The Deputy Minister of Water Resource, Works and Housing, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, says the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) cannot take over the failed STX deal, as is being speculated in the media.
He says the embattled STX housing company whose boardroom wrangling has stalled the government’s affordable housing project, still has a contract with the government of Ghana. Therefore any company that has interest in that bid must first broker a deal with them.
Speaking in an interview with Adom News, the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East constituency who is currently seeking re-election explains that there are other projects that GREDA can put in proposals to execute under the government’s affordable housing projects.
He said currently the country has one million and five hundred thousand housing deficits that any real estate developer in Ghana can take advantage of.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister revealed that there are other estate companies such as AGU Resources which are putting up over ten thousand houses under the government’s affordable housing project at Nsakina near Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region.
According to him, the operation of land guard’s activities in the area is frustrating the progress of the work on the project.
Nothing is exciting about President John Mills’ latest reshuffle- Nana Akomea NPP¹s Communication Director, Nana Akomea says the President¹s latest reshuffle will add nothing new to his government.
President John Mills in his last reshuffle before his terms expires early next year has brought on board MP for Ablekuma South Constituency, Fritz Baffoe, and Moses Asaga, MP for Nabdam.
Hon Fritz Baffoe will be heading the Information Ministry while Hon Moses Asaga takes oversight responsibility at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
To many political pundits, the President¹s latest reshuffle is important, going into an election year.
However, to Nana Akomea, ³nothing is exciting about the reshuffle².
To him, the resignation of former Education Minister, Betty Mould Iddrisu is more dramatic and should generate the needed questions; not a reshuffle.
The NPP had called on the then Education Minister who was serving as Ghana¹s Attorney General when the judgment debt were paid; to resign but, Nana Akomea said though she has resigned, questions still remain as to the main reason why she did so.
³We don¹t know if she resigned because of our call; that is, if she has resigned because of the role she played in the loss of 928 billion cedis to the state; or she resigned on health grounds; or she resigned because she didn¹t like her job as a minister, he told Xfm 95.1 in an interview, adding, ³we hear she has been appointed as a high commissioner to South Africa which is very strange; for a senior cabinet minister to be appointed as a high commissioner; which is lower than a deputy minister. So it¹s all very strange; we need to be told why².
³Because the matter involves corruption and the massive loss of gargantuan fund, we need to know the reason why she has resigned. Anything short of that, the case will still not be closed², he said.
A statement which indicated President John Mills¹ acceptance of Betty Mould Iddrisu¹s resignation stated that she did not want to be a hindrance to the President¹s better Ghana agenda; however, Nana Akomea is not convinced.
He asked, ³why will she be a hindrance to the better Ghana agenda? Is it because of some gargantuan mistake that she has done? We just need to be told. In what way has she been a hindrance to the better Ghana agenda? When we have the reasons, then we can interrogate the matters. And the people of this country deserve answers to how come this government paid up 928 billion cedis to an NDC financier when we have so many basic everyday needs of the people that are not satisfied².
Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana NPP¹s Communication Director, Nana Akomea says the President¹s latest reshuffle will add nothing new to his government.
President John Mills in his last reshuffle before his terms expires early next year has brought on board MP for Ablekuma South Constituency, Fritz Baffoe, and Moses Asaga, MP for Nabdam.
Hon Fritz Baffoe will be heading the Information Ministry while Hon Moses Asaga takes oversight responsibility at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
To many political pundits, the President¹s latest reshuffle is important, going into an election year.
However, to Nana Akomea, ³nothing is exciting about the reshuffle².
To him, the resignation of former Education Minister, Betty Mould Iddrisu is more dramatic and should generate the needed questions; not a reshuffle.
The NPP had called on the then Education Minister who was serving as Ghana¹s Attorney General when the judgment debt were paid; to resign but, Nana Akomea said though she has resigned, questions still remain as to the main reason why she did so.
³We don¹t know if she resigned because of our call; that is, if she has resigned because of the role she played in the loss of 928 billion cedis to the state; or she resigned on health grounds; or she resigned because she didn¹t like her job as a minister, he told Xfm 95.1 in an interview, adding, ³we hear she has been appointed as a high commissioner to South Africa which is very strange; for a senior cabinet minister to be appointed as a high commissioner; which is lower than a deputy minister. So it¹s all very strange; we need to be told why².
³Because the matter involves corruption and the massive loss of gargantuan fund, we need to know the reason why she has resigned. Anything short of that, the case will still not be closed², he said.
