Category: POLITICS

General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua

The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as well as the leadership of the Majority caucus in Parliament have asked all lawmakers on the side of the governing party to respect the Majority Caucus’ communication channels in the House in making their grievances known.

This directive forms part of efforts to manage the situation where some NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) are asking the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to step aside due to the economic challenges.

At a crunch meeting in Accra on Tuesday November 22, the leadership of the party and the Majority group in Parliament in a statement co-signed by Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh and General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said “In the meantime, the leadership of the Parliamentary Group and the leadership of the party counselled the Honourbale Members of Parliamentary party to respect to the caucus communications channel , and to the largest extent possible, work together as one caucus unit. .

“Leadership of the party in this regard call upon the Members of Parliament to attend to all Government Business in the House including in particular the 2023 budget statement and economic policy and all connected matters.”

The leadership also asked the legislators to be present in Parliament when the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta presents the 2023 budget statement.

This comes after the lawmakers who are asking Mr Ofori-Atta to go have threatened to boycott the budget presentation if he is the one billed to present the document.

Member of Parliament for Asanti-Akyem North Kwame Andy Appiah-Kubi earlier served notice that the aggrieved MPs won’t be in Parliament to support the budget if Mr Ofori-Atta is the one to present the document.

The MPs believe that a new face should replace the Finance Minister due to the current economic challenges.

He told journalists that “We’ve gone back to (our demand for the President to) sack him now and therefore should the budget be presented under the stamp of the Finance Minister, we’ll not participate because as far as we’re concerned we’re never going to do business with him.

“And if we’re not going to do business with him, he does not participate in any process from the Presidency to the House. We will not participate in deliberations too

Former President John Mahama, who lost the 2016 general elections abysmally due to economic hardship that led Ghanaians to reject his second coming, has turned to crucify the current government over the challenges facing the country.

Mr. Mahama who has turned to be a new Apostle is making case for Churches to lose offertory from their members by saying the current economic hardship in Ghana has taken a toll on offerings to God.

According to him, followers of Christ are unable to give huge offerings in the church due to economic hardship, which has affected the pockets of Ghanaians.

He said this at the 175th-anniversary thanksgiving service of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ho, Volta Regional Capital over the weekend.

He said, “We must always spread Christian love, especially in this time, when money doesn’t like noise”.

“Especially at this time when we all agree that times are hard. This is the time we must show our Christian charity by loving our neighbours as ourselves”.

The former President continue that “And so whatever little you have to share, you should share with your neighbour. I mean we could tell the hardship in the system from the appeal for funds”.

He explained that “When it was GH¢2000, madam chair and a few people came and donated, then it came down to GH¢1000, then to GH¢500, then to GH¢200 and GH¢100. And when it got to the silver collection, GH¢1, GH¢2, the place was full, it shows that the pocket was not too good”.

The former President, therefore, appealed to Christians to pray for him and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to win the 2024 general elections.

He further noted that winning the 2024 elections would enable him and his party to rescue Ghana from the current economic hardship, rising inflation, and suffering.

“After we pray for Pakistan, Moderator should also say a special prayer for me and the NDC so that in some year that is just coming, luck will smile on us, God will smile on us and give us the power to come and rescue this country from the suffering we are going through,” he said.

Mr. Mahama lauded the efforts of the E.P Church, Ghana, to the development of the country, especially in the education and health sectors.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Rt. Rev Dr. Bliss Divine Agbeko, advised Christians to remain righteous followers of Christ and persevere to the very end.

He also implored persons in leadership positions to eschew corruption to earn a place in paradise adding the church would continue to shepherd its congregation for the common good of humanity

Former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, has passed on Saturday (19 November) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Botchwey died aged 78.

He has not been well for some time now, family sources said.

He was the longest-serving Finance Minister in Ghana. He served in the office alongside Ghana’s longest-serving head of state, the late former President, Jerry John Rawlings.

The late economist received his secondary school education at the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School in Ghana. Dr. Botchwey held an LL.B. from the University of Ghana, an LL.M from Yale Law School, and a doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.

He taught at the University of Zambia, the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), and the University of Ghana. Other notable previous assignments of Dr. Botchwey were advisor to the World Bank on the 1997 World Development Report.

He was among others, a member and Chairman of IMF‘s Group of Independent Experts who conducted the first ever external evaluation of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility, an advisor to the UNDP‘s UN Special Initiative on Africa, and an advisor to the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM)

Special Prosecutor

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced in a statement signed by the Special Prosecutor Mr Kissi Agyebeng on Tuesday November 15 that, it has commenced in investigations to the alleged corruption by the sacked Minister of State at the Finance Ministry Charles Adu Boahen.

The statement said “The Office of the Special Prosecutor has promptly commenced investigations  into the  action of  Mr Charles Adu Boahen and any other  implicated person contained in the investigative expose, ”Galamsey Economy’.”

President Akufo-Addo has sacked Mr Adu Boahen.

“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has terminated the appointment of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, with immediate effect.

“After being made aware of the allegations levelled against the Minister in the exposé, ‘Galamsey Economy’, the President spoke to Mr. Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment, and also to refer the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations.

“The President thanked Mr. Adu Boahen for his strong services to his government since his appointment in 2017, and wished him well in his future endeavours,” a statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin said on Monday November 14.

A Government Communicator Kofi Tontoh said the principle of natural justice will play out properly when Adu Boahen, gets his day before the OSP to answer allegations of corruption made against him.

Mr Tontoh stated that investigations by the OSP will determine the next action to be taken against him.

Commenting on this, Mr Tontoh said on the Big Issue on TV3 with Berla Mundi on Tuesday November 15.“This is a decisive decision by the President.”

He added “It is an attempt to show that the President doesn’t condone corruption but let us allow Adu Boahen to have his day and ones all the facts come out if any further action is needed it will be taken.