President John Evans Atta Mills, was born on July 21, 1944 and hails from Cape Coast in the Central Region.

He launched a lifelong of learning at Achimota Secondary School, where he completed the Advanced Level Certificate in 1963.

To further his education, Prof Mills attended the University of Ghana, Legon where he received a bachelor's degree and professional certificate in Law in 1967.

While earning the Ph.D. in Oriental and African Studies from the University of London, Dr. Mills was selected as a Fulbright scholar at Stanford Law School, USA.

Prof. Mills' first formal teaching assignment was as a lecturer at the faculty of law at the University of Ghana, Legon.

He spent more than twenty years imparting his acquired knowledge to students, and rose from the position lecturer to a senior lecturer to associate professor.

Prof Mills’ contribution to the University was remarkable, having served on numerous boards, committees, and schemes.

Also during those twenty years, Prof. Mills travelled as a visiting lecturer and professor to the Temple University USA, and Leiden University, Holland, and presented research papers at symposiums and conferences throughout the world.

He has more than one dozen publications to his credit, including:

Taxation of Periodical or Deferred Payments arising from the Sale of Fixed Capital (1974)
Exemption of Dividends from Income taxation: A critical Appraisal (1977)
Report of the Tax Review Commission, Ghana, parts 1, 2 & 3, (1977) and
Ghana's Income Tax laws and the Investor. An inter-faculty lecture published by the University of Ghana.

Prof Mills’ expertise goes well beyond the classroom, and is evidenced by the various examiner positions he held with finance related institutions throughout Ghana such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Bankers and Ghana Tax Review Commission.

As an advocate for recreation, he has supported the community through groups such as the Ghana Hockey Association, National Sports Council of Ghana, Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club.

. The following are a few of his activities and projects:

Member of the Ghana Stock Exchange Council
Board of Trustees, Mines Trust
Management Committee of Commonwealth Administration of Tax Experts
United Nations Ad Hoc Group of Experts in International Cooperation in Tax Matters
United Nations Law and Population Project
Study on Equipment Leasing in Ghana
Casebook preparation on Ghana's Income Tax
Review of Ghana's Double Tax Agreement with the U.K

Prof Mills had a track record of financial knowledge and strong professional credentials that led to his several important appointments.

In 1988, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills became the Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service of Ghana and named Commissioner in September 1996 and in 1997, Prof. Mills received another important appointment.

On January 7, 1997, he was named the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

He is married to Ernestina Naadu, an educationist

Scores of residents within the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis and its environs have expressed shock at what they described as the, "untimely death" of the President of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta-Mills.

A quick round through the streets and major joints within the city showed people gathered in groups obviously pouring out their sympathy and consolation at the demise of such a humble statesman.

Mr Peter Quashie, a resident at Newsite, told the Ghana News Agency that: "It was indeed a worrisome news for the nation particularly as elections approaches".

He said: "He is such a humble man and it is rather unfortunate that Ghana should suffer such a huge blow at this point of our lives".

Ms Esther Bart-Plange, Women's leader of the assemblies of God Church, expressed deep shock when she heard the news exclaiming; "Is he really dead?".

Mrs Margaret Quashie, a resident at Windy Ridge, said she was utterly shocked and speechless.

Many residents have decided to find solace in friends and so have virtualy made the streets and drinking spots their homes at hearing the sad news.

Some openly declared; "This is the first time a sitting president has died. Ghana has lost a great hero".

On the political front, Mr. Erasmus Cudjoe, Sekondi Constituency Chairman said: "This is rather a shocking news to Ghana".

Mr Cudjoe said the country must act as one and rally behind all forces to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.

On behalf of the Sekondi Constituency, Mr Cudjoe extended a note of condolence to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Ghanaians as a whole.

The Convention's Peoples Party (CPP) Regional Chairman, Mr Samuel Etroo said; "I am personally shocked at the sudden death of the President".

He added that as the father for the nation, Ghanaians should put party colours aside and clad themselves with national colours as a sign of solidarity and support for the family of the Late President.


Meanwhile, Nana Akufo Addo, Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party has suspended his tour to the Western Region on hearing the news and its press conference has been called off.

Mr Herbert Mensah, a close ally of former President Jerry John Rawlings, on Tuesday called on the general public to remain unified after the death of President John Evans Atta Mills.

President John Evans Atta Mills was confirmed dead by the Chief of Staff, Mr Henry Martey Newman, at the 37 Military Hospital.