A statement which indicated President John Mills¹ acceptance of Betty Mould Iddrisu¹s resignation stated that she did not want to be a hindrance to the President¹s better Ghana agenda; however, Nana Akomea is not convinced.
He asked, ³why will she be a hindrance to the better Ghana agenda? Is it because of some gargantuan mistake that she has done? We just need to be told. In what way has she been a hindrance to the better Ghana agenda? When we have the reasons, then we can interrogate the matters. And the people of this country deserve answers to how come this government paid up 928 billion cedis to an NDC financier when we have so many basic everyday needs of the people that are not satisfied².
Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana NPP¹s Communication Director, Nana Akomea says the President¹s latest reshuffle will add nothing new to his government.
President John Mills in his last reshuffle before his terms expires early next year has brought on board MP for Ablekuma South Constituency, Fritz Baffoe, and Moses Asaga, MP for Nabdam.
Hon Fritz Baffoe will be heading the Information Ministry while Hon Moses Asaga takes oversight responsibility at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
To many political pundits, the President¹s latest reshuffle is important, going into an election year.
However, to Nana Akomea, ³nothing is exciting about the reshuffle².
To him, the resignation of former Education Minister, Betty Mould Iddrisu is more dramatic and should generate the needed questions; not a reshuffle.
The NPP had called on the then Education Minister who was serving as Ghana¹s Attorney General when the judgment debt were paid; to resign but, Nana Akomea said though she has resigned, questions still remain as to the main reason why she did so.
³We don¹t know if she resigned because of our call; that is, if she has resigned because of the role she played in the loss of 928 billion cedis to the state; or she resigned on health grounds; or she resigned because she didn¹t like her job as a minister, he told Xfm 95.1 in an interview, adding, ³we hear she has been appointed as a high commissioner to South Africa which is very strange; for a senior cabinet minister to be appointed as a high commissioner; which is lower than a deputy minister. So it¹s all very strange; we need to be told why².
³Because the matter involves corruption and the massive loss of gargantuan fund, we need to know the reason why she has resigned. Anything short of that, the case will still not be closed², he said.
A statement which indicated President John Mills¹ acceptance of Betty Mould Iddrisu¹s resignation stated that she did not want to be a hindrance to the President¹s better Ghana agenda; however, Nana Akomea is not convinced.
He asked, ³why will she be a hindrance to the better Ghana agenda? Is it because of some gargantuan mistake that she has done? We just need to be told. In what way has she been a hindrance to the better Ghana agenda? When we have the reasons, then we can interrogate the matters. And the people of this country deserve answers to how come this government paid up 928 billion cedis to an NDC financier when we have so many basic everyday needs of the people that are not satisfied².
Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), is calling for President Mills’ head following a litany of state issues they contend the president has failed to handle properly.
AFAG which embarked on a demonstration Wednesday cited the ongoing Woyome saga, the recent increase in fuel price and the dwindling fortunes of the cedi on the world market as some of their reasons for the president to resign.
The demonstration dubbed “Atta Wayo Demo” drew scores of NPP sympathizers and other AFAG members from four other regions outside the Greater Accra region to the Holy gardens, at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
Before the demonstration got underway, members converged in different groups whiles chanting songs demanding the removal of the president and a refund of the 58 million Ghana cedis judgment debt paid to NDC businessman Alfred Woyome.
As is typical of demonstrations in the country, the demonstrators clad in red and black attires carried placards some of which read “Atta you have disappointed us”, “reduce petrol prices now” and “419 government” among others.
They also came out with a mathematical formula which read [(A+B) X (C+D) X (E-F)] = GARGANTUAN CRIMINALS.
They explained the formula thus: A represented former Education Minister, Betty Mould Iddrisu, B= Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, the letter C according to them stood for President Mills, D for the Vice President, John Mahama , E for the NDC party and F for Former President Jerry John Rawlings.
The demonstrators went through some principal streets in the capital such as Farisco Avenue and the Ministries area before converging at the Hearts park near the Arts centre in Accra where the demonstrators were addressed by their leaders amidst brass band music.
A leading member of AFAG, John Kumah in an interview with Multi TV’s Joy News channel said the huge judgment debt paid to Alfred Woyome was evident of the prevailing corruption in the NDC.
He said President Mills and the NDC have failed their promises to Ghanaians and thus called on the citizenry to vote the NDC government out of power in the December polls.
AFAG president Samuel Awuku who led the demonstration indicated that the NDC government had failed in its mandate to rule the nation hence the need to vote the party out of power.
