Controversial Bus Branding: AG Submits Report

Citi News sources at the Presidency indicate that the Attorney General has submitted her report to the Chief of Staff on the controversial GHC3.6 million expended on re-branding the 116 Buses. Government’s decision to spend some GHC3.6 million on re-branding the buses angered many Ghanaians, with the majority questioning how that outrageous expenditure could be approved under the watch of the President. Following the backlash that government received from the public the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah hurriedly ordered an investigation into the contract. Mr Debrah directed the Attorney General “to review the contract and associated payment(s).” A letter to the Attorney General dated December 17, 2015 asked her to revert to the Chief of Staff with her findings by close of day December 22. It is however not clear as to the exact findings of the AG, but the sources at the Presidency say the Flagstaff House intends to act strongly on the report. While some advertisers have pointed out that government massively overpaid for the re-branding others have suggested that the state could have generated Ghc500,000 monthly if it had allowed the buses to be re-branded with commercial advertisement. Meanwhile a detailed pro-forma invoice for the re-branding of the buses revealed that stickers on each bus cost Ghc11, 000. The pro-forma invoice dated 17th July 2015, and signed by the Accounts Officer of Smarttys Management and Productions and copied to the Ministry of Transport, put the total cost of branding for each bus at Ghc30,420.00. Smarttys Management and Productions is owned by Selassie Ibrahim, an actress cum entrepreneur and TV personality.

Source: citifmonline.com

RUMOURS: Mourinho to replace Benitez at Real Madrid

The Portuguese, who was sacked by Chelsea last week after the champions' poor start to the season, could be set for a return to the Santiago Bernabeu. Jose Mourinho could replace Rafael Benitez as Real Madrid manager, according to AS. The Portuguese was sacked by Chelsea on Thursday after the champions lost nine of their opening 16 Premier League matches, leaving them just one point above the relegation zone. Benitez's job has also come under threat this term, with Madrid two points behind league leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand. And if president Florentino Perez was to dismiss the former Liverpool boss, Mourinho could be the man to take his place in the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu. Mourinho spent three seasons at Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning one La Liga title and one Copa del Rey.

Source: Goal

Transport Minister Resigns Over MMRT Rebranding Scandal

Information available topeacefmonline.com indicates that Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor has resigned over the Metro Mass Rapid Transit Bus scandal. According to a statement signed by her Personal Assistant, Egypt Kobla Kudoto, the Minister of Transport can no longer continue with her duties and has accordingly submitted her resignation letter to the President, John Dramani Mahama. Issue Government has spent about GH¢ 3,649,044.75 on the Re-branding of 116 buses for the Metro Mass Rapid Transit (MMRT) imported to improve the transport system in the country. Re-branding for each of the buses cost GH¢31,457.28, leading to a total of GH¢3,649,044.75 for the 116 buses, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu quoted figures from the 2015 annual report on the Petroleum Funds. But the Transport Minister, Dzifa Ativor in her response to the claim by the Minority Leader said she did not have the details of the re-branding at hand and promised to make it available to the House at a later date. Below is the full statement: Hon Mrs Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport wishes to inform the good people of Ghana that, as the Minister with oversight responsibility for the activities of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT), she has tendered in her resignation as Minister due to the current issues surrounding the branding of the 116 buses. She further wants to take the opportunity to thank her Party for the opportunity offered her to serve, first as Deputy Minister of Transport under the late President JEA Mills, and later the substantive Minister. Mrs Dzifa Attivor also wishes to thank the President sincerely for the honour to serve in his government. She has already communicated this decision to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama through the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah. Signed Egypt Kobla Kudoto Personal Assistant

Source: Peacefmonline.com

EC Boss Should Have Been At IEA Election Lecture To Learn From The Nigerian Experience - Mrs Rawlings

Founder and flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has reiterated the need for a credible voters' register. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings called for a new register, stressing that the register is a panacea for Ghana's porous elections. “I think we should have credible register…history teaches people that you learn from other people’s examples. You don’t sit down and pretend you know it all. So, you pick from places where they have experienced certain things, how they’ve done it, how you can improve yours and then you act on it." In an interview with Peacefmonline.com at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) 25th Anniversary Lecture on Free and Fair Elections in Africa, Nana Konadu advised political parties to desist from busing people to polling stations to do the bidding of the paymasters. According to her, "busing people whether they’re Ghanaians or not, busing people whether they’re registered voters or not; may be one of the ways that they want to twist things but I think that if you like your country enough, they will learn the right thing and correct them.” Nana Konadu further expressed concerns over the absence of Ghana's Electoral Commissioner Charlotte Osei at the IEA lecture. The lecture hosted Nigeria's immediate past Electoral Commissioner Prof. Attahiru Jega to share his experiences that led to free and fair elections in Nigeria on March 2015. Present at the function were NPP Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; suspended NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong; the former Chief of Staff, Nana Ato Dadzie; former Commissioner of CHRAJ, Prof. Emile Short among other dignitaries, but Ghana's EC Boss couldn't make the occasion. Addressing the absence of Mrs. Charlotte Osei, Nana Konadu held that the EC Boss should have been present to learn from the Nigerian experience. “I think it would have been good if she had the time to be present at least to listen to the questions that were being asked and then the answers that were going to be given.”

Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

NPP Members Pop Champagne To Kwabena Agyepong’s Suspension [PHOTOS]

Some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) greeted the news about the suspension of their General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong with loud cheers and celebrations at the party headquarters in Accra. The National Executive Committee which took the decision on Thursday, also suspended the Second Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe indefinitely.  Citi News’ Franklin Badu Junior who was at the party’s headquarters when the NEC ruled on the matter reported that about thirty supporters were popping champagne and wine, jubilating over the development. “A lot of champagne popping at the NPP headquarters at Asylum down. I can see about thirty supporters of the party popping champagne, some with powder, jubilating upon hearing that the party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyyepong and the Second Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe have been suspended.  “Some party members started shouting, screaming and pouring champagne immediately after the decision was announced- a sign that what they wanted for the party’s General Secretary and the Second Vice Chairman had received a stamp from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC),” he said. He further stated that some party loyalists chased Agyepong out of the party headquarters with brooms after the decision was taken. This is not the first time Agyepong has met stiff opposition from NPP loyalists at the party’s headquarters. He was earlier confronted with a more violent actions which led to an attack on his vehicle after he brought to the notice of persons present at the party’s steering committee meeting, an application for interlocutory injunction. Persons present at the meeting Some bigwigs within the party, including Nana Addo, Haruna Esseku, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu among others were present at the meeting that saw the suspension of the two. Reports indicate that John Boadu, who is the NPP’s National Organiser is likely to take up Agyepong’s position.

Source: citifmonline.com