Mills’ Son Opens Up On His Father’s Death…It "Didn’t Make Sense To Me"

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Category: NewsBrief

Created on Saturday, 27 July 2013 00:00

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Mills’ Son Opens Up On His Father’s Death…It "Didn’t Make Sense To Me"

For the first time since his father’s demise and one year commemoration, son of the late President John Evans Atta Mills has decided to reveal the circumstances that led to his father’s death.

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GHANA FLAG DESIGNER ANGRY AT NDC

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Category: Special Reports

Created on Friday, 26 July 2013 00:00

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GHANA FLAG DESIGNER ANGRY AT NDC

-As Mahama robs her to honour Mills -OB Amoah says decision is ‘national embarrassment’

The decision by the John Dramani Mahama-led National Democratic Congress government to rob the renowned Madam Theodosia Okoh of the honour conferred on her by the previous Kufuour-led New Patriotic Party government, in naming the national hockey pitch after her, has incurred the wrath of many well-meaning Ghanaians, including the 91-year old woman herself.

Madam Theodosia yesterday said even if the NDC government reversed the decision, she would no longer want her name to be associated with the hockey pitch she helped to construct for the nation.

{sidebar id=11 align=right}On November 27, 2004, the Kufuor-led NPP government re-named certain sporting facilities and events after distinguished sports men and women in recognition of their contribution to the development of sports in the country.

Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, then the Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, disclosed at the time that “the national hockey pitch will now be called ‘Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch’. But, the NDC government has now renamed the “Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch” the “John Evans Atta-Mills Hockey Stadium.”

The decision, which has been described as “a national embarrassment” by Osei Bonsu Amoah, a former deputy minister for Youth and Sports, was spearheaded by Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, Mayor of Accra, whose assembly passed a resolution to effect the change of name at an emergency meeting.

Mr Amoah, who is also the MP for Akuapem South, and some senior journalists, including Kweku Baako Jnr, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, and Kwami Sefa Kayi, host of Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show, have condemned the decision, describing it as spite on the face of the woman who designed the Ghana National Flag.

Apart from designing the national flag, Mrs Theodosia Okoh is also known to have contributed immensely to the development of hockey in the country, especially for the construction of the national hockey pitch that was named after her, having played the game herself and also served in various capacities as administrator.

Mrs Okoh played with the old Achimotans and held many responsible positions, such as the Deputy Chairman for the National Hockey Association. She was also the Junior Red Cross Director. Using her position as Chairman of the Hockey Association, she fought to ensure that the only hockey pitch near the Tema Station in Accra was maintained and not replaced by any building.

Though the late President John Evans Atta Mills also contributed to the development of hockey, as a player and sports administrator, many people, including Kweku Baako Jnr, insist Mrs Okoh did more in promoting the game than the late president.

Resolution to take away Theodosia’s honour

The resolution to take Mr Okoh’s honour away and confer it on the late President Mills, as read by the Mayor of Accra, Alfred Vanderpuije, cited “the immeasurable contributions made by the former president towards the development of sports in Accra in particular and the country as a whole.”

It added: “The professor provided personal resources in the provision of sports infrastructure and also promoted the growth of lesser-known sports. As an active sportsman, the late Professor liked sports and he keenly participated in various sporting activities. Notably, he played for the national hockey team, swam for University Of Ghana, played cricket for Achimota School team and was a member of the Veteran Hockey Team.”

The resolution also praised the former president for spearheading the construction of the Accra ultra-modern international astro turf hockey stadium.

Theodosia fumes at decision

But, the 91-year old woman is fuming at the decision by the National Democratic Congress government to rename the National Hockey Pitch after the late President John Evans Atta-Mills.

In an exclusive interview with Peace Fm’s Kwami Sefa Kayi yesterday, the visibly disturbed woman explained that she acquired the land for the hockey pitch during the era of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and developed it into a hockey pitch for use by all Ghanaians.

She explained that at the time she was developing the hockey pitch, the late President was perhaps in “Sign 3” (Standard Three) and wondered why the NDC government could ever think of taking such a decision against her.

“When Mills was alive why didn’t he also construct a hockey pitch in his home town?” she asked, adding: “I’m not happy at this development at all. When he [Professor Mills] was alive, he knew I developed the hockey pitch and it was named after me. Why would officials now want to name it after him?” she wondered.

OB Amoah Wants Mahama to reverse decision

According to Mr Amoah, the Mayor of Accra does not have “the moral and legal authority to be naming and re-naming sports facilities in the city.” He has, therefore, called on President John Dramani Mahama to call Alfred Okoh Vanderpuye to order, and immediately reverse the decision to rename the “Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch” as the “John Evans Atta-Mills Hockey Stadium.”

