Dan Lartey versus Hamidu

Dan Lartey is not being fair

"I am no coup maker" - Dan Lartey

Why Dan Lartey was ‘arrested’

Joshua Hamidu gives Dan Lartey a scare

Ghana needs a government of "Welfarism"

GCPP calls for early elections

$20,000 loan for MPs is too small - Dan Lartey

Country needs humane government – GCPP

HIPC, greatest setback to nation's image -Lartey

Who is Dan Lartey of GCPP?

 

 

Dan Lartey is not being fair

 

The Minister of Economic and Regional Integration, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom has stated that it will be unfair for Mr Dan Lartey, Leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) to say that the government refused to listen to him.

 

He said all the suggestions and inputs made by Mr Lartey on various national issues so far have been taken in good faith and would be injected into the government’s programme at the appropriate time.

 

Dr Nduom said this in an interview with “The Evening News” in Accra in reaction to the allegations made by Mr Lartey that the government was not taking his suggestions though he had invited Dr Nduom and laid bare to him, his programme to assist the government.

 

Dr Nduom said he should not think that he is being ignored or his advice is not being taken by government. The Minister said during the formulation of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, political parties including the GCPP were invited to participate and make inputs.

 

He said the GCPP fully participated and made constructive and meaningful contributions to the whole strategy. “Mr Lartey therefore, should not say that we did not invite him or his party to take part in national issues,” he said.

 

Dr Nduom confirmed that he responded to Mr Lartey’s call due to his position as leader of a political party and went to him in his house. He said Mr Lartey discussed with him wide range of issues confronting the agricultural sector and the need to effectively mobilize resource to ensure self-sufficiency.

 

He said Mr Lartey spoke about how things in the agricultural sector were done during the late Gen Acheampong’s regime, particularly in the field network programme, which the GCPP leader still thinks is important for the government to implement.

 

Dr Nduom said Mr Lartey stressed the need for the government to introduce policies that would increase domestic production to avoid unnecessary importation of food. He said what he deduced from the discussion that transpired between them, was Mr Lartey’s genuine desire to continuously express his feelings and make his ideas known to the government.

 

The Minister said he also briefed Mr Lartey about what Major (rtd) Courage Quarshiga, Minister of Food and Agriculture, was doing to bring almost all the ideas of the GCPP leader into fruition.

GRi…/

 

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"I am no coup maker" - Dan Lartey

 

Accra – 08 January 2002- Leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) Mr. Dan Lartey has denied allegations that he was involved in the planning of the 1972 Coup d'etat that overthrew the Busia government.

 

He said this claim by a section of the public is 'mere speculation', because there was no court action against him. Following Mr. Lartey's claim that the recent invitation extended to him by the National Security Advisor, General Hamidu, was an arrest, a section of the public maintain that it was justifiable, because he masterminded the 1972 coup, and currently poses a threat to the security of the state.

 

They alleged that immediately after the overthrow of the Second Republic, the late General Acheampong, the Coup leader, was seen at Mr. Lartey's residence, lending credence to his reported role in the military coup. Mr. Lartey, also GCPP Flag bearer in the 2000 elections, told the Network Herald the best interpretation he could give to General Hamidu's immediate summons for him to report at the offices of National Security is an arrest.

 

The 74-year-old politician was reported to have been questioned in connection with his calls for an early election. Mr. Dan Lartey still holds the view that there should be an early election, because most Ghanaians are hungry and it is their right to pass a 'vote of no confidence' over the NPP administration, though it is not enshrined in thecountry's constitution.

 

The GCPP leader, remembered for his 'domestication' slogan had dismissed the policies of the Kufuor administration, saying they rather put more burden on the already suffering Ghanaian populace. He therefore advocates for an early election to vote the NPP government out of power. However, political analysts have been making a mockery of Mr. Lartey's calls for an early election saying there is no such thing in the laws of the land.

