is the government’s policy aimed at creating one million jobs for the youth of this country.

    Delivering the 2022 budget statement in Parliament, Ken Ofori-Atta explained:

    “The understanding of the youth employment challenge, as well as extensive consultations with stakeholders including youth associations and educational institutions across the country, have led to the development of the YouStart initiative which proposes to use GH¢1 billion each year to catalyze an ecosystem to create 1 million jobs and in partnership with the Finance Institutions and Development Partners, raise another GH¢2 Billion Cedis.

    “In addition, our local Banks have agreed to a package that will result in increasing their SME portfolio up to GH¢5 billion over the next 3 years.

    “This, Mr. Speaker results in an unprecedented historic GH¢10 billion cedis commitment to the private sector and YouStart over the next 3 years.

    “Mr. Speaker, YouStart is a vehicle for supporting young entrepreneurs to gain access to capital, training, technical skills and mentoring to enable them to launch and operate their own businesses.

    “Mr. Speaker, the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), and partner financial institutions, will serve as the implementing arms of YouStart.

    “Entrepreneurs will be able to apply for support through a dedicated YouStart online portal.

    “NEIP will also engage our Faith-Based Organisations as partners for the delivery of essential artisanal skills, business competitions, and feasibility studies and introduction to financing institutions with a commitment of up to 10% of GOG contribution to the YouStart Programme.”

  • FLASHBACK: ‘Piccadilly’ armed robbers have hijacked Ghana’s financial sector – Isaac Adongo

    “Piccadilly armed robbers,” according to Isaac Adongo, the member of parliament for Bolgatanga, described the culprits of the banking sector clean-up operation.

    He added that those behind the plan were unable to compete with their rivals in the banking industry.

    “The most evil thing that any group of individuals could have done is what has happened in the financial industry.
    This was part of a larger strategy to force those they couldn’t catch up with on their knees “said he.

    Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bolgatanga Central Constituency, Isaac Adongo has alleged that the banking sector clean-up is an orchestrated act of wickedness by persons who could not catch up with their competitors.

    He described the perpetrators of this ‘wickedness’ as “Piccadilly armed robbers”.

    “What has happened in the banking sector is the most wicked activity that any group of people could have orchestrated. This was a master plan activity to bring people who they cannot catch up on their knees, “he told Paul Adom-Otchere on the Good Evening Ghana Show on Metro TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

    According to him, Piccadilly armed robbers are masters of disguise; they are able to appear harmless and godly even as they engage in their heinous crimes.

    Mr Adongo who has been an avowed critic of the banking sector clean up narrated on the Good Evening Show yesterday that regulators of the financial space have the characteristics of the protagonist in a Nigerian movie titled “Piccadilly”.

    In Piccadilly, Mr Adongo recalled that the protagonist, an armed robber, is advised to wear white dresses, quote copiously from the Bible and play gospel music loudly so that he creates the impression of piety and holiness so that his neighbours can vouch for his goodness even though he is a heartless armed robber.

    His comments seem to be aimed directly at the Finance Minister who is known for his white dresses and his quotes from the Bible.

    The financial sector clean-up has resulted in the collapse of many banks, microfinance companies, savings and loans companies, microcredit companies, and fund management companies among others.

  • Adom-Otchere details two times he escaped entrapment attempt

    Host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere has criticised the modus operandi of investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, following his recent expose implicating Minister of State for Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.

    According to the journalists, he ever escaped two attempts of entrapment when some people sought to cause him to implicate himself.

    “These things happen all the time and I have had experiences that I will share with you. First one happened many years ago in 2006 or 2007. I had some job to do in Takoradi so I was in a car going to Takoradi with two or three friends of mine.”

    “The guy called me with some Arab sounding tone, he says he likes my programme and I said okay. Then he says he wants to appear on my programme. I said Okay you can appear on my programme, what do you want to say? He says he wants to talk about how my programme is good but the reason why he is calling me is that he wanted to know how much it costs to appear on my programme,” he recounted.

    Paul Adom-Otchere noted that despite the insistence of the caller, he declined the invitation from the man who said he will ‘treat him well’

    “I said please I am not interested in you making me happy. I am happy already, if you want to do something on the programme go to commercial,” he stated.

    The programme host added that it later turned out that the call was a prank call from programme aired on Peace FM.

    He further recalled his second experience where another anonymous caller sought to induce him with a proposal of leading him to meet the president.

