₦airaland Forum

Police arraign 20 youths in Lagos over protests
By Adebisi Onanuga 19/01/2012 00:00:00
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The Police in Lagos yesterday arraigned 20 youths before two Ikeja Magistrate’s Courts for offences ranging from possession of offensive weapons, unlawful assembly, conspiracy and breach of public peace.

The suspects were arrested during the six-day protests against petrol subsidy removal. They were charged before Magistrates A.T. Omoyele and A.O. Akinde.

Ahmed Jayeola, Daniel Sani, Taye Alani, Abiodun Olatunji, Gbenga Balogun, Ganiyu Amoo, Hassan Sikiru, Moshood Alao, Jamiu Alabi and Rasheed Gani were arrested at Ijora on January 10.

The prosecutor, Inspector Roman Unnigbe, said the accused persons wielded four cutlasses and other weapons and caused fear in the public.

Jamiu Oyewole, Jubril Wasiu, Bola Shinabola, Suraju Yakubu, Adekunle Yusuf, Kamorudeen Owolabi, Nojeemdeen Oshota, Fadare Babatunde, Sule Oladeyinbo and Oluwafemi Adewole were arrested at Ijaiye and Iyana Ipaja last Friday.

Police prosecutor Bridget Abor said the suspects conspired with others at large to cause a breach of peace.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were granted bail in the sum of N10,000 each with one surety in like sum, who must provide evidence of tax payment.

The magistrates adjourned hearing till February 16.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/33804-police-arraign-20-youths-in-lagos-over-protests.html

LASUTH Records 2 Deaths, Treats 72 Emergency Cases

The Head, Surgical Emergency Unit, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa said that two patients died out of the 72 patients treated for emergencies during the nationwide strike.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 40 of the patients were currently receiving treatment while 21 of them had been discharged.

He said that 12 of those treated for injuries sustained during the strike were referred to other hospitals for further treatment.

“Many of the victims suffered from trauma cases, gunshot wounds, head injuries and cases of multiple stabbing.

“The casualties were mostly protesters brought here from different parts of the state, “ he said.

Mustafa told NAN that the management of LASUTH had placed the Emergency Unit on standby before the strike began because it anticipated such cases and prepared for them.

A medical practitioner at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Dr. Shopekhai Itakpe, told NAN that no protester was brought in for treatment during the strike.

He said that out-patients were very few during the strike.

“The few cases we treated were those that suffered as a result of one form of domestic accident that affected their bones or muscles,“ he said.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/01/19/lasuth-records-2-deaths-treats-72-emergeny-cases/

Thugs loot Lagos education, district offices
By Adegunle Olugbamila 19/01/2012 00:00:00

Like bees, they swarmed on the building, looting. The security-man fled when he saw them coming.

It all happend last Monday at the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) and Inspectorate Unit of Education District V, in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

   They came under the guise of being part of those protesting the fuel subsidy removal.

The day had opened with the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the civil society organisations over the policy under the price of petrol, which jumped from N65 per litre to N141. However, things appeared calm until about 10am when a horde of hoodlums suddenly swarmed the streets in the guise of protesting the hike.

But they had a different mission - to loot, and the LGEA was one of the first places visited.  [/b]The LGEA shares premises with the Ojo chapter of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) as well as the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation licensing unit.

"It was about 10am. [b]The boys numbering about 200 came from Alaba Rago (an Hausa commercial neighbouhood, a stone throw to the building).  Immediately, I saw them I ran away because I was the only person here and I knew my strength couldn't match theirs. The thugs then forced the gate opened, smashed some of the windscreens of the vehicles within the premises and then stormed the building destroying everything in sight. They started removing air-conditioners, laptops and desktop computers, flat screen television sets and some commercial motocylces seized by the FRSC.

"Meanwhile, I stayed at a safe distance helpless as the hoodlums looted the building. In the midst of the operation, which lasted for over two hours, I called one of our ogas (boss) on phone to intimate him of what was happening. He immediately alerted the DPO of PPL police station who deployed some of his men. But when they arrived and saw the number of the hoodlums looting the building, they were afraid to move close to them.

"About two hours after, the police arrived with more officers but by this time, the entire building had been looted and the few hoodlums left ran off at the sight of the police."

Deputy Director of the District V Inspectorate Unit, Mr Rufus Adebayo, said the cost of stolen items runs into millions of naira.

Speaking through the district Public Relations Officer, Mrs Yinka Okunade, Adebayo told The Nation on phone that the Education Commissioner, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, was immediately informed of the development, adding that plans are in the top gear to work with the police to fish out the hoodlums.

"The police are aware of this and investigation is still on course," Adebayo said.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/education/33741-thugs-loot-lagos-education-district-offices.html

ndu_chucks:
An unintended consequence of the subsidy removal of Jan. 1, is the uniting of Nigerians against incompetence, corruption & fraud. I will give the protesting masses credit for this. People like Beaf have a right to give the credit to GEJ and his handlers.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

The law of unintended consequences, often cited but rarely defined, is that actions of people—and especially of government—always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended. Economists and other social scientists have heeded its power for centuries; for just as long, politicians and popular opinion have largely ignored it.

The concept of unintended consequences is one of the building blocks of economics. Adam Smith’s “invisible hand,” the most famous metaphor in social science, is an example of a positive unintended consequence. Smith maintained that each individual,  seeking only his own gain, “is led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention,” that end being the public interest. “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, or the baker, that we expect our dinner,” Smith wrote, “but from regard to their own self interest.”

http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/UnintendedConsequences.html

Lekki-Epe Expressway Row: Lagos To Sue Tribune

The Lagos State Government says it is heading to court over what it calls unfounded reports on the Lekki-Epe Expressway crisis by one of the dailies, Nigerian Tribune.