Mr Mensah, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said it was the first time in the history of the country to have its sitting president pass on and that it was not time for any blame game.

He said an individual could not determine when to die and called on the general public to accord the family and the First Lady, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills, the needed support.

News of the death of President John Evans Atta Mills was received with shock in Cape Coast when it was broke out by some local radio and television stations on Tuesday late afternoon.

People gathered in groups to discuss the “bad news” with emotions as some wailed openly, inquiring from others whether the news was true.

At Tantri, a suburb of Cape Coast, most people gathered to talk about it.

The GNA discovered that the general mood was pensive with people not being able to come to terms with what had happened.

Ekua Esuon, a petty trader said, Ghana has indeed lost a hero in her words, “we have lost a father, a peaceful person who really had the country at heart.

A teacher, Madam Elizabeth Owoo, expressed shock of the news and indicated that a week of national mourning should be declared to mourn “our illustrious son who was so dedicated and had served his nation well”.

A cross-section of the public interviewed called for unity among Ghanaians at this trial moments and called on all political parties to stay away from politicizing the “unfortunate incident”.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in mourning with Ghana said: “I received with shock and immense sadness the news of the sudden death of President John Evans Atta Mills of Ghana”.


The Nigerian Government in a statement obtained by Ghana News Agency (GNA) said President Jonathan “Extends sincere condolences to late President Mills' family as well as the Government and people of Ghana".



The President assured the people of Ghana of the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn late President Mills who did his best during his tenure to carry forward the process of democratic consolidation and socio-economic development in Ghana.



"The excellent relationship which existed between Nigeria and Ghana during President Mills' tenure will continue to be strengthened under the new leadership in Ghana in the mutual interest of both countries.



“It is with a heavy heart that we receive the sudden and untimely death of the President of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement said.



In another development, British Prime Minister, David Cameron described the death of President Mills as sudden.



"I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of President Mills earlier today. President Mills was a tireless defender of democracy in West Africa and across the continent, and he will be greatly missed.



“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family, and all the Ghanaian people on this difficult day," a UK statement made available to Ghana News Agency in Accra stated.



President Mills died at 1415 hours in Accra on July 24 when undergoing medical treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday said: “The party has heard with deepest regret the news of the death of the President, John Evans Atta Mills.

“We join the nation in mourning this sad loss to Ghana and extend to his wife and family our deepest condolences. We also extend our condolences to the National Democratic Congress,” Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, NPP National Chairman told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

He said as a mark of respect, the NPP has immediately suspended the celebration of its 20th Anniversary of the party.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has also suspended his campaign immediately.

“We call on our fellow Ghanaians at home and abroad and friends of Ghana to join us and pray for his soul to Rest in Peace,” the NPP Chairman said.
GNA

President John Dramani Mahama, Fourth President of the Fourth Republic was born on November 29, 1958 at Damango, in the Northern Region of Ghana.


He is a communication expert, historian, writer, former Member of Parliament and Minister of State, and immediate former Vice-President of Ghana.



He ascended to the high office of Presidency following the death of the incumbent President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday, July 24 in Accra.



President Mahama's father, Mr Emmanuel Adama Mahama was the first Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region during Ghana's First Republic.



After completing his education, President Mahama went on to pursue an additional postgraduate diploma in social psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, and returned to Ghana from 1991 to 1996. He worked as the Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Accra.



He moved on to work with PLAN International, Ghana as International Relations, Sponsorship Communications and Grants Manager.



An eloquent champion of the underprivileged, President Mahama was first elected to the Parliament of Ghana in 1996 to represent the Bole/Bamboi Constituency for a four-year term.



In April 1997, President Mahama was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications. He rose to become the substantive Minister of Communications by November 1998; it was a position he held until January 2001 when the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which was the current ruling party, handed over power to the newly elected New Patriotic Party's government.



In 2000, President Mahama was re-elected for another four-year term as the MP for the Bole/Bamboi Constituency. He was again re-elected in 2004 for a third term.



From 2001 to 2004, President Mahama served as the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Communications and in 2002 he was appointed the Director of Communications for the NDC.



That same year, he served as a member of the team of international observers selected to monitor Zimbabwe's Parliamentary Elections.



During his tenure as Minister of Communications, President Mahama also served as the Chairman of the National Communications Authority, in which capacity he played a key role in stabilizing Ghana's telecommunications sector after it was deregulated in 1997.



President Mahama also served as a member of the National Economic Management Team, a founding member of the Ghana AIDS Commission, a member of the implementation committee of the 2000 National Population Census, and a deputy chairman of the Publicity Committee for the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT).



