Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Iddrisu recalled the President’s 2017 pledge to put his job on the line in the fight against galamsey. Haruna notes that the situation has only worsened.
“We heard President Akufo-Addo put his job on the line in 2017. What has he done since he failed to combat illegal mining?” Mr. Iddrisu questioned.
He added that in any civilised democracy, the President would have resigned after failing to fulfil such a critical promise.
“He would have bowed out and said, ‘I have no honour because my pledge to fight galamsey has fallen flat.’”
Mr Iddrisu criticised President Akufo-Addo and his ministers for praising themselves despite their failure to deliver on the promise to eradicate galamsey.
He emphasised the need to hold leaders accountable for their public pledges, particularly when it comes to safeguarding the environment and the livelihoods of affected communities.
Nonetheless, the lawmaker was sceptical about the current political leadership’s ability to tackle the galamsey issue effectively.
“I certainly do not trust the current political leadership that they can do better about galamsey,” he stated.
Conversations on galamsey and its dire impact arose after the management of Ghana Water Company Limited in the Central Region announced that there would be challenges with water supply in Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding communities.
The company revealed that the recent demand-supply gap is due to inadequate raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) caused by galamsey activities.
Environmental groups, civil society organisations, and concerned citizens have since voiced their frustrations over the lack of significant progress in curbing galamsey activities, which have resulted in the contamination of rivers, destruction of farmlands, and loss of livelihoods for many Ghanaians.
]]>It was revealed last week President Novak had given clemency to a man jailed for forcing children to retract sexual abuse claims against a director of a state-run children’s home.
Protests calling for her to step down had been growing in Hungary.
Ms Novak apologised and said she made “a mistake” in granting the pardon.
Judit Varga, the former minister of justice who approved the pardon, has also resigned from her new role leading the European elections campaign for Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party.
The controversy which led to the resignations came after the names of 25 people pardoned by Ms Novak in April last year, as part of a visit to Hungary by Pope Francis, were made public by Hungarian media last week.
On the list of convicts was the deputy director of a children’s home near Budapest, who had been jailed for three years after forcing children to retract claims of abuse against the director of the home.
The director had himself been jailed for eight years over abusing children at the government-run facility.
Hungarian opposition parties and protesters had been demanding her resignation, but Ms Novak’s decision to do so was as sudden as it was unexpected.
Ms Novak is a popular figure in Fidesz and a rare female politician in a male-dominated country. She is a key ally of Hungarian Mr Orban and previously worked as his family minister.
In 2022, she became the first woman to hold the largely ceremonial role of Hungarian president.
The case has unleashed an unprecedented political scandal for Hungary’s long-serving nationalist government.
In particular, it caused deep embarrassment for Fidesz, which has made traditional family values the cornerstone of its social policy.
Speaking in an address live on television, Ms Novak said she granted the pardon in the belief the convicted man “did not exploit the vulnerability of the children under his oversight”.
She apologised to victims who “might have felt that I did not stand up for them”.
“I made a mistake, as the pardon and the lack of reasoning were conducive to triggering doubts about the zero tolerance that applies to paedophilia,” Ms Novak added.
In addition to the resignation of Ms Novak, another leading female politician from Fidesz has also resigned over the same case.
Judit Varga, who was minister of justice at the time of the pardon, countersigned the clemency decision.
The double resignation of its two most prominent female politicians is a serious setback for Mr Orban and his party, with Ms Varga due to head the Fidesz list in the European elections in June.
]]>The 44-year-old was awarded a two-year deal by the Nana Yaw Amponsah-led Management prior to the start of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.
In his first season at the club, the former WAFA trainer led the side to annex the Premier League title and became a fans’ favorite.
On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, Adomonline.com revealed that Prosper Ogum has left his role after a meeting with the Board of Directors.
The news came as a shock to those in Ghana football circles due to his impressive performance at the club in his debut season.
Adomonline.com together with Asempa FM Sports have compiled some of the reasons why the former Physical Trainer at the University of Cape Coast has left his role.
Lack of respect
According to Asempa FM Sports sources, some members of the management do not respect Prosper Narteh Ogum.
The lack of respect led to a massive division between the playing body and some members of the technical team.
During the zoom meeting with the Board of Directors, Dr. Prosper Ogum expressed his displeasure due to the lack of respect.
The Board promised him the issue will be resolved but Dr Ogum was not convinced by the assurance of the Board ahead of the new campaign.
According to our sources, some senior players also do not respect the coach. This situation led to several confrontations during the 2021/22 campaign.
Interference
Asempa FM Sports can report that some management was not happy with the coach’s decision not to give certain players game time.
Dr. Ogum who has been touted as a strict and no-nonsense trainer was not willing to allow any management member to interfere with his job in terms of player selection during match days.
However, some management during last season questioned Dr. Ogum on his decision to leave out some players.
A classical example is Fabio Gama. The Brazilian did not see much playing time under Dr. Ogum. Gama lost his place to Richmond Lamptey. Some management members questioned the trainer why on his decision to play Lamptey ahead of Gama but the gaffer insisted that he is the coach and he is responsible for his team selection and not a management member.
The behavior of some management members interfering in the work of the head coach did not go down well with Dr. Ogum.
