News Guide Africa

Tag: National Democratic Congress (NDC)

  • NDC Manifesto: Highlights of some key policies

    Economic Revitalization
    – Revitalize Collapsed Banks: Restore banks that had collapsed under Bawumia’s leadership to bring financial stability to millions ¹.
    – _Women’s Empowerment through Finance_: Establish a women’s bank to provide financial support and expand business opportunities for women.
    – _24/7 Economy_: Operate a 24-hour economy to boost employment and economic growth.

    Education and Healthcare
    – Improved Secondary Education: Review and reform the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy to abolish the double track system.
    – Free University Fees: Waive academic user fees for first-year university students.

    Good Governance
    – Lean Government: Operate a lean government to reduce waste and save public funds.
    – Accountability: Hold corrupt officials accountable for their actions.

    Taxation and Industry

    – Tax Relief: Abolish E-levy, bet tax, and other obnoxious taxes.
    – Poultry Industry Growth: Support and expand the poultry industry to boost agriculture and food security.

    These policies aim to promote economic growth, social welfare, and good governance.

  • Dr Habibu donates about 4000 T-shirts to 7 constituencies

    Dr Alhaji Habibu Dramani donates T-shirts to PCs

     

     

    As he edges to the end of his campaign rounds, Dr (Alhaji) Habibu Adramani, Former NEC Member of NDC, has presented branded T-Shirts to some selected constituencies.

     

    The donations presented to the Parliamentary Candidates to is aid their campaign activities and improves H. E John D. Mahama (Flagbearer of NDC) and the party’s visibility in the various constituencies.

    So far, Hon Mutawakilu Garlus, MP of Damango, Hon Naa Koryoo, PC of Awutu Senya East and 5 other candidates have received 500 each of NDC branded T-shirts.

     

    Dr (Alhaji) Dramani, the one-time longest serving Constituency Chairman, known for his unflinching support to the NDC since its inception called on the beneficiaries constituencies to work hard to redeem the parliamentary seats to help make NDC win majority in the next Parliament.

     

    He said, NDC majority will make John Mahama’s presidency a successful and memorable one in the history of Ghana’s democratic politics.

  • NDC Zango Caucus lineup formidable campaign team for election 2024…includes former Parl. Leaders

    NDC Running Mate

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

    The Zango Caucus wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party has announced its campaign team members for the 2024 elections.

    The campaign team is blessed with formidable men and women from all walks of life, including former leaders in Ghana’s Parliament; Hon Haruna Iddrisu and Hon Mubarak Muntaka.

    Read Full Press Statement Below:

    PRESS RELEASE ZONGO CAUCUS APPOINTEES-4(1)

     

  • Next Mahama/NDC govt to review mining laws to benefit Ghanaians…as it joins lithium lease discussion 

     

    H. E. John Mahama

     

     

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    The flag-bearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, has promised to review the laws that govern the extractive industry in next government.

     

    He said, this will help the country to maximize her share and local participation in the exploitation of our natural resources.

     

    Commenting on recently signed lithium mining lease agreement, the NDC holds the view, aside the fundamental issues battling the agreement, there are certain germane issues about the terms of the Ghana-Barari DV lease agreement that are worth highlighting. It has therefore listed a number of concerns in a press statement issued today.

     

    “The NDC wants a deal that provides a clear and unambiguous strategy for maximizing the benefits of lithium mining through value chain participation”, the NDC statement signed by the National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyemfi, stated. “There is therefore the need for mandatory requirements for the local processing of raw lithium before it is exported out of the country and a 100% off-taker for the by-products thereof (i.e Feldspar, Silica, Kaolin etc.) for local industries and manufacturing companies.”

     

    The NDC further believe that, the green minerals of the country, should not be exploited based on the existing mining laws and policies, which are predominantly tailored for gold mining and have not benefited the nation over the years.

     

    “We are of the firm opinion, that it is about time the existing colonial model of mining lease concession agreements, was reviewed.

     

    “New models for the exploitation of our mineral resources such as Joint Ventures and Service Agreements, that provide for equitable benefit sharing, enhanced local participation and value addition, should be considered as part of the review of the laws and policies governing our extractive sector.”

     

     

    Read Full Press Statement Below:

     

     

    PRESS STATEMENT

    For Immediate Release

    13th December, 2023

     

    NDC’S POSITION ON THE GHANA-BARARI DV LITHIUM DEAL

     

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has keenly followed public discussions on the controversial Mining Lease Agreement executed between the Government of Ghana and Barari DV Ghana Limited, for the exploitation of Lithium and other associated minerals in the Ewoyaa community of the Mfantseman Municipality of Ghana.

     

    After a meticulous scrutiny of the terms of the Mining Lease Agreement, the NDC has come to the conclusion that the Ghana-Barari Lithium agreement is not in the best interest of Ghana.

     

    1. It is an indisputable fact, that mining hasn’t benefited us as a nation over the years. Hence, there is the need for an urgent review of the country’s existing mining laws and policies, particularly in relation to green minerals.

     

    2. This is why the flag-bearer of the NDC, H.E John Dramani Mahama has promised to review the laws that govern the extractive industry, in order for the country to maximize her share and local participation in the exploitation of our natural resources.

     

    3. The NDC holds the view, that the green minerals of the country, should not be exploited based on the existing mining laws and policies, which are predominantly tailored for gold mining and have not benefited the nation over the years.

     

    4. We are of the firm opinion, that it is about time the existing colonial model of mining lease concession agreements, was reviewed. New models for the exploitation of our mineral resources such as Joint Ventures and Service Agreements, that provide for equitable benefit sharing, enhanced local participation and value addition, should be considered as part of the review of the laws and policies governing our extractive sector.

     

    5. Our beloved country urgently needs a reviewed mining regime, that provides for the sustainable funding and strengthening of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, to engage in reconnaissance and prospecting, particularly in relation to green minerals. We believe that this, if supported by the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) under the right policy framework, will enhance the bargaining power of the state in the exploitation of our mineral resources.

     

    6. It is for these reasons, that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government should have extensively engaged all affected local communities, as well as key stakeholders including CSOs in the extractive sector, before executing the Barari-Lithium agreement. Sadly, there has been very little engagement by government with the affected local communities and key stakeholders in the processes leading to the execution of the controversial lithium deal. The NDC believes that, all stakeholders in the extractive sector must have a say in the kind of law and model, under which our lithium and other green minerals should be exploited for the maximum benefit of the State.

     

    7. Aside the fundamental issues enumerated above, there are certain germane issues about the terms of the Ghana-Barari DV lease agreement that are worth highlighting:

     

    I) First and foremost, the requirement in the mining lease agreement for the establishment of a chemical plant to process our lithium locally, is very weak to say the least.

     

    * We note with concern, that under Schedule Two (2) of the lease agreement, the establishment of a local chemical plant by the company is not mandatory, but contingent on the conduct of a scoping study to determine the economic viability of the processing of lithium in Ghana.

     

    * Even more worrying, is the fact that, paragraphs 1(b)(c) and (d) of schedule two (2) of the lease agreement, envisages the inability of the company (Barari DV) to meet this requirement. This makes nonsense of the claim by government that no raw lithium will be exported from Ghana under the agreement.

     

    II) Secondly, there are no specific provisions in the mining lease that emphasize Ghana’s control over the lithium mining value chain and the benefits thereof.

     

    * In the extractive sector, the ability of a country to optimize gains from the value chain is the surest way of domesticating benefits.

     

    * The NDC wants a deal that provides a clear and unambiguous strategy for maximizing the benefits of lithium mining through value chain participation. There is therefore the need for mandatory requirements for the local processing of raw lithium before it is exported out of the country and a 100% off-taker for the by-products thereof (i.e Feldspar, Silica, Kaolin etc.) for local industries and manufacturing companies.

     

    III) On the claim by government, that Barari DV will be paying corporate tax of 35% under the deal, it is important for government to clarify the status of the company and provide the full facts relative to concessions that have been granted the company.

     

    *What the Mining Lease expressly provides is that, Barari DV shall pay taxes in accordance with the mining laws of Ghana, without more.

     

    * We are however told that the Company is registered under the Ghana Free Zones Authority and is entitled to a 10-year tax holiday, when such tax concessions are ordinarily not granted to mining companies in the country. This if true, will deprive the country of corporate taxes during the first ten years of the Ewoyaa Lithium project. This will effectively limit Ghana’s share to the paltry 10% royalty and marginal benefits from our 13% carried interest and the 6% equity held by the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

     

    * It is therefore imperative, for government to clarify the status and tax obligation of Barari DV and its parent company. Ghanaians deserve to know whether or not the company is a free zone company and why a mining company should be accorded free zone status. Ghanaians deserve to know all the concessions government is giving the company (Barari DV/Atlantic Lithium) for a holistic assessment of the benefits of the deal.

     

    * Beyond that, strict provisions on tax compliance and enforcement are required to ensure that the state is not cheated through transfer pricing and creative accounting.

     

    IV) It is important to make the point, that government’s boastful claim about securing a 10% Royalty under the deal, is a celebration of mediocrity.

     

    * It is worthy of note, that the prevailing royalty rate of 5% was based on section 25 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 (ACT 703), which provides for a royalty rate of not less than 3% and not more than 6%. This law was amended by the erstwhile NDC/Mahama government, as far back as 2015 by ACT 900, which has made the Royalty rate open-ended and subject to negotiations.

     

    * Also, the prevailing industry royalty rate of 5% relates to the country’s traditional minerals such as gold, bauxite etc. The Barari-Lithium agreement is the first deal for the exploitation of a Green Mineral in Ghana. Therefore, comparing the prevailing royalty rate of 5% to a 10% royalty rate for a Green Mineral like lithium, is an exercise in mediocrity.

     

    * More importantly, we think that government should have opted for a flexible range of royalty rate, which takes into account windfall profit of the company. This royalty arrangement has been adopted by Chile, which currently has a royalty rate range of 8% to 21% depending on certain variables. In similar vein, the 10% royalty rate secured by government could have been the baseline rate, subject to upward adjustment in cases of windfall revenue or profit by the company, if government had negotiated properly.

     

    V) Also, the requirement in the mining lease agreement for Barari DV or its parent company, Atlantic Lithium, to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange, is problematic for several reasons, including the following;

     

    ● No specific time-frame has been provided in the mining lease agreement for such listing.

     

    ● Listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) may not necessarily benefit Ghanaians as foreigners can invest on the GSE and/or hide behind Ghanaian fronts to buy shares.

     

    ● Over the years, similar arrangements have largely benefited a few rich and powerful Ghanaians and not the ordinary Ghanaian.

     

    ● Ghana’s own previous experience with the listing of Anglogold Ashanti shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange, where Ghanaians who purchased shares completely lost out, should awaken us to the fact that, listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange can go wrong.

     

    Suggestions for the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) to acquire the said 11% Equity in the Ghana operations of the Barari DV, for and on behalf of the people of Ghana, is therefore worth considering.

     

    VI) These facts completely belie the claim by government, that Ghanaian participation in the Ewoyaa Lithium project will be 30%. Beyond Ghana’s Free Carried Interest of 13% and the wholly inadequate 6% Equity acquired by MIIF, there are no specific provisions in the lease agreement that provide with certainty, a Ghanaian participation rate of 30% in the foreseeable future.

     

    VII) Again, it is interesting to note, that under the shareholding structure of the company, there is a 4.4% Equity in the name of “Previous Land Owners”. In the spirit of transparency, the NDC demands a full disclosure of the identities of the Beneficial Owners of that 4.4% Equity and how that was arrived at. Ghanaians deserve to know who these “previous land owners” are.

     

    8. In the face of all these pertinent issues, particularly, the non-existence of a feasibility report and a mandatory requirement for the local processing of our lithium resources, the NDC is of the view, that the Ghana-Barari Lithium deal is not in the best interest of Ghana. Thus, the ratification of the Mining Lease agreement executed by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP Government, should not even arise at this stage. It is our considered position, that Parliament should not consider the ratification of the Lease Agreement until all these pertinent issues are satisfactorily addressed in the best interest of Ghanaians.

     

    SIGNED.

    SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ.

    (NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER)

     

     

     

  • NDC’s fate of retaining Akwatia seat hanging

    The party’s expected massive victory in 2024 will only materialised on the shoulders of our youth and women in the country.

    By Adnan Adams…

     

    It is about time NDC national and regional executives listened to and take advice from it’s grassroot, especially the Youth and Women.

     

    The party’s expected massive victory in 2024 will only materialised on the shoulders of our youth and women in the country.

     

    Akwatia politics is a special one that needs critical attention and reference to history on whom to present as a Parliamentary Candidate.

     

    Being Akwatia boy and starting my childhood politics from 2000 in Akwatia till I matured in 2004….when I started voting

     

    No NDC candidate has won the seat and retained it.

     

    The nature of the people in the constituency doesn’t favor incumbent NDC MPs.

     

    This is why NDC must change its candidate for the 2024 elections, if only NDC wants to retain the seat.

     

    Besides, the alternative candidate, Erasmus Ali (Asanka Poyoyo) is a fit for the terrain of Akwatia politics.

     

    Akwatia people always want someone who is like them (down to earth, flow with everyone, semi-literate, mining business minded, play well with both Muslims and Christians and appeals to both NDC and NPP diehards and flouting voters etc..)

     

    I urge on the regional executives to be cautious in their foot steps in Akwatia….else we will lose the seat.

     

    The Akwatia primaries is delaying and it is creating unnecessary tension among the grassroot.

     

    We should be careful we don’t experience growing apathy among party supporters in the constituency.

     

    We need to retain the seat to increase our MPs in Parliament, but this can be possible only with a new candidate.

     

    NDC must listen!

  • NDC still wants government to cut-down number of ministers…despite approval of new ministerial nominees

    NDC still wants government to cut-down number of ministers…despite approval of new ministerial nominees

    PRESS STATEMENT

     

    For Immediate Release:

    25th March, 2023

     

    NDC REAFFIRMS ITS POSITION ON THE NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DOWNSIZE HIS GOVERNMENT IN THE WAKE OF PARLIAMENT’S APPROVAL OF NEW MINISTERIAL NOMINEES.

     

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken notice of the outcome of a vote on new Ministerial nominees on the floor of Parliament, yesterday, 24th March, 2023.

     

    Ghanaians would recall that the party issued a directive to the Minority Caucus in Parliament to reject the new Ministerial nominees a few weeks ago. This was in alignment with the pervasive view of Ghanaians that this moment of economic crisis and financial haircuts, calls for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to show by example that it is willing to reduce its expenditure by downsizing its government among other things.

     

    We note however, that some Members of Parliament on the side of the NDC Minority for reasons known to themselves, elected to place their parochial interest ahead of the interest of Ghanaians.

     

    The party, on behalf of all Ghanaians, condemns this conduct in no uncertain terms, as it not only betrays the expressed will of the party, but the desire of the Ghanaian people and constitutes a massive stab in the back of the good people of Ghana.

     

    The party wishes to reaffirm its principled position for President Akufo-Addo to downsize his bloated government and reset his priorities to reflect the difficult times Ghanaians find themselves in.

     

    The party commends highly, the leadership of the Minority caucus in Parliament and Members of Parliament who stayed true to the expectations of the party and the Ghanaian people. We will stop at nothing to identify them and publicly laud them in due course. Their loyalty and patriotism will not be forgotten.

     

    It must be noted that, the National Democratic Congress as a body corporate, has multiple structures, represented by elected and appointed officers who are expected to act in the supreme interest of suffering Ghanaians, particularly the over six (6) million supporters of the party. The party as a corporate entity therefore bears no liability for the deviant action of the few self-seeking Members of Parliament who betrayed the collective cause of the party and the nation.

     

    Undoubtedly, our country currently faces the biggest economic meltdown in living memory. It is therefore unpardonable for any person, not to talk of a Member of Parliament who believes in the ideals of the NDC, to lend support to the ongoing recklessness by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.

     

    The NDC shall continue to hold the government accountable for the socio-economic quandary that our country finds itself and present our superior alternatives to Ghanaians in our bid to rescue the soul of our nation.

     

    We are not oblivious of the fact that, the road to rescue will at a point become rough, howbeit such obstacles only strengthen our resolve to achieve the rescue mission. We shall leave no stone unturned in our quest to bring our dear nation out of our present economic doldrums.

     

    Signed.

    Comrade Fifi Fiavi Kwetey

    General Secretary

  • “I am also disappointed” – Mahama expresses in a write-up on approval of new ministerial nominees

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    Former President, John D. Mahama, has taken to his facebook wall to express his disappointment at the outcome of voting in parliament yesterday on the ministerial nominees.

     

    He noted that, Ghanaians and himself were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the NDC party not add up to already bloated NPP-led government.

