Of Letters of Support and Judgment Debts

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• Akadu Mensema 12 years ago

  YOU WRITE ABOUT JUANDICED PERSPECTIVES AND YOU BEAR IT AS A BADGE OF YOUR LOPSIDED SCHOLARSHIP: HERE, YOU TRY TO INCRIMINATE THE NPP THAT SAW THROUGH WOYOME'S THIEVERY ANTICS AND ABROGATED HIS FRAUDULENT APPLICATION. WOYOME I ...
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  YOU WRITE ABOUT JUANDICED PERSPECTIVES AND YOU BEAR IT AS A BADGE OF YOUR LOPSIDED SCHOLARSHIP: HERE, YOU TRY TO INCRIMINATE THE NPP THAT SAW THROUGH WOYOME'S THIEVERY ANTICS AND ABROGATED HIS FRAUDULENT APPLICATION. WOYOME IS NOT A BUSINESSMAN; HE IS A THIEF! DON'T WE ALL KNOW THAT IT WAS THE NDC UNDER MILLS WHO GAVE THE MONEY TO WOYOME, THOUGH ATTA MILLS HAD TRIED TWICE TO SAY NO? C'MON SIR, LET US NOT "TRIBALIZE" EVERY ASPECT OF OUR POLITICS: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THIS STATEMENT AND OTHERS:
  
  "It is also worth pointing out that the case did not start in 2012, but rather way back in the early to mid 2000s when Woyome's company applied to be considered for the project. It is at that point that the bid should have been thrown out. Clearly people did not do their work properly and this has continued to this day."

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• DOUBLE STANDARDS 12 years ago

  HOW MUCH DID GHANA LOSE TO K4 KRONFOUR, BAWUAH EDUSEI AND CO???!!!! INDIVIDUALS IN THE NPP WILL ENJOY A HUGE % OF GHANA'S OIL UNTIL KINGDOM COME!!!! NPP CORRUPTION IS BEING STUDIED BY NIGERIANS!!! HAHAHAHA! AKADU MENSEMA, YOU ...
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  HOW MUCH DID GHANA LOSE TO K4 KRONFOUR, BAWUAH EDUSEI AND CO???!!!! INDIVIDUALS IN THE NPP WILL ENJOY A HUGE % OF GHANA'S OIL UNTIL KINGDOM COME!!!! NPP CORRUPTION IS BEING STUDIED BY NIGERIANS!!! HAHAHAHA! AKADU MENSEMA, YOU ARE A SIMPLE NPP STOOGE AND LOSER. MAY YOU GROW A CONSCIENCE AND MAY IT BURN YOU IN HELL!!!

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• Chuck 12 years ago

  Paying judgment debts is as old as our judicial system. Remember Amarte Qauaye and the three judges and their CEO Major. Let's learn from our history.

  Paying judgment debts is as old as our judicial system. Remember Amarte Qauaye and the three judges and their CEO Major. Let's learn from our history.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  That this is an age-old problem which has not been properly and seriously tackled. I only use the Woyome case as a classic example, and make the point that it is not about politics but about people who will 'use' all sides to ...
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  That this is an age-old problem which has not been properly and seriously tackled. I only use the Woyome case as a classic example, and make the point that it is not about politics but about people who will 'use' all sides to profit.
  
  I agree with you on your point and rather condemn those who have nothing good to offer except accuse others like me of being partisan.

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• Politicus 12 years ago

  Where do you stand? are you one of those who play to the conscience of the Ghanaian people to win sympathy of government for political appointment? because your article lacks direction.

  Where do you stand? are you one of those who play to the conscience of the Ghanaian people to win sympathy of government for political appointment? because your article lacks direction.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  For your information, I am fully occupied and DO NOT NEED ANY POLITICAL APPOINTMENT. In fact, I work across the continent apart from my "day job" which is a rather serious one.
  
  My point which clkearly you have not got, is ...
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  For your information, I am fully occupied and DO NOT NEED ANY POLITICAL APPOINTMENT. In fact, I work across the continent apart from my "day job" which is a rather serious one.
  
  My point which clkearly you have not got, is that cases such as Woyome's should have been properly scrutinised from start. Even at this late stage, I am asking the judgment debt commissioner to investigate whether Woyome and his company actually tried to use a "letter of support" as leverage in their bid in which case their approach was fraudulent and should have been (and his present case) dealt with as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage in a business deal and therefore 'fraudluent'.
  
  Is this too hard for you to grasp? or you simply don't like what I am saying? Please make sure you READ properly what peole write befoire you make unhelful comments which do not advance the discussion.

