Thursday 31 March 2016

POULTRY INDUSTRY REFORM SUFFERS


Hannah Bissiw, Deputy Minister of Agriculture
Two years ago, the  government launched the Ghana Broiler Revitalization Project to boost local capacity in the production, processing and marketing of broiler.

But Poultry farmers say they are yet to feel the benefits.

According to the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers, this is because there have been no legislative instrument to back the project.

So the project with such laudable goals as developing the poultry industry along the poultry value chain and ensuring that production farms, input suppliers, hatcheries, feed mills, veterinary services producers, processors, marketers and consumers all played their roles to ensure self-sufficiency, has so far moved only a few steps  from the paper it was written on.

Yet the delay in moving forward is costing the country a lot. Between2010 and 2012 Ghana imported approximately 200,000 metric tonnes of Chicken valued at $200 million.

The country remains deficient in meat and milk requirement as the present levels of livestock and poultry production is inadequate to meet the animal protein needs of the population.

 Making these facts public at an advocacy forum, the vice President of Ghana Poultry Association, Mr Napoleon Oduro, said the country had pieces of consultative documents without a clear-cut policy for the industry and called for a legislative instrument to protect the sector.

He explained that the situation had resulted in Ghana becoming a net importer of frozen meat of which poultry constituted the highest proportion.

 He said the Association was calling for governments support to expand the production of broilers locally since imported ones were taking over the market.

Mr Oduroexplained that the lack of production materials and high cost of production had raised the prices of local broilers, making the imported ones gain a larger market share due to their comparatively low prices. 

“The Ghana National Association of poultry farmers was calling for the implementation of government policy which mandates importers to patronise 40 percent of local poultry products while reserving the right to import 60 percent of foreign ones “he added.

 Dr Anthony Akunzule, deputy director, Veterinary services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said the target of the project was to produce 30,00 metric tonnes of the broiler meat with an expected increase to 60,000 metric tonnes by 2016.

 These targets, he said, would progressively reduce Ghana’s meat import burden to 40 percent by 2016, in line with MOFA’s national livestock strategy policy to increase the supply of meat, animals and dairy product from the current aggregate level of 30 percent to 40 percent of the national requirement by 2016.

 Dr Akunzule expressed the belief that increasing local livestock and poultry production in the country was the way forward in ensuring not only self- sufficiency in meat production, but also the creation of employment opportunity for the youth in poverty alleviation.

Mr Papa Kow Bartels, Director, logistics and value chain, of the  Ministry of Trade and Industry said the project would stem the current growing imports of poultry products, create employment, sustain the local poultry industry, guarantee food security and increase supply of animal protein.

He noted that the poultry industry was a private enterprise and as such it was imperative for the association to strategize new ways of reviving the industry
GNA

Editorial
Partisanship does not help in the fight against corruption
For whatever the actual facts are, corruption has become a very convenient tool to throw against political opponents.

There is little doubt about its negative effects even though there is not the same clarity as to what exactly falls under it and what does not.

Added to this opportunism is often associated with corruption accusations. This unfortunately makes the issue more complicated as supporting a call is not as simple as it should be.

Then there are various civil society bodies that should have occupied the position of neutral observers but they do not sit where should easily. Still they can be helpful to the fight against corruption if they make the methods for arriving at conclusions public.

One question that has not been properly answered is why national institutions cannot conduct their own tests or survey and point to areas in need of urgent attention and remedy.

We have had some attempts in the past by the African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM), Commission for human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE), but for some time now nothing has come from these bodies as far as the citizens’ experience with governance is concerned.

There will always be criticism from those who will not be happy with what these bodies bring out. Still, it is far preferable to build our own capacity for self assessment than to quarrel over assessments by external agencies.

Ultimately, there should be no compromise in efforts to build a better society, even if the road is rough and tortuous.


Wednesday 30 March 2016

KARPOWER TO PRODUCE MORE POWER


The Karpower ship

By Duke Tagoe
Following its successful generation of 225Mw of electricity into the national grid, the Karpowerplant Company Limited is ready to deliver a second power ship with installed capacity of 450Mw.

The power ship to be delivered by the second quarter of this year is 70% complete and will produce an additional 225Mw power to augment what is currently produced by the company in accordance with the Power Purchase Agreement it signed with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on the 5th of June 2014.

The Karpowerplant at Tema is currently supplying more than 1.7 million households with stable power supply accounting for 22% of Ghana’s total energy needs.

The Power Purchase Agreement between the ECG and their Turkish counterparts became effective on the 24th of August 2014 following the latter’s acceptance of tariffs it negotiated with the Public Utility Regulatory Commission.

Fuel supply for Power ship
Although the power ship first received a first few batches of fuel from Rotterdam, Vitol and Trafigoura, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) currently provides all the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) needs of the karpowerplant.

Patrick O’ Driscoll, Sales Director of Karpower Company Limited said GNPC was chosen in November 2015 as the fuel provider for the power ship because it was the only recognized national oil company of Ghana with the ability to put together the most competitive and structured agreement for quality fuel supply with better terms against security.

“Our fuel supplies could have been ENI, Shell, BP, Trafigoura or Momjasa but the GNPC stood out as the best and we are satisfied with the collaboration and the work they have done so far,” he said.

Sankofa Gas And The Karpower Ship
Per the contract signed with Ghana, the power ship will first run on HFO for 5 years and later switch to natural gas most likely from the Sankofa Gas Project.

According to Zeynep Harezi, Executive Director of Business Development of Karpower, the engines of the power ships are constructed to run on both fuel and gas, but at better efficiency with gas at a low cost. However, given the low prices of HFO on the market, the company believes that it is cheaper to operate on heavy fuel oil than on natural gas even when they are readily available adding that the company could choose to keep running on HFO after the 5th year if the prices continue to remain low.

The Executive Director also stated that although the contract between the company and the ECG will come to an end in 10 years, the powership will not immediately leave the shores of Ghana as it was still open to negotiation about the extension of the contract with the ECG including an expansion of generation capacity.

Ownership of the power ship
At the end of 10 years, the Karpower Company Limited says it will not be in the best interest of Ghana to own or purchase the power ship. According to them, the country would find it difficult to obtain the needed spare parts for maintenance of the ship.

“Any time a country needs spare parts, they need to go out to tender and the purchasing regulations also presents a challenge very often, but because our business is power generation, we purchase the parts in many quantities and because we have nine power ships in operation across the world, we have an international spare parts and maintenance up keep team which no utility can compete with, and we are able to maintain the power ships at high efficiency and at the lowest cost” Zeynep Harezi said.

Support to the Tema Township
As part of their corporate social responsibility, the Karpower company limited has distributed thousands of textbooks, computers and other educational materials to community schools in Tema and its immediate environs.

The company has also distributed high quality fishing nets to hundreds of fishermen and boat owners with another plan to put young men and women in vocational and engineering training.

The power ship has the state-of-the-art technology to desalinate sea water and has the capacity to produce more than 12 thousand meter cube of water per day for use by the power ship and a reasonable number of communities around the ship.

Ghanaians Must Control Economy




Goil MD, Patrick Akorli attempts a jab at Azumah Nelson
By Duke Tagoe
The greatest Super Featherweight Champion in boxing history, Barima Azumah Nelson, has called for policies that will put Ghanaian indigenous companies at the pinnacle of the national economy.

He said he believed in everything made in Ghana because it does not only create jobs for our young men and women, but also reveals the ingenuity of the Ghanaian and tells the story of our great exploits and what more Ghana can achieve when indigenous companies are given the needed support.

