#Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings

[ghlagatindotcom]

President Akufo-Addo and Konadu Agyeman Rawlings hit the dance floor as Amakye Dede storms Jubilee House to perform at founder's day party

Yesterday, the Jubilee House played host to a special Founders’ Day luncheon, attended by President Akufo-Addo, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, the Chief of Staff, and other distinguished senior citizens. The highlight of the occasion was a thrilling performance by legendary highlife musician Amakye Dede. The iconic musician, known for his soulful voice and captivating stage…

[complaintreviews]

US$12 million Agyapa deal promoters put Kweku Baako in trouble

The revelations by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF) that a staggering US$12 million was spent on the failed Agyapa Royalties deal, has consumed an unintended casualty, veteran journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako.

He had in the wake of the scandal first broke by Herald newspaper in a spirited defence, insisted that Africa Legal Associates, an Accra-based law firm owned by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, was not paid US$2 million for its work on the Agyapa Royalties deal. But recent revelation challenged his claims. The figure was bandied about nearly four years ago by some persons as the amount Gabby and his firm grabbed for their advisory role on the deal. But Baako claimed the quoted amount was way above what was paid to the law firm by the government.

“It is not true that Gabby’s firm got US$2 million from the deal. It is not true that his firm is a beneficiary of US$2 million. It’s not even up to US$105,000. It is the main transaction advisor that paid Gabby. It is about US$103,000. It is not US$2 million”, the editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper had insisted.

He clarified that, Britain-based White & Case LLP International Law Firm a UK-based law firm, was the principal advisor on the deal and Africa Legal Associates worked for the firm. Also there was Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah.

The Herald’s investigations had landed that a knighted Ghanaian with British nationality, Joshua Siaw, a partner in White & Case’s Global Debt Finance Practice and director of the Firm’s Africa practice, is a known friend of Gabby. Their law firms, have been involved in gigs involving the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The deal was fraught with assertions of nepotism, the presence of some key individuals and their companies, as well as their financial interests, including the immediate past Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and his Databank Financial Service,s as well as its South Africa partners, Imara Holding Limited of South Africa.

The roles played by Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo, the son of ex-Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo and a Deputy Director-General at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) in charge of Investment & Development and Gabby Otchere Darko, a cousin of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, were also at the centre of the scandal.

However, before the government placed the deal on ice to allow further deliberations with Civil Society Organizations, Baako held the view that people were making a mountain out of a molehill.

He was quoted by Ghanaweb in September 2020, as having likened the conflict of interest situation to Ibrahim Mahama’s companies getting contracts during the John Mahama regime and Nana Konadu Agyemang under the Rawlings regime.

“We have to be consistent. We have to be coherent. I don’t expect everybody to agree with me and I expect people who disagree with it vehemently if they like violently, disagree with me and criticize me”.

“The way we’re going around this politics, the so-called conflict of interest relative to political office holders over the period, I see a certain huge area of inconsistency and incoherence and I’m worried about that. This is not going to be the last time this will happen; you bet me!”

Ken Ofori-Atta’s company, Kweku Baako Jnr, further insisted that Data Bank, had as of November 2020 not received any payment for their role as financial advisors in the Agyapa Royalty agreement.

This was after it was publicly held that the investment bank which is owned by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, enjoyed monetary benefit from the deal.

On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) demanded the government to retrieve monies it claimed had been paid to Data Bank.

The opposition party gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to recover the monies, the failure of which will propel them to embark on a mammoth demonstration in the first week of December. The protest did not happen.

“The NDC, hereby, demands that President Akufo-Addo retrieves the state’s the billions of cedis his government has illegally paid under the shady ‘Agyapa’ deal to Databank, which is owned by his cousin and Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta; African Legal Associates, which is owned by another cousin of his, Gabby Otchere Darko; and their foreign compradors, within the next 7 days, failing which the NDC and other like-minded progressive forces shall embark on series of protest and legal actions to ensure that every pesewa paid to these companies are refunded back to the State for nation-building,” Asiedu Nketia, the then General Secretary of the NDC said at a presser.

In a reaction to the NDC’s demands, Kweku Baako, said that information available to him indicates that Data Bank, received no monies for their role in the deal.

“They made some demands that the president should ensure that some monies paid are retrieved. I have been told on authority that Data Bank as we sit here has not been paid a pesewa or dollar. But some payments have been done for Africa Legal Associates and the others,” Baako disclosed on Peace FM.

