COALITION OF OPPOSITION YOUTH (COOY) : WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF GHANAIAN WORKERS.

 

Some few days ago, some Public Sector Workers Unions and Associations announced an indefinite strike action in sharp protest against the poor handling and management of workers contributions under the second tier pension scheme by the John Mahama led National Democratic Congress (N.D.C.) government.  Even more disturbing to them, is governments attempt to impose Pension Alliance Trust as a corporate trustee to manage the second tier pension funds for public sector workers.

From different backgrounds, with different political orientation, persuasion and interests, we are today in unison, devoid of all partisan consideration assuring all Ghanaian workers that we are solidly behind them in their legitimate struggle to secure their future against hardships and all vulnerabilities associated with inadequate pension benefits. It is even more imperative for us as Youth leaders because we also cannot afford to mortgage the future of the teeming young people who for the next three decades of their lives will be making compulsory contributions in anticipation of an enjoyable retirement.

THE CASE OF THE WORKERS.

For the avoidance of doubt, the National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) clearly describes the second tier pension scheme as a mandatory fully funded and privately managed occupational pension scheme. Thus, we members of this coalition regard the seeming interference by government as not only undermining the spirit of the pensions Act but also marks a clear breach of the Act and should therefore not be countenanced in the slightest sense by all well meaning Ghanaians. Consequently, we see the timing of this strike as most appropriate since a successful agitation will set us on a path of recovery from the current status quo of meagre retirement packages for the hardworking

working class of Ghana. It also has the potential to reverse the trend of government dipping its long arm in pension funds and eventually misappropriating it. Over the last few years the N.D.C government has presided over the sale of valuable and profitable state assets like the Trust Hospital, the Trust Bank and the Merchant Bank all without recourse to the interest of the Ghanaian worker whose contributions were used in building these valuable assets.

However, whiles we urge the workers on to press on for what is legitimately due them, we wish to find out the following;

(i) Why is government so intransigent on the appointment of Pension Alliance Trust as trustees of the fund under the second tier scheme when it is obvious it marks a clear breach of the Pensions Act, which urges the employer and employee to come together and agree on a trustee?

(ii) Exactly how much has SSNIT collected under the tier two scheme?

(iii) How much interest has accrued on the principal collected so far?

(iv) What is the position of SSNIT on those who joined the second tier scheme at age 55? Will such persons be entitled to extra lump sum from SSNIT. The coalition thinks it will be most unfair for SSNIT to pay just monthly entitlements to such persons.

These are begging questions which demands urgent answers.

On the evidence of the above, the Coalition stands shoulder to shoulder with the already overburdened and overtaxed workers of this country as they legitimately fight for the future generation of this country. Indeed the seeming intransigence and lackadaisical attitude of the John Mahama government, creates strong doubt about the availability of the fund at the Central Bank.

For a country that cannot afford a box of chalk which cost two Ghana cedis (2gh) to educate her children but can easily afford the payment of fraudulent judgement debts and the luxury of its leaders to surpass that of Arabian Kings, the workers of this country have every right to press home for what is due them.

Indeed, the insensitivity of this government is legendary. Today our kids are not in school because teachers are on strike. We stand the risk of losing many of the citizenry because our hospitals are being deserted by our health workers whose concerns are not being addressed by government. Ghana is indeed grinding to a halt under President Mahama and we must join forces to reverse this ugly trend.

Thank you.

Signed

Sammy Awuku

National Youth Organizer N.P.P.

0244252052

Abu Ramadan

National Youth Organizer PNC

0244570006

Kadir Rauf

National Youth Organizer C.P.P

0546987960

Divine Nkrumah

National Youth Organizer P.P.P

0200529563

2013: A Year Of Corruption Scandals And Economic Hardship

As the year ends, people reflect on the happenings of the preceding 365 days and make resolutions for the coming year. New Year’s Eve also happens to be the day that people review and remember what happened in the country during the year. 2013 has been very eventful and would therefore be worth recounting.

The year begun with discussions regarding the presidential election petition filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to challenge the legitimacy of the declaration of John Dramani Mahama as President of the Republic. This was the very first time such a petition had been lodged with the Supreme Court. Lawyers and students of the law were excited about the petition whilst the judges, empanelled to determine the petition, were clueless about how to go about it. The rules passed to guide them were abandoned in certain instances. For example, the strict adherence to time and insistence on electronic filing were completely ignored in the name of “justice”. They made their “own” rules as the case progressed.

For the first time, and after many calls for Ghana to be in tune with the rest of the world by allowing television cameras in the court room for such an important case, the presidential election petition was broadcast live on national television. Ghanaians in every corner watched closely and keenly as the evidence was presented, and as it became clear that the elections were conducted so badly and poorly that there was no way any of the two leading candidates could have been declared winner or loser.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Electoral Commission and the Mahama Administration was retained to steer the affairs of the nation until 2016. Recently, some members of the Mahama Administration have blamed the economic hardship in 2013 on the presidential election petition, which lasted for 8 months. One thing is clear from their position. They admit that there was economic hardship in 2013. With all the various corruption scandals that came to light during the year, and certain policy decisions taken by the Mahama Administration, it is difficult to see how any reasonable person can come to the conclusion that the Mahama Administration failed to deliver its promises in 2013 and rather made life so difficult because of the petition.

