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Transcript
00:00:00 How time flies, huh? Can you imagine that already we're at this point in the ninth
00:00:05 month of September. The year is running, in fact it is flying and so has this
00:00:11 week already. We're in the fourth day, Thursday. It is a beautiful day of course
00:00:16 and we're here to do what we do best, serve you. From Bernice and yours truly,
00:00:21 we love you. Thank you for joining us this morning on The AM Show. Now here's
00:00:27 what we have lined up for you this morning. We'll be joined right after the
00:00:30 news on the news review by the NDC's parliamentary candidate for Salton
00:00:35 Maxwell Lukuto. He'll be joining us to share his thoughts on myriad issues of
00:00:39 national scope. After that we have sports with Muftau Napila and then we'll be
00:00:47 hosting for the blanket conversation we're going to be having on myriad issues
00:00:53 this morning. We're going to be talking about the Cocoa Boss saga, what has been
00:00:56 paid to the cocoa farmers and whether it is apt a la what former president John
00:01:01 Romani Mahama has been saying and which the the NDC stalwarts have been
00:01:06 defending. Yesterday I was listening to Sami Jimfi on that beat. We'll be
00:01:12 bringing you that. We'll also be talking about the latest proceedings in
00:01:15 Parliament as far as the IGP's leaked tape is concerned among myriad issues of
00:01:21 national scope. And we'll be engaging this morning the Member of Parliament for
00:01:24 Tamale Central Murtala Mohammed. All of that lined up for you this morning. We'll
00:01:29 also bring you a shot of the Habitat Fair Clinic this weekend in Tema. Ahead
00:01:34 of that we've got a conversation on what you should consider when owning a home.
00:01:38 Luxury, comfort or affordability. It depends on you, your options and of course
00:01:43 your pocket. We'll be hearing from some of our sponsors today STL and virtual
00:01:48 security. They'll be joining me right here on the show. We'll also allow you to
00:01:52 have your say this morning on those pressing issues that affect all of us
00:01:57 germane to our national life. So join us with your thoughts on these issues and
00:02:01 more via the phone lines when we activate them. On that note let's settle
00:02:06 for the news up next.
00:02:10 [Music]
00:02:27 Thank you for staying with us. Time now for the AM news. In our first story when
00:02:31 his dream of becoming a world-class footballer did not materialize Michael
00:02:36 Adumaj's urge to see himself succeed regardless of this became his energy
00:02:41 plug. After some ups and downs in changing jobs Michael settled on
00:02:46 barbering, a trade he practices with passion. He shares the struggles and
00:02:51 successes with Hana Odame in today's story of hope series.
00:02:57 [Music]
00:03:03 Michael has always nurtured a strong ambition of being a footballer. He had
00:03:10 imagined himself on the international stage playing in the big leagues. When he
00:03:16 completed junior high school he puts all his eggs in one basket football or
00:03:22 nothing else. So he traveled to Accra in the eastern region to make the show.
00:03:33 He soon realized how it wasn't that easy to be accepted into a football team.
00:03:39 [Music]
00:03:42 [Music]
00:03:45 [Music]
00:03:48 I went to Sahara where I was told selection of places. I was asked to pay 500
00:03:55 cities registration fee but I didn't have the money so I had to find another
00:03:59 means to survive.
00:04:03 [Music]
00:04:05 [Music]
00:04:07 [Music]
00:04:09 [Music]
00:04:11 Looking like a shattered dream Michael refused to go back home. He quickly had
00:04:17 to make another plan to survive. He tried his hands on jobs that go fetching money.
00:04:23 [Music]
00:04:31 So I found work by washing utensils for a kinky seller. After a while I changed to
00:04:37 helping produce and sell paints. That too didn't end me much money.
00:04:42 [Music]
00:04:51 So I started selling buffalo. I carried it on my head and hooked around to sell.
00:04:56 I left that too to sell fried rice but I had to again quit to go back to selling
00:05:02 paints as I saw that as more lucrative.
00:05:06 Michael got excited about migrating to South Africa. A client convinced him that
00:05:13 he would earn more money whilst there.
00:05:16 [Music]
00:05:21 One day when I came to work I met a Baba who encouraged me to learn the trade.
00:05:26 I wasn't interested because I wanted to learn tailoring but after some counseling
00:05:31 I decided to learn how to Baba and through that I travelled to Ese based on
00:05:37 the conviction of a friend.
00:05:39 [Music]
00:05:47 He touched down in Johannesburg and called the person who was supposed to host him.
00:05:53 For over 10 hours the person did not answer his phone call.
00:05:57 After loitering in the airport, migration officials became suspicious of his moves
00:06:03 and sent him back to Ghana on the next available flight.
00:06:07 [Speaking in Swahili]
00:06:20 From 4am when I landed in Ese at 10pm my host never picked his calls.
00:06:25 Even from the immigration officers they then became suspicious and deported me
00:06:30 back to Ghana.
00:06:31 [Speaking in Swahili]
00:06:34 With no money left, no job to hold on to and no one to look up to,
00:06:39 Michael decided to go back home to Asamankese.
00:06:44 But some friends convinced him not to take that route.
00:06:48 It took him so many years to bounce back.
00:06:51 Eventually the ever determined Michael got back on his feet and now owns a
00:06:56 barbering shop.
00:06:58 [Speaking in Swahili]
00:07:08 I spent all my money on the South African trip so when I came back I really cried.
00:07:13 I felt all was lost. I hustled a lot but could not get much money.
00:07:18 I decided to go back to work with my former boss.
00:07:22 After working for a while I thought of getting my own shop so in 2018 I rented
00:07:27 this place and today I tirelessly worked towards making this work for me.
00:07:31 [Speaking in Swahili]
00:07:33 His friend admires his determination.
00:07:36 I know Michael to be very hard working.
00:07:38 Somebody who doesn't give up easily.
00:07:42 Yeah, because I have had an opportunity to be around his story.
00:07:49 Inasmuch as a year ago the downs and everything but he didn't give up.
00:07:54 Full of disappointment but he came back strongly and started all over again.
00:08:00 Right now he is Mickey.
00:08:03 Mickey barbering.
00:08:05 Barber owner, like a shop owner.
00:08:08 Married with a child, Michael says he still longs to play football but not on a
00:08:16 competitive basis.
00:08:18 His advice to the youth is simple, giving up shall never be an option.
00:08:24 [Speaking in Swahili]
00:08:33 We all have desires but sometimes achieving them becomes difficult.
00:08:38 Don't sit down doing nothing.
00:08:40 You have to try something else just as I did.
00:08:43 I also urge my brothers and sisters to trust in God to give them the best.
00:08:48 And like me they would also survive.
00:08:51 [Speaking in Swahili]
00:09:01 For JOYNEES, I am Hannah Odame.
00:09:04 [Music]
00:09:08 In our next story, residents of Tutupene in the Nkwanta South municipality
00:09:13 are asking government to fix a health post in the area.
00:09:17 The 50-year-old facility is in a state of disrepair, leaving residents to travel
00:09:21 at least 18 kilometres to the Nkwanta South area or the regional capital,
00:09:26 Dambai, to seek medical attention.
00:09:29 Peter Senu visited the community and filed this report.
00:09:34 Built in 1973, the only maintenance or renovation works the facility has seen
00:09:41 is the construction of a reservoir in 1999.
00:09:45 Currently, the ceiling and the roofing of the facility are in complete disrepair.
00:09:51 The roofing leaks badly and has affected the ceiling.
00:09:56 This is what happens any time it rains.
00:09:59 [Rain]
00:10:07 This is what residents are worried about.
00:10:10 Kisi Raymond is one of the concerned elders of Tutupene.
00:10:15 This clinic was built and opened in 1973.
00:10:23 The whole building is leaking. Damage is on it.
00:10:29 Several times our assemblyman sent a report to the assembly
00:10:34 saying they will come and renovate everything for us.
00:10:38 Since then, nothing was done.
00:10:41 So we are yet to see what will happen.
00:10:45 Augustine Milewu is the secretary to the chief of the area.
00:10:49 The community itself is making efforts.
00:10:53 I could remember we have achieved some money from a company
00:10:59 who came to saw timber here.
00:11:02 We wanted to use that money to renovate this facility.
00:11:06 But because we needed a police station,
00:11:09 so instead of the money going this way, it rather went the other way.
00:11:15 It is our interest and we are crying out that if any NGO
00:11:22 or any other person comes to this aid and tries to help us,
00:11:27 we will be very, very, very, very happy.
00:11:30 In this room, both in and out patients are received.
00:11:34 Privacy and comfort are non-existent.
00:11:38 The delivery bed has also outlived its usefulness
00:11:42 as one of the arms a woman in labor would rest her leg is absent.
00:11:47 It's not the best as it requires.
00:11:49 As you can see, there is one leg here, the other one is not there.
00:11:54 So you can imagine when a pregnant woman lies here,
00:11:58 where will the other leg be?
00:12:01 The facility rather needs urgent medical attention.
00:12:05 Here is Solomon, the in-charge of the facility.
00:12:09 The main problem here is our facility is in bad shape.
00:12:15 From the roofing to the ceilings to the louvers to the floor,
00:12:21 everything is in bad shape.
00:12:23 When it rains, we can't even sit to attend to clients.
00:12:27 We need a lot of things at the delivery room.
00:12:30 And when you come to A and C aspect,
00:12:33 we need a scan that pregnant women can be doing for them.
00:12:40 Because we don't have that.
00:12:42 And when somebody is in need, they have to go to either Mkwanta or Dambai.
00:12:47 The road is not in good shape.
00:12:50 A pregnant woman being in this bad road,
00:12:54 you can imagine what will happen.
00:12:56 Edu Francis is the assembly member for the area.
00:13:00 We are appealing to the government to come to our aid.
00:13:05 Likewise, NGOs to come to our aid and help.
00:13:09 Because this facility serves people from Ofosu to Gechibi.
00:13:16 And it's a big facility.
00:13:17 When you take out the two main hospitals in the municipality,
00:13:22 which is the medical village in St Joseph,
00:13:24 this happens to be the biggest among the two.
00:13:28 So we are pleading. They should help renovate it.
00:13:31 We have the workers here so that our people can receive good health care.
00:13:37 Peter Ssenu, Fojoi News.
00:13:42 Now the OT regional minister, Joshua Makubu,
00:13:45 says the continuous state of disrepair of the steel bridge in the Mkwanta South municipality
00:13:51 is a source of frustration for him as a resident of that area.
00:13:55 According to him, the continuous rainfall and erosion around the steel bridge
00:13:59 is affecting economic activity in the municipality.
00:14:03 The minister has been speaking to correspondent Peter Ssenu.
00:14:07 From all indications, I feel it is a frustrating situation for you.
00:14:13 Is that the case?
00:14:14 It's beyond frustration.
00:14:16 As I speak to you today, let's look at economic activities.
00:14:20 For such, an indigent of Mkwanta who has mobilized resources and put up a hotel.
00:14:28 For the past one month, nobody can access the hotel.
00:14:33 You can't sleep there.
00:14:35 So he's running into huge losses.
00:14:38 I met my regional director of Agrika after this.
00:14:43 Now he parks his car at the, what do you call it,
00:14:46 the Agrika police station and dangerously tried to cross by foot.
00:14:54 That thing that is left is not even up to an inch.
00:14:57 So today when I wake up and we are told that the regional director of Agrika has fallen into a ditch
00:15:03 by attempting to go home.
00:15:05 As we speak now, the Chabobo National Park is on the other side.
00:15:12 It cannot be accessed again.
00:15:14 There are people there.
00:15:15 What are they doing?
00:15:16 One district, one factory for processing is there.
00:15:21 One warehouse, one district, one warehouse is also there.
00:15:25 So I think that if you look at the population from Odomi, Gekorong, Keri, Pawa, Kwe, Jatwekra,
00:15:38 and all those other communities, Chiare, Chilinga, and other things,
00:15:44 the population is so huge and dense.
00:15:46 As I speak to you now, some teachers have also used that as an excuse
00:15:50 and they no longer go to school.
00:15:52 So I can tell you that our primary school people in Keri and all those,
00:15:56 some of them have not seen their teachers for the past one month as a result of the collapse.
00:16:02 And today, if you can ask if I am the education director,
00:16:06 you cannot insist that a teacher should go park their motorbike
00:16:12 and just wear one foot with the other.
00:16:14 And the bridge itself can get--it can fall into a ditch at any time at the slightest push.
00:16:20 So it's very dangerous.
00:16:21 So my advocacy is even that we should have a way of removing the collapsed bridge
00:16:26 so that the temptation to try to use it will not even be there.
00:16:30 If not, we have heard of a couple of accidents, death will follow.
00:16:34 So this is more than a frustrating situation.
00:16:37 And to be very frank with you, it's a crisis.
00:16:41 Now, residents in the Sisala East Municipality in the Wai'i District of the Upper West Region
00:16:49 are worried about the poor state of roads in that enclave.
00:16:53 The area considered the food basket of the region has the worst roads in that region.
00:16:59 And this is why the mayor of Sisala, who traveled on the Halemboi-Nabuludu East Road reports
00:17:05 that due to the deplorable nature of the road, vehicles and motorbikes
00:17:10 plying the route easily break down, leaving passengers stranded.
00:17:15 If there's only one thing that the Sisala East Municipality and the Wai'i District have in common,
00:17:23 the current boundaries is the deplorable roads that have enveloped the two Sisala enclaves.
00:17:29 The core reality however is that the enclave is the food basket of the region
00:17:35 and sometimes tops the chart in the country when it comes to mass production.
00:17:41 The irony of the aforementioned is that when the European Union granted the government
00:17:46 over 35 million euros to construct farm access roads,
00:17:50 we completely ignored prompting protests from the chiefs and people of the Sisala enclave,
00:17:55 who yielded no results.
00:17:57 This is the fancy Halemboi-Nabuludu East Road, which is about 33 kilometers.
00:18:04 It is deplorable, bumpy, full of big gullies and small dams,
00:18:10 one would have mistaken for one of the government flagship programs, One Village One Dam.
00:18:16 We bumped into these women, majority of whom were traveling from Ngandwani and Nabulu
00:18:22 in the Sisala East to Fonsee in the Wai'i District for a funeral.
00:18:28 There were over two dozen of them being transported by two motorcades
00:18:33 and both were stacked on one of the many big gullies filled with water.
00:18:38 The operators and some of the few passengers are self-conscious and close their mouths.
00:18:46 One of the motorcades devolved a fault and the engine was able to start again.
00:18:56 The motorcade's crotch bar is not working.
00:19:00 The motorcade's crotch bar is not working.
00:19:03 One of them is not correct. The other one is not good.
00:19:08 The motorcade operator is telling me that the crotch bar is not fault as a result of the bad road.
00:19:15 Because of that he cannot pick up the passengers that were on the back of the motorcade.
00:19:21 There were 15 passengers. Some of them, their babies, stopped at their backs, got stranded as a result.
00:19:29 The operator is telling me that it's one of them and explains why.
00:19:34 Some people were moving with their motorcade and we were following.
00:19:38 They nearly fell inside the water.
00:19:41 Right now our motorcade has spoiled. The crotch bar has spoiled.
00:19:45 Now we are in between two villages. We can't move forward, we can't go back.
00:19:49 Just because of the road. If the roads were well done, we wouldn't have been here.
00:19:55 We are stuck here. We can't go back to Ndobulo, we can't go to Halambale.
00:19:59 And our motorcade has spoiled. We don't know what to do now. We are just standing.
00:20:03 Now we don't know what will happen. So we are pleading on the government.
00:20:06 They should just work on our roads for us.
00:20:09 Apart from this area which we consider to be a dam, what about the other roads?
00:20:15 Other roads are even worse. Especially from Wahabu to Halambale to Bukabale.
00:20:21 From Mandwani to Nabukabale. Just from this road Buchambale all the way to this place.
00:20:27 It's the same problem. The same problem.
00:20:30 Last one car even fell with people. Some got injured because of this.
00:20:35 They fell in the water. Some got injured. Some with broken legs.
00:20:38 Some with just injuries all over their bodies.
00:20:41 She also spoke of a close shave with death some months ago.
00:20:46 From Mandwani to Nabukabale. I was sitting just at the end.
00:20:51 My legs were outside like this. So when we were going there was a pothole that the motorcade driver didn't know.
00:20:57 He jumped on it. So I fell down. I didn't fall. I was standing. I fell and I was standing.
00:21:03 I held the motorcade back this way. And it moved because it's not where I fell.
00:21:07 It moved and I used my oxbow to hit the motorcade. Now they are nearly dead.
00:21:11 They have to send me to the hospital.
00:21:13 The operator of the motorcade later approached us for a favour to pick him and the rest of the passengers to Fonsee
00:21:20 to enable him to look for a mechanic to repair the faulty crutch bar.
00:21:25 So now they are now pleading on us to pick them from Nabulo Street to Halambale or Fonsee.
00:21:32 And so we are right here. They are currently stranded and they have nowhere to go.
00:21:37 And so the only help that we can give to them is to also pick them on the back of our pick-up straight to Fonsee.
00:21:44 The people in the Sinsala East is that they want their roads to be more drivable.
00:21:49 They have been pleading on government to come to their aid.
00:21:53 But it appears that government has not heeded to their plea.
00:21:57 Until the roads are worked on in the municipality, people in this enclave will continue to suffer.
00:22:05 Reporting for JNews, Rafik Salaam, Halambale.
00:22:10 Now from the issue of bad roads, let's veer into the terrain of art and music which share numerous similarities.
00:22:20 But the contrast between them has always been striking.
00:22:23 African musician Mr Easy is on a mission to blur these distinctions through his latest album, Evil Genius.
00:22:31 Drawing inspiration from the depths of his inner self and the echoes of his childhood.
00:22:36 Jacqueline Ansomayobwa has more in this report.
00:22:40 To transcend the ordinary, popular Ghanaian-based Nigerian artist, Mr Easy,
00:22:47 has brought together artists from diverse corners of the world, each weaving their interpretations into the very fabrics of his songs on his new album titled Evil Genius.
00:22:58 Mr Easy says this innovative synergy between music and visual art breathed new life into his new album.
00:23:06 Earlier I just wanted to be able to do something different to make this album together.
00:23:11 And I feel sometimes when we make albums, the music videos might not fully capture our expression.
00:23:18 And because this album is very personal to me, I was looking for a way to more personally tell the story of the album.
00:23:26 And right now everything I'm looking at doing is connecting African music, African culture, African art, African movies together.
00:23:34 And so with this I've been able to merge African art and African music.
00:23:40 And this is what inspires me right now. Arts, music, movies, sports.
00:23:46 And it's what I'm about now, it's what I invest in, what I feel is my calling to impact the creative community in Africa.
00:23:57 Terminator head singer, King Promise, joined the chorus of admiration for Mr Easy.
00:24:04 Classic, amazing, creative, artistic. You can see by what he's even doing right now.
00:24:11 It's not even just music but just art in general. It's a masterpiece. Shout out to my boy Tosi.
00:24:17 He's a crazy guy, you know. He's always coming up with some crazy ideas and he never stops.
00:24:23 I just feel like he's blessed differently.
00:24:25 Political luminary Gappy Ochoa was utterly captivated after listening to the tracks from the album.
00:24:32 If you are creative, you have a responsibility to promote creativity in every facet.
00:24:40 And for me this is African creativity at its best.
00:24:44 The full album is expected to be released in October. For Joy News, Jacqueline Ansu-Mayivwa.
00:24:56 And that's how we cap off the news this morning on that artistic note.
00:25:00 But stay tuned because there's more coming your way shortly as we get into the newspapers with Maxwell Lukato.
00:25:06 We'll be right back.
00:25:07 (music)
00:25:32 Oh, were you looking for me? Well, here I am. We're back with the News Review and we're spending time with Maxwell Lukato.
00:25:42 He actually is the NDC's parliamentary candidate in Noftung. He joins us for this conversation.
00:25:55 But before I bring him in, let me just remind you Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic helping us as always to bring you this segment.
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00:26:18 Of course, whatever follows from there, you may have to fork out a little bit for.
00:26:22 But the testing, which is costly in itself, will be done for you.
00:26:27 Gratis. Here's where you can locate them here in Accra.