He decried the high unemployment rate and increase in fuel prices in the country noting that the NDC government was insensitive to the sufferings of Ghanaians.
The NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the Dome Kwabenya constituency, Adwoa Safo, who was also part of the demonstration tasked supporters of the NPP to unite in order to vote the NDC out of power.
ARUSHA, Tanzania, January 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The East African Community and the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the EAC Secretariat headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The MoU creates a framework of cooperation with the overall objective of mobilizing the Institute’s competences and capacities and strategically using them to support the EAC’s regional integration agenda.
The cooperation will be realized under the Research and Capacity Development Partnership Programme (RCDPP), through which NAI will provide intellectual support to the EAC in matters related to the four clusters of its research competence, namely; globalisation, trade and regional integration; conflict, security and democratic transformation; rural and agrarian change, property and resources; urban dynamics.
EAC’s Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva, who represented the EAC Secretary General at the ceremony said with the MoU in place he was confident that the bloc and the Nordic Africa Institute would work together in a more coordinated manner.
Meanwhile the Nordic Africa Institute Director Carin Norberg lauded this step geared at enhancing collaboration, noting that the MoU “will open up avenues for us and our cooperation” and that it would expand research activities and knowledge to the mutual benefit of both parties.
The broad areas of co-operation will include research, publication of research findings, dissemination of research findings, professional development and joint mobilization and deployment of resources.
About the Nordic Africa Institute
The Nordic Africa Institute (Nordiska Afrikainstitutet) is a center for research, documentation and information on modern Africa in the Nordic region. Based in Uppsala, Sweden, the Institute is dedicated to providing timely, critical and alternative research and analysis of Africa in the Nordic countries and to strengthen the co-operation between African and Nordic researchers.
Press conference of Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime Commissioner of rural economy and agriculture
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union (AU), will on Thursday 26 January 2012 at 16:00 hold a press conference at the Media Center of the AU Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
During the press conference to be held on the sidelines of the 18th AU Summit, Mrs. Tumusiime will address the following issues:
– Outcome of COP17 / Africa and Climate Change Negotiations
– Food Security in Africa.
Journalists are invited to take part in the press conference.
UK Parliamentarians Table a Motion on Safety of Journalists in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the decision of United Kingdom Parliamentarians to formally table a motion on safety of journalists in Somalia at House of Commons.
The National Union of Journalists of Great Britain and Ireland (NUJ) in close cooperation with its sister union in Somalia, NUSOJ, lobbied British MPs to submit this motion which was tabled on 24 January 2012.
The motion reads:
That this House is concerned about the ongoing threats to, and arrests and killing of journalists in Somalia; condemns the mass arrest of journalists without charge in Somaliland; believes that these arrests are an attempt to intimidate journalists into not covering news stories critical of the governing authorities; is appalled at the killing of journalist Abdisalan Sheik Hassan, who was shot dead on 18 December 2011; equally condemns the killing of journalists Farah Hasan Sahel, Noramfaizul Mohd Nor and Abdiaziz Ahmed Aden, who were killed in 2011; supports the efforts of the National Union of Somali Journalists and its members who perform a crucial role in reporting in Somalia against a background of violence and intimidation for carrying out their jobs; and urges the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to raise the issues of organised and continuing threats against journalists in Somalia as a matter of urgency with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
“We hail the tabling of this important motion which highlight the sustained and systematic risks that Somali journalists face,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
NUSOJ commends the five MPs that tabled the motion who are playing instrumental role. NUSOJ is glad its cooperation with the NUJ has resulted in such submission.
Ethiopian blogger risks death penalty as judge confirms charges
NEW YORK, January 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Jailed Ethiopian dissident blogger Eskinder Nega will stand trial in March for all of the terrorism accusations initially advanced by prosecutors, a federal high court judge ruled yesterday, local sources said. If convicted on all charges, he could face the death penalty.
Judge Endeshaw Adane of the third criminal bench of the Lideta Federal High Court in the capital Addis Ababa reviewed evidence presented by government prosecutors yesterday and confirmed all six charges against Eskinder. His trial will begin March 5.
Five other journalists, all in exile and to be tried in absentia, initially faced the same terrorism charges. At yesterday’s hearing, the judge confirmed all six charges for two of those accused and dismissed all but one charge against three others.
