Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, he argued that the party’s current posture towards the OSP is driven less by legal interpretation and more by discomfort with how firmly the office enforces anti-corruption laws.

He referenced ongoing public and legal debates over the mandate of the OSP, including a case before the Supreme Court challenging aspects of its legal foundation and prosecutorial authority.

According to Adom-Otchere, the NDC did not raise objections to the OSP while in opposition, including during the vetting of Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine. He, however, noted a change in position now that the party is in government.

“The reason why they are complaining about the OSP now is because of the OSP’s indicative independence to politicians. They saw the OSP do it to the NPP, they enjoyed it. They have seen that this OSP is not shifting. He will do it to NDC and they are afraid,” he said.

His comments come after a High Court in Accra directed the Attorney-General to take over all criminal prosecutions initiated by the OSP, on the basis that the office lacks the authority to independently prosecute criminal cases.

The development also comes amid an ongoing legal challenge filed by private citizen Noah Adamtey against the Attorney-General, questioning the constitutional scope of the OSP’s powers. The suit argues that prosecutorial authority under the Constitution rests solely with the Attorney-General under Article 88.

The case has intensified national debate over Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, with the Supreme Court expected to determine the legal boundaries between the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney-General’s Department.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, February 7, Mr Adom-Otchere said the idea arose from internal discussions on how Ghana’s main aviation gateway could project the country’s image internationally.

“I have to make a confession here,” he told the programme. “When I was on the board of the Ghana Airports Company, it occurred to us. We thought about it and said, okay, when you arrive at any airport in the world, the brand you are talking about is very important.”

According to him, while the legacy of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, remains monumental, the board explored whether another Ghanaian figure with exceptional global recognition could better serve the country’s international branding aspirations.

“Nkrumah is great,” Mr Adom-Otchere said. “But because of all of these things, why don’t we then call the airport Kofi Annan?”

He highlighted Kofi Annan’s unique status as a Ghanaian who achieved global distinction, serving as Secretary-General of the United Nations — a position no other Ghanaian has held.

“Apart from Ghanaian presidents and the heroics of Nkrumah, no Ghanaian has risen to the international level of United Nations Secretary-General,” he noted. “Kofi Annan is the first, so we thought so.”

Mr Adom-Otchere’s remarks come amid renewed national debate over the name of Kotoka International Airport. The discussion was reignited following a parliamentary proposal by the Majority Leader to rename the facility Accra International Airport. Meanwhile, the Minority Leader has raised concerns over General Emmanuel Kotoka’s legacy due to his role in the 1966 coup that overthrew Nkrumah.

The proposal has sparked political disagreement, with supporters framing it as a corrective measure for historical injustices, while critics warn that reopening such debates risks deepening divisions. Other voices have suggested that if the airport were to be renamed, it should honour a prominent Ga traditional leader or personality, citing the indigenous custodianship of the land.

Mr Adom-Otchere disclosed that the Kofi Annan proposal was eventually presented to former President Nana Akufo-Addo but did not gain traction due to competing national priorities.

“We went to Akufo-Addo with it,” he recalled. “He was concerned that, look, you have to build an airport. You haven’t finished Kumasi Airport — when are you finishing? At that time, Sunyani Airport was not operational. We hadn’t done Tamale Airport.”

According to Mr Adom-Otchere, the former President questioned the logic of focusing on renaming the airport while critical infrastructure projects remained incomplete.

“You want to go and change the name of the airport — for what?” he quoted the President as asking. He added that the response left board members both surprised and amused. “We were all bemused, and we laughed about it,” he said.

Speaking at the “Broadcasting at the Crossroads: Shaping the Future of Ghana’s Electronic Media” forum organised by the Africa Media Bureau, Adom-Otchere noted that despite Ghana’s vibrant judiciary, there are currently no courts dedicated to communication disputes.

“Some of the areas we could explore are that there are no courts set aside to hear communication-related cases. If there are, I don’t know yet,” he said.

