A 10th July Ghanaweb report sourced to Graphic.com reported that Mr. Joe Ghartey, former NPP Attorney-General, recently concluded his testimony in the lawsuit involving the sale for $900 million and change, of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone. The case, now at the Commercial Court, is presided over by Mrs. Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
If you have not been paying attention, the joint-lawsuit was brought on behalf of the People of Ghana by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Mr. Michael Kosi Dedey, Naa Kordai Assimeh, Ms. Rhodaline Imoru Ayarna and Mr. Kwame Jantuah, of the Convention Peoples' Party (CPP). The remedy plaintiffs seek is declaration by the Commercial Court that the "deal, including "the forcible grouping of autonomous state institutions established by law — Voltacom, Fibreco, VRA Fibre Network and VRA Fibre Assets) ", was illegal and unconstitutional.
THEREFORE, on account of the recent success of Mr. Martin Amidu with respect to the Woyome judgment debt debacle for which the Mahama/NDC government seem incapable or unwilling to present a Ghana debt collection plan, let alone collect a pesewa, we couldn't help but re-visit "Respect Whistle-Blower & State-Witness PC Appiah-Ofori," the essay we published on Ghanaweb 18 July, 2009, exactly 4 years ago, on the matter of the GT sale to Vodafone. Even more so, PC is now daring Mr. John Mahama to publish the hot Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) report. This is yet one more way we are honor then-NPP minister PC Appiah-Ofori, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, for challenging the sale by the NPP government on fraudulent grounds, whistle-blower style.
For the Ghana-centered person, P.C. Appiah-Ofori, personifies the voice, conscience, hopes, and aspirations of the people for a truly accountable and transparent Government of the People! Therefore, we were greatly amused when Dr Charles Yaw Yeboah and Mr. Ofori Asamoah, former NPP MPs, jointly filed a lawsuit against P.C. Appiah-Ofori. As we understood 4 years ago, it was a third NPP MP who informed PC that NPP ministers received $5,000 bribes for their votes on the GT sale from Mr. Mpiani.
One thing was always clear – every Ghana-centered person who wanted better lives for all Ghanaians and naturally wanted to see corruption, bribery, and nepotism kicked out of the halls of government were totally in PC’s corner!
Back in 2009, we asked that the Mills/NDC government, and the committee setup to look into the sale, in particular, quickly get on with the job – transparently, and accountably. The committee needed to rewind the Vodafone case on its most significant front – the legal front. After all, many of us reckoned that PC's protest against the GT fire-sale was never about the bribes, seriously illegal as they were.
No. The essence of PC’s case from the beginning was the idea that the entire deal was rammed through Ghana’s Parliament against the letter and spirit of the Constitution of Ghana. That was always the essence of PC’s protest 4 years ago. In fact, the reported "$5,000" bribes were merely incentives that provided the avenue for Mr. Kuffour’s government to more quickly secure the "illegal votes" and thus approval of the GT sale o Vodafone.
Undoubtedly, any jackass can file a lawsuit claiming harm through defamation!
Undoubtedly, any double-faced imposter can attempt to hide official reports commissioned in the name of the People, and funded by the Peoples' resources!!
Even more so, any fool can grandstand and conceal themselves behind people whose first inclination is to hide official recordsfor the purpose of restraining the free exchange of the Peoples' information. Regrettably, these are the same people who specialize in hiding in mansions built with pilfered public treasures. These are the same people who have little respect for other adults, other peoples’ children, and women, even.
Yes, any "hot-shot" can attempt to muzzle any Ghana-centered individual from exercising his/her free-will to help protect the public interest against “corruption is perception" code of yester-year, or Mr. Mahama's fiasco of "Silent Corruption", of the day.
And so, nothing came of the Yeboah-Asamoah-joint defamation lawsuit against PC, as best we can tell. As well, nothing came of the Mills/NDC investigation of the GT sale until the recent joint-lawsuit by several members of the of the CPP, on behalf of the People of Ghana.
The idea is, in the face of official corruption and almost authoritarian administrative structures, Mr. P.C. Appiah-Ofori and many others are serving the people of Ghana honorably. Over the years, these individuals have faithfully challenged official positions and pronouncements to do good by Ghana. That is a most commendable attribute of exemplary human beings and politicians who plainly empathize with all the people when it really matters.
And so, exactly 4 years later, after the PC challenge and on the heels of the Amidu victory, here we are witnessing a joint-action by members of another Ghana political party litigating the GT sale to Vodafone, at the Commercial Court.
In summary, from the point of view of the Ghana-Nation, Mr. P.C. Appiah-Ofori, Mr. Martin Amidu, and the CPP plaintiffs (, Mr. P.C. Ofori-Appia, Mr. Martin Amidu, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, Mr Michael Kosi Dedey, Naa Kordai Assimeh, Ms. Rhodaline Imoru Ayarna and Mr. Kwame Jantuah) are vital whistle-blowers. They are critical witnesses for the State. They deserve respect, recognition, and appropriate reward(s), whenever it is their time.
Let's respect and honor Ghana's whistle-blowers!
Let's swiftly release the GYEEDA Report without administrative and extra-legal censure!
Let's swiftly pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill!
Let's transparently and accountably enforce the Asset Declaration (AD) law!
Let's accomplish all of these institutional requirements for a truly Better Ghana!
©Prof Lungu is Ghana-centered, Ghana-Proud. Prof Lungu is currently based in Washington DC, USA. Prof Lungu is brought to you courtesy www.GhanaHero.com © 1 August, 2013.
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