KONADU LOSES CASE

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings

Former first lady and a founder of the National Democratic Party, Nana Konadu, was last Friday dealt a heavy blow following a ruling by an Accra High Court (Commercial Division) reinstating Caridem Development Company Limited and its directors as managers of the 31st December Women’ Movement properties. 

Nana Konadu was dragged to court by some aggrieved members of the 31st December Women’s Movement led by former Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Minister, Madam Sherry Ayittey.

Mrs. Rawlings and her “company” were dragged to court by some disgruntled members of the once vibrant and effective non-governmental organization in Ghana over the management of properties belonging to the 31st December Women’s Movement and Caridem.

Konadu is alleged to have set up a new company to push out Caridem Development Company Limited and had also sold and rented out some properties of Caridem for the benefit of the new company.

The 31st December Women’s Movement was established in 1982 under the aegis of Nana Konadu as an NGO devoted to the emancipation of women in the country in the field of social, economic, cultural and political development.

Led by its former treasurer, Madam Sherry Ayittey, the displeased members of the 31st December Women’s Movement some of who were purportedly ousted from the Movement by the group’s founding President, Nana Konadu, and by extension; from its affiliate commercial concerns went to court to seek redress.

The court after hearing all arguments, last Friday entered judgment in favour of Madam Sherry Ayittey and her colleagues, reinstating Caridem and its Directors as part of the rightful mangers of the movement’s properties.

Madam Sherry Ayittey, a once trusted confidant of Nana Konadu, was allegedly relieved of her post as treasurer of the movement in 2011 for endorsing then President John Mills ahead of the National Democratic Congress’ Sunyani Congress to elect flag bearer for the 2012 elections.

Why Caridem?
In May 1993, the 31st December Women’s Movement under the leadership of its President, Nana Konadu, took a decision to diversify its operations by way of looking for other sources of funding leading to incorporation of Caridem Development Company Limited.

Jerry John Rawlings, whom did June 4 benefit?

Caridem Development Company Limited then became the “commercial wing” of the 31st December Women’s Movement that engaged in profitable commercial activities to raise funds in support of the running of the movement.

In an interview with the Africa Week Magazine in 2006 on why Caridem was incorporated, Nana Koandu explained “sometime in May 1993, we realized as an NGO that our usual sources of financing, being contributions from members and donations from other sources could no longer sustain our activities. We incorporated Caridem as a commercial wing to raise money for the NGO”.

The company was used to acquire many landed properties, including the Nsawam Cannery; a bricks factory near Pambrose in Accra; an array of Ghana National Trading Company (GNTC) properties, including its headquarters at Accra; a Cocoa Processing Factory at Kpone, off the Tema-Aflao highway, as well as a bakery at Labadi in Accra and the 31st December Movement Schools dotted across the country among others.

Legal tussle
Though, most of these state owned properties were acquired by Caridem Development Company Limited through the 31st December Women’s Movement under the PNDC/NDC policy on divestiture of some state enterprise, Nana Konadu, over the years; controlled the properties after successfully chasing out other influential members from the movement.

She is said to have assumed full control of the movement’s properties and now determine what and how the companies are to be run, how its proceeds are used and who is hired to work for the companies.

The process leading to the acquisition of some of these properties became a subject of marathon litigation started by the Kufuor government which nearly landed her (Konadu) in jail. In most of these cases, Nana Konadu was charged with theft, fraud and conspiracy to defraud.

Rawlings and wife live on looted state assets

In 2008, she was saved from spending time in jail following the NDC’s victory in that year’s election which forced then sitting President Kufuor to instruct the Attorney General to discontinue the case against her.

She was standing trial together with four others for allegedly misappropriating public funds and property during the late 1990s.

Nana Konadu has variously come under attack for her role in acquiring state properties using Caridem Development Company Limited. She has for some time now been battling with residents in four communities in the Naswam Adoagdjiri constituency whose lands were confiscated by the state and later leased to her.

According to the Mawerehene of Adoagyiri, Otuosiriboe Safo Kankam the lands were confiscated under an executive instrument EI 31 (77) and were later leased on October 4, 2013 for 50 years to Caridem Development Company.

He said the lands were leased at a total cost of GH¢3,850, with an average of less than GH¢5.00 per acre. He said Mrs Rawlings was given the option to extend the lease at the end of the 50 years if the company so wished.

He argued that if the state which confiscated the lands in 1977 had no interest in the lands it ought to have returned to them the rightful owners, which is the traditional council.