READ ALSO
Disagreement on recruitment
During the zoom meeting with Board, Dr. Ogum proposed that he will need 17 new players ahead of the season. He also added that 10 players must leave the club since they do not fit into his plans.
The proposal by Dr. Ogum came as a surprise to the Board. He explained his decision on why he would need the said number of players but Asempa FM Sports understands that the Board were not convinced with the explanation of the head coach.
However, Dr. Ogum was clear that he will only return to the club when the 10 players leave and the 17 players are brought in ahead of pre-season and as they prepare for their CAF Champions League campaign.
In the case of player transfers, Dr. Ogum again expressed his displeasure about the club’s lack of communication when a player is to be transferred.
According to our sources, most of the players that have been transferred, Dr. Ogum does not know of them. A decision he finds uncomfortable to manage.
Bad blood between CEO
Asempa FM Sports understands that Dr. Narteh Ogum is not in talking terms with the Chief Executive Officer of the club, Nana Yaw Amponsah.
This started when the team lost to Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium during the first round of the season, our sources have confirmed.
During the trophy presentation to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace, the CEO and the gaffer were not allowed to speak due to their differences.
Unpaid salaries
Asempa FM Sports also understand that Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum has been paid in the last four months together with bonuses.
Will Dr. Ogum rescind his decision?
Emmanuel Newton Dasoberi, the administrative manager of Asante Kotoko has confirmed head coach of the side, Prosper Narteh Ogum has resigned from the club and added that Narteh Ogum’s resignation from the club seems irreversible.
“The coach has not formally written to the club about his resignation,” Dasoberi told the Daily Graphic.
“When some members tried to persuade him on his decision on, Ogum said it was final.
According to the management member, Ogum wanted 17 new players signed ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
“During the meeting with the board to discuss his report to the management, there was a disagreement over his request to sack 10 players and recruit 17 new players, including four centre-backs.
“That was when some members of the board questioned the justification of his request.
“The coach said he had a two-year contract but wanted to move on with his life so the club must look for a new gaffer.”
Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum is expected to communicate his resignation to the club on Friday.
]]>The Member of Parliament has been following and criticizing President Akuffo Addo’s travels, alleging that he has been using private jets at great expense to the nation.
Speaking on Burning Issues to host Akua Boakyewaa Yiadom, Okudzeto Ablakwa said he could not fathom why the president would choose such expensive jets when there is already a presidential jet available to the nation.
He stated that if the government feels the presidential jet isn’t performing properly, the issue should be raised in parliament for it to be auctioned.
“At the time this Presidential Jet was ordered, the honorable Kan Dapaah who was the Defense Minister said the lifespan of the jet is a minimum of 20 years but this jet is just 12 years old.”
“I don’t have anything against the president but it’s about protecting the public purse and I don’t expect a future NDC president to hire jets at such high cost, some of us would resign; I wouldn’t want to be part of such a government,” he said.
Samuel Okudzeto noted he has drafted a ‘Presidential Travel Bill’ that will help regulate all presidents on their trips which bill is currently before the legal department of parliament for review.
He believes this idea about the presidential plane would reduce costs for the country.
“That is why I have drafted a ‘Presidential Travel Bill’, a private member’s bill, that will help to regulate presidential trips which have already been submitted to the legal department of parliament for review,” he revealed.
Watch the featured video above for more of what Mr Ablakwah said.
]]>The member of parliament for Tiverton & Honiton was identified yesterday as the mystery politician allegedly seen watching adult content twice by two female colleagues during a meeting.
He had initially vowed to continue his duties in his constituency after he was suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party over the claims.
The 65-year-old suggested he had opened the material by mistake but said he would quit if found guilty by parliament’s investigation into the matter.
Now, he has confirmed that he is going to resign and he is ‘not proud’ of what he has done.
He said the first time he viewed the x-rated content was accidental after looking at tractors, but the second time was deliberate.
In an interview with BBC South West, he said: ‘The situation was that – funnily enough it was tractors I was looking at.
‘I did get into another website that had a very similar name and I watched it for a bit which I shouldn’t have done. But my crime – biggest crime – is that on another occasion I went in a second time.’
Asked if that was deliberate he said: ‘That was deliberate… that was sitting waiting to vote on the side of the chamber.’
He added: ‘What I did was absolutely wrong.’
Mr Parish appeared emotional as he said he was standing down after seeing the damage the scandal was causing his family, his constituency and local association.
It is understood he agreed to resign after allies told him his position had become untenable.
‘I was wrong, I was stupid, I lost sense of mind,’ he said.
However, he denied watching the material in a way where he hoped other people would see it.
‘I make a full apology. A total full apology. It was not my intention to intimidate.’ he said.
‘I mean I have 12 years in Parliament and probably got one of the best reputations ever – or did have.’
When pressed on why he chose to view the material in the Commons, he said: ‘I don’t know, I think I must’ve taken complete leave of my senses and my sensibilities and my sense of decency, everything.’
He said he was ‘not defending what I did for one moment,’ arguing he thought the best thing he could do was to ‘tell the truth’.
Mr Parish faced calls to resign immediately after being identified yesterday.
Last night, he said he had looked at something ‘in error’, but said he would not comment further.
