Court Dismisses EC's Motion Asking Judge To Recuse Himself From NDP Case

The Accra High Court has dismissed a motion by the Electoral Commission (EC) asking that the judge handling the case between the National Democratic Party (NDP) and EC to recuse himself.

The EC wanted Mr Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, the same judge who handled the Progessive People’s Party’s (PPP) case to recuse himself.

But the High Court judge ruled that the fact that he presided over the PPP case does not mean that he won’t consider the NDP case on its merit, reports Graphic Online's Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson.

He subsequently fixed Monday, November 7 for the two parties to make their legal arguments.

The EC had filed a motion praying Mr Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, recuse himself from hearing and determining the case involving the commission and the NDP.

The premise upon which the EC filed the motion was that Justice Baffour had on October 28, 2016, in the case between the presidential aspirant of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, and the EC, made copious pronouncements on whether or not there was a nomination period for the EC to disqualify candidates.

According to the EC, in respect of the matters which Justice Baffour was being called upon to determine in the NDP versus EC suit, a critical issue was whether or not there was a nomination period stipulated by the EC.

STATEMENT: Amidu Drops BOMBSHELL...Dares Gov't & Prez Mahama

Former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, has alleged that the current Attorney General (AG), Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong, withdrew her application to examine embattled businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome over the GHC51 million judgement debt saga, because President Mahama personally gave an order.

The Citizen Vigilante, as he is often-times referred to, in a statement issued to the media moments after filing the application at the Supreme Court to personally examine Mr. Woyome, argued that the AG backtracked in order to protect some National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials, who benefited from the GHc51 million paid Mr. Woyome by the state as judgment debt.

“In my application I filed today [November 4, 2016], I made use of information provided to me that: ‘….when the Judgment Debtor was served with the order of the Court, he went to inform the NDC of which he is a member and financier; and the incumbent Government, in particular the Attorney General and the President personally, that should the order applied for by the Government for his examination be not discontinued, he will have no option at his appearance at the Court than to disclose truthfully and faithfully to the Court on oath the names of all NDC and Government beneficiaries of the judgment debt, which was paid to him as a result of the unconstitutional conduct of the Attorney General declared in the decision of this Court.’”

“I have also stated the information available to me and my belief that: ‘the NDC and the Government realizing the power of this Court pursuant to its order granted for the examination of the 3rd Defendant/Respondent/Judgment Debtor to ‘order the judgment debtor or officer to produce any books or documents in the possession of the judgment debtor relevant to these questions at the time and place appointed for the examination’ took to panic resulting in the President instructing the Attorney General upon her own advice to him to discontinue the application for examination of the judgment debtor which the Court had already ordered,” Mr. Amidu added.

According to the one-time Attorney-General in the erstwhile Mills' adminstration, if given the chance “the good people of Ghana will hear and see the beneficiaries of the unconstitutional judgment debt in the NDC and this Government.”

He further challenged President Mahama to allow his examination of Mr. Woyome to commence if government has nothing to hide.

“Gargantuan crimes were indeed committed as I stated in 2012. Corruption is trying to prevent the public from hearing the whole story from the horse’s own mouth. I challenge the honesty and integrity of the President and the Government to allow the examination of its financier, the Judgment Debtor, Alfred Agbesi Woyome to proceed without hindrance if they have nothing to hide.”


Read a copy of Martin Amidu's statement below

AMIDU APPLIES TO THE SUPREME COURT TO EXAMINE ALFRED AGBESI WOYOME THE JUDGMENT DEBTOR – BY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

Today, spurred on by agitations from the public who are protesting against the lack of probity, accountability and transparency on the part of the Government in purporting to discontinue the Government’s application and consequential order granted by the Supreme Court on 19th October 2016 (ordering Alfred Agbesi Woyome to appear before the Court on Thursday 10th day of November, 2016 at 9: 00 am in the forenoon to be examined orally on Oath to ascertain whether he as the 3rd Defendant/Judgment Debtor has any property or other means of satisfying the Judgment), I have this morning 4th November 2016 filed an application at the Supreme Court for leave to examine the Judgment Debtor as the citizen public interest Plaintiff in favour of whom the case was decided for the Republic of Ghana.

I have examined the circumstances surrounding the Government’s reluctance to enforce the judgment and orders of the Court with the seriousness which the matter deserves. I share the view expressed by objective and reasonable members of the public that because the Government was the 1st Defendant/Respondent against whom the Supreme Court made declarations of unconstitutional conduct in paying the judgment debt to Alfred Agbesi Woyome the Government has been pretending for purely political reasons at each turn to take steps to enforce the judgment and orders of the Court only to deliberately abort them. I agree that the Government’s objective has always been to create the appearance and impression in the minds of the unsuspecting public that it is complying with the enforcement orders. The Attorney General’s latest application to discontinue the Government’s application to examine its financier, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, is one more such trick to deceive the public and obstruct the course of justice.

