Whistle Blowers in Danger for Exposing Corruption

The lives of three whistle blowers who exposed serious corruption and other dubious dealings at the Volta Regional Department of Parks and Gardens are in serious distress as their salaries have been frozen for over three months now.

The situation according to them have left them in debts, agony and constant want as their lives currently depend on the mercy, donations and gifts of friends and relatives that are usually inadequate.

Instead of being commended they subjects to constant assaults (both verbal and physical), isolation and deprivation at the regional office. What is more, they have been transferred for more than four times in less than two years while the culprits are still at post.

The three are Comfort Tedeku (Technical Assistant), Irene Akrobo (Principal Technical Assistant) and Enyonam Buaka (Chief Technical Assistant). Their last Transfer letter which they received from the Local Government Services Secretariat about a fortnight ago will be the second in two months.

The transfers many have found suspicious especially when Comfort has only eight months to retire while the other two are single parents. All three are currently finding it difficult to feed their children let alone pay their school fees. One of them, Irene Akrobo said as we speak, “my children are likely to drop out of school.”

Irene who has also been diagnosed for some medical complications including gastritis says “I am not able to adhere to my expensive medications and this is seriously affecting my health.” They therefore pleaded with the Chief of Staff, the President, John Dramani Mahama and other state institutions to look into the case and vindicate them since their lives were in peril.

Conspiracy

The predicament of these whistle blowers started over a year ago when they discovered and exposed some financial malfeasance involving the Regional Director who is also the Regional Landscape Designer, Janet Oboni, Samuel Armah, Accountant and typist Mrs. Missadzi Felicia.  

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD) have in separate investigations confirmed that the three connived in fraudulently designing and issuing fake government receipt to clients who patronized services of the Regional Parks and Gardens Office.

Another investigation by the Economic and Organized Crime Offcie (EOCO) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) although yet to be made public have also confirmed this, Daily Guide sources claim.

Despite these glaring revelations the whistle blowers have rather suffered punitive measures including transfers while the transfer of the Chief culprit (Janet Oboni) has been revoked.

The Chief Parks and Gardens Officer, Nantogma Adam Wumbei in a letter confirmed the fraudulent act and added that he had ordered the audit investigations by the CAGD. He hence ordered the transfer of Regional Director and the accountant as control measures.

Regrettably, whereas the accountant complied, Janet Oboni refused to go to her new station (Aburi Gardens). The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) incredibly supported Janet’s insubordination.  

The VRCC went on to order the transfer of whistle blowers; which the Chief Parks and Gardens officer also revoked. This led to fracas between the two institutions over who has oversight responsibility of the Regional Parks and Gardens Office.

The CHRAJ in its investigation report ordered the VRCC to keep off transfer of staff of the Regional Parks and Gardens office since it amounted to usurping the powers of the National Head Quarters of the Department.     

Frustrations

Several pleas and petitions to the VRCC on the transfer of the three whistle blowers have fallen on deaf ears. The Chief Parks and Gardens Officer had also directed them not to adhere to any transfer orders except the one from the National Office.

After several attempts by the VRCC, the Ho Municipal Assembly and successive regional Ministers, Afotey Agbo and currently Helen Adwoa Ntoso, the Local Government Services Secretariat (LGSS) has waded into the brouhaha.

Apparently oblivious of the full picture, the LGSS last June, 2014 ordered the transfer of the three whistle blowers to the Eastern region. A move sources close to Daily Guide at Secretariat alleged was influenced by the VRCC, but the VRCC has also denied that allegation.

Just a fortnight ago another letter from the same LGSS has reversed that transfer and re-assigned them to other districts in the region. The whistle blowers and officials of the some of the investigative bodies are in a quandary as to why the culprits are being retained at post while the whistle blowers are being mistreated.

Investigations

Investigation into the alleged fraud revealed that two receipts were illegally issued out of many others suspected, leading to about GH¢1,000.00 lost to the state. Investigations (Audit) by the Volta Regional CAGD and CHRAJ confirmed this.

The two reports of which Daily Guide have copies indicated that cases occurred in 2012 when the Department of Parks and Gardens in Ho performed a landscaping and designing job for the OLA Senior High School to the tune of GH¢1,960.00.