He later said he had made ‘a complete mistake, and I will man up to it as they say’.
And he said his wife had ‘married a f****** idiot’.
In an interview with The Times yesterday, Mr Parish’s wife Sue said the allegation was ‘very embarrassing’ but vowed to stand by him.
She said her husband of 40 years was ‘quite a normal guy’ and ‘a lovely person’.
‘If you were mad with every man who looked at pornography, you would not have many wives in the world,’ she said.
However, she called pornography ‘demeaning and degrading’ to women and said she understood why the female colleagues who made the allegation were upset.
Allegations of a porn-watching MP were first aired in a meeting with Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris on Tuesday.
Mr Parish did not come forward as the culprit, even when asked about the claims in a televised interview, until when the revelations were about to be made public on Friday.
The Conservatives then suspended the whip from him, meaning he was out of the parliamentary party.
He referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone, and said he would continue with his ‘duties’ in the Commons pending the outcome of an investigation.
]]>The resignation comes as Malaysia grapples with its worst Covid-19 outbreak and the economy hit from multiple rounds of lockdowns.
Muhyiddin will remain as a “caretaker” prime minister until a new leader is appointed, said the palace’s statement. The palace added in the Malay-language statement — which CNBC translated — that the king thought an election is “not the best option” now, given the Covid outbreak.
The Malaysian ringgit was at its weakest in more than a year against the U.S. dollar on Monday.
Before the release of the palace’s statement, Malaysia’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin said in a post on his verified Instagram account that the cabinet has submitted its resignation to the king.
Khairy’s post followed local media reports that Muhyiddin would step down from the top job after losing majority support in parliament due to infighting among his political coalition.
Losing parliamentary majority
In a televised address, Muhyiddin said he resigned because he has lost majority support in parliament. He added that he will not work with “kleptocrats” and interfere with the country’s judiciary process to remain in power.
Muhyiddin said he hopes a new government can be formed soon to ensure that the economic recovery and Covid vaccine rollout continue smoothly.
Muhyiddin, who came to power in March last year, had governed with a razor-thin majority in the 222-seat parliament.
In the last few weeks, he faced increasing pressure to step down after some lawmakers from the United Malays National Organisation or UMNO — the largest party in the ruling coalition — withdrew their support. Some UMNO politicians, including former Prime Minister Najib Razak, face charges of corruption and money laundering.
Muhyiddin claimed earlier this month that he still commanded majority support in parliament. He said he would prove the legitimacy of his leadership through a confidence vote when parliament reconvenes in September. https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/JZbdH/4/
But in a speech last Friday, Muhyiddin acknowledged for the first time that he did not have a majority. He attempted to woo the opposition by promising political and electoral reforms — such as limiting the prime minister’s tenure to two five-year terms — in exchange for support on the confidence vote.
The offer was rejected by the opposition.
Malaysia plunged into political turmoil after the sudden resignation of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in February last year. That paved the way for Muhyiddin to form a government by cobbling together a fragile coalition.
Worsening Covid outbreak
Malaysia’s daily new Covid cases per million people is one of the highest globally, according to data compiled by online repository Our World in Data.
On a seven-day moving average basis, the Southeast Asian country recorded 620.14 confirmed Covid cases per million people on Saturday — the sixth highest globally and the top in Asia, the data showed.
But authorities have accelerated the pace of vaccinations in recent weeks despite the political tussle. Nearly one-third of Malaysia’s 32 million people has completed their vaccinations as of Sunday, official data showed.
Muhyiddin said Monday that his cabinet has ordered more than 87 million shots of Covid vaccines, which are “enough” to inoculate the population by the end of October.
The health ministry projected that daily infections would remain high and reach a peak in mid-September, before falling to around 1,000 cases per day in October.
]]>“I have no security… My life is in danger, the life of my family is in danger, the life of this people is in danger. I cannot accept that, that is why I took this decision,” Cipriano Cassamá told reporters.
Despite not being in the December ballot, Cipriano Cassamá, was appointed by Parliament, the majority of whose deputies have refused to acknowledge the election victory of the former opposition leader, Umaro Sissoco Embalol.
ALSO
Mr Embalol was sworn in as Head of State at a luxury hotel on Thursday after the Electoral Commission had again declared him the winner of December’s presidential vote.
Despite the resignation of one president, Guinea-Bissau still has two rival prime ministers.
In a letter to the General Secretary of the party, Solomon Owusu said the decision was taken after a meeting with his family where concerns were raised about his affiliation to the NPP.
ALSO: I’II quit my job and campaign for Amidu, Domelevo ticket in 2020 – Braimah
Mr. Owusu has served in various leadership positions of the NPP including its youth wing, TESCON and in the diaspora.
The now-former member of the NPP said it would be conflicting to remain in the party since he has decided to criticise the government on matters that negatively affect Ghanaians.
Read his letter below
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Outspoken Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has called for the resignation of the CID boss, Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah.
Speaking on Accra-based Net 2 TV, the outspoken lawmaker said Madam Tiwaa courted controversy when she said at a press conference some months ago that the Police knew the whereabouts of the girls, a statement My Agyapong believes was based on false information received from the suspect.