“The AMA does not have any moral or legal authority to name sports facilities. This renowned woman was honoured in 2004, and after nine years Alfred Okoh Vanderpuye holds an emergency assembly meeting and all he could do was to take away that honour from such a patriotic lady. This decision is a national embarrassment and sets a bad precedent for the country. They did the same thing to Ohene Djan and now they are doing it again to Madam Theodosia who is even still alive,” the Akuapem South MP lamented.

Joe Aggrey says decision is illegal

Joe Aggrey, retired sports journalist and former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, has described as ‘illegal and dishonourable’ the unilateral decision by the AMA to rename the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium after late President John Evans Atta Mills.

“While we all agree to honour the memory of the late President who was a great sportsman, the hockey facility has already been named after another legend, Mrs Theodosia Okoh, as part of a decision to rename all national sports edifices after illustrious former sportsmen and sportswomen. Therefore, to change the name of an edifice which has already been named is not only disrespectful but dishonourable to Mrs Okoh who is alive,” Mr Aggrey said yesterday.

The former deputy minister explained that the decision to name the hockey facility after Mrs Okoh was taken in 2004 after careful deliberations and consultations by a competent group of people who formed a committee set up by the government.

“Her role in the development of Ghana hockey, where she was even nicknamed Joan d’Arc of Ghana hockey, is equally recognisable. She was not the only one who had a sports facility named after her. There is the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, Robert Mensah Sports Stadium in Cape Coast, the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in Kaneshie and several others. The decision by the AMA certainly demeans whatever role Mrs Okoh played for Ghana hockey and knowing the late President, I think he would not have approved of such an action,” Mr Aggrey lamented.

Kwami Sefa Kayi launches crusade against decision

Renowned broadcaster and one of the most influential radio personalities in Ghana, Kwami Sefa-Kayi, has expressed a vehement opposition to the decision, saying those behind are not being fair to the woman and the nation. He insists the original name given to the Hockey Pitch should be maintained in honour of Madam Theodosia, the woman he describes as one of the virtuous daughters of this nation.

Protesting the change of name, host of Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show stated yesterday: “Let me state here that my fight continues; if I will win, I don’t know; but Madam Theodosia Okoh gave us our national flag; she played hockey; she chaired the National Hockey Association. Don’t change the name; I beg. It is not fair. She is alive and very well and it is just not fair to do this at all. We should not change the name. Madam Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch should be maintained.”

The Woman Theodosia Okoh

Mrs Theodosia Okoh was born to Rev. & Mrs. Asihene at Asante Effiduase. She attended school at Asante Effiduase and later Basel Mission Girls School at Agogo. She later became a teacher and taught briefly at Kukurantumi and later took an examination in Arts which gradually led her into her career. Like the popular saying ‘practice makes man perfect’, she perfected herself through the teaching and practicing of Arts, and the encouragement she received from the Department of Social Welfare through the production of teaching of aids for nursery schools.

She rose to be among the best artist and designer when in 1955 the challenge was thrown to her to develop a flag for Ghana. She was able to do this, guided by the words of Philip Gbeho, the composer of the national anthem.

She received an award from ECRAG in 1993 for “Special Honours for the Design of the National Flag”. She believes in families a lot and is also a firm believer in hard work and exemplary life. Her watch words are doing things in perfection and in a manner that would reap benefits in the future.

Source: By thestatesmanonline.com

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“We need real actions for peace, not symbolic gestures" - Prof. Kwesi Aning

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Category: NewsBrief

Created on Saturday, 27 July 2013 00:00

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“We need real actions for peace, not symbolic gestures" - Prof. Kwesi Aning

A security expert and Director of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre (KAIPTC), Professor Emmanuel Kwesi Aning said the recent meeting of political leaders at the Manhyia Palace was symbolic but not enough to bring peace.

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Martin Amidu Fears 'Miscarriage Of Justice' In Waterville, Isofoton Rulings

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Category: Letters & Emails

Created on Wednesday, 24 July 2013 00:00

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Martin Amidu Fears 'Miscarriage Of Justice' In Waterville, Isofoton Rulings

{sidebar id=10 align=right}Former Attorney General, Martin A. B. K. Amidu says there may have been “miscarriage of justice” in the Supreme Court’s judgments on two separate judgment debt cases which were both ruled in his favour a few weeks ago.