Source: Network Herald

 

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Why Dan Lartey was ‘arrested’

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 03 January 2002 - Following the invitation and subsequent interrogation of Mr. Dan Lartey, a Presidential candidate in the 2000 general elections by the National Security Adviser during the Christmas holidays, many interpretations have been given to the drama.

 

Mr. Dan Lartey, remembered for this ‘Domestication’ slogan as flagbearer of the Great Consolidated Peopl’s Party (GCPP) in the December 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary elections was according to him, invited by the National Security Co-ordinator following a recent remark he made to the effect that the ruling government of President J.A. Kufuor  had failed Ghanaians one-year after being in office.

 

He went ahead to call foe fresh elections to remove the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government from office and made a veiled instigation for a forceful take-over of the reins of government probably by force of arms. The GCPP flagbearer has since been roundly condemned by a section of the public for making what they called “untoward” remarks.

 

Others told The Daily Guide that MR Lartey’s remarks were misplaced because the Ghanaian political system is protected by the 1992 constitution which provides that general election-presidential and parliamentary, must be held every four years like the American system. However, under the British Parliamentary system of governance elections can be called any time for “a vote of No Confidence” in a Prime Minister who is the head of the British government.

 

Ghana currently practises a hybird of both British and American systems of governance with the head of government in Ghana being the President just like the American system, The Daily Guide was told.

 

What is important however is the fact that the people of Ghana have made a pledge under the 1992 Constitution to give the mandate of ruling to an elected government for a period of four years after which elections are held under the supervision of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

 

Some concerned Ghanaians have described the invitation and subsequent interrogation of the presidential candidate (2000) of the GCPP as one of the Gestapo tactics being employed by the NPP government to silence its strident opponents.

 

Security Risk

 

Many others who spoke to the Daily Guide also lauded the government for responding swiftly to matters and issues it considers to be security risk to the state.

 

Their views were hinged on the fact that in the past, some of these same utterances were either ignored or least paid heed to culminating in the usurpation of political power or the violent overthrow through a military coup d’etat of the Busia and Limann civilian  (elected) governments in the Second and Third Republics respectively.

 

Contributing to the debate on radio, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the NPP and himself a detainee under the Acheampong and Rawlings governments, said the BNI and the National Security Apparatus, were right in inviting the Presidential Candidate of the GCPP for interrogation over certain remarks attributed to him which could disturb  national security.

 

Dr Nyaho Tamakloe further alleged that Mr. Latery, now a printing press owner (Citadel Press) became chief adviser to the Acheampong National Redemption Council (NRC) regime which overthrew the elected government of the Progress Party (PP) on January 13, 1972 barely two-and-a-half years after Prof. K.A. Busia’s government.

 

Apart from suspicion that Dan Lartey is coupist, it is widely believed that he planned and hatched the 1972 coup alongside Acheampong.

 

After the success of the coup, Col. Kutu Acheampong went to the house of Dan Lartey, and told him he had staged it successfully, meaning the coup had gone according to plan and succeeded.

 

Nyaho Tamakloe, who exhibited confidence in his assertion, maintained that he (Tamakloe) was in political detention at the time and knew exactly what he was talking about. He said anyone can go for the records from the national archives since the perpetration of that illegal act constitute official information.

 

Mr Dan Lartey has meanwhile denied that he was ever involved in the planning and execution of the coup d’etat by the late Army General who was recently reburied together with together with seven other executed senior military officers.

 

Dan Lartey, conceded that although he never had any idea about the coup, the then Col. Acheampong drove straight to his (Dan Lartey’s) house to inform him of the success of the coup after broadcasting to the nation at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) House.

 

Hornet Nest 

 

It will be recalled that Dan Lartey caused quite a stir on Christmas Eve when on a redio programme, he called for early elections, one year after the NPP had been in power. By Ghana’s 1992 Constitution a government should serve four years in office. According to him Kufuor’s government had failed to alleviate the economic hardships facing Ghanaians.