ALSO READ: Pre-term babies dying at Asamang Hospital due to lack of equipment
According to him, the leadership of the Ghana Police and by extension the entire service is incompetent, saying the latest development does not surprise him.
Mr Agyapong was reacting to the news of police confirmation of the death of the four kidnapped girls from Takoradi.
ALSO READ: Audio: NPP confirms NDC’s allegation against EC
Ghana police are bogus, they are so corrupt. People are calling for the resignation of Tiwaa; fire her! They are all incompetent, whether they are sabotaging her or not, the MP charged.
Tiwaa wanted to sacrifice me for Anas. She’s fired, and we’ll say it till she is fired. A whole CID Boss comes out publicly to declare knowledge of the whereabouts of the girls and you come back to say you wanted the family to be relaxed, he asked.
ALSO READ: Electoral Commission reacts to NDC allegations
Many Ghanaians have called for the CID Boss to be fired since news of the confirmation of the girls’ death broke because the CID boss had publicly given the family assurances of they returning safely.
Listen to the attached audio above for more.
Source: Adomonline.com|Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
]]>Chief Executive of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, has joined many who are calling on the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, Commissioner of Police (COP), Tiwaa Addo-Danquah to resign and save her dignity.
Prof. Attafuah said COP Addo-Danquah would have saved her integrity by not waiting to be removed.
Calls for COP Addo-Danquah to step down followed news of the four missing Takoradi girls confirmed dead by DNA testing.
ALSO: Audio: Education Minister’s comment on SHS placement irresponsible – NDC
Before the shocking news, COP Addo-Danquah said the girls, Priscilla Blessing Bentum, 21, Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie, 18; Ruth Love Quayson, 18, and Ruth Abeka were alive and their whereabouts were known.
However, the police have announced that they are dead.
Asked on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show whether Mrs Addo-Danquah must resign or not, Prof Attafuah said:
ALSO: Video: Give families of dead Taadi girls money for second DNA test – Security Expert to govt
“In this country, we are slow to do the needful by ourselves, although I know sometimes the clamour [for a public officer to resign] happens where there is no sound evidential basis for it…but where individuals themselves know that they have goofed, that they have – by their acts of omission or commission – generated a situation that is untenable; that undermines public confidence in the institution that they lead and that also have the potential to affect the future dynamics and effectiveness of the institution, they [must] do the honourable thing of not waiting to be fired but to tender their resignation and to apologise in grace and exit the scene so that pain is assuaged, confidence is assured and innovation is triggered,” he said.
Source: Adomonline.com|Adom News
]]>George Mensah Okley is said to have tendered in his resignation to the President on Friday, August 23, Myjoyonline.com can confirm
Reasons for his resignation are unknown, however, Graphiconline reports that it may be linked to the issue of contracts at BOST.
ALSO: Judges can easily jail procurement law breakers – PPA CEO in 2007
Mr Okley was appointed by President Akuffo-Addo in 2017 to act as MD for the state-owned entity following the removal from office of his predecessor, Alfred Obeng Boateng.
Profile of George Mensah Okley
George Mensah Okley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Dortmund, with a focus on Fluid Separation Process, Process Modelling & Optimization, Process Control Design and Modelling of Dynamic Systems.
He also holds a Masters Degree in Reservoir Evaluation and Management from the Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, with a focus on oil field operation (petroleum economics, production and drilling), reservoir engineering, reservoir concepts, reservoir sedimentology, formation evaluation, well testing and production, reservoir simulation, rock mechanics with geophysics and modeling with management.
In 2014, he undertook a professional course in petroleum engineering at the Imperial College, London. He also holds a certificate of completion in Well Surveillance Principles and Reservoir Management; holds a Certificate of Completion of Petrad course in Petroleum Economics; holds a Certificate of Completion of 8-weeks Petrad course in Petroleum Policy and Resource Management; and a Certificate of Completion in New Era in Oil, Gas and Power Value Creation (Project Economics).
He has been involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP); and a member of the Government Negotiation Team that negotiated Petroleum Agreements with International Oil Companies; was the Ministry’s representative on the Gas Power Infrastructure Committee for the implementation of OCTP gas project; and co-ordinated the development of the Gas Master Plan.
Mr Okley has a good understanding and experience in Ghana’s Petroleum Regulations as member of the team that developed the Regulations; has strong Reservoir Engineering skills in Raven, Eclipse, TerraStation, Petrel, and Pansystem; and has extensive exposure in the Oil and Gas industry.
He is a native of Nungua, in the Greater Accra Region, and is married with four (4) boys.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
]]>“Prof. Obiri-Danso is still at post. It is not true that he has handed in his resignation or been impressed upon by the University Council to resign,” Mr. Kwame Yeboah Junior, the University Relations Officer (URO), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi.
RELATED STORY: KNUST lecturers cane students, others ordered to kneel in rain
“The University has its own mandated processes for removing the Vice-Chancellor, but for now none of our clauses in relation to that effect has been activated”, he noted.
Mr Yeboah Junior indicated that following a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, the University Council had been directed to as quickly as possible strive to resolve the differences for normalcy to return to the campus.
The meeting had in attendance, the Minister in-charge of National Security, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Education, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, and Bantamahene, Baffour Asare Owusu, who represented the Asantehene and Chancellor of the University, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as well as representatives of the University.