    “2018 or 2019, somebody called me and says he has 19 million dollars to give to Bank of Ghana but he is having difficulty in bringing the money to the Bank of Ghana so he called me. I said so what do you want me to do? He says I want you to take me the president and I said really? You want to bring money to Ghana and you want to go to the president, okay, go to Bank of Ghana and talk to them about it or go to finance ministry and talk to them about it.”

    “Then he said I have 54 million. I said your 19 has now jumped to 54? He said yes, we have a lot of money we want to bring to Ghana but we want influential people we can take us…” he recalled.

    He noted that he ignored the proposal by the anonymous caller insisting that he takes his business proposal to the appropriate government quarters.

    “Should we be doing that as a country? I don’t agree. Should we engender, facilitate and encourage this kind of way in which we find corruption? I am not sure we should do that,” he cautioned.

    Aremeyaw Anas’s latest exposé dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’ has compelled President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack the Minister of State in Charge of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen from office.

    Charles Adu Boahen on video alleged that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia needs just USD200,000 as an ‘appearance fee’ and some positions by an investor for his siblings to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.

  • Ignorant, unprofessional – NDC MP takes on ‘spin doctor’ Adom-Otchere

    Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has slammed broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere describing him as ignorant and unprofessional.

    The two have been engaged in a verbal spat over the MP’s reference to Minority Leader Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s past as a spare parts dealer in a recent interview.

    Murtala addressing the Majority Leader earlier on last week told TV3: “You listened to him in the press conference and he even said that the Speaker doesn’t even understand the law.

    “When the Speaker was a lawyer practising, you, Honourable Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, you were selling spare parts at Magazine, at the time the Speaker was a practising lawyer.”

    In an editorial on the October 27 edition of Good Evening Ghana, Adom-Otchere berated the, MP for denigrating the Majority Leader and by extension spare parts dealers.

    Reacting to Adom-Otchere in an interview with Metro TV News, Murtala explained that his reference to Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as a spare parts dealer was borne out by the facts which Adom-Otchere was clearly ignorant about.

    “Indeed, that was his job and it is not denigratory, that was his job, he was actually selling spare parts at the time when Bagbin was already practicing as a lawyer … It had nothing to do with spare parts dealers,” he stressed.

    He also disclosed that his father was actually a spare parts dealer and he (Murtala) had at a point in his life managed the spare parts business. “As a matter of fact, unknown to Paul, my father was a spare parts dealer, I used to manage father’s spare parts store. My father used to deal in sewing machines and bicycles and spare parts of same.

    “So, for him to spin and create the impression that I was denigrating spare parts dealers, for me, that is most unfortunate. So, I knew he is ignorant, frankly; but I never knew he is that unprofessional,” Murtala jabbed.

    Paul Adom-Otchere said that Murtala, by the statement he made, lacks wisdom.

    “I talked about wisdom… that wisdom, it is not everybody that is able to demonstrate it like that. You’re a politician, a Member of Parliament, and you’re talking down spare parts dealers.

    “Murtala, Allah will forgive you eh. Don’t do that again. You are part of a mass party, the National Democratic Congress, and you are rubbishing spare parts dealers that their nobodies.

    “Don’t you know that people finish university these days with a first class in electrical engineering and then go and do spare parts dealing? What is wrong with some of our politicians?

    “Murtala was talking down spare parts dealers that Majority Leader Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu he was a spare parts dealer when Bagbin was practising law. Murtala is saying that. The other day, he was not happy that somebody was calling him a teacher,” he said.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • ‘Negotiations not going well’ – Adom-Otchere confronts Pianim with IMF statement

    The anchor of the Metro TV program Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, recently refuted the assertion made by famous economist Kwame Pianim that the government’s talks with the IMF were not progressing well.

    The talks were not progressing well, according to Pianim’s sources in Washington, in part because Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was involved and there was a lack of political confidence, he said in an interview with Accra-based TV3.

    “The negotiations are not going well. I am aware of that. Being a Ghanaian, I have a responsibility to keep my ears open and am concerned with the economy’s progress.
    It isn’t going well, I’m saying because we have friends in Washington,” Pianim said.

    Adom-Otchere is, however, in disagreement with Pianim’s views citing the October 20 IMF statement after the last round of talks between the Ofori-Atta-led delegation that was in Washington weeks back.

    After playing a snippet of Pianim’s interview on the October 27 edition of Good Evening Ghana, Adom-Otchere read out the IMF statement before making his conclusion that the Fund’s position was at variance with Pianim’s claims.