The newspaper had carried an advertorial yesterday captioned: “Governor Fashola, practice what you preach! Unlike the Lekki Toll Protest, the Army has not brutalised any Lagosian. Don’t send police to brutalise Lekki protesters and turn around to condemn the deployment of troops who have brutalised no one.”

The advertorial brought into the fore the reports of the Sunday Tribune of 18 December, 2011 in which the newspaper wrote: “1 killed, many injured in Lekki Tollgate Protest.”

At a news conference on Wednesday, the Lagos State Government lamented that the newspaper had consistently painted the government black over the issue, even when nobody died during the protest.

The advertorial was signed by Adamu Maimagani, the Social Secretary of One Nigeria Group.

Speaking at the conference at the Government Secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, South West Nigeria, attended by the Commissioners for Information and Strategy Mr. Adeyemi Ibirogba, his Environment counterpart, Mr. Tunji Bello as well as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye said government was pissed off by the advertorial.

Ipaiye said government had no issues with any section of the Nigerian press, adding, “we are taking it serious with this newspaper because it has thrown professionalism into the winds.

“We’ll deal with the newspaper legally because it has deviated from ethics of journalism based on truth, fair comment and professionalism.”

According to Ipaye, there was a row during the Lekki-Epe protest but insisted that no one died during the protest as the man purported to have died reported at the police station to debunk the story.

The Attorney General stated that investigations by the police later revealed that the man that was alleged to have been killed was a 39-year old employee of Power Holding of Nigeria (PHCN), Mr. Femi Ogunsanya.

He argued that the national daily deliberately doctored the report and the photograph of the alleged protester that was killed in order to further aggravate the protest and drag the image of the government in the mud.

“The man was actually arrested by the police during the pandemonium but he was later released to Mr. Alaba Williams,” he stated.

Also speaking, Commissioner for the Environment, Bello said the report carried by the newspaper was malicious and that in line with journalistic ethics, the newspaper should have retracted the story by now.

He said the government would drag Tribune before the Nigeria Press Council over the report and then explore legal option to seek redress.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/01/18/lekki-epe-expressway-row-lagos-to-sue-tribune/

Rad1cal,

that's a nice signature you have there!

Reading this now against the background of recent events, one wonders if:

a. this is a self-fulfilling prophecy;

b. this is a self-defeating prediction;

c. this a manifestation of the law of unintended consequences ;

d. the SNG is the forerunner (John the Baptist ) of this messiah (dictator) or;

e. this is one of the reasons soldiers were deployed to checkmate  those calling for "regime change"



. . . Just the musing of a befuddled Nigerian

The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, today predicted that a dictator is coming to fix Nigeria


The running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in this year’s election, said during his sermon at his Lagos-based church today that the dictator that is coming would be very ruthless.

He said the cleansing that the former Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings, carried out in his country would be a child’s play compared to what the coming Nigerian dictator would do.

Pastor Bakare said the coming dictator may not necessarily be a military man, adding that Nigerians should be prepared to face the consequences of failing to choose the right leaders.

According to him, when one refuses to learn from past blunders one’s future destiny is destroyed.

He said what is about to happen in the country cannot be prayed or wished away because prayers cannot change prophecy.

Bakare, who was preaching on the topic: ‘The Prophet As A Sign To The Nation’, said MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti and others who died in the course of the struggle to entrench democracy in the country did not die in vain.

He said just as his house got burnt and is now being rebuilt, that is how the coming dictator would cleanse the country to pave the way for a new Nigeria.

He assured that his prophecy would be fulfilled soon.

Last Sunday, he also spoke about the coming dictator, quoting Prof. Alexander Tyler who said “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves a largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority will always vote for the candidate promising the most from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policies and is always followed by a dictatorship.”

He said this happened in 1983 when former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s government was toppled by the military and the reign of dictators followed.

The fiery preacher expressed worry over the state of the economy and lambasted those belly-aching over the introduction of Islamic banking.

He said those doing so are just chasing shadows whereas what is urgently needed is to save the economy that is now in dire strait.

He those who are not comfortable with Islamic banking should go and start their own Christian banking, adding that investors are only interested in banks

^^^

Omo, you never blow your cover so?

djustice:
Fashola should be ready to face a MASS PROTEST against the obnoxious Toll Gates on Lekki Epe expressway on Saturday. What is good for the goose is surely good for the gander. Any attempt by RRS or ACN thugs to stop that protest will be STIFFLY RESISTED.

We are ready for WAR in Lekki. If he doubts it, let him bring it on. While he authorises protests sponsored by his godfather, he would use RRS to put down protests against the exploitation of the people by the same tin-god?

Saturday will be very interesting in Ojota and Lekki.

You can see why they have been shouting themselves hoarse that they want STATE POLICE!

is the 'dictator' here now?

No wonder!  I thought the name sounded familiar.

bilaya:
Journalists on the stables of The News, TSM and Tell were the worse hit. The publisher of the now rested TSM, Chris Anyanwu, who is now a senator, narrated how Biu physically assaulted her and practically got her eyes permanently impaired. Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun, can never forget Biu, whom he told the Oputa Panel set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo how the embattled cop assaulted him. Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who was Managing Editor of The News, said Biu put a gun to his head, threatening to blast his brain.

The Borno-born cop is also criticised over the death of a reporter with The News, Bagauda Kaltho.Biu claims Kaltho was trying to detonate a bomb in a hotel and got killed in the process. Kaltho’s widow was also tricked by Biu to reveal information about Independent Communications Nigeria Limited (ICNL), publishers of The News on the pretext of reuniting her with her husband. It turned out he only deceived the woman, as he used the information to invade the magazine’s offices, carting away its property. Of course, he also arrested workers found on site during the raid. Biu’s deceit became clear to Mrs. Kaltho after the dreaded cop announced her husband’s death. He claimed a copy of Wole Soyinka’s book, The Man Died, was found at the scene where Kaltho was supposedly consumed by a bomb he was trying to detonate. Yet the book was not defaced by the explosion, which killed Kaltho! His remains were never released to his family.