“This ruling is an affront to justice and underscores that these are politicized charges used by the government to intimidate journalists and chill news-gathering activities,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “We call for all terrorism charges to be dropped as they are baseless, and for Eskinder to be released immediately”
The two journalists besides Eskinder who still face all six charges are exiled editors of opposition broadcasters: Abebe Belew of the U.S.-based Internet radio Addis Dimts and Fasil Yenealem of the Netherlands-based ESAT, according to CPJ sources and news reports.
Three other exiled editors — Abebe Gellawof the U.S.-based Addis Voice and Mesfin Negash and Abiye Teklemariam of U.S.-based Addis Neger Online — will be tried in absentia under a single terrorism charge each, according to local sources.
Ethiopia’s antiterrorism law criminalizes reporting or publication of information the government deems favorable to groups designated as terrorists, which include opposition movements such as Ginbot 7 and the separatists of the Ogaden National Liberation Front. The government’s application of the law against journalists and dissidents has been criticized by the United Nations and the U.S. State Department.
The charges against the journalists are based on accusations of “disseminating terrorist ideas” to Ethiopians such as through ESAT TV, radio, Internet and Web chat forums such as Paltalk. The Addis Neger Online editors are accused of “lending professional support for terrorism,” by “allowing terrorist organizations such as Ginbot 7, Oromo Liberation Front, and Ogaden National Liberation Front to express their terrorist ideas and promote their agendas on their online publication,” according to a translation of the original charge sheet.
Other charges are based on accusations of recruiting young people to membership of the groups designated as terrorist, and on treason and spying for Ethiopia’s arch foe, Eritrea.
Earlier this month, three other local journalists were convicted of terrorism charges — one in absentia — and they could face the death penalty, news reports said. Their sentencing is expected tomorrow. In addition, two Swedish journalists were sentenced in late December to 11-year jail terms after being convicted of supporting terrorism and entering Ethiopia illegally.
In Africa, only Eritrea jails more journalists than Ethiopia, according to CPJ research.
Press conference of Adv. Bience Gawanas, Commissioner of social affairs of the AU
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Advocate Bience Gawanas, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union (AU), will on Thursday 26 January 2012 at 15:00 hold a press conference at the Media Center of the AU Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
During the press conference to be held on the sidelines of the 18th AU Summit, Adv. Gawanas will address the following issues:
– Persons with disabilities ;
– African Sports Architecture;
– Aids Watch Africa;
– CARMMA campaign;
– African cultural renaissance;
– Children welfare ;
– Human Trafficking
Journalists are invited to take part in the press conference.
NEW YORK, January 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ugandan authorities must hold to account members of security forces who fired Tuesday on a photojournalist covering their attack on the motorcade of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Isaac Kasamani, a photojournalist with the independent Daily Monitor, said men in plainclothes shot at him from a blue police van some 10 meters away as he kneeled to take a photo of an exploding tear gas canister thrown by the agents, according to his account of the incident published in the paper today. Kasamani said the police van bore the license registration UP128 and was following Besigye’s motorcade after a peaceful opposition rally in Namungoona, a suburb of the capital Kampala. The operatives, numbering eight or nine, drove off immediately after shooting.
“It is deeply disturbing that our colleague Isaac Kasamani should come under fire from a police van while reporting on the actions of Ugandan security operatives,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “We demand a thorough investigation into the shooting. Authorities must ensure that journalists can report without intimidation by security forces.”
Ugandan security forces have been severely curtailing the movements of Besigye as the government of President Yoweri Museveni cracks down on protests against inflation, according to news reports. Besigye has been the subject of repeated arrests and beatings, including a particularly brutal arrest in April 2011 that led to his medical evacuation to Kenya. Museveni has vilified journalists covering the security crackdown, and security forces have attacked journalists reporting on opposition demonstrations, according to CPJ research.
This month, police spokesman Asuman Mugenyi denied allegations by Besigye that some members of the security forces were consuming banned substances while charging protesters, Daily Monitor reported.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda (FCAU), of which Kasamani is a member on account of his contributions to Agence France-Presse, released a statement condemning the shooting and calling for an investigation.
“The bullet missed me narrowly as I was in motion, bending. I was startled by the incident since I was only doing my work,” Kasamani wrote.
In November, the U.S. State Department released a statement condemning Ugandan security forces over reports of heavy-handed and brutal tactics, extrajudicial arrests, and killings. Last month, the Ugandan government pledged to the U.N. Human Rights Council to “mainstream human rights issues in the training curriculum of security agencies,” according to a December 2011 report.
The Deputy Minister of Water Resource, Works and Housing, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, says the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) cannot take over the failed STX deal, as is being speculated in the media.