    “We love Mr. Kwame Pianim he is a very distinguished economist but he said a few things that show a bit of deficit.

    “The IMF statement uses words like we made good progress and it was fruitful, so Mr. Kwame Painim’s testimony is not borne out by the IMF statement… Unless of course, he suspects the IMF statement is not honest, I don’t think he suspects that.

    “So, Kwame Pianim’s situation is not borne out,” he stressed. He also disclosed that information the Good Evening Ghana show had was that the IMF was rather keen on revenue mobilization efforts on the part of the government as talks continue.

  • Meet Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah; NPP’s ‘favourite’ to replace Ken Ofori-Atta

    Calls for the sack or the resignation of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, have been relentless over the past few weeks, with even Members of Parliament (MPs) of his own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), joining the calls.

    One of the names that have come up as a possible replacement for Ken Ofori Atta should President Akufo-Addo heed the calls for his sack or should he resign from his post, is Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah.

    Even though Dr. Assibey-Yeboah has been an ardent critic of the Akufo-Addo government, some Ghanaians including broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere have said that he (Assibey-Yeboah) is considered as the favourite among the rank and file of the NPP to replace Ken Ofori-Atta.

    Dr. Assibey-Yeboah has, on a number of occasions, criticised the implementation of a number of policies of the Akufo-Addo government, including the Free Senior High School and the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy). Prior to Ghana returning to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout, Dr. Assibey-Yeboah warned of harsh economic conditions and therefore called on the government to resort to the Fund at an earlier time ahead of its July 1, 2022 decision.

    Who is Dr. Assibey-Yeboah?

    Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah is a Ghanaian politician and member of the 6th and 7th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana (from 2013 to 2021), representing the New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region on the ticket of NPP.

    He is a Christian and was born on March 2, 1974. He comes from Obo-Kwahu, a town in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region of Ghana.

    During his term as an MP, Dr. Assibey-Yeboah served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament. During his tenure as chair, he led many engagements toward sound economic indicators of government and was noted for demanding accountability from the government. He was also a member of the Sports Committee of the 6th Parliament.

    Before venturing into politics, Dr. Assibey-Yeboah was a lecturer between 2009 and 2010 at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), a senior economist at the Bank of Ghana between 2011 and 2012 and a lecturer at the Ghana Technology University College from 2011 to 2012.

    He had also previously worked as a lecturer at the University of Tennessee and as an adjunct faculty at Milligan College – both in the United States of America. He was also a board member of the ADB Bank Ghana from August 2018 – 2021.

    He is a member of the American Economic Association.

    Educational background of Dr Assibey-Yeboah

    The former MP attended Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon and the Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua, where he obtained his GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level, respectively.

    Dr. Assibey-Yeboah holds a BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Economics degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds an MS (Agricultural and Resource Economics) from the University of Delaware, USA.

    He also holds an MA and a PhD, both in Economics from the University of Tennessee, USA specialising in International Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and Econometrics.

    Some of his research work has been published in reputable journals, including the Economic Record, the International Journal for Finance and Economics, the Journal for International Trade and Economic Development, and The North American Journal of Economics and Finance.

     

  • Abedi Pele, Mohammed Polo, Partey, Essien, others – CK Akonnor names his all-time Black Stars 11

    Former Ghana coach Charles Akonnor has named his all-time Black Stars 11 players with an emphasis on those he saw and the ones he played with.

    Born on March 12, 1974, in Ghana’s capital, Accra, CK Akonnor captained the Black Stars after the exit of the legendary Abedi Pele during the 2000 African Cup of Nations.

    CK Akonnor made his debut with the Black Stars in 1994, made 51 appearances, and scored 13 goals before hanging up his national team boots in 2001, a year after the AFCON that was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.

    Asked to name his all-time Black Stars 11 in an interview with Paul Adom-Otchere on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, the former Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak coach stated that he will take out the 1960s and 1950s generation.

    Opting for a 4-4-2 formation, CK Akonnor chose Richard Kingston as his goalkeeper ahead of Mohammed Odoom and Abukari Damba.

    He selected Frank Amankwah as his right-back, Isaack Asare ahead of Kwasi Appiah for the left-back position, and Samuel Osei Kuffour and Frimpong Manso were CK Akonnor’s two choices for center-backs.

