THE Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) exceeded its target in the first quarter of the year by GH¢72 million following measures it adopted to plug the loopholes in its revenue collection system.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Programmes of the division, Mr Isaac Apronti, the measures included the installation of CCTV cameras to monitor activities at the ports, as well as the establishment of an ethics committee to deepen the sense of good behaviour among officials of the division.
Mr Apronti, who was interacting with journalists after officials of the division had gone on a health walk in Accra on Saturday, said morale among personnel of the division sunk very low after a private investigator had exposed corrupt practices among some of the officials at the Tema Port but the leadership took measures to overcome the challenges and chart a new path.
After the exposé on alleged corrupt practices, some officials of the division were even afraid to wear their uniforms because of the increasing sentiments of the public against them, he said.
Last February, President J.E.A. Mills expressed disgust and revulsion at the profligate lifestyles of customs officers who, after a few years of being appointed, constructed huge mansions and bought posh cars, while employees in various public sector institutions wallowed in poverty.
The President said the profligate attitude would not be tolerated in any organisation and pledged to support all steps to sanitise the system.
He was addressing customs officials against the backdrop of a documentary, “Enemies of the Nation: The Dark Secrets of Tema Harbour”, filed by an investigative journalist, Mr Anas Aremeyaw Anas, when he paid an unannounced working visit to the Tema Port.
The Tema Harbour, the biggest revenue collection centre, has, over the years, come under a barrage of alleged acts of bribery and corruption, with customs officials said to have colluded with agents and institutions to defraud the state.
Mr Apronti, who is also the Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Customs Division, said gradually the division was purging itself of the few elements who were tarnishing its image for the rest to work assiduously for the division to regain its past glory.
He challenged the personnel to refrain from practices that tended to dent the image of the division and reduce the nation’s revenue for the division to return to its former days as the showpiece of revenue mobilisation which made the World Bank to recommended Ghana’s revenue agencies as the model for African countries that were struggling to come out of their economic doldrums.
Addressing the officers at the end of the health walk, the Commissioner of the division, Major General Carl Modey, said the march was aimed at fostering good and cordial relationship among officers, as well as promoting teamwork for the achievement of organisational goals.
He said the route march was also aimed at promoting the physical well-being of officers because a healthy officer was an asset to the nation.
He said in spite of the few setbacks, the morale of personnel of the Customs Division was high and that they were determined to regain the needed dignity and respect.
A former Commissioner, Brigadier T. E. Nguah, noted that news of corrupt practices by some of the officers that were shown on national television broke his heart but he was convinced that it was a few bad nuts who, for their parochial interest, dragged the name of the division into the mud.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Biney eyes NPP Ablekuma South seat
ONE of the four aspiring parliamentary candidates for New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ablekuma South, Mr Charles Biney, has asked the delegates to the primaries to vote for him because he holds the key to rescuing the seat for the party in 2012.
He noted that apart from his personal attributes that made him the best for the constituency, he believed that the constituency should not vote for a candidate who would easily attract a lot of negative attacks and could stand on his feet to articulate his vision and what the party stood for.
Mr Biney was interacting with the Daily Graphic prior to the launch of his campaign at the party’s constituency office near the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital today.
He mentioned some of his personal features as being very attractive to voters within the NPP, the NDC and even floating voters, his hatred for personality attacks and good working relations with all.
He urged the delegates to beware of the enormity of the task ahead of them and realise that their decision on April 30, would have a great bearing on the party’s ability to win the seat or not and they should also consider how the person they would select would attract more votes to ensure that the party won the presidential elections as well.
Mr Biney, who declared his intention to contest the seat in 2006 but had to abandon that move, said the party did not lose the seat in 2008 but alleged that the NDC was able to steal the verdict from the NPP because the then candidate had a bad working relations with the NPP executive.
He explained that the situation culminated in the executives not being vigilant and committed in policing the votes till the results were declared.
“This is the main reason why the delegates must vote for Charles Biney who is the unifier,” he added.
Touching on his vision, he said they included hatred for poverty, revulsion for “apartheid” type of educational system in Ghana and the protection of the environment for healthy living.