When Biu appeared before the panel, he refused to be put on oath with the Holy Quran, because “he is not pure.” He denied all the allegations against him.

A retired Commissioner of Police Abubakar Tsav, who also appeared before the panel, debunked Biu’s claim. He said: “Everything he is saying is not true. I mean the evidence he gave in respect of Bagauda Kaltho. He said he got photographs from the wife of Bagauda Kaltho. He also said he got reports from the SSS through the Inspector-General of Police, which said the person who was killed in the bomb blast at the Durbar Hotel was Bagauda Kaltho. And he said that he never met Bagauda anywhere in his life. Then how could he come to that conclusion that the man killed was Bagauda Kaltho? He merely saw his pictures …He (Biu) should be in prison. As far as I’m concerned, he is a prisoner on parole.”

bilaya:
Like Ringim, Biu is due for retirement next month.

Let's see if he would wriggle out of this one.

bilaya:
How did such a man like this get back into the Nigerian police force?

Your answer is right there:

bilaya:
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was sent to jail by the Abacha regime, felt Biu was not fit for the force. He was said to have asked then Inspector-General of Police Musiliu Smith if the controversial cop was still in the force, after meeting him at a function. Not long after this, Biu was dismissed.

The Nation learnt that after Obasanjo’s exit from power, Biu petitioned the PSC. Mike Okiro was the IGP then. [b]Biu said he was retired without getting a fair hearing. He argued that by law, only the commission could fire him. Osayande saw merit in his case and ordered his recall.

The then Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said: “Biu is back in the Force as his name had never been removed from the Police register. Biu is now an instructor at the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State.”

Ringim’s emergence as IGP paid off for Biu, as he was entrusted with curbing terrorism, which in the country is synonymous with an insurgent group, Boko Haram, whose root is deep in Borno, Biu’s home state. [/b]

Free lance activist?

That's a new one I would add to my dictionary.

Pukkah:
Petroleum minister Diezani Allison-Madueke and Comptroller General of Customs Abdullahi Dikko Inde yesterday gave conflicting testimonies over petrol imports and subsidy payments during a hearing by a House of Representatives committee in Abuja.

Allison-Madueke was the first to speak, saying that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation no longer imports petrol and that only private importers were involved.

She also said part of the fraud in the system was smuggling out of petrol on which government had already paid subsidy.

But when it was his turn to speak, Inde, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Accounts and Tariff Julius Ndubuisi Nwogu, said contrary to the minister’s assertion, NNPC was still importing petrol because he had possession of a manifest that showed that the corporation brought petrol into the country in December.

The Customs official displayed a copy of a document showing that NNPC imported petrol for December 2011 which was discharged at Calabar port, “and was solely imported by NNPC but we don’t know the country of origin but was brought through Cotonou off shore.”

She said the finance ministry authorises such deductions. But on Monday Finance Minister Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala denied authorising subsidy deductions.

How would we know the truth if they don't contradict themselves.

Make dem carry go jare!

Pukkah:
Inde also said rather than “smuggling” as mentioned by the minister, what was happening was “diversion” because large vessels importing fuel supposedly to Nigeria do not reach the country’s shores but were kept in territorial waters of Benin or Togo while smaller vessels ferry only a fraction of the fuel to Nigeria.

He said oil importers including the NNPC perpetrate fraud by keeping the “mother vessels” on Benin or Togo territorial waters and using smaller vessels to bring in the petroleum products.

Oga thank you. We sef don dey wonder say  wetin customs dey do for border wen dem dey smuggle so much fuel cross border!

Pukkah:
The Customs chief said apart from petrol, NNPC also imports crude oil to the Kaduna refinery.

“Kaduna refinery runs on imported crude not domestic and no duty is paid on that till date. NNPC imports it through Warri port and move it straight to Kaduna refinery,” he said.

I have never heard this one before.

So we import crude oil too?

Pukkah:
Earlier, Mrs. Allison-Madueke said contrary to the popular belief, there was no group of oil importers who constitute themselves into a cabal.

So who is the fellow that introduced them term 'cabal' into our national fuel lexicon

Pukkah:
The petroleum minister also said the government was yet to arrive at exact amount of money spent on subsidising petrol as “we are still grappling with the figures.” She added that it would take at least four months to finish the computation.

Too much money!

pedestal82:
Fani Kayode is a fooooool. Nigeria! Ha! I weep for u. Can u imagine this man still able to talk, imagine coming out to say he is on the side of the masses during the subsidy row. Make I'm shut up abeg.

That's politricks for you!

When you lose out in the game, you become an "opposition" figure fighting for the masses by criticising every move of your former pals.

E.g.

Nasir El Rufai
Dino Melaye
Femi Fani Kayode
Patrick Obahiagbon

Please remind me of the others . . .

karl max:
Those who said the that the protest was peaceful is the above a discription of a peaceful protest? Eko ile and co pls I need your answer!!

Over 16 hours. Still no reply?

Since when? (lati igba wo?)

Explosion At Castle Over Woyomegate
Source: Daily Guide - Daily Guide

There is a flurry of activities at the Castle as the Mills administration struggles to douse the inferno that has engulfed the government over the GH¢58million Woyome saga.

The Attorney General's recent statement condemning certain anomalies in government and an allusion to a minister scheming against him because of a possibility that he would initiate a case which could implicate her criminally in the Woyomegate has for instance shaken the Castle to its foundation.