    He named Michael Essien and Thomas Partey as his base midfielders, while Mohammed Polo and Abedi Pele were his right and left-wingers.

    Ghana’s all-time top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, and third highest scorer Anthony Yeboah as his two attackers.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • GACL develops Behavioural Standards Booklet to improve operations

    Paul Adom-Otchere, the board chairman of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), has urged the airport’s personnel and other stakeholders to respect one another’s contributions and embrace service excellence as a community in order to put Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on the map of the world.

    He made this statement at the beginning of the 2022 Global Customer Service Week, which will take place from October 3–7, 2022, with the theme “Celebrate Service.”  The Airport Behavioural Standards Booklet was introduced at this year’s ceremony as well.

    Mr. Adom-Otchere indicated that Kotoka International Airport had come a long way in Airport Service Delivery and had been the proud recipient of the Airport Service Quality Customer Experience Awards on three consecutive occasions (Best Airport by Region and Size; 2-5million passengers for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    This, he said was testament to the many years of consistent effort to enhance service delivery at the airport.

    He expressed appreciation to staff and stakeholders for their dedication and contribution to the successes chalked and indicated that the giant strides made in the Customer Satisfaction journey over the years could not have been possible without the support and commitment of staff, stakeholders and Customers.

    Airport Behavioural Standards Booklet

    Launching the Airport Behavioural Standards Booklet, the Board Chairman reiterated that the overall objective of developing a general standard behavioural guideline was to improve Customer Experience at the airports, regardless of who provides the service.

    He further added that the first edition of the handbook highlights excellent service standards that have been developed in partnership with cherished stakeholders. “This handbook is part of GACL’s performance enhancement strategies towards improving performance in the ACI Airport Service Quality Program and delivering enhanced customer experience at our airports”, Mr Adom-Otchere said.

    He urged staff and stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel in delivering outstanding Customer Experience in line with the defined Service Standards at the airports.

    Mr Eric Prempeh, Customer Service Manager on his part, affirmed that the celebration of Customer Service Week was to highlight the essence of Customer Service whilst recognizing the people who serve and support customers daily.

    He urged stakeholders to come together to offer a bouquet of world-class service experiences in a manner that will leave passengers with no choice but to select Kotoka International Airport over and over again.

    Another significant highlight of the launch was the signing of the Service Pledge by Management, Staff and Stakeholders present at the event. The Service Pledge is basically a commitment by all to work together as a team to deliver outstanding customer experience to passengers and stakeholders.

    The Customer Service Week, expected to be observed at all GACL-operated airports in Ghana will feature activities such as Airport Service Quiz, GACL goes Sporty, Photo Booth Session with passengers, Departmental Customer Service Awareness forum and Management’s visit to Agencies operating at the airport among others.

  • ‘I’m the demon in my country but Beyoncé came as my angel’ – Shatta Wale

    Shatta Wale, the self-acclaimed dancehall king, has eulogised Beyoncé, the American singer and songwriter for the collaboration they made on her ‘Lion King’ album.

    According to him, the American songstress came at a time when many Ghanaian industry players, whom he refers to as gatekeepers, saw him as a demon in the industry.

    Speaking to Paul Adom-Otchere on Metro TV’s ‘Good Evening Ghana’ programme on Thursday, October 6, 2022, Charles Nii Armah Mensah, as he is known in private life indicated that if Beyoncé had not come at the time she did, he wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.

    “You see Beyoncé, it is God that sent her and mommy wherever you are, God bless you. Because I am the demon in my country but you came as my angel,” Shatta Wale told Paul Adom-Otchere.

     

    To him, “if those opportunities had not gotten into my life, I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.”

    The ‘I know my level’ hitmaker kept mentioning the name of Mark Okraku-Mantey, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts as one of the industry gatekeepers who tried as much as he could to block him from succeeding in the music industry.

    “…musicians have been poor in Ghana ooo, we have seen musicians that have come and gone and come and gone, we always try to talk to them like this and they don’t even say their feelings. Me, my heart is worrying me, I want to get money…

    “Do you know when Mark Okraku-Mantey started blocking me? Started saying that I won’t make it, I won’t get anywhere in my life…?” Shatta Wale quizzed.

    He recalled an instance where the deputy minister tried to talk him down on live radio, disclosing that he refused to respond to an interview on the radio and since then, Mark Okraku-Mantey who was then the Programmes Manager at Hitz said the station will create their own hero to rival Shatta Wale, in this instance, Stonebwoy.

