Source :The Chronicle
It is whispered in private. By and by, the perception is crystallizing into a concept. This President might not really be in charge of the nation. It is not
the best of views to hold, especially, when citizens of this republic inaugurated an executive head of state on January 7, 2009.
Events unfolding though seem to suggest that Prof. John Evans Atta Mills is dancing to music provided by a backroom orchestra.
The other day, when the President of the Republic was quizzed about circumstances leading to the dismissal of Prof. Kenneth Attafuah, as head of
the National Identification Authority, President Atta Mills said he was unaware of the circumstances leading to the termination of the criminology
expert's appointment.
It was that enquiry that goaded the President on to pronounce on his concept of not being able to work with a person who might not share in his
National Democratic Congress' Concept of governance by exclusion.
On Monday, the Head of State succeeded in muddying the waters, instead of calming nerves in the classic own goal scored by Health Minister
Joseph Yieleh Chireh against the administration of the former law lecturer, in the now infamous dismissal affair, involving the doyen of open heart
surgery, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
The obvious after-thought of the concept of age introduced in the official statement issued on behalf of the President by Deputy Minister of
Information Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, only succeeded in painting a picture of a President, who is kept uninformed about major decisions taken
by officials of his own administration.
By playing the age card, the President ridiculed his administration in the eyes of the ordinary people of Ghana, who are privy to the information
that at the Komfo Anokye Hospital, a young and vibrant 54-year-old Chief Executive was replaced by a 63 year-old retired officer, on the orders of
the Atta Mills regime. The replacement is now 65. He is still at post.
When the head of a publicly-owned banking institution claims to be 62, at a time workers are agitating for his removal on the basis that he is 70
years, no action is seen to be taken by the same administration, supposedly sending a world-acclaimed heart surgeon home, on the basis that at
62, he has long passed his sell-by date.
Ghanaians are baffled by the Kweku Ananse stories being bandied about, painting a picture of a President unaware of unfolding events, only to
endorse the action of his Minister, who, in any case, failed to even brief him before committing the administration to a decision that has sent the
entire government machinery reeling.
The Chronicle is uncomfortable with the scenario where the President is unaware of major decisions taken in the name of his administration. We
wonder whether the President is aware of the many jokes doing the rounds, which suggest that like the typical 'Simpa Panyin', he is not briefed
about major happenings in his own administration.
We do not know what the President and his image-makers make of the Frimpong-Boateng episode. We are of the view that it is embarrassing.
His Minister of Health has undermined his authority. He has to wriggle out of the corner he has been put into, by being more decisive.
As it is, the impression is crystallizing that this President may really not be in charge of his own administration. We would be delighted if we are
proved wrong, not by rhetoric, but concrete action on the part of the elected constitutional Head of State
Friday, September 2, 2011
The World Bank Mmuggles AVRL-Styled Deal Through the Back Door
Even before the clouds over the STX affordable housing deal could clear, the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban Sumana
Bagbin, appears to have been caught in yet another evolving deal that is likely to cause no less an embarrassment to him than the STX
This time the source of embarrassment is the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, whose recent call for the expression of interest in the
Daily Graphic clearly undermines a recent announcement by the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, to the effect that a new
company, a subsidiary of Ghana Water has been set up to provide the service.
The said advert which appeared on page 45 of the Tuesday, August 23 edition of the paper was inviting "consultancy services for the provision of
advisory service and support in negotiating a public private partnership for bulk water supply under a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer
arrangement." The consultancy is to be funded through an IDA credit facility.
The advert was so obscure that it created the impression that it is only a procedural requirement that must be met to advance the Bank's neo-
liberal agenda in the water sector.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning advert comes barely three months after the monumental failure of a similar partnership the same
World Bank brokered for Aqua Vitens Rand Limited with serious consequences for water supply and the lives of many urban communities. AVRL's
contract was consequently not renewed; "yet, the Bank has the guts to push for more of such partnerships" says Bernard Anaba of ISODEC.
But the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing says it is unaware of MOFEP's call for expression of interest to provide urban water
services other than the proposed wholly public Ghana Urban Water Company.
Abraham Otabil, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry told Public Agenda via telephone that "I am not aware of what you are talking about. As far
as we are concerned the Ministry is coming up with the Ghana Urban Water Company, which is a public company".
He insisted that in the run up to the new company coming into force, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has been given full responsibility
for urban water delivery following the departure of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL).
The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing made it clear about three months ago, that after serious thoughts and deliberations by
cabinet a solely publicly owned company was in the process of being formed to handle the operations of the Ghana Water Company Limited.
There were at least two public events where the Sector Minister made clear the Ghanaian Government's intention to set up this fully publicly owned
company and even proceeded to give out a name for the intended company - Ghana Urban Water Company. The first mention of this idea was at
the handing-over ceremony of AVRL to GWCL after the failure of the AVRL-public-private-partnership arrangement in the water sector.
Confidently convinced about the failure of the AVRL-public-private-partnership arrangement in Ghana, and certain about cabinet's decision for a
fully publicly owned company, the sector Ministry again called a press conference at the Ministry of Information and made its intentions yet again
known to the public.
Some observers at the time stated their skepticism of the proposal by the Ministry. Their argument then was that it was a time and face-saving
measure to contain the huge public uproar and condemnation of the failed AVRL-public-private-partnership experiment with public water and
consequences for the lives of ordinary people. They explained that the talk about not handing over fully to GWCL and the creation of a new fully
publicly owned company was only a ruse to manage the massive public opposition towards the failed AVRL experiment
As is to be expected these suggestions were dismissed as mere conspiracy theories and the protagonists admonished to for once have faith in
their Government and leaders. Since the sector Ministry first made its commitment to the setting up of a new public company to manage the
operations of urban water systems, the public have not had much time to finish digesting what they meant by that. The sector Ministry is yet to
provide answers to the question of; why spend scarce resources to establish a new public company, when the country already has the Ghana
Water Company Limited badly in need of support and assistance to grow stronger and able. Besides the Ministry of Water resources, Works and
Housing has not at any time since its initial announcement on the newly formed Ghana Urban Water Company taken the opportunity to retract its
earlier pronouncements.
Bagbin, appears to have been caught in yet another evolving deal that is likely to cause no less an embarrassment to him than the STX
This time the source of embarrassment is the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, whose recent call for the expression of interest in the
Daily Graphic clearly undermines a recent announcement by the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, to the effect that a new
company, a subsidiary of Ghana Water has been set up to provide the service.
The said advert which appeared on page 45 of the Tuesday, August 23 edition of the paper was inviting "consultancy services for the provision of
advisory service and support in negotiating a public private partnership for bulk water supply under a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer
arrangement." The consultancy is to be funded through an IDA credit facility.
The advert was so obscure that it created the impression that it is only a procedural requirement that must be met to advance the Bank's neo-
liberal agenda in the water sector.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning advert comes barely three months after the monumental failure of a similar partnership the same
World Bank brokered for Aqua Vitens Rand Limited with serious consequences for water supply and the lives of many urban communities. AVRL's
contract was consequently not renewed; "yet, the Bank has the guts to push for more of such partnerships" says Bernard Anaba of ISODEC.
But the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing says it is unaware of MOFEP's call for expression of interest to provide urban water
services other than the proposed wholly public Ghana Urban Water Company.
Abraham Otabil, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry told Public Agenda via telephone that "I am not aware of what you are talking about. As far
as we are concerned the Ministry is coming up with the Ghana Urban Water Company, which is a public company".
He insisted that in the run up to the new company coming into force, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has been given full responsibility
for urban water delivery following the departure of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL).
The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing made it clear about three months ago, that after serious thoughts and deliberations by
cabinet a solely publicly owned company was in the process of being formed to handle the operations of the Ghana Water Company Limited.
There were at least two public events where the Sector Minister made clear the Ghanaian Government's intention to set up this fully publicly owned
company and even proceeded to give out a name for the intended company - Ghana Urban Water Company. The first mention of this idea was at
the handing-over ceremony of AVRL to GWCL after the failure of the AVRL-public-private-partnership arrangement in the water sector.
Confidently convinced about the failure of the AVRL-public-private-partnership arrangement in Ghana, and certain about cabinet's decision for a
fully publicly owned company, the sector Ministry again called a press conference at the Ministry of Information and made its intentions yet again
known to the public.
Some observers at the time stated their skepticism of the proposal by the Ministry. Their argument then was that it was a time and face-saving
measure to contain the huge public uproar and condemnation of the failed AVRL-public-private-partnership experiment with public water and
consequences for the lives of ordinary people. They explained that the talk about not handing over fully to GWCL and the creation of a new fully
publicly owned company was only a ruse to manage the massive public opposition towards the failed AVRL experiment
As is to be expected these suggestions were dismissed as mere conspiracy theories and the protagonists admonished to for once have faith in
their Government and leaders. Since the sector Ministry first made its commitment to the setting up of a new public company to manage the
operations of urban water systems, the public have not had much time to finish digesting what they meant by that. The sector Ministry is yet to
provide answers to the question of; why spend scarce resources to establish a new public company, when the country already has the Ghana
Water Company Limited badly in need of support and assistance to grow stronger and able. Besides the Ministry of Water resources, Works and
Housing has not at any time since its initial announcement on the newly formed Ghana Urban Water Company taken the opportunity to retract its
earlier pronouncements.
