Visa Fraud: Kweku Baako Defends Jon Benjamin

Leaders of Parliament and MPs must stop attacking the person of UK High Commissioner to Ghana Jon Benjamin vis-à-vis the recent leakage of a confidential letter he wrote to Ghana’s parliament that cites three sitting MPs and a former legislator as having been involved in various visa infractions, editor-in-chief of the New Crusading newspaper Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako has said.

“All the leaders of parliament or leading MPs who are talking and attacking the High Commissioner are just not doing the right thing,” Mr Baako said on Multi TV’s news analysis programme Newsfile on Saturday, 29 April.

He said: “I’m clear in my mind that there were instances of misrepresentation that informed the applications that some of them [the 4 MPs] placed before the High Commission.

“Somebody says this is my wife, it turns out it’s not the wife; that’s a fact. You send a kid – 16-year-old – out, she is not back by a certain time. These are hard facts.

“We should stop this thing of seeking to play on the keyboards of people’s emotions by pointing to a foreigner. Did we do what he [UK High Commissioner] said we did or we did not? When I say so I mean the Ghanaians who are involved in it – they did.”

He suggested that the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, send the matter to the Privileges Committee or set up a special purpose committee to investigate the matter.

“… I say this amounts to abuse of privilege and it brings the image of parliament into disrepute,” he asserted.

Below is the High Commissioner’s confidential letter to the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament:

Dear Mr Speaker.

The British High Commission (BHC) would like, in confidence, to bring the following matters to your attention, regarding the apparent involvement of three serving MPs and one former MP in visa fraud directly affecting the United Kingdom.

In doing so, we note the powerful words in your impressive inaugural address as Speaker, to the effect that, for Members of Parliament, holding a Diplomatic Passport is both a privilege and responsibility which should not be abused: and that those who abused that trust would be appropriately dealt with.

In that regard:

1. On 11/09/2012, the then Honourable and now former MP for Asunafo South, George BOAKYE, applied for visas for himself and his 37-year-old daughter, Joyce BOAKYE, to visit a friend in London for 17 days. The visas were granted on 14/09/2012. On 17/01/2013, Joyce BOAKYE travelled to the UK with her Honourable father. Joyce BOAKYE did not leave the UK with her father, but remained until 06/01/2017. In other words, she finally returned to Ghana just this month, having been in the UK illegally for over three years, and only then at our strong urging of Mr Boakye to bring her back. Mr Boakye is highly unlikely to be issued any further visas to visit the UK in the next ten years for his role in facilitating his daughter's travel to the UK, including should he be re-elected to Parliament in a subsequent election.

2. On 27/11/2015 the Honourable MP for Bia East, Richard ACHEAMPONG, applied for a UK visa using Diplomatic Passport number DX001490. The Hon ACHEAMPONG stated in his application form that he would travel to the UK for a two-week holiday with his “wife" Esther TIWAA. On 10/12/2015 Mr ACHEAMPONG and Ms TIWAA were issued with UK visas. On 24/12/2015, Esther TIWAA travelled to the UK, but alone: the Hon ACHEAMPONG did not accompany her as both his and her visa applications said that he would. She has not left the UK since that time, and is, therefore, now there illegally. The Hon ACHEAMPONG did not declare the illegal presence of his wife in the UK until he was challenged with the facts by us on 10/10/2016. He then repeatedly promised me personally that he would bring documentation to prove that Esther TIWAA was, indeed, his wife, but has consistently failed to do so, neither has he been prepared to share any useful information to help us track down Ms TIWAA's current whereabouts. Should Mr ACHEAMPONG now apply for another UK visa at any point up until 08/12/2025 his previous actions with regard to Esther TIWAA will weigh heavily against his application and he is likely to be refused.