In my application I filed today, I made use of information provided to me that: ‘….when the Judgment Debtor was served with the order of the Court he went to inform the NDC of which he is a member and financier and the incumbent Government, in particular the Attorney General and the President personally, that should the order applied for by the Government for his examination be not discontinued he will have no option at his appearance at the Court than to disclose truthfully and faithfully to the Court on oath the names of all NDC and Government beneficiaries of the judgment debt which was paid to him as a result of the unconstitutional conduct of the Attorney General declared in the decision of this Court.’

I have also stated the information available to me and my belief that: ‘the NDC and the Government realizing the power of this Court pursuant to its order granted for the examination of the 3rd Defendant/Respondent/Judgment Debtor to “order the judgment debtor or officer to produce any books or documents in the possession of the judgment debtor relevant to these questions at the time and place appointed for the examination” took to panic resulting in the President instructing the Attorney General upon her own advice to him to discontinue the application for examination of the judgment debtor which the Court had already ordered.’

The full application can be found on my website at martinamidu.com.

I would like to assure all public spirited Ghanaians that should I be given the opportunity to examine the Judgment Debtor, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, in Court the good people of Ghana will hear and see the beneficiaries of the unconstitutional judgment debt in the NDC and this Government. Gargantuan crimes were indeed committed as I stated in 2012. Corruption is trying to prevent the public from hearing the whole story from the horse’s own mouth. I challenge the honesty and integrity of the President and the Government to allow the examination of its financier, the Judgment Debtor, Alfred Agbesi Woyome to proceed without hindrance if they have nothing to hide.

Martin A. B. K. Amidu

4th November 2016

Nduom Cuts Sod For Assin Breku Rice Factory

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Groupe Nduom (GN), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has cut sod for the construction of a 100-tonne rice milling factory to be sited in Assin Breku in the Central Region.

The event, which came off yesterday, was well attended by traditional leaders, rice farmers and the unemployed teeming youth in the area.

This was the second in the week by the celebrated entrepreneur after he commissioned the refurbished 72-tonne Worawora Rice Mill Factory in the Volta Region on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Assin Breku, Dr. Nduom recounted how the people in the area who are mainly rice growers appealed to him to assist them when he was there recently to campaign for votes.

He decried the lack of development in the area, adding that if the community works with him, he will ensure it gets the amenities it lacks.

According to the business mogul, farmers in other jurisdictions were living well and could not understand why same cannot be said about farmers in Ghana.

“Business will commence after completion in April 2017. After Easter, farmers will not pound rice again. Machines will do that. Rice farmers will be given training to be able to cultivate good and quality paddy rice,” he assured.

“…If the business grows, combine harvesters will be brought in to replace manual harvesting by farmers. It is my hope to halt rice importation in 2020,” Dr. Nduom stressed.

Dr. Nduom told the people that the Worawora Rice Mill Factory was currently working, and assured them that same will happen in the area.

He thanked the chiefs for the land and his staff members for their earnest work.

Managing Director of Ghana Growth Fund Company (GGFC,) the investing arm of Groupe Nduom, Mr. Kwame Ofori Asomaning, earlier lauded Dr. Nduom for his foresight vision to halt rice importation which the country spends $1.2 billion yearly.

Thanking Dr. Nduom for coming to their aid, President of Assin North Rice Farmers Association, Mammoud Kwaku Oppong, said although his outfit has received support from the African Development Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture “we still need more funds and logistics.”

He was optimistic that many more farmers will benefit from Dr. Nduom’s initiative.

For his part, Sanaahene of Assin Breko, Nana Asare Baffour, who spoke on behalf of all the chiefs numbering about 49 declared their support for Dr. Nduom.

Mahama Is Stealing, His Brother Is Stealing, Friends Also Stealing - Konadu

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings

The founder and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has launched blistering attacks on President Mahama and his wealthy brother, Ibrahim Mahama, accusing them of stealing.

Some online portals recently reported that the multi-millionaire had purchased a 20-million dollar jet for his brother, President Mahama.

However speaking to traders at Kantamanto on Thursday as part of her Greater Accra campaign tour, the former First Lady questioned how the businessman got the money to buy a jet for his brother when he is unable to repay a bank loan.