Below is the full statement from Martin Amidu on the review applications filed at the Supreme Court

REVIEW APPLICATIONS IN THE WOYOME, AND ISOFOTON CASES IN THE SUPREME COURT: BY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

The Supreme Court on 14th June 2013 gave judgment in the public interest action commenced against the Attorney General, Waterville Holding (BVI) Ltd, and Alfred Agbesi Woyome on judgment debts alleged to have been unconstitutionally paid by the Government of Ghana. The 2nd defendant, Waterville, was ordered and directed “to refund to the Republic of Ghana all sums of money paid to it in connection with the two inoperative Agreements dated 26th April 2006 and the work done on the stadia.” The Court stated further that: “Orders against the 3rd defendant, if any, were to await determinations made in the High Court. Any other reliefs endorsed on the plaintiff’s writ which are not specified above as having been granted are hereby denied, on jurisdictional grounds, without prejudice to any reliefs that the High Court may grant in future.”

The Supreme Court on 21st June 2013 also gave judgment in the public interest action commenced against the Attorney General, Isofoton S. A., and Anane-Agyei Forson on another judgment debt alleged to have been paid unconstitutionally by the Government of Ghana. The Court, amongst other things, declared the two Agreements null, void and without effect whatsoever, and quashed all proceedings that had taken place in the High Court in relation to them. The 2nd defendant, Isofoton S. A. was ordered “to pay or refund to the Government of Ghana the cedi equivalent of US$325,472.00 received from the Government of Ghana and any subsequent payments thereafter made so far, pursuant to the contracts declared void by this Court.” In relation to the 3rd defendant, Anane-Agyei Forson, the Court concluded that: “There is no cause of action against him on the plaintiff’s pleading.” Nothing was said about the reliefs sought against the 1st defendant, the Attorney General.

The 1992 Constitution imposes both rights and obligations, particularly under Articles 2 and 3, on every Ghanaian citizen to ensure that the constitutional order established by the Constitution is not threatened or by an unlawful means abrogated. When incremental breaches of the 1992 Constitution are left to go unchallenged by citizens under Article 2 the constitutional order is endangered with eventual abrogation by any of the activities in Article 3 thereof. The people of Ghana had trusted me in positions throughout my public service career that made it imperative that I initiated action to defend the public’s constitutional interest in the above two cases. I have no doubt whatsoever that the principles involved in this case touch every Ghanaian who wishes the constitutional and democratic order brought into being by the 1992 Constitution everlasting life. I see the suits as a collective endeavour of We the People to preserve through the instrumentality of the Constitution a say in how the consolidated fund is disbursed by those we have all elected for fixed periods to govern us. It is for the foregoing reasons that I have held back since the judgments in the two cases from granting personal interviews or making any personal comments on the cases except to correct blatant falsehoods.

I have read the two judgments delivered by the Supreme Court very carefully, with other Ghanaians of like thinking, and come to the conclusion that some aspects of the two judgments contain exceptional circumstances that have resulted in, what we perceive may constitute, miscarriage of justice. Accordingly, on 12th July 2013, and 19th July 2013 I filed applications for review in the Supreme Court praying for a review of those aspects of the two judgments respectively. 26th July 2013 was fixed for the hearing of the application in the 14th June 2013 judgment, and 15th October 2013 for the 21st June 2013 judgment. I am, however, informed that both applications may come for hearing on 15th October 2013 even though I am yet to receive a formal hearing notice of the change of date in respect of the 26th July 2013 date.

I do not like arguing cases that are in Court in the public domain as the Courts are the proper places to present one’s case. That explains my silence on the earlier application of the review which was filed on 12th July 2013. I have, however, read on Modern Ghana News of Friday, 19th July 2013 a story attributed to the Daily Graphic which states in relation to the adjournment of the Woyome case in the Commercial Division of the High Court in Accra that: “Yesterday’s sitting was held in camera and both parties to the suit were tight lipped over proceedings after the sitting”. In view of the fact that I filed an application for review which affects that case on 12th July 2013 in the public interest, I feel that I owe the people of Ghana a duty to make public the fact of the pendency of the two review applications.

Review applications offer a very narrow window for applicants who sincerely believe there are some exceptional circumstances resulting in miscarriage of justice to approach the Court to consider the application. It is not an opportunity for an appeal or for one to re-argue his case. In view of the fact that I was the only plaintiff in the case, I have after deep consideration and consultation decided that I put those exceptional circumstances resulting in a miscarriage of justice in the two cases before the Supreme Court for consideration.

The Supreme Court should be allowed to decide whether or not my perceptions of those exceptional circumstances resulting in a miscarriage of justice fall within the criteria for granting such applications or not.

21/07/13 Source: Martin A. B. K. Amidu

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