Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party has outlined his ambitious plans to promote transparency, accountability and creation of a cashless economy to fight corruption.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who is currently the Vice President of Ghana emphasized the pivotal role of transparency in combating corruption, stating, “One of the most potent weapons against corruption is transparency.”
His vision includes transitioning Ghana towards a cashless economy, citing the literature that highlights the correlation between electronic payments and reduced corruption.
Dr. Bawumia revealed progress made by the Bank of Ghana in establishing infrastructure for a cashless society, such as mobile money interoperability and the Universal QR Code payment system.
He also stressed on the completion of a pilot for a digital version of the Ghana cedi, known as the e-cedi, designed to enhance traceability and accountability in financial transactions.
“The e-cedi, with appropriate privacy protections, will be the ultimate weapon in our fight against corruption,” remarked Dr. Bawumia, during his address at UPSA on Wednesday February 7, 2024 underscoring its potential to mitigate fraud, robbery, tax evasion, and money laundering.
To incentivize the adoption of electronic payments, Dr. Bawumia pledged to abolish taxes on digital transactions, including the contentious e-levy.
Additionally, he announced plans to enhance transparency by publishing details of all public contracts online for public scrutiny.
Transparency International’s latest report, which maintained Ghana’s corruption score at 43 for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 70th out of 180 countries, has attracted lots of criticism against the government for the lack of progress in the fight against corruption.
Ghana loses over $3 billion annually to corruption.
The country lost approximately GHS5 billion in cash through the payment of bribes to public officials in 2021, according to the Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey (GIPSS).
Reflecting on his political aspirations, Dr. Bawumia reiterated his commitment to serving the nation and addressing societal challenges. “I entered politics to serve the nation. My passion is solving problems,” he affirmed, emphasizing his track record in implementing anti-corruption measures through digitalization.
Flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has unveiled plans to alleviate budgetary burdens and enhance efficiency through private sector collaboration.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has proposed a strategic partnership with the private sector to address the massive demand for road construction and public service provision in Ghana.
According to available data, Ghana’s road network is estimated at 100,000Km.
National Road length as at 2022 is 94,203km. However, 72% of the roads in Ghana have no bitumen on them which translates to 68,000km, while 47% of urban roads are good 32% is fair but 21% poor.
Speaking at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Dr. Bawumia emphasized the need to alleviate the budgetary strain caused by infrastructure development.
He stressed that traditional financing methods have placed a heavy burden on the national budget.
“I believe that the private sector should finance the construction and maintenance of roads through PPP concession arrangements,” stated Dr. Bawumia, outlining his vision for public-private partnerships in infrastructure development.
In addition to road construction, Dr. Bawumia announced plans to shift towards leasing, rather than outright purchasing, vehicles, printing equipment, and other assets.
The private sector will assume responsibility for equipment maintenance, resulting in significant cost savings for the government.
“This policy will energize the private sector and create many jobs,” Dr. Bawumia affirmed, underscoring the potential economic benefits of increased private sector involvement in public service provision.
Moreover, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the broader implications of enhancing private sector participation, including fiscal and administrative decentralization.
He addressed the importance of improving governance systems and institutional efficiency to ensure value for money in procurement.
The proposed reforms, according to Dr. Bawumia, could generate fiscal space equivalent to at least 3% of GDP annually, representing a major paradigm shift in government operations.
The Ministry of Finance has suspended the planned implementation of 15% VAT on Electricity.
This comes on the back of Trades Union Congress (TUC) and 35 organised labour unions’ announcement to embark on a demonstration on February 13.
In a bid to walk the talk Organized Labour has officially written to the Police to demonstrate in all the sixteen regions.
“This letter serves as the official notification of our decision to embark on a demonstration in all the 16 regional capitals of Ghana on Tuesday, 13th February, 2024,” the General Secretary of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Mr. Yaw Baah stated in the letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
However, in a statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Finance Ministry said it has halted the intended implementation for further engagements.
“On behalf of the government, MoF would like to inform ECG and NEDCO to suspend the implementation of the VAT directive pending further engagement with key stakeholders including organized labour.
“The ministry expects that engagement will birth innovative, robust and inclusive approaches to bridging the existing fiscal gap, while bolstering economic resilience,” the Ministry assured.