3. On 06/04/2016, the Honourable MP for Ntotroso, Joseph Benhazin DAHAH applied for a UK visa using Diplomatic Passport number DX001459 to go on a two-week holiday. The Hon DAHAH stated that he was travelling with his wife Gloria DANSU and his niece Beatrice MENSAH. On 11/04/2016, the visas of the Hon DAHAH and Gloria DANSU were issued; the visa of his niece Beatrice MENSAH was refused. On 13/05/2016, the Hon DAHAH applied in another country for a visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland with his wife and daughter. The identity of his wife had changed from Gloria DANSU in the UK application to Ruyling APPAU in the Irish one. More significantly, a birth certificate was submitted showing that Beatrice MENSAH was now his daughter and not his niece as she had been described when applying to visit the UK. The Hon DAHAH's UK visa was cancelled and a 10-year UK visa ban has been imposed on him. He has been informed of this.

4. On 20/06/2016, the Honourable MP for Ahafo Ano South West, Johnson Kwaku ADU, applied for visas for himself, his wife Grace YEBOAH and their 16-year old daughter Emmanuella ADU in order to visit London for a ten-day holiday. The Hon ADU applied using Diplomatic Passport number DX002267; all three visas were granted on 07/07/2016. The family of three travelled to the UK on 25/07/2016. The Hon ADU left the UK just two days later on 27/07/2016 leaving behind his wife and child, if that indeed is what they are, who have not left the UK to date and are, therefore, now illegally resident there. This is in some ways the most serious of the cases outlined in this letter, given the possibility that Hon ADU knowingly facilitated the movement of a minor – who cannot currently be traced – into the United Kingdom. That has been noted with alarm by UK authorities.

The British High Commission considers the actions outlined above to be completely unacceptable. In some cases, these behaviours may arguably be criminal in nature. As already outlined, administrative measures have been taken to ensure that the Honourable members mentioned here will most likely not be granted visas for the UK within the next 10 years. I should add that the party affiliation of these MPs is, in this context, irrelevant to us: we simply state the facts as we have discovered them. We are continuing to investigate whether any other current or former MPs have engaged in similar behaviour and will inform you, if we discover any further such cases.

Furthermore, the British High Commission has information that points strongly to some of the aforementioned Honourable members having used the same unofficial visa agent (also known as a ‘Goro boy’) in their applications, specifically a gentleman called Appiah. We are sure that Mr Speaker shares our view that an institution as respected and vitally important as the Ghanaian parliament should not be a location where unregistered visa agents approach Honourable Members and act as a conduit for them to participate in visa fraud. The British High Commission will happily cooperate fully with any parliamentary and law enforcement investigation into such agents operating in the vicinity of the Ghanaian parliament.

Given what has transpired, the British High Commission would request the Ghanaian parliament to be aware of the following:

a) we will, henceforth, only entertain and prioritise requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit;

b) however, MPs wishing to make private visits to the UK or to be accompanied on official visits by non-official relatives must apply online and through our Visa Application Centre at the Mövenpick Hotel like any other applicant;

c) could you kindly confirm whether and why it is legitimate for ex-MPs to continue to possess and use diplomatic passports, in some cases for many years after they have ceased to be parliamentarians? In that regard, we would humbly like to ask, Mr Speaker, what procedures are in place to ensure that diplomatic passports are removed forthwith from all those 133 former Members who have just ceased to be MPs?

d) the net effect of such visa fraud by a very few Honourable MPs as outlined in this letter is to raise the bar of suspicion against all such applicants, which is of course regrettably to the huge disadvantage of those very many MPs who do act honourably at all times.

The British High Commission looks forward to a constructive relationship with yourself, your officers and the new Parliament in general and on specific issues, such as the work currently being sponsored by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to bolster Parliament's research capacities. We hope, at the same time, that measures taken by us all collectively will prevent any repeat of the sort of cases described in this letter. We would warmly welcome your views on the issues raised in this letter, both in regards to the specific cases and generic issues.

I am copying this letter to your Protocol Office, and to the Executive Secretary and Chief-of-Staff to His Excellency President; and to the Ministers-designate of Foreign Affairs and National Security. We are also circulating this letter widely to other Diplomatic Missions which issue visas in Ghana in the expectation that some of them will consider similar action to ourselves against the above-named individuals.

May I take this opportunity to repeat to you assurances of our very high regard for you and your office; and to wish you, Mr Speaker, every success in your new role. Please be assured of our commitment to collaborate with you, and through you with Parliament, wherever we can usefully be of assistance.

Signed,
Jon Benjamin
British High Commissioner

Klottey Korle NDC Executives Happy with Suspension

The Klottey Korle Constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had expressed happiness following the suspension of their Communication Officer.

     Mr Emmanuel Ashalley Tetteh has been suspended with immediate effect for contravening the code of conduct and disciplinary conduct of the party by the Functional Executive Committee of the NDC.

    A letter directed to all the 160 branches in the constituency, signed by the Constituency Secretary, Mr Dizzy Quaye and copied the Ghana News Agency, asked members not to do any business with Mr Tetteh until the decision of the National Executive Committee was reversed.

     The executives have unanimously agreed that the Deputy Communication Officer, Mr Julius Neequaye Kotey to act until the suspension was lifted.

     They have also asked Madam Emelia Nortey to act in the capacity of Women Organiser following the death of Mrs Belinda Yakah until elections were held.

     “We hope that all the branch executives will co-operate with the directives till further notice,” the letter said.

Angry A-Plus Attacks Kofi Adams In Facebook Post

National Democratic Congress Organiser Kofi Adams has just been dragged through the deepest part of the gutters by A-Plus.

The Ghanaian musician decided to rain "insults" on the politicians for defending Ibrahim Mahama in the dud cheques scandal.

According to A-plus, Kofi Adam holds the key to the discovery of what makes a man stupid and must be captured by scientists and used as a lab rat so this discovery is made.

“As for Kofi Adams, they have to put his brain in a science lab and use it to teach children what makes a man stupid,” the irate musician fumed.

Fuming in a Facebook post, the musician couldn’t understand why Kofi Adams and the National Democratic Congress would jump to the defense of Ibrahim Mahama for issuing 44 dud cheques to government.

"People like Kofi Adams, the NDC national organiser who instead of working for his party (NDC) a day to elections, was busy drinking beer with girls on the Spintex road is [now] talking nonsense [because EOCO is grilling Ibrahim Mahama for evading tax?]", he continued.

“You issue 44 dud cheques to government, nobody has arrested you. They have even given you time to pay what you owe. What else do you want?”, he quizzed his audience.

Though, Ibrahim Mahama, who is the brother of former president John Mahama has been asked to pay some monies to government, A-Plus believe the punishment was served with too much leniency.

"People have gone to jail for 10 years for stealing cassava and goat. Police has arrested people for 500 Ghana cedis dud checks.

Some have gone to jail for one roll of weed; and someone has issues 44 dud checks and is walking free. The most annoying part is that some NDC people are defending him", his social media tirade continued.

A-Plus is a well-known supporter of the incumbent New Patriotic Party and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. During the 2016 campaign period, he was very active and vocal with his support for the NPP.

Who Replaces Sammy Awuku As NPP National Youth Organiser?

Sammy Awuku

There seems to be serious lobbying for the position of National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with indications that the current National Youth Organiser, Sammi Awuku is set to give up the post.

Sources close to the party indicate that Mr. Awuku is set to contest for the position of National Organiser of the party, a post currently being occupied by John Boadu who may be seeking to be confirmed as General Secretary of the party.

But before Sammie Awuku could finally announce his retirement from the youth front, his seat is up for grabs, by relatively big-names in the patriot’s youth brigade, much to the chagrin of party rules, jumped into the succession race.

Lots of candidates, lots of interest and lots of energy are being showcased on social media to garner support. Even before the National Executive Committee could come up with election timetable, there is seeming mad rush to succeed and replace Awuku.