Unconfirmed information suggests that the AG is being asked to consider resigning, a call being fuelled by die-hard pro-Mills elements.

The Woyome saga remains a major fault-line in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Martin Amidu statement of a few days ago has widened the rift.

Unconfirmed reports said Mr. Amidu had been asked to leave the government following his explosive letter complaining about people allegedly fleecing the state in the name of a political party.

Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, speaking on Metro TV yesterday, said the Attorney General would be made to substantiate his claims, confirming the president's discomfort with the internal feud in his cabinet.

Mr. Amidu had said that some criminally-minded individuals parading as party members were causing harm to the corporate body of Ghana in the name of their political affiliations and that he was against the use of party name to commit crime.

'I have faith and belief in my Ministerial oath of office as a Minister of State and my cabinet oath that requires me to 'uphold, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the Republic of the Ghana as by law established…

'I wish to assure the people of Ghana that I still stand by my promise in spite of the fact that hard core criminals in our society today have made it a habit to hold paid membership cards of major political parties in the republic as an unconstitutional insurance against crime and criminal prosecutions.

'I wish core members and supporters of the NDC who cherish the principles and ideals upon which the party was founded to know that the attacks against me which started in the Daily Post publication of 3rd January 2012 were planned by a colleague Minister of State, who perceived that my integrity and professionalism as a lawyer was a threat to the concealment of gargantuan crimes against the people of Ghana in which they might be implicated', he said in the statement.

Even though Mr. Amidu did not mention anybody's name, fingers are being pointed at his predecessor, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, who did not put up any defence against the payment of the GH¢58million to Mr. Woyome.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, now Minister of Education, is in the firing line, with the opposition NPP calling for her dismissal because of her handling of the Alfred Agbesi Woyome financial scandal.

Woyome did not have any contract with the state but Betty negotiated an agreement with him, leading to the payment of the gargantuan money which latest reports said stood at GH¢92million.

'I have sufficient integrity and experience as a Ghanaian and a legal practitioner who has personally conducted several leading cases reported in the Law Reports of Ghana to naively send hearsay and newspaper accusations to the courts of Justice only to lose them as was the practice a few years past.


'Cool heads are what are needed in the office of the Attorney-General and not emotions, inexperience and crass incompetence in the practice of the law', Mr Amidu stated.

He said some pro-NDC newspapers had been hired to attack his personal integrity.

'As for the section of the rented NDC press calling for my removal or dismissal from office, I wish to assure them that I never begged to be appointed Attorney-General: I opposed it on four separate occasions. That criminal section of the NDC press should be assured that I am ready, able and willing for that eventuality. The inescapable fact is that at the end of the day, truth will prevail over falsehood in the Republic of Ghana', he stressed.

Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa described the comments of the Attorney General as unfortunate.


'He is also going to be pushed to name [the minister plotting against him],' he said, observing that: 'So it appears to me that this is just the beginning of this very, very explosive statement which the Attorney General has uttered.'

Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa also described the attacks on the newspapers as unfair and expressed worry about similar developments he said could damage the NDC and bring down the government.

'There seems to be too much internal feud within the National Democratic Congress.

There seems to be too much mistrust so that when newspapers are after you, a colleague minister should necessarily be behind it… are people in an indecent haste to cause an implosion in the National Democratic Congress? Are they in hurry to return to opposition?'

The issue has opened the floodgates for various groups to trade polemics regarding the money paid to the NDC self-styled financier who made his cash available to President Mills during last year's FONKAR/GAME brouhaha.

The NDC Youth With Conviction of Principles (YWCP), a pro Rawlings group which championed the cause of the reconstruction of the gutted Ridge residence of the Rawlingses last year, had for instance demanded from President Mills a show of leadership in the face of what they considered a corruption of the ideals of the ruling party in its original form as represented by the Woyome scandal and the emanating statement from the Attorney General.

In a statement signed by the group's Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Naziru, they frowned at the recent matters arising from the Woyome saga, pointing out that it demanded the President's intervention so that the party's diminishing image could be shored up.

'President Mills should rise to the occasion and salvage the party and government before matters get out of hand. President Mills must show leadership now. This is the time for the NDC leadership to practically demonstrate its commitment to the party's core principles and values. We therefore do not expect anything to be swept under the carpet at the expense of transparency in the supreme interest of the Ghanaian people,' they pointed out.

With their sights on the Martin Amidu bombshell of last Thursday, the group pointed out that the issues raised in the said statement showed a deviation of the party's leadership from the ideals of the NDC.

The statement, they stressed, originating from a high-ranking member of the party and government, raised what they regarded as frightening issues.

The allusion to some elements in the NDC who were seeking to conceal crimes against the people of Ghana because they were implicated in these by the Attorney General, they noted, was also frightening, especially the leakage of official documents to sections of the press to truncate the AG's call for prosecution of criminals.

According to the grouping, 'if this is true, it certainly amounts to a sabotage of government business and injustice to the good people of Ghana.'

While taking exception to the anomaly, they said, 'We do not believe that any true member of the NDC should use his party card as 'an unconstitutional insurance against crime and prosecution' as alleged by the A-G,' adding, 'We also do not believe that any true member of the NDC should stand against probity, accountability and transparency.'

In another vein, they stated that 'neither do we believe that any true member of the NDC should be victimized or vilified for standing up to defend the ideals that form the bedrock of the NDC.'

The pro-Rawlings group's position was in sharp contrast with that of others within the party who thought that Alfred Agbesi Woyome as a member of the party should be supported by all means possible.

Some of them have been vocal on rooftops defending the so-called financial engineer.

In another development, the General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, has taken issue with the Attorney General's statement, asking that he named the minister he made allusions to.