He was speaking at a colourful ceremony in Accra to present him as the brand ambassador of the Ghana Oil Marketing Company (GOIL).

He said “ I believe in the patronage of made in Ghana goods because it creates economic activity and helps raise the needed revenue for national development and that is why I have accepted the honour made me by being made a brand ambassador of a state owned company like Goil, a shining example of Ghanaian efficiency.”

Nii Laryea Affotey Afgbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, extolled the virtues of respectfulness and humility of Azumah Nelson adding that Goil, as a state owned enterprise is happy to be associated with the image and the personality of one whose exploits embodies what is good about Ghana.

According to him, a decision taken by the government last year to deregulate the oil retail sector and to allow oil marketing companies to determine the ex pump prices of fuel with minimum supervision from the National Petroleum Authority  had led to the transformation of Goil and has justified the usefulness of that decision.

On the other hand, Patrick A.K Akorli, Managing Director of Goil, held that the deregulation of the oil industry brought so many challenges to the company but it managed to take the lead in the oil retail market with over a 30 percent share.

The achievement of Goil he said can be attributed to the sound management practices of consistency, hard work b and the can do spirit of the Ghanaian.

Goil he said is proud to associate itself with Azumah Nelson, whose exploits embodies what is good about Ghana adding that Goil will always defend the country’s interest.

REMEMBERING: Jake Obetsebi –Lamptey



The Late Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey
“The Insight” is perhaps one of the many institutions which ought to pay special tribute to Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, business executive and former national Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

This is because Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey had a very special relationship with the newspaper.

Apart from the fact that he relaunched the newspaper in 1998, five years after “The Insight” was born he offered professional advice on several occasions.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey was the person who suggested the relaunching of the newspaper with changes in its logo and other details.

Relaunching the newspaper at the Old International Press Centre in Accra, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey praised  “The Insight “ and its editorial staff for their steadfastness in the struggle to democratize  Ghana.

 He described them as “gallant”.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey was undoubtedly an astute advertising executive who took his skills to the political stage and helped to get Mr. J.A. Kufuor elected as President of Ghana twice.

He had served as Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for at least two terms.

He is credited with making the NPP the dominant political party in the Greater Accra Region during his term even though he didn’t speak a word of Ga.

He served as Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City and Minister of Information.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey lost his bid to become the Presidential Candidate of the NPP.

 He also lost a bid to retain his position as National Chairman of the party to Mr. Paul Afoko.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey worked very closely with Professor Albert Adu Boahen, former President J.A Kufour and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, the current presidential candidate of the NPP.

The Insight extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

May his good deeds continue to inspire current and future generations and may his short comings be seen as just manifestations of human weakness.

Monday 21 March 2016

OHENE NTOW'S FULL REPORT

Nana Ohene Ntow
“The Insight” has obtained the full text of the Nana Ohene Ntow’s report on fund raising and financial matters in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and we are publishing it for the benefit of our readers;

Here is the report.

REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY TO INVESTIGATE THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS ACCRUING FROM THE PARTY'S PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS

SUBMITTED BY:                 NANA OHENE-NTOW,

CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE
DATED: 20TH NOVEMBER, 2015

CONTENTS
        Contents ............................................................................................................. i
Executive Summary…………………………………………………………….....II
        Preamble/Committee Membership ............................................................... 1
        Preliminary Objection to Nana Ohene-Ntow's Chairmanship ................. 2
        Proceedings - National Treasurer Testifies ................................................. 3
        General Secretary Testifies .............................................................................. 4
        National Chairman Testifies ............................................................................ 5
        Proceeds From Primaries/Lodgments ......................................................... 6
        Genesis of The Ecobank Account ................................................................... 7
        Treasurer on Lodgments/Approvals for Disbursement ............................ 8
        Talensi By-Elections ......................................................................................... 10
       Textgenesys ......................................................................................................... 11
        Finance Committee Testifies ......................................................................... 14
        Causes of Lack of Cooperation ....................................................................... 16
        Interaction with Flag Bearer .......................................................................... 20
        Baah Achamfuor Appears ............................................................................... 20 .
        Recommendations ........................................................................................... 22

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On the 19th of August, 2015, the National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party set up a Five-Member Committee chaired by former General Secretary, Nana Ohene-Ntow, to investigate among other things, charges and allegations of improper handling of funds that accrued to the party from the June 2015:Parliamentary Primaries.

The Committee heard testimony from Twelve (12) witnesses and established that there were indeed some unconstitutionality, misconduct and indiscipline on the part of certain national officers in the handling of the said funds, and in the general discharge of their duties.
In view of the committee's findings, this report recommends among other things:
1.      That clear and detailed Financial Management Rules and Regulations are enacted for the party to ensure proper management of the party's financial affairs. These guidelines should also set out more clearly the lines and structures of hierarchy, organization supervision and reporting to ensure smooth and effective running of the party;
2.      That an introspection retreat of all national and other key officials of the party is organized with the assistance of professional counsellors and psychologists with a view to dealing with the suspicions, fears and mistrust of all concerned in order to enhance greater cooperation and harmony in the leadership and management of the party.
3.      That to forestall future repeat of the findings of the Committee and also to serve as a deterrent to other officers of the party, the officers found to have misconducted themselves are referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for the appropriate disciplinary action and sanctions to be instituted against them.


REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY TO INVESTIGATE THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS ACCRUING FROM THE PARTY'S PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS
SUBMITTED BY NANA OHENE-NTOW,
~
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE
PREAMBLE
At its sitting held on Wednesday, 19th August, 2015, the National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party set up this Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the management of the monies that accrued to the party from the Parliamentary primaries for the 2016 general elections. The setting up of the committee became necessary following allegations and counter allegations between the National Treasurer, Mr. Abankwa Yeboah on one hand and the General Secretary, Mr. Kwabena Agyepong and the National Chairman, Mr. Paul Atoko on the other regarding the accounting for the lodgment and disbursement of proceeds from the primaries held in June, 2015.
The membership of the Committee is as follows:

1.
Nana Ohene-Ntow
-Chairman
2.
Hon Joe Osei-Owusu
-Secretary
3.
Hon Anthony Akoto Osei
- Member
4.
Hon Kwaku Agyeman Manu
- Member
5.
Hon George Gyan Baffuor
- Member
The Terms of Reference of the committee as contained in the letter of the National Chairman confirming the appointment of the members are as follows:
1.     To establish the total amount collected as fees for the 2015 parliamentary primaries;
2.      To establish the bank account(s) into which the fees were lodged;
3.      To determine the disbursements out of those accounts and the purpose for those disbursements;
4.      To establish the approvals of those disbursements;
5.         To investigate the cause(s) of the impasse between the National Treasurer and the National       Chairman/General Secretary;
6.      To ascertain how the dormant Bank Account at the Trust Towers Branch, was reactivated, and how it was operated;
7.      To investigate the circumstances under which the National Treasurer entered into a contract with Textgenesys Limited for the collection of Membership Dues and Monies that have accrued from the process;
8.      To investigate any other matters which I in the opinion of the Committee, are relevant to its work;           
9.      To submit Recommendations to forestall any such occurrences in the future.
PRELIMINARY OBJECTION TO NANA OHENE-NTOW'S CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEE
Nana Akufo Addo
At the very outset of the committee's work, majority (three) out of the four members present at the Committee's first sitting, raised objections to the Chairmanship of Nana Ohene-Ntow, my very good self, on grounds that the decision to nominate the Chairman should have been taken at the National Executive Committee meeting that set up the committee rather than by the Letter of Mandate to members signed by the National Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko. After some mild altercation, members agreed to work with the directives as contained in the National Chairman's Mandate Letter.
Incidentally, three witnesses who appeared before the committee namely Messrs. Abankwa Yeboah, the National Treasurer, Freddie Blay, the 1st Vice Chairman and John Boadu, the National Organizer also raised similar objections to the Chairmanship of Yours Truly for various reasons. These objections were also eventually over ruled.
, Tile Committee in all interviewed twelve (12) witnesses over a period of fifteen (15) sitting days after the National Chairman had inaugurated it on 25th August, 2015. The committee also had a special session with the Flag bearer, Nana Akufo Addo in his office at Ringway Estates.
The witnesses who appeared before the committee are:
1.      Paul Afoko - National Chairman
2.      K. Abankwa Yeboah - National Treasurer
3.Freddie Blay                            - National 1st Vice Chairman
4.Fred Oware                              -Immediate Past 1st Vice Chairman
5.Hon Daniel Botwe                 - Minority Chief Whip
6.Dr. K. K. Sarpong                    - Representative of the Finance Committee
7.Kwabena A. Agyepong            - General Secretary
8.John Boadu                             - National Organiser
9.Sammy Crabbe                        - National 2nd Vice Chairman';