Continuing to expand his interest and involvement in international affairs, in 2003 President Mahama became a member of the Pan-African Parliament, serving as the Chairperson of the West African Caucus.



In 2005 he was, additionally appointed the Minority Spokesman for Foreign Affairs. He served in these capacities until 2008, when he was handpicked to become the vice presidential candidate.



President Mahama has seven children. He is married to Mrs. Lordina Mahama. Despite his often busy schedule, President Mahama makes it a point to devote time to his family, his faith and his hobbies.



He is a Christian, who believes in the importance of respect for and tolerance of, other faiths and forms of worship in a nation as diverse and peaceful as Ghana.



He has a keen interest in environmental affairs, particularly the problem of plastic pollution in Africa, which he has committed himself to addressing during his tenure as Vice President.



President Mahama loves to read. He is also an avid writer and has had numerous articles published nationally and internationally.



His first book, My First Coup d'État and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa, was published by Bloomsbury on July 3, 2012.

The tragic news of the sudden demise of the President of Ghana, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday afternoon came as a shock to not only Ghanaians, but other nationals and rulers worldwide.

President John Evans Atta Mills died three days after he celebrated his 68th birthday.

Leaders worldwide are eulogising the late Prof Mills.

LIBERIA:

Liberia's President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf extended her condolences to Ghanaians, saying the news had come as a surprise.

"On a personal level his moderation and integrity stood out," Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf said, adding that Mr Atta Mills had played a strong role at the regional meetings they both attended.

UK'S CAMERON'S TRIBUTE:

UK Prime Minister David Cameron in a short statement said “I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of President Mills earlier today.

“President Mills was a tireless defender of democracy in West Africa and across the continent, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family, and all the Ghanaian people on this difficult day.”


US Prez BARACK OBAMA'S TRIBUTE

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday mourned the death of his Ghananian counterpart John Evans Atta Mills, praising his role in Ghana's development.

"It was with great regret that I learned of the passing of President John Evans Atta Mills of Ghana," Obama said in a statement, recalling his trip to the West African nation in 2009.

Barack Obama also received Mills in the Oval Office in March and praised him and his country as "a good-news story" in Africa.

"President Mills tirelessly worked to improve the lives of the Ghanaian people. He helped promote economic growth in Ghana in the midst of challenging global circumstances and strengthened Ghana's strong tradition of democracy...He was also a strong advocate for human rights and for the fair treatment of all Ghanaians," Obama said.

"Under his leadership, the United States and Ghana deepened our partnership in the promotion of good governance and economic development," he added.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with shock and immense sadness news of the sudden death of President John Atta Mills of Ghana.

On behalf of himself, the government and people of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to late President Mills' family as well as the government and people of Ghana.

The President assures the people of Ghana of the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn late President Mills who did his best during his tenure to carry forward the process of democratic consolidation and socio-economic development in Ghana.

He prays that God Almighty will grant the late President’s soul eternal rest and bless his successor with the fortitude and wisdom he will need to keep Ghana firmly on the path of peace, stability and progress.

It is President Jonathan’s hope and expectation that the excellent relationship which existed between Nigeria and Ghana during President Mills' tenure will continue to be strengthened under the new leadership in Ghana in the mutual interest of both countries.

The National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has extended condolence to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the family of President Mills and all Ghanaians for the sudden death of the Republic of Ghana, President John Evans Atta Mills.

Jake also extended condolence to all Ghanaians and members of the NDC on behalf the NPP, urging all Ghanaians to remember the family of the late President in prayers.

Speaking in an interview on TV3, Jake sad “In this sad news, we join all Ghanaians in mourning the passing of our President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. We extend to his wife and family our deepest condolence and we also extend our condolence to the NDC.

He revealed that as a mark of respect, the NPP has suspended all activities including the 20th anniversary celebration of the party.

He added that Nana Akufo Addo has also suspended his ongoing campaign in the Western region and canceled a Press Conference he was scheduled to hold in Takoradi tomorrow.

“As a mark of respect the NPP has suspended all the activities, the celebration of our 20th anniversary and indeed our presidential candidate who has been campaigning in the Western region has also cancelled his ongoing campaign including the Press Conference he is supposed to hold in Takoradi tomorrow,” he said.

Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey urged “all Ghanaians to join in prayers for our late president that he may rest in peace”.