The Vice President and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Mahamudu Bawumia, has assured Ghanaians that under his Presidency, there will not be more than 50 Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
Addressing ministers, leadership of the NPP and party supporters at UPSA in Accra, Dr. Bawumia explained that an efficient system of governance will require fewer ministers, hence, his decision to have fewer ministers adding that he “would have no more than 50 ministers and deputy ministers.”
The Vice President indicated that there is need to enhance the role of the private sector along with fiscal and administrative decentralization while improving how systems and institutions function. This, he said, would lead to greater efficiency and ensure value for money in procurement.
“The move towards the private sector provision of many public services would create fiscal space of at least 3% of GDP. This represents a major paradigm shift. Additionally, an efficient system of governance will require even fewer ministers’’ he added.
An independent fiscal responsibility council will be set up to reduce budget deficits and interest rates under the Presidency of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
“To sustainably reduce the budget deficit and interest rates, my government will enhance fiscal discipline through an independent fiscal responsibility council enshrined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982). The Fiscal Responsibility Act will also be amended to add a fiscal rule that requires that budgeted expenditure in any year does not exceed 105% of the previous year’s tax revenue. This will prevent the experience of budgetary expenditures based on optimistic revenue forecasts which don’t materialize’’
Dr. Bawumia said the government will reduce the fiscal burden on government by leveraging the private sector, following the successful roll-out and/or enhancement such as Free SHS, Free TVEY during the Nana Akufo-Addo government’s tenure.
“With all these social safety nets in place, my government will now focus on jobs, and wealth creation by the private sector for all Ghanaians. My administration will incentivize the private sector to complement government in the provision of many infrastructure and other services to reduce government expenditure and improve maintenance,” he stated.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that he will abolish the tax on electronic financial transaction also known as E-levy, if elected President of Ghana.
E-Levy was introduced in 2022 with huge disagreements from both sides in Parliament.
Addressing ministers, leadership of the NPP and party supporters at UPSA in Accra, Dr. Bawumia stated his opposition to taxes on electronic financial transactions adding that he will abolish e-levy as President.
The Vice President stated that in his bid for a Digital and Cashless Ghana, will be significantly boosted if e-levy is abolished.
“To move towards a cashless economy however, we have to encourage the population to use electronic channels payment. To accomplish this, there will be no taxes on digital payments under my administration. The e-levy will therefore, be abolished,” he declared.
Dr. Bawumia also announced that as part of a new tax regime by his government, he will also abolish the emission tax, tax on betting as well as the proposed 15% VAT on electricity tariffs, if it is in existence by January 2025.
He also announced that his government would introduce what he described as a friendly, flat tax regime for Ghana, which will boost individuals and businesses, particularly small and medium-scale enterprises (SME’s).
“My administration will introduce a very simple, citizen and business friendly flat tax regime. A flat tax of a % of income for individuals and SMEs, which constitute 98% of all businesses in Ghana, with appropriate exemption thresholds set to protect the poor,” Dr. Bawumia indicated.
The Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC) has dismissed a petition filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North James Gyakye Quayson against the Attorney General, (AG), Godfred Yeboah Dame.
The legislator, Mr. Quayson in August last year petitioned the GLC over what he described as misconduct by the AG.
In Court on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa while opposing to an application from Mr Quayson over a missing July 19, 2023, proceedings, told the Court that, the petition has been dismissed.
“My Lady, that d.petition (by James Quayson) has been dismissed by the General Legal Council because there was no prima facie established by the Council,” Mrs Obuobisa told the Court.
Counsel for James Quayson, Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata in his response expressed surprise at the news to the Court.
“The DPP also claimed the the Disciplinary Committee of General Legal Commissions has dismissed the request made by the Applicant (James Quayson) for disciplinary proceedings against the Attorney General, this is the first we are hearing of this and this being a Court of record, we would have expected that the DPP will provide a copy of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council to the Court,” Mr Tsikata expressed.
In the letter to the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, Mr. Quayson catalogued a number of reasons for the misconduct of the AG including human rights issues.
According to him, the professional misconduct of the Attorney General has jeopardized his fundamental human right.
“Through his professional misconduct, the Attorney-General has clearly jeopardized my fundamental human right to be presumed innocent until I am proved guilty and my right to a fair trial.