Explaining the vision, he said the current educational system was not favouring brilliant, needy children, especially at the primary and the university levels because those from poor homes have been sidelined from benefiting from education due to the cost involved.
He said unfortunately, most of these children had become school drop out and when they wanted to make ends meet by selling on the streets, the same system that had made them so would use brutal force to get them off the street, “this situation means that the country was breeding more armed robbers and prostitutes.”
Mr Biney described the increasing threat of ethnocentrism in the politics of the country as more dangerous than the arms, ammunitions and other deadly weapons that were used in war situations and that it was high time politicians refrained from funning such unfortunate phenomenon.
As an environmental consultant, Mr Biney expressed worry about the amount of dangerous gases that were released into the atmosphere by industries, hospitals and vehicles but had not attracted the attention of the authorities.
He added that these and other issues bordering on the welfare of the people in his constituency as well as the proper recognition for the party members who had been participating in party activities would be his prime concern if he is given the mandate to contest the seat on the party’s ticket and win the ultimate national election.
He noted that apart from his personal attributes that made him the best for the constituency, he believed that the constituency should not vote for a candidate who would easily attract a lot of negative attacks and could stand on his feet to articulate his vision and what the party stood for.
Mr Biney was interacting with the Daily Graphic prior to the launch of his campaign at the party’s constituency office near the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital today.
He mentioned some of his personal features as being very attractive to voters within the NPP, the NDC and even floating voters, his hatred for personality attacks and good working relations with all.
He urged the delegates to beware of the enormity of the task ahead of them and realise that their decision on April 30, would have a great bearing on the party’s ability to win the seat or not and they should also consider how the person they would select would attract more votes to ensure that the party won the presidential elections as well.
Mr Biney, who declared his intention to contest the seat in 2006 but had to abandon that move, said the party did not lose the seat in 2008 but alleged that the NDC was able to steal the verdict from the NPP because the then candidate had a bad working relations with the NPP executive.
He explained that the situation culminated in the executives not being vigilant and committed in policing the votes till the results were declared.
“This is the main reason why the delegates must vote for Charles Biney who is the unifier,” he added.
Touching on his vision, he said they included hatred for poverty, revulsion for “apartheid” type of educational system in Ghana and the protection of the environment for healthy living.
Explaining the vision, he said the current educational system was not favouring brilliant, needy children, especially at the primary and the university levels because those from poor homes have been sidelined from benefiting from education due to the cost involved.
He said unfortunately, most of these children had become school drop out and when they wanted to make ends meet by selling on the streets, the same system that had made them so would use brutal force to get them off the street, “this situation means that the country was breeding more armed robbers and prostitutes.”
Mr Biney described the increasing threat of ethnocentrism in the politics of the country as more dangerous than the arms, ammunitions and other deadly weapons that were used in war situations and that it was high time politicians refrained from funning such unfortunate phenomenon.
As an environmental consultant, Mr Biney expressed worry about the amount of dangerous gases that were released into the atmosphere by industries, hospitals and vehicles but had not attracted the attention of the authorities.
He added that these and other issues bordering on the welfare of the people in his constituency as well as the proper recognition for the party members who had been participating in party activities would be his prime concern if he is given the mandate to contest the seat on the party’s ticket and win the ultimate national election.
Brew-Yalley bemoans lack of unity in NDC
A LEADING member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Central Region, Paa Kwesi Brew-Yalley, has bemoaned the seeming lack of unity and petty squabbles that are rearing their ugly heads among some leading members of the party.
He said such negative tendencies had the potential to sap the energies and time needed by the party to support President Mills’ ‘Better Ghana Agenda,’ propagate the successes chalked up over the last two years as well as offer the opposition, on a silver platter, the “ammunition” to dent the image of the NDC.
In an interview, Mr Brew-Yalley who also contested the National Youth Organiser position of the party in 2010 reminded the rank and file of the NDC about how through unity they were able to execute an effective and efficient three-pronged nation-wide campaign: One led by Prof. Mills, the second by former President J. J. Rawlings and the third by Mr John Mahama.