He however refused to comment on how he would describe President Mills saying, “Right now I am not going to go into the strings of that, how I just want to focus on the death and helping my people to deal with the death”.

Prof John Evans Atta Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana is dead according to reliable information reaching Peacefmonline.com.

His death occurred at the 37 Military hospital in Accra on Tuesday afternoon.

Prof John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills was born on 21st July 1944 and was Sixty Eight-years-old (68-years-old).

He was the third and current President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and was inaugurated on the 7th of January 2009, having defeated the ruling party's candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 election.

He was Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry John Rawlings, and stood unsuccessfully in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections as the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He recently returned from a nine day medical check-up in the United States.

Prior to his trip to the U.S of A on June 16th, questions had been asked about the whereabouts of the president after he had not been seen in public for close to two weeks whilst communal violence ravaged parts of the country.

After a successful routine medical checkup in New York, H.E the President of the Republic of Ghana arrived home at about 12:45pm on Monday 25th June, 2012 to a rousing welcome.

Before his departure to the USA, President Mills quashed rumours of his death when he addressed the media. He also stated that he is going for a “routine check-up” and will be “away for a few days.”

In a formal notice to Parliament, President Mills said he will be away in the US until June 25, 2012.

Details of the Presidential notice were read to MP’s during Tuesday's sitting of the House by the first Deputy Speaker, Hon Edward Doe Adzaho, who presided over proceedings.

The President’s letter read: “In accordance with Article 59 of the Constitution of Ghana, I write to inform you that I shall be away in the US from Saturday, 16 June to Monday 25 June, 2012 for a routine medical check-up.

“During my absence the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama, shall in accordance with Article 60 ( of the Constitution act in my stead. Kindly accept, Right Honourable the assurances of my highest consideration.

FORMER DEPUTY Ashanti Regional Minister during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regime, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, has condemned comments made by Joseph Yammin, the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Ashanti Regional Secretary that ex-President Kufuor is wicked, describing them as hollow and lacking logic.

Yammin, described former President Kufuor as wicked because according to him, Mr. Kufuor left no money in the state coffers for his predecessor to continue with the projects his administration started.

He particularly descended on Mr. Kufuor for not leaving behind resources for President Mills to continue with the Sofoline Interchange in Kumasi.

Reacting to the NDC guru’s comments, Mr. Antwi insisted that “President Kufuor was in office for the entire country and not for Ashantis alone and could not have satisfied Ashantis at the expense of the development of Ghana.”

The former deputy regional minister said Mr. Kufuor’s vision on assumption of office was to liberate the country from poverty and improve the living conditions of the Ghanaians.

According to Mr. Antwi, it was in view of this that the former president distributed resources and projects equitably to the regions devoid of ethnic and political consideration, noting, “his fairness did not mean wickedness to his kinfolk.”

He also indicated that unlike Mr. Kufuor, President Mills had been discriminating against the Ashanti region ever since he became president, citing the bad nature of the Accra-Kumasi road which was affecting businesses and causing fatal road accidents.

According to Mr. Assibey Antwi, President Kufuor was a national asset because all the social interventions he initiated under his administration were meant for the benefit of the entire country including Ashantis.

He mentioned the “National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), free maternal care for pregnant women, National Youth Employment Program (NYEP), the Capitation Grant, the Metro Mass Transit which gave school children free bus ride, Housing scheme for farmers and workers and the establishment of a Housing Bank, Youth in Agriculture and Aforestation/Re-aforestation/Tonga system of inter crop trees with food crops.”

Mr. Assibey Antwi said former President Kufuor gave the Ashanti region its fare share of model schools and upgraded Teacher Training Colleges into diploma awarding institutions while equipping all principals of teacher training colleges with cross-country vehicles.

He said Ashantis were grateful to Mr. Kufuor for establishing the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where a modern 205-capacity mortuary and Oncology unit had been completed whilst work on the maternity block was steadily progressing.

The former deputy minister said the Ashanti region also benefitted from infrastructure such two interchanges under President Kufuor’s regime, daring Mr. Yammin to show any meaningful project that President Mills had done in the Ashanti region since assuming political power three and half years ago.

President John Evans Atta Mills got the shock of his life when his former boss, Jerry John Rawlings, told him point blank that he should be ruled out in the NDC campaign for the December 7, 2012 elections.

Mr Rawlings, the NDC founder, made his views known at a Castle meeting between him and the president.

According to a Castle source, Mr. Rawlings did not mince words when he said ‘no’ to the request, dazing the president in the process.