    “Mark Okraku-Mantey is the problem of this whole music thing, they are deciding. When he was Programmes Manager at Hitz FM, he said on radio that because they were calling Shatta Wale for an interview and Shatta Wale didn’t come, so, they decided to create their own hero which was Stonebwoy…,” Shatta Wale alleged.

    PEN/SARA

  • Paul Adom-Otchere sues Captain Smart, Media General; demands GH¢10m compensation

    The host of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Media General Ghana Limited and its broadcaster, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, also known as Captain Smart, and his media house, Media General Ghana Limited

    Adom-Otchere is seeking, among other things, GH10 million in restitution for the harm done to his reputation as a result of remarks made against him by Captain Smart on Onua FM/TV.

    On August 26, 2022, the anchor of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV alleges that the plaintiff made defamatory remarks about him and claimed that he was a corrupt journalist on the “Onua Maakye” show on Onua FM/TV.

    The comments by Captian Smart, according to Mr Adom-Otchere have left him at the mercy of public ridicule.

    In his writ filed at the High Court, is seeking compensatory damages “for the damage done to his reputation and aggravated damages for the reckless and malicious publication of the defamatory words.”

    He is also seeking an order from the court directing the defendants to retract and apologize for the comments “on all media platforms operated by the 2nd defendant” as well as an “injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing and causing to be published the said similar words defamatory of the plaintiff.”

     

  • I lied against Mahama in 2016 – Captain Smart admits

    Vociferous journalist, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, has admitted that he fabricated lies against former President John Dramani Mahama that led to Mahama losing the 2016 elections.

    He alleged that, in addition to himself, Senior Journalists, including Kwami Sefa Kayi and Paul Adom Otchere, who he described as NPP lawyers, spread many lies against the former president.

    He added it was only after the election that he realised that most of the things he said about Mahama before the 2016 election were false.

    “I was one of the people who was serious (spreading lies against Mahama) … the lies we told against Mahama in this country were not small lies, Paul Adom Otchere was part. We said Mahama had a house in Dubai… that he had gold (concessions); you (Adom Otchere) were part of those of us who were spreading lies about Mahama with your frivolous analysis.

    “Myself, you (Adom Otchere), Sefa (Kwami Sefa Kayi) and all the NPP lawyers must fast for 21 days and beg for God’s forgiveness… When we came to power, I decided to investigate these claims against Mahama and realised that all the information you (NPP journalist) were feeding us were lies; you took money to spread,” he said in Twi during his Maakye Show on Onua TV, monitored by GhanaWeb.

    Captain Smart further stated that many NPP (New Patriotic Party) members expected that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would perform as well as ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor, but they have all been disappointed.

    “… if you compare Nana Addo’s performance to John Dramani Mahama, he (Akufo-Addo) will not even get 1 out of 100,” he said.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • I borrowed 12 cars, including Togbe Afede’s to show off at my wedding – Paul Adom-Otchere

    Paul Adom-Otchere has admitted that he borrowed a BMW 7 Series vehicle from the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV for his wedding in December 2005.

    According to him, the vehicle which he borrowed for two hours was part of a 14-car procession he used for his wedding because he wanted to show off.

    He said out of the 14 cars, two including a Mercedes Benz C-Class belonged to him and the rest were given to him by his friends including Dr Kofi Amoah, who also gave him a BMW 7 Series vehicle.

    “I was talking to Togbe Afede about this wedding, I told him that Kofi Amoah is giving me his car, BMW Seven series, for the wedding. This wedding, I had about 14 cars, two of them were mine, and the rest were given to me by people. When I said I was going to get married people blessed me; I was favoured,” Mr Adom-Otchere said yesterday on his show.

    “I said that Togbe, Kofi Amoah is giving me his BMW 7 series – Kofi Amoah’s car and Togbe’s car were exactly the same – so, I said I need your car so, that when the thing opens, the two BMWs will come then the Mercedes will follow. I just wanted to show off. My car was Mercedes.” he narrated.

    School fees

    Mr Adom-Otchere also admitted receiving a cheque from Togbe Afede XIV for part-payment of his Ghana School of Law fees. However, he stressed that at the time the fees were already paid.

    “…Do you know how many people have given me school fees money?,” Adom-Otchere quizzed.

    “So, what is the point about that? I don’t even get it but anyway people wanted me to react to it”.

    Source: GraphicOnline