 

Dan Lartey also warned on the programme that if this is not done, some adventurers were likely to capitalise on the situation and take-over the reins of government, by force or words to that effect.

 

His assertion, similar to that of ex-President Rawlings June 4, 2001, infamous “Boom” Speech at the Arts Centre in Accra has since caused consternation and worry within the public and the security agencies, and some other circles.

 

Callers to the radio station after the programme poured a lot of scorn and invective on Mr. Dan Latery’s statement.

 

Indeed the report of the encounter between Dan Lartey and the national security boss, General Joshua Hamidu, had been mainly from the version of Mr. Dan Lartey himself.

 

According to him, he was invited by the security men to visit their head office at the Blue Gate for a chat, and he said they told him to either come immediately or at any other time at his own convenience.

 

Dan Lartey stated that as he had a choice he met the security capo two hours after the invitation had been extended to him. According to him the meeting was very cordial and turned into a chat between them. He said he was offered drinks, and he took the opportunity to explain his political ideologies and his party’s manifesto regarding his much acclaimed theoretical ‘domestication’ policy.

 

Joy FM

 

After the “cordial meeting” Dan Lartey himself rushed back to another radio station, where he told Ghanaians in equivocal terms that he had been arrested, invited, detained and questioned at the same time ‘by the National Security Adviser for nearly three hours on Christmas day, for critizing the government on a different radio station.

 

Dan Lartey claimed that during the interrogation, he was asked to explain his call for an early election and to give his assessment of the government’s performance.

 

He further alleged that General Joshua Hamidu demanded the GCPP’s blue print for economic development but he refused to comply, Dan Lartey himself described the invitation as a calculated attempt to intimidate him.

 

Mr Kwabena Agyepong, the Deputy Government Spokesman has told Ghanaians that the invitation of Dan Lartey by the Security agencies was nothing out of the ordinary. He said people are invited quite often over their activities but they do not choose to make a public statement out of it.

 

He said Lartey’s choice to make an official statement after his visit is the cause of the public consternation.

 

Meanwhile the National Security Apparatus has also been called upon to stop relying on the words of revenge seekers, gossips and rumour mongers to gather intelligence, and instead develop its own intelligence antennae (sensors) to gather information.

 

The call was made by a retired Diplomat, Mr K. B. Asante, an eminent Ghanaian. He however admitted that utterances by former President Jerry John Rawlings must not be taken lightly since he has a coup record and has got a large following.

GRi…/

 

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Joshua Hamidu gives Dan Lartey a scare

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 31 December 2001 - Lt General Joshua Hamidu, the National Security Co-ordinator who has been walking from one controversy to another hit rock-bottom when he invited Mr Dan Lartey alias ‘Mr Domestication’, the leader of the infant Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) to the Castle Annex last Monday.

 

This was after Mr Dan Lartey has blown his chest and mirrored on the airwaves his impressions of the NPP government. He phoned in to a Peace FM morning show programme on Monday December 24 and by 11.00 am he was “invited” to meet face to face with Lt Gen Joshua Hamidu at his office behind the Accra Sports Stadium.

 

Mr Dan Lartey had spoken of the inefficiency and ineptitude of the NPP government, which have deprived the average Ghanaian a good Christmas. “We are Hungry”, He barked; “we are suffering” he added and warned that if the trend continue, an adventurer may try to exploit the suffering of the people and create chaos and instability.

 

He therefore called for a change in the style of governance or call an early election to test the popularity of the government. “The call to answer” came by emissaries who came to tell him that the security capo wanted to see him immediately.

 

In an interview with the Ghanaian Voice, Mr Dan Lartey said he went with his General Secretary Mr Amekah. When they got to the Blue Gate, and were ushered into Gen Hamidu’s presence, he was asked why he made those utterances on the Radio and Hamidu went over the bend and told him that the security is tight and foolproof and that no one can rise up against this government. Lt General Joshua Hamidu went on and issued valid threats against Mr Dan Lartey.

 

I repeated what I said and told him that I have expressed similar statements to the President, the Vice President and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, I told him that the best defence against chaos and mayhem is good governance. I told the President in January to launch a crash programme to put food on the table of Ghanaians by July, if this advice had been heeded, we would not be having the mess we are having now.

 

Though Mr Dan Lartey claimed he was not manhandled he maintains that he was mentally harassed and that the mere fact that he was invited to that intimidating environment shows that the old ways are coming back. - The Ghanaian Voice

GRi…/

 

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Ghana needs a government of "Welfarism"

 

Accra – 30 November 2001 - Mr. Dan Lartey, Leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) on Thursday said that the best form of government for Ghana and Africa is a government of 'welfarism' - a blend between capitalism and socialism - to propel the country and the continent to economic independence.

 

He said, "entrenched political ideology of capitalist or socialist form of governance is no longer eligible and practicable in the 21st century democratic dispensation, hence the need for Ghana and Africa to adopt the best policies from each ideological block for good governance."

 

Mr. Lartey said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra that 'welfarism' is an economic system of which capital owners organized and control the economy, while workers are properly remunerated and motivated to perform as well as being subjects to the share of the results of their labour.

 

He said remuneration under 'welfarism' is based on production to reduce waste of resource, apathy and build a sense of commitment and dedication to work.

 

The GCPP Leader explained that government's role would be to support capital owners by creating the enabling economic environment, conducive for private sector growth and implementing more pragmatic policies to woo and encourage local investors to create more jobs.

 

Government would also act as an arbitrator between management, capital owners and labour for fair deal among the social partners and ensure industrial peace necessary for increased productivity.

 

Mr. Lartey called for an urgent youth development policy to harness the enormous potential of the youth and direct it towards national development, saying, "Ghana and the rest of Africa would continue to lack behind until the future leaders are properly glommed to assume their real role of leadership.

 

He said that in most African countries the youth waste most of their hay days on unprofitable ventures, and misdirected priorities until they are of age to face economic realities with little or no practical experience. "The continent and country cannot developed based on uncertain youth."

 

On his political future and the future of GCPP, Mr. Lartey, 75, said he intend to lead the party to an electoral victory in 2004 and form a government that would aim at correcting the wrong and canker of society within his first term in office.

 

He noted that his age would not be any hindrance, to his quest to be the President of Ghana as youthfulness is a stage of mind. He said that during his leadership the youth would be prepared to assume their proper role as future leaders of the nation.

 

Mr. Lartey said the GCPP's African Youth League Web-site (AYLWS) is the first step towards developing the youth to attain the potential early in life.

 

He said AYLWS would aim at identifying national economic ventures and resources, link it up youth with requisite qualifications and understanding to practical experience for the future.

 

He said regional network would be developed for the youth of Ghana and Africa to interact, share ideas and learn more about the country and the continent on a more direct format.

 

He said GCPP would also initiate programmes that would open up the rural and deprived areas to motivate the youth to help develop their communities instead of trooping to urban centers for non-existing white colour jobs.

GRi../

 

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GCPP calls for early elections

 

Accra – 12 October 2001 - The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) on Friday urged the NPP government to accept its handicap in administering the nation and called for early elections to redeem it and the country from political embarrassment.

 

"The President's ministerial changes within 10 months in office is clear manifestation of its inadequacies and an indication of round perks in square holes which has begun crumbling under heavy media and civil society scrutiny."

 

Mr Dan Lartey, GCPP leader, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in reaction to President John Agyekum Kufuor's cabinet reshuffle. He said a party that was in opposition for eight years should have been in a better position to adequately assess the capabilities and qualifications of its members before assigning them portfolios.

 

"Ten months is long enough for the government to establish its policies both locally and internationally to show the country's direction but unfortunately Ghana now lacks focus on policies. "We are still being ruled under the shadows of the former NDC government's policies."

 

Mr Lartey cited the government's joining of the HIPC initiative without adequate consultation, lack of a master plan for economic recovery and the negative impact of 'Positive Change' on the lives of the people.

 

He said: "We all stood and voted for positive change instead of progressive change but now the government is ruling under the later which is a direct violation of the people's trust and mandate."

 

Mr Lartey admitted the constitution is silent on early elections but said it is applicable. ''Ghana cannot wait for four years for an inefficient government to continue in office." NPP General Secretary, Dan Botwe, however, told the GNA that the changes are normal government prerogative exercised by presidents to keep state machinery in perfect operation.

 

He said the changes do not necessary mean the affected ministers were incompetent. ''It is a normal administrative procedure to add more dynamism to governance''. Mr Botwe also disagrees that some of the ministers, especially Mr J. H. Mensah and Ms Elizabeth Ohene, have been demoted.

 

Mr Mensah, formerly Majority Leader, Leader of Government Business and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, is now Chairman of the Economic Management Team. Ms Ohene, former Minister of Media Relations, is now Minister at the Office of the President.

GRi../

 

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$20,000 loan for MPs is too small - Dan Lartey

 

Accra – 12 October 2001 - Great Consolidated People's Party (GCPP) presidential candidate in the 2000 Elections, Dan Lartey, says there is nothing wrong with government making available 20,000 dollars to each Parliamentarian to purchase a vehicle. According to him, the amount is even small considering the amount of work that Parliamentarians have to do.

 

Mr Lartey who was contributing to the heated debate surrounding the controversial $20,000 car loans for MPs noted that Parliamentarians should be given four-wheel drives, which cost more than $20,000.

 

He cited examples where MPs whose constituencies are in the three Northern Regions have to come down to Accra and contribute to debates in the House during the week and sometimes travel back to their constituents on weekends. Certainly, he said, they would have to get four-wheel drives.

 

According to the Leader of the GCPP, people are angry with the whole idea of the purchase of vehicles for MPs because the NPP government has done nothing to improve the lot of Ghanaians ever since it assumed office.

GRi./

 

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Country needs humane government – GCPP

 

Accra – 02 February 2001 - Mr Dan Lartey, Leader of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), said on Thursday that the country needed a humane government that would depend more on the country's resources to develop rather than rely largely on foreign assistance.

 

"We must be proud of the abundant technical and managerial skills we have in the country and begin to depend on them," he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.

 

Mr Lartey lauded the achievement of Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, and said, "a nation that has produced the calibre of Mr Annan should not lack technical skills to the extent of depending on foreigners to resolve its internal problems".

 

He said the party would hold its National Delegates' Congress in September next year but before that it would undertake a programme to reorganise its structures at the regional and national levels.

 

Delegates to the congress would include, the national chairman, two national vice-chairmen, treasurer, general secretary, all party members in parliament and ministers (if any), two delegates duly elected by each constituency.

 

The rest are members of the regional executive committee, members of the national executive committee, members of the national working committee and members of the board of trustees.

 

Mr Lartey said the GCPP, which did not win any parliamentary seat in last year's elections, was ready to break the political dominance of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with a leftist progressive democratic government.

 

Mr Lartey said a GCPP government would take steps to ensure political stability, promote national reconciliation and unity and to safeguard the freedom of the people. The party would create the necessary atmosphere for citizens to participate effectively in the national democratic process and ensure that the civil rights of citizens were not violated.

 

Mr Lartey said the GCPP, through the policy of domestication, would bring about, as speedily as possible, the economic and social reconstruction of the country.

 

It would safeguard the wealth of the nation and use it in the supreme interest of the people.

 

Mr Lartey said the GCPP has structures that differ from those of other political parties in the country.

 

"The leader of the party is the overall head and stands automatically as the party's presidential candidate."

GRi../

 

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HIPC, greatest setback to nation's image -Lartey

 

Accra – 16 January 2001 - Mr. Dan Lartey, Leader and Founder of the Great Consolidated Popular Party on Saturday stated that the government's joining of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiate is the greatest setback to the nation's image.

 

He said: "Ghana has enough domestic resource for capital mobilisation to support micro and macro industries of the country for economic recovery without looking outside for an ad hoc measure such as joining the straitjacket policy of "Supper Powers".'

 

"The HIPC Initiative is the greatest setback and the hardest ever blow dealt to the nation's economy and image by any government," Mr. Lartey stated at the Party's Greater Accra Regional Delegates Conference in Accra, attended by five delegates each from the 22 constituencies of the region.

 

The Conference objectives was to elect the party's regional executives, launch the African Youth League website and deliberate on and adopt strategies for election 2004.

 

Mr. Lartey said: "Domestication is the only path to chart to cancel the economic hardship in which we find ourselves and grant good governance and bring prosperity that has eluded us for a long time to our doors."

 

He said to achieve the ultimate, all Ghanaians must increase domestic production, raise local capital for development, while fashioning governance to ensure discipline, law, order and justice.

 

The concept of domestication is now the only means by which Ghana could achieve excellence in doing things for herself and in the supreme interest of the people.

 

Addressing the youthful and enthusiastic delegates and supporters, Mr. Lartey condemned the government's intention to ban private lotto operation, which generates capital outside the main banking system to support the economy.

 

The GCPP leader questioned the rational for banning domestic ventures in the interest of foreign lotto operations of Malaysian Lotto 6/40 jackpot and 5/39 fan game.

 

The jackpot and the fan game drain the Ghana's domestic capitalisation to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia without restrictions under the banner of attracting foreign investment, he said. Mr. Lartey said the party formed the African Youth League website to take care of the needs of the youth, which have been neglected for far too long.

 

He said the league would identify the natural and human resources of the country and plan strategies towards harnessing the resources to develop and improve the lives of the people.

 

The seven-member regional executives is headed by Pastor Henry Mentle, Chairman, Mr. Freddie Malm, secretary, Mr. Alfred Onibi Lartey organiser, Mr. Robert Ago Mensah, Education Secretary, Ms. Linda Brown, women organiser, Mr. Samuel Anoboah Treasurer and Mr. Jones Coleman, Co-ordinator.

 

The Greater Accra District Electoral Office of the Electoral Commission supervised the elections, which was by acclamation.

GRi../

 

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Who is Dan Lartey of GCPP?

 

Mr Daniel Augustus Lartey

Founder and Leader of GCPP

 

Mr Daniel Augustus Lartey obtained a diploma at the London Chamber of

Commerce in 1940 and Sloan’s Shorthand Certificate of Proficiency in 1942. He also

obtained a  diploma in commerce and industry from London School of Economics in 1956.

 

Mr Lartey’s political ambitions started in 1969 when he contested the Gomoa East

Constituency seat on the ticket of the national Alliance of Liberals (NAL). In 1972 he

was appointed a special adviser to the government of the National Redemption

Council.

 

In 1978 he represented the Gomao Ewutu-Effutu in the constituent assembly in the writing of the Third Republican Constitution.

 

Mr. Lartey was founding member of People’s National Party (PNP) in 1979, and also an

aspiring presidential candidate of the National Independence Party (NIP) in 1992. In the 2000 election, he was the Presidential Candidate for the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and is the leader and founder of the party.

 

Between 1944 to 1958, worked with the then United Africa Company (UAC) and rose to

Senior Management Status. He was posted to the Headquarters at Unilever House,

London. Mr. Lartey also established a number of businesses, including the Lartey and

Lartey Books and Stationary, which later became the nucleus of the Ghana Book Supply,

Citadel Printing Press and the Federal Stores of Nigeria.

 

Mr Lartey was born on 1st August 1926 in the Central Region and is married to Beatrice who was born on 1 May 1962.

GRi…/

 

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Dan Lartey