He added that it was incumbent on the leadership of the party to recognise the sterling and genuine contribution of certain individuals that helped in bringing the party to power.
“We should eschew all differences and concentrate on consolidating the power to govern, given to us by the electorate, and tap the experience and expertise of all in the party. If we do not stop the internal wrangling, it would be difficult to win 2012 elections.”
He expressed surprise that even in opposition, the NDC was able to come together and, with a united front, propagate its message and expose the loopholes in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), especially their policies and programmes that brought untold hardship to the ordinary Ghanaian.
Mr Brew-Yalley urged the party members, especially the leading members, to soberly reflect on how they toiled, some at their peril, to ensure that the NDC came to power and be assured that Ghanaians would not forgive them if through such internal bickering they hand over power to the NPP.
According to him, the Ghanaian electorate were very discerning and would vote for a party that had worked hard to bring development to their doorsteps, like what the NDC was currently undertaking, exhibited transparency and accountability and above all shown great sense of unity.
He wondered whether the members of the party had forgotten about the symbolism of the party’s emblem which was the umbrella and explained that it was under it that all our differences were turned into a positive tool that was used to win elections and accelerate development of the country.
He said such negative tendencies had the potential to sap the energies and time needed by the party to support President Mills’ ‘Better Ghana Agenda,’ propagate the successes chalked up over the last two years as well as offer the opposition, on a silver platter, the “ammunition” to dent the image of the NDC.
In an interview, Mr Brew-Yalley who also contested the National Youth Organiser position of the party in 2010 reminded the rank and file of the NDC about how through unity they were able to execute an effective and efficient three-pronged nation-wide campaign: One led by Prof. Mills, the second by former President J. J. Rawlings and the third by Mr John Mahama.
He added that it was incumbent on the leadership of the party to recognise the sterling and genuine contribution of certain individuals that helped in bringing the party to power.
“We should eschew all differences and concentrate on consolidating the power to govern, given to us by the electorate, and tap the experience and expertise of all in the party. If we do not stop the internal wrangling, it would be difficult to win 2012 elections.”
He expressed surprise that even in opposition, the NDC was able to come together and, with a united front, propagate its message and expose the loopholes in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), especially their policies and programmes that brought untold hardship to the ordinary Ghanaian.
Mr Brew-Yalley urged the party members, especially the leading members, to soberly reflect on how they toiled, some at their peril, to ensure that the NDC came to power and be assured that Ghanaians would not forgive them if through such internal bickering they hand over power to the NPP.
According to him, the Ghanaian electorate were very discerning and would vote for a party that had worked hard to bring development to their doorsteps, like what the NDC was currently undertaking, exhibited transparency and accountability and above all shown great sense of unity.
He wondered whether the members of the party had forgotten about the symbolism of the party’s emblem which was the umbrella and explained that it was under it that all our differences were turned into a positive tool that was used to win elections and accelerate development of the country.
NPP vetting process not witch hunting exercise — Agyei
The Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the main goal of the recent vetting of its parliamentary hopefuls was not an exercise to witch hunt and disqualify people.
It was to ensure that aspirants meet the qualification criterion spelt out by the 1992 constitution and the NPP constitution and that the disqualification tool would be applied in extreme cases, it said.
The Greater Accra Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary Vetting Committee, Mr Rexford Agyei, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic about the recent vetting, noted that the process also formed part of the moves to educate the aspirants on recent decisions governing the parliamentary primaries.
He added that if no aspirant was disqualified, according to the national and NPP constitutions, then the delegates should be the best judges to select the most suitable person according to their judgement.
Mr Agyie noted that in consonance with the demands of the party’s constitution, all the aspirants were made to sign an undertaking that in the event that they do not win parliamentary slot of the party, they will not contest the elections as independent candidates.
He added that another crucial undertaking that the aspirants were made to append their signatures to was that if they had dual citizenship they would denounce it a year to the general elections if they won as the parliamentary candidate for the party.