The former president attended the Castle meeting with his aide and spokesperson, Kofi Adams who did not sit in the meeting.

Narrating what ensued when the former president appeared at the Castle, a development which was over-spun by NDC propagandists, the source said the whole issue started when Mr Rawlings was in Somalia on official assignment.

A call was sent to him by President Mills’s head of security at the Castle, Colonel Attachie, to inform him that the president wanted to talk to him.

The former president, the source said, asked why such a request had to pass through him “but when eventually they spoke, JJ said he was away in Somalia but would contact him upon his return.

“When JJ returned to Ghana, he proceeded to the Castle where his host told him that he did not hate him, to which the former president asked, ‘since when did I say that you hate me?’”

With that aspect of the preliminary exchanges over, Mr. Rawlings’s host said he wanted to find out whether he would support him in the forthcoming campaign but the NDC founder declined.

“JJ told him that he would not campaign for a sinking ship,” the source said, adding that since the former president characteristically “does not keep things in his head”, he relayed what transpired at the Castle to his confidantes when he returned.

Mr Rawlings used the visit to wish the president well since he was meeting him for the first time since the latter returned from the United States for medical review.

However, since the meeting, NDC apologists have twisted what transpired at the Castle, claiming that Rawlings would lead the NDC campaign.

With rumours that President Mills might not be active on the campaign trail, the NDC would have to evolve an unusual strategy for the season.

There have been conflicting reports from the Castle as well in the NDC as to whether President Mills would actively campaign for his re-election campaign, as his operations director at the Castle, who is also the NDC parliamentary candidate for the Odododiodoo, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, and his communications chief, Koku Anyidoho, are not speaking with one voice.

The NDC propaganda secretary, Richard Quashigah, even made it worse when he said the president would only be waving to party people at rallies.

While Koku claimed the president would campaign, Nii Lantey insisted the ‘old man’ would not be part of the mainstream campaign but rather stay in the office and work, giving credence to the speculations that Mills could not endure a long haul campaign.

Nii Lantey told Citi FM of Accra that the president had a lot on his hands including official duties and would therefore not shirk his responsibility.
“He has to stay in the office, do what he has to do in the office and when time permits that he has official duties to perform outside the office, he will do so and his work will talk for him,” he claimed.

The situation has given much room for speculation, with some linking the president’s supposed inability to campaign to his degenerating nasal twang.

The promoters of the newly-formed National Democratic Party (NDP) have indicated that the former president is part of the party.

According to the interim general secretary, Dr Joseph Mamboah-Rockson, Mr Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, were part of the NDP. “Yes they are behind the NDP and they will strongly campaign for us after we have launched our party,” he confirmed last Friday after submitting the party registration forms to the Electoral Commission (EC), accompanied by an aide to Mr Rawlings, Emmanuel Saint Osei.

Embattled businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, who is presently facing two counts of Defrauding by False Pretences and Wilfully causing financial loss, contrary to specified provisions of the Criminal Code; Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (ACT 29), risks being subpoenaed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to appear before it to answer questions relating to the controversial 51 million cedis judgment debt paid him by government.

The PAC says it has the power to subpoena Mr Woyome provided if its legal committee gives it the green light.

Lawyers of Mr. Woyome on Monday, wrote to the Parliamentary Committee telling them “our client will not take part in proceedings relating to this matter before your committee.”

This was in reply to an invitation letter written by the Public Accounts Committee dated July 17, 2012 to Mr. Alfred Woyome asking him to appear before the committee on Monday July 23 at 1:00pm.

Mr Woyome’s lawyers say the case is already in court and will therefore amount to a contempt of court if another body should commence hearing into it.

But speaking in an interview on PeaceFM's "Kokrokoo" Morning Show, Chairman of the PAC, Hon Albert Kan Dapaah, pointed out that the Committee has the powers of a high court and can compel any individual to appear before it.

"...evidence provided by a respondent who appear before the committee cannot be used against the individual in any hearing," he however said.


More soon...
 

A former Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, has served notice to the local representative of ISOFOTON, Mr. Anane-Agyei Forson, he will be compelled to sue the Spanish firm over malicious allegations against him.

Mr. Forson has alleged the former Chief of Staff capriciously abrogated the company’s contract with the State because ISOFOTON refused to pay a 12 percent kickback of the total contract sum.

Mr. Forson accused Mr. Mpiani of illegitimately recruiting a Spanish agent which allegedly fronted for the government in demanding the said kickback.