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• OKOE 12 years ago

  ALL THOSE SHOUTING CORRUPTION AT THEIR ROOFTOPS MUST TELL ME IF THEY WOULD OR WOULD NOT TAKE MONEY TO GRANT SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO THE STATE TO ANOTHER? THOSE INDIVIDUALS MUST STAND UP TO BE COUNTED. THE MINISTER WHO SAID ...
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  ALL THOSE SHOUTING CORRUPTION AT THEIR ROOFTOPS MUST TELL ME IF THEY WOULD OR WOULD NOT TAKE MONEY TO GRANT SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO THE STATE TO ANOTHER? THOSE INDIVIDUALS MUST STAND UP TO BE COUNTED. THE MINISTER WHO SAID SHE WOULD NOT LEAVE POLITICS UNLESS AND UNTIL SHE MAKES A MILLION KNOWS WHAT SHE SPOKE ABOUT. SHE KNOWS PEOPLE WHO DID JUST THAT AND WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE LEFT BEHIND, HENCE HER INSINUATION THAT BROUGHT ABOUT HER DEMISE.

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• Kobena 12 years ago

  Paul,
  I have been wondering myself why this Judgement Debts Commission has been allowed to run and run. I have always thought that what was needed was a State Prosecutor, US-style. The case of Woyome, for instance, seems ve ...
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  Paul,
  I have been wondering myself why this Judgement Debts Commission has been allowed to run and run. I have always thought that what was needed was a State Prosecutor, US-style. The case of Woyome, for instance, seems very simple to me. Did he have a contract with the Government of Ghana? No. Why was he paid money? Who authorised it? What was their reason for authorising it? Who benefited from the deal? Prosecute and jail them, if necessary. Case closed.
  GNPC drill ship? How was the debt incurred in the first place? Was Societe Generale truly owed money? Had the rig been mortgaged to SG? If Societe Generale was owed even $1, was it fair to expect the poor Ghanaian taxpayer to foot that bill, while the rig had already been mortgaged to SG? Was it right to sell the rig to defray the indebtedness? In the absence of a GNPC board, did the minister have the authority to cause it to be sold to defray the debts? If so how was it sold, valuation, disbursements, authorisation?
  Why wasn’t the remainder paid to GNPC account? What actually happened to the remainder? It should be possible to obtain all the necessary information officially, from the banks, the law firms and accountants involved in the transaction within two weeks, for less than £1000! Why is this case being allowed to run and run?
  As for non-partisan Parliamentary probes, I don’t believe our parliamentarians under our current adversarial politics would ever allow it to happen voluntarily. Anane should never have returned to his post, but he did. This Victoria Hammah lady should never have been approved for ministerial position in the first place, and guess who urged the appointments committee “not to be too hard on the nominees?” Barton-Odro of Woyome fame!

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• Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

  Paul, Woyomegate has everything to do with politics, though I agree with you that this should not be the case. Why do I say so?
  
  When was the contract abrogated and when did Woyome sue government? Woyome was aware that he h ...
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  Paul, Woyomegate has everything to do with politics, though I agree with you that this should not be the case. Why do I say so?
  
  When was the contract abrogated and when did Woyome sue government? Woyome was aware that he had no chance claiming even a pesewa from government when NPP was in power because he had no contract. So he waited till NDC came to power. With the support and perhaps even encouragement from NDC politicians and lawyers he launched his claim. Who supported and justified the claims? The then Deputy Attorney General. Who approved the claim and even paid far above what the court has recommended? The then Attorney General. Why? Because NDC would have or did benefit from the claim.
  
  I also think the letter from the bank was the right action because Woyome is claiming in court that the letter was a commitment and in fact, he incurred financial loss as a result of the contract being terminated. The prosecution has no evidence to suggest the contrary and so the best the prosecution could to is to argue over the interpretation of the contents of the letter and for the judge to decide which is which. That is risky, especially in Ghana where judges could be influenced. So by the prosecution securing this confirmation from the bank, Woyome has no leg to stand on and the risk is eliminated. That is prove beyond any reasonable doubt. I would have done the same if I were prosecuting the case rather than leave it to chance.
  
  Regarding business and politics or businessmen/women and politicians, the two are intertwined in every society, including the advance democracies. The difference in Ghana and for that matter the developing world is that the relationship between the two is too corrupt.
  
  Regarding the example you gave in Russia, businessmen/women do go into politics but you only end in trouble if you challenge Putin or his party directly or indirectly. As far as the business tycoon is on the side of Putin and his party, that is fine.
  