He added that the processes leading to the filing of the nomination was inherent with adequate checks and balances to ensure that people who were not qualified for the position were eliminated.
That, Mr Agyei said, included the endorsement of the nomination forms by the paid up and qualified members of the constituency, followed by endorsement by two executive from the constituency and same number from the region as well as the final endorsement by the General Secretary of the party.
He added that after procuring the forms, the hopefuls were also given documents containing the dos and don’ts of the processes and in most cases if the aspirants realised that they could not meet the standards they do not submit the forms.
According to Mr Agyei, the region had dispatched all the documents of vetting to the national office and that it was the national headquarters that had the final say about the eligibility or otherwise of the aspirants.
Article 94 (1) says that Subject to the provisions of this article, a person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament unless -(a) he is a citizen of Ghana, has attained the age of twenty-one years and is a registered voter; (b) he is resident in the constituency for which he stands as a candidate for election to Parliament or has resided there for a total period of not less than five years out of the ten years immediately preceding the election for which he stands, or he hails from that constituency; and (c) he has paid all his taxes or made arrangements satisfactory to the appropriate authority for the payment of his taxes.
(2) A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he - (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana; or (b) has been adjudged or otherwise declared- (i) bankrupt under any law in force in Ghana and has not been discharged or (ii) to be of unsound mind or is detained as a criminal lunatic under any law in force in Ghana; or (c) has been convicted - (i) for high crime under this Constitution or high treason or treason or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; or (ii) for nay other offence punishable by death or by a sentence of not less than ten years.
According to the NPP’s constitution, Article 11 (1) states that No member shall be nominated or endorsed as the party’s candidate in any parliamentary election unless the member has been selected in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.
11 (4) a) is a known and active member of at least two years; is a registered member and a voter in the constituency which he or she seeks to represent, provided that in a appropriate cases the constituency executives committee may dispense with the requirements.
It was to ensure that aspirants meet the qualification criterion spelt out by the 1992 constitution and the NPP constitution and that the disqualification tool would be applied in extreme cases, it said.
The Greater Accra Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary Vetting Committee, Mr Rexford Agyei, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic about the recent vetting, noted that the process also formed part of the moves to educate the aspirants on recent decisions governing the parliamentary primaries.
He added that if no aspirant was disqualified, according to the national and NPP constitutions, then the delegates should be the best judges to select the most suitable person according to their judgement.
Mr Agyie noted that in consonance with the demands of the party’s constitution, all the aspirants were made to sign an undertaking that in the event that they do not win parliamentary slot of the party, they will not contest the elections as independent candidates.
He added that another crucial undertaking that the aspirants were made to append their signatures to was that if they had dual citizenship they would denounce it a year to the general elections if they won as the parliamentary candidate for the party.
He added that the processes leading to the filing of the nomination was inherent with adequate checks and balances to ensure that people who were not qualified for the position were eliminated.
That, Mr Agyei said, included the endorsement of the nomination forms by the paid up and qualified members of the constituency, followed by endorsement by two executive from the constituency and same number from the region as well as the final endorsement by the General Secretary of the party.
He added that after procuring the forms, the hopefuls were also given documents containing the dos and don’ts of the processes and in most cases if the aspirants realised that they could not meet the standards they do not submit the forms.
According to Mr Agyei, the region had dispatched all the documents of vetting to the national office and that it was the national headquarters that had the final say about the eligibility or otherwise of the aspirants.
Article 94 (1) says that Subject to the provisions of this article, a person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament unless -(a) he is a citizen of Ghana, has attained the age of twenty-one years and is a registered voter; (b) he is resident in the constituency for which he stands as a candidate for election to Parliament or has resided there for a total period of not less than five years out of the ten years immediately preceding the election for which he stands, or he hails from that constituency; and (c) he has paid all his taxes or made arrangements satisfactory to the appropriate authority for the payment of his taxes.
(2) A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he - (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana; or (b) has been adjudged or otherwise declared- (i) bankrupt under any law in force in Ghana and has not been discharged or (ii) to be of unsound mind or is detained as a criminal lunatic under any law in force in Ghana; or (c) has been convicted - (i) for high crime under this Constitution or high treason or treason or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; or (ii) for nay other offence punishable by death or by a sentence of not less than ten years.