10. Esther Ofori                                   - Immediate Past Treasurer
11. Gifty Ama Ayeh                  - Past Treasurer
12. Baah Achamfuor                           - Party Membe


11. Gifty Ama Ayeh
12.  Baah Achamfuor- Past Treasurer - Party Member


PROCEEDINGS
HOW MUCH WAS REALIZED FROM PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES
The National Treasurer was the first witness to give full testimony to the committee after the National Chairman had made some introductory remarks during the committee's inauguration.
On how much was realized from the parliamentary primary process, National Treasurer     
recalled that sources of receivables included sale of forms, filing fees and in some cases a special development levy. He indicated that the forms were not all sold at one point of sale and therefore could not provide accurate information on revenue from sale of forms. Putting all receivables that came to his notice together however, Treasurer testified that he could account for a total of Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis
(GHC 8,855,000.00). This total included collections from all the regions, waivers, dishonored cheques and shortfalls in some cases, as well as some payments that were made to some Regional Secretariats instead of the National Secretariat. The Treasurer indicated for example that in the case of Central Region, One Thousand Ghana Cedis of the collections was paid to the Regional Secretariat. He gave the breakdown of receipts as follows:
i.                    Expected Revenue - GHC 9,015,000.00
        ii         Actual Revenue       GHC 8,855,000.00
      . iii'       Waivers             - GHC 16,000.00
        iv         Unaccounted For GHC 89,000.00
The National Treasurer testified further that the General Secretary handed over to his (Treasurer's) office all drafts that had been submitted to him (the General Secretary). The above stated total thus covers both receipts made directly to the General Secretary and the National Treasurer. This was later corroborated by the General Secretary.
Paul Afoko, National Chairman of the NPP
As to what the Treasurer did with the drafts, he indicated that due to his concerns that there was a conspiracy on the part of the General Secretary and the National Chairman to sideline him in the financial operations of the party, he held on to the drafts he had received for some time without lodging them in the party's bank accounts at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Accra­ North Branch. Incidentally, the party's two accounts at the above-mentioned GCB Branch were the only accounts being officially operated by the current administration, although the party had a myriad of accounts with several banks. According to the Treasurer, his reasons for not lodging the drafts into the officially operated GCB accounts were that the General Secretary and the National Chairman had written to the bank to delete his name as a signatory to the party's accounts, and that the two had further directed the banks not to provide him (the Treasurer) with any of the party's bank statements.
NB
It is important to note here that these GCB accounts were the only accounts the current administration was operating officially, in spite of the fact that the party had a plethora of accounts with a number of banks, It is important to note further that earlier charges made by the National Treasurer that the General Secretary and the National Chairman had written to the bank to delete his name as signatory to the party's bank accounts, and also that the banks should not furnish him with the party's bank statements were found by the committee to be false; that indeed to date the Treasurer is still signatory to all bank accounts of the party operated by the current administration, and has been jointly signing cheques, particularly with the General Secretary.
              ii.        GENERAL SECRETARY TESTIFIES
The General Secretary gave evidence before the committee that it was difficult for him to determine the exact amount received from the primaries in view of the fact while some of the bank drafts from the regions covering the filing fees and other levies were handed to him for his recording and onward transmission to the National Treasurer, others were received directly by the Treasurer who basically refused to do any reconciliation of accounts with him. General Secretary recounted that drafts from Central, Eastern, Upper East and Greater Accra Regions were NOT submitted to him; that he later learned that these drafts had been received directly by the Treasurer. Those drafts that were submitted to his office were recorded and the drafts forwarded to the Treasurer by the end of the first week of May 2015 for onward lodgment into the party's authorized bank accounts. He reckoned that together with waivers granted a few contestants upon prior approval by the National Executive Committee and National Council, the total receipts from the primaries should be about Nine Million, One Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 9,145,000.00).
Kwabena Agyepong
At this juncture, the General Secretary affirmed that charges and accusations being levelled against him in certain quarters that the decision to grant waivers was unilaterally taken by him were unfounded, and that indeed 'that decision had been taken by NEC and affirmed by Council. He affirms that he only implemented a Council decision. The only important caveat here worthy of note is that such waivers were to be granted on a case-by-case basis - which is what he did, according to his testimony.

iii NATIONAL CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES
The National Chairman made three appearances at the committee's sittings: the first was when he inaugurated the committee during which he provided some valuable information which are detailed out later in this report. His second was occasioned by the police intervention in the whole saga of the Ecobank Account affair that had been reported to the police by one Baah Achamfuor, a party member. The committee basically summoned the Chairman to clarify issues surrounding a statement that he had made to the police on the issue, and whether his "cooperation" with the police did not undermine or prejudice the work of the committee. 
The Chairman Mr. Afokodid indeed respond to this summons of the committee and explained that he had initially declined to speak to the police on the issue since it was an internal party matter but was however advised by his legal counsel that he was duty bound by the laws of Ghana to oblige the police, except that he must keep his statement concise and factual to avoid any future charges of perjury should the case escalate into a judicial matter. He said his counsel further advised him that matters involving political parties, their operations -financial and otherwise - are matters governed by national laws and affected by public interest for which reasons he had no option but to cooperate with the police. He told the committee that he objected to going to the police station to make a statement, his reason being that the issue was an internal matter.
Upon persistence from the police, he agreed that the police visit his residence in the company of his legal counsel. It was at this juncture that he provided a brief statement to the police indicating that indeed there was such as issue regarding the party's financial management, and that the party had already instituted a committee to look into the matter.
In view of earlier suspicions that the National Chairman may be the brain behind Baah Achamfuor, the gentleman who had reported the matter to the police, the committee inquired from the Chairman whether that may be the case. The Chairman strongly denied any knowledge, contact or affinity with the gentleman in question, and urged the committee todo their own investigation of that suspicion. The committee would later find out from Mr. Baah Achamfuor himself that indeed he did not know the Chairman personally, neither had he Achamfuor been in contact with the Chairman at any time, and that his decision to report the matter to the police were informed by certain considerations which this report details in latter paragraphs during Baah Achamfuor's testimony to the committee.
Asked by the committee whether such "cooperation" with the police on his part did not make moot the committee's work, the National Chairman responded in the negative, insisting that the committee's work was merely internal fact finding and not judicial by any stretch of the imagination. At this juncture, members agreed to proceed with the committee's work.


Proceeds From Primaries
On the subject of how much was realized from the primary process, the Chairman told the committee that his information on the issue is limited to what the General Secretary had reported to him (as captured in the General Secretary's testimony above).

FINDING ON PROCEEDS FROM PRIMARiES
The committee finds as a fact that total revenue generated from the parliamentary primaries was Eight Million, Eight-Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 8,855,000.00).
LODGMENTS
Primary evidence on where the monies realized from the-parllamentarv primaries were lodged was given by the National Chairman, the General Secretary and the National Treasurer. All others who spoke on this matter were reporting what had been told them by one or the other of these three witnesses.
In reporting on Lodgments, it is important to note that the issue of where the monies realized from the parliamentary primaries were lodged is probably the most critical issue that triggered this whole investigation by this committee. It has to be noted further that in all probability, had the Treasurer not taken the unilateral decision to lodge the bulk of the proceeds from the parliamentary primaries into the dormant Ecobank Trust Towers Branch account, and had he deposited all receipts in the known, recognized, authorized and operational bank accounts of the party at GCB, there may not have been the need for this investigation in the first place.
The National Chairman told the committee that upon assumption of office, his administration inherited a plethora of bank accounts spread over several banks including one at the Prudential Bank that was operated by Messrs Ken Ofori Atta and Kelly Gadzekpo who happen not to be officers nor workers of the party. For the sake of ease of financial operations of the party a decision was taken between the Chairman, the General Secretary and the National Treasurer to activate and operate only two of the party's accounts held at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Accra-North Branch, Kwame Nkrumah Circle. The Treasurer had insisted on activating more of the party's bank accounts with the various banks but the Chairman declined to approve such a move, insisting that it was better to keep the party's bank operations simple.
Against the background of the foregoing; the Chairman told the committee that his expectation was that all lodgments of monies accruing from the parliamentary primaries would naturally be lodged in the GCB accounts which had been activated and were being operated by his administration. It therefore came to him as a surprise when it emerged at a meeting of the Finance Committee that the National Treasurer had lodged the bulk of the proceeds from the parliamentary primaries in a dormant account of the party at the Trust Towers Branch of Ecobank which the Treasurer had reactivated on the blind side of the National Chairman, General Secretary and indeed the Steering Committee. The Treasurer confirmed this fact to the committee later in his testimony, and further told the committee that the account was operated by himself and 1st Vice Chairman, Mr. Freddie Blay.
This development led to a situation where part of the proceeds from the parliamentary primaries had been)odged into this reactivated Ecobankaccount whilst the rest were lodged into the GCB accounts which were being officially operated by the current administration. After reconciling the positions of the Chairman, General Secretary and the Treasurer, the lodgment into the two bank accounts were as follow
i.             Ghana Commercial Bank (Accra-North Branch)                      GHC 3,807,000.00
ii.                 Ecobank (Trust Towers Branch)                                             GHC 5,054,000.00
           
The Treasurer would inform the committee later that with respect to the Ecobank lodgments, a cheque for Six Thousand and Eight Ghana Cedis (GHC 6,008.00) was dishonored, leaving a balance of Five Million, Forty-Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Two Ghana Cedis (GHC 5,047,992.00). NB The Committee noted that the said payment by cheque by any contestant in the primaries was irregular since all payments were to be made by banker's draft.
GENESIS OF THE ECOBANK ACCOUNT
The Ecobank account, the operation of which has become the main centre of the current controversy was actually opened bya former National Chairman of the party, Mr. Peter McManu under rather questionable circumstances. It turns out that Mr. McManu opened this account during his tenure as National Chairman on the blind side of both then National Treasurer and General Secretary. The account was apparently run by the then Chairman Mr. McManu and the then Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Collins Adu Gyamfi. These facts were borne out by the Immediate Past National Treasurer, Madam Esther Ofori in her testimony to the committee.
Freddie Blay, NPP Acting Chairman
Against this background, there was a proposal from this Ad hoc Committee's Chairman that Mr. McManu be invited to shed more light on the genesis and the running of the account. Incidentally, majority (four) members of the five-member committee kicked against Mr. McManu being invited to testify.

TREASURER ON LODGMENTS/APPROVALS FOR DISBURSEMENT
The National Treasurer, Mr. Abankwa Yeboah testified to the committee that after collecting the banks drafts, some directly from the regions and others from the General Secretary, he held on to them for some time without lodging them in the party's bank accounts. According to him, his reluctance to deposit the monies into the GCB accounts operated jointly by the Treasurer, the General Secretary and the National Chairman was due to his assertion that the General Secretary and the National Chairman had written to instruct the bank not to recognize him the Treasurer as a signatory to the party's account. According to the Treasurer, lodging the funds in the GCB account(s) would have meant that he would have been excluded from the management of those funds since, according to him only the signatures of the two officers i.e. the National Chairman and the General Secretary were used to operate the GCB accounts.
The amount of Three Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 3,807,000.00) lodged into the GCB account was only done after a meeting of the Finance committee was informed of the Treasurer's refusal to lodge the monies in the known GCB account, and for which reason the General Secretary and the National' Chairman were having difficulty accessing the money for release to constituencies for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries.
The committee was later to be informed by the Representative of the Finance Committee, Dr. K. K. Sarpong that after a verbal reprimand of the National Treasurer, the Finance Committee issued orders to the Treasurer to lodge monies into the party's known and operated accounts in order to make the funds accessible to the General Secretary to finance the parliamentary primaries and other urgent party business. In deed even after these orders from the Finance Committee, the General Secretary would later inform the investigation committee that the Treasurer obstructed the transfer of a lump sum of Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis meant for each constituency for them to commence preparations for the primaries. The said lump sum transfer was to serve as part payment of the constituencies' share of 40% of the revenue accruing from the parliamentary primaries as decided by an earlier National Council meeting.
APPROVALS
On approvals for disbursements from the Ecobank account, the Treasurer testified that such approvals were ordered by the 1st Vice Chairman, Mr. Freddie Blay.
This fact was confirmed by Mr. Blay in his- own testimony to the committee. It has to be noted parenthetically that the 1st Vice Chairman's actions in this regard were ultra vires, as the National Chairman whom the Vice Chairman is constitutionally to assist in the performance of his functions as Chairman, and on whose behalf the Vice Chairman is to act only in situations where the Chairman was not available in the jurisdiction or is unable to perform his constitutional functions for any reason(s) whatsoever, was both available in the jurisdiction and was ready, willing and able to perform his constitutionally mandated functions, as the committee would later learn from the National Chairman. Incidentally, the 1st Vice Chairman himself confirmed to the committee the fact that while all the above irregular developments were taking place, the National Chairman, as he (the 1st Vice Chairman himself) put it: "was not-known to be unavailable in the jurisdiction". Asked whether he made any effort to reach the Chairman before his usurpation of the Chairman's functions, the 1st Vice Chairman's response was that the National Chairman never picks his calls so he did not see the need to make the effort to reach him, since such effort to him, was not going to yield any worthwhile-results.
DISBURSEMENTS
After the lodgment of the various sums of money in the GeB and reactivated Ecobank accounts, disbursements from these accounts were as follows:
1.      The National Treasurer testified that with the approval of the pt Vice Chairman, he disbursed a total of Six Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-Six Ghana Cedis, and Ninety-Seven Pesewas (GHC 681,746.97) by way of cash withdrawals from the reactivated Ecobank account, all for the Talensi By-Election.
The Treasurer again testified that he took a decision to disburse a further Three Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Nine-Hundred and Ninety-Nine Ghana Cedis, Thirty-Eight Pesewas (GHC 3,999,999.38) from the same account for the purchase of Treasury Bills. He further testified that he had also established a Call Account and put an amount of Four-Hundred and Thirty Thousand Ghana Cedis of the funds into that account on behalf of the party. These decisions he said were approved by the pt Vice Chairman, Mr. Freddie Blay. Beyond the Bank Statement that gives an indication of these two major transactions, the Treasurer has however failed so far to provide the certificate and other original documentation covering the said Treasury Bill and Call Account as of the time of filing this report.
It is the view of the Committee that the decision of the National Treasurer to reactivate the dormant Ecobank account and pay into same proceeds from the parliamentary primaries without the National Chairman, General Secretary and/or the Steering Committee knowing, discussing or approving such a major high level strategic management decision, was grossly wrong. In deed this behavior of the National Treasurer is at variance with known best practice of organizational management, and even alien to the party's rules, regulations, precedents and conventions. The National Treasurer is not an island on his own even in the financial management matters of the party notwithstanding whatever interpretation he or for that matter anyone else puts on Article 9 Clause G (i) of the Party's Constitution. The 1st Vice Chairman's unilateral approval of the above transactions without any reference to the General Secretary, the National Chairman nor indeed the Steering Committee is equally grossly wrong.


2.      The General Secretary also testified that he disbursed an amount of about Three Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 3,800,000.00) by way of direct bank transfers from the GCB account to all Two-Hundred and Seventy-Five Constituencies for the purpose of funding the Parliamentary Primaries. He affirmed that the claim in the media by the National Treasurer and the pt Vice Chairman that he and the National Chairman had squandered party funds were unfounded, false and baseless, as all the funds he disbursed went straight as transfers from the Ghana Commercial Bank to the bank accounts of the various constituencies. According to the General Secretary's testimony, this transaction did not involve nor require any cash withdrawals by him. The only cash withdrawals he ordered involved payments to the Electoral Commission and the Security agencies that had provided services for the party during the parliamentary primaries. Even in this instance, the General Secretary testified that representatives of these two agencies were present at the bank to receive the payments to their agencies once the cash was paid across the counter to a party representative.
TAlENSI BY-ELECTION
Evidence before the committee confirmed that the party participated in the Talensi By­Election which took place on July r: 2015, in Talensi Constituency in the Upper East Region. The funding of the Talensi By-Election featured prominently among the uses to which the revenue from the parliamentary primaries was put.
Acting NPP General Secretary, John Boadu
All witnesses who appeared before the committee particularly the National Chairman, the General Secretary and the National Organizer agreed that a budget was generated by the National Organizer for the by-election. The General Secretary who was on his way for a foreign travel reviewed the budget and tasked the National Organizer to finalize it with the National Chairman in view of the fact that he (General Secretary) was going to be out of the jurisdiction. As to what was the final budgetary figure for the Talensi by-election, there was a bit discrepancy between the figures testified to by the General Secretary and the National Organizer. The National Chairman however testified that he finally approved a budget of Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis. Both the National Chairman and the National Organlzer confirmed that the discussions on the Talensi budget involved the Parliamentary Candidate.
For some reason, after all these discussions that led to the National Chairman approving the final budget for the by-election, another meeting chaired by the pt Vice Chairman was held in the Office of the Flag Bearer on the same Talensi by-election with virtually all national officers, the Deputy Minority Leader and the Minority Chief Whip in attendance although the National Chairman was, as the 1St Vice Chairman himself put it: not known to be unavailable in the jurisdiction. Asked why he would chair what to all intents and purposes was a Steering Committee meeting even though the National Chairman was available in the jurisdiction, the 1st Vice Chairman agreed that it was wrong. He was however quick to add that although he chaired, the meeting was called not by him but by the Flag Bearer, Nana Akufo Addo.
Final Expenditure on Talensi
At this juncture it must be noted that in addition to an amount of Six Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 683,000.00) which was disbursed from the Econank account solely for the Talensi by-election/additional amounts of Fifty Thousand Chana Cedis (GHC 50,000.00) from the Parliamentary group and a personal contribution of One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 170,000.00) from the Flag Bearer were also spent on the Talensi by-election, bringing the total final expenditure to Nine-Hundred and Three Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 903,000.00).
TEXTGENESYS
Fred Oware on Textgenesys
According the testimony of the Immediate Past pt Vice Chairman, Mr. Fred Oware, during their term in office, the party entered into an agreement with Textgenesys, a telecom intermediary service provider, to act as an intermediary between the party and the telecom companies for the 'Text fund raising' project which had been initiated by his administration. This intermediary arrangement became necessary owing to the fact that the telecom companies especially MTN with whom the party was seeking to undertake the project, were not prepared to deal directly with the party in this transaction. Mr. Oware further testified that after some time of the operation of the project, the party was dissatisfied with the performance of Textgenesys as there a.ppeared to be a lack of transparency on the part of Textgenesys.
Fred Oware
As of the time the current administration took office, the Textgenesys agreement with the party appeared to have broken down. It is important to note at this juncture that although all officers past and present, who gave testimony on the party's agreement with Textgenesys referred to an original contract between the party and Textgenesys, none of these witnesses was able to furnish the committee with a copy of the said original contract. Indeed, not even the Immediate Past pt Vice Chairman, Mr. Fred Oware whose brain child happens to be the Textgenesys project, could provide the committee with a copy of the Textgenesys contract.

Esther Ofori on Textgenesys
In her testimony to the Committee, the Immediate Past National Treasurer, Madam Esther Ofori tendered in evidence her handing over notes in which she questioned the manner in which Textgenesys had handled the financial management of the project. She testified that she had questioned the situation where Textgenesys had made two direct cash payments into the party's accounts as improper. She said without the contract document, she could not determine the terms and conditions under which Textgenesys was to deliver revenue to the party.
Abankwa Yeboah on Textgenesys
The National Treasurer told the committee that their administration inherited the Textgenesys "contract" from the previous administration. He said because the new administration was not quite clear about the terms and particularly the benefits of the Textgenesys arrangement for the party a decision was taken by the National Chairman, the General Secretary and himself the National Treasurer to abrogate whatever contract there may be between the party and Textgenesys.
After this decision however, the Treasurer, for some strange reason, decided to renegotiate the so-called contract with Textgenesys. This according to him was because he realized that the party was being short changed on the existing "contract". The Treasurer said he renegotiated the contract with Textgenesys to secure better returns for the party, Asked on whose authority he did the so-called contract renegotiation, the Treasurer affirmed that it was his unilateral initiative and decision. Although he had insisted that there was an existing contract which formed the basis of his "renegotiation" with Textgenesys, he failed to furnish the committee with a copy of the original contract so-called.
Abankwa Yeboah, NPP Treasurer
The committee found that the so-called renegotiated contract is indeed between Mr. Abankwa Yeboah as an individual and Textgenesys rather than between the party as a corporate entity. and Textgenesys. On that basis it stands to reason that as a matter of fact the party has no contract whatsoever with Textgenesys. Although the Treasurer claimed that the arrangement has earned the party some revenue, he failed to provide any evidence or details of such revenue accruing to the party as a result of the arrangement with Textgenesys. A copy of the "new contract" signed between Mr. Abankwa Yeboah and Textgenesys is annexed to this report.

Paul Afoko on Textgenesys
The National Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko, in his testimony to the committee on the party's text fund raising project, affirmed that during earlier discussions between himself, the General Secretary and the National Treasurer, and also at meetings of the Steering Committee, a decision was taken to abrogate whatever contract there may be between the party and Textgenesys. The reasons among others were that:
1. The whole arrangement with Textgenesys did not appear to be transparent;
2.      The party could not sight any contract document and so could not manage the transaction properly;
3.      It was not clear how much revenue was accruing to the party from the arrangement and how such revenue were being paid to the party.
It therefore came to him as a surprise that the Treasurer had gone ahead to do a so­called contract renegotiation with Textgenesys. The National Chairman told the committee that he had been advised by the Finance Committee by a letter dated
18th August, 2015, that the company approved by the Finance Committee to undertake the 'text fund raising' project for the party is PAYMANEX; and that the Finance Committee had picked this company after a number of companies had made presentations to the Finance Committee. The National Chairman testifies further that he proceeded to enter into a contract with PAYMANEX on the behalf of the party, based on the decision of the Finance Committee and in accordance with the party's constitution. (A copy of the Finance Committee's letter to the National Chairman is annexed to this report).
The National Chairman testified further that in spite of the party's decision as stated above, the National Treasurer, on a number of occasions, caused the arrest and detention of agents of PAYMANEX for going out into the field to implement the party's decision. Meanwhile, the National Treasurer had unilaterally authorized agents of Textgenesys to go into the field to undertake fund raising through the issue of membership cards. The Chairman added that even when the General Secretary issued a public statement to the effect that PAYMANEX is the company authorized by the party to undertake fund raising through the issue of membership cards, the National Treasurer went ahead and issued a counter public statement.
The National Chairman said to date the party has no information as to how much the National Treasurer has raised through this exercise especiallv owing to the fact that he (Abankwa Yeboah) has so far failed to give any proper accounting or report on this activity.

Finance Committee Testifies
A representative of the Finance Committee, Dr. K.K. Sarpong, testified to the committee on behalf of the Finance Committee, as the substantive Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani was out of the jurisdiction. In his testimony, Dr. Sarpong was emphatic and unequivocal on what he described as the "intransigent, disruptive and indisciplined" behavior of the National Treasurer, Mr. Abankwa Yeboah.
Aspiring President of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo
With reference to ~he impasse between the National Treasurer and the General Secretary in matters of party administration and organizational hierarchy, Dr. Sarpong's submission is very instructive:
"Administratively, the General Secretary is the Manager and Administrative head of the party and therefore is responsible for planning and budgeting. Treasurer could not be responsible for approving spending since he is not the spending officer of the party. The spending officer of the party is the General Secretary •••• There should not be any contest over hierarchy because operationally, the General Secretary is the head of the party's administration, with others helping".
He testified further that it is critical to resolve the impasse between the Treasurer and the General Secretary promptly because as he put it: "The Treasurer is damaging the party's chances of raising money, especially his media and public pronouncements and actions".
On the issue of signatories to the party's bank accounts, the Finance Committee Rep. said it would have been ideal and in tandem with best practice to make the National Treasurer a mandatory signatory to the party's accounts, plus one of any two others, i.e. the National Chairman and the General Secretary. In view of what he describes as the disruptive and intransigent behavior of the Treasurer however, he said the Finance Committee has decided that the signatories to the party's accounts should be:
1.     The National Chairman
2.     The General Secretary; and
3.     The National Treasurer; any two of whom should sign to operate the party's accounts.
On the unilateral decision by the National Treasurer to reactivate the dormant Ecobank account, the Finance Committee Rep. was emphatic that the action of the National Treasurer amounted to indiscipline and impropriety. He said although the National Treasurer's decision to invest some of the funds he deposited in that account in Treasury Bills and a Call Account may be well intentioned, the whole action is completely wrong and called for the National Treasurer to be disciplined at best, at worst to be relieved of his post should he resist or refuse disciplinary action by the party. He said the Treasurer had no authority nor mandate to do what he did.
On Textgenesys and the party's text fund raismg project, the Finance Committee confirmed earlier submissions by the National Chairman that it was the Finance Committee's decision that PAYMANEX is contracted by the party to undertake the project, after a process of selection. He indicated that the National Treasurer, who happens to be the secretary to the Finance Committee was present at the Finance Committee meetings that took the above decisions. The Treasurer's unilateral decision to enter into a contract with Textgenesys is unauthorized, out of order and therefore illegal. He told the committee that once the project had something to do with membership drive, it was the job of the General Secretary working with the National Organizer to handle the membership drive aspect of the project and not the National Treasurer, although he recognizes that as Treasurer and Secretary to the Finance Committee, the Treasurer obviously has a role to play in the party's fund raising activities.
Sammy Crabbe here with the NPP General Secretary
Sammy Crabbe on Textgenesys
The 2nd Vice Chairman of the party, Mr. Sammy Crabbe, in his testimony on the party's text fund raising project, told the committee that the National Chairman assigned him to handle the project. He said after some discussions at the Steering Committee, the National Chairman tasked a team comprising the 1st Vice Chairman, Mr. Freddie Blay, he the 2nd Vice Chairman and the National Treasurer, Mr. Abankwa Yeboah to work together on the project. He told the committee further that the National Treasurer flatly refused to work with the team. After this development, the National Treasurer and some people who work for the pt Vice Chairman started attacking him and blackmailing him in the media that he had diverted the project to a company owned by himself, among other accusations.
Mr. Crabbe testified further that the Finance committee eventually took a decision to appoint PAYMANEX to undertake the text fund raising project for the party because there were too many problems associated with the way Textgenesys was handling the project, not least among which were a complete lack of transparency and proper accountability.
Asked whether he was a shareholder or director of PAYMANEX, he responded in the negative, and rather informed the committee that PAYMANEX is a UK-based company represented locally by one Mrs. Sheila Bartels-Sam, daughter of Hon. Kwamena Bartels.

CAUSES OF LACK OF CO-OPEREATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL TREASURER ON ONE HAND AND THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN AND THE GENERAL SECRETARY ON THE OTHER
During its sittings, the Committee spent considerable time to explore the reasons for the lack of cohesion, cooperation and apparent deep mistrust among National Officers, especially between the National Chairman, 2nd Vice Chairman and the General Secretary on the one hand, and virtually all other members of the Steering Committee on the other hand. On this subject matter, the committee heard probably the most revealing testimony from the 2nd Vice Chairman, Mr. Sammy Crabbe.
Sammy Crabbe Testifies
The 2nd Vice Chairman of the party, Mr. Sammy Crabbe, in his testimony to the committee literally shocked committee members when he revealed that soon after the April 2014 National Executive elections in Tamale, a gentleman whom Mr. Crabbe would not name but simply described as a fierce loyalist of the Flag Bearer invited him to a meeting to as the 2nd Vice Chairman put it "recruit" him to undermine the National Chairman and the General Secretary. This agenda was to render them ineffective in any effort they would make to sabotage the Flag Bearer's campaign to win the presidency in the 2016 Presidential Elections. Mr. Crabbe revealed to the committee further that the gentleman in question explained that as pro-Kufuor and anti-Akufo Addoelements the presence of the National Chairman and the General Secretary at the helm of the party's affairs could jeopardize Nana Akufo Addo's chances of winning the 2016 Presidential Elections if they are not kept in check. Mr. Crabbe told the committee that he declined to cooperate with this person and his group because in the words of Mr. Crabbe: "That will be a sure recipe for rather losing the elections".
Sammy Crabbe
Subsequent to this initial overture, another group comprising mainly Regional Chairmen of the party, notable among whom were Mr. Bugri Naabu and Alhaji Short, Regional Chairmen of Northern and Upper West respectively, invited him for a meeting in Mr. Bugri Naabu's office and pleaded passionately with him (Mr. Crabbe) that since they all supported his bid to become the 2nd Vice Chairman of the party he should also support their agenda to undermine the Chairman and the General Secretary. Mr. Crabbe said he told the group that were that agenda going to help the party win the elections he would have lent his support to it. Since he Crabbe was certain that this would rather hurt party unity and therefore jeopardize the party's chances of winning, he still refused to cooperate with the plan. "I don't believe that that is the way to win power; if I did, I would have gone along with that plot. Those who appear to be going against the Chairman and the General Secretary in my view have accepted to undermine the two leaders of the party, he added.

Mr. Crabbe told the committee that subsequent to these developments, he started receiving text messages from Mr. Gabby Asare Okyere Darko, former Director of the Danquah Institute and a very well-known loyalist of the Frag Bearer to the effect that he Mr. Okyere had received information that the 2nd Vice Chairman is 'not playing bali', and that if he continued that way he the 2nd Vice Chairman was going to lose friends. He said he was therefore not surprised that soon thereafter these developments, he was basically added to the attacks and false accusations that were being levelled against the National Chairman and the General Secretary. To Mr. Crabbe, these are the real under currents of the present goings on in the party, and that any effort to effectively deal with tensions, mistrust, divisions and factionalism in the party ought to pay sincere attention to these under currents.
General Secretary on Tensions
The General Secretary revealed to the committee that soon after the National Executive elections in Tamale (April 12, 2014), he came across a document authored by people he knew to be fiercely loyal to the Flag Bearer, Nana Akufo Addo, detailing how they should work to undermine the recently elected officers who were perceived not to be loyal to the Flag Bearer, in particular himself and the National Chairman. From the developments that have followed his sighting of the said documents, the General Secretary said he believes that the contents of that document are being implemented against his good self, the National Chairman and the 2nd Vice Chairman.
On how the current situation could be resolved, The General Secretary told the committee a public declaration of a "vote of confidence" from the Flag Bearer in support of the National Chairman, the General Secretary and the 2nd Vice Chairman will go a long way to discourage loyalists of the Flag Bearer from continuing to undermine them. He believed this step is important because according to him, all the attacks against him, the National Chairman and the 2nd Vice Chairman are either by known loyalists of the Flag Bearer, or supported by them.
National Chairman on Tensions
The National Chairman described the ongoing unrest in the party as: "Factionalism gone mad". Mr. Paul Afoko told the Committee that he was aware of efforts by people perceived to be the Flag Bearer's backroom advisers to recruit other National Officers to undermine him. The Chairman mentioned the 2nd Vice Chairman, Mr. Sammy Crabbe as one of the national officers who was contacted to do that job. This testimony has been amply corroborated by the 2nd Vice Chairman. Mr. Afoko told the committee that on one occasion, Mr. Gabby Asare Okyere Darko sent him threatening messages to the effect that after becoming Chairman he should not attempt to fight what he Gabby called "the powers".

Paul Afoko, suspended NPP Chairman
The National Chairman further told the committee that he believes that a media interview granted by the Northern Regional Chairman, Mr. Bugri Naabu in which the Regional Chairman said that by the time of the 2016 general elections, the pt Vice Chairman would replace him as Chairman whilst the National Organizer Mr. John Boadu would replace the General Secretary confirmed his suspicions that there was indeed a conspiracy to undermine him and eventually push him out of office as Chairman of the party.
The National Chairman told the committee that the Flag Bearer's apparent acceptance of the entrenchment of factionalism in the party is not helping efforts at uniting the party. He for instance referred to a discussion he had with the Flag Bearer on this subject matter, during which he (the National Chairman) tried to impress upon the Flag Bearer that the practice where factions meet to take positions before official party meetings was not helping. The Chairman told the committee that the Flag Bearer's response was that the practice where like-minded people meet and take a common position on issues before official meetings was normal in all civilized organizations and societies. He the Flag Bearer therefore did not see anything wrong with this practice, although the National Chairman affirmed that he pointed it out to the Flag Bearer that in this instance the practice was doing the party more harm than good.
National Treasurer on Tensions
For his part the National Treasurer told the committee that he once overheard the National Chairman tell a member of the Finance Committee that they (meaning the National Chairman and the General Secretary) will make him the Treasurer redundant. He said he confronted the Chairman and it resulted in a huge argument. Since then he, the Treasurer has taken steps to protect his "territorv", as per his understanding of Article 9, Clause G (i) of the party constitution.
National Organizer on Tensions
The National Organizer for his part told the committee that the reason for the suspicion and mistrust among national officers is that virtually every memo he has given to the General Secretary has been leaked to the press with the exception of two. One of the two which was not leaked was _ the one challenging the General Secretary that some actions of his were contrary to decisions of the Steering Committee. The General Secretary in his testimony on this matter however vehemently denies these charges.

Fred aware on Tensions
On the issue of the tensions between national officers, the Immediate 1st Vice Chairman,
Mr. Fred aware, registered his deep disappointment and displeasure, especially regarding the rather unhealthy relationship between the 1st Vice Chairman, Mr. Freddie Blay and the National Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko. He recounted his own experience as a 1st Vice Chairman and declared unequivocally that: The office of the Vice Chairman is in fact part and parcel of the office of the National Chairman. Constitutionally, the Vice Chairman is only to assist the Chairman in the performance of his duties and not to usurp the Chairman's office. Even when the Chairman is out of the jurisdiction, technology allows contact and communication, and as 1st Vice Chairman I never took any decision or step without reference to the Chairman, even when he was out of the jurisdiction."
Mr. aware added that the situation where some national officers are exploiting the current tensions in the party to undermine others is unacceptable, and the situation cannot and should not be used by any officer of the party as an excuse to do unconstitutional and wrong things.
Gifty Amma Ayeh, aka Daavi Amma on Tensions
In her testimony to the committee on tensions among national officers of the party, a Former National Treasurer, Mad. Gifty Ayeh affectionately called Daavi Amma, said that in her opinion, the National Treasurer's insistence that he does things his own way is one of the main reasons for the difficulties the current administration is facing in managing the party. She recounted her experience as National Treasurer thus: "During my term the National Chairman was basically autocratic, running a one-man show. However, we as national officers managed to work with him in the interest of peace", She said the Treasurer should give respect to the General Secretary who is the head of the party's administration.
Daavi Amma said the situation where the National Treasurer is all over the place talking in the media and on other public platforms is not helping matters. As she put it: "A Treasurer doesn't talk. How many people know the names of the Treasurers of the other political party's; but the name of our Treasurer is all over the place". On possible solutions to the ongoing tensions among the party's national officers, Daavi Amma had this to say: "lf the Presidential candidate can look the Treasurer in the face and call him to order, a major part of the problem would have been solved",


INTERACTION WITH THE FLAG BEARER
Towards the closing stages of its deliberations, the committee moved to the Flag Bearer's office to interact with him and to seek his views on the issues being investigated by the committee. The committee brought to his attention the General Secretary's earlier report to the committee in which he (General Secretary) said he had sighted a document prepared by certain close associates of the Flag Bearer detailing how national officers perceived not to be loyal to the Flag Bearer should be undermined. Asked whether he had any knowledge of such a document, the Flag Bearer responded in the negative, stressing thus: "What will be the benefit to me if the National Chairmanarfd the General Secretary were undermined and prevented from working?"
On the General Secretary's suggestion that a public declaration by the Flag Bearer of a "Vote of Confidence" in the General Secretary, the 2nd Vice Chairman and the National Chairman as a means of discouraging those who are undermining the three national officers, the Flag Bearer said he did not think that that was the solution to the current impasse.
The Flag Bearer however stressed that what he thinks is that the principle of group decision making which underpins the party's constitution should be respected and upheld by all leaders of the party; that this is the surest way of curing the current ills of the party. 
 BAAH ACHAMFUOR APPEARS
As the saga of the Ecobank account unfolded, a member of the party, one Mr. Baah Achamfuor of McCarthy Hill, Accra, was reported to have filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police, petitioning the police to investigate a purported case of fraud in the party. This situation caused considerable consternation in the party, as the complainant was later found to be a card bearing member of the party. The committee therefore deemed it appropriate to locate the gentleman in question to hear his testimony as to why he chose to report an internal party matter to the police rather than to the leadership of the party. The need to locate Mr. Baah Achamfuor to be interrogated by the committee became even more imperative in view of suspicions and speculations making the rounds that the gentleman may have been encouraged or instigated to take such a step by either the General Secretary, the National Chairman, or indeed both of them.

