Politics
Electoral Disputes: Be Fair, Transparent In Your Adjudication – Catholic Bishops To Judiciary
Ahead of the December 7 general elections, Ghana’s judiciary has been admonished to maintain its integrity
Ahead of the December 7 general elections, Ghana’s judiciary has been admonished to maintain its integrity, impartiality, and fairness in the adjudication of electoral disputes.
This admonishment was made by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The Bishops’ Conference, through its president, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, emphasised the vital role that the judiciary plays in safeguarding the democratic process, particularly during elections, which often see heightened political tensions and the potential for legal contestations.
The backdrop of this admonishment is the recent history of electoral disputes that have tested the resilience and impartiality of Ghana’s judicial system.
Two significant presidential disputes in the last decade serve as prominent examples. The first occurred in 2012 when then-opposition leader Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, alongside his New Patriotic Party (NPP), contested the results of the presidential election.
Akufo-Addo’s petition, which was rooted in allegations of electoral irregularities, sought to challenge the victory of the incumbent, John Dramani Mahama.
The Supreme Court of Ghana was tasked with reviewing the evidence and ultimately adjudicating the matter. After months of deliberation, the court ruled in favour of Mahama, upholding the results of the election.
The second major dispute came in 2020 when the tables were turned, and former president John Dramani Mahama, now the opposition leader, contested the re-election of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Like the 2012 dispute, this case involved allegations of electoral malpractice, and once again, the judiciary was called upon to resolve the matter.
n his address, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference made it clear that the judiciary’s role in handling any future electoral disputes should be marked by “utmost integrity and adherence to the rule of law.”
He noted that public confidence in the judiciary is paramount, particularly in times of electoral uncertainty, where the decisions of the courts have far-reaching implications for peace, stability, and the future of the country.
“We appeal to the judiciary to continue upholding justice with fairness and impartiality. In the event of electoral disputes, we trust that the judiciary will address them with the utmost integrity and adherence to the rule of law. The judiciary’s role in maintaining public confidence in the electoral process cannot be overstated.”
Politics
MOF’s GHC16.3M Approval Causes Stir
In a recent development at the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD), a controversial decision has come to light regarding the approval of nearly Ghc16.3 million in taxpayer funds by the Ministry of Finance.
The approval, granted on 12th December, 2024, has raised eyebrows due to its dubious nature and the lack of a direct request for such a payment by the CAGD.
The Chief Director of the Finance Ministry, Eva Esselba Mends, greenlit the allocation of the Ghc16.3 million purportedly for upgrading the public financial management system.
This allocation, however, was not in response to the CAGD’s initial request made on August 14, 2024, for Ghc30 million to address the deteriorating working conditions of its staff.
Despite the CAGD’s explicit request for funds to improve staff conditions, the Finance Ministry’s approval focused on allocating funds for a system upgrade.
The discrepancy between the requested amount and the approved sum has raised concerns about possible mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
The letter of approval from the Finance Ministry referenced the CAGD’s earlier request but diverted the funds towards the upgrade of the financial management system.
This decision has prompted speculation and criticism from various quarters regarding the transparency and accountability of the process.
Acting Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Agyei, emphasized the urgent need for support to address the challenging working conditions faced by CAGD staff.
The mismatch between the requested amount and the approved sum has cast a shadow of doubt over the motives behind the allocation.
The controversial approval of Ghc16.3 million amidst the backdrop of a different funding request has sparked concerns among stakeholders and observers.
The need for clarity and accountability in the allocation and utilization of public funds remains a pressing issue in light of this recent development.
Politics
NPA Boss in Dubious Last Minute Mass Shake Up
The outgoing Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul Hamid, has given approval for a series of mass recruitments within the Authority despite being on the verge of leaving his position.
On the 11th of December, 2024, Abdul Hamid circulated a confidential memo labeled “Transfers, Movements, Appointments, and Upgrades” to both Management and staff, detailing the controversial recruitments and redeployments.