     

    The NDC party and its members in Parliament, weeks a go declared their intention on a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government. But, the voting in the House yesterday was disappointing many Ghanaians who had put their trust in the hands of the minority.

     

    “Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest”, John Mahama shared his disappointment.

     

    “Equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls and the Chieftaincy minister resigned.

     

    “I still believe, as I said in Ho recently, that in this time of crisis, government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers.”

     

    Read full statement below:

     

    A couple of weeks ago, our NDC group in Parliament announced a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government.

     

    This position was supported by a broad section of Ghanaians and public advocacy groups.

     

    Unfortunately, Ghanaians were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the party.

     

    I am also disappointed.

     

    Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest.

     

    Equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls and the Chieftaincy minister resigned.

     

    Clearly in this time of crisis and excruciating hardships, President Akufo-Addo, his NPP administration and some of our MPs are out of tune with the mood of the Ghanaian people.

     

    I still believe, as I said in Ho recently, that in this time of crisis, government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers.

     

    For our grassroots members and all Ghanaians who are disappointed by this insensitivity, I urge you not to despair.

     

    2024 offers us an opportunity to work hard to defeat this reckless government that seeks to destroy our democracy and the very livelihoods of Ghanaians- an opportunity for us to work and build the Ghana we all want from January 07, 2025.

     

    https://www.facebook.com/100044152253932/posts/pfbid0XQkruf2kZqY5bb3zBam2NobaUofQcoEMi31tbN71KyDHyrKvdS8kc47LA1XsKR9Jl/?mibextid=cr9u03

  • Haruna is a ‘game changer in the north’ for NDC – Edudzi Tameklo extols

    Haruna is a ‘game changer in the north’ for NDC – Edudzi Tameklo extols

    Lawyer Edudzi Tamaklo writes…

     

    Hon HARUNA Iddrisu and the politics of the North

     

    Many years ago, on the University of Ghana campus, there was this very popular political program named, Legon Speaks.

     

    It was hosted at Legon Hall of the University of Ghana.

     

    My first encounter with the dynamite, Lawyer Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South. It was in the turbulent days of President Kuffour’s administration.

     

    This young MP was all over the place opposing Mr Kuffour.

    As a University student, it was a great delight watching him at the Legon Speaks against leading NPP politicians.

     

    Then came my involvement in NDC national politics and my direct association with him.

     

    Like every human leader, he had his own failings but overall, he was a good politician.

     

    When NDC was in power from 2009 to 2013, I was basically in law school and doing my politics predominantly within the Dome Kwabenya constituency.

     

    I didn’t get to interact with him more until in 2017, when the NDC went into opposition.

     

    Hon Haruna Iddrisu eventually became the leader of the opposition NDC caucus in Parliament. My engagements with him started from that period till now.*

     

    With admirable courage, he stabilized the front of the Minority Caucus and started subjecting the Akufo Addo administration to the fire of accountability and probity.

    He fought Speaker Mike Ocquaye even with Minority MPs of 106.

     

    In 2020, I had a call to represent some NDC interest in Northern region, precisely at the Zabzugu constituency during the voter registration exercise.

    I had to do Accra-Tamale-Accra on a few occasions.

     

    I was going to the High Court in Tamale to challenge some voter registration infractions.

    In the course of doing this case, I was working closely with the Regional Secretary, Salam.

     

    During this period, I encountered the real influence of the political colossus, Lawyer Aduna.

    He had enormous influence in shaping the politics of the NDC up north.

     

    I can without any equivocation detail how he single-handedly ensured that the NDC recovered the Savelugu seat.

     

    His efforts in ensuring we came out of the 2020 election with 9 seats.

    The NPP adopted the strategy of sending very resourceful CEOs and deputy ministers to some constituencies.

    Even with their resources, Lawyer Aduna matched them boot for boot.*

    Quite painful, we lost Gushegu and Karaga.

     

    I recall after the 2020 election, the NPP filed election petitions in Krachi West, Savelugu, Jomoro, Assin North among others.

     

    I was assigned the Jomoro and Krachi West petitions to defend.

    At every point, he will call to find out the progress of work on those petitions.

     

    Well, I successfully defended the two seats.

    Meeting him at the program organized by JM at UPSA, he wanted to know my honest opinion on the Jomoro seat.

     

    I assured him with the legal strategies deployed, we will retain the seat.

    He was visibly excited at the prospect.

     

    I am praying to Allah to calm him and for him to put everything behind him.

    That he will continue to hold the North for H.E John Mahama.

     

    So JM can get the time to focus on the other parts of the country. We need to prosecute multi pronged campaign.

     

    Lawyer Aduna with the support of the regional and constituency executives, obtain maximum votes for President Mahama and more parliamentary seats for the NDC.

     

    I am excited with the interventions from President John Mahama in this reshuffle impasse.

    Lawyer Aduna is a game changer in the North.

     

    With this said, we must rally around the leadership of Hon Cassiel Ato Forson to move the Minority Caucus to another level in our forward match to win the presidency in 2024.

    We make peace with our enemies, not our friends.

    We have one task ahead of us.

     

    Rescue this beautiful country from the misleader, Mr Akufo Addo and his political experiment, Dr BAWUMIA.

     

    Long live NDC.

    Aluta continua, victoria ascerta

  • NDC to develop a framework to guide appointment of parliamentary leadership

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    As part of the resolution by the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the national executive committee has been directed to as a matter of urgency, accelerate work on the draft framework of rules for to guide decisions relating to matters such as the appointment of parliamentary leadership of the party.

     

    This comes after series of meetings the Council had on a petition submitted by a group of NDC Members of Parliament on the recent changes to the party’s Parliamentary leadership announced earlier by the Party Leadership.