READ: Military and Police take over security at KNUST
KNUST had in recent time been embroiled in turmoil, following violent clashes between the student body and authorities over what the former described as unwarranted brutalities meted out to students.
The feud was heightened last Monday (October 22, 2018) when some of the aggrieved students took to the streets on the campus, protesting vehemently about the University’s alleged manhandling of some of their colleagues.
What was supposed to have been a peaceful demonstration turned violent when the aggrieved protestors mounted road blocks and decided to destroy everything in sight.
READ: Manhunt for headmaster who defiled 12-year-old girl and gave her GHC5
They set fire on some of the University vehicles and security motorbikes, smashed windscreens, billboards and other property on the campus.
A combined team of the military and police had since been deployed to the University campus to restore calm.
When GNA got to the campus on Tuesday, the entire University had been deserted as the students vacated their halls of residence in compliance to a directive that they should all leave, pending investigations into the violent incident.
]]>The acting Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Adomako Baafi has resigned his position.
Announcing his decision on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Friday, Mr Baafi said his role as acting communication director is hindering his passion to campaign for the party in the hinterlands.
“I have resigned my position as a communications director. No one has asked me to resign. I have decided to take the decision because I need more time to work for the party,” he said.
ALSO READ: Photos+Video: Angry Menzgold customers threaten naked demo
He explained that being an ordinary member of the Communications team will give him some free space to monitor situations and reality on the ground so as to keep the party in power for long.
According to Mr Baafi, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears to be succeeding in discrediting the policies of the government to Ghanaians for which reason he appealed to the leadership of the NPP to replace him as soon as possible to enable him to canvass the country to counter what he described as “deception from the opposition party”.
READ ALSO: Adom FM, anti-graft groups launch ‘Corruption Watch’ [AudiO]
“The party leadership should understand me. It’s not anger. The party should bear with me because I still have the party at heart,” he stated.
According to him, his love for working at the grassroots would be impeded if he keeps the position as Director of Communications.
]]>Many have expressed their worry over the current security situation in the country following the shooting and killing of police men with the recent one being the attack on the Kwabenya Police Station that has led to the killing of Insp. Emmanuel Ashiveli.
Read More: Police schedule Jan 29 for next phase of 2017/2018 recruitment exercise
Addressing the media on Tuesday after meeting with the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, admitted the security service is faced with challenges but said they were working to ensure the country is safe for all.
He however disagreed with assertions that there is a breakdown of security and further disclosed measures being put in place to improve the standards of police personnel in the country.
On his part, the IGP, David Asante Appeatu, said the police service would continue to ensure there is law and order despite the challenges it is faced with.
Ranking member of the Defense and Interior Committee, James Agalga, who earlier expressed his worry about the country’s current security situation said his committee is satisfied with the briefing given by the Police Service and the Interior Ministry.
]]>
Decades later, Mukonori helped persuade Mugabe to relinquish power.
In his first interview since Zimbabwe’s apparent coup and peaceful transfer of power, Mukonori described hours of debate and discussion at the presidential residence, State House, and Mugabe’s personal residence.
Mukonori met daily with Mugabe, who is 93 years old and had been the nation’s leader for almost four decades.
He became lead negotiator because both Mugabe and the military trusted him. The 70-year-old Jesuit priest from Zimbabwe said he’s mediated between bitter political rivals in the past.
“I’m a tough nut to crack,” he said. “I’ve done this before.”
Mukonori said his strategy was never to argue with Mugabe, but rather to listen and convince Mugabe he could exit the political stage with nobility.
“He is a debater, he is a thinker, he argues intelligently, he can philosophize,” Mukonori said. “It was a question of making President Mugabe see what was happening in the country economically and politically at that time and what was at stake with regard to issues pertaining to the soldiers moving in.”
Mugabe was under house arrest by the military when he resigned Tuesday. Troops were reportedly stationed at Zimbabwe’s Parliament and the presidential palace.
“The fact that the soldiers had taken that step — Mugabe didn’t disagree that there were issues but he wondered why it had to be done that way,” Mukonori said.
Since the military had insisted that this wasn’t a coup, but rather a way to settle a factional battle within the ruling ZANU-PF, they had to either get Mugabe to resign or face a protracted impeachment battle in Parliament to give the power transfer a constitutional flavor.
As the days dragged on, pressure mounted on Mukonori and the generals to make something happen.
Mukonori said he repeatedly assured Mugabe of his contribution to Zimbabwe as a liberation hero and father of the nation. Though vilified by much of the world, Mugabe is still revered by the military and ruling party leadership.
“The generals always treated him with respect during the discussions, they even saluted him,” Mukonori said. “He knew he would love to leave with dignity.”
Despite this, Mugabe seemed determined to hang on — even for a few more weeks.
A deal was reached, but after 37 years in power, Mugabe still wanted to systematically transfer power to Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former vice-president who was waiting in the wings in exile and was constantly in contact with the generals.
When Mugabe addressed the nation on state television last Sunday evening, almost everyone expected him to resign. But flanked by his generals, Mugabe rambled through a lengthy speech. There was no resignation.
The process required a lot of patience, Mukonori said.
