Menzgold customers will get justice - Auditor General assures | AM Newspaper
Newspaper headlines review and other matters arising in Ghana.
#AMShow
#AMNews
#MyJoyOnline
https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-news/
Subscribe for more videos just like this: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChd1DEecCRlxaa0-hvPACCw/
Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy997fm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Joy997FM
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3J2l57
Click this for more news:
https://www.myjoyonline.com/
#AMShow
#AMNews
#MyJoyOnline
https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-news/
Subscribe for more videos just like this: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChd1DEecCRlxaa0-hvPACCw/
Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy997fm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Joy997FM
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3J2l57
Click this for more news:
https://www.myjoyonline.com/
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 So welcome back to the show. Let's talk about what the papers are reporting this morning.
00:05 And we've been joined in the studio by a former president of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr. Afey.
00:14 Good morning. Good morning to you. I trust all is well.
00:17 By his grace, we are all well.
00:19 By grace, we are well.
00:21 Okay.
00:22 So we have the Daily Graphic newspaper, we have the Daily Guide newspaper, the Ghanaian Economy Times, the Finder, and the New Crusading Guide.
00:34 Now let's start off with the Daily Graphic.
00:36 The banner headline says "Men's G.O.A.T. customers will get justice. A.G. assures at Cambridge Forum."
00:44 Also, "Ghana committed to climate leadership," according to Samuel Jinapo, Graphic, Mail, Management, Confer.
00:52 "Gorse soaked quarantine unit found dead in forest."
00:56 Whoa.
00:57 A new secret tape on IGP's removal pops up.
01:00 "Committed to conduct in-camera hearing."
01:04 Now let's start off on this one.
01:07 The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Scott Fredy Abouadame, has given an assurance that justice will be served to victims of the Men's G.O.A.T. saga.
01:16 He said the efficiency of a country's justice system was tested particularly by the speed and efficiency with which cases seeking to hold high-profile members of society to account, as well as stop financial crimes, were conducted.
01:30 Consequently, he said, "We need to punish corruption and other forms of economic crime through a fair, honest, and efficient justice system."
01:43 Mr. Mone, I was asking, how long will this justice be served to customers of Men's G.O.A.T.? It's been too long, hasn't it?
01:54 Certainly, yes. The famous writer, Anna Landis, once said, and I quote, "The naked truth is better than a well-dressed lie."
02:06 And the naked truth in this context is that the investigators and the law enforcers themselves have been criminally slow in punishing these perpetrators.
02:21 Many of those who have been sentenced to premature death, many of those who have been sentenced to lead lives of destitution, because they've invested all their life savings into this scheme,
02:36 only for a young man to outwit or swindle them. So, it's good that the Attorney General has come out to assure the nation that justice will eventually be served.
02:51 We learn that the wheels of justice grind slowly. But in this instance, particular instance, the slow grinding of the wheels of justice offers little or no consolation to the lives,
03:07 number of lives which have been lost as a result of this scheme. So, our appeal to the law enforcers is that please speed up investigations into this scam and let the perpetrators face justice.
03:27 The law should deal surgically with all those who played a role in fleecing the investors in this scheme.
03:41 Now, let me bring another quote from him. He says, quote, "In reality, people lost their homes and some marriages even broke up as a result of the men's gold saga.
03:53 I am happy to state that after painstaking investigations, criminal prosecution has commenced against the perpetrators.
04:02 At least, by the grace of God, justice will be served to victims of those dastardly acts." Unquote.
04:09 Mr. Adame said in a keynote address at the 40th Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime at the University of Cambridge in the UK yesterday.
04:17 Now, the founder of men's gold, Nanapi Aminsa, still goes about carrying out his business.
04:25 I mean, recently he brought a verification system where you had to pay, be verified again, and then they would even give you the date at which you would be paid.
04:35 Is it fair to the victims of this saga that the guy they see as the mastermind of the whole thing is going about and even trying to perpetuate, in quote, what people have described as fraud on people?