Dominic Kwesi Eduah, Nana Poku Frefre, Kwame Baffoe, Nana Boakye, Sampson K. Nimako, Kamal Deen, and several loyalists are shopping around to replace Awuku as the party’s next National Youth Organizer.

Dominic Eduah, Electrical Engineer, and one of the two deputies to Awuku, and his assigns are said to be seeking to protect Mr. Awuku’s interests through a ‘friendly’ succession.

One of the outspoken members in the party who has been at the fore front, Kwame Baffoe, known in his party activism as ‘Abronye DC’ has abandoned his position as the Brong-Ahafo Regional Youth Organizer of party and relocated to Accra where he has been vociferous on radio stations.

Nana Boakye, tenderly referred to as Nana B, the Deputy Director of National Service Scheme, who recently stirred controversy after he was rated ‘substandard’ by multimedia group is also said to be in serious contention for the position.

Sampson K. Nimako, an environmentalist is said to be testing the waters seeking the opinion of delegates on whether he should contest for the position. That decision could come as early as next week.

Lurking in the shadows is David Asante, convenor of Let My Vote Count Alliance and a former aspirant who abdicated his ambition midway into the election that elected Awuku. Reports suggest that he is keen to plot his return to political eminence after failing to secure the trust of the party hierarchy to head its communication outfit.

Kamal Deen, the incumbent National Nasara Coordinator is also said to be harbouring ambitions to win the nod as the party’s National Youth Organiser.

Nana Poku Frefre, a libertarian, entrepreneur, youth activist, and founder of the NPP Loyal Men, appear to be comfortably leading on the side-lines within the grassroots.

Frefre’s candidature is problematic to other lobbyists, though he is classified an underdog. So, rather than focusing on courting support of prospective delegates, aficionados of other aspirants are busily shopping for the best ways to destroy the candidacy of Nana Poku but still he appears to be one of the fancied candidates for the position.

Awuku had thrashed four patriotic opponents in the primary to become the National Youth Organizer with his famous ‘Boys Abre’ tag. Sammie Awuku is stepping up for the National Organizer slot after helping to secure victory for the party.

Akufo–Addo names 212 MMDCEs

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has finally named 212 persons to fill the vacant positions of Chief Executives in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDCEs) across the country.
This was announced by the Minister for Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama in Accra today [Wednesday].
Speaking on behalf of the President, the Minister called for calm among party members and support for the nominees.
The President had earlier appointed the Chief Executives for four Metropolitan Assemblies in the country namely: the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, and Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.
Agitations over appointment of DCEs
There have also been agitations in parts of the country over the appointment of the MMDCEs.
Angry supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Bawku West Constituency of the Upper East Region on Tuesday evening vandalized their party office and some departmental offices in the Zebilla district, over the alleged appointment of one Victoria Ayamba as the District Chief Executive for the area.
The group said Patrick Ayamba, Assembly Member for Teshie, a suburb of Zebilla, and a businessman, is their best bet for the job and will resist any other appointment by President Akufo-Addo.
At Elubu in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region, some youth of the area were on the heels of the MP claiming he had deceived them after promising to ensure that their preferred candidate gets nominated.
But the MP, Paul Essien denied making such a promise.
“These things are just coming from just a few guys who are trying to throw something in the air and if there is evidence of a letter I have written against honourable Moses, they should produce it. I am not sure these things are real things. It is like people are just guessing,” he said on the Citi Breakfast on Wednesday.
Below is the full list of the MMDCEs