But in a post on Facebook, Gabby Otchere Darko, a leading member of the governing party, said that Data Bank, would have been given a certain amount of money had the deal been successful.

“You are calling on your supporters and Ghanaians to join you on the street to stage a massive demonstration to ask for a refund for fees paid to transaction advisors, including law firms for services rendered per a contract? (Note: Databank has received no money for work done so far. Databank was only to earn a success fee at the end of the transaction). That is why, with tongue in cheek, I wish to proclaim: I love the NDC! Fantastic bunch of patriots! Bless them! part of the statement reads.

Almost four years on, it emerged last week at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, that US$12 million was spent on setting up the offshore company which never materialized, but died on paper.

The CEO of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, disclosed to the PAC that the Akufo-Addo government spent US$12 million on the failed Agyapa royalties deal.

But the US$12 million might just be the tip of the iceberg as the Auditor-General has, according to Kofi Adams, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Buem and a member of PAC, not captured the Agyapa Royalties deal in his report three years since it collapsed.

It is, therefore not clear how much Databank, Imara Holding Limited of South Africa, White & Case LLP International Law Firm, the two Ghanaian law firms Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah, and Africa Legal Associates, got as transaction advisors for the monetization of Ghana’s gold royalties through the dual listing of the Agyapa Gold Royalties Company on the Ghana and London Stock Exchanges.

Interestingly, MP for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, a cousin of Ken Ofori-Atta and Gabby Ochere-Dark, has cautioned the opposition NDC against its rhetoric on allegations of corruption in the Akufo-Addo government, accusing the party of resorting to concluding that allegations of wrongdoing in the government are crimes, even without any shred of evidence. He gave this caution while reacting to members of the NDC, including the National Communication Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, saying that government officials and individuals implicated in the US$12 million expenditure on the suspended Agyapa Royalties deal are guilty of a crime and would be dealt with if they come to power. Atta Akyea, argued that the fact that something went wrong in the Agyapa deal does not necessarily imply that a crime was committed. He cautioned that the NDC was only endangering Ghana’s democracy with its baseless allegations, which are only aimed at winning the favour of Ghanaians for the upcoming elections, myjoyonline.com reports. “Bear in mind that, in this feverish pitch to succeed Akufo-Addo, the NDC, should not sort of make a fetish of every issue as if everything is criminal. “This nation is not safe with this level of propaganda, and press conferences are not just conclusive evidence of culpability and criminality, as it were. I want to stress also, let’s be careful. If there is a poor error of judgment in the investment in Agyapa, it will not be tantamount to criminality,” the MP is quoted to have said on JoyNews’ Top Story. Sammy Gyamfi, who was also on the show, contended that if there were no illegalities with the Agyapa deal, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), would not have asked the president to suspend it. He said that OSP’s investigation, proved that the Agyapa deal was not beneficial to the state, which led to its suspension. “If the Special prosecutor was not a court and the President does not agree with the position of the Special Prosecutor, why suspend the bill?” he quizzed. However, Atta Akyea, did not agree with the NDC National Communications Officer’s suggestion.

He said that if the NDC has an issue with the deal, they should go to court and should stop calling people who have not been found guilty of any crimes criminals.

“If you convert the thinking of NDC to the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, we know what the law is like.

“The accused persons will have a right to stand; they present the evidence and the rest of it, and it will culminate in a decision. If we don’t go this route and we still believe that in the name of propaganda, let’s turn the laws of Ghana upside down, and in the convenience of a one-sided press conference, let’s denigrate others; I am afraid that is not democracy, that is propaganda,” the MP said.

[bongoideas]

Check out Akufo-Addo's moves as he dances with JJ's wife

Check out Akufo-Addo’s moves as he dances with JJ’s wife

In the video, President Akufo-Addo is seen sharing the dancefloor with the late JJ’s wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings. At the luncheon to mark the Founders’ Day, the two seized the opportunity to dance their feet off. At a point. President Akufo-Addo whispered something into the former First Lady’s ears which went on to ginger her moves even the more. The relationship between the late former…

[newshuntermag]

DKB Details Why He Has Cursed A Reporter (Video)

DKB Details Why He Has Cursed A Reporter (Video)

Ghanaian comedian, Derrick Kobina Bonney, well known as DKB, has detailed why he has cursed a reporter. In 2017, a reporter with Graphic Showbiz wrote a piece about a remark Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has made about the comedian. According to the reporter, the former First Lady stated that DKB is a boring comedian. This report went viral in the country. Five (5) years down the lane, DKB is…

[netbuzzafrica]

Konadu’s hand squeeze: Rawlings was charitable to Hannah Tetteh – Owusu Bempa

Konadu’s hand squeeze: Rawlings was charitable to Hannah Tetteh – Owusu Bempa

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Spokesperson for the National Democratic Party (NDP), Owusu Bempah, aka, Aboa Apapo, says should members and sympathisers of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) dare their founder, Jerry John Rawlings, he would expose more of the atrocities they committed when they were in power.

According to him, the impunity exhibited by some party faithful…

[ghanagist]

“I would want every female child to have the opportunity to be what they want to be”, Former First Lady Nana Konadu Rawlings on Forbes Woman Africa “Against The Odds with Peace Hyde”

Nana Konadu Rawlings is Ghana’s longest serving first lady and one of the most influential women in the country’s democratic history. In this episode of Against The Odds with Peace Hyde, she shares her passion for women’s rights in Ghana and her ongoing vision to see every female child rise to become leaders. Watch Full Interview below:…

[diorinduke]

New Post has been published on LivingVibes.com

New Post has been published on http://www.livingvibes.com/a-party-has-taken-eight-years-to-destroy-us-and-you-expect-somebody-to-use-100-days-to-fix-it-nana-konadu/

A party has taken eight years to destroy us and you expect somebody to use 100 days to fix it?- Nana Konadu

Nana Konadu, Mahama, Nana Akuffo Addo

According to the former first lady of Ghana, no one should expect that the New Patriotic Party would use 100 days to fix the “problems” caused by the John Mahama-led government.

“A party has taken eight years to destroy us and you expect somebody to use 100 days to fix it?” she asked. Even though Mrs Rawlings had contested the 2016 presidential elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Party (NDP), she seems to have found solace in her competition, Nana Addo winning over other contestants.

“I am happy there is a change…I am very happy…because you can’t have a situation where we claim to be doing well, calling ourselves lower-middle income group, and in a miserable situation,” she said. Speaking on her former party, the National Democratic Congress, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings stated that respect in the NDC waned to the level that even her husband was disrespected.

“We reached that level where the respect for the founder was not there,” she complained. Her husband, Fmr Lt. John Jerry Rawlings, is the founder of the NDC political party.

[xuccessbwoygh]

I don’t know Rawlings’ alleged daughter from anywhere – Maame Dokono

I don’t know Rawlings’ alleged daughter from anywhere – Maame Dokono

Veteran actress Grace Omaboe popularly known as Maame Dokono whose name was mentioned as the one who helped Rawling’s alleged daughter escape the fury of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has finally spoken. It would be remembered that since the demise of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, a lady identified as Abigail came out and alleged that she is the first daughter of the man…

[glitzempireofficial]

Prophet Who Prophesied Rawlings’ Death Drops Shocking Prophesy About Nana Konadu

Prophet Who Prophesied Rawlings’ Death Drops Shocking Prophesy About Nana Konadu

The founder and leader of House of Divine Glory, Prophet Jimmy Alla Mensah has dropped a shocking revelation about the former first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings. READ ALSO: VIDEO: Nigerian Man Living In Abroad Sent Out Of The House After Failing To Cook For His wife The prophet who some time ago prophesied about the death of the former president and husband to Nana Konadu, Jerry John…

[mynewsexplorer]

Dr. Hannah Bissiw opens up about caring for Rawlings’ dogs, denies viral propagandist claims

Dr. Hannah Bissiw opens up about caring for Rawlings’ dogs, denies viral propagandist claims

Dr. Hannah Louisa Bissiw has denied claims that she was fired by the late former President of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings for killing his dogs when she served as the Veterinary Surgeon. According to her, the Rawlings’ had over 20 dogs at his Ridge residence which she took care of. However, on one faithful day, she was asked by the former first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings to hand over the…

[netbuzzafrica]

Photos: Bawumia, VCRAC Crabbe, Rawlings, Others attend K.B. Asante's burial

Photos: Bawumia, VCRAC Crabbe, Rawlings, Others attend K.B. Asante’s burial

The funeral ceremony for late senior citizen and retired diplomat Kwaku Baprui Asante, popularly known as K.B. Asante, has been held in a solemn event at the forecourt of the State House.