OLA paid in two installments of GH¢931.00 and GH¢940.00 respectively making GH¢1,871.00. An illegal receipt with receipt number A10/No.215021 was issued for the first payment while General Counterfoil Receipt (GCR); B10/No.6591962 was issued for the second.

Further investigations however showed that the total amount of GH¢1,871.00 was neither recorded in the cash book nor paid to the Public Account.

Another illegal receipt; A10/No.215025 covering the purchase of cane flowers by one Kafui (customer) at the cost of GH¢30.00 is purported to have been issued by Madam Janet Oboni, the Regional Landscape Designer.

The recommendations of the two statutory institutions found the three suspects, Janet Oboni, Samuel Armah and Felicia Missadzi culpable. While the CHRAJ report recommended they be arrested and prosecuted, the CAGD report recommended the three be made to refund the losses to the state.

The three whistle blowers, Comfort Tedeku, Irene Akrobo and Enyonam Buaka were commended for their bravery in exposing such underhand dealing which is suspected to have been orchestrated on many other occasions until their discovery. 

Cedi Fall Affects Revenue At Aflao Border

Random Shot of Aflao

The depreciation of the Ghana Cedi against major foreign currencies is negatively affecting revenue generation by the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) along Ghana’s main eastern border.

The Aflao Sector Commander of Customs, Ben Beckley, who disclosed this in an interview withBUSINESS GUIDE at his office at the Aflao Border in Ketu South District, noted that “revenue has not been the best in recent times.”

He explained that the depreciation of the local currency had led to a reduction in transactions between business people.

The US dollar, which sold at GH¢2.20 on the local foreign exchange market before Christmas last year, currently sells at about GH¢2.60.

The British Pound, which sold at GH¢3.00, currently sells at GH¢4.20. The Euro and CFA are also selling at GH¢3.50 and GH¢4.80 respectively. In 2013, the local currency depreciated by 17 per cent.

Year-on-year, the cedi depreciated against the dollar by 21.96 per cent, 28.88 per cent against the Pound, 23.98 per cent against the euro and 25.54 per cent against the Swiss Franc.

That notwithstanding, he said “we are working hard to rake in more revenue for the country.”

Achieving revenue targets in the last two years has been a Herculean task, he said.

He mentioned that last year, his outfit fell short of its revenue target of GH¢117.1 million.

He was hopeful this year’s target of GH¢218.72 million would be achieved by GRA.

Mr. Beckley, who is also the Chair of the Border Security Council, noted that the security agencies were working together to stop smuggling, human trafficking, robbery, among others.

He noted that a Joint Border Security Committee had been established by Ghana and Togo called Aflao-Kordzovia Security Committee to address the numerous challenges.

The committee, he said, would harness the resources of the two countries to combat border crime and fortify the Ghana-Togo Border.

The Aflao Sector Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Julius Gborglah, complained that preliminary research and analysis indicated that over 3,000 people cross the Aflao border daily without official identity cards or documents.

Mr. Gborglah therefore called on the National Identification Authority (NIA) to collaborate with GIS to properly identify residents to differentiate them from travellers, foreigners and other unscrupulous persons.

From Fred Duodu, Aflao 

Amazing Grace

I wrote this for a good friend of mine....I will never forget her, because she is an amazing person.

It is an Amazing grace

To have the chance

To see your smiley face

The sound in your voice

Leaves a compelling trace

But gone were the days

When I usually dazed

At your slightest gaze

Your company was a maze

One difficult to embrace

It was crystal clear

That u had a special dear

The moment could only be hear

Just for today and not the year

You were superb in your dance

Your moves so complex yet simple

So simple yet spirited

A dancer I will discredit not

And a dance I will forget not

I am aware I owe you a dance

I pray it is not tool late

To have that one dance

So am saving it all for that date

A special grace that needs perfect treat

From an unassuming prince

Who through pain and patience

Have been hanging on a tiny rope

Praying and hoping against hope

To give this amazing grace

That one dance with all the bliss,

That once blossomed on her face

And run down every tiny spot of her being

If you are pleased, just make a sigh

But please don’t blush, hmm smiling?

You truly deserve every bit of it

Cus; that is how amazing you are.

Amazing Grace!!!!!!!!!

Blind Pupils School Under Trees

Blind Students Studying Under Trees

Pupils of the Three Kings School of the Blind at Avakpedome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region are studying under trees and sheds as the school is finding it difficult to bridge its infrastructure deficit.

Martin Gozah, the Headmaster, told DAILY GUIDE that the school, since its establishment in 2001 has only four structures that are being used as dormitories. 

The school, which houses the children due to the reluctance of their parents and guardians to keep them at home, has neither a kitchen nor dining hall. The congestion in the dormitories is unbearable for the students, the Headmaster said.

This situation has also compelled the school authorities to convert the corridors of one of the dormitories into a temporary dining hall. During rainfalls, classes are abruptly ended and the blind students struggle with other students of a nearby basic school, the Avakpedome D/A Primary, to escape the rains.

The school which runs full day lacks toilet facilities and proper bathrooms, forcing students to compete with the community over public toilets.

This came to light when five chapters of the Lions Club International in Accra, presented assorted items including used clothes to the school recently.

E.B Takyi-Micah, a past president of the Jubilee Lions Club who presented the items on behalf of the five Lions Clubs said the donation was to support the school about whose plight they heard during one of such donations at the Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region. He promised that the club whose motto is “We serve”, will regularly support the school and asked the students to take their studies seriously.

The school currently teaches visually impaired students how to read and write through the use of Braille. Impressive students are then integrated into basic schools within the district to allow them have adequate access to education.

Despite the noble initiative and sacrifices of the headmaster and teachers of the Three Kings School of the Blind, inadequate funds and infrastructure seem to be dashing their hopes.

The lives of the over 30 visually impaired students of all ages are also at stake as their academic progression, career development and future is now dependent on the trees and sheds under which they study. The school also lacks teaching and learning materials, a must-have for every special school.

The Headmaster, Mr. Gozah founded the school before it was ceded to the government and placed under the School of the Disabled at Battor in Central Tongu. He explained that he was inspired by the fact that the entire country had only two schools for the visually impaired and none in the region.

He said although the government pays his wages and that of five others, the school lacks accommodation for them, hence making supervision after school another challenge. He thanked the Lions Club for the gesture and called on others to emulate it.

He also appealed to government, NGOs and other philanthropists to assist the school in getting adequate infrastructure, particularly resource classrooms to attract more visually impaired students. The students, most of whom have dreams of becoming great future leaders are now waiting on the world to make their dreams come true.

 From Fred Duodu and Caroline Tsormana, Avakpedome

freduoo@gmail.com

Daily Guide

More SHS Heads In Trouble

Best tutor Otsogah Lawrence Asamoah receiving and award from Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang

The Minister of Education, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has noted that more heads of second cycle institutions in Ghana will soon be severely punished for continuously charging unapproved fees despite warning by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The Minister revealed that the Complaints Unit of the Ministry had been reliably informed about the activities of some heads of schools, who deliberately charged unapproved fees.

She noted that a national taskforce will soon go round to monitor heads of second cycle schools who are engaged in such practices.

She added that any head teacher who will be found culpable will be dealt with accordingly.

“I am sorry that we have to do this because this is the only option left…we are very serious about this.

The Minister was speaking at the 60th Anniversary of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Girls Senior High School in Ho over the weekend.

The event was chaired by Justice Agnes Dordzie, an Appeal Court Judge with Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo as guest speaker, old girls of OLA.

It attracted old students, pioneers, dignitaries and traditional authorities, was on the theme; “60 Years of Holistic Catholic Education for Girls: The Prospects and Challenges.”

She also touched on the apology of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, CHASS over the practice, saying “let your words be backed by action.”

Teacher Absenteeism

The Minister also advised teachers in the country to shun absenteeism.

She noted that although the National Inspectorate Board put the current level of absenteeism at 20 per cent as against 27 per cent, more needed to be done.

She gave the assurance that her Ministry would ensure high productivity.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has been tasked to collaborate with other agencies to enforce a system that ensures that all actors in education are accountable to the public.