“What sort of lie is this? How come your brother [Ibrahim Mahama] who was unable to pay a bank loan, managed to get 20 million dollars to buy a plane for you?. It means that while you are stealing, your brother is also stealing, your family is stealing , your friends are also stealing , ” Mrs Rawlings fired.

"So what should Ghanaians do? Let’s vote them out," she charged.

Even The Devil Can't Stop My Victory - Akufo-Addo

No evil forces can stop the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) from winning the December 7 polls to form the next government, flag bearer of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo has said.

“When you come out to vote, no evil force, no demonic entity or machination can prevent the victory of the NPP,” he told supporters at a mini-rally at Denkyira Obuase in the Upper Denkyira West Constituency on the second day of his tour of the Central Region.

He said God has ordained change in this year’s election adding that he will keep pleading with the people of Ghana to make him president.

“The power belongs to the people and I will never stop begging them to entrust that power into my hands to restore hope to the people of Ghana,” he said.

EC Must Come Clean On Company Printing ‘Pink Sheets’ – NPP

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), is skeptical about the Electoral Commission’s claims that it contracted a credible firm to print electoral sheets, also referred to as ‘pink sheets’ ahead of the conduct of the December elections.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the NPP’s Director of Elections, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, said they believe the EC has not been transparent enough in the award of contract.

“The issue surrounding this matter is a bit sketchy; so we are waiting for further clarification, but what we do know is that, the companies that competed for this contract should have some proven capability, while offering some transparency. One quoted a far less amount of about 4.2 million as against 8 million by the other.

The other who has no proven record and is gone bankrupt in the UK, physically, nobody knows their location in this country, and we are not too sure that they are going to even do it here or elsewhere, suddenly, somehow wins it,” he added.

The Daily Statesman newspaper had alleged in a publication on Thursday, that the EC had awarded a US$8.95 million contract to a British firm, which has been dissolved, to print the electoral sheets for Ghana.

But the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, in an interview with the BBC’s Akwasi Sarpong debunked the claims, adding that the contract was also financially prudent.

She clarified that, the company “has always printed it for us and has now relocated to Ghana which made their pricing better for us. This time, we did not have to bear the high freight charges that we would have had to bear and also the time for shipping.”

But Mr. Korsah argued that, the company has no proven record anywhere in the world; hence should not have been given the contract.

“They have no record to show as against the other companies, one of which produced the 2012 one. He is advised to have won the contract, at least per the information; he quoted the most reasonable price that the Ghanaian tax payer would have been okay with, they did it the last time without any hitches.”

Mr. Korsah further questioned why the British firm that failed to secure similar contract in Kenya should be given an opportunity in Ghana.

“He tried getting a contract to print ballot papers in Kenya; and he didn’t get it; and yet in Ghana he’s lucky to walk away with a rather huge sum as compared to what the others quoted. We need some transparency in this whole arrangement,” he added.

We Haven't Contracted Collapsed UK Firm - EC

The Electoral Commission has dismissed a media report suggesting that the contracts for printing some election materials were awarded to a dissolved printing firm in the United Kingdom.

According to the Commission, the contract for the printing of the election materials was awarded to a Ghanaian-based company, Aero Vote Limited, after it had met all the requirements.

The Statesman newspaper published that the EC had awarded an $8million contract to a dissolved printing firm in the UK.

But in an interview on BBC Africa on Thursday, Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei said the firm contracted has always printed election materials for the EC.

She explained the firm [Aero Vote Limited], has relocated to Ghana and so it was even to the advantage of the commission since they would not have to pay for freight charges and risk the security of the materials while being shipped into the country.

“We have awarded the contract for the printing of some of the election forms to a company that has always printed it previously for us and has now relocated to Ghana which makes their pricing better for us and which means that this time we don’t have to bear the high freight charges and also the time for shipping because it is high-level security,” she said.

According to her, the right procurement process was applied in the awarding of the contract and that Aero Vote satisfied all the requirements.

Mrs Osei noted that it would be unfair to deny a company that meets all the requirements in the procurement process just because it has folded up in one country and has set up in another country.

“If a company decides to relocate, wrap up its business in one country and move to another country, does that mean that they should be excluded from bidding for contracts in the country they’ve relocated to especially when they have the track record of printing for Ghana previously? Companies move from one country to the other for all kinds of reasons that would be unfairly penalising companies that have decided to relocate.”

Moreover, she added that the relocation of the company served the interest of Ghanaians as it has led to the creation of jobs.

“I’m happy that they’ve relocated to Ghana. At least they are hiring Ghanaians, they are creating jobs in Ghana.”