“I, therefore, respectfully request disciplinary proceedings against the Attorney General for professional misconduct as outlined above,” the Assin North lawmaker wrote to the General Legal Council.
But, that request according to the DPP has been dismissed.
The Minority in Parliament has slammed Member of Parliament (MP) for Effiduase-Askore, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye for what the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) describe as double standards.
They are questioning why the founder of AFAG and chairman of the health committee voted in support of the passage of the levy only to turn around and ask for suspension of its implementation.
Dr. Afriye took to social media to charge the government to stand down the levy as a result of this year’s elections in order to give the party’s candidate Dr. Bawumia a fair shot at the Presidency.
First deputy speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu has called those making such demands out for running away from responsibility of defending government attempts in saving the economy.
Answering questions from Starr News during leadership engagement with the Parliamentary Press, Minority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson described the position of Dr. Afriye as baffling.
The former deputy finance minister however argued there are better alternatives to government in salvaging the economy such as expenditure cuts rather than overburdening the public with taxes.
He asked the government to stop blaming the taxes on external bodies.
“As to why the Honorable Member, Afriye voted for the Emission Levy and went out there to say something different, that the implementation must wait.
“I found it very baffling because we explained it on the floor, the Minority voted their numbers against it. He voted as a member of the Majority in support of the bill. So I don’t know why the sudden change of position,” Dr. Ato Forson stated.
The Minority also stated Ghana’s economy can be saved by cutting down some expenditures and not imposing taxes.
“We are not seeing the cutting expenditures, so the government has a choice. A choice to increase taxes or a choice to cut expenditure or a combination of both. The IMF does not tell you to impose the tax but the IMF asks you to reduce the deficit to a particular level.
“So the choice is yours to either impose a tax, cut expenditure or do both. Now the government decided to impose a tax without cutting expenditure. So it is the choice of the government and they should carry it,” Dr. Forson added.
Majority leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has called on the leadership of political parties to consider scrapping the Parliamentary Primaries system of choosing candidates.
According to the Suame MP, the influence of money in the exercise has ensured even first time MPs are booted out.
The development he reveals has placed Ghana among the 3 countries with the highest attrition rate in the world.
Speaking during leadership engagement with the press, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu revealed that some party leaders demand cars before clearing aspirants to contest Primaries.
The minority leadership added even lands are demanded in the exercise.
The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs warned there is danger ahead if nothing is done about the development.
“Ghana has a high attrition rate and there is nothing to be proud about, so we should be careful. I am saying that the masters are the political parties and they are the people who should be called on to have a second look at their constitutions.
“I said we are in the league of three countries where we have a high rate of attrition in our parliament. I keep saying that there is no somebody in politics who is a father Christmas,” he added.
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu also condemned the rate of voting buying in Ghanaian politics especially during parliamentary primaries.
“We are all humans, some borrow from the banks and others mortgage their houses to do that. Let’s not pretend that we don’t know what is happening,” he added.
A 66-year-old farmer at Akim Asuboa near Akim Oda in the Eastern Region has asked for forgiveness from the family of a 36-year-old Aeronautic Engineer, whom he mistakenly shot and killed.
Effah is said to have shot and killed Prince Kwabena Kumi, a 36-year-old Aeronautic Engineer in 2018 but told the police upon his arrest in 2021 that, he mistook deceased for animal.
The father of 13, according to his lawyer, was charged with manslaughter but on Wednesday February 7, 2024, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
He was consequently convicted on his own plea by the High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo and jailed for five years in hard labour.
Effah, also a taylor moments after admitting the offense went down on his knees and begged the family of the deceased who were in Court for forgiveness.
“I have regretted my actions. It was not my intention for the victim to lose his life.
“I agreed to serve the society and community out of love. I have never had any encounter or fought with anybody.
“Sometime, when it is time for me to go and serve the community, I lock two of my little children in the room to enable me go and return home safely,” he said to the family while sobbing.
“At the time the incident happened, it never occurred to me that a Human being could be at the bush at that time.
“I am deeply sorry and I plead with the family of the victim who are present in court to forgive me and that it was not intentional.
“If I had been able to fulfil the bail conditions, I would have gone to see some elders to accompany me to the family of the deceased and render my apology to them,” the Convict pleaded.
“I am pleading with the family of the deceased present to forgive me and for the court to forgive me as well and that it was not intentional.