'To the AG, we say, name the Minister, expedite actions to prosecute the persons and bring justice to Ghanaians. Anything short of this is a slap in the face of the NDC-led government's commitment to fighting corruption, promoting good governance and strengthening democracy,' the PNC demanded.

The PNC, Mr. Mornah pointed out, 'is alarmed, terrified and surprised about the incredulous information contained in the press statement of the Attorney General which borders on potential crimes and attack on free speech and which jointly have adverse effects on Ghana's democracy.'

It is highly regrettable and irresponsible, the PNC noted, 'that his statement falls short of naming, shaming and expediting actions that will prosecute the supposed Minister of State and accomplices so as to bring justice to the good people of Ghana.'

A Daily Guide Report

http://www.modernghana.com/news/371852/1/explosion-at-castle-over-woyomegate.html

[size=14pt]I’ll not resign – Martin Amidu[/size]

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Martin Amidu, has rubbished calls for his immediate resignation for revealing that a colleague minister is concealing “gargantuan crimes against the people of Ghana. ”

He told a private radio station - Joy Fm - that he does not have any intention of resigning now although some pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) newspapers have been on his heels to resign for non-performance.

Mr. Amidu served notice that he intends to serve his term until the President, John Evans Atta Mills, thinks otherwise. He said he will ensure that all cases involving corruption are fought in court in the best interest of Ghana.

The A-G last Wednesday issued a strongly-worded statement throwing salvos at what he termed “criminal NDC media” - the Daily Post; the Informer; the National Democrat; the Ghanaian Lens - for allowing themselves to be “rented” to soil his reputation.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=227868

I laugh in fufulde whenever I re-read threads like this!

How did this thread I posted in the politics section get to this section?

Anyway, is is blocked?

I observed that I have not been able to log in to twitter since yesterday.

Is this general?

Two nigerian Internet Service Providers are offering 24 hour service to their customers who are on non-24 hour plans, in view of the ongoing strike.

Commendable!

Ghanaians React To Fuel Price Increases With Mixed Feelings

There are mixed reactions to increases in fuel prices and transport fares announced by the National Petroleum Authority and the Ministry of Transport in Accra on Wednesday.

While the Trade Union Congress and some commercial transport owners, drivers and passengers have expressed disappointment others said the decision was in the best interest of the economy.

Other sections of the public also entreated the government to formulate effective strategies to mitigate the effects of such price hikes.

In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Mr Kofi Asamoah, the TUC said it had noted with “deep concern and outright dismay” the announcement by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) of fuel price increases by between 15 and 30 percent.

[b]The TUC said the increases during the yuletide with all the commitments of Ghanaian workers as well as the imminent payment of the school fees of wards in January, 2012, were astronomical.

“We find it difficult to appreciate how government could slap such astronomical increases on the Ghanaian workers, their families and the travelling public in the middle of the Christmas festivities, especially, when many workers went into the season without receiving their salaries. Working people also have school fees and other commitments in early January to pay,” the statement said.

While pointing out that the timing of the announcement of fuel price increases was wrong and unacceptable, the TUC emphasised the untold hardship the increases would bring to families and households.

The TUC noted that the fuel price increase announced by the NPA was the second increase for the year, with the first increase announced on January 3, 2011, with the increase of between 20 and 30 percent.

“For 2011, therefore, Ghanaians have had to endure a cumulative increase of between 35 and 60 per cent increases in fuel prices.

This astronomical increase is compared with the timid increase of 20 percent in wages and salaries across board for public sector workers for the whole year.[/b]

“This means that for the ‘action year’, Ghanaian workers and their families have only witnessed an erosion of their incomes giving the very direct link between fuel price hikes and the general price levels in the country,” it added.

The statement said TUC had on several occasions expressed concern over such exorbitant increases in fuel prices, equally expressing concern over the manner in which fuel prices were determined and announced in the country.

Transport fares at the Neoplan station in Accra have increased to almost 30 per cent even though the NPA had approved 10 per cent as inter-city fares, reports Zainabu Issah & Mary Ankrah in Accra.

Mr John Tetteh, the First Trustee of the Neoplan Drivers Union told the Daily Graphic that the increment of the petroleum products also affects the prices of spare parts and lubricants.

The new fare prices include Accra to Kumasi 49 seater bus which previously cost GHC 13 is now GHC 15, 31 VVIP seater from Accra to Kumasi now cost GHC 22, an increment of 20 per cent, Sunyani 49 seater bus formerly GHC16 now GHC19.

The rest are from Accra to Wenchi 49 seater bus now costs GH 20 which was formally GH17, Accra to Bibiani also increased form GH 14 to GH17. Techiman to Accra also now costs GHC 19 with Accra to Kintampo increasing form GH18 to GH21.

The Transport Manager of the VIP Transport services at the Nkrumah Circle, Mr Eric Botswe told the Daily Graphic that they increased their fares only around 12 noon today (Thursday), after a board meeting held by the Board Members of the company.

Before 12 noon, they were taking a fare of GHC 10 for the Yutong buses that moved from Circle to Kumasi, but have now increased the fare to GHC 15. The VIP buses that used to charge GHC 20 from circle to Kumasi has also increased to GHC 25.

Marian Ansah & Moses Awiah reports that the situation was not different at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle trotro station where most transport operators although dissatisfied about the increase in the petroleum prices, stated that there was nothing they could do about it, because the government had already taken its decisions.

They said they were contented that the passengers had not given them any problems so far.

Mr Stephen Ana, the Secretary of the Biakoye Taxi Drivers Union said the increment came unexpected that at the moment some taxi fares in his jurisdiction will be increase and others will maintain the old prices until another petroleum increment.