     

    The Council assured that, it will ensure that this framework is in place within the shortest possible time.

     

    “Indeed, the NDC party must not and will never forget the contributions of our three respected comrades in improving the electoral fortunes of the party”, a press statement signed by the chairman, Alhaji Mahama Iddrissu said.

     

     

    FULL PRESS STATEMENT

     

    For Immediate Release:

    6th February, 2023.

     

    NDC COUNCIL OF ELDERS AMICABLY RESOLVES IMPASSE OVER APPOINTMENT OF NEW LEADERSHIP OF MINORITY CAUCUS.

     

    Over the past several days, the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been holding a series of meetings on a petition submitted by a group of NDC Members of Parliament on the changes to the party’s Parliamentary leadership announced earlier by the Party Leadership.

     

    The Council approached the engagements conscious of the need for an early resolution which will be in the best interest of the party and mindful of the imperatives of unity and cohesion at a time Ghanaians are looking up to the NDC to rescue the country from the dismal state of affairs which has been the hallmark of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.

     

    While recognizing that the party leadership was within its rights to make appointments or rotate the leadership of the NDC caucus in Parliament as has been the case since the inception of the Parliament of the 4th Republic, the Council is of the view that the processes need to be improved. Accordingly, the Council noted that in the instant case, the approach, level of consultation, timing as well as the mode and manner of notifying the affected persons could have been better.

     

    That notwithstanding, the Council implored our Honorable MPs to accept the decision of the party leadership and work with the newly appointed leadership of the caucus. This position was discussed with representatives of the petitioners who fully appreciated the stance of Council and offered to communicate same to the petitioners.

     

    The Council has advised the leadership of the party to as a matter of urgency, accelerate work on the draft framework of rules for to guide decisions relating to matters such as the appointment of parliamentary leadership of the party. The Council will ensure that this framework is in place within the shortest possible time.

     

    The Council regrets the media altercations that took place in the aftermath of the leadership changes and the failure of the protagonists to resort to the internal grievance resolution mechanisms of the party to address their concerns. The Council is of the hope that such political point-scoring which is not part of our political ethos will be avoided in future. All concerned parties have accepted the Council’s advice and pledged to abide by it.

     

    The Council of Elders acknowledges the leadership and sterling achievements of the outgoing leaders of the NDC caucus namely, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Hon. James Klutse Avedzi and Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak who have raised the profile of the NDC minority caucus and demonstrated that indeed it is the NDC who has the men and women capable of turning the fortunes of Ghanaians around. Their efforts have contributed to reassuring Ghanaians that the NDC party is ready to assume power and rescue the nation from the depths of despair and desperation. Indeed, the NDC party must not and will never forget the contributions of our three respected comrades in improving the electoral fortunes of the party.

     

    The Council of Elders hereby calls for togetherness and unity of purpose within the minority caucus and urges all members of the party to let peace prevail. Let us not do anything to hamper the clear opportunity the NDC has to emerge victorious in the 2024 elections.

     

    It is our hope that the new Minority Caucus leadership will provide the leadership that will guarantee a resounding victory for the NDC in the 2024 general elections so that we can together rescue our beloved country from the hands of the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.

     

    Signed.

    Alhaji Mahama Iddrissu

    (Chairman, Council of Elders)

     

  • Expedite public hearings on the Special Audit Report into COVID-19 expenditures – NDC to PAC

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) to expedite its public hearings on this Special Audit Report into COVID-19 expenditures.

     

    Leadership of the largest opposition party wants the hearing televised live for the Ghanaian public to follow and be apprised of how their government expended COVID-19 funds.

     

    Addressing journalist in its first ‘Moment of Truth’ press conference, the party further urge Parliament to compel the Auditor-General to exercise his power of surcharge and disallowance to retrieve all COVID-19 funds that have been misapplied or misused through various infractions and veritable acts of criminality.

     

    “We call on the Special Prosecutor to investigate all Ministers and public officials who have been cited in the report for wrongdoing and bring them to book”, Lawyer Sammy Gyemfi stressed when he addressed the media at the party’s head office.

     

    “President Akufo-Addo must immediately fire the Minister of Finance, his Health Minister, Kweku Agyemang Menu, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company and all other officials who have been cited in the report for violating the laws of the country in their expenditure of COVID-19 funds.”

     

    READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

     

    A MOMENT OF TRUTH PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER OF THE NDC, COMRADE SAMMY GYMAFI ESQ. ON THE AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 EXPENDITURES.

     

    1st February, 2023.

     

    Good morning, distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media.

     

    We are highly pleased to have you here in your numbers, as we resume full duties under our ‘Moment of Truth’ series. We wish to assure you of our commitment to serve you with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in these engagements.

     

    Friends from the media, we should like to believe, that by now, you all in the media have sighted the report of the Auditor-General on a special audit conducted by his office into the COVID-19 expenditures of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government for the period, March 2020 to June 2022.

     

    In the very recent past, you have seen calls by the Minority in Parliament, the NDC and other well-meaning Ghanaians for accountability relative to COVID expenditures being met with fierce opposition from the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. Indeed, you all will bear witness to the fact that, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has been as scared and petrified about calls for an audit into COVID-19 expenditures, as an old lady would be over the mention of dry bones.

     

    Today, it has become apparent that behind that morbid fear of accountability, was an attempt to conceal from the Ghanaian people, what some of us have always known to be stinking rot, high-profile corruption, naked thievery and the misuse of COVID funds by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. As it is often said, the chickens are finally come home to roost through this special audit report, which in our opinion is a highly charitable and watered down account of how COVID-19 funds have been expended by government.