  On the subject of contracts, I sometimes wonder if officials (politicians and civil servants) who represent Ghana on such contracts and agreements do understand their role because the terms and conditions they accept are simply mid bogging. I sometimes wonder if they agree to such terms and conditions under the influence of alcohol or the negotiations are done in languages that they do not understand. For example, last week Parliament refused to approve a Chinese loan for a Chinese company to do some work in Ghana because Ghana was required to be wholly responsible for the insurance to cover the whole project, including even the transportation of equipment from China, any accident/s during the construction, etc. It was madness and I was glad this time the minority refused to let the agreement pass. The majority were of the view that the agreement should be approved with a proviso that the Executive will ensure that the insurance matter is resolved. They wanted the Legislature to sign a blank cheque for the Executive.
  
  My article did not appear and as some have suggested that I contact Ghanaweb for a reason, I will do so, though I am aware that Ghanaweb has the right to decide which articles to publish and owes me no obligation to give me a reason for refusing to publish my articles. Have a good day.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  I take your point that politicians and businessmen/women often 'cohut' with each other everywhere. We see that a lot in countries like the UK, USA and indeed Russia. We also know that if an inappropriate relationship is seen ...
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  I take your point that politicians and businessmen/women often 'cohut' with each other everywhere. We see that a lot in countries like the UK, USA and indeed Russia. We also know that if an inappropriate relationship is seen to exist in such transactions, or where one is seen to gain an unfair advantage in business as a result of links with politicians, and where the law is seen to be broken, people are taken to task.
  
  Sadly we do not seem to have that in countries such as Ghana. That Woyome or his company could rely on an NDC government to 'effect' payment for a job not done is a serious matter which in my view must not be let alone. I still believe that if the proper actions are taken and the people involved punished as a clear lesson for all and as a way of drawing a line under this subject of CORUPTION, others will tow the line knowing that if they did anything unlawful, the law will eventually catch up with them.
  
  Businesses 'donate' and even declare loyalties to parties and individual politicians all the time, and there is nothing wrong with that as lonjg as they do not 'cross the red line'. For example in the last US presidential elections, the New York Stock Chamber of Commerce letn their support to Mitt Romney which in itself was not unlawful, whatever their reasons.
  
  I believe Arthur K has written elsewhere and argued for 'capping election funding' in Ghana one presumes to help curb the influence that these businesses then have over parties for 'funding their elections. Perhaps the likes of Woyome 'invested heavily' in the NDC campaign and their way of reaping where they 'sowed' was for the 'wrong' decision to allow him to be paid. All those involved at all levels ought to be held accountable in my opinion.
  
  We need strong civil society (which is devoid of partisan bias) to seriously take government to task in seeking redress in these issues, failing which the electorate should punish any politician (s) or parties that are found wanting.
  The question remains whether we have got to that stage in Ghana where these things do matter and governments cannot get away with 'shoddy business'.
  
  There are those who think that these things are part and parcel of our system and somehow we should 'accept them' but doing that means accepting defeat against corruption.
  
  If the President is serious about fighting corruption, this is his opportunity and his moment to provide the necessary leadership and be seen to be tackling these issues. He needs to say, OK, whatever has gone on before, we turn a new page and will leave no stone unturned in addressing these issues.
  
  Regarding the issue of your article, I suggest you write to ghanaweb and depending on their response, I will suggest the rest of us also write to them and ask them to address the issue.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  This is exactly what worries me. I am glad you also see this (and other similar cases) as "straightforward" cases in which an INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR should have been appointed to deal with, long ago!!!
  
  the questions you a ...
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  This is exactly what worries me. I am glad you also see this (and other similar cases) as "straightforward" cases in which an INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR should have been appointed to deal with, long ago!!!
  
  the questions you ask in all these examplar cases are relevant and one continues to wonder why we find ourselves in this mess, and continue to waste state money to "prosecute" these cases via a so-called "FAST TRACK" court which is slower than a 'sleeper coach'!
  
  It continues to baffle me why no one in parliament, government and the judiciary is sticking their neck out on this!!! It requires an ALL PARTY approach to 'wipe the slate clean' so we can start on a new page as a nation, but will they do it?
  
  I have always found the "vetting system" for political / ministerial appointments rather pathetic and often wonder why it is not a more serious affair than it is at the moment. I also deeply regret and always lament the lack of proper scrutiny (including the opposition boycott) of the recent appointments which at least should have raised 'red flags' about people like Ayariga, Hammah, Ablakwa Okudjeto (to name a few) who seem never to learn a lesson.
  
  We need a sea change in our politics and governance but I really do wonder when we are going to see that happen, unless a strong civil society movement for change from all sides takes this matter up.

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• Kobena 12 years ago

  Yes, Paul,
  We need a "sea of change", but that kind of drastic change will never come from the current political arrangement we have in Ghana or the group of politicians we have today. It has to come from civil society, but ...
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  Yes, Paul,
  We need a "sea of change", but that kind of drastic change will never come from the current political arrangement we have in Ghana or the group of politicians we have today. It has to come from civil society, but even then, it will need to be led from outside the country, perhaps through the social media, as happened in Egypt, for instance.
  