“I am also pleading with the court to help me apologize to the family of the deceased and that it was not intentional.
*Apology unacceptable*
A representative of seven who represented the family including, Abena Kumi Deborah, a senior sister to the deceased said even though they have heard the apology, “we find it difficult to comprehend.”
“The victim was our only brother. We are four (4) girls and the deceased was our only brother.
I have heard the accused person’s plea and for us it does not go well with us because it’s been three (3) years since he was arrested and for him to keep quiet from the time of the incident till now, we find it difficult to comprehend.
“We see our mother at home all these years sobbing,” she told the Court.
“Your lady, this happened in 2018 and he was arrested in 2021 we live in the same village.
“A whole human being had been shot and the accused person kept quiet from the time of the shooting till 2021 when he was arrested.
“And where my brother was found was not within the limit of the patrols and that really hurt us,” she stated.
*Prosecution*
Prosecution led by Mrs Sefakor Batse, a Principal State Attorney for the republic had told the Court that, “as much as the accused person has exercised his right to change his plea, the republic will like to pray this Honourable court before it passes its sentence to consider the fact that even though the act by the accused person was not intentional, it led to the death of a Human being who was cherished by his family.”
“My lady, we pray that even though the sentence you will hand down to the accused person will never bring back the deceased to life, it will be a sentence which may offer some form of a comfort to the deceased family. So that they do not feel that their family member was killed in vain,” she prayed the Court.
*Mitigation*
Counsel for the accused person, J.H Senoo, by way of his mitigation plea, said the facts as have been laid before this court resulting in the death of a pilot is most unfortunate and with deepest regrets.
“My lady, the facts state categorically that the accused even though at the age of 63 years of the society was still concerned with the safety of the society and community which he lived and that is why he was performing a neighbourhood watch committee which certainly was set up by the whole community and society to look after their welfare especially in the night.
“It was this incident is supposed to have happened about 10pm thereafter when the accused person and his committee members were performing this social duty and as he has admitted in his witness statement, this did happened unintentionally.
“He did not know the deceased anywhere and nothing had been established that he has had an issue with him. One may asked why he should then have killed the deceased. If I may reiterate that the fact are very regrettable,” he prayed.
*By Court*
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, the judge after she heard from the parties including, the accused and family sentenced the convict to a 5 years in prison in hard labour also taking into consideration the fact that, convict had spent three years in lawful custody.
“This is a manslaughter offence and a person who commits manslaughter commits a first degree felony. Per section 296(1) of the Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act, 1960 (Act 30) where ‘a criminal offence is declared by an enactment to be a first degree felony and the punishment of that offence is not specified, a person convicted of that offence is liable to imprisonment for life or any lesser term,’
“This means that the court is enjoined to give a sentence from Zero to life imprisonment.
“Having considered the prayer of counsel on both sides and heard the convict herein as well as a family member of the victim and considering the entire circumstance of this case including the right of the convict under the Article 14(6) of the 1992 Constitution stated supra, I hereby sentence the convict to a term of five (5) years I.H.L of imprisonment effective from today the date of judgement,” the Court sentenced.
*Background*
The accused (now convict) had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter after he told police investigators that he shot at the deceased by mistake.
Though, the accused (a tailor) who initially denied knowledge about the death of Prince Kwabena Kumi, a 36-year-old Aeronautic Engineer, said he “later admitted shooting him by mistake, thinking it was an animal.”
Joseph Kwesi Effah, a father of 11, is facing a jury trial for the incident that occurred in March 2018.
“The accused in his earlier statements to the police during preliminary investigations, initially denied any knowledge about the death of the deceased but later admitted shooting him by mistake, thinking it was an animal,” Principal State Attorney, Mrs Sefakor Batse tells the jury.
*Brief facts*
Mrs Batse, the PSA, in her opening address to the seven member jury panel prior to the commencement of the trial, per the facts, the accused Joseph Kwesi Effah, is a resident of Akim Asuboa near Akim Oda.
Whilst, Prince Kwabena Kumi (now deceased) was a 36 year old aeronautic Engineer who worked with Africa World Airlines in Accra.
She said, on March 31, 2018, the deceased left Accra to visit his mother Comfort Nkansah Kumi at Akim Asuboa in his Honda CRV vehicle with registration Number GE 7809- 14.