This was followed up with a petition by MP for the area, Frank Annor Dompreh to then President John Mahama to return the 600 acre land to its rightful owners.

"Tension is brewing between these suburbs and Caridem and government is aware of this. The residents believe they have a right to their lands and that they are being treated unfairly by government because there have been similar cases where the lands were returned to their rightful owners," Mr Dompreh said.

MOSQUITO’S JOKE

Asiedu Nketsia

By Kobina Biney

Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has always been full of humour and sometimes surprises.

When the founder of his party, Mr Jerry John Rawlings cracked a rib-breaking joke about his looks, many were those wondering how the petite General Secretary would respond.

Mr Rawlings had said words to the effect that General Mosquito as he is popularly known could have been the presidential candidate if he were handsome.

Mr Nketia’s response was simple but equally rib-breaking.

He is reported to have said that Mr Rawlings failed to recognise that we have entered the era of ugly presidents.

Perhaps on account of this claim Mr Nketia more than anyone else in the party is qualified to join the race for the presidency in 2020.

Given the very loud applause he got at the NDC’s 25th anniversary rally at Ashaiman, it may not be far-fetched to assume that General Mosquito is perhaps one of the most popular leaders of the NDC.

But what has ugliness and handsomeness got to do with leadership?

Well, Adolf Hitler was a diminutive figure who was not considered particularly handsome but won elections in Germany.

Jean Bokasa of the Central African Republic was also famous for reasons other his looks and nobody can describe, Donald Trump as a dashing super handsome play boy.

Obviously, Aseidu Nketia is right because there are quite a few very ugly Presidents around who cannot be mentioned.

In any case can we all agree that Mr Rawlings is Mr handsome?   

What has handsomeness got to do with fighting inflation and improving access to social services?

INTEREST RATE TOO HIGH

Ken Ofori Atta, Minister of Finance

By Mercy Hedezdome

Mr Bode Agusto, the Chief Executive officer of Agusto consultinghas said that the growth rate in the country has slowed down considerably affecting governments’ ability to generate revenue.

He said this is as a result of high interest rate in the country which makes borrowing more expensive and sends purchasing rates hitting the roof.

He therefore called on the government to manage inflation rate by entering into public private partnership to boost growth rate in the country.  PPPs he said, will ensure necessary investments into public sector are made and a more effective public resources management is encouraged.

Mr Bode Agusto who was speaking at Ghana’s macroeconomic landscape seminar held in Accra recently added that the government’s fiscal consolidation programme must be aimed at addressing demand pressure exacerbated mostly by the wage bill and by public debt services, which account for most un-earmarked  revenues.

According to him, when monetary policies continue to be tightened with measures to contain rising inflation and the depreciation of the currency, the economy will regain its strength.

Organisers of the seminar, Agusto& Co, a Pan African Rating Agency, made way for business executives to discuss the economy of Ghana and macroeconomic issues and its effects on the Ghanaian citizenry.

Agusto & Co is the foremost Pan African Credit Rating Agency and a leading provider of industry research. It also provide risk rating to financial institutions which provide both domestic and foreign investors with invaluable information and sound financial analysis that have aided their decision process.

Foreign News: 

ICAP President Satisfied with Conference in Namibia

Fernando Gonzalez with Sam Nujoma and SWAPO co-founder Andimba

By Ilsa Rodriguez

Cuban National Hero Fernando González has expressed his satisfaction with the 5th African Conference on Solidarity with Cuba held in Namibia, which he described as successful, and highlighted the documents approved to increase the support of the continent to Cuba.

González, who is in charge of the presidency of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), stated that this African meeting in Windhoek from June 5 to 7 was dedicated to the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro , 'A constant presence during the deliberations,' he told Prensa Latina.

He emphasized that in this meeting there were profound debates that led to the adoption of a series of declarations containing the African plan of action to increase its solidarity with Cuba and the decision of the countries of this continent to coordinate their actions in that sense.

These tasks include dedicating one day each month to solidarity with Cuba, promoting in parliaments pronouncements against the economic, commercial and financial blockade that the United States has maintained against Cuba for more than half a century, and also for the return of the territory of Guantanamo illegally occupied and operating a U.S. military base.

In particular, González emphasized in his statements to Prensa Latina the support of the government of Namibia to this 5th Conference and the participation of its president, Hague G. Geingob, who officially inaugurated this meeting.