  Unfortunately, most of our educated brothers and sisters in Ghana who should lead such a change are part of the system that needs changing. Everyone is either behind the "Oson" or under the "Umbrella" and that is not good enough for Ghana. It has never been and will never be, unless the system is forced to change.
  
  I have been advocating for either a hung Parliament or a "skirt and blouse" situation whereby the president's party does not enjoy parliamentary majority. If an incoming president has 75% of his ministerial nominees roundly rejected at vetting, he or she will sit down and do a proper job. That might actually force such a president to go over to the "other side" to appoint a more inclusive cabinet. That could be the beginning of the healing process.
  
  In the UK for instance, the inclusion of the Lib Dems in government has not only helped the country, but the Conservative Party itself as well, because it has helped the party clean up its historical image of being the "Nasty Party!"
  
  We may have to initiate the process of change from outside!

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• czar k. 12 years ago

  Paul, thanks for the write-up though I don't agree with you that it's not Npp, Ndc matter. This is certainly an Npp, Ndc matter. The opposition in this case the Npp has to make so much capital out of this and they need not of ...
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  Paul, thanks for the write-up though I don't agree with you that it's not Npp, Ndc matter. This is certainly an Npp, Ndc matter. The opposition in this case the Npp has to make so much capital out of this and they need not offer any alternatives. They - Npp, is the alternative. As you are well aware, all the parties told us what they would do if given the mandate and we chose Ndc. If we have chosen the Npp, we may not be talking about judgement debts and commissioners. Woyome couldn't have collected our money for no work done. I simply don't understand why some Ghanaians want to equate Npp and Ndc of which the Npp themselves are guilty of. The two parties are world apart. Look at it from any angle and the Npp is the best party for this country. Just consider this; After 19 good years of one government P/Ndc led by Prez. Rawlings plus another 5 years of Prez. Mills and Prez. Mahama, what has the nation gained. Compare this to the 8 years of Npp under Prez. Kufour, Capitation grant, Nhis, school feeding, free bus ride for students, NYEP, Cocoa mass spraying, skills training and employment placement program,
  (STEPP 1&2) livelihood empowerment against poverty (LEAP), moved the country from a lower income to middle income, found oil in commercial quanities, all of this in just 8 years. You could see from the above that the Npp have vision and good ideas for this country. If the Npp have continued for another 4 or 8 years, this country could have changed for the better. it is just that the Npp don't know how to sell their message to Ghanaian. It is a simple message and I don't understand why they haven't been able to craft that simple message for Ghanaians to vote for them. It's a pity.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  You make some good points about apparent successes of the 8 years of the Kufour NPP government. I agree the NPP government did some good things but you will also agree that other governments (including the Rawlings PNDC/NDC g ...
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  You make some good points about apparent successes of the 8 years of the Kufour NPP government. I agree the NPP government did some good things but you will also agree that other governments (including the Rawlings PNDC/NDC governments which I have had my own negative views of on a number of issues) also had successes which they can point to.
  
  In my view, yes, these matters may have NDC/NPP links but that is not the central point of my arguments.
  
  Both NDC and NPP as parties in government (and opposition) have let the country down, made mistakes and overseen the growth of corruption in Ghana (and this goes all the way back even to the Nkrumah government).
  
  I disagree with your rather clear partisan bias in terms of achievements in government and would argue that no single party in government has a monopoly over Ghana's development. I much rather prefer a more objective and inclusive approach to tackling issues of development and poverty reduction and building on what others have achieved.
  
  As a Ghanaian, I was pleased when President Kufour was Awarded the World Food Prize in 2012 and he has since gone on to contribute to food and nutrition security issues across Africa and the developing world.
  
  Recently at one such High Level meeting at the London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine at which President Kufour was one of the key participants, there awas a diminutive black African woman who had been sent to represent the FAO Secretary-General as Director of the Nutrition Division at FAO.
  
  President Kufour was so impressed and amazed at her performance and her technical knowhow and inputs at the meeting that he "felt so proud" to see a Ghanaian professor leading at such a high level.
  
  You know, we are Ghanaians at the end of the day, and it doesn't much matter whether people are NDC or NPP, it is Ghanaians who try to make it matter as such.
  
  We fail or succeed together as Ghanaians, believe it or not, and gfor me, cheap point-scoring and arguments as to which party in government has done better than the other is simply redundant and of little importance to me. We should move away from such an approach and seriously think about how we fix the problems facing our country. On this, I hope you will agree with me.

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