The PSA said, when he (the deceased) reached Akim the deceased took his vehicle to a washing bay and joined some of the washing bay attendants at a nearby drinking spot to take some alcohol.
She added that, the deceased was later spotted at the Akim Akroso Lorry Station, “very intoxicated, with his car parked in the middle of the road.”
The PSA said, the Akroso police intervened by impounding his vehicle and putting him on board a passenger bus enroute to Akim Oda.
“An arrangement was made for one Benedicta Buruwaa, a trqder to meet the deceased on his arrival in order to escort him to his mother’s house due to his drunken state.
“This arranged meeting did not materialise because Benedicta never met him at the agreed drop off point as he had already been dropped off by the driver before she got there and she proceeded home to sleep,” she told the jury.
*Lifeless body*
It was the case of the State Prosecutor to the jury that, the deceased was spotted by some witnesses one of whom confirmed that he was heavily drunk when they saw him but no effort was made to stop him.
“The deceased however never got home so his relatives lodged a complaint at the Akim Oda Police station,” the PSA stated.
Mrs. Batse told the jury that, on April 3, 2018, “a search party found the body of Prince Kwabena Kumi (the deceased) in a state of decomposition in the bush along the Asuboa-Akroso road.”
The PSA stated that, upon investigation it was revealed the accused was a member of the Akim Asuboa ‘Neighbourhood Watch Committee’ and on March 31, 2018, he was on duty at about 10:00pm together with one Daniel Kwabena Akwaah, also a farmer and a member of the same Neighbourhood Watch Committee.
*Snoring sound in bush*
She said, in the course of the patrol, “they both heard a snoring sound in the bush and suspected it to be a pig.”
According to the PSA, the accused, who was holding a locally manufactured gun, “went closer towards the sound and fired in that direction without checking exactly what or who he was firing at.”
“It was only when they got to the exact spot where he fired that he realized he had shot a human being.
“They however left together without offering any assistance or even reporting the matter to the police,” she told the jury.
Mrs Batse said, “the body of the person shot at was discovered days later in a state of decomposition and it was identified as that of Prince Kwabena Kumi”
*Cause of death*
The PSA told the jury that, the pathologist, after post mortem examination, “gave the cause of death as haemorrhagic shock, severe jaw and chest injuries and gunshot at intermediate range.”
“Investigations led to the arrest of the accused and other suspects and the retrieval of three locally manufactured single barrel guns from members of the neighbourhood watch committee including that of the accused person which were forwarded to the forensic laboratory for ballistic examination together with the pellets retrieved from the body of the deceased during autopsy.
“The ballistic report was conclusive that the pellets retrieved from the body of the deceased could have been discharged from any of the guns retrieved from them including that of the accused,” the Prosecutor told the jury.
She stated that, the report also concluded that the shot guns which included that of the accused are lethal and capable of inflicting fatal wounds.
*Mistaken for animal*
She said, the accused in his earlier statements to the police during preliminary investigations, “initially denied any knowledge about the death of the deceased but later admitted shooting him by mistake, thinking it was an animal.”
“He however admitted failing to offer any assistance even though he realized it was a human being he had shot.
He stated that he failed to report the incident out of fear and did not intend to kill Prince Kwabena Kumi.
She said, “the accused was therefore charged with the offence of manslaughter contrary to section 50 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) and brought before this Honourable Court for trial.”
*Defence lawyers*
For their part, the defence lawyers also told the jury that, their 63 years old client is a “Very respectable person in the neighborhood and that he joined the neighborhood for the sake of doing good in the society.
They submitted that, their client is a “responsible respectable man with a family of 11 children.”
Counsel said, the accused had no intention of knowledge of the incident until his arrest and was informed of the incident.
He urged the jury to discharge their duties with due deligence.
*Constitutional mandate*
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, the trial judge, in her address to the jury reminded them of the “constitutional duties imposed” on them as they discharge their duties.
“You are required by law to be part of this trial as trial judges of the facts in this matter. You are supposed to pay attention to the evidence that would be produce by the prosecution against the accused person heron.
“This means that, you are to listen to the various oral evidence given by the witnesses they would giving, the exhibits that maybe tendered during the trial, Statements, admission etc brought before you in the course of this trial,” the Court charged them.
The case has been adjourned to November 16 for pre trial hearing.