00:26:31 It's Pentex opposite the Shell signboard in Kumasi. If you will find yourself there, they are in Kronomagwe here behind the Angel Educational Complex.
00:26:38 The Anagy state is where you can locate them.
00:26:41 Entema Community 22, Techiman Hanswa and Esiamanzima. Their call lines 0244 867 068 or 0274 234 321.
00:26:54 Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic, the end to chronic disease.
00:26:58 But just the start of the news review with Maxwell Lukato.
00:27:03 He actually is parliamentary candidate for South Tongue. North Tongue is taken by my brother Okujatwa Blakwa.
00:27:11 I nearly got you into some trouble with your brother Okujatwa Blakwa.
00:27:17 My apologies, Maxwell. How are you this morning? You would have to unmute, Maxwell.
00:27:29 Maxwell, you would have to unmute. Yeah, good morning, my brother. Good, good, good. I can hear you now.
00:27:35 Sorry for the trouble I nearly found for you. Yeah, I need to take you to the X axis.
00:27:41 South Tongue, South Tongue, South Tongue, say it three times so that you get used to it.
00:27:44 This is a tongue twister. South Tongue, South Tongue, South Tongue.
00:27:50 Very good. I think I got that. I think I got that.
00:27:55 Anyway, so you always remember that you move from the south to the north. So anytime you want to mention, please remember to say South Tongue first before you think of the north.
00:28:05 I hear you. I'll think of Accra down south and then I'll get it together.
00:28:12 But it's another week, another opportunity to connect with you. It's not every week that we do get to connect with you without any political bias,
00:28:22 because it is clear you stand on the NDC end of things, but without any political bias.
00:28:26 Observing some of the issues that have happened over the last week or two since we had any interaction.
00:28:34 Is there a single matter you want to pick and reflect on in some two and a half minutes briefly?
00:28:41 Yeah, of course, the most critical and topical issue for us for last week that we started this week is the limited registration exercise
00:28:50 that is being undertaken by the Electoral Commission. And for me, Ghana is becoming more a podcast than anything else.
00:28:59 Everything and almost anything around us is hinged on politics and the young ones are getting to understand and would want to participate.
00:29:08 And it's better for us to allow our young ones to participate in the politics and the democracies that we want to nurture for the future,
00:29:15 than stifling them and putting impediments in their way. And so for me, that's a very critical thing that all sound minds
00:29:24 and very vociferous voices would have to send a call out to the EC to be more proactive than we are seeing them do now.
00:29:34 I have participated in the process, you know I'm an inter-tribal party. And so from last week to now,
00:29:41 we have been having some meetings and trying to put our numbers and figures together.
00:29:46 It looks like the EC is grossly underestimating the number of people that are available to be registered.
00:29:53 But for some of us on the ground, we have gone to every nook and cranny, taking some data,
00:29:59 and we want to say that the EC would have to re-look at the situations that they estimated.
00:30:05 It is not as they think it is on ground. There are more people on the ground that would have to be sorted out.
00:30:11 And so the numbers that we are seeing now...
00:30:13 Are you saying it's more than the about 1.35 million that the Electoral Commission is targeting?
00:30:21 Because that's the number they are targeting, something down, you know, south of 1.5 million.
00:30:27 Yes, yes. And we are thinking about something like 3.5 million or around that.
00:30:32 How are you coming up with those figures?
00:30:35 Like I said earlier, we are on the ground. I am a parliamentary candidate.
00:30:40 The Electoral Commission is also on the ground. I'm sorry. The Electoral Commission is also on the ground.
00:30:44 So when you say you are on the ground, what do you know that they don't?
00:30:47 What we know they don't know is that they don't go to the nook and cranny of the constituency or the district.
00:30:52 They are sitting in their district offices and making projections.
00:30:55 I don't know, maybe based on the data from the Kanaskar Service or something.
00:31:02 But what I mean by we are on the ground is that we are an interested party.
00:31:06 So we have our branch executives on the ground and we've asked them to list their...
00:31:12 Give us data on the number of people who have turned 18 and will be ready to register.
00:31:18 And so based on those numbers we are getting from the branches to our work coordinators, to us at the constituency levels,
00:31:24 we can tell them that we have more than they think.
00:31:27 And in any case, because we are an interested party, we would have to organize the people and make sure they come to register.
00:31:33 NDC, NPP, CPP, GOOM, any of the political parties would be interested in getting their members from the ground to come to register.
00:31:42 And so we would know the figures more than they would do.
00:31:45 And so I think that they should be listening to us. That's the essence of IPAC.
00:31:49 And once they have gone to IPAC meetings, I'm sure that the political parties that are attending, minus the NDC of course, we are aware why we don't go,
00:31:56 is that they have also sounded that same question to them that the numbers they are thinking about are far, far lower than what the political parties would be turning out.
00:32:05 And so they should get more serious. And for me, they have sent out...
00:32:08 Of course, Maxwell, it's a projection. They'll keep registering.
00:32:11 And of course, even if they have to register 3 million people, they'll do that.
00:32:14 Between now and the 2nd of October, they started, was it on Tuesday? Yes.
00:32:19 Yeah, so Ben, for instance, in my place, I'm expecting to register over 12 million people.
00:32:26 And the first day we registered...
00:32:28 When you say your place, when you say your place, when you say your place, what do you mean?
00:32:32 12 million. He just said 12 million.
00:32:35 Yes.
00:32:37 You mean 12,000?
00:32:39 No, no, no. I mean 12,000.
00:32:47 Uh-huh. Okay.
00:32:48 I mean 12,000.
00:32:49 Sure.
00:32:50 So if I'm expecting, yes, 12,000. If I'm expecting to register over 12,000 people, and the first day I got just over 56, and yesterday I got 164.
00:33:00 Right.
00:33:01 That makes it to over 210, thereabouts. So an average of that is just over 100.
00:33:07 So even if we are getting 100 or 120, or let's say yesterday we had 164, so we put an average at even 150 or 200.
00:33:16 200 times 20, 21 days is just 4,200.
00:33:21 True.
00:33:22 You get my point?
00:33:23 True.
00:33:24 And so 4,200, how many more days are they going to add up to make the 10,000 or the 12,000 dollars I'm expecting within my constituency?
00:33:30 So those are the realities we are talking about.
00:33:35 And so I'm going to start pulling registration centers where more of these people can be brought.
00:33:42 So it's making us so much so that we have to control the numbers that come to the registration center at the go.
00:33:48 Because you know you have to get these people from far places to the district registration centers.
00:33:53 And when they come from morning to maybe after 2 o'clock, these are young guys, 18 years, 19 years, who can't even fend for themselves.
00:34:01 It means somebody who has brought them or who has encouraged them to come should be thinking about feeding them.
00:34:06 If at the end of the day, for instance, on the first day, all the people that came to the center were not registered, some of them would have to go home.
00:34:13 Yesterday, about 19 of them had to go home, even when we had to control the numbers that come to the center.
00:34:19 Right.
00:34:20 And so if you have to take them in, out, in, out, in, out, or even lodge them in a hotel, that is a great cost to the parties that are interested.
00:34:28 And so for me, let's be practical about these numbers.
00:34:31 They have some number of occupants in their offices, but they are not deploying all of them to be used for the registration at the same time.
00:34:38 The number of people they have even employed to get to the registration exercise are lower.
00:34:43 OK, Maxwell, I get a grasp of everything.
00:34:47 I get the thrust of what you're saying.
00:34:50 But and I share, you know, in some of what you're saying.
00:34:55 I mean, I also got concerned because somewhere in the Ashanti region and other places, I believe in the Upper West, we also we have our people, correspondents reporting.
00:35:05 And the numbers over the last two, three days have been very low, which means that we're to meet the targets of the numbers that they expect to be registered.
00:35:13 It's going to be problematic. But let me avert your mind to another aspect of the conversation that some watches of the political space find rather disturbing, worrying.
00:35:23 It has to do with the fact that this exercise is going on and it's not the Electoral Commission telling people to register.
00:35:30 It is the NDC, John Mahama, and the NPP, you know, stalwarts in the NPP, including the president, who are saying go and register.
00:35:40 Seemingly, the political parties have taken over the work of the Electoral Commission.
00:35:45 And the question is, why do you find it as worrying?
00:35:49 Oh, no, I'm not sure taking out, taking over the exercise of the Electoral Commission.
00:35:53 No, it's not like you can't take it away from them. But the point is, you two are at the forefront and we're asking why.
00:36:00 No, we are an interested party. When people come to register to vote, they are supposed to vote for a political party, right?
00:36:08 And so if this, you are going to have exams, you are interested in getting textbooks to read and to make sure that you go to pass your exams.
00:36:15 Interested to the point where you can't let the legitimate body assigned to do it to carry it out?
00:36:21 No, we have always helped them to do whatever exercise they do.
00:36:26 You know, they want us to be around to take their numbers to know how they are even doing or not doing.
00:36:32 And so for me, it's always an interest for these political parties to get involved.
00:36:37 If you don't get involved, how do you prep up your people at the grassroots to be able to go and register and for you to get your numbers in the elections?
00:36:44 So if you are not interested, it means you are not a serious political party.
00:36:48 OK, all right. Let's get into the papers.
00:36:51 I just want to acknowledge two people who have sent in messages just because they are reaching out from far away places.
00:36:57 The first one says, good morning. And I'm watching you live inside Parigu in the northeast region, particularly Wale Wale constituency.
00:37:06 It's good to hear from you. You are from the vice president's area.
00:37:12 There's also on will be cool, Michael, who says good morning.
00:37:16 It's on will be cool, Michael. Watching from Cachimbala Hydropower Plant in Taraba State, Nigeria.
00:37:23 God bless you, John. Well, God bless you, too. Thank you for watching.
00:37:27 I was in Lagos how many weeks ago. So it's good to hear from someone all the way from my my other country, Nigeria.
00:37:37 So we'll start with the Business Finder newspaper or maybe let's start with the daily guide instead.
00:37:42 I'll go to the Business Finder newspaper. IGP Concourse sat tape doctored attach.
00:37:49 Supposedly says so. Then there's jilted fetish priest cuts off ex-girlfriend's arm.
00:37:57 Race for MPP flag bearer Kennedy by pick numbers one and two and then inflation drops to 40.1 percent.
00:38:07 This is the lowest we've seen in about 11 months or so.
00:38:12 And then but it's still extremely high. 40.1 percent. If you look at what other jurisdictions have, 40.1 percent is really high.
00:38:20 But at least comparatively, from the times we hit 50 plus, this is way better.
00:38:27 Convict chases judge in courtroom after sentencing. Now, this is not funny, but I mean, you cannot help but really.
00:38:35 Anyway, convict chases judge in courtroom after sentencing. Wow.
00:38:41 And then on the back page, of course, you can expect some sports news there.
00:38:46 New York City's losers goalkeeper. I saw that trending yesterday and then McGuire does it again.
00:38:52 Harry McGuire. Someone must have jinxed McGuire.
00:38:57 I don't know over the last how many years it's just been, especially since he moved to Manchester United.
00:39:02 It's just been woe upon woe. And it's same for another player who's pictured here.
00:39:09 Richard Hollison. He's not scored in a number of matches, I think, since the World Cup. He's not been very well.
00:39:15 Even when Brazil obliterated Bolivia, he couldn't make the scoring sheet.
00:39:21 He had a sitter and missed it. I will seek psychological help. Tottenham striker Richard Hollison is saying.
00:39:28 And Pogba explains doping test failure. OK, so let's get into the stories now.
00:39:34 Page three. The chairman of the parliamentary committee investigating the leaked audio tape of an alleged scheme to depose the inspector general,
00:39:44 Samuel Attaché, has indicated that the tape that went viral and served as the basis for the speaker's referral appears doctored, appears doctored.
00:39:55 He said a second audio tape, which was handed over to the committee by one of the witnesses, Daniel Bouguinabu,
00:40:00 looks like the full complement of the conversation that ensued among the three persons captured on the tape.
00:40:09 Now, answering questions from the media and parliament yesterday after an in-camera session with the witnesses, Mr. Attaché noted, quote.
00:40:18 It seems to be the case because the second tape is one which is a very long discussion,
00:40:24 which I can come to some understanding that they do not dispute the audio that went viral was the basis for the speaker to make the referral to the committee.
00:40:34 You might want to call it the first thing when we played out the first day to the witnesses said the tape was incomplete.
00:40:43 It's been truncated. It's been edited. If you can remember, we're asking which ones to validate.
00:40:48 And they said their voices were valid here. But the rest of them disagreed.
00:40:52 So that is basically it for that story. It's more about maybe the length of the final tape.
00:41:02 But on the in-camera set sitting, Mr. Attaché said the first person the committee called upon was the minister for national security, Albert Kandapa.
00:41:12 And we know that all of these people have been asked to show up in parliament before that committee.
00:41:19 Let me get into other stories before you come in and respond. I'll go to page six and do those two stories there and come to you.
00:41:28 So the Asamankese police in the lower West Akin municipality of the eastern region are holding a fetish priest known as Tugwe Gadifia for allegedly cutting off his ex-girlfriend's arm and leg after breaking up with him.
00:41:43 The jilted fetish priest has gathered Hector's ex-girlfriend, Rakiya Husseini, with a machete.
00:41:49 Now, she was taken to Asamankese government hospital, but was later transferred to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Kufrodia due to her condition.
00:41:56 The incident reportedly occurred at Kufrum, a suburb of Asamankese, where the fetish priest resides.
00:42:04 The victim, Rakiya Husseini, 25, was in a romantic relationship with him until she decided to marry a Muslim.
00:42:14 You would think that the fetish priest with his powers would be able to, if he wanted, rather than go slashing her with a machete.
00:42:22 And speaking of which, drama unfolded in an across circuit court on Wednesday when a businessman, Frank Kwesi Obeng, confronted the judge after being handed a 15 year prison sentence for charges of conspiracy to steal, abetment of crime and money laundering.
00:42:37 As the verdict was delivered, Obeng immediately questioned the judge saying, "Please, do you know me somewhere? Why have you given me a 15 year jail term?"
00:42:46 He then proceeded to remove his shirt and approached the judge in an aggressive manner.
00:42:51 The situation, however, was quickly diffused by intervention of the prosecutor and a court warrant officer who escorted Judge Evelyn Asamoah to her chambers.
00:43:01 Obeng was then escorted out of the courtroom without his shirt and sandals.
00:43:06 Your reactions to these stories?
00:43:08 Yeah, thank you so much. First of all, I want to take a bite on the so-called "concert tip".
00:43:18 The doctrine of a tip, of course, was a conversation that took place between two groups or three parties.
00:43:26 It lasted so long and a portion of it might have been taken up and a section presented.
00:43:31 It would be called doctrine. Doctrine does not necessarily mean that you didn't say something and another person went to use your voice to come and...
00:43:40 So according to him, it was obviously edited, truncated. I do not know fully whether that is what he's referring to as being "doctored" because "doctored" then implies that something has been taken out and something else inserted somewhere, which may implicate somebody. That's my understanding.
00:43:58 Not necessarily. From the interrogations that we all saw on TV, the police officers we had, most of the issues pointed out to them, they agreed that it's such a thing.
00:44:10 The only thing was that there were points that they thought that something else should have come before whatever I said was brought in.
00:44:16 Of course, the one who has an interest would always want to present a clean side of the point.
00:44:22 But interestingly, I saw a few days ago, they said a new job in Ghana now, especially for MPP people, is for you to record and get paid.
00:44:32 So you realize that they have a lot of things coming out and it's like that is a new business in town.
00:44:38 Once you get a few people having a meeting, you go and record them, go and give to some other party and you get paid.
00:44:45 It's so interesting that this is the new trend of business we are having from them.
00:44:53 And that shows how vicious they are. They are not concentrating and thinking about what they can do in terms of governance to bring out the best institutions and make life better for the ordinary Ghanians.
00:45:05 The very reason why they have been voted into power. But to be thinking about other selfish interests of theirs.
00:45:12 You see police officers openly saying that they have an allegiance to a UP party or they are sympathizers of the MPP.
00:45:18 And the only interest they have is that they want to become an IGP before they resign.
00:45:23 And so for me, those are the boring issues.
00:45:25 And Bukirinabubi, the former vice chairman of the MPP in the northern region, now getting people recorded to give to an IGP for whichever reason.
00:45:36 We saw some other things where he himself was claiming that some contracts were given to him.
00:45:42 And we heard the police officers talking about some police boots, a number of them that he has to supply to the police service.
00:45:50 So it means that all of them at the end of the day are only looking for business and positioning interests and not thinking about what they can do to Ghana.
00:45:57 And so this is what it has come to.
00:45:59 And for me, once the police officers have agreed to making those statements and alleging to oust the IGP,
00:46:08 to the extent that it is all in the interest of the MPP party for them to win, which is the very critical aspect of their team.
00:46:17 Whether I was doctor or not doctor, once they have agreed and they have said something,
00:46:21 it is about why they should think that MPP is the only party that should continue to be in power.
00:46:26 But which reason it be an IGP to allow police officers to carry guns to the police centres to be able to kill opponents,
00:46:33 to be able to win the election is what is intriguing to most Ghanians.
00:46:36 So for me, they should be looking at more at that aspect of their team rather than whether IGP recorded them,
00:46:43 whether he did not record, whether he sent somebody to record, whether a person of their team has been taken off,
00:46:49 a person has been brought in.
00:46:50 Once whatever you said, you said you were the one who said it.
00:46:53 For me, that is enough.
00:46:55 Of course, there were some of the things that they said that were not real.
00:47:02 They had not had any such conversations.
00:47:05 If you recall, ACP Alex, COP Alex Mensah and then George Asare, Superintendent George Asare.
00:47:13 But quickly, Kennedy-Bao Mya picked numbers one and two.
00:47:17 Of course, we know that, how would I even put it?
00:47:24 The schedule was met, the configurations were done and the picking and how it turned out,
00:47:30 we have Kennedy-Japon picking number one, Dr. Bao Mya picking number two,
00:47:34 we have Dr. Friaco picking number three and then Francis Adani, picking number four.
00:47:40 That's the order.
00:47:41 How that will impact the vote income D-Day in November, only God knows.
00:47:47 Inflation has dropped as well to 40.1 percent.
00:47:50 And in the middle spread, Reggie Zippy finds love again.
00:47:54 Of course, we know him, UK-based musician.
00:47:57 Recently, we were talking about divorce and all of that.
00:48:01 He accused his wife of certain things.
00:48:03 His wife came out on social media and accused him of being unfaithful and so many other things
00:48:08 and accusing him of being with a Caucasian, a white lady.
00:48:12 Well, there's a picture here of him supposedly with his new love,
00:48:17 which his wife had alleged he had been with for two years.
00:48:21 Doesn't appear there's going to be any reconciliation there.
00:48:26 Let's look at other papers.
00:48:27 We'll wrap with the daily graphic virtually.
00:48:31 So, Cocoa Price, NPP farmers paid 70.03 percent of 2,600 FOB.
00:48:40 And then there's NBC farmers paid 61.71 percent of 2,950 FOB.
00:48:47 You know what? I'm getting very concerned because if we're not careful,
00:48:54 we may get to the point where we have NDC husbands and NPP husbands.
00:48:59 NDC wives and NPP wives.
00:49:01 NDC water and NPP water.
00:49:05 NDC food and NPP food.
00:49:07 I'm sorry, what kind of lunacy is this?
00:49:13 Everything is NDC, NPP.
00:49:15 I mean, regardless of where anyone may belong, we're getting to crazy proportions in this country right now.
00:49:23 Everything is NDC, NPP.
00:49:26 It will get to the point where even the bedsheet you sleep on will be an NDC bedsheet, NPP bedsheet.
00:49:32 I mean, I get the fact that there are issues with this.
00:49:35 Yesterday, I listened to Sami Jemfi.
00:49:38 I listened to Fifi Bwafu of Cocoa Bot and the accusations.
00:49:42 And I can side with both parties on some issues.
00:49:46 But this bit, I don't know.
00:49:49 I really don't know where we are going as a country.
00:49:51 It's not about bashing any particular side.
00:49:55 I'm just saying that we are getting so political, so polarized,
00:50:01 that as some have suggested, if we don't get a grain on it, a grip on it,
00:50:07 it may spell something we don't want to talk about in this country.