Government releases list of 212 MMDCE nominees

Government on Wednesday announced the appointment of 212 Chief Executives for the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies across the country.
President Akuffo-Addo has already nominated Chief Executive for the four Metropolitan Assemblies in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Secondi- Takoradi, who have been endorsed by their respective Assemblies and ushered into office.
In the Greater Accra, some of the nominees include Mr Daniel Alexander Nii-Noi Adumuah as the Chief Executive for Ada West, Dr Emmanuel Lamptey for Ga Central, while Madam Janet Tulasi Mensah for Ga East.
In the Western Region, John Koah was nominated for Bia West, while Wilson Arthur takes care of Mpohor/WASSA East.
In the Volta Region, Ella Boateng was nominated for South Dayi while Richard Collins Arku handles North Tongu.
Hajia Alima Mahama, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, at a press briefing said the appointment was done by the President in exercising his responsibilities under Article 2431 of the Constitution, which enjoins the President to appoint a District Chief Executive for every district with prior approval of not less than two thirds majority of members of the Assembly present and voting at the meeting.
Hajia Alima said President Akuffo-Addo carried out extensive consultation at the district, regional and national level before the appointment of the Chief Executives with approval of the members of the relevant Assemblies.
“The Chief Executives were capable members with expertise, experience and temperament to head the Assemblies and inspire a new era of rapid development in the country”, she added.
She said the President was grateful to all who showed keen interest in the exercise and wished that those who were not named would appreciate that there were other positions they may be called upon to serve in the interest of the nation.
“This is the time for solidarity and focus on overcoming the challenges that confronts the country to build together the prosperous and a happy nation we desired”.
She said government as part of its expansion of local democracy would amend the constitution to provide for the direct election of MMDCEs, instead of appointment.
Source: GNA

Jon Benjamin Not Comporting Himself As A Diplomat - Atik Mohammed

Jon Benjamin

Atik Mohammed, General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), has asked British High Commissioner Jon Benjamin to comport himself as a diplomat.

Speaking on his conduct since taking office, Atik Mohammed expressed disappointment in the British High Commissioner who he claims has undermined his office by making seemingly unnecessary remarks about happenings in the country.

Atik Mohammed was commenting on the recent news regarding some Members of Parliament who have been barred from entering the United Kingdom (UK) over suspicions of Visa racketeering.

The British government has blacklisted three current serving MPs and a former MP from making an entry into the UK.

A "confidential letter" the British High Commission in Ghana addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Mike Oquaye and sighted by Peacefmonline.com accused the MPs of "Visa fraud".

The MPs are said to have facilitated the entry of some of their relatives to the UK using their diplomatic passports and left them to live there illegally.

The letter cited Richard Acheampong, MP for Bia East in the Western Region, Joseph Benhazin Dahah, MP for Asutifi North in the Brong Ahafo region, Johnson Kwaku Adu, MP for Ahafo Ano South West, in the Ashanti Region and George Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South in the Brong Ahafo region.

"The British High Commission considers the actions outlined above to be completely unacceptable. In some cases, these behaviours may arguably be criminal in nature. As already outlined, administrative measures have been taken to ensure that the Honourable members mentioned here will most likely not be granted visas for the UK within the next 10 years. I should add that the Party affiliation of these MPs is, in this context, irrelevant to us: we simply state the facts as we have discovered them. We are continuing to investigate whether any other current or former MPs have engaged in similar behaviour and will inform you, if we discover any further such cases", the letter read.

Atik Mohammed, contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, wondered how a "confidential letter" could find its way into the public domain.

Suspecting Mr. Benjamin to have made the letter public, Atik Mohammed advised the British High Commissioner to stop bringing his office into disrepute.

"He's overdoing his job. He's gone beyond the space permissible by his work. As High Commissioner, there are some things he shouldn't engage in, but he does it. He wades into our local politics which he shouldn't do. When it comes to entertainment, he's there. On Spiritual matters, he's there. He's everywhere. It doesn't present you as a diplomat worth your name...Giving the past attitude and conduct of this man, I'm inclined to suspect that he knows something about it (leakage of letter). And it further undermines him as a diplomatic person representing a country like the UK," Atik stated.

He however called on the Speaker of Parliament and the entire House to address the scandals that have hit the legislative body in order to uphold the integrity of the House.

According to him, the scandals are becoming one too many, hence making the role of an MP disreputable.

"I don't feel excited or inspired to become a Member of Parliament. There's confusion about an understanding of what the role of an MP is", he added.