“Listening of a 93-year-old is not the same as listening of a 23-year-old or a 17-year-old,” he said.
In the end, the cries of demonstrating Zimbabweans persuaded him to go, Mukonori said.
When tens of thousands streamed into the streets of Harare to demand Mugabe step down, the priest seized the moment to make a breakthrough.
“It moved him,” Mukonori said. “It moved him in this sense that he realized that they are speaking to say this is enough.”
When Mugabe resigned, there was unbridled joy as Zimbabweans both here and abroad celebrated the end of his rule.
Mukonori said the ex-president was invited to the swearing in of Mnangagwa but declined, given the “charged” environment.
He said he still speaks to Mugabe almost every day. He said the former president has offered to give advice to the new president, despite most Zimbabweans wishing for a clean break.
“He has not vanished from life, he is not dead,” Mukonori said. “But he has vanished from the limelight. His brains are still very sharp and working.”
]]>
According to him, such an asset and knowledgeable gentleman hungry for success cannot lose his job over such trivial issue.
Mr. William Quaitoo whom until Tuesday evening was the Deputy Minister for Agriculture resigned following incessant pressure on him to do so.
He was accused of insulting people from the north when he called them “difficult people”.
Mr. Quaittoo was responding to farmers’ agitations on the level of destruction caused by the fall army worms on their farms.
After the backlash especially from groups in the Northern region, he rendered an unqualified apology for his explosive and ethnocentric comments but the livid group insisted on his resignation.
The presidency confirmed his resignation and announced it was accepted by President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday.
However, Rev. Owusu Bempah has expressed disappointment in the decision of the deputy Minister.
According to him, he is unhappy with the resignation, appealing to President Akufo Addo to reconsider and get him back to work.
Describing Mr Quaittoo as a “fine gentleman”, the man of God stressed that it will be politically suicidal on the part of President not to re-instate the Minister.
According to him, the former Deputy Agric Minister is humble, tolerant, and affable and level headed who can take the NPP government to places.
“Fine gentleman William shouldn’t have resigned. He has really made a big mistake. I think the Northerners should forgive and forget about everything because he has already apologized and so I don’t expect him to resign. I am very sad about this development.
“Although he has resigned, I urge Akufo-Addo not to accept it and bring him back” he said on Accra based Neat FM.
Rev. Owusu Bempah has therefore urged leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to make sure that the embattled Minister is re-instated.
Listen to Owusu Bempah
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Dagbong Youth for Development (DYD), has lauded President Akufo-Addo for accepting the resignation of the Deputy Agric Minister. ]]>
The deputy Minister, described the farmers who were demanding compensation for crops destroyed by the army worm as people who cannot be trusted and had intentions to defraud the government.
However, William Quaitoo apologized after he was heavily criticized by residents in the Northern Region.
But Spokesperson for the Dagbon Youth Association, Yakubu Ibrahim Mahmi, says the apology is not enough and must be rejected.
“Anybody can apologise because it touches the heart of an ethnic group especially the Dagbon because he mentions he has been with us for good 27 years, our tradition doesn’t teach us to disregard or disrespect a person not to talk about an ethnic group. If I were him by now I think I should have tendered in my resignation letter”.
Read the full statement below:
PRESS RELEASE
SACK DEPUTY MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE OR WE SHOW YOU NORTHERNERS ARE REALLY THIEVES AND DIFFICULT TO HANDLE — DEMOCRATIC YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTHERN CHAPTER) 28/08/2017.
We, members of DEMOCRATIC YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTHERN CHAPTER) write with a burdened heart to draw your (HE Nana Addo) attention to the most derogatory and naked insult hailed on us by one of your ‘men’ (Ministers) in person of Mr William Quaittoo (at this point, it’s difficult to address him as an Hon) some few days ago in an interview with Starr FM (an Accra-based radio station) with regards to the invasion and the subsequent destruction of our crops by the deadly army worm that has brought farmers on their knees across the country in recent times.
We have continuously been at the receiving end of a lot of diatribes vitriolic from your party – the NPP, some which sound as ‘any car/cargo you see carrying charcoal to Accra, is from the north’ ~ Madam Ursula Owusu, ‘….but for free education, all northerners would have been cattle herd men’ ~ Madam Ursula Owusu, among others. It’s now clear that the periodic diatribes are deliberate and well calculated to make us (northerners) appear and look inferior to other regions in the country.
Despite the vitriolic, we came out in our numbers and voted for the NPP as against our own son and brother HE John Dramani Mahama who, we can say with all sincerity that he has always been there for us, in the 2016 general election. Let’s be quick to add that, our massive endorsement of NPP should never be mistaken to be an endorsement or an enjoyment of the rather piecing insults your men have subjected us to but a deliberate move to put your juicy talking party to test as to enable us make an informed decision going forward because you (HE Nana Addo) told us to try you.
This insult by the Deputy Minister has opened our eyes in relation to why it took the government almost a month to come to our aid when we were hit by flood recently. We are now fully aware that the NPP government never trusted us when we were crying all over, assisted by our MPs calling for help from them. Government probably saw it as a ploy to dupe them.
That’s very sad and demeaning. We must point out now that, we were surprised when the Vice President, our own brother flew to the north only to assess and be sure our house were flooded. It was however disheartening to have heard from government that we should go and sleep with our families, friends and neighbours because they don’t have money to help us out. We also saw on national television our own brother (Dr Bawumia) flew to Sierra Leone within the shortest possible time with relieve items solicited from cooperate bodies and individuals. Isn’t it very interesting??
The insults and embarrassment suffered in the hands of NPP apparatchiks are just one too many. The fact that our elders have continuously appealed to us to remain calm doesn’t mean we can continue stomaching daily insults and verbal abuses from people who are supposed to know better.
For the deputy minister to say he stayed with us for 27years and thus knows us inside out cannot be underscored. Interestingly, he used 27 years to study how insincere, difficult and thieves we are.
An apology from the minister will only be seen as adding salt to our injury. That is because you cannot be sorry for saying something you studied and knew for the past 27years.
Surprisingly, in the midst of these humiliations, our Northern vice president seems not to care but rather chose to do propaganda when he got the opportunity to condemn the insult on us by William Agyapong Quaitoo.
It is now becoming clear that the religious balance we voted for seems not to favour us the Northerners with the continuous silence of our Northern brother.
We are therefore calling on Mr President to as a matter of urgency dismiss that man or he seizes to extend his deputy ministerial mandate to the northern sector because we won’t stop at anything to prove how difficult we are. We have stated our position, Mr President, but we know, today, you have the final say. You can decide to ignore our call and hopefully, we shall showcase our insincerity when the time comes.
Thanks.
Cc:
The President of the Republic of Ghana.
All media houses
All social media platforms
….Signed….
Hairat Yussif,
President (DYA – Northern chapter).
Christopher Akoto (Secretary, National)
Bismark Newton Haduvorsah (Communication Director)
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According to him, the only way Ghanaians will take the MD, Mr. Alfred Obeng serious over the Company’s latest scandal is when he resigns for proper investigations to take place.
Sammy Gyamfi believes the MD’s continues stay in office will mean a total disrespect to Ghanaians by himself and the Government over what he describes as a fraudulent act.
BOST together with its MD have come under series of attacks by several groups over the sale of some 5 million litres of an off-spec product which according to claims amounts to corruption.
The Company together with the MD has denied any wrongdoing in the said deal; however an investigation has been launched into the matter by the Energy Ministry.
The Managing Director has since declined resigning over the matter after several calls from pressure groups insisting his hands are clean an won’t be distracted.
However speaking on Asempa Fm’s flagship political Talkshow Ekosiis3n on Friday, Sammy Gyamfi described the whole issue of the sale contaminated fuel as fraudulent aimed at stealing from the ordinary people.
“Mr. Alfred Obeng should immediately resign over this matter if he has conscience and integrity to protect. I don’t think he should have been in office even a single day looking at the fraud and criminality in this expose. The whole issue is fraudulent.” he opined.
He claimed before the sale of the said contaminated fuel to Movenpiina, the company was not incorporated to commence work so it becomes difficult to accept the denials of the MD on the matter.
“I know that before Movenpiina expressed interest and won the bid to buy the said contaminated fuel, it was not fully licensed to work as a company so why should the MD deal with it? I am also aware that the MD’s private lines are those being used by this same Movenpiina so what shows he is not behind this fraud?” he further quizzed.
The NDC Youth Activist further said the BOST MD conceived to perpetrate fraud that is why he gave the deal to his company which was not grounded in the law at the time the deal was struck.
Sammy Gyamfi further challenged President Akufo Addo to deal with what he describes as another test case of corruption in his Government in the last six months if he wants to be taken seriously by Ghanaians.
“If President Akuffo Addo is to be taken serious in the fight against corruption, I think this is another test case he must deal with decisively. The MD must be asked to resign or be sacked from office immediately” he stressed.
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He told the BBC a power surge, had “only lasted a few minutes”, but the back-up system had not worked properly.
He said the IT failure was not due to technical staff being outsourced from the UK to India.
Mr Cruz said “I am profusely sorry” to the 75,000 passengers affected across 170 airports in 70 countries.
He said two thirds of passengers will have reached their destination by the end of the day.
There was no evidence of a cyber attack, he added.
“There was a power surge and there was a back-up system, which did not work at that particular point in time. It was restored after a few hours in terms of some hardware changes… we will make sure that it doesn’t happen again,” Mr Cruz said in his first interview.
A leaked staff email revealed Mr Cruz had told staff not to comment on the system failure. When asked about the email he told the BBC the tone was clear: “Stop moaning and come and help us”.
But Mick Rix from the GMB union did not accept Mr Cruz’s explanation. He told BBC Radio 4: “Why didn’t the back-up kick in? Basically because there’s been an absolute brain drain out of the company.”
Queues built up on Sunday at Heathrow Terminal 5 as passengers waited to speak to BA staff
The airline is now close to full operational capacity after the problems resulted in mass flight cancellations at Heathrow and Gatwick over the bank holiday weekend.
On Monday, BA said they plan to fly more than 95% of their normal flight schedule.
Questions remain about how a power problem could have had such impact, said the BBC’s technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones. One theory was that returning systems were unusable as the data had become unsynchronised.