00:50:13 It's becoming too politicized.
00:50:16 So that story, then, I'll not even go into the details of it.
00:50:21 Ifriyakoto, the New Crusading Guide, says, "I'll win November 4 NPP presidential primary."
00:50:27 That's according to him.
00:50:29 Then, The Daily Statesman, there's Cocoa Bot CEO schools Mahama on parameters of cocoa pricing.
00:50:38 I don't know about schooling, honestly, when you look at the details from both parts.
00:50:43 And then there's AMA launches 125th anniversary.
00:50:49 Okay, I think those are the major stories before we go into the daily graphic.
00:50:52 Any reactions, Max?
00:50:55 Yeah, sure. I can understand your frustration.
00:50:58 And some of us don't also think that we should get to this extent that every little thing has to do with NDC and NPP.
00:51:06 And so for me, that is why the plot to out the ITP is critical.
00:51:13 This cocoa pricing issue should not be something we have to send to the extent we are going.
00:51:20 Because usually you see that one side wants to make it look as if it is out of magnanimity that we are doing this for somebody else who also wants to look at the other side of the point.
00:51:31 The president coming to announce the new cocoa price and make it look as if it is out of his own generosity that he's granting that to the cocoa farmers is what will make some other person think that,
00:51:42 "Oh, then you have not given them everything they need or you should have given to them."
00:51:48 I think that cocoa should have just announced that based on the prices we are getting from the international market,
00:51:55 we think that this percentage is what we should also be giving to farmers and we are giving it to you.
00:51:59 And that is it. But once the political party wants to make political capital out of the whole thing, another one will...
00:52:05 That wouldn't be new. That wouldn't be new. I get your point. And to some extent, I agree with you.
00:52:10 But that wouldn't be new. It's something that all of you do.
00:52:13 You give the crumbs to the people and make it seem as though you were giving them such a bounty. It's what all of you do.
00:52:21 Yeah. And so for me, we should get to the stage where we allow these systems to run.
00:52:27 If it's cocoa pot, who has to announce this? Why should a politician come to announce a new cocoa price?
00:52:34 And so if they come to do and give reasons why that is what it should be, then that should be it.
00:52:39 For me, it's about looking at the whole chain from the farming to the drying, the packaging,
00:52:47 all that has to do with the cocoa processing industry. Let's look at it and make sure that our farmers get the best that they can get out of it.
00:52:55 It's about the issue of bread and butter. It's not about who increases the best in 50 years or 10 years or 3 years or whatever.
00:53:02 And so for me, if it is about government itself, it's going to look for money elsewhere to come and dash to these cocoa farmers.
00:53:08 Praise the Lord. But it's our own beans you have bought, you have sold. You are giving them a percentage of it.
00:53:13 If you need to, why should you make it look as if it's out of our dynamity?
00:53:17 And so far as us, NDC would also say that, oh, then we're giving them free fertilizers.
00:53:22 You have come to take it away. You are now selling to them.
00:53:25 I get your point. We have limited time, Maxwell. We have to go and make way for sports.
00:53:30 Musa Ibn Shiraz says, Good morning. Waking up to stream this great show from the comfort of my office always makes my day fulfilled.
00:53:40 We're glad that we're able to do that and we'll keep trying to do that for you every morning.
00:53:45 Thank you, Musa. Let's wrap with the Daily Graphic newspaper and make tracks.
00:53:49 It's interesting because we are stating this so categorically.
00:53:53 Well, it's based on the statement by Samuel Attachia leaked tape on IGP first tape doctored.
00:54:00 Parliamentary Committee affirms and doctoring here.
00:54:04 That is the term that I would like to be properly explained.
00:54:08 But anyway, what was in the first day reverberates in the second day and it's the same conversation we're having.
00:54:14 So whether we count it as this or that, it remains what it is in the supposed second tape,
00:54:21 which is the full length version of the conversation they had.
00:54:25 There's also a boost for share sector. A thousand seedlings planted in Savannah ecological zone.
00:54:33 In recent times, we've been bleeding when it comes to share butter.
00:54:36 And in terms of the production, the share trees, some of them being cut in terms of productivity levels,
00:54:44 in terms of marketability of the product, all of that in there.
00:54:48 More young people express interest in agric and vocational skills.
00:54:53 That's according to a research survey. And First National Bank signs five year a crumb marathon deal.
00:54:59 We've already spoken about the first tape being doctored by the Parliamentary Committee.
00:55:07 Well, well, not by the Parliamentary Committee, but as per the Parliamentary Committee, Samuel Attachia.
00:55:12 So I think we'll we'll just hang it there.
00:55:15 Any final comments, Maxwell, as we go? Thank you so much, my brother.
00:55:22 We hear from most of our viewers that we are proud of the way things are done.
00:55:27 And for me, I don't want to compliment you for a good show always.
00:55:32 I miss you the last few weeks. I never saw you. You were in Nigeria, I guess.
00:55:39 Yes, I did go to Lagos, but that was just briefly.
00:55:43 I was I was preparing for some exams and all of that. Yeah.
00:55:49 No, that's OK. We are we are we are grateful to you always.
00:55:52 And so like Ghanians, we have always wanted the best we want for ourselves.
00:55:56 For me, let us learn lessons from what is happening around us.
00:55:59 Let us put forth best practices, especially I am particular about this easy registration exercise.
00:56:05 Let's listen to voices of caution and make sure that if we want to do something else,
00:56:09 to make sure that we smooth in the process as it is now or the best for us.
00:56:13 So let us get easy to understand that we need help in this registration exercise.
00:56:18 If we are to increase the number of centers they have at the registration centers,
00:56:22 if they have one, they make it two. If it is to make you three.
00:56:25 So that more people come and do this within a space of three weeks.
00:56:28 Because once you increase beyond three weeks, you are still giving pressure to people who are watchers
00:56:33 to also increase their days and numbers and it affects productivity.
00:56:37 Let's not waste our time and days on just one thing.
00:56:40 We can do it. Yes, people, the 21 days and get all the people who are interested in registering.
00:56:45 Register. Thank you. Thank you so much.
00:56:48 Thank you, Maxwell Lukuto. And we wish you the very best for you and your constituents.
00:56:53 And of course, the entirety of the country. I think I'm going to start doing this for every politician I speak to.
00:56:59 Please, guys, let's not do too much NBC and let's do Ghana hashtag Ghana G.H.A.
00:57:07 I wish you the top of the morning. And that is the NDC's parliamentary candidate for South Pole.
00:57:12 Bring us to the end of the news review. The segment always brought to you by Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic.
00:57:17 They're offering free prostate screening if you're a man, free fertility screening if you're a woman.
00:57:22 Here's where you can locate them here in Accra at Spintex opposite the Shell signboard.
00:57:26 There's Kumasi Kurnuma behind the Angel Educational Complex, Takrade Anaji State, Tema Community 22,
00:57:32 Tichiman Hanzo and Nsiaman Zuma. The numbers to call 0244 867 068 or 0274 234 321.
00:57:42 Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic. The end to chronic disease.
00:57:46 But just the start of sports. Some matches have been played. Brazil, Peru, Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana.
00:57:54 Some of these matches and more. Well, we're bringing you that in football, among others.
00:58:01 We'll also be talking about Black Stars head coach Chris Hilton. All of that in sports up next.
00:58:08 You.
00:58:35 You still watching the AM show and it's time for sports. My name is Harun Barak.
00:58:39 Let's start with the Black Stars, because head coach Chris Hilton has expressed his excitement about the performance of the home based players in the team.
00:58:48 We talk about medium Jonathan Sowa and Fatah Hamid, who made their senior national team debut in Ghana's 3-1 win over Liberia on Tuesday.
00:58:56 Hilton says their performance will encourage other home based players in the local scene.
00:59:01 Very, very conscious of what any introduction into the camp from local players.
00:59:10 I'm very, very conscious of that. That's why I stay here for periods to watch as many games as I can here.
00:59:19 But it's always going to be about competition.
00:59:22 And when it comes to whatever squad I have to pick the whatever is 24, 25 man squad that I think is the best squad to get the result that we need to get.
00:59:38 Sometimes injuries can give others an opportunity.
00:59:42 And we, of course, had an opportunity for two.
00:59:47 Both players from Midyam, and I think both done well, particularly Jonathan coming on in that last minute and giving the team a real lift, I think, in that period, particularly when the game opens up.
01:00:03 But really pleased for Hamid as well to make his debut.
01:00:07 So I think that's probably for them, too. I think that's great encouragement. It's great encouragement for more, more of our local players to want to aspire to.
01:00:18 Yes.
01:00:20 Elsewhere, former or current vice president of the Ghana Football Association, Mark Addo, says he would have wished the football governing body would continue to carry out its activities despite the injunction on the elections.
01:00:33 An injunction application filed against the elections by King Faisal has brought the activities to a standstill.
01:00:40 The date for the next hearing of the case is set for September 19.
01:00:46 Wednesday morning saw the new dawn of one of Ghana's most beloved sporting events as the Accra Marathon unveiled Feds National Bank as its headline sponsor.
01:01:03 I think we live in a country where everybody can take their cases because they feel that their rights have been infringed on.
01:01:11 I mean, I don't think anybody, that's in dispute.
01:01:15 The issue becomes whether it's frivolous or not.
01:01:18 And that I'll leave to the judges because I can't sit here and say this is, they have a case or they do not have a case.
01:01:27 But whatever the case is, I have my own issues when somebody just put in, apply for an injunction.
01:01:37 And out of respect for the judiciary process, you literally have to stop everything you're doing, which to me, it can be tested in virtue of the fact that until the courts rules on the matter, you should continue to do what you do.
01:01:51 But that's my view.
01:01:53 I know some lawyers.
01:01:55 I've had numerous discussions bantering with lawyers on this issue.
01:02:00 I get some that support that views.
01:02:02 The others will say, well, you have to respect the judicial process because somebody has put an application for injunction.
01:02:11 But having said that, as to the merits of the case, I'm not going to go there because I have my own views and I won't tell you.
01:02:21 But this is Ghana Football Association.
01:02:23 I'm sure the class know that there are internal structures you need to exhaust before you go to an outside court.
01:02:28 So Dr. Nyahota Maklu in the course of the week granted an interview with our colleagues at Joy FM and he was clear that, I mean, a large group of us should abandon this injunction application case because first of all, you need to exhaust the internal structures.
01:02:40 They have not done that.
01:02:42 And that is what I want to hear from you.
01:02:44 And Doc is right.
01:02:45 We are an association and we have our rules.
01:02:47 So if you don't follow the rules, there are consequences.
01:02:51 OK.
01:02:52 At some point.
01:02:54 And if you look at the example of the Asheville case that you just mentioned, the fact of the matter is the person who is applying or who is actually suing in this instance, it's not a member of the effort because it's totally been banned.
01:03:13 Technically.
01:03:14 Yes.
01:03:15 I mean, as good as my member of the effort.
01:03:16 No, no, no, no.
01:03:17 Not as good.
01:03:18 OK.
01:03:19 OK.
01:03:20 OK.
01:03:21 OK.
01:03:22 So the individual technically has no locus.
01:03:26 What someone should tell me how is he a member of the effort?
01:03:29 He's not.
01:03:30 I see.
01:03:31 So I'm not going to go legal.
01:03:33 I'm only telling you technicality.
01:03:35 What is this?
01:03:36 What's the issue?
01:03:37 So as to what are legal, the rules are the story.
01:03:38 So but to your point, if you are a member of the association and we have our rules, you follow the rules and you have an exhaustive how things are done.
01:03:51 And then you take it to court.
01:03:52 Then at the end of the day, after that, the cause of the case and comes out with a decision.
01:03:59 The association also set and see whether what sanctions or if there's any that has to be applied.
01:04:05 You go through it.
01:04:06 So it's a process.
01:04:08 Away from football, long distance athletes across the country cannot have a sigh of relief as the prestigious Akron Marathon event returns this year.
01:04:19 The event will now be known as the first National Bank Akron Marathon.
01:04:23 There's more in the following report.
01:04:25 Wednesday morning or the new of one of Ghana's most beloved sporting events as the Akron Marathon unveiled first National Bank as its headline sponsor.
01:04:37 The five years partnership for loose and agreement with the dance, a monkey fit club, canizes of the marathon and paves the way for the reactivation of one of the most iconic sporting events on the Ghanian sports calendar of the six year high.
01:04:52 Today, we gather to unveil this partnership and not only strengthens first National Bank's commitment to Ghana, but also exemplifies our dedication to promoting sports, promoting fitness and nurturing communal spirits and nurturing communities, especially the communities that we are exposed to as a bank and those that we work with regularly.
01:05:12 So we are here really to very proudly to announce that we are becoming the headline sponsors of the first National Bank Akron Marathon.
01:05:21 Thank you.
01:05:24 As has been covered by Benjamin quite extensively, but also, as you may know, the Akron Marathon is an event that has in the past drawn many thousands of runners and spectators from across the country, creating an atmosphere of togetherness and accomplishment.
01:05:39 It's an event that embodies the very essence of community, and that's something that we at the first National Bank really hold dear to our hearts.
01:05:46 The unveiling and contract signing was held at the FMB head office in Accra. Chairman of the dance monkey fit club had the stick on the deal.
01:05:56 This morning event is significant in the history of Ghana sports as we gather here to witness the contract sign off for the Akron Marathon, which is coming back to life after a seven year long break.
01:06:10 This contract signifies our commitment to excellence, collaboration and a shared passion for promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
01:06:20 The marathon will be beneficial to the country as it promotes socio-economic activities by boosting the sale of businesses, enhancing tourism and uniting neighboring communities and the entire society.
01:06:32 In this regard, we appeal to the government, corporate organizations and individuals to support this prestigious event to enable us to achieve the desired objectives and benefits.
01:06:44 The multimedia group was also announced as the official media partner of the event.
01:06:49 From the multimedia group side, we are also extremely thrilled to be part of this historic, historic event.
01:06:56 The marathon is something we have watched grow from strength to strength over the past 30 something years, and it's an absolute pleasure to put the might of the multimedia group in English and local language.
01:07:11 So what you can expect is on Joy News, on Joy Prime, which we are using to push the marathon this year, which is our generalist channel, and also our mass media brands, Adum TV, which goes nationwide.
01:07:26 Adum FM, Hit FM, our entertainment and youth station as well. Then we have Love FM, which is for Kumasi and the middle belt of Ghana areas.
01:07:39 Then go to the western side, we have Inshira, which goes to that side as well.
01:07:44 So six radio and TV channels will be pushing the Accra Marathon, plus, of course, all our digital energies.
01:07:54 Remember, Joy Prime, which is making this as footprint also is the channel, apart from Joy News, that has footprints in the west of West Africa.
01:08:04 So that's that's why we are using Joy Prime and not Joy News.
01:08:08 The 2023 edition of the first National Bank Accra Marathon takes place on November 11.
01:08:14 [MUSIC]
01:08:20 That's your sports. For more, you can head on to myjoyonline.com. My name is Harun Warak and have a good morning.
01:08:27 [MUSIC]
01:08:53 I have one question regarding the tape. Again, I just want to know, does the second tape suggest that indeed the initial tape, which went viral, is a seductive one?
01:09:09 It seems to be the case because the second tape is one which is a very long discussion, which I can come to some understanding that they do not dispute.
01:09:32 Well, here we are back in the studio as we get into our big stories and we're going to be talking about everything in between.
01:09:39 We had to play that tape to set the tone for the potboiler, the start to the conversation we're about to have.
01:09:46 But here in the studio, we have Murtala Mohamed, member of Parliament, Tamale Central.
01:09:55 Sometimes he's on the floor of Parliament doing his thing.
01:10:00 Last time I saw him in some deep waters, he was with Aisila Ouswe Kufu.
01:10:05 You call that deep waters?
01:10:08 A very good morning to you, sir. Thanks for joining us in the studio.
01:10:11 I know you're mischievous.
01:10:13 Mischievous? Why mischievous?
01:10:14 What do you mean by deep waters?
01:10:17 But that day, it was fiery on the floor of Parliament. People were wooing you.
01:10:25 So this morning when Murtala came in, you remember there was this time about a year and a half ago or so, I think,
01:10:35 when he came and he did some renditions in Patois. Can you do something for us this morning?
01:10:41 I'm not going to do anything in Patois.
01:10:47 Why are you saying?
01:10:50 He was telling me that I was speaking Bukom Patois.
01:10:55 I'm not saying anything.
01:10:56 You're not saying anything?
01:10:57 No.
01:10:58 Okay.
01:11:02 Can you share some greetings with the members of your constituency in Patois?
01:11:06 If it's not in Patois, you're not doing it.
01:11:10 Anyway, good to have you on the show this morning.
01:11:12 Good to be here.
01:11:14 Before we get into that tape that we played, I think it's only fitting, as I always do, what's Tamale Central been like?
01:11:22 When was the last time you were there?
01:11:25 Tamale, about two weeks ago.
01:11:27 Okay.
01:11:28 And apparently I was in Tamale on official assignment.
01:11:32 Apparently?
01:11:33 Yes, because I work on, I serve on public accounts committee.
01:11:37 Oh, right.
01:11:38 So I went to Tamale a week before, came back to Accra, and I had to go back to Tamale because of the work of the public accounts committee.
01:11:46 You know, the country is zoned to four, so the five northern regions.
01:11:52 The public hearing takes place in Tamale.
01:11:54 So I was in Tamale specifically for parliamentary work, but I took advantage at least to meet youth groups in the night.
01:12:03 You know, we start the sitting at nine and sometimes we finish around seven, depending on the schedule for the day.
01:12:10 So I was taking advantage of the time to meet youth groups.
01:12:14 And in fact, in the morning, when I needed to attend funerals or our dories, before the sitting begins, I do so.
01:12:21 So that's why I said apparently I was in Tamale for the purposes of parliamentary work.
01:12:26 That was two weeks ago.
01:12:27 And from Tamale, we moved to Sinjani.
01:12:29 So we spent a week again in Sinjani, then came back to Accra.
01:12:33 This weekend, we shall be, inshallah, in Hope for Volta, Eastern, Greater Accra, and the other regions, the new region.
01:12:45 And from there, we'll move to Takuradi for Central, Western, and then the Western North.
01:12:51 That's what we do.
01:12:52 So by that time, we are looking at the 2021 Auditor General's report because we want to clear the backlog.
01:12:58 Remember that was the objective we set.
01:13:00 So hopefully, once we are done, we shall begin with the 2022 Auditor General's report so that we do not have the backlog.
01:13:08 This was a major criticism, particularly coming from the media, why we've been doing this.
01:13:14 So when we are doing what we expected us to do, you need to give us the credit.
01:13:18 So we give you credit for that.
01:13:20 Thank you for at least responding to what we've called for over the years.
01:13:24 It includes the Auditor General and the fact that we feel a lot of the time it is not proactive.
01:13:32 It tends to be retrospective.
01:13:34 So we want a system where when the thing is happening, you can clamp down on it.
01:13:38 Don't wait for the loss to happen before.
01:13:40 But thankfully, I mean, if you look at the losses of the Auditor General, for example, cited by the Auditor General,
01:13:45 the last time, over 99% or 97% were recoverable, which is good.
01:13:53 Whether they will be recovered is another point altogether.
01:13:56 I think that has to do with the Attorney General too. It's important.
01:13:59 And I say this with profound conviction and concern that, you remember, there are a lot of procurement bridges and other infractions.
01:14:09 And how far Parliament can go, a committee of Parliament can go, we do our public hearing,
01:14:15 we submit our report as a committee to plenary, and then plenary then takes a decision.
01:14:22 A lot of institutions and individuals were recommended for prosecution, including Frances Essiem.
01:14:27 Really?
01:14:28 Yes, including Frances Essiem.
01:14:30 The Cylinder.
01:14:32 Yes, and in fact, the committee unanimously agreed that she should be prosecuted.
01:14:38 We sent the report to plenary and it was adopted.
01:14:41 It means that even in the entire House agreed that Frances Essiem and other individuals should be prosecuted.
01:14:47 Over a year now.
01:14:49 Yes, I was about to ask, what has happened to that?
01:14:52 I'm bringing it to fore so that you guys can demand from the Minister for Justice and Attorney General.
01:14:57 But what are the actionable means to be followed?
01:15:03 The purpose for the public hearing is that when the Auditor General submits its report to Parliament,
01:15:09 Mr Speaker then refers the report to the appropriate committee, in this case the Public Accounts Committee.
01:15:15 We then provide an opportunity for the people who have been cited by the Auditor General to come and justify
01:15:22 why they think that they should not be surcharged or they should not be prosecuted,
01:15:27 depending on the recommendation of the Auditor General.
01:15:30 And the Auditor General has those powers? Surcharging, disallowance, and then retrieval of the sums?
01:15:36 Let me just conclude how the process is done.
01:15:39 So we provide people who have been cited in institutions the opportunity to come and justify through the public hearing.
01:15:45 There are instances where people have come and then we realize that the Auditor General had,
01:15:50 and the committee would recommend that no, make the necessary payment.
01:15:53 And some of the payments would have been affected even before they appeared before the committee.
01:15:57 Mind you, wherever you go, we have officials of the Auditor General and the various Auditor General employees
01:16:04 and people within the districts and regions.
01:16:06 Now, when we bring our report as a committee to Plenary and it is adopted,
01:16:11 we then submit the same to the Minister for Justice and Authority for Prosecution.
01:16:15 So at that stage, it gets out of the domain of the legislature.
01:16:20 It is now the responsibility of the executive arm, in this case the Minister for Justice.
01:16:25 Are you then saying that there has been the lack of will from the executive to pursue?
01:16:31 And I ask that question in context.
01:16:33 You remember recently at the Ghana Bar Conference, Mr. President spoke about corruption.
01:16:37 I can fish out what exactly he said, but he made mention of the fact that his administration
01:16:42 had come to the forefront in the fight against corruption, doing everything.
01:16:49 Let me just quote. Let me just quote, Mr. President. I think I can find what I shared.
01:16:56 Yes, he says, "My government has taken the boldest initiative to fight corruption since independence."
01:17:04 "My government has taken the boldest initiative to fight corruption since independence."
01:17:10 Now, these accusations, for example, Francis Sissiem, what are they? What do they border on?
01:17:17 Did you believe the President when he said he has taken the boldest decision?
01:17:21 Everybody knows that he even fights those who are fighting corruption.
01:17:24 So for the President to make that statement, for me it was the biggest joke of the year.
01:17:29 Everybody knows.
01:17:31 The Office of the Special Prosecutor has been set up, hasn't it?
01:17:35 What was the verdict? What was the verdict of the person?
01:17:38 In fact, the first person to head that institution was from your party,
01:17:40 Martin Alamisi Benz Kaiser Amidu.
01:17:42 Everybody knows that he appointed Alamisi, he appointed Martin Amidu to witch hunt enemies.
01:17:48 And there was nothing he could witch hunt.
01:17:50 And in any case, what was the verdict of Mr. Martin Amidu?
01:17:53 The verdict was that the President was a mother serpent for corruption.
01:17:56 What is the verdict of even the current head of the...
01:18:03 He's allowed the processes, the law to take its course. Sicilia Dappa?
01:18:06 But he has indicated the frustrations that he has gone through.
01:18:09 He has indicated the fact that the resources and the tooling that would ensure
01:18:13 that he discharges his responsibilities effectively have been denied to him deliberately by this government.
01:18:19 So everybody knows all reputable institutions,
01:18:23 clothed with the capacity to determine whether a government is corrupt or not,
01:18:26 the Afro parameter of the CDD, the Corruption Perception Index,
01:18:33 they've all rated this government to be the most corrupt ever in our history.
01:18:36 What President Muhammad, the lowest of President Muhammad,
01:18:39 who was forced to retire, is what this government or this president is celebrating.
01:18:43 Everybody in this country knows that the Flagstaff House is the CETA for corruption.
01:18:49 The extent to which... Why?
01:18:51 By what standards? With what evidence are you saying that?
01:18:54 If the Flagstaff House could add over $800 million to Ameri Union's position,
01:18:59 that was thievery. That was not corruption.
01:19:02 You're taking us all the way back to Bwache Jaku.
01:19:04 But I'm saying that... Not Bwache Jaku. The addition was done from the Flagstaff House.
01:19:07 It took the vigilance...
01:19:09 But it was within that... That is his leadership.
01:19:12 Bwache Jaku, I think, on your same program...
01:19:14 I know what he said about getting calls and all that.
01:19:18 I'm saying that that over $800 million,
01:19:21 but for the vigilance of the NBC members of parliament in the Southern Parliament,
01:19:26 it would have been in someone's pocket.
01:19:29 So I'm saying that it is very clear that this government has perfected corruption.
01:19:33 And frankly, President Nanado is the lead of the choir
01:19:36 in terms of how this country could be...
01:19:39 I get that from where you sit, you would want to say that.
01:19:41 But I say, what are the tangibles? What can you pin on Mr President?
01:19:45 I have just told you, the $800 million was added from the Flagstaff House.
01:19:50 Who is the head?
01:19:51 And you can prove that it was Nanado who signed off on that?
01:19:54 Who wanted that to be done? Seriously?
01:19:56 No, I'm just asking you. In a court of law, you would have to prove it.
01:20:00 The President doesn't sign even letters.
01:20:02 Someone signs letters for and on behalf of the President.
01:20:05 So if the person engages in any little wrong, who takes the responsibility?
01:20:09 Who does? So I'm saying that this man, this President,
01:20:12 I mean that statement was a joke.
01:20:14 He is the most corrupt leader ever in the history of this country.
01:20:17 You see, he would win Ghanaians into believing that he was coming to fight corruption
01:20:22 with these fake slangs.
01:20:25 You know, the President in any attempt...
01:20:27 You see, in this country, if you speak English in a funny way,
01:20:30 people tend to listen to you.
01:20:32 I think that's a low blow, to say that fake slangs and all of that.
01:20:36 The President has spoken this way since we've known him.
01:20:41 Since the days of...
01:20:43 Since even when he was engaging former Presidents.
01:20:45 You remember when he was Communications Minister?
01:20:48 I mean, he's spoken like this.
01:20:50 But I never said he started the fake slanging today. I didn't say that.
01:20:53 What makes it fake?
01:20:55 Kofi Annan had worked with the United Nations for several years.
01:20:57 I'm saying I lived in America for several years.
01:21:00 He didn't come with a fake slang.
01:21:02 So, even appointees, my good friend, what's her name?
01:21:06 Adjo Asafo.
01:21:08 Have you watched her videos?
01:21:10 She's also trying to sling.
01:21:11 Because they believe that if you slang the people of this country, listen.
01:21:15 So, this President, he's the most corrupt ever.
01:21:17 Tell me one single state institution, or single independent institution,
01:21:21 with the capacity to determine how corruption is pervasive in our society,
01:21:27 that hasn't said that President Nanadu fights for corruption.
01:21:31 Look, Professor Jumobuidu, when he was interviewed,
01:21:35 they asked him the fight against corruption by the President.
01:21:38 You remember what he said?
01:21:40 He said it's in Tartus.
01:21:42 It's in Tartus.
01:21:43 The CD, the Afrobarometer, described this President, this government, as the most corrupt.
01:21:47 In fact, we chopped 41% under this government.
01:21:51 Do you think that Mr. President and those...
01:21:56 You remember in this country, when we were told by someone,
01:21:59 one of the lead candidates for the MPP flag bearership,
01:22:03 Kennedy at the point said, even as an MPP member,
01:22:05 for you to have access to the President, you need to pay $20,000.
01:22:08 What has happened to it?
01:22:10 The President on that day also said that, oh,
01:22:12 every allegation of corruption has been investigated.
01:22:15 Let's narrow it down.
01:22:18 The cash for seed investigation was done by Parliament, not the executive.
01:22:22 I see you going down memory lane.
01:22:23 Let me do this.
01:22:24 Let me ask the questions.
01:22:26 Do you feel then that there is a disjointedness,
01:22:29 that there is some disconnect as far as the reality versus what maybe Mr.
01:22:35 President and those in establishment may see?
01:22:38 I want you to narrow it down quickly because I want us to move on to other things.
01:22:41 Also to Frances Isiem.
01:22:43 You've made mention of her name.
01:22:45 You are on the Public Accounts Committee.
01:22:47 What exactly, if you recall, are some of the things she has done, the infractions?
01:22:53 Very quickly, because it has been supposed that,
01:22:56 I don't want to use the term swept under the carpet, but we've not heard of this.
01:23:00 So if it must come to the fore, I just want you to bring it up because this could
01:23:04 stoke a conversation on it and we could speak to the AG on these matters.
01:23:08 It was public hearing.
01:23:09 The thing was done publicly by the GTV.
01:23:12 And in fact--
01:23:13 I'm not saying that it wasn't.
01:23:15 I'm just saying that since that time, there has been no action.
01:23:19 I have just told you what Parliament needs to do.
01:23:21 Maybe someone will ask, as a member of Parliament, a member of the committee,
01:23:23 what did you do?
01:23:24 I have told you that after we finish with our work, the committee is made up of
01:23:30 equal numbers of NDC members and MPP members.
01:23:33 Of course, the chair of the committee is an NDC member.
01:23:36 We all agreed unanimously that Frances Isiem be prosecuted, as recommended by
01:23:43 the Auditor General in the Auditor General's report.
01:23:45 Submitted same to Plenary in Parliament.
01:23:48 And the 275 members adopted the position taken by the committee.
01:23:54 So, the committee unanimously accepted.
01:23:57 Yes.
01:23:58 At the plenary, unanimously accepted.
01:24:00 Unanimously accepted that she should be prosecuted and many others.
01:24:02 I don't want to limit it to her.
01:24:04 The reason why I mention her name is because she is a political appointee.
01:24:07 There are other civil servants and public servants.
01:24:10 What were the intentions?
01:24:12 They were procurement breaches.
01:24:14 I mean, sometimes, outright recklessness in terms of doing things without following the law.
01:24:19 We have laws, financial regulations and acts that regulate the conduct of anybody
01:24:24 who manages state resources.
01:24:26 Now, the committee of Parliament submitted the report.
01:24:29 Parliament adopted the report of the committee.
01:24:32 We submitted the same to the Auditor General over a year.
01:24:35 Over a year.
01:24:37 Yet, that same woman sat on TV and says NBC was corrupt, people were corrupt.
01:24:42 I'm saying that over a year.
01:24:44 So, why is the Minister for Justice and Attorney General not willing to prosecute?
01:24:49 Are there any ways beyond the fourth realm, the media?
01:24:53 Yes.
01:24:54 You're putting it out.
01:24:55 Yes.
01:24:56 We'll likely follow up on this.
01:24:57 Beyond what we can do, what legally can be done to ensure that in instances like this,
01:25:03 maybe, I wouldn't say force the arm of the Attorney General.
01:25:05 You see, if you go to court today.
01:25:07 But push for the right thing to do.
01:25:08 If you go to court today, assuming, on what basis are you going to court to demand that
01:25:12 she should be prosecuted and the others who were cited?
01:25:14 The Attorney General will tell you that they are in the process of prosecuting.
01:25:17 But justice is delayed, you see.
01:25:18 Justice is denied.
01:25:19 Why is it taking the Attorney General over a year and nothing is being said about it?
01:25:23 This is not the first time I'm making this comment.
01:25:26 I've been making this comment on several platforms.
01:25:29 Why is the Attorney General not willing?
01:25:30 And it is not only Francis Hesham.
01:25:32 Many other public servants and civil servants.
01:25:35 Why do you think?
01:25:36 I don't know.
01:25:37 I don't know.
01:25:38 Someone should tell me.
01:25:40 The only reason I can give is that because she is an MPP activist.
01:25:44 And again, that defeats...
01:25:46 But that would not be justice.
01:25:47 Well, but is there justice in this country?
01:25:49 Is there not?
01:25:50 There isn't.
01:25:51 There isn't?
01:25:52 There isn't.
01:25:53 If there was justice in this country, I don't think that those people would not be prosecuted.
01:26:00 The President and the government is willing to prosecute people when they have interests.
01:26:05 But when they are not interested, they don't give a hoot about any prosecution.
01:26:10 Because I have just asked...
01:26:11 Look, when we were taking the decision to adopt this report at the committee, there wasn't any objection.
01:26:17 From our friends from the MPP.
01:26:19 No, on the committee.
01:26:20 When we brought the report to Parliament and debated it, at the end of the day, it was unanimously agreed
01:26:26 that she and many others who were cited by the Auditor General be prosecuted.
01:26:32 Over a year, why is the Minister for Justice and Attorney General not willing to prosecute them?
01:26:36 Why?
01:26:38 Let's get into other matters.
01:26:40 I don't want to wade into the judiciary and all the ping pong.
01:26:45 The ping pong that has been played in recent times.
01:26:47 But the tape, going back to that tape which was played.
01:26:50 I'm sure you saw Samuel Attachia, also chairing that parliamentary committee,
01:26:57 probing the leaked tape of the IGP.
01:27:00 And I just want to set the record straight this morning.
01:27:03 Because it appears, unfortunately, both the Daily Guide newspaper and the Daily Graphic newspaper,
01:27:08 from the headlines, were not exactly legitimate.
01:27:15 So there was this bit about... I don't know whether it was the Daily Guide...
01:27:19 The Daily Graphic for sure.
01:27:21 The Daily Graphic for sure.
01:27:23 Let me not fault the Daily Guide yet.
01:27:25 Let me see whether they wrote in that story.
01:27:28 There was another paper.
01:27:30 And the whole bit suggests that the tape was ducted.
01:27:37 That is what they say.
01:27:40 But our very own Samuel Mbura, who was... Yes, that's the Daily Graphic one.
01:27:44 Our very own Samuel Mbura, who was there, that's not what Samuel Attachia said.
01:27:51 He suggested that the second tape was a very long one.
01:27:57 It had probably the entire length of the discussion.
01:28:00 The first one had been edited, or truncated, so to speak.
01:28:06 Truncation does not mean it's been ducted.
01:28:09 Ducting would suggest that maybe intentional insertion, removal, and all of that.
01:28:20 So I feel the way these stories in some of the papers...
01:28:25 The Daily Graphic for sure, and I think another paper have been couched, is not exactly the best.
01:28:32 But for you, what you've seen from this IGP leaked tape, Alex Mensah, COP,
01:28:45 Superintendent George Asare, among others, who have spoken, the things they've said,
01:28:52 suggesting the IGP is a tyrant of sorts.
01:28:56 Some of the things, though, may not exactly.
01:28:58 Yesterday we called our own former colleague here, who's at the BBC.
01:29:03 He interacted with us on what standard practice at Scotland Yard is.
01:29:07 My only concern is standard practice does not mean that what Scotland Yard does is the yardstick for every country.
01:29:16 What do you make of happenings so far?
01:29:19 I watched the appearance of the IGP at the committee, and to be honest, I'm a very strong person.
01:29:28 For a moment, I nearly shed tears.
01:29:30 I felt his pain.
01:29:32 I felt his pain because I have so much respect for people like that.
01:29:38 He rose from the ranks, and he took advantage of every opportunity through the channels to upgrade himself.
01:29:50 Personally, my parents didn't go to school.
01:29:53 My father and my mother, none of them went to school.
01:29:57 My parents were businessmen.
01:30:00 My father, who was also an Islamic cleric, a businessman and a farmer.
01:30:06 So I give so much respect to hard work.
01:30:13 From my days as a student leader from the University of Ghana to USAC, to the All-Africa Students' Union,
01:30:21 I have never missed the opportunity to upgrade myself academically.
01:30:26 Even when I was in the Chief Parliament and the Deputy Minister, I took advantage.
01:30:30 Currently, you know that I'm still schooling.
01:30:34 When I listened to the IGP, frankly speaking, I dove my hat for him.
01:30:40 Aside the emotions with which he presented his case, when he started by talking about how he rose,
01:30:47 mind you, he was accused to be someone who got everything on a silver platter.
01:30:52 And when he did that for me, it's an encouragement to any other person, particularly young constables,
01:30:58 that if he can rise from the ranks and end up being the IGP, anybody can do that.
01:31:05 I'll tell you, there was an aspect of his statement that I was uncomfortable with.
01:31:10 When they asked him that he took advantage of the policy that was prevailing at the time
01:31:15 to upgrade himself academically, for which reason he's now the IGP,
01:31:19 whether he would support any move to do that.
01:31:22 Even though he said that, look, he wouldn't prevent it, but I was expecting an emphatic statement from him.
01:31:27 I'm in the same class with a colleague of mine who's a police officer.
01:31:33 And God's willing, by this month or next month, we should all be done with our thesis for the PhD.
01:31:39 That gentleman went to the police with SHS.
01:31:43 He upgraded himself. He did his degree, did his master's, and finished his PhD.
01:31:49 And he told me something that was shocking to me.
01:31:51 He said, "Honorable, I still take the salary that I took when I was recruited as a constable,
01:31:59 and yes, I've made it to some level, but with all the certificates I've acquired through hard work,
01:32:06 it does not add up to anything."
01:32:09 So I asked him, "So what do you do?" He said, "I don't even know.
01:32:13 But there are certain information I won't put out there."
01:32:15 But I shared that to him that after completing, if they do not,
01:32:19 I would like to leave the police service and look for some opportunities elsewhere.
01:32:23 That for me defeats the opportunities and also the capacity that otherwise would have been needed
01:32:30 to augment, if you like, the work of the police service.
01:32:34 Because if I'm a police officer and I know that if I upgrade myself,
01:32:38 there are opportunities that are available. You find a lot of them who want to take advantage of that.
01:32:43 So I wasn't that pleased about the answer.
01:32:46 It's also very clear that there were certain allegations made against him,
01:32:51 and he debunked them.
01:32:53 I haven't heard any of them say that, look, his assertion and the statement he made was not accurate.
01:32:59 One specifically when he said that he awarded, he gave a contract to Bugurinabu.
01:33:06 He said no. I mean, that can easily be verified by the media.
01:33:10 Whether indeed there is a contractual agreement between the Ghana police and Bugurinabu.
01:33:15 I think that the media can do that.
01:33:17 And I believe that there isn't any contract.
01:33:20 For the IGP to say there's no any contract.
01:33:23 Again, another question was asked whether he has a working relationship with Bugurinabu.
01:33:27 Even to the point of whether Bugurinabu had come to the office before?
01:33:30 He said no, he has no working relationship.
01:33:32 More so when Bugurinabu himself said that he recorded them and even indicated where he bought the gadgets.
01:33:38 I thought that the media and the committee can easily find out where he said he bought the gadget.
01:33:42 Did he come to buy the gadgets there or someone gave him?
01:33:46 If indeed he bought the gadgets there, perhaps we may be able to.
01:33:50 You see, I don't want to say that what he said entirely was the absolute truth and what the others said was not true.
01:33:56 But culture says, you know, Joseph Hills, that there are three sides to every story.
01:34:01 Your side, my side, and the truth.
01:34:04 And we, those who are rational beings and haven't listened to the accounts given by these two,
01:34:09 we can only know where the truth is.
01:34:11 But you see, what was strikingly different from his accounts and the accounts given by those political police officers was that...
01:34:19 Is there anything wrong with being a police officer and being a political...
01:34:22 There is everything wrong with that.
01:34:23 The Greek philosophers tell us every human being is a political animal.
01:34:27 I'm saying that there is everything wrong with that.
01:34:29 What is wrong with it?
01:34:30 The institution they serve denies them from engaging in active partisanship.
01:34:35 And that was what they demonstrated.
01:34:36 So there's a difference between partisan politics and being political.
01:34:40 Yes, but I'm saying that...
01:34:41 Even the judges are allowed to be... they vote.
01:34:44 Yeah, but I'm saying that...
01:34:45 The police officers vote.
01:34:46 But I'm saying that partisanship, when they appeared, telling us, wanting us to know how they are MPP and how others is not serving the interests of MPP...
01:34:53 That is problematic.
01:34:54 Such individuals are not fit to even be police officers, let alone even being leaders of the police service.
01:34:59 And when this man appeared...
01:35:01 You're talking of COP Mensah.
01:35:02 Yes, all of that.
01:35:03 Alex Mensah.
01:35:04 You listen to the accounts.
01:35:05 I don't know whether they thought that they were at the MPP headquarters giving an account to MPP people.
01:35:11 They had forgotten that they were giving accounts to the people of this country and the world.
01:35:15 And they wanted to demonstrate to the people of this country how they were MPP.
01:35:19 Now, when this man appeared, there's no denying the fact that this man is not an NDC person.
01:35:25 And if he has any links with Arturo Rabat, it may even be with MPP.
01:35:29 But I saw in him as a professional police officer who, without any fear, when they asked him whether he was...
01:35:37 He said, "Look, I'm not a politician. I don't belong to any political party. I'm a police officer."
01:35:43 You know the shocking aspect? The fact that he had been ADC to president, then vice president Mills.
01:35:49 And that is an issue.
01:35:50 Look, when I was doing my...
01:35:52 And interestingly, he had served... Some of these people, both Alex Mensah and Dr Dampari, have served officers in both the MPP and the NDC.
01:36:02 No, but what is even wrong with that?
01:36:05 My grandfather was one of the founding fathers of the UP tradition, Twelona Yakubu.
01:36:11 I don't belong to MPP, and I've never liked anything about UP tradition.
01:36:16 But it doesn't deny me of that heritage.
01:36:19 And I remember when Honorable Habib made a statement on the floor celebrating him.
01:36:25 And I contributed to that statement.
01:36:27 Kennedy Ajapone and others, they say, "You are an MPP."
01:36:30 That is my family. That is my blood.
01:36:32 But I don't belong to the UP tradition.
01:36:34 And I've never liked that tradition.
01:36:36 I've never despised it.
01:36:38 But I don't hate those who are in it, but I don't like that tradition.
01:36:41 So the fact that someone, a professional police officer, serves a person whose taxes of the citizens of this country ensures his comfort and his security.
01:36:54 And as a professional police officer, you are asked to be ADC to a vice president.
01:37:00 That makes you an MPP person.
01:37:02 What kind of individuals do we have?
01:37:04 And the politicization of state agencies, mostly security agencies under this government, is shocking.
01:37:10 Absolutely shocking.
01:37:12 And that for me is frightening.
01:37:14 It's frightening to the extent that what signal are they sending to young constables who are in the police service?
01:37:20 Now look, I'll give you a name.
01:37:22 Ambassador D. K. Ossei.
01:37:24 Ambassador D. K. Ossei taught me diplomatic practice at LESIAD, Ligon Center for International Relations and Diplomacy, when I was doing my master's there.
01:37:34 And Ambassador D. K. Ossei told us one day, "Now look, I served almost every government under the Fourth Republic."
01:37:41 He served President Rawlings, served President Kufuo, served under President Milinda.
01:37:51 He served and he gave us examples of other diplomats.
01:37:55 But Ambassador D. K. Ossei is an MPP person.
01:37:58 He taught, Ambassador D. K. Ossei, I was one of the few students he liked so much in the class.
01:38:04 When I was going to contest for my primaries, he gave me $1,000.
01:38:08 Yes, he gave me $1,000.
01:38:10 Ambassador Ossei gave you $1,000.
01:38:12 Yes, he gave me $1,000.
01:38:14 And Ambassador D. K. Ossei knew that.
01:38:16 Mutela is an MPC person.
01:38:18 Look, the lawyer to IGP.
01:38:20 He taught me international law at LESIAD when I was doing my master's.
01:38:24 He said I was an MPC person and we would have interactions.
01:38:28 And he knew, an outstanding lecturer.
01:38:30 I mean, he's somebody I have so much respect for.
01:38:32 Outstanding personality.
01:38:34 So I wasn't surprised when he demonstrated that level of intellect when he appeared with the IGP.
01:38:38 But, but, but, but, but, hold it, hold it, hold it.
01:38:40 He doesn't deny the relationship we should have.
01:38:42 Right.
01:38:43 So for someone to serve as MPC to Vice President and a police officer, you come and sit and say that he's an MPC person.
01:38:50 In any case, when they asked the IGP whether he had engagement with President Mahama, what is wrong with that?
01:38:55 Right.
01:38:56 And IGP could have engagement.
01:38:58 But I think he made that clear.
01:38:59 I'm saying that.
01:39:00 He made that clear that while they hadn't.
01:39:02 Yes.
01:39:03 I mean, President Mahama, former President Mahama, is a civilian, you know, a Ghanaian, a citizen.
01:39:10 Yeah.
01:39:11 That he has to serve.
01:39:12 From the child born today to whomever, he has to serve everybody.
01:39:15 That's what he said.
01:39:16 One of the things that was demonstrated is that whereas those other police officers are these booga booga police officers, this man deals with reasoning.
01:39:23 Because why?
01:39:24 That's a bit long.
01:39:25 You can say that they were bombastic.
01:39:27 But if you say he deals with reasoning, are you saying that this man is not reasoning?
01:39:32 No, it doesn't mean that they are booga booga.
01:39:35 Because if you think that a political opponent in maintaining peace and stability in this country, as IGP, I should insulate them,
01:39:43 I should not even engage them for the purposes of maintaining the peace and stability in this country, wouldn't you be a booga booga police officer?
01:39:49 It means that if any of them were the IGP, even if the need to engage a leader of the largest opposition party in this country,
01:39:58 for the purposes of maintaining peace and stability in this country, they won't do that.
01:40:02 Right.
01:40:03 Let's look at the other angle, the slant of politics.
01:40:07 They are allowed to vote and all of that, which is politics.
01:40:13 But in carrying out their work, they shouldn't put a political tincture, if you like, to it.
01:40:21 But I remember Alex Mensah making mention of the fact that, and I think we know whom he was referring to,
01:40:29 when he said that someone retired from the police, you know, within a few weeks, the person who was contesting on the ticket of the NDC.
01:40:39 I'm picking information one of them also want to contest.
01:40:41 No, no, no, hold on, hold on, hold on. Let me just make this point.
01:40:43 Of the NDC. Now we all know that it takes your being a card-bearing member for a certain period, years, before you can contest, vie for such positions.
01:40:55 He made that claim there, which also points to the fact that, whether NDC or MPP, there are some who are in there,
01:41:05 who may even be, well, he didn't practice politics while he was in the service, but immediately afterwards.
01:41:12 But first and foremost, that.
01:41:13 So how do you address some of these issues?
01:41:16 That was a very vulgar statement to be made, and I'll tell you why. Why?
01:41:21 Everybody in this country, look, Gene Mansell.
01:41:24 I think the thrust of what he's saying is this person was a card-bearing member throughout, for a long period.
01:41:30 How did he know? How did he know?
01:41:32 How did he know? There are exceptions.
01:41:34 How did he know he was a card-bearing member?
01:41:37 They are former national chairman. Was he not an MP representing CPP?
01:41:42 Which, oh, you're talking about Freddie B.
01:41:44 Yes. How did he know he was a card-bearing member?
01:41:46 If he has any information that we do not know, he should come out.
01:41:49 And in any case, there are exceptions.
01:41:51 But you see, the difference between anybody who was a card-bearing member, assuming without admitting, is even true.
01:41:56 And the person resigned and contested to become a member of parliament.
01:42:01 That person never demonstrated his cheap and funny politicking whilst he was wearing the uniform.
01:42:08 Unlike they, telling us that we, in fact, the tape has exposed the deep-seated partisanship within the police service under this government.
01:42:20 Did we experience this under the NDC?
01:42:22 But didn't people know or suspect that there were police officers who otherwise belonged to NDC and MP within the police service?
01:42:28 Look, in student leadership, when we're student leaders in this country, look, we didn't know because we knew.
01:42:33 We knew those who were NDC and MP.
01:42:35 My good friend, Honourable John Kumar, when I was contesting Honourable John Kumar's SRC elections in Legon, we knew those.
01:42:43 I knew he was an MPP person. He knew I was an NDC person.
01:42:45 Who won, though, between the two of you?
01:42:47 None of us won.
01:42:48 Oh, neither one of you did?
01:42:50 Yeah, one guy won, Epo. Epo. He was so passionate.
01:42:53 Was that person politically aligned?
01:42:56 In fact, he was not. No, we're not politically aligned, but we knew.
01:43:00 You know, within the student leadership, look, I said…
01:43:02 I only asked because nowadays in SRCs and the rest…
01:43:04 Look, I said…
01:43:05 It's clear that now there are 10 representatives, TESCON representatives, and people vote according to those laws.
01:43:11 Your reporter, your journalist and lawyer, Samson was my very good friend. Very, very good friend.
01:43:21 He was the JCR president of Equal for All, and by the end of that, he was a member of the General Assembly.
01:43:28 I represented Legon Hall two consecutive times. Yamima represented Volter Hall two consecutive times at the General Assembly.
01:43:37 John Kumar and I, in fact, he represented Legon Hall, General Assembly member, I think once.
01:43:42 We were all there, but we knew within the student leadership.
01:43:45 But you could not talk about it because in discharging your responsibilities as student leaders,
01:43:52 representing the interests of students, politics was shelved.
01:43:56 But when we have police officers who engage in outright and shameful partisanship,
01:44:02 and they won't even leave this at the barracks, they come to sit on national television,
01:44:07 appear before a committee, and completely forgot that they were addressing the people of this country and the entire world.
01:44:13 They thought they were addressing MPP foot soldiers at the MPP headquarters.
01:44:17 I'm sure they were very much aware of the gravity of what they were saying and where they were.
01:44:22 They were sitting before members of parliament.
01:44:24 They appeared to have forgotten that they were addressing the Ghanaians and the world at large.
01:44:30 They thought they were addressing MPP foot soldiers at the MPP headquarters.
01:44:34 Because it was shocking to hear them talk about MPP, our party. How?
01:44:39 So from where you sit, obviously it's clear that you lean more towards believing Dr. Dampari.
01:44:46 I don't lean more towards believing anybody. I lean more towards believing the truth.
01:44:51 What do you think is the truth so far?
01:44:53 All the allegations they levelled against him, first and foremost,
01:44:56 they said that he got his promotions just on a silver platter, virtually.
01:45:01 That he was the worst, the most incompetent IGB.
01:45:04 And he indicated how he got his promotion. Very clearly. No one can contest this.
01:45:11 When he was taking advantage to upgrade himself, what were they doing?
01:45:15 One of them is a senior.
01:45:17 But some talk about the speed of promotions and how now things seem not to be going that way.
01:45:26 But within a seven year period, how he had ascended through the ranks very quickly.
01:45:30 They blamed the man.
01:45:33 And he said, look, there was a policy.
01:45:35 And when that policy was changed, he was not the IGB in 2012.
01:45:40 And the impression was created as if, after he became IGB,
01:45:44 he decided to take the ladder that he used to climb.
01:45:47 And some of those in there say that nothing really has changed.
01:45:50 And he said that they even said promotion, he has indicated.
01:45:53 He doesn't even have the capacity to determine that it is done by the police council.
01:45:57 I mean, all the allegations they levelled against him, it was embarrassing.
01:46:01 You remember his lawyer, my lecturer, former lecturer,
01:46:04 was insisting that they shouldn't sit in there. And they insisted.
01:46:08 For a moment, I had problems with honourable attaché.
01:46:10 But when they sat, and the embarrassment, you could see it in their faces.
01:46:15 They were shocked. The man exposed them the more.
01:46:19 My worry is the shameful partisanship within the security forces.
01:46:25 And that is just unacceptable.
01:46:27 Look, civil servants and public servants will remain.
01:46:31 Politicians will come and go. Today is NDC, tomorrow is MPP.
01:46:34 And let me remind those who think that the MPP is going to be in power forever.
01:46:39 There were people in NDC who thought the same in 2016.
01:46:42 There is a popular proverb in the band,
01:46:45 "Nobun yen lo habi nyuroteba."
01:46:47 That if you are going to be landed by the donkey, you don't see the ears.
01:46:51 You only realise that the donkey has ears after you are on the ground.
01:46:54 So they can sit down, secure themselves, and think that they will be in power,
01:46:59 and engage in partisanship within the security services.
01:47:02 Power, inshallah, will change in 2024. It will change.
01:47:06 Let's veer into the terrain of the EC.
01:47:10 But before we do that, with all of this happening,
01:47:13 and some of the comments that have been passed by COP, Alex Mensah, among others,
01:47:18 whether or not the IGP is changed, does that make you in the NDC fear for election 2024?
01:47:27 First and foremost, we...
01:47:28 Very briefly, because we have limited time.
01:47:30 First and foremost, our position is very clear.
01:47:32 The 2024 elections are not going to be determined by any court in this country.
01:47:37 And if anybody sits down and thinks that people can rig the election,
01:47:40 then we'll come to court.
01:47:41 It is not going to be determined by any court in this country.
01:47:45 But it will be determined by the votes of people.
01:47:48 And if it comes to the point where a court resolution is needed,
01:47:53 we will have to go to court.
01:47:55 We will not get there. We will not get to that point.
01:47:59 Why?
01:48:00 Because we allowed them to rob us in 2020,
01:48:04 and we went to the court, and we all saw what happened.
01:48:07 So you don't trust the courts?
01:48:09 Well, I'm not going to sit here to say whether I trust the courts or I don't trust the courts.
01:48:13 What I can only say is that we will not get to that level.
01:48:17 Let everybody be reminded.
01:48:19 Okay.
01:48:20 Because you see, in 2024, we all witnessed what happened.
01:48:23 Now, when you have characters such as Alex Mensah, who was the NDA police officer,
01:48:28 when you have such people...
01:48:29 I think you should, whatever you may feel against, support him with such respect.
01:48:33 When you have such individuals as police officers,
01:48:37 I apologize.
01:48:38 When you have such individuals as police officers,
01:48:41 who demonstrate how partisanship they are,
01:48:44 why wouldn't you experience the experience we had in Tama'is, in Zafzugu, in Tehchim and South,
01:48:50 in other places.
01:48:51 When you have such individuals within the security services,
01:48:53 and you think that we can rely on such partisan policing and security forces,
01:48:58 we are not going to do that.
01:48:59 Look, this country...
01:49:00 But you can't take the law into your own hands.
01:49:02 Have I said we are going to take the law into our own hands?
01:49:04 What I'm simply saying...
01:49:05 And vigilante activity has been prescribed.
01:49:08 No, what I'm simply saying is that we are not going to get to the stage
01:49:12 where we would have to go to court to determine who wins.
01:49:15 All right. Thank you. Thank you for those comments.
01:49:16 Let's talk about the EC's limited voter registration exercise.
01:49:19 It started on Tuesday, ends on October 2nd.
01:49:22 We've seen a paucity of numbers getting registered.
01:49:24 Comparatively, I mean, compared to the numbers that we are expecting.
01:49:29 This morning I was interacting with Maxwell Nkutoy,
01:49:31 our representative for the South Tongue seat.
01:49:34 And just over 200 people registered in two days,
01:49:38 when you're looking at over 12,000.
01:49:40 So if you look at the trend, if it continues that way,
01:49:43 you would have just about 4,000 people registered.
01:49:45 How much of a worry is that for you?
01:49:48 And barring the injunctions that have been brought forth by the five political parties,
01:49:53 including your party, what do you see to be the way forward on that?
01:49:56 First and foremost, the hypocrisy of the MPP is legendary.
01:50:01 On the very day the EC held the press conference and announced
01:50:06 that they were going to have this exercise take place
01:50:09 at the various district offices of the EC,
01:50:13 your station interviewed one of the leaders of the opposition parties
01:50:19 who expressed shock about the conduct of the Electoral Commission
01:50:24 and the fact that when this issue was raised at IPAC,
01:50:28 all the political parties who were there, including the MPP,
01:50:32 kicked against that proposal.
01:50:34 And your station interviewed another person from MPP,
01:50:38 if I'm not mistaken, I guess it was the deputy secretary,
01:50:42 or one of the deputy secretaries, who confirmed that yes, at IPAC,
01:50:46 they all told the EC chair and the EC that having this exercise
01:50:52 take place at the various district offices was not something they were going to support
01:50:56 and that a lot of people were going to be disenfranchised.
01:50:59 Only for the MPP to turn 360 degrees,
01:51:05 have become the spokespersons for the EC in such reckless conduct of the Electoral Commission.
01:51:11 Now when your station interviewed the MPP, I said look,
01:51:14 the Jinma Esa is an activist of the MPP.
01:51:18 She's an active MPP person.
01:51:20 The Electoral Commission?
01:51:21 Oh, she is. She's an MPP activist.
01:51:23 You remember when she was with the IEA?
01:51:26 When she headed that institution, did you think she was MPP?
01:51:30 She has always been an MPP person.
01:51:31 Look, I sat on your program, I remember, and said she was a family member to the First Lady.
01:51:36 Kweku Baku sat on Gubna Ongana and came on his file and said that was not true.
01:51:40 It turned out to be true, in court.
01:51:42 And you people, because Kweku Baku said he told them the truth,
01:51:45 which was the gospel truth, when he knew he was lying,
01:51:48 he knew that he was a family member, but he sat on your program and lied
01:51:51 that I was not speaking the truth.
01:51:53 In any case, just a quick point, in any case,
01:51:58 will we ever elect anyone to that office who will have no political collaboration at all?
01:52:04 Is there anything wrong with it?
01:52:05 I am saying an activist.
01:52:06 Once the person is free and fair.
01:52:09 I am saying an activist.
01:52:12 But if you allow me to land, I will tell you, using the words of Dr Bosman Asare.
01:52:17 Dr Bosman Asare was my two-year senior at the University of Ghana.
01:52:21 I was in the psychology department, he was in political science.
01:52:23 You know Ligon, the departments are on the same compound.
01:52:26 When I went to Ligon to do my PhD, he was the head of the department,
01:52:30 the same department of political science.
01:52:33 He was an MPP member, TESCON member, we were all students there.
01:52:36 He became a patron for TESCON.
01:52:39 Now, he himself, on a sister TV station,
01:52:43 when I said that Gene Mansour was an MPP activist,
01:52:47 he called into the program and his first statement was that
01:52:50 Gene Mansour was not an MPP activist.
01:52:54 So he knew in the heart of his heart that an activist of a political party
01:53:00 ought not be the EC chair.
01:53:03 So I asked him, now if you quickly call onto the program to say that
01:53:06 Gene Mansour was not an activist of MPP and therefore an activist of a political party
01:53:11 should not be heading the EC, how about you?
01:53:15 So he knew that being an activist of a political party,
01:53:18 you should not be heading the EC because that partisanship will come to play.
01:53:23 So the point I am just making is that when the MPP 360 detained
01:53:28 and they are now defending Gene Mansour, look,
01:53:31 the constitution is very clear in article 42 of the 1992 constitution.
01:53:36 It says among others that everybody has the right to vote
01:53:42 and everybody is entitled to be registered for the purposes of participating
01:53:47 in any electoral process in this country.
01:53:49 The only body close with the authority to determine how the registration is done
01:53:53 is the electoral commission.
01:53:55 The electoral commission, aside this constitutional obligation,
01:53:58 comes with their own law to parliament in the name of a CI.
01:54:03 The CI 91 and 24 as amended have all indicated how the registration is done
01:54:09 for the purposes of having it done at places where it would be convenient
01:54:14 for elections to be conducted.
01:54:17 Do we do elections? Do we vote at the EC district offices?
01:54:21 On the same program, you have the EC.
01:54:24 Dr. Bosman Asari said that majority, that over 80% of the EC offices
01:54:33 wouldn't require that people should move from distances to come to register.
01:54:38 And I told him that was a lie.
01:54:40 You know we have rural consensuses than city or if you like urban consensuses in Ghana.
01:54:45 Is that not a fact?
01:54:47 We know how our rural consensuses or communities are dispersed.
01:54:51 In greater Accra, take someone who is in Madina district,
01:54:55 the last end of Madina, Boko B.
01:54:58 If the person would have to come to the district office to register,
01:55:03 that person would have to pay for transportation.
01:55:06 And the least he can pay should not be less than 20 or 30 Ghana citizens.
01:55:11 Now a person who doesn't even have food to eat,
01:55:13 how does the person come to participate in an electoral process
01:55:16 and registration where the electoral commission is enjoined to do so
01:55:19 by the constitution of Ghana and the CIE or they themselves have taken to parliament
01:55:23 to be made into law.
01:55:25 How can a person do that?
01:55:27 Tamale Central and Tamale South all falls under Tamale Metropolitan Assembly.
01:55:32 The first day, only five people registered.
01:55:35 Five people, the first day.
01:55:37 Five.
01:55:38 In both constituencies?
01:55:39 In both constituencies.
01:55:40 Four Tamale Central, one Tamale South.
01:55:42 And hundreds if not thousands of young men and women went there to register.
01:55:46 Only five people registered the first day.
01:55:50 Yesterday, I'm yet to get the figures of the number that registered
01:55:53 because the machines are not functioning well.
01:55:56 Silboa, on your station, when I was coming.
01:55:58 Dr. Silboa said that the reason why the machines have been slow
01:56:03 was that it hasn't been used for two years.
01:56:05 How irresponsible and reckless this individual is.
01:56:08 But we've been told they are now allowing offline registration.
01:56:10 Not necessarily online.
01:56:12 In Tamale, when they attempted to do and they got five,
01:56:16 the offline they couldn't.
01:56:17 It was so difficult.
01:56:18 So I'm saying that if you tell me that because the machines were not used for two years,
01:56:24 how does the responsible heads or managers of electoral commissions do?
01:56:28 Before you started, you would have tested them.
01:56:30 They haven't done that because if they did so,
01:56:32 they would have realized that because the machines were sitting for two years,
01:56:36 the speed was going to be affected.
01:56:38 Do you feel that this has the likelihood of affecting election 2024?
01:56:45 Are you hoping that if things continue this way, there could be some extension?
01:56:49 I take Solis in a verse in the Quran.
01:56:54 [praying in Arabic]
01:56:58 "They plan and Allah plans, but Allah is the master of all plans."
01:57:03 Whatever Jean Manson, Serebua, and Dr. Bosman Ansari are doing with MPP at the Flagstaff House,
01:57:09 Nanado and the MPP will go.
01:57:12 They will lose the 2024 elections, inshallah.
01:57:15 And this attitude they put up, there will be a day for accountability.
01:57:19 You've been quoting proverbs a lot over the last few months,
01:57:22 and ABF Hussein is no longer in a poor position.
01:57:27 Are you taking over from ABF Hussein?
01:57:29 My senior brother is still engaged actively in politics.
01:57:32 You don't necessarily need to be in Parliament to be an active participant in our political discourse.
01:57:39 And maybe if you care to know, in many typical northern homes,
01:57:44 the way we each are brought up, we are brought up,
01:57:48 the communication garnishes with proverbs.
01:57:52 That is how we are brought up.
01:57:53 And in any case, some are outstandingly good when it comes to proverbs.
01:57:57 I don't dispute that. I am fully aware of that.
01:58:00 My senior brother, Honourable ABF Hussein, will always be the fountain from which we get some of this.
01:58:09 We have to go. Our time is up. I think I've eaten some seconds into it.
01:58:14 Francis Esyam, so what's the way forward? And IPAC, will the NDC go back?
01:58:19 20 seconds. Just go straight to the point.
01:58:21 If you ask me my opinion, initially I had a view that the NDC should go back to IPAC.
01:58:26 That was my personal opinion as Muthalla.
01:58:28 Dr Farid Jan says go back.
01:58:29 I understand that that was my opinion.
01:58:31 But with this conduct, the disrespect to IPAC, where IPAC itself says we will not agree this position,
01:58:38 Jim Mensa will come out and do something that they want to do.
01:58:41 So you will not go back. That's the point.
01:58:42 I'm saying that, I've just told you that personally, my opinion was that NDC should go back.
01:58:47 Has it changed?
01:58:48 It has changed somewhat. And it has changed because of the conduct, the belligerence, the arrogant posture of Jim Mensa.
01:58:54 You've answered my question.
01:58:55 That IPAC took a decision and they refused to respect that.
01:58:58 And the NDC…
01:58:59 Francis Esiyem.
01:59:00 Vinod.
01:59:01 Francis Esiyem. What next?
01:59:02 Francis Esiyem and others who, according to PAC, have infringed on the law. What next?
01:59:09 And…
01:59:10 We just sit with our hands tied and…
01:59:12 And the committee of parliament recommended their prosecution.
01:59:15 The entire house recommended their prosecution.
01:59:17 The report then submitted to the Minister for Justice and Attorney General.
01:59:21 My good friend, maybe perhaps you should be putting this question to Honorable Ghafred Udami, with whom I was in Ligon.
01:59:28 Ask him why they are not prosecuting those who have been cited for infraction and violations of some of the financial laws.
01:59:36 Thank you very much for joining us in the studio, Muthallah Mohamed.
01:59:39 Sometimes he'll be fighting me.
01:59:41 Sometimes he'll be…
01:59:42 I don't fight. I don't fight.
01:59:46 Anyway, so Muthallah Mohamed, a member of parliament for Tamale Central, joining me to share thoughts on recent happenings in the country.
01:59:55 And of course he hit us with that one from the PAC and what it had brought to bear on some people,
02:00:04 in which instance we should see the Attorney General doing some work, which is not happening.
02:00:10 The question is why.
02:00:12 Thank you for staying with us. We'll be back with more on the AM Show.
02:00:16 [Music]
02:00:42 Good morning to you. Hope you're doing well.
02:00:44 Well, I am and I have got some guests seated ready for a conversation ahead of our Okabank Journeys Habitat Fair clinic,
02:00:52 which will be happening this time in Temma.
02:00:56 Yes, we will be at the Temma Metropolitan Assembly over the weekend,
02:01:00 just because we want to satisfy our clients in that part of the country.
02:01:05 Isn't it exciting? Yes, it is.
02:01:06 And I can't wait to meet all of you who will be coming over because we hope to see all of you.
02:01:12 And today I am speaking to two exhibitors who've been with us for a very long time.
02:01:19 And SDL and Virtual Security.
02:01:22 Ebenezer Bithiakokwabi is Country Sales Manager for Super Lock Technologies, that's SDL.
02:01:27 And Esther Abuajewa is Sales Marketing and Communications Executive, Virtual Security Africa.
02:01:33 Good morning to you, Manuel. And Esther, how are you?
02:01:37 Good morning. I'm fine.
02:01:38 You're looking good as well. Ebenezer, rather.
02:01:42 Okay, so it's been a very wonderful relationship we've had over the years,
02:01:48 trying to meet the needs of Ghanaians when it comes to home acquisition,
02:01:53 providing security specifically for Virtual Security Africa, and providing quality doors, you know, windows.
02:02:00 And now you've added the kitchen, the kitchen furnishings as well.
02:02:07 But I'd just like to find out from you, Virtual Security Africa, what it has been like working on this project,
02:02:15 the Ecobank Journeys Habitat Fair.
02:02:18 Okay. Good morning. So Habitat Fair has been very impactful to our company.
02:02:26 You know, we started off as exhibitors some years ago.
02:02:30 Last year we were sponsors, and this year we are sponsors as well.
02:02:33 So it tells you the great impact that we've had, moving from being exhibitors to now sponsoring.
02:02:39 It has given us a raise in our clientele base.
02:02:42 We've had a lot of clients, and over the years we've been able to serve a lot of homes with our product, I mean, home security.
02:02:50 Yes, and it has given us a platform to create awareness for people out there to know the essence of getting security products in their homes.
02:02:57 Right. And for Steele?
02:02:59 Yes, I will also say that it's also been very, very good with us.
02:03:03 I mean, you know, we started with you from the first day, and we've also grown in client database.
02:03:11 Now we can say that we have a lot of clients because of Habitat Fair.
02:03:16 So for us, we are so much excited to come on board all the time.
02:03:21 Right. So here's what Habitat Fair does.
02:03:23 If you don't know about Habitat Fair, let me just introduce you to our program and the concept.
02:03:29 We understand that meeting your housing needs can be very stressful.
02:03:33 So we've brought everybody that matters, whether it's about mortgaging, financing your home, whether it's about providing the, you know,
02:03:44 what you may refer to as the very little details, the lighting, the security, the doors, the furnishings.
02:03:52 We have everything there. The water reservoirs.
02:03:56 We have everyone responsible when it comes to your home and acquiring a home here in Ghana.
02:04:02 So if you have never been to our clinics or our main fair, you just want to do that.
02:04:07 We expose you to so much. You may be saying that, well, I'm not thinking of buying a home, but just come around.
02:04:12 You'll be exposed to what's available on the market so that in the future you can make informed choices.
02:04:17 So Ebenezer, I mean, introduce us to STL. What do you have on offer and why must we come to you?
02:04:26 OK, so STL, we are into building products, building products such as security doors, internal doors,
02:04:33 burglar-proof, balustrades, kitchens, pergola, main gates.
02:04:38 Now we're adding new products like a garage gate.
02:04:41 Why do you keep adding?
02:04:42 Exactly. Yes. So this is what we are into.
02:04:47 Superlock stands for quality, stands for safety, stands for security, and stands for also style and beauty.
02:04:56 So if you are looking for all those things in your homes, please come to Superlock.
02:05:02 Where you can find us, we have currently six branches in Ghana, a branch in Accra, a branch in Wajah, a branch in Adenta, a branch in Tema.
02:05:14 Then we also have a branch in Kumasi as well as Takradi.
02:05:17 Apart from the branches, we also have kitchen showrooms.
02:05:20 So now we set up new showrooms. There are three of them.
02:05:24 We have a kitchen showroom in Accra, a kitchen showroom in Wajah, and also in Kumasi.
02:05:31 So whatever you need, be it security doors, all of these products that I mentioned, come to Superlock.
02:05:38 And you have the best quality, best service, best style and design, and best security.
02:05:45 Alright, I'm going to ask you some questions about the kitchen.
02:05:48 I have it by ass. I mean, your kitchen should be a kitchen that is welcoming, that is attractive, that is...
02:05:54 That's what I think it should be.
02:05:56 I know that a lot of you who love to cook and stay in the kitchen area agree with me.
02:06:01 If I already have a kitchen and I want it to be remodelled, redesigned, is it available?
02:06:06 Or you install for only homes that are just being built?
02:06:11 Of course. Whether you want it to be real designed, you want us to rebuild everything fresh for you, of course.
02:06:19 We will send an executive to your site who will come and take measurements of your kitchens.
02:06:24 And then we will invite you to our showroom, there you will meet the designer.
02:06:28 Then you can just express whatever design you want to have.
02:06:32 So whether it's a new kitchen or an old house that you want to refurbish or you want to reproduce a new kitchen, of course.
02:06:40 You are always welcome.
02:06:41 Fantastic. Okay, now let's talk about security, because that is super important.
02:06:46 I know people who have electric fans, CCTV cameras and they have security doors.
02:06:55 So it's maximum security to the minutest detail.
02:07:00 But at Virtual Security Africa, what do you offer?
02:07:03 Would you advise me to do that?
02:07:05 Considering that these are all expenses, is it really necessary to have all these in place?
02:07:10 Just tell us about Virtual Security Africa and what you offer clients.
02:07:14 Okay, so Virtual Security Africa, we are a wholly owned Ghanian company.
02:07:18 We provide integrated security solutions for our clients.
02:07:24 We've been in the system for 15 years.
02:07:27 What we do is we are providing security solutions ranging from parameter detection to intrusion detection and surveillance systems.
02:07:36 So with this we are talking about CCTV, fire alarm, intruder alarm, access control time and attendance, electric fencing.
02:07:43 We have body scanners, vehicle bomb barriers, anything security that you need in your space, let's say your home, school, office, wherever.
02:07:51 Church.
02:07:52 Yes, that's what we do.
02:07:54 And to your question, you see, everything I mentioned is very important in a space.
02:08:00 But you don't necessarily have to get everything in one space.
02:08:03 So that's why at Virtual Security Africa we have free on-site consultation.
02:08:07 So we come to your space, if it's a school or your home or your office, we come there and then we help you determine the threats in your area.
02:08:15 Someone might need security but it might not be an electric fence, it might not be a CCTV.
02:08:20 Someone might need security and it might be an intrusion or let's say audio/video intercom.
02:08:26 So depending on your area, your space and the kind of threats that you have.
02:08:30 So we come to your space, we help you determine the threats in your area and then we help you make a purchasing decision.
02:08:38 So someone might want security, someone would want to secure his or her perimeter, you can do that with an electric fence.
02:08:45 Another person wants to secure the perimeter but the person might need an intruder alarm.
02:08:49 So we have them in different packages.
02:08:52 Fantastic. So where can we locate you?
02:08:55 Okay, so we have three branches in Ghana. We are in Akwa, we are in Kumasi, we are in Takwade.
02:09:02 So in Akwa, our main office is at Tessano, behind Alive Chapel.
02:09:06 And then in Kumasi, we are at Santasi Runabout, opposite the Goa Ferry Station, first floor, Yasantoa building.
02:09:13 And in Takwade, we are off the Kintampo Road, we are very close to Toyota Ghana Limited.
02:09:18 And in Akwa, our ultra-model showroom, I call it ultra-model because I've never seen a showroom like ours in the country.
02:09:24 Yes, it's at Jolu, opposite the UBA, first floor, Nanadepa Plaza.
02:09:28 Wow, fantastic. This year we've been to Achimota, we've been to West Hills, now we're heading to Thema.
02:09:34 It's the first time ever the Ecobank Drone Use Habitat Fair is going to Thema.
02:09:40 Just let our people in Thema know why they should come, especially to your stand when the clinic starts.
02:09:48 Alright, so people in Thema, this is the first time we are going to Thema for the clinic, a mini clinic.
02:09:55 So I want to introduce everybody in Thema to come.
02:09:58 We have exciting packages, we are heavily discounted, we are giving out freebies.
02:10:05 Freebies, I mean we are giving out free devices.
02:10:07 Oh wow.
02:10:08 Yes, so if you purchase any CCTV package, we are giving you either a video or audio intercom or an intruder alarm.
02:10:16 That is a whole system on its own.
02:10:18 Wow.
02:10:19 Yes, so if you buy any CCTV package, we give you either the video intercom or the intruder alarm system.
02:10:26 So the intruder alarm, I want to just say something.
02:10:28 Explain, I was going to ask you.
02:10:29 Yes, so the intruder alarm works hand in hand with the CCTV.
02:10:32 You see, as time goes on, we are bringing in new innovations and new technologies.
02:10:36 So it comes with a whole package, it comes with a panel, the sensors, door contact and an alarm.
02:10:41 So let's say we fix it for you and then we teach you how to arm it.
02:10:46 So if you are leaving your home or let's say you are going to sleep, you arm it and then you leave.
02:10:51 So if anybody comes and the person tries to either force open your door or the person there, the sensor senses the person's motion,
02:10:59 it sends a signal to the panel straight to the alarm and it goes off.
02:11:02 The alarm is very, very loud, so it kind of detects and deters intruders.
02:11:07 So you don't need an electric fence for this?
02:11:09 If you have this, you are good to go.
02:11:11 Wow.
02:11:12 Yes, so that's why I say you don't have to get everything in one space.
02:11:15 So with the intuition, you can secure your perimeter.
02:11:18 And then ours is GSM, we configure it on your phone, use the SIM card.
02:11:23 It can register as many as 20 mobile phones on the system.
02:11:26 So let's say your wife, your kids, anybody in your house.
02:11:29 So if your phone is off, your husband is getting notification.
02:11:32 If your husband is off, your children are getting notification.
02:11:35 So when you are not around and this happens, the people in the neighborhood are getting their alerts because of the alarm.
02:11:41 And you, who is away, you're also getting notification on your phone.
02:11:45 Call police, call anybody, go around.
02:11:47 Check. Wonderful.
02:11:49 And we are giving that for free.
02:11:51 If you buy any CCTV package, we are adding that for you.
02:11:54 We are giving back to society.
02:11:56 Right. I give you more reason to come to TEMA this weekend, because STL is also giving some packages, isn't it?
02:12:03 Tell us about it.
02:12:04 Yes, of course, Venice.
02:12:06 I'm not calling only TEMA people, but I'm calling the whole of Ghana to come there.
02:12:11 Why am I saying this?
02:12:13 Superluck, we are 20 years in Ghana.
02:12:17 So we are celebrating our 20th anniversary.
02:12:21 And this means that we are giving good, good, good, good offers.
02:12:24 Good, good, good, good.
02:12:26 Look, I will just blow your mind and your viewers' mind on one of the offers we are giving.
02:12:31 We are giving up to 40% discount this September for our glazing, aluminium windows and doors.
02:12:41 So I'm asking all Ghanians to come there.
02:12:44 Come to TEMA at the exhibition ground, find us Superluck,
02:12:50 and mention that you are coming for the 40% promotion or discount on the glazing.
02:12:58 Superluck, we have been in Ghana for 20 years now.
02:13:02 And we think that it's been good.
02:13:04 God has been good to us.
02:13:06 And we want to share some goodies to clients.
02:13:09 So some other products also we have some discounts giving.
02:13:12 But the highest discount is what I've mentioned.
02:13:16 So all Ghanians, not only TEMA folks, meet us at the exhibition ground for a good discount.
02:13:24 Right.
02:13:25 40%.
02:13:26 Right.
02:13:27 So it's happening from tomorrow, the 15th, to Sunday, the 17th.
02:13:33 We are there for three solid days.
02:13:35 You don't have an excuse.
02:13:37 Just pass by.
02:13:38 We've got Superluck, we've got virtual security,
02:13:40 we've got a host of other exhibitors who will be coming around to share with you.
02:13:45 Just come and get some information.
02:13:47 Come for some of the packages.
02:13:48 For some of you, you're already constructing or doing some projects or initiating some projects.
02:13:56 So you would want to take advantage of these offers and cut down costs.
02:14:01 You know how we say, times are hard.
02:14:03 So you just need to be smart around some of these things.
02:14:06 So we'll be looking forward to seeing you from tomorrow through to Sunday at the TEMA Metropolitan Assembly.
02:14:13 That's where we're having the TEMA edition of the Ecobank Join You's Habitat Fair Clinic.
02:14:19 And this morning I'll be speaking to Ebenezer Kwabi, he's Country Sales Manager, Superluck Technologies,
02:14:24 and Esther Abouazewa, who is Sales Marketing and Communications Executive at Virtual Security Africa.
02:14:30 Thank you so much for joining us.
02:14:31 Thank you.
02:14:32 And we look forward to seeing you all in TEMA.
02:14:34 But our conversation on housing is not done yet because there's the big question on whether you're looking for comfort, affordability, or luxury.
02:14:45 And I've got some people who would be delving into that issue with me right after this.
02:14:50 Do stay.
02:14:51 [Music]
02:15:19 Thank you so much for staying on the AM show.
02:15:21 Like I told you, we'll be having a conversation about comfort, affordability, or luxury.
02:15:25 What do you look out for when you're getting a home?
02:15:28 Or what should be top of your list between these three?
02:15:31 And I've got just the right people to have this conversation with.
02:15:35 Stephen Owusu is founder and CEO of HDG Homes Limited.
02:15:40 And he's here in the studio with me with Dorothy Bimple, who is Head of Sales at HDG Homes Limited.
02:15:47 Welcome, lady and gentleman. It's a pleasure to have you here in my studios.
02:15:50 Thank you.
02:15:51 And they've been doing some wonderful work in Kumasi.
02:15:55 We'll be talking about that much later after we have this very important conversation, which should matter to you if you're somebody who is a prospective homeowner.
02:16:04 Let me start with you because you are a founder and a CEO of a company that works in this space.
02:16:14 What would you tell somebody who is hoping to acquire a home?
02:16:19 Am I looking for comfort, affordability, luxury?
02:16:23 Can I get all the three in one?
02:16:25 What would you tell a prospective homeowner who comes to sit in front of you with a conversation like this?
02:16:30 And thank you. Thank you for the question.
02:16:32 I think for us at HDG, we actually start with the client in mind.
02:16:39 There are a lot of different reasons why people want to own a home.
02:16:44 And you do have different people at different stages of their life, whether the person is a single person, they have a large family, a small family.
02:16:53 So you really start with the client in mind, thinking about the space they are going to occupy.
02:16:58 So it's not a case of, you know, I hear people talk about a three bedroom, four bedroom.
02:17:03 There are more spaces that need to be created in a home.
02:17:08 Laundry rooms, for example, which you don't see in many rooms.
02:17:12 So I think we actually start with thinking about the client in mind before we get into the affordability and comfort and whatnot.
02:17:20 So it's about designing the space to fit the person who is actually going to live within that space.
02:17:25 And when you say fit the person, I speak to a lot of young people who are very ambitious.
02:17:30 Look, we are dreamers. We are go-getters.
02:17:35 So when you say with the client in mind, is it really what the client thinks they need?
02:17:40 Or based on your expertise and interaction with the client, what you believe they need?
02:17:49 We've done a lot of work in this space, you know, in the UK, in the United States and in Ghana for a number of years now.
02:17:57 So, you know, you reference young people. They need space that are intertwined.
02:18:04 Probably more open space that works for them.
02:18:08 Some people work from home. Nowadays, even when you go home, you're still working.
02:18:12 So just making sure that the space is designed to really fit their need.
02:18:17 And they may be a young person, but maybe they want to raise a family.
02:18:21 So if you just look at it as a young person, you probably think, you know, a suite will do.
02:18:26 But actually, they may be planning a family in the next couple of years.
02:18:29 So it's really important that you really start with those requirements.
02:18:34 And then I think all the other pieces just flow off to that.
02:18:37 Let me come to you, Dorothy.
02:18:40 Like I said, we know the housing deficit in Ghana.
02:18:45 And the tag "affordable housing" is something that a lot of Ghanaians run away from.
02:18:52 We are tired because when they hear the term "affordable housing,"
02:18:55 everybody is thinking that, okay, it's something the average Ghanaian can afford.
02:18:59 But when you hear the price tags, you're asking yourself, is this really affordable?
02:19:04 Many people actually do not believe they can own homes.
02:19:09 It's a far-fetched dream for them.
02:19:12 In other parts of the world where you say you've worked as well,
02:19:17 there are mortgage opportunities which are not so costly.
02:19:21 So even the mortgage opportunities here, there are problems.
02:19:25 So really, is it possible for many of us to own homes?
02:19:32 Should we even be conceiving that dream?
02:19:35 And if we can, how should we go about ensuring that that concept becomes a reality for us?
02:19:43 Thank you.
02:19:44 I believe that it would start with planning and then looking out for what exactly you want.
02:19:49 If it comes to affordability, you'd also need to consider location.
02:19:54 What we are doing at HGG Homes is we have payment plans available.
02:19:59 We have also partnered with Airco Bank.
02:20:02 So in case you're seeking mortgage financing, you can speak to Airco Bank,
02:20:06 and you can talk to them what currency you would want your mortgage to be in.
02:20:10 We understand that everybody do not have all of the amount to come in and then buy their property.
02:20:16 So we're selling off plan where we give you time.
02:20:21 There's a spread where you can do your payment.
02:20:24 So that way your first installment, couple of months, you get to see the schedule up front,
02:20:29 which will allow you to put your finances together.
02:20:32 So by the time we have started construction, you start paying for it.
02:20:36 When we're done, you would have finished.
02:20:38 So it's very flexible.
02:20:39 We are open to discussing more if you feel like there's something else you'd want to do to the payment schedule.
02:20:45 So it's very affordable, and it's good for planning.
02:20:49 You don't have to get up and come with whatever the amount of the property you're looking for.
02:20:54 You don't have to bring everything into the office or take everything into the bank.
02:20:57 You get to spread it over a period.
02:20:59 So there are two things I gleaned from what you just said.
02:21:02 So if I want to be a homeowner, say, in the next five or ten years,
02:21:06 and I earn 5,000 or 6,000 CDs, for example,
02:21:12 which I don't think a lot of Ghanaian average young people earn, by the way,
02:21:18 I should be planning now.
02:21:20 Absolutely.
02:21:21 Right?
02:21:22 Looking ahead five years from now.
02:21:24 Absolutely.
02:21:25 Obviously, considering inflation and everything that you'll be doing.
02:21:29 But I should be planning now.
02:21:31 Absolutely.
02:21:32 The other thing I gleaned from what you said is I should be looking for companies like yours
02:21:38 that will not demand an upfront payment, that can work with me and work with my long-term planning.
02:21:44 That's what I -- so if you're a young person, look, Dorothy is saying it's not far from you.
02:21:50 You can actually own a home.
02:21:51 You just need to plan.
02:21:52 Absolutely.
02:21:53 Right?
02:21:54 And then when you do that, you can speak to ATG, and much later,
02:21:56 they'll be sharing their contacts and ways that you can reach out to them.
02:22:01 Because you're doing, like I said, some fantastic work,
02:22:03 and you've been seeing some of them rolling up on your screens.
02:22:06 You mentioned location, which is an important subject for many people,
02:22:11 because unfortunately, our cities are not planned.
02:22:15 I just need to find out from you also how easy or difficult it is for you
02:22:19 when you are putting up some of your estates and homes,
02:22:23 because in other places, you know that there are earmarked lands, so it's easy.
02:22:29 You know you're looking for -- and you know that the next facility that is coming next to you
02:22:33 is not going to be something that's going to disturb what you've put up.
02:22:36 But here in Ghana, it's difficult to tell.
02:22:38 The next time you realize there's an abattoir next door,
02:22:41 and your facility is probably going to lose clients.
02:22:45 So how do you work around the location problem?
02:22:50 Great question.
02:22:51 It's one of the motivations for HDG.
02:22:55 You know, what we are creating in Ghana is to fix everything you just talked about.
02:23:00 We are dealing with over 55 acres of land, and it's a modern city.
02:23:06 It's a smart city.
02:23:08 The city runs on an app, basically.
02:23:11 It's a sustainable city where we are recapturing water, reusing that, using solar panels and whatnot.
02:23:18 City with bike lanes, walkways, so you can go for a walk or a run without sharing the road with a car.
02:23:26 So we have the opportunity, and I've been saying it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Kumasi,
02:23:32 especially because of the location right in front of the airport.
02:23:36 And so all the things that you've mentioned is what HDG is for.
02:23:41 We don't build sort of an apartment block where we just take a piece of land
02:23:46 and just put up the building and ignore the surroundings.
02:23:49 If you buy an apartment or a home from HDG, you are literally living in a city,
02:23:55 a well-thought-out city.
02:23:57 And one of the motivations is that if you are coming from the UK or the United States or you live in Ghana,
02:24:03 when you enter the city, it's going to feel different.
02:24:07 So the goal for HDG is to develop this airport city that we've been talking about.
02:24:13 I know a lot of people would have seen the billboard in town as well.
02:24:17 So we are going to fix all those issues, so there won't be any abattoir next to you.
02:24:23 There won't be any open sewage. You will not even see a gutter.
02:24:27 So there will be no flooding.
02:24:30 It will be one of its kind, not just in Ghana, but in the whole of West Africa.
02:24:35 So we are really, really proud about that.
02:24:37 Fantastic. So that's what HDG has done.
02:24:39 But for many people who may say, "Oh, I want to buy a piece of land and develop my own property,"
02:24:45 what advice would you give them in terms of an area that will probably turn out to serve their benefit?
02:24:53 What are the things that they can look out for?
02:24:55 So that if you're purchasing land, look for A, B, C, D.
02:25:02 They are factors that will likely give you a hint that this will be a community
02:25:07 that will develop into a place that you'll be comfortable in.
02:25:11 There's a couple of things I want to say about that.
02:25:16 We talked about, Dorothy mentioned about the plan.
02:25:19 If you want to buy a home, it's probably the most expensive purchase you will make in your lifetime.
02:25:23 So you do need to make sure that you plan out whether you are saving money
02:25:27 or if you have parents with a home, that can release some equity for you.
02:25:31 You can probably borrow that, right?
02:25:33 But you have to have a starting point.
02:25:37 You can't have zero in the bank and say, "I want to buy a home," or, "I want to buy land."
02:25:41 So that goes without saying.
02:25:43 What I would share with people is that you need to be looking five, ten years from now.
02:25:48 So it's not about a piece of land that you want to buy and --
02:25:52 Because it's cheap.
02:25:53 Because it's cheap.
02:25:54 It will end up costing you a lot more.
02:25:56 If there is a development where the roads are done, there's electricity, there is a standby power,
02:26:03 and you really need to be -- and like you said, young people are aspirational.
02:26:07 But I feel everybody should be.
02:26:09 And we should be pushing the developers in the country to be developing better spaces for us.
02:26:16 So we need lands that are serviced versus just going and picking up any land that you can get.
02:26:24 So I would encourage people to be even more aspirational in terms of what it is that you're looking for.
02:26:30 Of course, not everybody will be able to afford to buy those.
02:26:34 Somebody has to still probably buy a land somewhere else.
02:26:38 But I think if you're a young person or you are somebody who is looking at buying a home,
02:26:43 I would encourage you to sort of plan and make sure that you yourself are pushing the envelope
02:26:48 in terms of where you want to live and where you want to raise your family.
02:26:52 So in other words, it's better to push yourself financially to get land in a well-demarcated area
02:27:03 than to buy a cheap one somewhere you're not sure what's going to happen in the next 10 or 5 years.
02:27:08 Dorothy, to buy or to build?
02:27:12 That's a big question. It's a conversation I've had myself.
02:27:16 To buy or to build, which is less expensive, which is less stressful?
02:27:21 What would your, do you, advice be?
02:27:27 I would say to buy because the developer would have already done a lot of groundwork for you.
02:27:34 You don't have to deal with certain vendors.
02:27:36 We are looking at sourcing extensive materials.
02:27:40 We're looking at design specifications.
02:27:43 So all of this will come as a one-time package where you don't have to stress yourself.
02:27:48 It's so many things. You come in, you have your money or whatever payment plan that you're discussing with management.
02:27:54 You go in and then you sign up.
02:27:56 I feel like if you're buying, it takes a lot of stress off you as a purchaser, depending on your schedule.
02:28:03 I mean, everybody wants convenience and comfortability.
02:28:06 So this person has already taken out the stress of sourcing your location, having to deal with land's commission.
02:28:13 You know, in Ghana, we have lots of challenges with purchasing land.
02:28:16 You would go, someone have bought it, you go, they tell you, this is my land.
02:28:20 There's all of that. So all of that has been ruled out for you.
02:28:24 You're only coming in and most often than not, when you're buying, you're almost getting a semi-furnished unit.
02:28:31 So you don't have to go back to the market to buy appliances and all of that.
02:28:34 You literally need to move in with your luggage, basically.
02:28:38 So it's always the best bet to go with buying than building.
02:28:43 All right. Same for you?
02:28:45 Absolutely. I think I have a personal experience of both.
02:28:49 Okay.
02:28:50 I think that, you know, you think that it's cheaper, but they actually end up costing you more.
02:28:57 And you end up with something that doesn't actually fit exactly what you need.
02:29:03 I think where the conversation needs to be is about helping people to afford and spread payment out.
02:29:10 I think the mortgage products in Ghana, I believe, is very, very good.
02:29:15 You know, banks are giving people 15 years to pay.
02:29:20 And I think one can look at the interest payments alone and say, well, the interest is actually quite high.
02:29:25 But if you are buying a house of $150,000 or whatever the price may be,
02:29:30 by the time you've paid over those 15 years, you've also accumulated a lot of wealth within the building.
02:29:36 So it's not just about what we call first costs, but it's about looking at the total costs.
02:29:42 And, you know, at the end of the mortgage, how much you've paid versus how much the property is actually appreciated and is worth.
02:29:52 So if you want to build, you need to assemble a team of, you know, different vendors.
02:29:59 And the time alone it takes to build.
02:30:03 I think, again, we understand not everybody will be able to afford it.
02:30:07 So people will still have to buy land and try and do it themselves.
02:30:11 But from a general standpoint, you know, it's better to have a look at an option to buy
02:30:17 and really negotiate the payment terms to make sure it can fit your own payment schedule.
02:30:25 - Miki, since you're a real estate developer, there's a question that comes up a lot.
02:30:30 When you buy land, ideally it's not bought, like, you know, it's leased.
02:30:37 So is it the same with homes? Or when you purchase the home, it's yours for life?
02:30:43 - They all are yours for life. You know, the way the lease agreements are structured,
02:30:48 and this is the same in the UK especially, where, you know, you lease the land or you buy the house,
02:30:56 but it's actually called a leasehold.
02:30:58 Nobody is going to say to you at the end of 50 years or 100 years, your lease has expired.
02:31:03 Pull down your building and move, right?
02:31:06 So even though it's a leasehold, you own it. It's yours.
02:31:10 Nobody is going to kick you out.
02:31:12 The only implication is that every time the lease expires,
02:31:16 there is a payment that needs to be made to the landowner.
02:31:20 And those payments are never high.
02:31:23 They are never--it's not something that you can't afford.
02:31:27 It's really, really small, like, grand rent or that sort of thing.
02:31:32 So for all practical purposes, if you have a leasehold, you own it.
02:31:35 You shouldn't think about, I only have 50 years or 40 years or 80 years.
02:31:40 Nobody is going to kick you out.
02:31:43 Well, so I hope you've at least gotten some good advice, free consultation you've had this morning.
02:31:48 And we're looking forward to our Ecobank Tony's Habitat Fair,
02:31:51 which is happening this year, much later in the year.
02:31:55 But our clinic will make a stop from tomorrow through to Sunday
02:32:00 at the Thamer Metropolitan Assembly, first time ever,
02:32:03 serving our clients in that part of the country.
02:32:05 We hope that you will join us.
02:32:07 So now let's delve a bit more into what you do.
02:32:11 And you just made reference in your responses to the Airport City Kumasi project.
02:32:16 Tell us more about that.
02:32:18 Yeah, thank you.
02:32:19 So Kumasi has now gotten an international airport.
02:32:25 It's built, and we are looking forward to it being opening.
02:32:29 So the first time ever, people from the Ashanti region,
02:32:32 from the Buna-Ahafo region and north,
02:32:35 don't have to come to Accra to travel to Dubai, to London, and to the United States.
02:32:40 This is a seismic change in the country.
02:32:44 And as part of that development, HDG have acquired land,
02:32:48 over 50 acres of land in front of the airport,
02:32:51 similar to what you see in Accra around the Holiday Inn and whatnot.
02:32:56 But in Accra, it's sort of geared towards commercial, sort of commercial buildings.
02:33:01 We are going more mixed use.
02:33:03 So there are some commercial buildings, but actually it's more residential as well.
02:33:08 So we are developing this land into an Airport City project, as I said, with a strip mall.
02:33:14 There's a hospital.
02:33:15 There is a first five-star hotel coming to Kumasi at the airport.
02:33:19 And then there's also a boutique hotel at the same time.
02:33:23 And you're going to have luxury homes, as you've seen on your screen.
02:33:27 And we've just launched our first project called the Kessington Heights,
02:33:30 which you would have seen the billboards in town.
02:33:34 You know, the highest building you will see in Kumasi, 10-story rooftop,
02:33:40 you know, service apartment and whatnot.
02:33:42 So it will really transform not just in front of the airport, but the whole of Kumasi.
02:33:47 And we're really excited about that.
02:33:49 Dorothy, tell us how you're hoping to execute this.
02:33:51 Are you doing it in phases or it's a, you know, one-time project?
02:33:55 No, so what we're doing is we're targeting everything in phases.
02:33:59 So currently we have the Kessington Heights,
02:34:01 which is currently on sale.
02:34:03 We're looking at end of November to actually start construction.
02:34:08 So we're doing it in phases because it's a lot.
02:34:11 You don't want to start everything at one point.
02:34:13 We have a spread of years that we're looking at achieving everything
02:34:18 and having the entire city coming together.
02:34:21 But at the moment, we're targeting every project in phases.
02:34:24 So you've started selling for the Kessington Heights?
02:34:27 Yes, yes.
02:34:28 All right, so how do people take advantage of this?
02:34:30 Are there any numbers to call?
02:34:32 How do they find you?
02:34:33 Just let us know.
02:34:34 Yes, we have started selling.
02:34:36 Actually, currently we are sold out on our two-bedroom penthouses,
02:34:39 and we only have four studios left.
02:34:41 So as quickly as possible, you may want to--
02:34:44 Start at price?
02:34:45 Yes, so the studios are starting from $69,950.
02:34:49 You can reach out to us at info@hdghomeslimited.com.
02:34:54 We are also located in Laboni, House No. 12, 4th Nola Street.
02:34:57 You can also call 0201-399-701.
02:35:01 Please mention the number again.
02:35:03 0201-399-701.
02:35:08 Exciting, isn't it?
02:35:09 So you've heard a lot today, and Dorothy told us earlier
02:35:13 that they have a package with Ecobank.
02:35:15 So, yeah, you can just reach out to the bank and see what your options are
02:35:20 and reach out to them as well.
02:35:23 And also, I mean, what if I want to purchase something else that is yet to start?
02:35:28 Because you say you sold out on the two-bedrooms for the Kensington project.
02:35:32 So for the Kensington Heights, we actually have two phases.
02:35:34 So we would have two bedrooms in the second phase.
02:35:37 But what we are doing is selling the first phase now.
02:35:40 So you have options if you want anything.
02:35:43 You can just come into our office, and then we'll have a conversation.
02:35:46 Yes, I think that's what you should do.
02:35:47 Just visit them in Laboni, you said, No. 12?
02:35:50 4th Nola Street.
02:35:51 All right. So just visit HGG Homes Limited
02:35:55 and just get acquainted with everything they have, the plan,
02:36:00 because it's such a beautiful plan that Mr. Owusu just painted in our minds.
02:36:05 They're going to have malls, hospital, a five-star hotel.
02:36:09 You just want to take advantage of this and be part of this beautiful city.
02:36:13 And let me say a very big thank you to you.
02:36:15 Stephen Owusu is founder and CEO of HGG Homes Limited,
02:36:18 and Dorothy Bimpong is head of sales, HGG Homes Limited.
02:36:23 Oh, is that the number you announced?
02:36:25 Okay, some people have already started calling.
02:36:28 So, Dorothy, I'll just let you go so you can go and handle the calls.
02:36:32 But thank you so much for having this conversation with us.
02:36:34 We are not done yet with our conversations on homes and acquiring homes.
02:36:38 Eroni Odate-Lamte will be joining me.
02:36:41 He's the project officer of Cities and Habitats.
02:36:43 You want to stay for that?
02:36:44 [Music]
02:37:11 [Music]
02:37:16 I'm very grateful that you stayed here on the AM show.
02:37:19 I'm Bernice Abubay-Di-Lansa,
02:37:21 and in the past 40 minutes or so, we've been having a conversation about owning homes,
02:37:27 what to look out for, what to consider, comfort, luxury, or affordability.
02:37:32 We continue that conversation with one of our sponsors of the Ecobank Journeys Habitat Fair,
02:37:38 Cities and Habitats, and they have a very, very interesting concept, the rent to own.
02:37:44 I've been joined by Eroni Odate-Lamte.
02:37:46 He's project officer for Cities and Habitats.
02:37:48 Hello, Eroni. Great to have you here.
02:37:50 Nice to have you.
02:37:51 All right. Okay.
02:37:52 So, we've been doing this with you for some time now since your project started.
02:37:57 And we know that you have started building.
02:38:00 People have paid already.
02:38:01 But for those who are not aware of what Cities and Habitats does,
02:38:05 just tell us what you do and about this project, rent to own.
02:38:09 Okay. So, Cities and Habitats is into city development
02:38:14 because we realize that there are challenges with urban residents
02:38:18 or staying in the urban space currently.
02:38:20 You may have to buy a building, and the next few years,
02:38:23 you have to relocate because of the change in the environment.
02:38:27 It becomes more commercial than residents.
02:38:30 So, the UN Habitats break the concept to be able to address the urban challenges that we have
02:38:35 and brought in the city development, that the planned city extension project.
02:38:39 So, you have to plan the city and also control it
02:38:43 so that residential properties are useful, residential activities,
02:38:47 and commercial properties also for commercial activities.
02:38:51 So, Cities and Habitats are implementing this in PRAMPRAM.
02:38:54 And then we have started building.
02:38:56 So, we are selling houses and also those who may not want the specifications that we've done
02:39:02 or the models that we are using also can purchase land within that space
02:39:07 so that they can develop their own to be in the control space
02:39:11 so that you can enjoy all that you have to enjoy within that space.
02:39:15 And we have in store, we have the malls in there, we have a market,
02:39:19 we have car parks, we have hospitals, we have clinics, we have entertainment space within the hotels
02:39:29 and all that so that everybody can fit into that space.
02:39:33 And then you cut down on the stress with traffic, go up and down and all that.
02:39:37 And that is what we are offering to Ghanaians.
02:39:39 That's fantastic.
02:39:40 And this concept of building cities appears to be something that's growing among all of you developers.
02:39:46 But, I mean, we need to be honest.
02:39:50 There are people who cannot or may not afford these projects up front.
02:39:56 They may want certain special packages.
02:39:58 Is there anything available?
02:40:00 Sure, we have everything.
02:40:01 I mean, when you come into building, I mean, when you look at the materials you use nowadays,
02:40:06 it's become very expensive.
02:40:08 We can't run away from that.
02:40:09 You can't make it any cheaper so that this is a long-term investment someone is doing.
02:40:14 So you can't do just anything that's in the across or within the shortest possible time.
02:40:19 It has to collapse on someone.
02:40:20 So we have to use the best materials to put up the best building and quality is assured.
02:40:27 And with that, it's quite expensive.
02:40:29 Cities and Habitat sat down and realized that it's becoming more expensive for people to afford their homes.
02:40:35 So we brought in the rent-to-own concept to be able to address that challenge of people not being able to pay.
02:40:43 People are crying about mortgages and all that.
02:40:46 So this one affords them the luxury to be able to pay gradually.
02:40:51 So we give you 25 years payment plan for our silver and gold properties
02:40:57 and then 15 years payment plan for our platinum properties for those who want to go the luxury way.
02:41:03 So that is what we afford them.
02:41:05 The payment plan is like that.
02:41:06 You pay up to 30 percent and then you move into the building.
02:41:10 And then you pay like you're paying monthly rent?
02:41:12 Yes.
02:41:13 For the 70 percent that is left for the rest of the period.
02:41:16 And then when you finish, you own it.
02:41:18 So that is what we afford everyone.
02:41:20 And even the 30 percent that you are paying is not outright.
02:41:23 You can choose to pay gradually, monthly installment, the minimum of 3,200 Ghana cities
02:41:29 for the two-bedroom semi-detached that you move in and then you continue paying.
02:41:35 So when you pay your 30 percent, you move in, continue paying the rest 70 percent within the 25 years
02:41:40 and then you own it all.
02:41:42 Wow. It's as exciting as it gets.
02:41:44 So it's almost like, you know, renting a property, but the long term is not that you are renting and renting and renting.
02:41:51 You're literally paying off the debt on owning that facility.
02:41:56 This is exciting as it gets.
02:41:58 So there are many options for you to choose from.
02:42:00 And I know that you have questions, right?
02:42:02 And that's why you must come to the Thirma Metropolitan Assembly from tomorrow through to Sunday.
02:42:07 All our exhibitors, cities and habitats will be there.
02:42:10 3,200 a month, you can own a two-bedroom semi-detached house.
02:42:14 That is exciting.
02:42:15 Self-compound.
02:42:16 Self-compound. Wow.
02:42:18 You can own that.
02:42:19 And some of you may think that, oh, I can do this in less than 15 years for the platinum.
02:42:26 Is that also accepted?
02:42:28 Accepted.
02:42:29 We are looking at those who may not be able to afford.
02:42:33 So we give grace period of 25 years.
02:42:36 Even if you want to pay outright, we are ready to serve you.
02:42:40 If you want to pay within 10 years, we give you a payment plan for that.
02:42:43 If you're ready to pay five years, we give you a payment plan for that.
02:42:46 And that is what we are offering.
02:42:47 At the fair, we are giving some special packages, juicy ones, to our customers and clients who come to our booth over there.
02:42:56 Our registration fee has been reduced by 50% for anyone who walk in there and is ready to register to start acquiring his home.
02:43:06 And then we are also giving the 15/30 promo.
02:43:09 So the 30% with which you pay and then you move into your property to continue the 70%, if a client decides to pay it outright,
02:43:18 then we give you a 15% discount on that 30% so that you can have access to your home and then you continue paying the rest.
02:43:27 And then also our lands, we are offering mostly 73,500 for plots of land 70 by 100.
02:43:36 So you do the homes and within the city, you can sell lands as well to people?
02:43:41 Yes.
02:43:42 Okay, that you can do your own projects on.
02:43:44 Yes.
02:43:45 So do you offer construction services or when they buy the land, they can choose to bring their own people to come and do that?
02:43:51 We allow both.
02:43:52 If you want us to construct it for you, we'll do that.
02:43:55 If you want to bring yours, we'll allow that.
02:43:57 But we'll have control.
02:43:59 You have to manage the space.
02:44:01 Of course, the design, because it's a city.
02:44:03 You need to manage those you bring in, the contractors and how materials are brought in and all that.
02:44:10 And then security is assured on our site.
02:44:14 So you've spoken to us about this great plan, how it will be executed and the juicy office that you have for our patrons when they come to the Thema Metropolitan Assembly from tomorrow through to Sunday.
02:44:26 The Ecobank drone use habitat fair clinic is making a stop in Thema.
02:44:31 It's the first time ever.
02:44:33 You don't want to miss it.
02:44:34 You want to be part of this history making.
02:44:36 So Citizen Habitat is located where?
02:44:40 We're located in Praphrong.
02:44:42 So this one actually is closer to us.
02:44:45 I was telling one of the colleagues that this current one has met Accra in totality because the north we had to go to Achimota.
02:44:55 The west we had to go to West Hills Mall.
02:44:57 And now we're going to the east, which is Thema, to meet all the people within the east of Accra.
02:45:03 And we come to the south and the main fair is coming on at the conference center.
02:45:07 And I believe this time around.
02:45:09 So we are at Pramprong currently.
02:45:12 And then that is where the project is taking off.
02:45:14 And our office is closer to the Porter City or the Ghana Mansoka Center of Excellence.
02:45:19 Just a few meters drive from the Ghana Mansoka Center of Excellence.
02:45:23 And then our telephone numbers, anyone want to reach us?
02:45:26 055 55 30 300.
02:45:30 055 55 30 300.
02:45:34 Or 0577 911 101.
02:45:39 0577 911 101.
02:45:43 Or those who want to meet us online, www.newaccra.city.
02:45:49 That is where you get to interact with cities and habitats.
02:45:52 My final question to you, comfort, affordability or luxury.
02:45:55 What do you offer your clients?
02:45:57 Okay, we are offering you comfort and affordability together.
02:46:02 And then luxury to those who want to put the three together.
02:46:05 Okay, so at least you are short of comfort and affordability.
02:46:08 Yes, that is what I am talking about.
02:46:09 If you want to go a notch higher, that is the luxury to add to it.
02:46:12 That is the luxury.
02:46:13 So you have all three.
02:46:14 Alright, great. Thank you so much.
02:46:15 You are welcome.
02:46:16 Aaron Lee, ODATI, LAMTA is project officer, cities and habitats.
02:46:19 And they are working on the rent to own project.
02:46:22 It is a fantastic one if you ask me.
02:46:24 And if you have any questions for Aaron or want to make further inquiries,
02:46:28 join him and his team when the Ekobank John Hughes Habitat Fair Clinic
02:46:32 makes a stop at the Thamer Metropolitan Assembly from tomorrow through to Sunday.
02:46:37 We will all be there. Hope to see you there.
02:46:39 I will take a quick breather now.
02:46:41 When we come back, we will be getting interactive with you.
02:46:43 Please stay.
02:46:45 (music)
02:47:10 Welcome back on the AM Show.
02:47:12 As we get ready to wrap, we would love to hear from you.
02:47:17 We are activating the phone lines as we promised at the start of the show
02:47:21 so we can hear what your thoughts are.
02:47:23 We had this morning a member of parliament for Thamerla Sentro, Murtala Mohamed.
02:47:28 He was speaking about corruption in Ghana.
02:47:31 He was talking about President Akufo-Addo
02:47:33 and what he says he has done when it comes to the fight against the graft.
02:47:37 We spoke extensively about the IGP's leaked tape
02:47:41 and we also veered into the bit about the electoral commission
02:47:44 and what has been happening as far as the limited registration exercise,
02:47:48 which ends on October 2nd, is concerned.
02:47:52 In between, we have also had our interactions with those whom you will be seeing
02:47:57 if you come our way in Thamer as far as the habitat fair is concerned.
02:48:01 But what are your thoughts?
02:48:02 Do share with us now. 0302 211 691.
02:48:09 That's the number to call.
02:48:11 Call that number. 0302 211 691.
02:48:17 And let me know what you are thinking
02:48:20 or what you think about these matters that we've had on our chopping board this morning.
02:48:26 The IGP thing is still simmering.
02:48:29 Still ongoing all the way into, well, some weeks to come.
02:48:34 And then we'll find out what Parliament will come up with as far as that is concerned.
02:48:40 But what is your viewing of the situation?
02:48:43 And if, especially for those of you 18 and above, recently turned 18,
02:48:50 there has been talk about getting registered on the electoral roll
02:48:54 and the challenges over these last few days,
02:48:57 especially as the process has been rather slow and the numbers that have registered have been very few.
02:49:06 If you are one of those, let me know.
02:49:09 You can call in and let me know what is happening in your vicinity, in your locality.
02:49:15 In the meantime, we have Ishmael and Salada, if I am right.
02:49:22 Hello?
02:49:25 It appears we've lost Ishmael, but especially you. OK, I want all of you to call.
02:49:29 But for those of you who are part of this limited registration exercise or who are seeking to be part of it,
02:49:35 wherever you are in the country from south to north, east to west,
02:49:39 let me know whether the bandwagon has come to your community. Of course, you have districts there.
02:49:45 It should have come. But what is the the registration process been like?
02:49:50 You can call and share that or any other thoughts you have with us right now on the AM show.
02:49:57 We missed Ishmael shortly, a short while ago, but I'd love to hear from you.
02:50:03 So what are your thoughts? Just pick your phone. Call that number 0302 211 691.
02:50:11 And let me know what is on your mind.
02:50:16 In the meantime, I'll just check for some of the responses you've been sending through on some of the conversations we've been having on the show right here.
02:50:32 I'm just looking for. OK, so there it is.
02:50:44 I am. OK, I'll have to look for this later. We have in the meantime Kwame from Dan Summan, who has called in.
02:50:54 Hello, Kwame. Good morning. How are you? Good morning. You're looking good.
02:51:01 Thank you. Thank you very much. I hope you're well.
02:51:06 Oh, by God grace, I'm doing well. I'm doing very well. I'm in Abilikuma West. Abilikuma West. How is Abilikuma West?
02:51:14 Abilikuma West, my problem over there is they have space at the Russia Road.
02:51:21 They don't have any parking space, parking lot. And then they just finished.
02:51:26 When you reach there, I was driving yesterday. When you reach there, you could see these children, I mean, these teenagers just hovering around the road.
02:51:37 And it might be very dangerous. You can even send your camera over there.
02:51:46 You don't have any parking lot. You can see people just crowded on the roadside. So I think the EC could have done something about this.
02:51:58 About this overcrowding at Abilikuma West. If you go to Abilikuma West right now from the Russia Road, that's where the municipality is.
02:52:08 And when you reach there, it's not something that is clicking into the eye. So I think the EC could have actually considered something.
02:52:20 And because they are little children, these children will be walking all the way from Lhasa, Damsuma, Lhasa, Kuntru, Sahara, all the way to Russia Road to come and register.
02:52:32 So I think if the EC can do something about it, I think it will help. Thank you very much, sir.
02:52:38 Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on that a bit. Definitely a concern with the dangers involved.
02:52:47 And maybe that is why there's been talk also of whether this could have been extended even further so that people don't have to congregate at these centers, solely at these centers.
02:53:03 So that it will have come even closer to the people. But that is where that is what it has gone to.
02:53:11 We have Jacob on the line now from the Savannah region. Hello, Jacob.
02:53:16 Hello, my brother. Good morning. How are you? Good morning. I'm doing well. How are you too?
02:53:22 Ah, God day we day. Thank you for calling. What are your thoughts?
02:53:26 Thank you so much. My brother, I have been monitoring you all the time. I have a lot to say about EC's conduct of this limited voter registration.
02:53:37 Savannah region. I am from Bole, Bamboe constituency. The distance from Bole to Bamboe is in fact a lot.
02:53:47 When you get to Bamboe and go to Chibinyua and go to Babato and go to Kuma and you all have to move to Bamboe.
02:53:55 So the district office of the Electoral Commission is in Bamboe? It's in Bole.
02:54:03 But the district office of the Electoral Commission is in Bole, Bamboe.
02:54:08 So the distance from Bole to Bamboe is about 45 cities in and out and that is 90.
02:54:15 When you go to Bamboe and you go to Babato Kuma, you go to Chibinyua, you go to New Longoro, you go to Jama, you go to Ablekuma.
02:54:27 All these distances is about 20 cities, 30 cities to Bamboe. Then from Bamboe to Bole town is 45 cities.
02:54:37 So assuming I am coming from Chibinyua, I am paying 25 cities to Bamboe, then I am paying 45 cities to Bole, that's about 18 cities.
02:54:45 If I am going by the same 18 cities, an 18 year old boy or girl, where is he or she going to get the money to come to Bole?
02:54:54 Now when he comes to Bole, because he is coming from a far distance, there is a very long queue.
02:55:01 Then he will come and start from the bottom. Now from the bottom, it is that you will not get registration in the day.
02:55:10 You will have to sleep in Bole. If you don't have an uncle, an auntie, a brother, a senior brother, anywhere, veranda, somewhere to sleep,
02:55:19 it means by half o'clock when they close and you have not been registered, you will go back to Bamboe and go to Chibinyua and sleep and come the following day.
02:55:28 In fact, from 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, if you have not done any registration for Ghanians, these 5 years, we have had a lot of people.
02:55:43 If you go to the registration center, in fact this morning I have been to Sohla registration center, I have been to Bole registration center,
02:55:49 you will see the number of people lined up there, the Motoking, Okada, the Yolo Yolo, the Taksis, the Samyong, the Sprinters,
02:55:59 thousands of people there and they are queuing and they are not even sure they will get within a week.
02:56:05 In fact, my brother will say it will marvelous you. Thank you so much. Let the EC, the men say, in fact, get to understand Ghanians.
02:56:14 Ghana is not in Accra. In fact, Kumasi is not only Ghana. Ghana is in the typical villages.
02:56:21 Our roads are very bad. Unrobbers are everywhere. In fact, road accidents are common.
02:56:27 And so passing people from Chiminyo to Bamboe to Bole and back a day is very risky just because of the voter registration card.
02:56:36 Thank you.
02:56:38 Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us.
02:56:43 And it is quite a concern what he shares, all the impediments, what that the situation were better in terms of our road network.
02:56:53 And like he mentioned, the danger even for some places or those in certain parts of the country in terms of accessing the roads that are available,
02:57:04 bad as they are, and now they have to travel this distance.
02:57:08 So for people like that, if they have to travel at the cost of 80 cities, 90 cities in this economic situation.
02:57:14 And imagine, like he says, that person commutes, does that journey, gets to the point and can't even get registered because the closing time is five o'clock.
02:57:25 What does the person do? Return? How does a person return and come back the following day at the same cost?
02:57:30 Find a place to, you know, perch, as we usually say it, you know, accommodate himself or herself.
02:57:36 It's quite a situation, but it's it's a tricky one. And I hope we can find some solution to this at some point.
02:57:44 We have now Kofi from the Volta region. Where in the Volta region are you calling?
02:57:52 Hello, Kofi. It appears we just lost Kofi, who was calling from somewhere in the Volta region.
02:57:59 Kofi, I will encourage you to call again. The number for those of you who haven't reached out to us this morning,
02:58:04 0302 211691. And I'm focusing on, you can say you can speak on other things, you know, apart from this.
02:58:14 But I want us as much as possible. If you've personally tried to get registered, what are the circumstances you've met?
02:58:23 That is those who are now participating in the limited voter registration exercise.
02:58:29 Or if you've followed, if you've been at any of these centers or the district offices and seen what is happening,
02:58:35 do share with us. Let us know what the experience has been. And of course, as we speak about some of these matters,
02:58:42 the electoral commissioner and her commissioners, the rest of the team will hear us and hopefully work on the situation.
02:58:52 We have another caller. Hello. Good morning. I say, is there any network from where they are calling for the EC?
02:59:04 Hello. Hello. Let's start with. Let's start there. Hello. Let's start with your name and where you're calling from.
02:59:10 I'm calling from Suga Kofi and my name is Nicholas. All right. Please go ahead, Nicholas.
02:59:17 I'm saying that where they want them to be registered, is there any network there?
02:59:28 Is that a network there for them to come and register them? That is one problem.
02:59:36 OK, so you're talking about connectivity issues.
02:59:39 The electoral commission cannot easily come there. And this is a continuous process. When it is at the district office,
02:59:47 they will find out how many people they have registered and later on move to the rural areas.
02:59:54 Thank you. OK, thank you for those comments.
03:00:01 So more concerns pouring in and he is asking about the availability of networks or the how strong network connections are in some of these communities where the registration is being done.
03:00:15 Obviously, that is also going to impact the work that will be done with the machines that the Electoral Commission will be using.
03:00:24 We'll take our final caller and then call it a show. Hello. Good morning. Hello.
03:00:36 OK, I think we don't have. Any call on the line, do we? Hello. Hello. Good morning.
03:00:47 Do we have a call on the line? OK, I think we've lost that caller.
03:00:54 I think we still have a bit of a window. So if one final call comes through, we can pick that.
03:01:02 We have ESA from Bali. OK, ESA, another caller from Bali. Good morning. Good morning.
03:01:09 How's the morning? Are we there inside? Go straight ahead. Yes, I think hypocrisy will kill this country.
03:01:19 I think the EC is not fair to ordinary Ghanaians. They have been saying that they are independent, independent, independent for who?
03:01:30 Is it not for the citizens? As someone said, from Bombay to Bali is a long journey.
03:01:40 I mean, an 18-year-old boy or 18-year-old girl, where will he or she get 100 and something Ghanaians for a registration?
03:01:51 I think it's pathetic and it's sad. But casting of a vote, you don't know whether or not the person is going to vote.
03:02:02 They don't need the ID card even for casting of their vote. I think it's sad for motherland Ghana.
03:02:12 And I think they should rethink. The EC and its workers, they should rethink what they are doing to the citizens.
03:02:21 I think if things are going this way, I think it will be terrible. It will be fine.
03:02:29 I think the oppression is too much. The oppression is becoming too much. I mean, this is not democracy.
03:02:36 The democracy we are talking of, this is not the democracy Kwame Nkrumah fight for. This is not the democracy President Rolling and Krumah fight for.
03:02:45 It's very, very bad. They should leave. Oh, it's sad.
03:02:52 Well, thank you for sharing your thoughts. All of you. We are very grateful.
03:02:58 There obviously are problems bedeviling this entire process.
03:03:02 And like I said, would that we had better systems in place, a better road network, better security, safety on our roads and better accessibility, you know, with inflation and everything and with the cost of living.
03:03:15 Of course, if people are going to commute over such distances, spend such money, ask yourself how many people have 100 plus cities lying around that they can just commit to a cause like this,
03:03:27 though this is a right guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana to vote at a certain age.
03:03:35 You know, guaranteed if the person wants to. But anyway, it's something that we are hoping will be smoothened out.
03:03:41 And come October the second when this process comes to an end, I do not know whether it will be extended.
03:03:46 Looking at the numbers that we've had trickling in rather than the thousands that would have expected to have been registered by this time.
03:03:53 But only time will tell. And let's look at the positive end of things.
03:03:58 My name is Benjamin Akaku. I've done this as always with Bernice Abubidu Lansa and the rest of the team from Razak to the man we call Osama.
03:04:10 To Dennis, the man we call Pueva to Yaw Fawson, Nicholas Yamua, Echo Sam and the entirety of the crew.
03:04:24 For those whose names I have not mentioned, not intentional, but they make things happen on the show.
03:04:31 On that note, we're calling it a show. And up next, Joy News Desk. Do stay for that.
03:04:39 [Music]
03:04:42 [Music]
03:04:46 [Music]
03:04:49 [Music]
03:05:07 [Music]
03:05:11 [Music]
03:05:14 (upbeat music)

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