This is why I think the blame game from the Mahama Administration is completely illogical and without any basis.

Akufo-Addo Urges Ghanaians To Pray For Their Leaders

In a New Year’s Message posted on his Facebook page and sent via email to all well wishers, Nana Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to pray for all those who lead them. He stated that 2013 had its fair share of disappointments for many Ghana but by the grace of God, the year came to an end.

Akufo-Addo, who is currently in London, encouraged Ghanaians to put Ghana first and work harder to make the nation’s economy stronger and healthier in the coming year. He also encouraged Ghanaians to protect their integrity, serve the nation with selflessness, and focus on the greater good, which is to strive and strive to create a free and prosperous society of opportunities for every Ghanaian, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or social status.

The full text of his New Year’s Message is posted below:

Fellow Ghanaians,

I know 2013 had its fair share of disappointments for many of us. But, by God’s grace, we sailed through to its end.

Let us welcome 2014 with renewed optimism. That we may find solutions to the difficulties of 2013. That we may triumph against the new challenges of 2014. That we may turn the anxieties of 2013 into opportunities in 2014.

In all that we do, let us put our nation first. Let us work harder and better, individually and collectively, to make our economy healthier and our nation stronger.

Let us pray for those who lead us so that they may find the humility, compassion, competence and confidence to serve us and serve us well.

Let us all protect our integrity, serve our nation with selflessness, and keep our focus on the greater good, which is to strive and strive to create a free and prosperous society of opportunities for every Ghanaian, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or social status.

Let us continue to believe in Ghana by doing our bit to achieve the Ghana that we desire.

My wife Rebecca, the family and I wish every Ghanaian a Happy New Year! May God bless Ghana. May God bless us all.

Nana Akufo-Addo,
London.

Reviewing the Supreme Court’s judgment in Akufo-Addo v. John Mahama

DI HOLDS SYMPOSIUM ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION

The Danquah Institute, in partnership with other civil society groups, will on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, hold a symposium for jurists and other legal and statistics experts to critique the judgement of the Supreme Court in the presidential election petition filed by Nana Akufo-Addo and two others against the election of President John Mahama in the December 2012 election.

The Symposium which is on the theme: “Reviewing the Supreme Court’s judgemnt in Akufo-Addo vs John Mahama” will take place at the National Theatre at 4pm.

Speakers at the event will include:

·    Sam Okudzeto:- Renowned Lawyer and a former President of the Ghana Bar Association

·    Prof. Kwame Frimpong:- Founding Dean and Professor of Law of GIMPA Law School, and currently the Dean at the School of Research and Graduate Studies at the MountCrest University College.

·         Dr Maurice Ampaw:- A Lawyer and the President of the Legal Advisory Foundation

·         Kissi Agyabeng:- Senior Law lecturer of the Ghana Law School

·         Kofi Bentil:- A Lawyer and the Vice-President & Strategy Manager at IMANI Ghana.

The event will be streamed live on the website of the Danquah Institute and will also be aired live on radio. The General Public is cordially invited to this event.

MULTIPLE & UNACCOUNTED REGISTRATIONS IN VOTERS’ REGISTER & 307,000 UNACCOUNTED BALLOT PAPERS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY FOR IRREGULARITIES – PETITIONERS

Multiple and unaccounted identities in the voters’ register as well as the over 300,000 ballot papers the Electoral Commission could not account for in the course of the ongoing Presidential Election petition, according to the petitioners, provided an opportunity for the various infractions which characterized the 2012 General Elections to occur.

According to the 176 paged address of the petitioners, the EC’s failure to account fully for the 241,524 persons it claims increased the voters’ register from 13,917,366 to 14,158,890 and the several multiple registrations found in the voters’ register served as a conduit to facilitate infractions like over-voting and voting without biometric verification.

Unaccounted Registrations in Voters’ Register 

The petitioners drew the court’s attention to the Electoral Commission’s answers to the petition and subsequent answers to queries on the voters’ register which the EC was unable to substantiate and which clearly proved the huge imperfections with the voters register.

“In its Answer to the Petition, the 2nd respondent provided an initial provisional registration figure of 13,917,366. The 2^nd respondent further claimed that after the conduct of registration of Foreign Service officials, students abroad on Government of Ghana scholarship, Ghanaians working abroad in international organizations, and the late registration of foreign personnel returning from international peace-keeping duties, the figure increased to 14,158,890 registered voters. This represented an increase of 241,524 registered voters over the provisional registration figure of 13,917,366.

PETITIONERS SUPPORTED BY THE NUMBERS – EACH CATEGORY IS ENOUGH TO BRING MAHAMA DOWN

The Petitioners in the Presidential Election Petition have proven to the Court in their written address that any one of the four main categories of irregularities, if sustained by the Court, is enough to invalidate the declaration of John Mahama as winner of the December Presidential Elections.

In their written submissions, the petitioners restricted themselves to 10,119 polling stations on which they relied on to make an analysis of the impact of the various statutory and constitutional violations and irregularities the petitioners are seeking the court to sustain.

The petitioners indicate that they decided to rely on 10,119 polling stations because it is those polling stations that fit the strict criteria set. The address states: