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Thursday 28 March 2024

2021-04-07

[N] As Majority Leader be circumspect with your utterances

2021-03-19

[I] Goldman Sachs staff revolt at ‘98-hour week’
[I] Over half of staff go back to workplace
[I] Health chiefs confirm Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab safe to use
[S] Kotoko Signs Second Brazalian Player
[N] It Is A Blatant Lie That I’ve Declared My Prez Ambition-Agric Minister
[S] Accra Mayor to change face of sports in Greater Accra
[S] Ambassador Lutterodt charges GOC prez to tackle Martha Bissah issue
[S] Ben Nunoo-Mensah hits ground running for GOC
[S] Black Stars to Engage Uzbekistan In International Friendly
[N] House of Chiefs calls for collaboration with MMDCEs for development
[N] Baby Harvesting: More suspects picked
[N] Police pledge commitment to bringing Sheikh Maikano’s murderers to book
[B] ARB Apex Bank admitted to Ghana-Sweden Chamber of Commerce
[N] Desist from starting race ahead of time - Obiri Boahen to NPP presidential
[N] Gov’t announces construction of five interchanges in Ashanti
[N] Controversial textbooks: NPP urges NaCCA to enforce rules without fear or favour
[N] Staff working on Tamale interchange call off strike
[N] Newly proposed taxes a huge hindrance to businesses’ recovery
[N] Government can’t take a unilateral decision on salaries for public workers
[N] Ghana records 2 new Covid-19 variants; experts call for immediate action

2021-03-17

[S] First GFA safety and security seminar takes place today
[B] NDPC holds consultation medium term framework for 2022-2025 in Oti
[B] More investments recorded in Western Region despite COVID-19
[N] Ghana records 698 COVID-19 deaths
[N] NDC’s Ofosu Ampofo behaves like a toddler – Allotey Jacobs
[S] Don’t tax sports betting, ban it – Ato Forson to government
[N] Ama Benyiwaa Doe slams Allotey Jacobs; says he has no influence
[N] Approving Akufo-Addo’s ministers ‘regrettable and unfortunate’ – NDC caucus
[S] Don't rush Satellites players, warns GFA coaching boss
[N] Eastern Regional Hospital detains 246 patients for non-settlement of bills
[N] COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana: 1,000 reports received on adverse effects
[N] Ignore reports of rift between local, foreign staff at AfCFTA secretariat – Govt
[N] Remain calm, support our leadership in Parliament – NDC Council of Elders
[N] Ghana hasn’t recorded any case of blood clots from COVID-19 vaccination – FDA
[N] 9-year-old boy burnt to death as stepfather sets house ablaze
[B] Budget cuts for legislature, judiciary won’t be entertained – Speaker
[I] Half of UK managers back mandatory Covid vaccines for office work
[I] Brussels to propose Covid certificate to allow EU-wide travel

2021-03-16

[I] Nick Candy leads £1m drive to oust London mayor Sadiq Khan
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General News

[ 2017-01-20 ]

Senior Minister designate, Yaw Osafo-Marfo

Osafo-Marfo rubbishes CNTCI, Macmillan scandals; fires at Ablakwa
Senior Minister designate Yaw Osafo-Marfo has
described as a "frivolous propaganda" allegations
that he superintended over two major financial
scandals- CNT/CI loan and MacMillan- whilst in
office as minister of state between 2001 and
2006.

Appearing before Parliament's Appointment
Committee, the Senior Minister designate appeared
to be in no mood to entertain the "mischievous
allegations" and sought to suggest that MP for
North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was too young
to understand the details of those two issues at
the time.

Mr Ablakwa wanted the nominee to answer to the two
scandals that rocked the Kufuor administration and
what role the nominee played in all of it. "I
think you were too young at the time to understand
the issue," Marfo fired, a statement which was
considered unparliamentary and was asked to
withdraw and apologise which he did.

CNTCI

In 2004, the Kufuor government with Osafo-Marfo as
minister at the time solicited for an amount of US
$300 million loan from the CNT Construction
Investment Ltd.(CNTCI Ltd) to undertake major
infrastructural projects.

The National Democratic Congress in opposition
described the loan as fraudulent. The party also
questioned the credibility of the company from
which the loan was sought.

The then General Secretary of the NDC at the time
said the loan was sought from an hairdressing
salon not a company with the financial muscle to
provide a loan to the Ghana government.

The then government mounted a defence for the loan
but said there was an error in the telephone
number of the company which may have been directed
to the hairdressing salon. The government later
backed down after major criticism.

Macmillan scandal

A year after the CNTCI scandal came another one in
2005 in which the then minister was accused of
fraudulently sole sourcing a US$ 27 million deal
to Macmillan Company to provide text books to the
Ghana Education Service. The then opposition did
not understand why the minister had to sole source
such a contract to Macmillan and without any
parliamentary approval.

They accused the Osafo-Marfo of setting aside
cheaper bids from Heinemann, Oxford and Longman in
respect of the supply of the textbooks.

Appointment Committee

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wanted finality on the
issue and demanded from the appointee to explain
into details what role he played in the scandals
Yaw Osafo-Marfo stated unequivocally that there
was no wrong doing in those two scandals insisting
they were only mischievous allegations.

He said on the CNTCI, the government needed money
at the time for infrastructural projects and he
received a proposal from CNTCI about the
possibility of them providing the loan.

He said when he received the proposal they had to
conduct due diligence on the company to know if
the company was credit worthy.

He stated that when the scandal broke a press
conference was organised at the time to explain
the issue after which he went to Parliament to
announce their withdrawal for the loan hunt.

Source - Myjoyonline.com



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