“As a follow-up to the memorandum dated 20th November, 2024, outlining measures to enhance the Authority’s efficiency in addressing the needs of internal and external stakeholders, the following transfers, movements, appointments, and upgrades will come into effect on the specified dates,” stated the memo.
The confidential memo contained a list of 49 names earmarked for recruitment, transfers, and appointments.
These individuals are purportedly affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), raising concerns that Mustapha Hamid is filling the NPA with political allies.
Noteworthy is the trend of widespread recruitments occurring across various Ministries, departments, and agencies at the behest and coordination of outgoing officials from the Akufo-Addo administration.
Accompanying these actions are substantial payments being processed by the government, indicating what seems to be a final phase of plunder and subversion following the NPP’s defeat in the December 7, 2024, elections.
The incoming Mahama administration has pledged to reverse these appointments and financial transactions.
A statement released by the transition team and signed by spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu made it clear that the eleventh-hour appointments will be invalidated.
“To be clear, all public officials are strongly advised to resist any attempts by outgoing political figures to participate in these activities as there may be serious repercussions once the new government assumes office,” read part of the statement.
However, it has come to light that the last-minute appointments are being retroactively dated in a bid to circumvent the incoming administration set to assume power on January 7, 2025
Politics
Cyber Capo’s Torture ‘Chamber’ Uncovered
The Shocking Story of Kidnapping and Human Rights Abuse
The New Republic Newspaper has discovered a secretive dungeon hidden within the Osu suburb of Accra has been unearthed. Operatives of the clandestine National Signal Bureau are the masterminds behind this covert facility, utilising it to unlawfully detain their victims.
The Bureau, helmed by Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahen, stands accused of orchestrating a labyrinthine web of illegal activities, including the abduction of unsuspecting individuals under the cloak of darkness.
Adu-Boahene, recently embroiled in the suspected kidnapping of Sylvia, a manager at Emirates Airlines in Ghana, is described as a ruthless figure known to act with impunity.
Under the veil of secrecy, the Bureau’s rogue cabal, answerable solely to Director-General Adu Boahene himself, has brazenly flouted legal protocols by conducting unauthorized arrests and detentions.
Effort made by TNR to ascertain official position of the Signal Bureau on the shocking revelation has proven futile.
Journalists, political dissidents, and those deemed as adversaries to the Akufo-Addo government have reportedly fallen victim to the Bureau’s shadowy operations.
Within the confines of this clandestine dungeon, shuttered away from public scrutiny, detainees face unspeakable conditions at the hands of a formidable trio of rogue operatives.
Beset by state-of-the-art surveillance equipment procured from abroad, this cabal led by Ben Ansah, a notorious figure within the Bureau, operates with an air of superiority and divine authority.
The menacing presence of Henry Osei Tutu and Simon Kansonk further solidifies this rogue faction as a fearsome force within the Bureau.
The Bureau’s actions stand in stark contrast to its official mandate, which expressly prohibits the arrest and detention of individuals.
The brazen abuse of power by these rogue elements, operating stealthily within the National Signal Bureau, paints a troubling picture of unchecked authority and flagrant disregard for due process.
Allegations of past abuses by rogue National Security personnel underscore a pattern of misconduct and abuse which has fueled concerns over the wanton misuse of power within the security apparatus.
Security analysts have linked these troubling events to a renegade faction spearheaded by Henry Osei-Tutu and Benjamin Ansah, both key figures implicated in various illicit schemes, including abductions and staged robberies.
In the shadows of this covert operation lay disturbing accounts of prominent figures falling prey to these unlawful practices.
The unlawful detention of social media personality Albert Nat Hyde, known as Bongo Ideas, and the harrowing ordeal faced by Sylvia Patience Baah, the Emirates Manager, paint a grim portrait of state-sponsored intimidation and coercion.
As the sordid details of these illicit activities come to light, questions loom over the complicity of higher authorities within the National Security apparatus.
The spectre of abuse of power and the erosion of civil liberties cast a long shadow over the operations of the National Signal Bureau, shrouded in secrecy and intrigue.
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