Mahama Ayariga Archives - Page 2 of 2

Kissi Agyebeng Nolle prosequi’s Martin Amidu’s tax evasion case against Mahama Ayariga

The Special Prosecutor Mr Kissi Agyebeng has dropped all charges brought against Bawku Central lawmaker Mahama Ayariga who was dragged to court for alleged tax evasion by his predecessor Martin Amidu. He said there were charges even pressed against the Bawku Central lawmaker. “We wish to inform the court of the republic’s intention to enter Nolle prosequi in respect of all cases against the accused person,” he told the court on Monday, October 11 and further gave reason for discontinuing the case. The first being that “upon further scrutiny, the Republic deem it unable to prove it case base on available evidence on the standard of proof on criminal bases – that is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.” The second reason he said, that, “this case appears certain to suffer the same fate as the earlier one with case number FT0122019 the Republic vs Hawa Nichema and six others which were dismissed on May 7, 2021, on the application of submission of no case to answer.” The case was started by former Special Prosecutor Martin Alalmisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu, who resigned his position in 2020, just days after the demise of his mentor Jerry John Rawlings. Mr Amidu, Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor, had put the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP on trial over two issues – breaching procurement processes in the purchase of some ambulances for his constituency and tax evasion in the importation of some “luxurious” vehicles. Despite standing trial with six others on the former, the former Youth and Sports Minister was acquitted and discharged on Friday, May 7. An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaah Asare-Botwe acquitted and discharged all seven after it upheld a submission of no case filed by the defence lawyers. Mahama Ayariga acquitted and discharged He is accused of abusing his office after clearing three Toyota V8 vehicles without paying tax. He is also sued for illegal transfer of foreign exchange from Ghana to Dubai without having the required license to undertake such transaction. Joined to the suit is one Kendrick Marfo, a car rental dealer, for purchasing the “fraudulent” vehicles from Mr Ayariga. Mr Marfo, 50, is also accused of deliberately evading tax in the purchase of the vehicles from the lawmaker. —citinews Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

Mahama Ayariga, six others acquitted and discharged

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Mr. Mahama Ayariga who was standing trial over alleged procurement breaches in connection with the purchase of an ambulance has been acquitted and discharged by an Accra High Court. The Bawku legislator, together with six others, was charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for contravening the Procurement Act. However, the accused persons were acquitted and discharged on Friday, May 7, 2021, by the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare–Botwe, after it upheld a submission of no case filed by the defense lawyers. Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe represented the accused persons in court. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion

Deal with wastage to raise revenue, not taxes – Ayariga to govt

Bawku Central lawmaker Mahama Ayariga has said it is unfair for the Akufo-Addo government to be taxing the people of Ghana over the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. He stated while speaking on the Key Points Programme on TV3 Saturday March 20 that the freebies provided to Ghanaians during the peak of the pandemic were presented to the people as gifts hence, no one expected to pay for those giveaways. The government proposed in the 2021 budget statement which has since been approved by the legislature the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19. “To provide the requisite resources to address these challenges and fund these activities, government is proposing the introduction of a Covid-19 Health Levy of a one percentage point increase in the National Health Insurance Levy and a one percentage point increase in the VAT Flat Rate to support expenditures related to Covid-19,” the budget said among other things. The government has received flak of some quarters following the introduction of the taxes because these will overburden the people in these difficult times. Mr Ayariga told host of the Key Points Abena Tabi that “The taxes are unfair to Ghanaians. Because the relief packages were presented to us as gifts only to be told today that we are going to pay for them.” He further stated that the solution to solving negative impact of the COVID on the economy is not increasing taxes, rather improving on the collection of the already exiting taxes.” He also asked the government to deal with the wastages in the procurement system in order to generate revenue. For his part, former Member of Parliament for Bantama, Mr Daniel Okyem Abokaye noted that the government could not have borrowed to deal with the ravages of the covid on the economy because that would have worsened the debt situation. “To me it is matter of what we will to do as a nation. Do we want to borrow and put all the burden on future generation or do we have to try and support the government to be able to undertake its development agenda?” He asked. A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Dr Lord Mensah has asked the government to stop providing freebies to Ghanaians in spite of the effect of the coronavirus on the lives of the people. He explained that since the country is no longer under lockdown, a situation that has allowed the people to go about their normal daily activities, they should be made to pay for every service rendered to them. Dr Mensah rejected the extension for the free water supply to homes as way of ameliorating the Covid-induced conditions on Ghanaians. The government in January this year renewed the free utility package for the poor and needy only for the three more months. In the 21st address to the nation President Akufo-Addo said, “With the continuing difficulties occasioned by the pandemic, I want to state that government intends to continue to support the most vulnerable in our society. “Government will, thus, continue to pay the electricity bills for our nation’s one million active lifeline customers for the next three months, i.e. January, February and March. Additionally, all one million, five hundred thousand customers of the Ghana Water Company, whose consumption is not more than five cubic metres a month, will not pay any bills for the next three months, i.e. for the months of January, February and March.” The package will be reviewed at the end of March, the President added. But speaking in an interview with TV3’s Johnnie Hughes on the New Day programme Thursday March 18, Dr Mensah asked the government not to continue the programme. “This means we have enough money or we have enough buffer to contain the necessary freebies that are coming up at the cost to the state. For me, I will say at this time we have to stop the freebies. “I was not even in favour of any freebies when even at the heat of the COVID. But then we had no choice and we had to provide them because it had two forces. “We had economic force and political force and I think the political force superseded the economic force and that is why we were enjoying the freebies at the point where we even had to stop it.” He added “I was thinking they would have stopped it somewhere in last year September at the time when the lockdown had been ended and then we were still moving about doing few things for ourselves. But then we continued to December and that is where the political aspect comes in. So effectively I will say yes we shouldn’t have gone on further with the freebies at this time , we should stop it.” 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Sports