     

    The report nonetheless reveals jaw-dropping details of how various officials and assigns of this government misapplied, misused and in some cases, wilfully looted the unprecedented resource envelope that accrued to the NPP-Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    The Auditor-General’s report reveals that, by the kind courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana benefitted immensely from unprecedented inflow of funds from various sources, such as the World Bank, the International Monitory Fund, the Africa Development Bank, the European Union, the Contingency Fund and the sale of BOG-COVID-19 Bonds among others. These funds, the report estimates to amount to a total of Twenty-One Billion, Eight-hundred and forty-four million, One-hundred and eighty-nine thousand, one-hundred and eighty-five Ghana Cedis, twenty-four pesewas (GHS 21,844,189,185.24).

     

    We must emphasize here, that this amount excludes other COVID-related funds such as the $1 Billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), being Ghana’s share of the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to boost post-COVID economic recovery of member countries. The Auditor-General’s estimate also excludes the over GHS62 million that accrued to the COVID-19 Trust Fund which was established by an Act of Parliament to help mobilize funds to complement government’s fight against the pandemic.

     

    These notwithstanding, the report observed that out of the total amount of GHS21.8 billion that accrued to the Government of Ghana, only GHS11, 750,683,059.11 was spent on COVID-19 activities, while the rest of the money (precisely GHS10, 093,506,126.13) was spent on so-called “budget support”.  The animal call “budget support” as we would later realize, was the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government’s euphemism for their reckless and wasteful election-driven expenses which resulted in an unprecedented budget deficit of 15.7% in the year 2020.

     

    We shall now discuss fifteen (15) key highlights of the shocking revelations contained in the Auditor General’s report on government’s COVID-19 expenditures:

     

    1. Firstly, the Auditor-General’s report details how the Ministry of Health paid a total of US$120,192,379.80 to UNICEF for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines but only received vaccines valued at US$38,322,000.00, with a whopping $81.8 million of the transaction unaccounted for.

     

    This, ladies and gentlemen, raises serious concerns given the history of the current Minister of Health, under whose watch Ghana entered into the dubious Sputnik V vaccine contract and paid a colossal amount of money for vaccines which were never supplied.

     

    It would be recalled how the government of Ghana, led by the Health Minister, Kweku Agyemang Menu, chose to pay $19 per dose of Sputnik V vaccine through a phony middleman called Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum of the UAE, when Ghana could have easily bought these vaccines directly from the Russian government at a unit cost of $10 or less.

     

    Fellow countrymen and women, we in the NDC are very concerned, that despite the dire economic crises confronting the nation, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has neglected and/or failed to retrieve the outstanding amount of $81.8 million, which could have been channeled into other developmental ventures to ameliorate the plight of suffering Ghanaians.

     

    1. Secondly, the Auditor-General’s report reveals how the Ministry of Health recklessly paid an amount of GHS10,309,919.94 as premium for Special Life Insurance Cover for 10,000 frontline Health Workers without any Life Insurance Policy document and beneficiary list.

     

    We find it intriguing, how such a huge life insurance premium was arrived at without a beneficiary list detailing names of beneficiaries, their dates of birth and other relevant information  which should have formed the very basis of the premium.

     

    This reckless misuse of COVID-19 funds by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government does not come to us as a surprise, given the fact that the insurance company that got 30% of the booty is Enterprise Insurance, a company closely associated with the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. It is a known fact within the insurance fraternity, that Enterprise Insurance on whose board the wife of the Finance Minister, Angela Ofori Atta sits, today enjoys unfettered control over government insurances, as typified by this very questionable arrangement.

     

    1. Thirdly, friends from the media, the Auditor-General’s report avers that a contractor who has been awarded a contract at Nalerigu in the North East Region to build a holding, treatment and isolation centre, worth US$15,000,000.00, abandoned the project after receiving advance payment amounting to US$4,500,000.00.

     

    It is sad to note that this colossal amount was paid without the contractor submitting any performance bond or guarantee whatsoever as best practice demands. This is a clear case of financial loss to the Ghanaian taxpayer and must not go unpunished.

     

    1. Friends from the media, the Auditor-General’s report also details how the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Health paid an amount of US$607,419.02 in the year 2022 for the supply of twenty six (26) Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances valued at a total cost of US$4,049,460.12. According to the Auditor General, the delivery date of the said ambulances was 15th January, 2022. However, one year down the line, these ambulances are yet to be delivered.

     

    The irony here, ladies and gentlemen, is that, the man at the center of this scandal, Health Minister Kweku Agyemang Manu, is currently in court as the state’s principal witness in a case brought against the former Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. Ato Forson.

     

    The crux of the case against Hon. Ato Forson is that, he was allegedly involved in the issuance of Letters of Credit for the supply of some ambulances in the past, which ambulances were duly supplied and delivered only to be abandoned by this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. In the instant case, friends from the media, under the watch of Kweku Agyemang Manu, it remains to be seen whether the said twenty six (26) ambulances will arrive in Ghana at all. The future, they say, is pregnant.

     

    1. Still on various losses occasioned the Ghanaian tax payer, the Auditor-General’s report uncovers how medical equipment valued at US$110,088.00 and GHS27,895.00 were issued to a private hospital in Madina which did not serve as a COVID-19 isolation centre and did not receive any COVID-19 patient. This is a clear case of misapplication of COVID-19 resources and highlights how COVID funds and equipment were shared wantonly like groundnuts to cronies of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government instead of being used to protect lives.

     

    1. In similar vein, the Auditor-General’s report reveals how medical equipment valued at US$247,404.79, which were procured and received at the Central Medical Stores and subsequently issued to some specific health facilities, did not reach the health facilities.

     

    This ladies and gentlemen, to all intents and purposes was a create, loot and share arrangement in which officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government created schemes and procured medical equipment for personal gain under the guise of fighting COVID-19 instead of saving lives.