04:53 This is not to pass judgment on the mastermind of this scheme, but it's fair to describe him as impunity personified.
05:07 One thing about impunity is that if it's not tackled, if it's not addressed from the root, it ignites a self-propelling and re-energizing cycle,
05:18 which then becomes very difficult to tackle. Because we all saw that this young guy was feeding fat and living big on people's investments.
05:28 But we were all silent, and the law was impotent in dealing with him.
05:35 So he went on and then devised some more schemes to rope in more people. And the more people he roped in, the more money he made, and the bigger lifestyle he lived.
05:52 It's a naked display of impunity. So yes, we take consolation, a little consolation that now the wheels of justice will grind.
06:05 But again, we need to reiterate the point that the wheels of justice this time around must grind with the speed of light in order to inject a semblance of justice into this matter.
06:26 All right. Let's see how this goes. We pray that the victims do get justice indeed. But justice at the cost of the lives of some people.
06:36 Like you mentioned, some people lost their lives.
06:39 You cannot put a price tag on human beings.
06:42 Some marriages are gone.
06:43 Gone. Gone forever.
06:45 So when is this justice going to be served to them?
06:48 That is the question.
06:50 And you might not know, once the wheels grind slowly, how many more people can lose their lives as a result of this.
06:59 So apart from the investigations and prosecution and eventual punitive action against the perpetrator or perpetrators, something should be done to assist, at least to bring some relief, financial relief to those who invested their lives, even though they were warned.
07:20 And again, I think the Bank of Ghana was also slow, chronically slow, chronically slow in addressing this issue.
07:29 They knew. They said the warning, but it was weak to say the least.
07:35 And they could have followed up with something more drastic to ensure that they stop him in his tracks.
07:43 But they looked on, they also went on, and this is what we see.
07:47 People are tormented, at least any of them, and it's so unfortunate.
07:52 Okay. When you go to page 13 of the same paper, it says, "Ghana committed to climate leadership," by Samuel Abujinapo says.
07:59 The Minister for Land and Natural Resources, Samuel Abujinapo, has assured the global community that Ghana remains committed to providing leadership for nature-based climate action.
08:10 Mr. Abujinapo, who is co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leadership Partnership, stressed that the debilitating impact of the climate crisis was cross-cutting and required collective action from all countries to overcome.
08:23 And this is why Ghana is ready to partner with other nations, both North and South, to promote nature-based climate action.
08:31 "Mr. Abujinapo stated that this is at the launch of the FCLP Working Group on Strengthening Supply and Demand of High Integrity Forest Carbon Credit at the Made in Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, yesterday."
08:46 It brings me to the question, yesterday we played the documentary "Forest and the Siege."
08:52 Ghana is saying that it will show leadership in climate, yet back home, many of these forests that could help us get this carbon credit are being dissipated by illegal miners.
09:05 In a one-time level, it looks as though there is nobody who is overseeing the protection of these forests.
09:12 Isn't that contrary to our talks about us leading the climate action?
09:18 We need, as a nation, especially the media community, to match the Minister's words with his action.
09:28 For far too long, politicians have been allowed to dabble in inflated rhetoric and empty platitives.
09:36 So this is the time to ensure that whatever he says is actualized.
09:45 Look at this time of the year. Some years back it was unthinkable that it would rain in torrents, homes would flat, properties would be lost.
09:57 But this is what is happening. Climate change is real. Climate change is hitting hard at everybody.
10:05 So we need to wake up, shape up in response to this reality. Otherwise, we will be taken on our words and it will take us back.
10:15 Already we are having challenges with our developmental issues. And this will make the challenges unsurmountable.
10:24 So the media in particular, in the name of comprehensive journalism, make sure that you follow every step.
10:35 Make sure you expose the flaws in implementing whatever climate change plans we have.
10:41 Whether they only exist on paper or they are reflected on the ground.
10:46 Let the people know and hold to account people whose job is to ensure that we stay ahead of this game.
10:57 We are not caught on our words by the devastating impact of climate change.
11:03 So with our Minister who says that Ghana would show this leadership,
11:08 and us waking up to the reality that about seven of our forests are under siege and are attacked by illegal miners.
11:16 Even yesterday I heard that one in my own hometown, the Cape Three Point Forest Reserve, is under siege.
11:24 Illegal miners are in there mining.
11:27 Is that not really lying to the world that we want to play a leading role when back home things are not as really
11:37 portraying that we are indeed in charge?
11:39 That's the moral reason why the media should use their power, their will, and influence the pedal
11:47 to ensure that all the leadership failures, as far as environmental protection,
11:54 leadership failures which reflect in the destruction of our water bodies, the colour of our water bodies,
12:03 we should ensure that the perpetrators are exposed and weak leadership in this instance is also held to account.
12:14 Let me sprinkle a good recommendation on your station, Joy FM.
12:20 I listened to the documentary and Russell deserves an international award for his relentlessness
12:29 in exposing the destruction of our forests and water bodies.
12:38 This is replicated in other media houses.
12:41 This is journalism.
12:43 Something that will use the power of the media to solve social problems.
12:49 Solutions oriented journalism and not only parroting or echoing what politicians say.
12:55 Let's move to the Daily Guide newspaper.
12:59 It says, "AG bemoans corruption in public procurement process, fake doctor arrested at CAF,
13:04 IGP concorns tape, Superintendent Asare spills beans, minority suspense, BOG protest,
13:11 and our talk, 'Enough is enough', Hajia for real."
13:15 Let's talk about the AG's tape.
13:19 It says, "Superintendent George Asare, one of the police officers at the centre of an alleged plot
13:25 to depose the Inspector General of Police, testified yesterday before the Parliamentary Committee
13:30 investigating the leaked tape, explaining why he believes the recording was set up against him
13:37 and COP George Alex Minsa.
13:40 According to him, the former Northern Regional Chairman of the MPP, Daniel Bogrinabu,
13:45 conspired with the IGP, Dr George Ekofor-Dampari, to set them up because the two have excellent
13:50 business relationships, with the latter awarding the former a contract for 40,000 police boots.
14:00 Superintendent Asare told the Ad Hoc Committee that he had both audio and video recordings
14:05 of the former MPP Northern Regional Chairman and the IGP about their collaborations and deals,
14:11 including contract.
14:13 He stated that once the audio was leaked, he was invited by the National Intelligence Bureau,
14:20 which he accepted.
14:22 I'm sure you followed this.
14:24 Yes, I'm following with all absorbing attention.
14:30 Okay.
14:31 And all consuming seriousness.
14:33 What has been the take-out for you?
14:37 The revelations so far are not only mind-boggling, not only nerve-wracking or bowel-emptying,
14:55 but also so wrenching and heart-rending that a reputable institution like the police service
15:09 should be allowed to cool down the drain.
15:14 The revelations so far give inklings into the monumental challenges and impedimental
15:31 difficulties in reforming the police service.
15:38 We should be very hesitant in condemning COP Aless Mensah or Judge Asare.
15:50 Not at all.
15:52 And he said that every issue has two or more sides.
15:55 We should also rush in condemning the IGP.
16:02 The state of the Ghana police now calls for drastic measures to bring about the desired reforms.
16:15 Otherwise, we'll be inviting implosion and self-destruction, which will also spell challenges.
16:29 It will come with disastrous consequences for the security architecture and national stability.
16:38 So, let me comment on the chairman of the investigation committee, Unagwa Atachia.
16:48 Okay.
16:49 Yeah, he's so far so good.
16:51 He's been fair, firm, but he's brought his professional competence as a lawyer to bear on his chairmanship.
17:02 And as I said, it's best repeating that we shouldn't rush in condemning people who are making their revelations.
17:12 In the long run, they will help us to mend what is broken, to fix what is rotten in such a vital institution like the Ghana police service.
17:27 So, as you watch the committee hearing, what is your expectation of the work they're doing at the end of the day?
17:35 I'm disinclined to believe that the final report will suffer defeat as the Iwaso-West Vogan violation report.
17:48 Okay.
17:50 At the nation, we spent colossal sums of money to set up a committee headed by Professor Fiyajo
17:59 to take a look at our constitution with the intention of bringing about reforms.
18:08 As you speak, that report is gathering dust.
18:13 Never, we must not, we dare not as a nation, allow the report which will come out of these investigations to suffer the same.
18:26 Not at all.
18:28 But that's what it looks like for you.
18:31 I'm an optimist, so I find myself, I would like to be on the side of optimism and not pessimism.
18:41 And so, let me give you the benefit of the doubt.
18:44 That the authorities will act with urgent promptitude in addressing the multilayered challenges in the Ghana police service.
18:53 Okay. All right. Thank you very much.
18:56 Let's look at the Finder newspaper and I'm still here with Mr. Afel Mwoni, former GJA president.
19:03 Well, the Finder says, "Free Ghana card registration records low turnout.
19:07 Dr. Afarijan urges NDC to return to IPAC.
19:11 4,169 pregnant women die in five years due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth.
19:18 And Ghana to receive first technology transfer for oral cholera vaccine production.
19:23 Screening of 1,470 kids reveals high refractive error eye problems, Dr. Obeng Nyarko says.
19:31 And minority NDC wait on court decision on Friday on planned protest route."
19:38 All right. Let's look at the pregnancy story because it is of interest to me.
19:43 And the story is written by Elvis Dacom.
19:46 He says, "Ghana has recorded 4,169 maternal mortalities in five years.
19:51 Maternal mortality refers to death due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth.
19:56 These deaths of pregnant women happened between 2018 and 2022.
20:01 As of the end of 2022, institutional maternal mortality ratio decreased marginally from 111 per 100,000 life births to 102 per 100,000 life births.
20:16 Data available at the Ghana Health Service shows a total number of 875 maternal deaths in 2018."
20:25 The statistics are staggering, to say the very least.
20:30 And it should serve as a wake-up call to our health authorities and the nation as a whole.
20:38 I'm inclined to believe that the health budgets, the budgets for the health sector need to improve.
20:50 We need to inject more money into that area to save precious lives.
20:55 What is it that we're not getting right? Is it the technology or what really is it?
21:00 I think lack of attention.
21:06 The more we pay attention, the more resources will go to that area to prevent babies from dying.
21:14 And these are people who know their destinies.
21:18 It doesn't speak well of us as a nation.
21:22 It's a classic example of misplacement of priorities as a nation.
21:29 Certain useless ventures will attract more investments.
21:35 But I'm told now the NHIS has made it free for pregnant women to go for antenatal.
21:45 In theory free, but in practice it's a different ballgame altogether.
21:51 So we need to match the theory with practice.
21:54 So that holders of NHIS cards will get health care free of charge.
22:02 So is it the service providers, that's the hospitals, or the NHIS and the NHRA that is not doing the right things?
22:11 That's why even though it must be free for them, in practice it is not.
22:14 You know the challenges service providers face in retrieving their money, recouping whatever money they...
22:21 and the delay, inordinated delay of the NHRA in paying them.
22:36 And the amounts are huge.
22:42 And we don't have the facilities to come by cash these days.
22:48 So we need to prioritize our priorities as a nation.
22:52 And one area we need to sharpen our focus is the health sector.
22:58 Another angle of the story says the midwife to women in fertility age ratio had equally been improving.
23:08 Moving from one midwife to 720 women in fertility age in 2017, to one midwife to 387 women in fertility age in 2021.
23:18 About 79% of women given birth in Ghana are assisted by a nurse or midwife, a trained professional who helps during pregnancy and labor.
23:27 Many pregnant women in rural areas do not have access to quality health care services.
23:32 And as a result, they do not receive the adequate prenatal care that they have to.
23:37 So the focus should be on the rural area.
23:39 Yes, the focus. And again, the 1112.
23:42 We are in difficult times, but as I said, it's a matter of prioritizing our priorities.
23:47 Prioritizing our priorities and again, the 1112 will help address some of these challenges.
23:52 And the provision of cheap compounds will also be prioritized.
23:57 Yeah, yeah. Okay. So that's it. Provision of cheap compounds.
24:02 Let's talk about the minority protests that they were demonstrating against the governor of the Bank of Ghana.
24:09 The minority, the protest march planned by the leadership of the NDC and other civil society organizations to the head office of the Bank of Ghana,
24:17 originally scheduled for Tuesday today, September 5, 2023, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
24:25 The route for the march remained the same.
24:27 A statement issued by Dr. Keisal Atu for some minority leaders explained that a change in date is the result of the outcome of proceedings in court on Monday, September 23.
24:37 What do you make of this protest?
24:39 The law should take its due course.
24:42 The minority have the right to demonstrate.
24:48 A demonstration does not frown on the constitution.
24:53 We are in a free society and the constitution makes provision for demonstration.
24:57 And they've decided to exercise their right to demonstrate.
25:02 And so they should be granted to do so, but within the confines of the law.
25:08 And I'm happy that the law is taking its course.
25:13 So all sides should obey what the law says.
25:18 Ours is a society governed by rules.
25:24 We are in a law and order dispensation.
25:28 And so the law should guide whatever I do and whatever I will say.
25:33 Okay. Now, page five of the finder says, "Free Ghana card registration requires low turnout."
25:41 This story was also in the papers yesterday.
25:44 What do you make of it?
25:45 It looks as though it's become our attitude.
25:48 When an opportunity has been created for us to register for a certain service, we will not go.
25:54 But when it's getting to the time for that exercise to elapse, then we all rush.
26:00 How do we check this attitude of ours?
26:02 Yeah, attitudinally we have a challenge as a nation in this respect.
26:07 And again, it springs to mind what the media ought to do to help address this nation.
26:15 And we set agendas every morning.
26:19 And we should add this to our agenda-setting rules because we know how important this card is.
26:30 So as a media community, in discussing issues, in choosing stories for front pages where they will receive added attention,
26:45 these are some of the issues which you prioritise as a media system.
26:49 Right. Just a brief on the economy times.
26:53 It says, "City to remain robust. Ghanaians could enjoy favourable utility bills.
26:57 If forex rate inflation remains stable, according to PRC and New Crusading Guide.
27:03 It says, "AG fights for men's good customers, assures them of justice.
27:08 Ignore the hollow propaganda. Takwa MPP party office still intact.
27:13 And New Ghana petitions IGP Akufuado over Ken in Japan."
27:19 I don't know, maybe some 30 seconds. Which other stories would you want to have a bite on?
27:24 I think Ken, I believe it's in respect of Ameswale who was killed in the most tragical circumstances.
27:34 Four years on, justice has not been served.
27:38 And this is a blot on our reputation as a beacon of democratic accomplishment in Africa.
27:47 And as a reference point as far as media practice is concerned.
27:51 So, it should serve as a wake up call to authorities.
27:56 Please, we know what the police can do. We have the men.
28:01 We have the men who are trained, knowledgeable, who have expertise, professional,
28:08 professionally solid to speed up investigations into the Ameswale assassination.
28:15 Because it's an enticement on the nation.
28:22 Thank you so much Mr. Mone for coming by.
28:25 You're welcome.
28:26 Mr. Afel Mone is former president of the Ghana Journalists Association.
28:30 We'll take a break when we return with Tao Abdullahi.
28:34 We'll be here with latest from the world of sports. Stay.
28:38 [Music]