This was because the little increment on those fares are insignificant and would not cause any problem to the drivers.

He added that the union was still waiting for the National Coordinating Council of the GPRTU to print the new fares list to paste so that passengers will have a fair ideal about the new developments in the station.

Mr Ana pointed that the taxi fares from Circle to Dansoman which supposed to be increased from GHC 1.50 to GHC1.65 is GH 1.60, Circle to North Kaneshie and Fadama still remain GHC 1.10 while North Kaneshie to Swanlake has moved from 0.60Gp to 0.70Gp for Peugeot cars.

[b]Some passengers at the various lorry parks admitted that it was in the past that passengers quarrelled with drivers and their conductors over increase in transport fares when fuel price was increased, due to lack of communication writes Alice Aryeetey They stated that things are not the same anymore since most people now have radio and television sets, as well as read newspapers in their homes and work places, from which they get most information from.

“There is no need in fighting over this, when you hear it on the radio that fuel prices have been increased”, a passenger said. From Tamale Vincent Amenueveve reports Drivers who ply between Savelugu and Tamale said business slowed down when the new fuel prices were announced as most residents in Tamale and Savelugu were reluctant to travel. [/b]The fares between Tamale and

Savelugu have gone up from 1.20 Ghana cedis to 1.50 Ghana cedis.

The Northern Regional Vice Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Alhaji Abukari Chendiba,confirmed the fuel hikes and new transport fares but warned drivers to charge the approved transport fares that have gone up by 10 percent.

He urged them to avoid overloading as a means of making more money at the expense of the passengers’ comfort and safety. He said the various stations have been instructed to boldly display the new fares on their respective notice boards for passengers to be aware of them.

A taxi driver, Mr. Abdulai Mohammed stated that the 15 percent price hike in petrol does not tally with the 10 percent increment in transport fares. He explained that the discrepancy was likely to affect commercial drivers than the rest of the public.

Mr. Adam Mohammed, a student was not happy at the fuel increases saying “money is hard to come by these days”.

From Koforidua, Nana Konadu Agyeman, reports that all the transport union executives at the various lorry stations in the New Juaben Municipality have complied with 15 per cent increases in fares.

At the Kumasi Lorry Park, fare for Koforidua-Kumasi bound air-conditioned vehicles had been increased from GH8 to GH9, while the fare for the ordinary ones had also shot up from GH7 to GH8.

Vehicles plying Koforidua-Somanya road had increased their fare from GH2.20p to GH2.50p, while those travelling from Koforidua to Krobo-Odumase had been raised fare from GH2.40p to GH2.70p.

Koforidua-Nkawkaw bound vehicles had their fares increased from GH3.20p to GH4, while air-conditioned vehicles moving from Koforidua to Accra had also raised their fare from GH4.20p to GH5, with the ordinary vehicles increasing their fares from GH3.50 to GH4.

At the main taxi rank, fares for taxi cabs running short destinations within the municipality had seen a GH0.50 increment, while long destinations within the area with rough roads such as Agavenya, Trom, Osabane, Okorase and parts of Kasadjan had their fares increased by GH0.10.

A number of passengers the Daily Graphic spoke at the various stations expressed no resentment at the fares increases but hoped that there would not be further fare increase in the near future.

Managers of fuel stations in the Sunyani Municipality have started implementing the announcement of the increases in the commodity while drivers plying the various routes in the area and beyond have adjusted their fares correspondingly reports Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah in Sunyani.

From the lorry stations to the various destinations, taxi fares which attracted 40Gp and 50Gp, have now gone up to 50Gp and 60Gp respectively while Urvan bus drivers from Sunyani to Kumasi are charging GHC50.00 instead of the previous fare of GHC40.00.

From Sekondi/Takoradi, Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, reports that the increase in the fuel prices announced by NPA has reflected in various fuel and LPG stations in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.

Before the approved 10 per cent fare adjustment was announced, drivers at various lorry stations had adjusted their prices a little higher than what was announced.

Some of the drivers were rather charging between 50 and 100 per cent which resulted in some form of heated argument between the drivers and passengers in the early hours of Thursday.

At the Sekondi/Takoradi station prior to the increment, Takoradi to Adiembra was GHc70p and had been increase to GHc1.00 and Sekondi-Takoradi and Essikado had also been increase from GHc70p to GHc1.00 and GHc1.20p respectively.

The situation was replicated in other parts of the metropolis but some passengers at lorry parks at Anaji refused to board the ‘trotro’ due to the arbitrary increament but the situation was later resolved.

At the time of going to the press, situations have normalized and drivers were going on as usual.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=226733

Statement by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ghana:

http://www.ghanatuc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/28th-decemeber-2011-fuel-prices-29TH-DECEMBER-2011.pdf

Ghana’s fuel price increases due to IMF pressure – Report
Page last updated at Friday, December 30, 2011 15:15 PM // Leave Your Comment

Ghana increased its prices on petroleum products December 29, 2011 citing two key factors – the increase in crude oil prices and the depreciation of the Ghana cedi. The country has also cut subsidies fuel prices. As at September 30, 2011, the government has subsidized the ex-pump price of petroleum products to the tune of GH¢267.61 million.

A statement signed by Mr Alexander Mould, Acting CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), said the prices of petrol and diesel will go up by 15% each at GHp175.48 per litre and GHp 177.09 per litre respectively while LPG will go up by 30% at GHp 136.19 per kilo.

Even though, the NPA stated rising world prices of the commodity and depreciation of the Ghana cedi currency, reports suggest the increases were due to pressure by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Ghana to stop subsidising petroleumproducts.

The Reuters news agency reports December 29, 2011 that “Ghana, which joined the club of oil producers in West Africa last year, has come under increased pressure from the International Monetary Fund to remove the fuel subsidies.”