Speaking on Radio Gold on Monday, Mr. Forson stated clearly that “Kwadwo Mpiani recruited agents in Spain to do the selection of companies supposed to do the work in Ghana”.

He alleged that “this company was asking us to pay down 12 percent before they will allow us to do the job”

According to him, Isofoton’s refusal to fulfill the agent’s demand, led to the said cancellation of its contract with the State. “The list that was brought to Accra by this agent didn’t have our name and all the companies whose names were in that document paid something and that is why they were allowed to do the job,” he claimed.

Asked by the host of the show, Alhassan S. Suhini to mention the name of the said agent, he declined, saying that he would rather hold on with the name until such time he finds appropriate to do so.

Queried whether he thought Mr. Mpiani was aware of the 12 per cent kickback the Spanish agent was allegedly demanding from prospective companies, Mr. Forson retorted: “This is an agent for him that he has recruited. Everything that that agent did it is presumed that he did it on his behalf and that is the logical conclusion. That is the logical conclusion. If you engage an agent to do something for you and that agent is doing this, [then] that he is doing it on your behalf”.

To buttress his point, Mr. Forson said the Spanish Government wrote to Government, saying that it had no representative for the Financial Protocol in Ghana.

Reading portions of the said letter, he said the Spanish Government described the decision to engage an agent for the contract as illegal.

Meanwhile, when Mr. Mpiani was contacted on the matter, he told the New Crusading Guide that he was unable to comment extensively on the matter because he did not listen to the Radio Gold interview in question. “I have instructed my lawyers to get a copy of the conversation and if it is determined that its contents are slanderous and defamatory, we will proceed to court to seek redress”

He did not think newspapers and radio stations were the appropriate platforms to debate such allegations bordering on slander and defamation of character.

Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa at one of his numerous press conferences on the judgment debt payment saga, told journalists that Mr Mpiani had caused a judgment debt by wrongfully terminating a contract against an advice by the then AG, Mr. Joe Ghartey and Deputy Agric Minister Clement Elady.

The contract was for the execution of the rural solar electrification project.

The deputy Information Minister accused the former Chief of Staff of acting improperly by abrogating the contract and creating a $1.3 million liability for the State.

Former Chief of Staff under the NPP administration, Kwadwo Mpiani who was implicated by government for abrogating the ISOFOTON deal has told Citi News it will be wrong on the part of government to pay ISOFOTON’s claim of the 1.3 million dollars.

Mr. Mpiani, described the accusations that he arbitrarily terminated a contract between government and ISOFOTON as untrue stating that “no individual in government can just get up and say I am abrogating a contract.”

Government and officials of the Spanish company ISOFOTON have accused the former Chief of Staff of abrogating the contract without due procedure.

But speaking to Citi News, Mr. Mpiani mentioned that ISOFOTON did not have any contract with the government.

Explaining his role in the matter, he stated that “my duty in that whole thing was that I just wrote letters informing all the ministries, departments and divisions which were beneficiaries to this facility telling them which Spanish company had been selected for the job. I did that because I was the chairman of a committee appointed by the President to look into the distribution of the money.”

According to him, he discharged this duty on behalf of the committee and government hence; it cannot be described as abrogating a contract.

He also challenged his accusers to produce a document which clearly indicates that he, Mr. Mpiani, personally and single handedly abrogated the contract with the Spanish company.

“If there is a document where I have signed that this contract you have entered into, I have abrogated the contract then you can hold me responsible”, he said.

Kwadwo Mpiani further opined that “I believe any payment to them from my point of view is wrong. To pay any money to anybody on this particular contract is wrong.”

But the local representative of ISOFOTON, Anane Adjei Forson insists Mr. Mpiani cannot run away from blame. He told Citi News Kwadwo Mpiani arbitrary terminated the contract.

He mentioned that “The matter has gone to court and we are demanding our money. Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani illegally contracted an agent and that company was given the responsibility to select Spanish companies to come and do the job.”

The NDC parliamentary aspirant for Okaikoi North, Mr. Andrew Nii Okaikoi has accused the opposition NPP of engaging in political chicanery, chastising them for abandoning their “infamous” all-die-be-die mantra after realizing it was becoming unpopular.

Speaking to well-wishers and opinion leaders from his constituency on Monday, Mr. Okaikoi expressed surprise at the way and manner the NPP is conducting its campaign for this year's elections and wondered if the NPP, a party seeking to return to power, has any feasible campaign message for Ghanaians.

He said it is a disgrace that Ghana's biggest opposition party cannot offer any realistic option to government’s policies. Even the much touted free SHS, according to Mr Okaikoi, is unrealistic and farfetched.

“We were told the NPP has the biggest brains the country can boast of, but where are they...are they telling us that after their fake free SHS promise they have nothing else...this is a disgrace to our democracy,” Mr. Okaikoi lamented.

He pointed out that what should have been a clarion call on the youth for higher productivity and greater mobilization has instead been a call for all-die-be-die. “The NPP is now realizing that Ghanaians don’t want ‘all die be die’, so they have stolen our slogan.”

He posited: “Do they know what ‘people matter, you matter’ mean? What the NPP proved during their reign is that they and their cronies matter...so their slogan should be ‘We and our cronies matter’.”

Mr. Andrew Nii Okaikoi told the opinion leaders that though he has been given the liberty by the party to choose either Okaikoi North or Central, because of the creation of the constituencies by the EC, he will remain the NDC’s candidate for Okaikoi North.

According to him, he has built the right foundation for anybody who will contest in Okaikoi Central to win.

“We will take the Okaikoi seats this time…we know what we have done and lucky for the person who will represent the party at Okaikoi Central, he or she will not have more work to do, especially with the limited time available.”

President John Evans Atta Mills has written to Parliament, notifying the House that he has accepted the recommendations of the Professor Ewurama Addy Committee, which he set up in June 2010 to review the Conditions of Service of Article 71 office holders.

In his letter to Parliament, the President – according to a senior Castle source – said he was accepting the recommendations of the Professor Ewurama Addy Committee subject to some adjustments.

It came after Ghanaian MPs, who are among the most poorly paid lawmakers in Africa, objected to a portion of the Committee’s report which they argued could make legislators “worse off.”

The source will not give details of the proposed new pay level of lawmakers but said “enough work has been done to give MPs a lot to smile about.”

Speculations are, however rife that lawmakers could soon be taking nearly twice the ¢2,500 consolidated pay – made up of allowances and salaries for drivers and other household staff – they currently earn.

Investigations by The Globe established that conventionally, Ghanaian MPs have been on the same salary level as High Court Judges. But, by the recommendations of the Prof Ewurama Addy Committee, High Court Judges will earn much higher than lawmakers if the proposals of the Committee are enforced.

“The leadership of the MPs made it clear to the President that the recommendation was not acceptable to them,” the source said, adding “The MPs argued strongly that at least they should be put at par with High Court Judges on the salary scale.”

“In practical terms, what it means is that the President will be debasing MPs if the Ewurama Addy Committee recommendation is accepted,” said one senior lawmaker. The unnamed lawmaker will not disclose details of the heavily-guarded report of the Committee, except to say, “We are still negotiating with the President on the matter and in due course a final decision will be made.”

On Friday, Speaker Justice Joyce Bamford Addo ordered the House to move into Close Sitting to discuss what Majority Leader, Cletus Avoka called “welfare matters.” The Globe understands that details of the outcome of Friday’s Close Sitting may never be known. Standing Order 45 of the rules of the House Provides:
1) “Mr. Speaker may in consultation with the House and having regard to public interest order the House to move into close sitting to discuss a particular subject or for the remainder of the Sitting.

2) “When the House is in Close Sitting no stranger shall be permitted to be present in the Chamber, side lobbies or galleries.

3) “The Speaker may cause the proceedings and decisions of a Close Sitting to be recorded or issued in such manner as he thinks proper.

4) “No person other than a Member or a person acting under the authority of Mr. Speaker shall keep a note or record of proceedings or decision of a Close Sitting whether in part or in full.

5) No person other than a person acting under the authority of Mr. Speaker shall issue any report of, or purport to describe the proceedings or any decision of a close sitting.”

More so, Standing Order 45 states: “Disclosure of proceedings or decisions of a close sitting by any person in any manner shall be treated as a gross breach of privileges of the House.”

Castle officials who have seen the details of the Ewurama Addy Committee report say MPs will no longer take bank loans to buy their own cars to do official work. Per the new proposal, the State will supply official vehicles to all members of the legislature. The proposal, if finally accepted, will affect the next Parliament of Ghana, which will be sworn in on January 7, 2013.

News of pay rise for MPs is coming at a time the House is considering a controversial Constitutional Instrument seeking to increase the number of seats in the 230-member Legislation to 275.