Family members, friends, loved ones, politicians, people from academia and all walks of life trooped to the venue to pay their last respects to the late K.B. Asante.

Former president, Jerry John Rawlings and his…

[impactwithdj]

Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang ….. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings ….. Brigitte Dzogbenuku ….. Akua Donkor ….. It is a women’s affair! I love that more and more women are in pursuit of what we hardly witnessed growing up. #Ghanaians are voting on Monday 7th December 2020 Together, lets encourage a Peaceful and Fair Election for #Ghana And! Observe all #Covid19 Health and Safety Protocols whilst out to vote #IChoosePeace #PeaceElection2020 #GhanaForPeace #Ghana4Peace #Peace #GhanaiansForGhana #GhanaElections2020 #Election2020 #AllGhanaiansMatter #GhanaiansForGhana #NationalVotersDay #NPP #NDC #4MoreForNana #JMAndJane2020 #JohnMahama2020 ………. ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴘᴀᴄᴛ #IYWWDJ #DebraJane https://www.instagram.com/p/CIdvqznJZg8/?igshid=siolqk3ps5f2

[diorinduke]

New Post has been published on LivingVibes.com

New Post has been published on http://www.livingvibes.com/nana-konadu-just-said-dkb-will-make-cry/

What Nana Konadu just said about DKB will make you cry

Nana Konadu And DKB

Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, gave a damning verdict on Ghana’s King of Comedy, DKB, when she said his jokes were boring.

On a day that DKB was the lead act on a stage shared at different times by other budding comedians, Nana Konadu stormed out of the Accra International Conference Centre unexcited and unconvinced that DKB would shake that audience into a frenzy.

An avid patron of concerts and comedy shows, the former First Lady made her way to the exit as soon as the famous Ghanaian comedian mounted the stage, saying to the hearing of the other patrons seated close by, including this writer, “don’t mind him, his jokes are boring.”

The snub may have been a dent on DKB’s ego but the comedian did little on the night to disprove the former First Lady’s dim view of his stagecraft.

In truth, he failed to deliver the rib-cracking jokes many patrons expected of him, as the self-acclaimed King of Comedy was vulgar in his jokes which did not elicit a favourable response from the audience.

It was little surprise, too, that during his performance, DKB kept coaxing the crowd that he could not feel the vibe from them.

However, it was a night of real laughter up until the appearance of DKB. Comedians such as Lekzy Da Comic, Jacinta, Acapella from Nigerian and Salvador from Uganda gave good mums of themselves and the audience mowed their appreciation wait resounding applauses.

Lekzy Da Comic set the mood with his opening act, making jokes about short people, such as himself, which went down well with the audience until he resorted to vulgar-laced jokes.

Bubbly Jacinta followed and maintained the excitement, including a point when she invited three couples on stage and asked the guys to apply make-up on their women, moments which exposed the ignorance of the gentlemen regarding application of makeup as they made a mess of themselves on stage.

The voluptuous Jacinta could have scored higher points if she had not repeated some of her jokes from previous events.

Acapella gave good account of himself as his jokes about Nigerian Police and African leaders down well with the audience. He had a piece of paper on which he had written points for his jokes because he said he didn’t want to repent previous jokes.

The last comedian of the night of the night was Salvador from Uganda who rounded everything up so well. His experience with his wife in the labour room was very well-received.

It was not all about comedy. Them was also some good music in the house thanks to the likes of Kofi Bentil, B Ryt, Ofori Ampomsah and Becca. It was good to see Ofori Amponsah back on stage doing what he does best and he did not disappoint though he was not extraordinary.

The show was interlaced with a tribute to comedians who have passed on like Santo, Nkomode, Bob Okalla, Araba Stamp and Bob Cole. There was also dancing and singing competitions and winners were given products from sponsors including mobile phones and coupons for dinner and lunch.

Khemikal was spot-on as MC as he interacted well with the audieence and also shared some jokes with them.

[expatimes]

Old rivals square up again in Ghana's tight presidential election

Voters in Ghana will head to the polls on Monday to pick the country's next president, in what is expected to be a tight race between incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo and his predecessor, John Mahama.

The two longtime rivals, who are squaring off for the third straight time as they seek a second and final term, are widely seen as the two frontrunners in a crowded field of 12 candidates.