     

    1. The free-for-all abuse of COVID-19 funds as gleaned from the Auditor-General’s report took the form of various shady schemes. One of such underhand dealings was the case of over-invoicing by the the National Food Buffer Stock Company. The Auditor General found that between April 2020 and September, 2020, the company received three payments totaling GHS42,237,770.00, whereas waybills from various institutions which received these supplies amounted to only GHS40,831,685.00, thereby leading to over-invoicing of GHS1,406,085.00.

     

    Regrettably, instead of exercising his power to surcharge and disallow those responsible, the Auditor-General feebly prefers to as it were “recommend” to the CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company to refund the excess amount paid to the company.

     

    This, we find very objectionable from the report. We hereby serve notice to the CEO of the Buffer Stock Company to in his own interest refund the said funds immediately or consider himself a candidate for prosecution when power changes hands.

     

    1. Friends from the media, one of the most bizarre findings of the Auditor-General had to do with cash payments by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection totaling GH11,999,444.00 to caterers who provided hot meals during the three-weeks of partial lockdown which were all retired with “honour certificates”.

     

    It is quite obvious, even to the uninitiated, that the resort to honour certificates instead of hard evidence in the form of invoices and receipts to support these claims and payments, was an attempt to whitewash and coverup the inflated expenditure on hot meals by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and has in fact, deprived the nation of value for money in the said transactions.

     

    According to the Auditor General, his office could not authenticate the cash payments because they were supported with mere honor certificates and lacked internal checks resulting in the possibility of payments being made to persons who may not have provided any service.

     

    Ladies and gentlemen, what is most shocking is a related finding by the Auditor General, that there were no certification statements prepared for payments totaling GH¢5,638,684.00 out of the GH¢7,999,524 paid to caterers at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. This is a clear case of broad daylight thievery which must not go unpunished.

     

    1. Friends of the media, it also emerged that at the height of the pandemic when frontline health workers complained about the lack of adequate PPEs, with some even losing their lives, senior management and supporting staff of the Ministry of Information were busy paying themselves a total amount of GHS151,000.00 as “COVID-19 risk allowance” without approval.

     

    One may ask, what risk did these staff of the Ministry of Information led by the Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah face to warrant the sharing of such colossal amount of money among themselves as risk allowances without approval?

     

    What is even more bizarre, is the finding by the Auditor General that allowances totalling GH¢811,800.00 were paid to staff of the Information Ministry without adequate supporting documents. The Auditor General noted that apart from expenditure memos and signed sheets, there were no activity or program reports to support and authenticate the allowances paid.

     

    It goes without saying, that the Minister of Information and his staff must immediately refund these unjustifiable payments to the state coffers or be held to account.

     

    1. Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, the Auditor General also found that COVID-19 related payments were made to various service providers totalling GHS543,058,709.00 outside of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), in clear violation of Regulation 61 of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I 2378).

     

    Clearly, these illegal payments were deliberately made by officers of the Finance Ministry in order to obviate the strict rigours and scrutiny of the GIFMIS system. There is no doubt about the fact that this illegal act of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has deprived the State of value for money as far as the said payments are concerned.

     

    1. Quite strangely, ladies and gentlemen, the Auditor General also found that contrary to Regulation 78 of the Public Financial Management Regulation (PFMR), the Ministry of Local Government made payments from COVID-19 funds totalling GH¢285,135.64 on ten (10) transactions not related to COVID-19 activities.

     

    1. Again, the Auditor General found that between April 2020 and November 2020, the Ministry of Health made twenty-three (23) payments totalling GH¢4,520,661.84 to various suppliers for the supply of food items to the Pentecost Convention and Pantang Isolation Centres to cater for COVID-19 patients. Further scrutiny by the Auditor General disclosed that out of the total payments made, GH¢3,755,202.58 were fully acquitted to substantiate the payments leaving a difference of GH¢765,459.26 unacquitted.

     

    1. Friends from the media, the Auditor General further noted that a company known as Modern Security Printers Limited was awarded a contract by government to print 929,550 pieces of educational A2 posters at the cost of GH¢4,368,885.00 and to conduct public education on COVID-19 safety protocols for students for GH¢1,456,310.00. Shockingly, the Auditor General did not find any report or evidence that supports the execution of the public education on COVID-19 safety protocols for students for which an amount of GH¢1,456,310.00 was paid. This unaccounted payment is a clear case of financial loss to the state which must be retrieved without delay.

     

    1. Additionally, the Auditor General found that contrary to the express provisions of the Public Procurement Law, the Ministry of Health, without the approval of the Central Tender Review Committee, increased the cost of five (5) contracts with total contract sum of GH¢24,256,500.00 by GH¢4,017,000.00 through variation orders.

     

    Similarly, the Auditor General established that the Ministry of Health entered into four contracts for the supply of PPEs at a cost of GH¢9,280,300.00 through single-source procurement without the approval of the Board of the Public Procurement Authority.

     

    1. Ladies and gentlemen, the Auditor General also noted that in line with update No.6 of the President’s address to the Nation of 9th April 2020, Non-governmental Organisations and individual private water sellers provided free water services to their clients and customers at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies from April 2020 to December 2020 and submitted a total bill of GH¢37,609,791.71 for 2020.

     

    However, a review of COVID-19 free water bills at the Community Water and Sanitation Agency by the Auditor General disclosed that there were no actual water bills generated and submitted to the Agency by the NGOs and Private Individual Water providers to support their claims. The Auditor General could not verify the bill and validate the dubious payment of GH¢37,609,791.71 by the Ministry of Finance to these NGOs.