Countries such as Nigeria, Guinea, Cameroon and Chad are reported to have come under similar intense pressure from the IMF to remove subsidies.

According to the report, the IMF argued that the fuel subsidies are not effective in directly aiding the poor but rather promotes corruption and smuggling.

Reading the 2012 budget themed “Infrastructural Development for Accelerated Growth and Job Creation,” Ghana’s Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffour said November 16, 2011 that “Government has had to subsidize ex-pump price of petroleum products to the tune of GH¢267.61 million as at September 30, 2011.”

The entire under-recovery of petroleum pricing for the year, Dr Duffour says is estimated to be GH¢364.94 million based on the assumption of crude oil price of $110.23 per barrel.

He attributed the cost of subsidy to the rising crude oil prices on the world market.

By Ekow Quandzie

http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/12/30/ghanas-fuel-price-increases-due-to-imf-pressure-report/

Why The Recent Fuel Price Increase Is Not Such A Bad Idea

Date: 01-Jan-2012        


Recent decision by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to raise fuel prices in Ghana by up to 20 percent cent is being met with opposition from civil society and trade unions.


The NPA asserts that its decision was necessitated by the Mills administration’s own decision to withdraw subsidies on petroleum products. As expected, the government is incurring the wrath of Ghana’s foremost union, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) – a political pressure group. Both the TUC and AFAG justify their opposition to the latest fuel price hike on the grounds that it will impose unnecessary economic hardship on Ghanaians.

Given how sensitive fuel subsidies are in Ghana, I’m probably one of the few Ghanaians on the surface of this planet who favours the Mills administration’s decision to touch this politically hot cassava, so I expect a few brickbats for this column. Before I say why the decision to withdraw fuel subsidies is not such a bad idea, I’ll like to clarify a few things. First, I’m neither the government’s apologist nor an opposition bootlicker. Second, I don’t deny the validity of the charges being levelled against the decision of the government. Infact, it is true that fuel price increase in a developing economy like Ghana can marginally spike consumer price inflation (CPI) thereby increasing the cost of living for ordinary folks.

Nonetheless, as bitter a pill as the new pump prices are, the current level of fuel subsidies is worse on government coffers; they are unsustainable; they create perverse incentives and distortions in the economy. According to reports, the government of Ghana is projecting to spend a whopping GHC 600 million this year alone on petroleum subsidies. Threading on this path is a one way ticket to hell. It exerts high fiscal cost for government, leading to an increase in public debt, and a squeeze on other government spending.

Why? In order to provide subsidies on petroleum products for example, the government of Ghana must borrow more money (from China), raise additional revenue (mostly through foreign aid), and/or reduce public spending (fail to pay workers on Christmas for example). This is how most government spending including fuel subsidies are financed. Don’t mention taxes because we all know what the revenue collection capability of the government is.

Yes, subsidies lower prices of fuel thereby freeing Ghanaians from having to adjust their purchasing behaviour to the cost of supply. But subsidies also provide a perverse incentive to over-consume and it almost always creates unintended but disproportionate benefit to high-income individuals rather than the poor. This is often the case because high-income individuals tend to consume more fuel than average citizens. If you have doubts, ask those driving around in luxurious private cars to pick up their numerous ‘apuskelekes’ across town whether they use more fuel than ordinary Kwaku Manu fighting for half a seat in a Kaneshie trotro. I could go on and on about the economically deleterious effects of fuel subsidies on the poor and the economy at large but time and space will not permit.

Sucking on the subsidy teats sounds like a sweet deal, except a few things. As we economists are fond of saying “there is no free lunch”. The money borrowed from China will have to be paid back with interest. Foreign aid requires a handshake with brother Obama and Mr. Cameron who will later return to serve you with a cold dish of say ‘gay rights’. And, as for government’s “mistake” in failing to pay the meagre but hard earned salary of my good-old-lady this Christmas, she might respond with the only gift that the Ghanaian constitution will give her next Christmas – a vote!

I will conclude this piece by saying that fuel subsidies reduce transportation cost but it does so at a greater cost to society and the government. Rather than being condemned, the Mills administration must be commended for taking such a bold action over this unpopular issue. However, where they failed, in my opinion, was their inability to effectively communicate their intentions to Ghanaians before the decision was made and implemented.

The Mills administration could have taking a chapter from the NPP’s playbook when the Kuffour administration announced a 50 percent price increase on fuel in 2005. Before the announcement, the NPP launched a poverty and social impact assessment (PSIA) for fuel; they embarked on a public relations campaign to explain the need for the price hike; and most importantly, they publicized mitigation measures such as immediate elimination of primary and junior secondary school fees and announced programs to improve public transport.

At the time of writing this piece, the government is now embarking on an emergency meeting to take a decision on how to cushion workers against the impacts of the latest fuel price increase – something they should have done before the fact. It may be too little too late. They better hope that there is no “kume preko” or “sieme preko” style demonstrations in the horizon!



Source: Frank S. Debrah School for International Studies Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Canada

Ghana Fuel-Price Hike May Boost Inflation Rate to 10%, Standard Bank Says
By Moses Mozart Dzawu - Jan 5, 2011 1:10 PM GMT+0100

Ghana’s inflation rate in January may reach double digits for the first time in eight months after fuel prices were increased 30 percent, leading to higher costs for transport and gasoline, said Standard Bank Group Ltd.

The rate may rise to 10.2 percent in January, said Stephen Bailey-Smith, London-based emerging markets strategist. Inflation was 9.1 percent in November, the most recent data available. December prices will be released by the Ghana Statistical Service Jan. 12.

High costs of fuel imports helped push Ghanaian inflation to a five-year high of 20.7 percent in June 2009. The rate has fallen steadily since then and has remained below 10 percent since June 2010.