UER: Upper East a region in love with politics than development

It appears the cry for the people of the Upper East Region to give the Bolgatanga sports stadium a facelift is not going to be given any attention any time soon. The Minister Designate for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif has revealed, that he has no knowledge of government plans to give the abandoned Bolgatanga stadium a facelift. Bolgatanga Stadium has been one of the priorities for the people of the Upper East Region, no wonder it was part of the region agenda during the Upper East @50 celebration On November 26, 2020, it was reported on Ghana New Agency “NDC to build ultramodern sports stadium in Bolgatanga”. Mr John Dramani Mahama, the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, assured the chiefs and people of the Upper East Region that he will build an ultramodern sports stadium in Bolgatanga to promote sports. He said the next NDC government would build regional sports stadia across every region without a stadium to promote sports and wellness. Mr Mahama made the pledge on Wednesday at a community engagement with the chiefs and people of Talensi in the Upper East Region as part of his four-day campaign tour. He noted that apart from the regional sports Stadiums, mini modern sports stadia would be built in all districts to harness the sporting potentials of the youth. He said the sports potentials of the youth would be harnessed from the district to regional, national and international levels. Mr. Mahama reiterated the need to harness the youth’s sporting potentials to create jobs for them. However, one would ask, why are people of the Upper East denying themselves developmental opportunities especially when they had the opportunity to serve as ministers of state. In the Akufo-Addo first Administration, the Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central Mr. Kofi Adda had the opportunity to provide a first-class airport to the people of the Upper East Region. But unfortunately, that wasn’t achieved for the region till he says goodbye to the Aviation Ministry. That is one classic example, now let me come back to the stadia issue. On January 08, 2015, a story published by then Citifmonline.com copied by Peacefmonline.com “Bolga Stadium To Be World Class Sports Minister” This was according to another son from the region who in control of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga has said work will soon commence on the Bolgatanga sports stadium to transform it into a world-class stadium. This, according to the Minister will be achieved with the provision of standard infrastructure and facilities. Mr. Ayariga revealed this on a working visit to the Bolga sports stadium and also the Bolgatanga Senior High School (SHS) to inspect a proposed site for a regional sports academy. In an interview with Citi News after the inspection, Mr. Ayariga bemoaned the poor infrastructure of the Bolga sports stadium and also the lack of proper sports facilities in the whole of the Upper East Region. He however, said the government is working to rectify the problem saying, it’s unfortunate that we have not after all these years been able to develop the infrastructure for sports in the region. He said his Ministry is strategizing to make sure every region has good facilities for sports infrastructure. The Sports Minister indicated that this year, his outfit is looking at putting up sports facilities for a few regions. In relation to Bolgatanga, we are looking at developing the pitch and then other facilities in the Bolgatanga stadium. He promised that some technical persons will be deployed to the Upper East Region to start work on the pitches and we will see how we can develop that facility. This was according to the Citifmonline.com report way back in 2015, that promise by our own brother and son making the Bolgatanga Sports Stadium a world class didn’t come to pass. We are now in 2021. In 2017, President Akufo-Addo also announced plans by his government to rehabilitate the stadium. Yet 2021, a Minister-designate for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif has made it clear of having no knowledge on the face lifting of Bolgatanga Stadium and is a clear signal that, is going to take a little more longer and only God knows when. “Mr. Chairman, no, I have not received briefing on the face-lifting of Bolgatanga Sports Stadium and the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex. But if I’m given the nod, all sports facilities will be paid attention to and now that you have mentioned the two facilities, I will look into it. I will do a follow-up and pay more attention to ensure that what the President said is done,” he told a members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak during vetting on Thursday, February 25, 2021. What is the hope for the people of Upper East Region as far as issues of development are concerned? Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Politics

We can’t vet a nominee for an office we don’t know – Minority MPs on Appointments Committee

Minority legislators with Parliament’s Appointments Committee said they cannot be part of the vetting of Joseph Cudjoe, the Minister-designate for Public Enterprises. Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said their objection is fundamental in the sense that Joseph Osei Owusu, the Chairman of the Committee gets in touch with the presidency to get them a formal correspondence regarding the Public Enterprises office. “Even if it takes midnight with correspondence from the presidency we will be here to work. As we proceed there is no Ministry for Public Enterprises and our hands are tied because we should be assessing him based on the role he is going to play,” he said Tuesday. He said per the Chairman’s ruling that the Committee can go ahead with the vetting and sort out the issue with the presidency later, they need to be clear of the purpose for which they are to do so. The Tamale South MP said he wants to consult with his other colleagues in the Minority to decide what their next step will be if they don’t get “further and better particulars to proceed with the vetting”. On his part, Deputy Majority Leader Alex Afenyo Markins said the Minority should listen to Mr Osei Owusu so they proceed and sort the issue out later but Mr Iddrisu disagreed. “Mr Chairman, my application is before you, it is not my intention that we take sides in this national exercise but momentarily for honourable Cudjoe, our side will just sit and observe whilst we wait for clarity and better particulars,” the former Employment Minister said. He added that the Minority does not intend to take part in further proceedings “until we receive satisfactory explanation from the office of the president.” Earlier, the nominee was asked by the Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga what his mandate will be seeking to clarify. The MP wanted to know whether the Ministry is about managing state enterprises and corporation. Mr Cudjoe said his mandate is to ensure that Public Enterprises and Corporations run efficiently and effectively so they do not become a drain on government finances. He explained that government has for some time noted how such entities are managed and the losses they make so the Ministry steps in to prevent such occurrences. Gideon Kwesi Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093