He also suggested that decisions by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to sanction or revoke the licences of radio and television stations should be placed under parliamentary oversight.

“When the NCA decides that a radio or TV station has violated regulations and moves to terminate its licence, we could introduce another level of oversight by submitting such cases to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communication. Parliament can then hold hearings, which would improve the process,” he explained.

Adom-Otchere further encouraged the public to build confidence in state institutions, emphasising that Ghana’s democratic system has been operational for 35 years.

He noted that mistrust in government had hindered progress in the digital migration process, particularly sidelining the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

“Let us trust governments. We have a democracy that has been working for 35 years. Excessive suspicion led us to ignore GBC in leading the digital migration. We would have completed it by now if we trusted the process,” he stated.

Source: Adomonline

The 10-minute footage, shared less than 24 hours after he regained his freedom, offers a rare window into the personal toll of his ongoing legal ordeal, which stems from an investigation into a controversial GACL revenue assurance contract.

Widely circulated online, the video shows a visibly emotional Adom-Otchere in a heartfelt conversation with his wife. During the exchange, she recounted the strong wave of support he received from key political figures and sympathisers while in custody.

Among those mentioned were former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and Second Lady Samira Bawumia.

The footage also features several well-wishes from prominent individuals, reflecting Adom-Otchere’s wide network and influence in both political and media circles.

Adom-Otchere was invited by the OSP over his role in a revenue assurance contract between the GACL and a private firm. The probe focuses on allegations that the contract was awarded without the full and proper approval of the GACL board during his tenure.

His detention followed after he reportedly failed to meet the OSP’s bail conditions, which required ownership of landed property in Ghana — a standard stipulation often used to ensure suspects remain available during investigations.

While the OSP holds the constitutional mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption and related offences, its approach to detention and bail continues to stir public discourse.

Source: Adomonline

ALSO READ:

OSP reviews Paul Adom-Otchere’s bail conditions [Listen]

Paul Adom-Otchere released but… – Lawyer [Audio]

• We may soon ask for Jesus Christ or Noah’s Ark as bail conditions –…

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/akufo-addos-legacy-unmatched-in-ghanas-4th-republic-adom-otchere/ Sat, 30 Nov 2024 10:27:05 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2477542 Prominent Ghanaian broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere has praised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, hailing him as the most influential politician of Ghana’s 4th Republic.

His comments were made during the launch of his book, Africa’s New Constitutional Leadership: 77 Stories that Defined Ghana’s 4th Republic, on November 29, 2024.

Adom-Otchere highlighted President Akufo-Addo’s transformative impact on Ghana’s political landscape, citing his active involvement in key moments like the ‘Kume Preko’ protest in the 1990s and his powerful political campaigns.

According to Adom-Otchere, Akufo-Addo’s influence goes beyond electoral victories, leaving a lasting legacy in the country’s governance and democratic evolution.

The broadcaster’s remarks align with his book’s central theme, which chronicles pivotal milestones in Ghana’s 4th Republic, including the contributions of various leaders to the nation’s political development.

“Nana Akufo-Addo is the most impactful politician of the 4th Republic. We considered mobilization, demonstration, and influence as key aspects of democracy. In the 4th Republic, Nana Addo stands as the greatest mobilizer, from the ‘Kume Preko’ event to the department of campaigns and elections,” Adom-Otchere said.

He continued, “As far as the 4th Republic is concerned, Akufo-Addo led the NPP’s campaign in the 2000 elections with the famous ‘wo mba tsa k3mi’ [we’re changing government]. This campaign played a crucial role in the NPP’s victory. He is the one who led the Department of Campaign and Elections.”

Adom-Otchere also credited President Akufo-Addo with surpassing the conciliatory efforts of his peers, referencing the 2008 election when Akufo-Addo gracefully acknowledged his defeat, despite being only 25,000 votes behind the winner.

“On conciliatory politics, no one comes close to Akufo-Addo. He conceded defeat in 2008, with just 25,000 votes separating him from the winner. That effort is a hallmark of democratic maturity, and on that front, he excels,” Adom-Otchere remarked.

He went on to commend President Akufo-Addo for his efforts in promoting media diversity during elections, particularly his role in securing court-mandated equal airtime for all political parties.

“Akufo-Addo led numerous legal battles, including the NPP v. GBC case, which compelled the state broadcaster to provide equal time to all political parties during elections. This was a significant step in enhancing media plurality, and once again, Akufo-Addo led the way,” he said.

The broadcaster also acknowledged the President’s contribution to expanding the New Patriotic Party’s electoral college.

“Expanding the franchise was another crucial aspect of Akufo-Addo’s leadership. In 2010, he insisted that the NPP amend its constitution to expand the electoral college, which had previously only included 2,000 members. Akufo-Addo’s leadership was key to this change, which has had a lasting impact on the party’s democratic processes,” Adom-Otchere concluded.

ALSO READ:

No media restriction in 2024 election coverage – GJA President assures …

Celebrating the Ghanaian King banished by the British

According to broadcast journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere, the incident occurred in 2022, where two former house helps of the minister were involved in the theft.

Mr Adom-Otchere revealed that the stolen loot amounted to a staggering US$1 million.

This included US$800,000 that had belonged to Cecilia Dapaah’s late brother, who was a sub-chief of the Asantehene.

The money had been transferred to Cecilia by their late mother.

Mr Adom-Otchere shared on his Good Evening Ghana show:

“The US$800,000 was reported to the police and described to belong to Cecilia Dapaah’s brother… as is on the charge sheet. This 800,000 dollars is controversial because it doesn’t belong to Cecilia Dapaah and her husband.”

He went on to explain that the 300,000 euros that were stolen were initially thought to be the former minister’s, but documents he had seen indicated that it was declared as belonging to her husband instead.

Furthermore, Mr Adom-Otchere delved into the business interests of Cecilia Dapaah’s husband and late brother, raising questions about their capacity to amass such substantial sums of money. He urged the public to carefully assess the situation and make their own judgments regarding the individuals involved.

The police complaint forms filed by Cecilia Dapaah and her husband exposed the shocking theft, leaving the couple in distress over the loss of their money and assets.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and authorities are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.

This revelation has added another layer of complexity to Cecilia Dapaah’s troubles, as she is already facing various challenges in her political career.

The stolen money, especially the US$800,000 belonging to her late brother, adds a contentious dimension to the entire ordeal.

Watch videos below:

ALSO READ:

• US$1m, €300,000, millions of cedis stolen from Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah’s house
• Nyaho Tamakloe threatens to expose ministers ‘stealing’ state money
• Sanitation Minister’s background proves she cannot earn the kind of money stolen from her – Sam George

His assertion follows an announcement by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to unveil Mr Mahama’s running mate in May.

According to him, after several discussions between the NDC’s flagbearer and the founder of the party, Jerry John Rawlings, it has been decided that someone from the Ashanti region should be selected.

READ:

Iran: Over 700 dead after drinking alcohol to cure coronavirus

Just 10 minutes of sunshine a day ‘can reduce your risk of coronavirus’, expert claims

Scientists say coronavirus could be treated by nasal spray that protects lungs

Mr Mahama’s decision to accept a running mate from the Asanti region, Mr Adom-Otchere believes is to help garner the support of the founder in the run-up to the 2020 elections.

We suspect that if J.J Rawlings is thinking about a running mate for John Mahama, giving that John Mahama comes from the North and he’s thinking about a running mate from the South, we think J.J. will point him…directly to the Ashanti Region, he said on his Good Evening Ghana TV show.          

We think John Mahama is having conversations with Rawlings and the conversations have not ended conclusively and that is why this conversation has delayed. We think that what is conclusive about their conversation is that they’ll go to Ashanti region, and the criteria that Rawlings has put on the table for the running mate that he would support is a criterion called integrity, he added.