Campaigning has largely focused on the economy, infrastructure development and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight against corruption has also featured prominently in the lead-up to the election during which the political rivalry that has for the last decade defined the campaigns of both Akufo-Addo, of the centrist New Patriotic Party (NPP), and Mahama, of the left-leaning National Democratic Congress (NDC), was largely on display.

“The candidates have spent more time exchanging words rather than focusing on the challenges facing the people,” said Michael Opoku, a 54-year-old trader in Kumasi, Ghana's second city.

“I want a better Ghana that will guarantee my future. I am not concerned so much about voting for a political party but my vote will be for those who are out to make a difference when elected into office, ”he added.

Despite the heightened political tensions, the two leading candidates on Friday signed a pact for good conduct and peaceful elections at a ceremony in the capital, Accra, that was attended by traditional and religious leaders, as well as international observers.

Monday's vote will be the eighth since Ghana's first step towards multiparty democracy in 1992. The country has a strong record of smooth transitions of power and Ghanaians are hoping it will build on its reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies.

The NPP and the NDC have peacefully exchanged power several times during the past decades but friction is high this year amid opposition allegations over the independence of the electoral commission. Last month, Mahama alleged that the body set out to organize “a flawed election” and threatened to reject the results.

“Recent events under the current administration have given many anxious moments of doubt about this administration's ability to deliver a peaceful, violence-free election,” Mahama, 62, said at his speech during Friday's peace pact-signing ceremony.

Electoral officials have dismissed the opposition's accusations of attempting to rig the elections.

Nana Akufo-Addo greets supporters during his final campaign rally on Saturday [Francis Kokoroko/Reuters]

“There is already so much tension on the ground, especially from the opposition, about the likely outcome of the election. The Electoral Commission should be fair to all, ”said Cynthia Ekow, a 29-year-old student in Accra.

For his part, Akufo-Addo, 76, promised that the will of the electorate will be respected.

“We believe in elections, and I am happy to give my word that we shall accept the verdict of the people of Ghana,” he said at the ceremony. "Above all, I pledge that the peace, unity and safety of Ghana will be our primary consideration."

Professor Kwesi Aning, who is the director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center in Accra, said concerns about the period after the election were real.

"Though a peace pact has been signed to deal, especially with the fallouts from the results, work needs to be done to sensitive grassroots supporters about the law and the need to respond to disputes legal," he said.

“The onus is on party leaders and structures. From history, there is a wide chasm between the flowery words of peace and the speed with which war drums are beaten when there are electoral disputes.

Some 63,000 military and paramilitary officers have been deployed across the country to maintain peace during the electoral process and respond to any potential unrest.

Ghana is a major cocoa, gold and oil producer. But its fast-growing economy took a hit during the coronavirus pandemic, deepening analysts' concerns about high public debt levels.

In April, the country received $ 1bn in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the impact of the pandemic, and the economy is now projected to grow by as much as 1 percent.

Both Akufo-Addo and Mahama have promised to improve infrastructure despite the country's rising debt profile.

In recent weeks, Akufo-Addo has emphasized his government's record on education and access to electricity and pledged to build a new airport in the country's central region.

Mahama has underlined the public works completed during his four years in office (2012-2016) and promised to increase infrastructure spending if re-elected. He has also promised to provide free laptops to university students.

John Mahama picked former Education Minister Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate [Francis Kokoroko/Reuters]

The winner of the election will be decided by a simple majority for a candidate who secures more than 50 percent of votes. A runoff election will be held within 21 days if no candidate meets the threshold of votes cast.

In contrast to previous elections, results could be announced by the electoral commission within 24 hours after voting at about 39,000 polling stations spread across the country ends.

“We are promoting some efficiency into the system. We have worked with our numbers and we have a duration within which the results should be transmitted, ”electoral commission chairwoman Jean Mensa recently told journalists in the capital, Accra. “Because of the efficiency we have introduced into the processes, we should be able to declare results within 24 hours,” she said.

“When results are announced on time, it reduces speculation about the outcome of the elections,” Ekow, the student, believed.

Among the dozen candidates vying for the presidency are three women, including Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the widow of former President Jerry Rawlings.

A total of 275 parliamentary seats will also be for grabs in Monday's polls.

Still, observers do not expect power to shift from either the NPP or the NDC anytime soon.

Anning said Ghanaians will be voting “primarily for peace”.

“The narrative is that change has not come and if change in terms of improvements in people's lives is difficult to attain, then they prefer peace at all cost.

. #world Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=15271&feed_id=21981