No amount of insults and attacks will stop me from what I want to do–Duffour to Asiedu Nketia
National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful Dr Kwabena Duffour says he is not moved by the attacks and insults he recieved in his aspiration to assist the vulnerable with the Ahotor Project he is leadingr. According to Dr. Duffour, by his nature, he cannot reply his attackers in same measure but will only continue to help the poor through his donations. He was speaking to journalists on Wednesday, August 31 following the warning by NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia who claimed Dr. Duffour is personalizing the project. “If Dr Duffour intends to make this donation to the party a genuine donation, he should be prepared to pass through the proper channels,” Mr Asiedu Nketia told journalists on the sidelines of the 2nd Annual Lawyers Conference of the party. However, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, said he has been motivated to help the vulnerable through the Ahotor Project to strengthen not only the party but also the country. He said: “No amount of insults and attacks will stop me from what I want to do for you,” he stressed. Dr. Duffour also revealed after serving Ghana for four years, he did not take his ex gratia. He reminded all that he started business as far back as 1984 and will not capitalize on the Ahotor Project for any pecuniary gains as alleged by some.“I feel in me that I should help people and I am helping.” Apexnewsgh.com
Ato Forson trial: I’ll keep you in custody till trial is over – Judge warns Richard Jakpa over lateness
Third accused in the ongoing financial loss trial, businessman Richard Jakpa was at the receiving end of Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s anger after he failed to show up in court when the case was called on Tuesday, August 30. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, prayed the Court to exercise patience till the close of the day’s proceedings to enable Mr Jakpa to show up after the Presiding judge threatened to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. The court then proceeded to stand down till the arrival of the third accused before resuming sitting. “Mr. Jakpa, don’t ever come to court late again because if you do you can be assured that I will never rescind the bench warrant again. “You are very fond of coming to court late. This is not the first time. If you ever come late again I will keep you in custody until the trial is over, ” Justice Asare Botwe said to Richard Jakpa after he eventually turned up in the courtroom. Meanwhile, Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman Manu during cross examination by lawyers of Ato Forson told the court that he was unaware of approvals of payments by his outfit under then-president Mahama’s administration to suppliers of ambulance, Big Sea Ltd. Additionally, the health Minister said he was unaware, letters of credit had been issued by the Bank of Ghana at the behest of the Controller and Accountant General which formed the basis of payments toward the ambulances. This was after lead counsel for Ato Forson, Dr Aziz Bamba showed Agyeman Manu documents corresponding such but the health Minister said he had not been made privy to them.The cross examination continues on September 1. Former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who is also the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Ajumako Enyan Esiam, and the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, has been charged together with Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health and Richard Jakpa, a businessman, for allegedly causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal for the acquisition of some 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016. The trio have all pleaded not guilty and are standing trial at the Accra High Court. —3news—
National President of PWDs cautioned Kassena Nankana Municipal and Bolga East Assembly over denial of funds
President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations Ms. Mawunyo Yakor-Dagbah has registered displeasure with the attitude displayed against its members in the Kassena Nankana Municipal and Bolgatanga District Assembly in the Upper East Region. Apexnewsgh.com report According to the 2021 Auditor’s General report, “Kassena Nankana Municipal Assembly did not disburse funds to persons with disability who applied for support from the fund even though the fund had a balance of GH¢111,651.15 as at December 31, 2021. Similarly, the Bolgatanga East District Assembly delayed for about five to 22 months after the beneficiaries’ financial request before disbursing the funds to them” “As a result, Persons with Disabilities have been denied timely receipt of funds to support their activities”. Meanwhile, the President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations Ms. Mawunyo Yakor-Dagbah in an interview with Apexnewsgh.com has described the Assembly’s actions against its members as a disservice and unfortunate. “ Is a great disservice to the Persons with disabilities and I know there are applications from the people who needed the money. I think the DCE and even the Fund Management Committee are supposed to give us some answers to why this happened. Because the money cannot just be there and you are denying people the fund. It means you are saying they don’t need the money. That is very unfortunate”. She said According to the National President, “over Ghc 111,000.00 is a lot of money that can help quite a number of Persons with Disabilities because is for economic empowerment. So, why will that money be lying there without giving to the people is meant for? Of course, in every application, they have to vet and it has to pass through a process to see that whatever business they want to use the fund for, is beneficial and in some case the money support people in education”. “Am sure my people in those districts really need this money and yet for whatever reasons that prevented them from receiving this funds, is very unfortunate. We hope that now that the Auditor’s General has captured it, they won’t repeat it again. She said the intervention is a very good one they appreciate the government for and for that matter the funds are needed by Persons with Disabilities. Insisting that this should never happen again because if the monies are not disbursed, the signal out there will be that the money is not needed. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Upper East Region E:mail: Apexnewsgh@gmail.com Contact: 0256336062
A’s-G Report: Zoomlion Ghana Limited failed to honor its part of the Service Agreement in Pusiga District Assembly
According to the 2021 Auditor’s General Report, it has been revealed that Zoomlion Ghana Limited has failed to honor its part of the Service Agreement nine (9) months after Management of the Pusiga District Assembly officially notified the Regional Manager of Zoomlion, Bolgatanga in writing about the truck and the communal containers. Apexnewsgh.com report The report says: “Clause 5 of the Sanitation Improvement Package service agreement between Zoomlion Ghana Limited, and Pusiga District Assembly requires ZGL to replace or repair equipment without delay upon being notified by the assembly of any damage or defect”. “We noted during our audit that out of the two skip loader trucks supplied by Zoomlion to the Assembly, one truck with registration number GS 6555-12 got broken down since March 2021 and three refuse containers has spoilt (rusted) since January 2021 without Zoomlion repairing or replacing them. Report of the Auditor-General on the Management and Utilisation of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund and other Statutory Funds for the year ended 31 December 2021 Zoomlion Ghana Limited had failed to honor their part of the Service Agreement nine (9) months after Management of the Pusiga District Assembly officially notified the Regional Manager of Zoomlion, Bolgatanga in writing about the truck and the communal containers”. “This resulted in Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, operating with only one truck and eight containers contrary to the service agreement which requires two (2) trucks and 11 containers”. However, the Auditor’s General has recommended the District Coordinating Director to ensure that the truck and containers are replaced without further delay. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Zoomlion Ghana Limited/Upper East Region E:mail: Apexnewsgh@gmail.com Contact: 0256336062