Heathrow advised affected BA passengers not to travel to the airport unless their flights had been rebooked, or were scheduled to take off on Monday.
Passengers on cancelled flights have been told to use the BA website to rebook.
Until now, Mr Cruz had only posted videos on Twitter apologising for what he called a “horrible time for passengers”.
BA is liable to reimburse thousands of passengers for refreshments and hotel expenses, and travel industry commentators have suggested the cost to the company – part of Europe’s largest airline group IAG – could run into tens of millions of pounds.
Davy analyst Stephen Furlong said the cost to the carrier of cancelling one day of operations was around £30m.
Shares in IAG listed on the Madrid stock exchange ended the day 2.8% lower.
Customers displaced by flight cancellations can claim up to £200 a day for a room (based on two people sharing), £50 for transport between the hotel and airport, and £25 a day per adult for meals and refreshments.
Ian Sanderson, one of the affected passengers who is stuck in transit in London, said he was “incandescent with rage” after being unable to rebook his flight, or speak to a member of staff.
Speaking on Sunday evening, he said: “I’ve bombarded them with about 100 tweets in the last 24 hours. I know that’s annoying but there’s nothing else I can do.
“We’ve tried to call them on the numbers they give and all we’ve got is the same recorded message which then cuts off at the end.”
EU flight delay rights
- If your flight departed from within the European Union or was with a European airline, you might have rights under EU law to claim if the delay or cancellation was within the airline’s control.
- Short-haul flights: 250 euros for delays of more than three hours
- Medium-haul flights: 400 euros for delays of more than three hours
- Long-haul flights: 300 euros for delays of between three and four hours; and 600 euros for delays of more than four hours
- If your flight’s delayed for two or more hours the airline must offer food and drink, access to phone calls and emails, and accommodation if you’re delayed overnight – including transfers between the airport and the hotel.
The directive, which was taken at the National Council meeting Wednesday affects mainly Gender Minister Ms. Otiko Djaba, who serves as the national women organiser of the NPP, and has been in the news lately over her public utterances.
According to the party, the order affects both elected and appointed executives such as Perry Okudzeto, who is serving as a deputy Minister of Information and at the same time deputy communications director. Another casualty is Anthony Karbo, MP for Lawra and deputy minister for roads and highways.
“All Party Office holders (elected or appointed) who have second executive positions in government should vacate their Party positions for substantive officers appointed to fill in,” acting general secretary John Boadu said in a statement after the meeting.
Meanwhile, the NPP will be holding its 2017 National Delegates’ Conference from 25th to 27th of August, 2017 in Cape Coast.
Below is the full NPP statement:
11th May, 2016
Press Release
DECISION TAKEN AT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING
The National Council of the Party met yesterday, May 10, 2017. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Freddie Blay (acting National Chairman).
In attendance were the President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Vice President Bawumia and former President J.A. Kufuor.
The meeting took the following decisions;
1. All Party Office holders (elected or appointed) who have second executive positions in government should vacate their Party positions for substantive officers appointed to fill in.
2. The meeting expressed strong disapproval and regret against the actions and utterances of the minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Northern Regional Chairman. Even though the two apologized profusely, the meeting severely reprimanded them and bonded them to be of good behaviour. They were also asked to put their apologies into written statements.
3. The meeting fixed the Party’s 2017 National Delegates’ Conference for the 25th to 27th of August, 2017 in Cape Coast.
4. The meeting also approved the Party’s hosting of the International Democratic Union’s (IDU) 2017 executive meeting in Accra from the 18th to 21st of June, 2017
The President also briefed the meeting on the government programmes on Planting for Food and Jobs, Establishment of the Development Authorities, the One District, One Factory Project, the Establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the sustenance of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The President reiterated that;
1. The Planting for Food and Jobs Program has already engaged 200,000 farmers and would eventually engage 2.5million farmers. The Agric Extension Program has been revived and 1,200 trained officers have been engaged.
2. The One District, One Factory will kick off in 51 districts and launched in June 2017. Government has also set aside a stimulus package of $100million to revive distressed but strategic and viable Ghanaian industries.
3. The President affirmed Government will soon retire the huge debt of ₵1.2billion owed the National Health Insurance Providers to this major social intervention on a new course.
4. Legislation will be introduced in the next meeting of Parliament to establish the 3 development authorities to set the stage for the implementation of the $1m per constituency per year development program.
5. Legislation will also be introduced in the next meeting of Parliament to set the Office of the Special Prosecutor as a foremost public institution in the fight against corruption.
The meeting ended with the assurance of the President that all remaining government appointments will be completed by end of May 2017.
…Signed…
John Boadu
(General Secretary, Ag.)
According to him, the former governor after a year of holding the position was now well prepared to tackle Ghana’s economic challenges head on.
However, Mr Amissah Arthur expressed confidence in the new governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, to deliver.
“It was a surprise to me. I don’t think anyone takes the position of government lightly, it’s a very important position. But I hope the new governor puts in the best efforts to improve our economy,” he argued on Joy fm.
Meanwhile, Issahaku has revealed that he tendered in his resignation without any political pressure.
According to him, his decision to vacate his position was a personal one which has no bearing with political interests.
Listen to Former Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur