He claimed that some of them funded Kennedy Agyapong’s 2026 campaign with car donations.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Dr. Amoah said the recent endorsement by 63 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs in favour of Dr. Bawumia is “psychological propaganda” meant to influence public perception ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.

“If you want to be elected into power, you need to be honest and uphold integrity. They are claiming that more than 60 MPs support Bawumia, but only about 20 were present at the press conference. The deception is too much; they have realized they would lose the election.

“They want to use psychological warfare, but we will see the results on election day. Some of the MPs who have written their names on the list have bought cars for Ken Agyapong’s team. The politics of lies, deception, and propaganda are in the past. Ghanaians are awake now; that won’t change their minds about who to vote for. They are clearly showing that they have lost the elections,” he said.

He added that the move undermines the integrity of the party’s internal democracy and violates the secrecy of voting.

“I dare them to conduct a secret ballot with the 63 MPs, and if Bawumia wins, I will stop supporting Kennedy Agyapong. This is psychological propaganda. Ken has already won the election. I know someone whose name was forcefully added to the list. What they are doing is even against the law by writing people’s names to join a camp. Voting is private, which means they cannot even rule the country. The secrecy of our vote is a legal mandate, and what the parliamentarians are doing is against the law,” the MP added.

On Thursday, 63 NPP Members of Parliament publicly declared their support for Dr. Bawumia, describing him as the most capable candidate to lead the party to victory in 2028.

The group, led by Mampong MP Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, insisted that their support was voluntary and based on confidence in Dr. Bawumia’s leadership.

Source: Farida Seidu| Adomonline

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He was speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show after the host asked why he does not go on campaign tours with his wife.

“I don’t have a wife. Is it everyone who has a wife? Why are you disgracing me on air? Is it a crime not to have a wife?” he said.

He further clarified media reports suggesting he described himself as lonely, noting that his comment was taken out of context.

STICKER ON WIFE ISSUES

“I only said that I am very lonely and alone in my private life. A lot of people, when they get close to me, are shocked to see that I am calm. I am always alone doing my things, reading, studying, or focusing on politics. But when I am out, I am very playful and fine with everyone,” he explained.

The MP stressed that his statement about loneliness referred only to his private moments and not to his public or political life.

Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

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Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Dr Amoah admitted the party’s defeat in the 2024 polls but stressed the need for restructuring and reforms to reposition the NPP for victory in the next elections.

“After losing the elections, we are still in the process of reconfiguring the party. We have admitted our defeat, and now we need to analyze why we lost so we can make the necessary adjustments. The NPP will surely bounce back, and we will win the 2028 elections under Kennedy Agyapong,” he said.

He praised Agyapong’s track record, insisting that his contributions to national development and lack of corruption scandals make him the right candidate to lead Ghana.

According to him, Agyapong is the only aspirant with a clearly defined grassroots-focused initiative, which he believes will energize the party’s base ahead of 2028.

“It’s not about propaganda; the NPP is better than the NDC. Kennedy Agyapong has no incidents of corruption and has done a lot for the country using his own money. So, what makes us think he can’t lead the country?

For us, it’s about performance, not propaganda, and it’s Kennedy Agyapong’s time. He is the only candidate with a well-defined policy specifically for activists and grassroots members, known as Ken’s Grassroots and Welfare Policy,” Dr Amoah added.

Source: Farida Seidu | Adomonline

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What initially began as a kidnapping investigation has since been reclassified as a murder case following the emergence of new evidence.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, the Kwabenya Circuit Court struck out the case and referred it to a higher court for full trial.

The development left family members and loved ones of the deceased visibly distressed as they continue to seek justice for the 38-year-old officer.

Roberts remains in custody as the legal process continues, with law enforcement assuring the public of their commitment to ensuring justice is served.

Facts of the Case

Preliminary investigations by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command revealed that the 32-year-old suspect has been providing conflicting accounts to investigators, deepening suspicion around his involvement.

Roberts is accused of luring the late officer into a meeting under the pretext of resolving a financial dispute. The two were scheduled to meet at Ashongman Estate on July 3, 2025, around 8:00 p.m., following a WhatsApp message in which Roberts sent images of large bundles of cash to the officer.

In his statement to police, the suspect claimed he gave GH₵500,000 to Amoah—partly to settle a debt and the rest to be kept on his behalf. However, he has refused to disclose the source of the money, and investigators say his account has been inconsistent.

Tragically, the charred body of Officer Amoah was later discovered in a gutter near the GBC Satellite area, opposite Comet Estate in Accra. Despite the condition of the remains, family members were able to identify him.

Following a swift response to the missing person report, police from the Taifa Division arrested Roberts, whose conflicting stories have become central to the ongoing investigation.

Authorities are calling on the public to provide any credible information that may help advance the probe.

The next phase of the case will continue at the higher court, where formal murder charges are expected to be addressed.

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/kennedy-agyapong-is-the-joshua-to-take-us-to-the-promised-land-npp-mp-audio/ Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:04:44 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2546681 Nhyiaeso Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Stephen Amoah, has expressed confidence that former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, is the right man to become the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) next flagbearer.

Dr. Amoah, a member of Mr. Agyapong’s campaign strategy team, described him as the “Joshua” appointed to lead Ghana into its promised land.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, he emphasised that Mr. Agyapong has been ordained by God and that his campaign team remains resolute in their mission.

The former Deputy Finance Minister backed his remarks with a biblical reference from 2 Timothy 1:7, which states: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

“He is the Joshua. God has appointed him to take Ghana to our promised land. If the NPP wants him, fine. But if not, there is no need to intimidate or cause fear, because God has not given us the spirit of timidity,” he declared.

“The deceit, lies and manipulation will not take us anywhere. If we want to adopt a Cinderella syndrome—knowing who the shoe fits but keeping him locked away—it is unto us,” he added.

Dr. Amoah’s remarks come in response to the recent public endorsement of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia by over 60 NPP MPs, in support of his second presidential bid.

Describing the move as “propaganda,” he accused certain factions within the NPP of pressuring MPs, particularly first-timers, into publicly endorsing Dr. Bawumia.

He urged first-time lawmakers to stand their ground and resist any form of blackmail or intimidation.

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His comments follow a visit by about 60 NPP MPs to Dr. Bawumia’s office in Accra to publicly declare their support for his presidential bid.

Dr. Amoah, who is aligned with the campaign of Kennedy Agyapong, expressed doubt over the authenticity of the support shown, suggesting that the turnout did not reflect true loyalty.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, the MP insisted that some of the MPs who appeared in the group photo actually support other candidates.

“I know some MPs who were in that meeting but have different preferences. People can always change their minds when they consider the bigger picture and what Ghanaians expect from us,” he said.

He went further to challenge the narrative, saying: “We all saw the video, but not everyone in it supports Dr. Bawumia. I can count about seven people who were there but are not genuinely behind him. I vow that if those individuals go into an election and vote for Bawumia and he wins all their votes, I will resign.”

Despite refusing to give specific figures, Dr. Amoah expressed confidence in strong support for Kennedy Agyapong among MPs.

The NPP has scheduled its presidential primaries for January 31, 2026, with early endorsements already highlighting what is expected to be a fiercely contested internal race.

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Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Thursday, June 19, Dr. Amoah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, claimed the Bawumia camp is exaggerating its support base and that the numbers being cited do not reflect genuine backing.

“It is extremely interesting and funny. You saw the numbers that were at the place—just go and look at it again, whether the number will be up to even 30,” he said.

“All those who went there did not necessarily go there because they support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. That is not true.”

Dr. Amoah alleged that many MPs present at the meeting with Dr. Bawumia attended under pressure or for the sake of appearances. He insisted that the real support lies elsewhere—especially among the party’s grassroots and former government appointees.

He disclosed that over 260 former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) met with Kennedy Agyapong on the same day Bawumia received the MP endorsements, with about 90% reportedly declaring their support for the former Assin Central MP.

“Even today, over 260 former NPP MMDCEs and DCEs, all of them came and met Honourable Ken Ohene Agyapong. I can tell you that about 90% of such a large number support Kennedy Agyapong,” Dr. Amoah said.

He further stated that the campaign team had compiled verifiable data to support their claims.

“We will send their pictures. We have their names. They wrote their names and their numbers. We can send them to you,” he added.

Dr. Amoah also accused factions within the party of intimidating MPs, especially first-time legislators, into publicly endorsing Dr. Bawumia.

“There are other people who are being intimidated and blackmailed. Most of them went there and they support Ken. Some support Bryan, some support Adutwum,” he alleged.

Though he declined to give a specific number of MPs backing Mr. Agyapong, Dr. Amoah expressed confidence in a strong showing for the former legislator.

“Trust me, most of the MPs support Honourable Ken, and they are quiet. The game is just about to be started.”

The NPP is expected to hold its presidential primary on January 31, 2026. However, early endorsements and intensifying rhetoric suggest a fierce internal contest is already taking shape.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, 15th March 2025, Dr Amoah stated that his experience working with Dr Forson in Parliament has given him confidence in the Finance Minister’s competence.

His remarks followed the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement by Dr Forson on Tuesday, 11th March.

While discussing the economic policies outlined in the budget, Dr Amoah emphasised that he would not shy away from giving credit where it is due.

“Ato Forson is a very knowledgeable Finance Minister. When I say it, people attack, but I have worked with him on the Finance Committee of Parliament, and I know what I am talking about,” he remarked.

Despite his praise for the Finance Minister’s expertise, Dr Amoah did not shy away from critiquing aspects of the budget.

He suggested that while the budget contains some promising initiatives, the government must take bold steps to address economic challenges, including inflation, debt sustainability, and job creation.

“Competence alone is not enough; we need strategic implementation to achieve real economic progress,” he added.

Dr Amoah also stressed the importance of bipartisan collaboration in addressing Ghana’s economic difficulties.

He urged policymakers from both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition NPP to work together in the national interest rather than engaging in political point-scoring.

“The economy is bigger than political parties; we must prioritise the welfare of Ghanaians over partisan debates,” he stated.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu responded to concerns raised by Sticka over a report regarding the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) performance in the 2024 elections in the Ashanti Region.

Dr. Amoah alleged that the report unfairly portrayed him and his constituency in a negative light, demanding a retraction and an apology.

However, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu clarified that the findings were based on interviews conducted with party members in various constituencies, including Nhyiaeso.

“Some of those we spoke to from Sticka’s constituency did not speak well about him. In fact, some of their comments were so harsh that I had to ask that certain parts be edited to use more appropriate language,” he explained.

He noted that the report was compiled from feedback gathered across all constituencies and would eventually be made public, making it unnecessary to single out individuals for defamation.

“When Sticka told me he had heard what was said about him in the report, I assured him that I would never preside over anything that would deliberately destroy him,” Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said.

OSEI KYEI ON STCIKER

He acknowledged that some criticisms against Dr. Amoah, such as claims of inaccessibility, were based on perceptions that could be addressed through better engagement.

“These are mostly relationship issues, which I believe can be resolved. Sticka is someone with great potential and can do even better in Parliament,” he added.

Regarding Dr. Amoah’s threat to expose those behind the report, the former Suame MP, who described Sticka as more like a relative to him, advised him to use the appropriate channels to address his concerns.

 “If he has something to say, he should go through the right processes to fix the issue,” he concluded.

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According to him, Mahama’s portrayal of the economy as struggling and his accusations of economic mismanagement against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government are unfair.

Dr. Amoah stated that while he respects President Mahama, he finds his statements about the economy misleading.

“I like and respect him a lot, and I am proud that he is our President, but his utterances on the economy paint a bad image, which is not right,” he stated.

He acknowledged President Mahama’s composure during his address, saying, “His composure was very good, and he spoke as a father, but because of politics, he wants to disgrace the NPP, which is wrong.”

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Dr. Amoah argued that the NPP administration left behind a stronger economy than President Mahama suggests.

“The complaints are too much. We have given him the job, and he should work,” he said.

Dr. Amoah further accused Mahama of making inaccurate statements about the economy.

“He didn’t give the true State of the Nation Address. His comments were just to destroy Ghana, which is not the best. This doesn’t mean they are selling the country well,” he added.

According to the Nhyiaeso lawmaker, President Mahama should focus on implementing policies rather than blaming the previous government for economic challenges.

STEPHEN AMOAH ON MAHAMA SONA

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Spokesperson Stephen Amoah questioned the government’s spending, highlighting the “unprecedented sweeping of the accounts of public agencies,” including Senior High Schools, which has disrupted operations.

“The country is in comatose, and nothing is happening in these agencies since the NPP handed over government to the NDC,” Mr. Amoah stated.

He also pointed out that the NPP administration left behind GHS3 billion in T-Main 2 Accounts at the end of 2024, along with January’s Domestic Tax Revenue of GHS8.7 billion, and GHS38 billion borrowed through Treasury Bills in January 2025.

“We are at pains to ask the government why this state of affairs persists despite the significant revenue generated,” he said. “What has the government been doing with all this money?”

The Minority also questioned the government’s claims about bondholder obligations draining public funds, noting that recent coupon payments required no more than GHS6 billion in cash.

Mr. Amoah highlighted that the NPP government had already made payments totalling GHS17.25 billion in Payment-In-Cash (PIC) and GHS9.77 billion in Payment-In-Kind (PIK) to bondholders between August 2023 and December 2024.

He cautioned that continued political interference in matters related to bondholders could undermine investor confidence.

The Minority also demanded an explanation for the non-payment of contractors since the Mahama administration assumed office, despite the substantial revenues available.

Mr. Amoah concluded by vowing to hold the government accountable, ensuring that investor confidence is maintained and public resources are used transparently.

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The OSP declared Mr Ofori-Atta a fugitive on Wednesday, February 12, on the grounds of causing financial loss to the state in several dealings, including the construction of the controversial National Cathedral and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA’s) – Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Dr Amoah emphatically stated that Ofori-Atta has not “run away” from the country, countering the narrative pushed by some detractors.

“I want to make it emphatically clear that Ken Ofori-Atta hasn’t run away,” Dr Amoah told the House.

“Mr Speaker, I would like to advise this august house. Our actions and omissions over the years have actually defined us, and we have allowed external stakeholders to view us through different lenses. It is time we stop doing this to each other,” he said

Dr Amoah also condemned the harsh language used by members, particularly regarding the state of the economy.

“Some of the descriptions they give him, some even went to the extent of commenting on the economy that he left behind. In fact, I cannot repeat those evil words they use in-house,” he added, alluding to the strong criticism that Ofori-Atta has faced.

In his remarks, Dr Amoah pointed to the achievements made during Ofori-Atta’s tenure, particularly in managing Ghana’s economy.

“In 2016, the economy that Ken Ofori-Atta inherited was growing at just 3.4 percent, with an inflation rate of 15.4 percent.

“Under his leadership, we have been able to implement one of the most enviable, strong policy frameworks on the African continent,” Dr Amoah argued, asserting that Ofori-Atta’s tenure was marked by significant progress despite challenges.

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Dr Stephen Amoah, Deputy Minister for Finance, who announced this, said the key driving agencies for the initiative would include the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Ghana EXIM Bank, the Development Bank Ghana (DBG), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The GEA will receive GH¢200 million to provide support to high-growth SMEs through small-scale grants and loans with highly subsidized rates for up to two years.

The Ghana EXIM Bank will also be supported with GH¢500 million to offer SMEs highly subsidized financial support for both capital and operating expenditures and offer capacity building to programme beneficiaries.

The Development Bank Ghana will also commit a total of about GH¢1.2 billion to support SMEs through participating financial institutions.

Dr Amoah, speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Kumasi, said the initiative, led by the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Trade and Industry, aimed to address financial constraints faced by Ghanaian small-scale businesses and provide them with the opportunity to access financial support to boost their business activities.

He said it was important to break barriers confronting SMEs growth, adding that fostering partnerships, mobilizing diverse financial resources, and creating a conducive environment for SME growth, was what the initiative sought to offer.

Recognizing that SMEs constitute approximately 90 per cent of businesses and contribute around 70 per cent to the country’s GDP, Dr Amoah underscored the government’s commitment to supporting SMEs to expand their operations.

He urged journalists to promote the SMEs Growth and Opportunity programme by encouraging eligible businesses to apply for the initiative, which was non-partisan.

Participants at the meeting, who were guided on the application process and eligibility criteria, expressed appreciation for the initiative and its potential to empower their businesses.

Source: GNA

His comments come in response to the refusal by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to allow its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama to engage in a debate with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The NDC insists their flagbearer will engage in a debate only after Dr Bawumia holds a media engagement.

But Dr Amoah argues that, during the NPP flagbearer’s tour across the country, the media is always present to convey his messages.

The MP, who doubles as Deputy Finance Minister, insists that this was also a form of media engagement; hence, he did not understand the NDC’s demands.

“Every body has his campaign strategy. Bawumia, I know at all times can and probably will engage the media the way he wants to. But he is already engaging the public, the space in which the media is a critical member,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on July 27.

The Deputy Finance Minister argued that the basis of the debate is to determine which flagbearer is better than the other. Hence, if Dr Bawumia is insisting on a one-on-one debate, he hasn’t done anything wrong.

Meanwhile, Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, Godfred Bokpin believes Dr Bawumia needs a debate with the opposition candidate, more than Mr. Mahama needs it.

According to him, it will do more good than harm to his election bid.

“They know what they are doing. They look at it from a more strategic fit,” Prof. Bokpin said while referencing the campaign strategies of the NPP.

“They have strategists, they do all the analysis. So, if you see Dr Bawumia calling for it, he needs it more,” Prof Bokpin said.

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His response came after Dr. Ato Forson criticized the introduction of new taxes during the 2024 Mid-Year Budget Review, arguing that they had worsened the economic situation and deterred investors.

Dr. Amoah dismissed these claims as “intellectual dishonesty,” attributing them to political motivations rather than factual analysis.

Dr. Amoah argued that, tax policies are complex and are adjusted based on economic conditions.

“Taxes are a primary source of revenue for the government, and with only 2 million out of 34 million Ghanaians paying direct taxes, the tax base is insufficient to meet the country’s financial needs. This results in a deficit that the government must address,” he said.

Dr. Amoah emphasized that, the government has implemented measures to reverse negative economic trends and foster growth.

“We have put initiatives in place amounting to approximately 8.2 billion cedis to support the growth of SMEs and create sustainability in the job sector,” he  stated.

The Deputy Minister further called for a focus on common national interests rather than politicizing economic issues.

“We need to define common interest and stop politicising everything” he added.

Listen to the Deputy Finance Minister below:

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He succeeds John Kumah who passed on March 7, 2024.

His appointment was contained in a statement signed by Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin.

Per the statement, the appointment takes effect immediately.

Following the reassignment, Achiase MP, Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo has also been appointed as Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry subject to parliamentary approval.

The President has expressed hope that Parliament will, on a bi-partisan basis, “expedite the approval of his nominee, so he can join the Government forthwith, and assist in the delivery of his mandate for his second term in office.”

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Below is the statement:

According to him, NDC, which plunged Ghana into a chaotic situation does not have the moral right to talk about Ghana’s ailing economy.

“Our brothers as a result of politics are pushing everything aside as if what is happening today has never occurred. Mr Speaker, I never knew that taxing your people to develop the same environment that would benefit the poor and everyone along the social stratification defines an ailing economy.

Mr Speaker, have they forgotten that between 2014 and 2016, their own budget statement tax components or items that they added amounted to 26 taxes? This has never occurred in the economic history of this country. Mr Speaker, we were not going through these challenges.

The worse taxes, inflationary rates, and supply chain had not gone as badly as we are experiencing today. The same people plunged this country into such a chaotic situation that we had to go through a power outage for about four years, and companies collapsed under them. They are saying all these things about the ailing economy.

If we care to know, the economy that we experienced right after COVID is doing so well. I’m expecting them to bring the figures. What is happening in terms of the inflationary rate today? what is happening in terms of our GDP,” he said on the floor of Parliament.

• Yemuadie and friends Ltd – Occasional Kwatriot Kwesi Yankah writes

Akontombra MP hot over road contract claims

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Stephen Amoah, has highlighted the challenges the government has faced in its quest to create a level playing field in terms of taxation in Ghana.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, the Minister emphasised that the government does not intentionally create tax imbalances to give any entity an unfair advantage in pricing goods on the market.

His comment comes after the President of the Association Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum Akwaboah, painted a gloomy picture of the country’s manufacturing sector under the current regime.

According to him, “The tax system in Ghana today, is not favouring manufacturing at all.”

In response, Dr Amoah explained the complexities of regulating prices in a free-market economy, highlighting that it can be difficult to control prices effectively.

He, however, stressed that this difficulty should not be interpreted as a deliberate effort to favor a particular actor in the same industry solely because they are not fulfilling their tax obligations.

“The level field when it comes to taxes is not that the government is intentionally involved in creating that imbalance for other people to have an undue advantage in terms of pricing policies on the market.

“Mind you, in the first place we are practicing a free market economy, so sometimes, controlling prices will be very difficult. And it is not a deliberate attempt to let one actor within the same industry have an advantage because the person is not paying taxes,” he told host Evans Mensah.

He went on to express the government’s commitment to addressing tax evasion issues in the country.

He urged all relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the government to combat the unpatriotic behavior, which, according to him, has significant financial consequences for Ghana.

“I think we as a government and every other stakeholder should help the government to ensure that those who are evading taxes in Ghana will find a way to halt that anti-social behavior. Because it is really costing us a lot,” Amoah stressed.

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“I was shocked by the difference between Ken and Bawumia’s votes, which was a mere 56 votes. It’s quite unexpected.” he told Osei Bonsu in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Tuesday.

He also noted that, over 100 delegates did not participate in the voting process.

Dr. Amoah commented on the visible support for Vice President Bawumia, saying, “You cannot even determine what’s in someone’s head and what they can do, as most of the delegates were very happy to see Bawumia.”

He admitted that, he had anticipated Dr. Bawumia would secure around 80 percent of the votes, and he, along with his chairman, were taken aback by the results.

Dr. Amoah stressed the importance of unity within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stating, “NPP has emerged victorious, and I’m concerned about maintaining unity.”

He said this unity is genuine, as both Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong are respected figures within the party.

Moving forward, Dr. Amoah commended Kennedy Agyapong for his leadership and maturity, stating that “Ken is an integral part of our path to victory in 2024.”

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He says the country has to move away from the trend where either of the two parties only acknowledge wrongdoing when they’re in opposition and not in government.

Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show, the Deputy Minister said Ghana needs a new paradigm shift that will make leaders agree to common practices and accept realities when it comes to certain situations and circumstances.

“And for my brothers in NDC, what they’re doing, NPP would’ve done same and I think we need to advise the two parties, enough is enough of what NDC and NPP will do when one is in government.

“We should have a new paradigm shift that can let us accept common practices and the reality when it comes to policies and some of these issues,” he explained.

According to him, the report released by the Bank of Ghana does not suggest wrongdoing on their part if one really understands the technicalities of financial issues.

He said until a thorough probe shows any culpability on the part of the central bank, one cannot fault them beyond what their report has revealed.

“In the first place, the concerns they’re raising seek the exposure of BoG, and they’ve come out to explain and anybody that really understands those things technically will know.”

“Unless you go deeper and further to come out with your own materiality and other pieces of information that will let BoG’s explanation for the exposure or the negative equity to be false, these are the honest analyses,” he said.

He added that this loss is not one that happened overnight, adding that it is an accumulation over the years, and the minority NDC has to be honest with Ghanaians on that.

“These are honest analyses we should all make in this context.”

“BoG even came out to say that all these issues did not just happen today, it’s an accumulated issue that has been going on for so many years,” Dr Amoah said.

The Deputy Minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Nyhiaeso in the Ashanti Region, also said that there are three factors or conditions that could result in the suspension of fiscal policies and rules and one of them is a health pandemic.

He mentioned that during these inevitable conditions that pose danger to human lives, certain risks and decisions are taken, and that is a fact the minority already knows.

“One of them is war, second one is natural disaster, and the third one is health pandemic and this is a fact, so you cannot compare peace times to war times in terms of control.”

“If your child has a convulsion, the time that the child has to be taken to the hospital, I don’t think that’s the time you’ll go through the regular route, even if the family’s policies are to take the child to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital or first go a see a church elder, you don’t do that.”

“You take resuscitation measures, so let us analyse these things in a certain context and advise appropriately,” he explained.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in a press conference criticized the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Ernest Addison for his poor management and reckless decisions in the financial sector of the country.

The NDC thus called on the Governor and his Deputies to resign within 21 days starting from Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

The party is determined to picket the Central Bank if the Governor decides not to resign within the given number of days.

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The Deputy Trade Minister disclosed this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, adding it is called Kumasi FC.

The lawmaker cautioned the selection criteria will be solely based on good morals and education, noting interested persons who may not be educated will also be tutored in English and Maths.

Mr Amoah, popularly known as Sticka, stated the academy is targeted at children aged 18 and below who have the desire to play football.

He said equipment to aid their training have already been procured from the United Kingdom with contacts established to get them to play.

“A lot of Nhyiaeso kids have already enrolled but it is open to all Ghanaian children. By the end of August, our Astro Turf will be completed and we will start the training sessions.

“From the first quarter of 2024, we will send videos to our partners in UK and if they like a player and they select him, we will facilitate the trip. They will not be playing the local league,” he explained.

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In 2021, the MP was among seven drivers of V8 vehicles who were allegedly involved in reckless driving, violating road traffic regulations.

The minister was allegedly apprehended during a special operation by the police around Accra’s Airport Bypass.

However, subsequent reports stated that Dr Amoah had failed to appear in court after an arrest warrant was issued.

According to a police statement, five of the seven drivers who were summoned before the La Magistrate Court were present, with the exception of the MP.

However, speaking on Joy Prime’s’Prime Morning’, he refuted the claims saying it was false.

“When I started driving out of Parliament, I saw one land cruiser with a caged motor, so I followed it. If that is a crime, that one is 100%. Apart from that, everything was a lie. That they asked me to come to court, and I never…Everything was fake,” Dr Amoah told Roselyn Felli on Wednesday.

Nonetheless, he does not blame the institution’s senior officials, stating that some are honest and dedicated to their work. He said lying is just a habit for some of them.

Thus, he challenged the police to substantiate their claims, stressing that it has always been a problem within the police force.

“They do that to a lot of people. They had also arrested the MP for Madina, Xavier Sosu, by then.”

The minister also said some of these claims are made primarily for the sake of publicity and institutional equality.

He revealed that the police eventually apologised to the judge in the case for a miscommunication.

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“If what I’m saying is a lie, the police should come and prove that they never went back to court,” the MP dared.

Although he is guilty of the offence, the Nhyiaeso MP thinks the issue could have been addressed appropriately.

Based on his experience, Dr. Amoah believes the majority of prisoners are innocent of their crimes.

Speaking on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning, he said that some of the country’s expenditures “do not have a strong correlation with our GDP growth.”

“For instance, I think all ministers who live in government bungalows should pay, I will say monthly they should pay,” he said on Wednesday.

Speaking on the same show, he also indicated that government-owned land cruisers should only be used for trips outside Greater Accra as stated by the Finance Minister.

He added that government can introduce a booking system that will only allow ministers to book these cars when they are moving outside Accra and bring them back upon return.

“The Land Cruisers bought by government, I think it’s time we redefine a new paradigm shift with the usage and management of these state assets, that if you’re not driving outside Greater Accra you should park”

“I don’t know if we can have a pool, that you can you book, travel with them and bring it back, by doing that we can cut down land cruisers by about 70% because the cost of maintenance and other things are high,” Dr Amoah said this on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

The Minister who doubles as Nhyiaeso MP also mentioned that one of the fundamental initiatives government should channel its resources into in bouncing the economy is to set up long-term factories and organizations.

He added that considering the time left and the already existing economic crisis, it might be difficult for him to establish these factories as the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry.

“As a country basically, there are so many challenges”, he stated.

President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday swore into office four ministers and a deputy minister and asked them to effectively discharge their responsibilities to the Ghanaian people.

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They are Kobina Tahir, Minister for Trade and Industry; Mr Bryan Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture; Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Dr Mohammed Amin Adams, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.

The others are Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; and Dr Stephen Amoah, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry.

Tamale Central Member of Parliament (MP), Murtala Mohammed, has expressed concern about President Nana Akufo-Addo’s new appointments to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

On February 7, President Akufo-Addo named Adansi Asokwa MP, Kobina Tahir Hammond, as the substantive minister for the industry, following the resignation of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.

Per a letter from the President which was read by the Speaker of Parliament, MP for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah, will now be expected to deputise for K. T. Hammond at the Ministry.

But reacting to this development, the lawmaker indicated that due to the temperaments of the two politicians, it is not prudent for them to be under one roof.

According to him, putting the two together may also affect work at the ministry.

“We should pray they don’t exchange blows. That’s what I think. These are two very complex individuals. Very, very complex … You are talking of two very complex individuals who are going to work at the same ministry.

“I know honourable K.T. Hammond. He is a no-nonsense man. There are certain things he won’t tolerate under any circumstance. And I know my good friend, ‘Dr Sticker’. When his name was mentioned, we all rose. We were happy for him.

A section of Ghanaians have also questioned the relevance of the President’s recent appointments.

According to some of the critics, they do not understand why the President’s recent changes failed to touch on the Finance Ministry.

In recent times, there have been many calls for the sector minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to be removed from office over his alleged complicity in the country’s economic crisis.

But despite these widespread concerns, the President says he still has faith in the minister at the helm of the country’s treasury.

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Meanwhile, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has described President Akufo-Addo’s Tuesday governmental appointments as no ministerial reshuffle at all.

According to Professor Gyampo, the exercise mainly filled vacancies in government where there have been resignations and complemented that with token movements of individuals that really do not carry any weight.

Sticka believes the reintroduction will help the government mobilise enough revenue to cushion the nation amid the prevailing economic hardship.

He made the proposal on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen and described the tolls as one of the easiest and most convenient taxes for Ghanaians.

“I think the government must re-introduce the road toll because it is one of the taxes people pay and don’t feel it. So I believe it must be brought back,” he appealed.

The lawmaker explained if the government buys into his proposal, it will be a step in the right direction to reduce fuel taxes.

“If we re-introduce the toll, then we decrease the fuel taxes. By this, we would calculate the impact of both and since the fuel taxes have a broad base, part of it can be a top-up as the road toll. Considering where we are going and what were are going through, we need to lessen the cost for Ghanaians,” he appealed.

On November 17, 2021, government announced that motorists who ply tolled roads across the country will no longer be required to pay tolls.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, made the announcement while reading the 2022 budget to Parliament.

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Mr Ofori-Atta assured the tollbooth workers would be retrained and reassigned, adding none of them would lose their jobs, as they would continue to draw their salaries.

This was received as good news for motorists who spend a lot of time in traffic just to pay the GH¢1 toll levy but not for the workers and traders who hawk their wares around these points.

Scores of toll workers following a directive embarked on a protest stating they are languishing in abject poverty.

They indicated they are yet to receive their salaries or hear from the government with regards to their redeployment, making it difficult to make ends meet.

The duo who appeared on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen expressed diverse views on the measures President Akufo-Addo announced in his address to cushion the citizenry.

The President, on Sunday, addressed the nation for the first time on the state of the economy and admitted that the nation was in crisis.

While some believe the President was truthful about the state of the nation, others have asserted that Akufo-Addo should have admitted he caused the mess and apologised to Ghanaians.

But to Mr Amoah, the Akufo-Addo-led government has been diligent in delivering on its promises but for the covid-19 pandemic that crippled global economies as well as the Russia-Ukraine war.

The two phenomena, he indicated, have hugely impacted the nation, and is optimistic the country would have been better off but for those circumstances.

However, Mr Jinapor who is a member of the Finance Committee in Parliament fought off the assertion, stating the crisis is solely at the doorsteps of Akufo-Addo.

According to him, despite the global economic situation, there are still countries that are better off than Ghana due to good leadership and believe the government should not hide behind the pandemic.

“Covid will impact you Russia-Ukraine war will impact you but if you are resilient, you will make headways. Countries like Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya are all doing better than us. Togo saved better lives but we did but they are still doing better.

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“The president wants to blame everybody but will doesn’t want to look internally and how best we can solve these problems. Ghana is not the best when it comes to the debt rate,” he bemoaned.

Despite their disagreements, the duo at a point, however, expressed similar sentiments on the need for government to cut down expenses by reducing the number of appointees at some agencies, and the number of government vehicles fuelled at the pumps among others.

Speaking with Samson Lardy Ayenini on Newsfile, Saturday, he related the state of the country’s economy to a “child with sickle cell’.

He said such a weak and ailing economy does not need short-term measures by both NPP and NDC governments since the structural bottlenecks in the economy have been in existence for long.

“Small push then there is a crisis. NDC and NPP have been trying to use a short-term approach to solve these problems that will not work. Let’s be very honest with ourselves. It will never work,” he said.

The country’s total public debt stock stood at about ¢344.5 billion as of November 2021, a situation experts have described as alarming.

Fuel prices have also crossed the ¢10 per litre mark amid the freefall being experienced by the local currency. The country’s Debt to Gross Domestic Product as of December 2021 stood at 80%.

But the Nhyiaeso MP believes that long-term measures devoid of politically-oriented motives would help revive the ailing economy.

“Until we accept these facts and take politics out and design a long-term approach to solving some of these problems…it will work out,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has blamed the situation on the inability to approve portions of the 2022 budget especially the E-Levy and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

“It should also be stressed that several governments in both developed and developing countries are busily coming out with various prescriptions to bring their economies back on track, after the devastating impact of COVID-19 which distorted global supply chains, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war,” he said at a press conference in Accra on Thursday. 

However, former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper in an interview on Newsfile, Saturday, watered down the suggestions by the Finance Minister.

“What did we do with three oil fields before Covid-19? What did we do with an increase in oil revenue from about 70,000 barrels? My point is that this is a government that attributed all those difficulties to non-performance and so if you do not anticipate a crisis, you can never run a government for four years without crisis.

“If you do not anticipate crisis you will dismantle stabilisation fund, you will dismantle sinking fund you will dismantle all those structures that we have put in place and this is why we are where we are today,” he told Samson Lardy Ayenini.

Ken Ofori-Atta at a press conference on Thursday in Accra, announced government’s new expenditure measures to raise more revenues and stabilise the economy.

The Minister expressed optimism that the measures will go a long way to cushion the citizenry amid the economic downturn.

The MP, in an interview with Samson Lardy Anyenini on Newsfile, Saturday, said left to him alone, all deputies of state-owned agencies should not be there.

He said some deputies of state agencies have contributed to the “extremely unproductive spending of government.

“I will also let any Land Cruiser being used that is paid for by the government, maintained by government, fueled by government to be parked so when you are driving outside your region, you can drive but when you are in the capital town use small cars,” he said.

According to him, government has no business appointing deputies for state-owned agencies because it cannot derive the needed productivity from them.

The Nhyiaeso MP noted that the economic crisis is a wake-up call for government to look at some of these state-owned agencies.

The MP also charged government to cut off some state-owned agencies that have outlived their relevance to reducing expenditure.

For instance, he believes agencies such as the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) can be merged because they appear to have the same mandates.

“I think state-owned agencies, we need to look at them. For instance, I disagree with having NEIP, YEA, EYA, MASLOC; I am against it. They seem to be providing the same services. Government can merge them, cut down expenditure on overheads and all infrastructure and other things so we can save money.

“I think our government should listen to some of these good things and quickly make changes in these areas,” he explained.

Stephen Amoah was speaking in reaction to new expenditure measures announced by government to raise more revenues and stabilise the economy.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, at a press conference in Accra, revealed a wide range of plans to salvage the country’s economy.

The country’s total public debt stock stood at about ¢344.5 billion as of November 2021; a situation experts have described as alarming.

Fuel prices have also crossed the ¢10 per litre mark amid the freefall being experienced by the local currency.

The Minister expressed optimism that the measures will go a long way to cushion the citizenry amid the economic downturn.

Addressing the media on Thursday, he blamed the situation on the inability to approve portions of the 2022 budget, especially the E-Levy and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Whilst admitting that Ghana’s debt to GDP is could be better, the outspoken politician said the economy took a big hit by Covid-19 pandemic.

A situation which, according to him, is beyond government’s control.

“Where our problem is today is our debt to GDP. But you cannot blame this government entirely unless you don’t understand the issues or you are not being fair.

“We’ve had over 22 months of impaired productivity, naturally, [hitches will occur]. We’ve been in the country for so many months, government has to pay public and civil service workers without them going to work because of Covid-19,” he stated on JoyNews’ AM Show.

The lawmaker continued, “Private sector had to sack over 40,000 people. PAYE government had to collect from them ceased, corporate taxes went down drastically. We had a situation where industry operations had to come to a halt. All of these affect productivity and also revenue generation.”

Mr. Amoah was contributing to the discussion on the country’s economy, following Moody’s downgrade of Ghana’s economic rating

He contended that it is unfair for government to be rated without considering the ravages caused by the health crisis.

“I am not saying that we shouldn’t raise issues. But impeded productivity definitely affects GDP growth and once GDP growth is affected uncontrollably, your debt to GDP will grow uncontrollably,” he said on Wednesday.

Already, government has asked Ghanaians not to pay attention to what it described as negative propaganda put out by rating agency Moody’s.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah, has stated that the Majority will resist all odds and pass the controversial Electronic Transaction levy (E-levy).

According to him, they are the government in power, adding that there is nothing the Minority can do about it.

“Whatever they do, we will pass it at the right time. If they claim it will make us unpopular, why will they stop it? They know this is going to transform the lives of Ghanaians, reverse the consequences of the covid and put our fiscal space in the right perspective,” he said in an interview with Accra-based TV3.

Dr Amoah stressed the resistance of the Minority was also borne out of fear.

“They (Minority) are afraid Ghanaians will continue to blow their goodwill and confidence in this country. So we need the e-levy,” he added.

On calls for the rate to be used to 1%, he said it would require properly done analysis to help understand what needs to be done.

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Meanwhile, the Minority is demanding a total withdrawal of the E-levy until Parliament engages extensively with stakeholders.

They have argued that it should not be the sole preserve of the Finance Minister to engage the electorate.

They insist that the Finance Committee must be given ample time to receive memoranda on the levy before its consideration.

Play the audio above:

Nhyiaeso Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Stephen Amoah, has cracked ribs on social media with a video in which he was seen making a submission in Parliament.

Dr Amoah, popularly known as Sticka, during proceedings, bemoaned corruption rate in Ghana and how it is deepening the woes of the country.

To him, though successive governments have done their part in fighting the menace, there is a lot more that needs to be done.

The MP, in his submission, said corruption has given rise to higgledy-piggledy, mango-mango and abracadabra in the country.

He further said it was about time the country redefines and finds a paradigm shift towards the fight against corruption.

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Dr Amoah’s ‘weird’ words have sparked mixed reactions on social media.

Read some reactions below:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Stephen Amoah, has reacted to claims that his outfit had spent GH¢ 1.1 million on a forensic audit to indict Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, former CEO of MASLOC in a financial impropriety case of GH¢ 2.2 million.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem on Monday, he confirmed that the said amount was paid to the auditing firm.

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According to him, the amount was not meant to pursue the case involving Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu but also, three other cases of financial impropriety of which one involved GH¢ 52 million.

“It is not true we spent GH¢ 1.1 million cedis to audit a GH¢ 2.2 million financial impropriety case against Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, the money she is being audited for by the forensic auditors is over GH¢52 million,” he said.

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He said the amount paid to the auditing firm for its service was around 1.8 per cent of the total amount being audited for; an amount he claimed was less than the usual amount charged by most auditing firms.

Mrs Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, onetime boss of MASLOC for alleged widespread acts of corruption, inflation of prices of projects, misappropriation of several millions of cedis and causing financial loss to the State.

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Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu has, however, denied the allegations leveled against her.