     

    CONCLUSION

    Distinguished friends from the media while time will not permit us to discuss all the startling details contained in the report of the Auditor General, the above disclosures are quite scandalizing to say the least.

     

    It is very clear that while COVID-19 may have been a national health disaster for Ghana, it was a bonanza and an avenue for officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and the New Patriotic Party to engage in the most obscene plundering of state resources never seen before in Ghana’s history.

     

    You may recall, that at the height of the pandemic in 2020, an audio recording of one Madam Felicia Tetteh, a former MCE and Parliamentary Candidate of the NPP in the Sagnarigu Constituency in the Northern Region, emerged with grim details about how she as a Parliamentary Candidate was given GHS100,000 of COVID-19 funds, while another GHS200,000 was given to her Constituency Chairman.

     

    By simple extrapolation and arithmetics, about GHS82,500,000 of COVID-19 funds were doled out to New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidates and Constituency Chairmen in all 275 Constituencies across the country. How could the New Patriotic Party and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government be so wicked and heartless? Clearly, these are a group of people who have no love for country and have never been interested in protecting the citizenry but only came to power to steal, kill and destroy the country.

     

    It is worthy of note, that these stinking revelations have come at a time of excruciating hardships for Ghanaians occasioned by high tax payments, hyper inflation of 54.1% and an ever-increasing rate of unemployment. As we speak, government has announced a total freeze on public sector employment while our secondary schools are battling with hunger due to shortage of food supplies from the Government. Our children don’t even have access to basic curricular-based text books almost four years after the introduction of a new curricular.

     

    Ladies and gentlemen, we are all witnesses to how Government has sought to justify its mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy by citing COVID- 19 as the cause of our economic woes. Indeed, COVID-19 is the most favorite line in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia book of lamentations for the unprecedented havoc they have caused to the Ghanaian economy. At the very least opportunity, spokespersons of this government consciously and shamelessly recite this excuse as the cause of the economic mess we presently have on our hands.

     

    What the apologists of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government have failed to tell the Ghanaian people is the fact that, COVID-19 brought the biggest financial windfall that have ever accrued to a sitting government in the history of Ghana. And that, our dear country would not have been plunged into the economic mess we presently find ourselves in, if these resources have been judiciously and prudently utilized by our duty-bearers.

     

    Sadly, after squandering all these resources on some very unconscionable ventures under the guise of fighting COVID-19, these callous nation-wreckers in government have turned around to not only blame the pandemic which fattened their pockets, but are now seeking to expropriate the life savings and hard-earned monies of the Ghanaian people, in the name of Domestic Debt Exchange.

     

    We in the NDC have always maintained that the manner in which COVID-19 funds were expended by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government spelt doom for our economy. It is a fact beyond dispute that Ghana is now bankrupt and our economy has finally collapsed under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Alhaji Bawumia. Having run down our economy through reckless and inordinate borrowing, stealing, and outright abuse of public funds, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government in a desperate move to clinch an IMF deal which appears to be their last gasp for breathe, has resorted to a Domestic Debt Exchange program which seeks to expropriate the live savings and hard earned monies of government creditors including Ghanaian citizens.

     

    Friends from the media, in the face of this unpardonable and despicable raid on the public purse, there can be no justification whatsoever for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to attempt to indirectly impose a draconian debt exchange program on the Ghanaian people in order to clean a mess they and their cronies in government have created. It is therefore within the right of labour, trade unions, pensioners, individual bond holders, banks and other stakeholders to stand firmly against the brazen attempt to foist and impose unfavourable terms of a so-called domestic debt exchange program on them.

     

    DEMANDS.

    Ladies and gentlemen, we will not be surprised if the thieving Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government who have proven to be a grand monument of waste and corruption tries to coverup this corruption scandal as they have often done since they took office in the year 2017.

     

    We wish to make it clear that we cannot and will not accept any situation where the Ghanaian people will be further punished and made to suffer for the willful mismanagement and destruction of our economy while the thieves in government who continue to milk the state coffers dry are left off the hook to enjoy their loot. We shall not sit aloof and watch the mother serpent of corruption, President Akufo-Addo and his Appearance-Fee-Collection Vice, Alhaji Bawumia whitewash this audit report and sweep it under the carpet as they have done in time past. Enough is enough!

     

    Unlike President Akufo-Addo who has proven to be the Chief Corruption Clearing Agent, the whole world witnessed how the Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera, cracked the whip on officials of his government who were found to have misused COVID-19 funds. The Malawian President is on record to have fired his Labour Minister, Ken Kandodo together with nineteen (19) other Officials. Friends, Kandodo’s crime was that he used less than $800 of the COVID-19 fund on allowances for a trip to South Africa in the company of the President. This is what decisive leadership is all about, but alas, here in Ghana, officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government receive promotion and patting at the back for engaging in acts of stealing of public funds.

     

    1. The NDC calls on the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) to expedite its public hearings on this Special Audit Report into COVID-19 expenditures. This hearing should be televised live for the Ghanaian public to follow and be apprised of how their government expended COVID-19 funds.

     

    1. We further urge Parliament to compel the Auditor-General to exercise his power of surcharge and disallowance to retrieve all COVID-19 funds that have been misapplied or misused through various infractions and veritable acts of criminality.

     

    1. While at it, ladies and gentlemen, we call on the Special Prosecutor to investigate all Ministers and public officials who have been cited in the report for wrongdoing and bring them to book.

     

    1. President Akufo-Addo must immediately fire the Minister of Finance, his Health Minister, Kweku Agyemang Menu, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company and all other officials who have been cited in the report for violating the laws of the country in their expenditure of COVID-19 funds.

     

    We thank you for your kind attention.

     

    Signed.

    SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ.

    National Communications Officer