According to the NPP’s constitution, Article 11 (1) states that No member shall be nominated or endorsed as the party’s candidate in any parliamentary election unless the member has been selected in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.
11 (4) a) is a known and active member of at least two years; is a registered member and a voter in the constituency which he or she seeks to represent, provided that in a appropriate cases the constituency executives committee may dispense with the requirements.
83 NPP hopefuls to contest in Gt Accra
AT the close of nomination on March 6, 2011, 83 persons hoping to vie as parliamentary aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Greater Accra have picked party parliamentary forms.
This figure covers 25 out of the 27 constituencies in the region. This is because no one picked forms at both Obom Domeabra and Sege constituencies.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Regional Secretary, Mr Adjei Sowah, assured all aspirants and their supporters that the leadership would provide the required level playing field for all the aspirants to ensure that the will of the majority of delegates prevailed.
He said the rules and regulations covering the entire process which was developed by the national executive had been distributed to all the hopefuls and that the constituency executive would comply with them to the letter.
In Ada and Shai Osudoku, Ms Betty Quarshie and Daniel Dugan will be contesting the primaries unopposed . Apart from these constituencies, the remaining ones would be fiercely contested.
At Ningo Prampram, Sylvester Tetteh, Samuel Carboo will be vying for the slot, while at Kpone Katamanso, Solomon Appiah, Pearl Agyeman and Simon Nartey; Ashaiman, E. K. K. Teye, Seji Saji and Thomas Adongo; Tema East, Ashong Narh, Titus Glover, Agyeman Prempeh and Kofi Brako.
Ms Irene Torshie Addo, the incumbent MP for Tema West would be challenged by Dr Elvis Donkor and Adwoa Amoako, while at Krowor the position would be contested by a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Ayikoi Otoo and Mr Adjei Boye and DCOP D. Odai.
At Ledzokuku, the hopefuls are Ibrahim Adjei, Stephen Quaye, Obed Mensah and a former MP for the area, Gladys Norley Ashitey.
The break down of the various constituencies include, La Dadekotopon, Ako-Nai, Oscar Glover, Rev. Vincent Odotei; Klotey Korley, Kwabena Abankwa-Yeboah, Samuel J. Adjei Tawiah; Odododiodioo, Capt. Victor Okaikoi, Reginald Nii Bi Ayibonte, Sheik Ahmed Tackie; Ablekuma Central, Okulley Nortey, Jonathan Quaye and Ebenezer Nortey.
Others are Ablekuma South, Ursula Owusu, Charles Biney, Bright Samuel Osei-Puni, Ben Brown and Derrick Nkansah; Ablekuma North they are the incumbent MP, Joe Appiah, John Agbotey, Kwadwo Safo Ofori; Okaikoi South, Vickie Bright, Ahmed Arthur; Okaikoi North, Patrick Boamah and Mr Armah, the incumbent MP Elizabeth Sackey, Amos Okine, Ayisi Tettey; Ayawaso East, Alhaji Yusif Ahmed, Issah Ibrahim, Osman Ahmed, Awal Larry.
The list also include; Ayawaso West, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, George Isaac Amoo, Omari Wadie, Afia Akyeampong Appiah; Ayawaso Central, Boateng McLean Joseph, Achibold Cobblah, Henry Quartey, Vida Koranteng; Adenta, Koku Acolatse, Frances Asiam, Mercy Martey, Aja Wentum, Asamoah Buaben; Madina Abokobi, Alhaji Suleiman Mumuni, James Amoah, Francis Tyron; Dome Kwabenya, Mike Oquaye Jnr, Adwoa Sarfo, Robert Osei Bonsu; Weija, the hopefuls are the incumbent MP, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Bosby Quartey Papafio and Stephen Owusu Afriyie, Rosemond Abrah.
The rest are Trobo Amasaman, Edward Adotei Addo, Seth Ankrah, Moses Anim, Robert Botchway.