 Mr. Baah Achamfuor appeared before the committee on Thursday, 24th Sept., 2015 as the 11th witness. The key question the committee demanded an answer to from the gentleman was why he, as a card bearing member, would proceed to report an internal matter of the party to the police instead of bringing it to the attention of the leadership of the party. Mr. Achamfuor responded that he had two main reasons for choosing that line of action:
1.      According to him, he had information that an account had been "fraudulently" opened in the name of the party at the Trust Towers Branch of the Ecobank by the National TreaSUrer and the 1st Vice Chairman of the party. He said he relayed this information to a member of the Finance Committee of the party whom he would not name, and asked that the said Finance Committee member cross check the information with the National Treasurer.
Achamfuor told the Committee further that the said Finance Committee member returned later to inform him (Achamfuor) that the National Treasurer had denied any knowledge of the existence of such an account. Armed with certain documentary evidence that he had confirming the existence of such an account, and coupled with the denial of the National Treasurer of the existence of such an account, he said he suspected that a crime was being committed and therefore took the decision to report to the police.
2.      The second reason Mr. Achamfuor gave for choosing to report his concerns to the police and not to the party leadership was that on a previous occasion when he had information on a similar incident of financial impropriety at the party headquarters during the tenure of Chairman Jake Obetsebi lamptey, no action was taken when he report the matter to the then National Chairman Jake with whom he was working as a Special Assistant. When the committee pressed Achamfuor for further and better particulars of the alleged incidence, he intimated that at the time, he had information with documentary evidence that the then General Secretary, Mr. Owusu Afriyie and the then National Treasurer, Madam Esther Ofori, had diverted party funds into their personal accounts.
He told the committee that when he reported this matter to Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, no action was taken. He insisted that his actions are rather in the best interest of the party and the nation, adding that should the party require that he provides any evidence to help investigations into the allegations he had made, he would be prepared to assist the party deal with the problem of financial impropriety in the party. Indeed, Mr. Achamfuor went ahead to provide the committee with details of his residential address and McCarthy Hill, Accra, as well as his telephone numbers.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The work of the committee has revealed very deep seated acrimony, animosity and a major factional divide within the party. Unfortunately, this situation is being exploited by some party members and leaders to the detriment of party unity, cohesion and internal harmony. Matters have not been helped by an apparent lack of effective enforcement of discipline. In an effort to deal effectively with the party's current situation, the following Recommendations are being proposed:
1.      That Article 17 of the Party's Constitution be operationalized and the Finance Committee be mandated to immediately draft Financial Regulations to supplement the provisions of the constitution on the party's financial management.
NB: The Finance Committee representative who appeared before the committee told the committee that his committee had already drafted proposals for such Financial Rules and Regulations for the party, ready to present same to the National Executive Committee. We recommend that the necessary action must be expedited on the said proposals for implementation.
2.      The National Council should arrange an introspection meeting of all National Officers at which all fears and suspicions would be laid bare and all grudges brought into the open for a no-holds-barred discussion. It is recommended that this meeting is facilitated by professional psychologists and counselors before the end of the year.
3.      The National Chairman should ensure that henceforth the group decision making principle which underpins the party's constitution is adhered to.
4.      That the National Treasurer is referred to the National Discipline Committee for the appropriate sanctions for gross misconduct, indiscipline and for arrogating to himself powers that he is not constitutionally mandated to exercise, particularly with respect to his unilateral decision to reactivate a dormant account of the party and operate same, as well as for unilaterally entering into a so-called contract with Textgenesysand enforcing same against the decision of the party's Finance Committee.

5.      That the 1st Vice Chairman is referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for the appropriate sanctions for gross misconduct in view of his usurpation of the powers and functions of National Chairman even in situations that the National Chairman is available in the jurisdiction and is ready, willing and able to perform his functions as National Chairman.
6.      That the National Treasurer is ordered by the Finance Committee to provide it with the documentary details of the revenue that has accrued to the party from the Textgenesys text fund raising activities to date.
7.      That the National Treasurer who purchased a Treasury Bill and established a Call Account on behalf-of the party without proper authorization, and the 1st Vice Chairman who improperly authorized the above transactions, are ordered by the National Executive Committee of the party to furnish it with the original copy of the Treasury Bill Certificate, as well as original documentary details of where the Call Account is held and the current status thereof.
8.      That in view of the rather serious allegations made by Mr. Baah Achamfuor against the Immediate Past General Secretary, Mr. Owusu Afriyie and the Immediate Past National Treasurer, Mad. Esther Ofori of financial impropriety, the National Executive Committee institutes investigations into those allegations to establish the facts thereof.
9.      That the former National Chairman, Mr. Peter McManu, is ordered by the National Executive Committee of party to explain in writing, the circumstances under which he opened or caused to be opened a party account at the Trust Towers Branch of the Ecobank and how it was run without the knowledge of the then General Secretary, the then National Treasurer nor indeed the Steering Committee.
    
      SIGNED:  Nana Ohene-Ntow,
                       (Chairman)
      Dated: 20th Nov., 2015


20th August 2015
Nana Ohene- Ntow
ACCRA


Dear Sir,
APPOINTMENT TO SERVE ON SPECIAL NEC COMMITTEE

At its Meeting held on Wednesday, 19th August 2015, the National Executive Committee of the Party decided to set up an Adhoc Committee to look into the Financial Administration of the Party, Issues related to Fees received for the 2015 Parliamentary Primaries and Other Financial Matters.

You were, accordingly, appointed a Member of the Committee. Nana Ohene-Ntow will be Chairman of the Committee, with Hon. Joseph Osei Owusu as Secretary. The
Committee shall have the following Terms of Reference:

1. To establish the Total Amount collected as Fees for the 2015 Parliamentary Primaries;
2. To establish the Bank Account(s) into which the Fees were lodged;
3. To determine the Disbursements out of those Accounts and the purpose for those disbursements;          
,
4. To establish the approvals for those disbursements;·- 
5. To investigate the cause(s) of the impasse between the National Treasurer and the National Chairman/General Secretary;
6. To ascertain how the dormant Bank Account at the Trust Towers Branch, was reactivated,· and how it has operated;
7.  To investigate the circumstances under which the National Treasurer entered into a Contract with Textgenesys Limited for the collection of Membership Dues and Monies that have accrued from the process.

8.                  To investigate any other matters which, in the opinion of the Committee, are relevant to its work;
9.                  To submit Recommendations to forestall any such occurrences in the future.
The Committee may invite any Witnesses to assist it in its work and has the power to subpoena anyone to appear before it, to give evidence.
The Committee is to submit its Report to the National Chairman, for onward transmission to the National Executive Committee.
Yours faithfully, 
Paul Awentami Afoko
cc: Kwabena Agyepong, General Secretary