She noted that supervision would be enhanced to ensure high level of professionalism in the country.

Appreciation

She expressed government’s profound gratitude to the Catholic Church for improving education and urged students of OLA to be an example of fine intellect and womanhood.

Earlier, she cut the sod for work to begin on the sports complex with the support of Togbe Afede and the Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo.

Awards were given to deserving students and staff for their excellence in their various fields.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)

Daily Guide.

Assemblyman Takes On Minister

The said Residence Under Construction

An assembly member for the Klefe Electoral Area in the Ho Municipal Assembly of the Volta Region, Ransford Delali Kasu, has described the Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, as a novice of  the Local Government Act and Standing Orders of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Mr Kasu was reacting to the Minister’s claim on an Accra-based Citi Fm that the General Assembly of the Ho Municipal Assembly has no power to set up a committee to investigate circumstances leading to some renovation works on the Municipal Chief Executive’s (MCE) residence.

However, Mr Kasu noted, “It is laughable when the Regional Minister comes out to say that he has dissolved the committee. He has to go and read his Local Government Act and acquaint himself with the Standing Orders of the Assembly. It is clear he is ignorant…He has no such powers over the Assembly.”

The Assembly member continued that “if the Regional Minister is not aware; he only has power over the MCE and not the General Assembly which is headed by the Presiding Member.”

“The General Assembly which is made up of the elected assembly members representing their electorates does not answer to the Regional Minister. We answer to our electorates; those who put us there. And so we are autonomous, just like how Parliament is not controlled by the President, the Minister cannot control us.”

He wondered why Afotey-Agbo, who is also a Member of Parliament for Kpong-Akatamanso and for that matter a law maker, would be so ignorant of such simple legality.

Mr Kasu, therefore, advised the Regional Minister to go and read his Local Government Act very properly and come again on his statements.

He also reiterated a claim that the Minister was interfering in the affairs of the Assembly by preventing persons summoned by the committee from heeding to their call.

Mr Kasu also alleged that the Minister after threatening the Presiding Member (PM), Yao Semordey, who is also the Regional Coordinator of National Youth Council to dissolve the committee, also instigated his (PM) transfer to Tamale.

He also disclosed that Mr Afotey-Agbo used a similar means some time ago, to dismiss some assembly members to make way for the appointment of the current MCE, Fafa Adinyira.

These and many instances he said prompted 18 out of 39 assembly members to petition President Mahama to call the Regional Minister to order and counsel him to stop interfering in the Assembly’s affairs.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)

Daily Guide.

Pay Nursing Teachers Well

Some Nurses Posing For a Picture

In a bid to motivate and enhance the performance of health training institutions in Ghana, government has been urged through the Ministry of Health (MOH) to draw up attractive conditions of service for principals and tutors of such institutions.

This suggestion was made by a former Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI), James Yambor, at the National Annual General Meeting of the Nurse Educators Group (NEG) in Ho recently.

It was themed: “Improving Academic Performance through effective teaching”.

According to him, the improved conditions of service should be tied to the signing of a performance contract between tutors and principals and another between principals and the MOH for quality delivery of service.

Mr Yambor explained that the signing of the performance contract, would offer the opportunity to identify the institutional challenges in the quality training of health professionals and allow high performing schools to be motivated to perform better, while low performing schools could be given special help to address their identified weaknesses.

This, he believed, coupled with student-tutor collaboration, would go a long way to reverse the poor performance of students in examinations, particularly the licensing examination.

He also advised the MOH to develop and implement strategies to monitor and evaluate the performance of health training institutions to promote quality health education and service.

The Chairman of the Nurse Educators Group (NEG), Samuel MacCarthy, in a speech read on his behalf mentioned the lack of infrastructure and inadequate teaching and learning materials as some of the challenges facing the institutions and called for assistance.

The Nurse Educators Group was established in 1978 in Kumasi, and comprises of all tutors from the health training institutions, public/private universities and other private health training institutions in Ghana. The meeting was used to take stock of activities of the year under review and how to find solutions to the loop holes within the group.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho (Daily Guide)