The closing date for filling of forms is March 18, 2011. Assessment and certification continues from March 12 to 16 for regional executive committees, 21st-24th March for constituency executive committees.
Vetting starts on 26th and ends on the 29th of March, and campaign period ends at 6p.m. 29th of April.
Parliamentary primaries will take place on April 30, 2011.
This figure covers 25 out of the 27 constituencies in the region. This is because no one picked forms at both Obom Domeabra and Sege constituencies.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Regional Secretary, Mr Adjei Sowah, assured all aspirants and their supporters that the leadership would provide the required level playing field for all the aspirants to ensure that the will of the majority of delegates prevailed.
He said the rules and regulations covering the entire process which was developed by the national executive had been distributed to all the hopefuls and that the constituency executive would comply with them to the letter.
In Ada and Shai Osudoku, Ms Betty Quarshie and Daniel Dugan will be contesting the primaries unopposed . Apart from these constituencies, the remaining ones would be fiercely contested.
At Ningo Prampram, Sylvester Tetteh, Samuel Carboo will be vying for the slot, while at Kpone Katamanso, Solomon Appiah, Pearl Agyeman and Simon Nartey; Ashaiman, E. K. K. Teye, Seji Saji and Thomas Adongo; Tema East, Ashong Narh, Titus Glover, Agyeman Prempeh and Kofi Brako.
Ms Irene Torshie Addo, the incumbent MP for Tema West would be challenged by Dr Elvis Donkor and Adwoa Amoako, while at Krowor the position would be contested by a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Ayikoi Otoo and Mr Adjei Boye and DCOP D. Odai.
At Ledzokuku, the hopefuls are Ibrahim Adjei, Stephen Quaye, Obed Mensah and a former MP for the area, Gladys Norley Ashitey.
The break down of the various constituencies include, La Dadekotopon, Ako-Nai, Oscar Glover, Rev. Vincent Odotei; Klotey Korley, Kwabena Abankwa-Yeboah, Samuel J. Adjei Tawiah; Odododiodioo, Capt. Victor Okaikoi, Reginald Nii Bi Ayibonte, Sheik Ahmed Tackie; Ablekuma Central, Okulley Nortey, Jonathan Quaye and Ebenezer Nortey.
Others are Ablekuma South, Ursula Owusu, Charles Biney, Bright Samuel Osei-Puni, Ben Brown and Derrick Nkansah; Ablekuma North they are the incumbent MP, Joe Appiah, John Agbotey, Kwadwo Safo Ofori; Okaikoi South, Vickie Bright, Ahmed Arthur; Okaikoi North, Patrick Boamah and Mr Armah, the incumbent MP Elizabeth Sackey, Amos Okine, Ayisi Tettey; Ayawaso East, Alhaji Yusif Ahmed, Issah Ibrahim, Osman Ahmed, Awal Larry.
The list also include; Ayawaso West, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, George Isaac Amoo, Omari Wadie, Afia Akyeampong Appiah; Ayawaso Central, Boateng McLean Joseph, Achibold Cobblah, Henry Quartey, Vida Koranteng; Adenta, Koku Acolatse, Frances Asiam, Mercy Martey, Aja Wentum, Asamoah Buaben; Madina Abokobi, Alhaji Suleiman Mumuni, James Amoah, Francis Tyron; Dome Kwabenya, Mike Oquaye Jnr, Adwoa Sarfo, Robert Osei Bonsu; Weija, the hopefuls are the incumbent MP, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Bosby Quartey Papafio and Stephen Owusu Afriyie, Rosemond Abrah.
The rest are Trobo Amasaman, Edward Adotei Addo, Seth Ankrah, Moses Anim, Robert Botchway.
The closing date for filling of forms is March 18, 2011. Assessment and certification continues from March 12 to 16 for regional executive committees, 21st-24th March for constituency executive committees.
Vetting starts on 26th and ends on the 29th of March, and campaign period ends at 6p.m. 29th of April.
Parliamentary primaries will take place on April 30, 2011.
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