For the past few years, lawmakers have not been on a regular salary, after public uproar over the sheer size of hefty ex-gratia for former President John Kufuor and legislators who served in the fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic President. There have been calls on President Mills to freeze pay levels set for MPs in the Mary Chinery-Hesse Committee report.

President Mills inaugurated the Prof Ewurama Addy Committee on June 8, 2010 to review the conditions of service and emoluments of Article 71 office holders, taking into account Ghana’s economic circumstances.

The Constitution says in part, “These being expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund, shall be determined by the President on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State.”

Leadership of Parliament will not publicly discuss the proposed new conditions of service for lawmakers because such a discussion will violate standing order 44 and 45 of the House.

Early this year, an unprecedented threat by some lawmakers to boycott President John Mills’ State of the Nation address to Parliament over poor working conditions forced a hurriedly organized meeting between the Ghanaian leader and the leadership of the House at which they reportedly discussed proposals for pay increase for MPs.

The Vice President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has bemoaned the situation where voters change their Members of Parliament (MPs) every four years.

According to him, the trend detracts the work of the House as experience counts in Parliament.

He was speaking at the launch of the book - “In Pursuit of my Destiny - Memoirs of a Parliamentarian” - by Kosi Kedem, a former MP for the Hohoe South Constituency.

Vice President Mahama described the country’s parliamentary elections as a game of musical chairs saying, “Unfortunately, Ghana’s parliamentary elections do not put too much store on experience. It’s a game of musical chairs; you’ve had your turn so let me also have my turn and it doesn’t matter what your experiences are.”

He explained that this slows the activities in Parliament because, “new people come in and they have to learn the ropes of law making all over again.”

Mr. Mahama thus asked voters to elect experienced people into Parliament to ensure they can stay on and enhance the work of the House and make effective laws.

The People's National Convention (PNC) will go to the grassroot to meet voters during its electioneering ahead of the 2012 general elections.

As part of its campaign strategy, the party leadership would move to the wards, constituencies and regions to interact with its supporters to woo other voters into its fold.

The flag-bearer of the PNC, Mr Hassan Ayariga, made this known in an interview with graphic.com.gh to outline how the party would approach the forthcoming elections, slated for December 7, 2012.

He noted that the party was a grassroot party and would continue to reach out to the ordinary people as it canvasses for votes from the general populace.

He said the party would be deploying 1000 billboards of himself across the country while each of the parliamentary aspirants would be given 1000 posters.

Also, each aspirant would be given 20 bill boards and 200 T-shirts.

“This is to make the candidates visible and the PNC attractive in the upcoming elections,” Mr Ayariga said. He added that the distribution of the items would be done before the end of this month.

The first round of the party’s campaign activities, he said, would be to get the youth involved and that the party would in the course of the campaign touch base with many constituencies as possible.

In addition to that, he said, the party would be reviving party structures at the various levels. This is with the aim of strengthening them to position the party firmly on the ground ahead of the December polls.

Mr Ayariga said the PNC would be electing parliamentary candidates in areas where the party did not have candidates
He gave the assurance that there would be surprises in this year’s election, saying that the PNC was poised to win the 2012 elections.

The PNC flag-bearer indicated that he would begin a regional tour this week as part of the campaign strategy to tell the people what the party had in store for them.

The tour would take him to the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions.

“We would then break for a week and then continue to the other regions,” he said.

Mr Ayariga said during the party’s campaign, the PNC would be preaching peace to ensure violent-free polls.

He said the country needed peace, before, during and after the elections to attract and retain investors in its quest to develop and reach out to the rest of the world.

Politics, he said, was not a tool for violence, and appealed to other politicians to conduct their activities in such a way that would promote peace and development.

Mr Ayariga said politicians should campaign towards uniting Ghanaians rather than dividing the people since that would not augur well for Ghana, which had become a beacon of hope for democracy on the continent.

Shortly after his appearance at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Debate last week, he said, some chiefs came to his office to pledge their support.

He said some students from the University of Ghana had called on him to pledge their support.

Mr Ayariga said the support from the chiefs and the students demonstrated that he performed well at the debate.

At the IEA debate, Mr Ayariga said the PNC would bring on board a long term national development plan for Ghana, which would be for the next 20 to 30 years.

He said it will include a development policy document that contains the national vision and would be a document that would focus on rehabilitation of the various sectors of the economy, growth and a new direction for our country.

The significance of such a plan for the Ghanaian is that it will encourage long term planning for all and its going to be non partisan development policy and would be drafted professionally with empirical facts on projections in all sectors of the economy in the long term.