Opinion

It’s imprudent to extend retirement age – Labour expert to Ayariga

Labour Consultant Austin Gamey has dismissed calls by Bawku Central lawmaker for the extension of the retirement age for public sector workers. The opposition lawmaker who is also lawyer says he will sponsor a private member’s bill to effect a change in the age requirement in the public sector from 60 to 65. “Many people start family life late and their children are mostly still in school when they are compulsorily retired and family incomes are negatively affected with dire consequences for the education of their children. Extended retirement age will ensure that youth are guaranteed family income to sponsor their education. “With improved health care and increased life expectancy, the current compulsory retirement age of 60 years hurts the public service and judiciary and deniers them of healthy, competent and experienced people. And many of them live an additional twenty years or more and become a burden on the pension scheme which has to support them in retirement when they could actually work,” he said during the vetting of the Labour minister-designate Ignatious Baffuor-Awuah Wednesday. Reacting to the call, the labour expect told Starr News extension in the pension age will be inimical to the growth of young people. “It is imprudent at this point in time to raise the retirement age. You have young people who have graduated from school and need jobs to do and you have older people who are staying on and keeping the jobs so what do you do to the young people?”. Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093

Politics

Retirement age must be extended to 65 – Ayariga

Bawku Central lawmaker Mahama Ayariga is calling for an extention in the compulsory retirement age in the public sector. The opposition lawmaker who is also lawyer says he will sponsor a private member’s bill to effect a change in the age requirement in the public sector. “Many people start family life late and their children are mostly still in school when they are compulsorily retired and family incomes are negatively affected with dire consequences for the education of their children. Extended retirement age will ensure that youth are guaranteed family income to sponsor their education. “With improved health care and increased life expectancy, the current compulsory retirement age of 60 years hurts the public service and judiciary and deniers them of healthy, competent and experienced people. And many of them live an additional twenty years or more and become a burden on the pension scheme which has to support them in retirement when they could actually work,” he said during the vetting of the Labour minister-designate Ignatious Baffuor-Awuah. Meanwhile, the minister-designate for Employment says he is unaware of the “protocol” phenomenon in the public sector recruitment. “Hon. Chair to confess, I don’t know of any devil called protocol. Devil call protocol? I do not know anything about that, but if you are referring to favours, that people seek because of perhaps their knowledge with whoever is in charge, I must say that that creates an uneven platform for all persons to compete when there is an offer. And sometimes we limit this to political appointees and all that but I must say that it’s even broader than that”. Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093

Politics

I don’t know of any devil called “protocol” in public sector recruitment – Baffour-Awuah

Minister-designate for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah has said he is unaware of the phenomenon “protocol” in the public sector recruitment. This was in response to the Bawku Central MP, Mr Mahama Ayariga’s question posed during the nominee’s vetting on Wednesday seeking to know the meaning of protocol involved in recruitment into public agencies. Mr Baffour said he knows no devil called protocol but however indicated that issues of favour in the system has been brought to his attention. “Hon. Chair to confess, I don’t know of any devil called protocol. Devil call protocol? I do not know anything about that, but if you are referring to favours, that people seek because of perhaps their knowledge with whoever is in charge, I must say that that creates an uneven platform for all persons to compete when there is an offer. And sometimes we limit this to political appointees and all that but I must say that it’s even broader that…” Meanwhile. he adds that the use of digital space is eroding this phenomenon and called for investment in ICT to discourage the trend. kasapafm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +23355556809

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Kissi Agyebeng Nolle prosequi’s Martin Amidu’s tax evasion case against Mahama Ayariga

Mahama Ayariga, six others acquitted and discharged

Deal with wastage to raise revenue, not taxes – Ayariga to govt

UER: Upper East a region in love with politics than development

We can’t vet a nominee for an office we don’t know – Minority MPs on Appointments Committee

It’s imprudent to extend retirement age – Labour expert to Ayariga

Retirement age must be extended to 65 – Ayariga

I don’t know of any devil called “protocol” in public sector recruitment – Baffour-Awuah

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