“By its nature, an increase in the ex-pump price of crude affects the prices of all other goods and services, basically because of the push it gives to transportation cost,” Bailey- Smith said in a phone interview yesterday.

The price of premium gasoline was increased to 1.52 cedis ($1.02) a liter (0.26 gallons) from 1.17 cedis, according to an e-mail from the state-controlled National Petroleum Authority, which regulates the distribution of fuel in the West African nation.

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union increased fares by 18 percent after the price hike, Alhaji Tetteh, national chaiarman, said by phone yesterday.
Easing Pressure

The fuel-price increase, the first in 14 months, will ease pressure on spending by the government, which had covered the cost of rising international oil prices, said Sampson Akligoh, an economic analyst at Accra-based Databank Group. Consumer prices may rise to 9.6 percent in January in a “one-off jump before inflation stabilizes to its recent trend again,” Akligoh said by phone yesterday. He forecast a December rate of about 9 percent.

Crude oil for February delivery declined for the second day, shedding $1.05 or 1.2 percent to $88.33 per barrel by 11:23 a.m. in London. The commodity traded at $77 per barrel on Oct. 30, 2009, a day before Ghana’s last fuel price increase, when it was raised 5 percent.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-05/ghana-fuel-price-hike-may-boost-inflation-rate-to-10-standard-bank-says.html

Fuel prices rise in Ghana as govt cuts subsidies
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30 December 2011, Sweetcrude, ACCRA - Ghana has cut fuel subsidies, citing increase in crude oil prices and the depreciation of the Ghana cedi currency as reasons.

Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (GNPA), Alex Mould, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Reuters reports that Ghana, which joined the club of oil producers in West Africa last year, has come under increased pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to remove the fuel subsidies.

The IMF has urged countries across West and Central Africa to cut fuel subsidies, which they say are not effective in directly aiding the poor, but rather promote corruption and smuggling. The past months have seen governments in Nigeria, Guinea, Cameroon and Chad moving to cut state subsidies on fuel.

Mould said the cumulative effect of the rise in crude oil prices this year and the about 5.7 per cent depreciation of the cedi meant a 25 per cent increase in cedi terms in the cost of procuring crude oil and petroleum products since January.

Mould said Ghana had spent about 450 million cedis (N 44,725,608,210.76) on fuel subsidies in 2011.

The price change effective from December 29, will see the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) increase by 30 per cent while petrol and diesel will go up 15 per cent at pump.

Mould said the GNPA would be monitoring crude oil prices and will not to increase or decrease pump prices if the average crude price stay within the $107-110 per barrel range.

Brent crude rose 4 cents to $107.60 a barrel by 0933 GMT on Thursday after falling nearly $2 the day before, while the Ghana cedi was trading at 1.6370/95 to the US dollar.

Ghana’s Minister for Finance Kwabena Duffour said the removal of subsidies would have a positive impact on Ghana’s economy.

By this increase, according to the NPA, the price of petrol to GNp175.48 (N184.972) per litre; diesel is now GHp 177.09 per litre ((N186.668); while LPG will go up by 30 per cent at GHp 136.19 per kilo (N143.765).

This means a 12.5 kg gas cylinder will now sell at GHc17.02 (N1,796.76) while a 14.5 kg cylinder will sell at GHc19.75 (N2,084.96).

The prices of kerosene, premix fuel and Renewable Fuel Oil (RFO) remain unchanged, according to the GNPA.

http://sweetcrudereports.com/2011/12/30/fuel-prices-rise-in-ghana-as-govt-cuts-subsidies/

Increase in fuel prices affects patronage of transport services
Source: GNA - Ghana News Agency

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA – Mr Ohene Nyarko, Station Manager of Tudu Intercity State Transport Corporation (STC) Coaches Limited, has said the recent increment in fuel prices had affected patronage of their services.

He said STC management used to dispatch four 30-seater buses from Accra to Aflao but now due to the increment only two buses operate on the route.

Mr Nyarko said these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) increased the prices of petroleum products with effect from Thursday, December 29, 2011, citing rising world oil prices and depreciation of the Cedi,

The NPA in a statement said the prices of petroleum products had gone up by 15 per cent at GHp175.48 per litre for petrol and GHp177.09 per litre for diesel while Liquefied Petroleum Gas had also gone up by 30 per cent at GHp136.19 per kilogramme.

Mr Nyarko noted that with such low patronage, STC was forced to combine Hohoe and Kpando passengers for easy accessibility.

He said STC increased its fares by 12 per cent, and that from Accra to Aflao was GH¢10 but now it is GH¢12.

Mr Nyarko advised travellers to patronise the STC buses for safe arrival at their destinations and said: “Initially the passengers were complaining about the price hikes but we envisage that with time they will be used to the new fares,”.

Mr Samuel Mensah, Secretary to Accra Kpando Progressive Transport Union, said the timing of the fuel increases was not appropriate since it was during the festive season where most people had planned their budget.

He said passengers used to pay GH¢ 8 as lorry fare from Accra to Kpando but now it has been increased to GH¢ 9.

Mr Jacob Wilson, a driver at the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), said management had not increased fares, making patronage high at their terminal.

He said the fare from Accra to Anum-Bosso was GH¢3.50 while the commercial vehicles charged GH¢ 4.50, Accra to Akosombo was GH¢2.50 and the commercial vehicles charged GH¢ 4.

The GNA observed that the MMT bus terminal at Tema station, Accra, was choked with long queues of travelers.

However, there were still mixed reactions to the increase in the fuel prices and transport fares when the GNA visited other terminals.

http://www.modernghana.com/news/370608/1/increase-in-fuel-prices-affects-patronage-of-trans.html