Nigerian Couple Arrested In Ghana With Fresh Human Heads
Nigeria’s image was again suffered a horrible blow in Ghana on Thursday following the arrest of one Alhaji Rasheed Bello and his wife by the
police in Yamoransa, near Cape Coast. Bello’s activities in the last few days became suspicious to his neighbours and since he was known to be
a herbalist, no one dared confront him, rather, they called the police and reported their suspicions.
Unknown to Bello and his wife, the police had placed them under surveillance. According to the District Police Officer, “after we got the tip off, we
got into the house and surprisingly, we saw pieces of human parts including hands and legs in a Ghana Must Go bag still dripping with blood. They
were cut in a way that that gives you an impression that they were actually meant to be cooked. We also saw two human heads, which makes us
believe that the victims are two.”
Street Journal gathered that when 42 year old Alhaji Bello realised that his secret moves were about to become public knowledge, he allegedly
made an attempt to bribe the policemen. And going by the Ghanaian constitution, his effort at bribing the police would only worsen his case as he
might also be charged for attempting to bribe officers in a bid to prevent the law from taking its course.
Mr. Stephen Ando Kwofie, the District Police Officer disclosed that as soon as Bello’s wife, Fausatu saw that policemen already had her husband,
she tried to escape but was quickly apprehended.
The news which has started travelling across the whole of Ghana has left many Nigerians sad. Street Journal also gathered that there are more
than one million Nigerians doing business and schooling in Ghana.
Ghana: Majority Voice Seals U.S.$3 Billion Chinese Deal
"Mr. Speaker, I just want to make one preliminary point before I move - That I am very surprised that my colleagues from the other side are bringing
in the regional debate. When the issue of SADA, SEDICOM and other development organisations were lined up for the regions, we all supported
it. And, we all said it was important to find something for the Western Region, particularly, because of the oil.
It was that basic reason that informed us to suggest that 10% of the oil revenue be given to the Western Region - all MPs from this side of the
House. And, over the period of the life of this oil resource, it would have inured to the benefit of the Western Region more than the US$1.8 billion
that is currently being given to them. Mr. Speaker, we all fully support the programmes that are embedded in this loan agreement. But, there are
problems, and it is the duty of us as Parliamentarians to point out these problems to government and to the Executive, and it is the duty of the
Executive to correct them, so that we have a unified and sustained and compromised agreement for the Chinese to see that we are united.
"At least, STX has thought us a lesson. That is why I am urging the government not to rush on this particular loan, but to take the discussion and the
points we are churning out very seriously. Mr. Speaker, what are we being asked to approve?
"Four things - We are being asked to give government the opportunity to go and sign for a loan; we are being asked to give the government the
opportunity to use the ABFA to pay for this loan; We are also being asked to allow the government to lend the money to the government agencies;
And, to the last point, to use 40% to give to subsidiary agreements.
"But, Mr. Speaker, all the other three we agreed not to deal with them in this House. So, we are virtually dealing with one agreement - that is to give
government the opportunity to go and sign for an agreement with the Chinese.
But, Mr. Speaker, if we sign this agreement with the Chinese today, does it mean that we are ready to take the money? No. The agreement that
has been granted to us - Schedule 1.3.2 tells us that until we sign the subsidiary agreements, and they are twelve in general, we are not going to
lay our hands on the cash. We are not going to lay our hands on the money. So, why don't we bring all these agreements to Parliament, plus the
main loan, and then we can all move and sign this agreement. What is the rush for?
"The only beneficiary in what we are doing today is the person who will get this upfront payment - that is the only beneficiary. And, that person, in
twenty days time, will go to the bank and collect US$3.7 million cash, that is, if we pay upfront. But, if we don't pay upfront, and we deal with the
Cabinet memo, the person will go to the bank and collect US$47 million cash. That is the only beneficiary. Mr. Speaker, are we rushing just
because we want somebody to get cash into his pocket when we are not ready to take the cash? Mr. Speaker, with gas infrastructure, we are
being told that Parliament should give government the opportunity to use US$100 million to purchase helicopters, and I hope my friend, Hon.
Asiamah, is listening. We remember a month ago, government brought a deal to buy aircrafts. At that time, we knew the cost of these aircrafts, we
knew where they were coming from, and we knew the types and specifications.
"Today, we are now being told that we need US$100 million to buy helicopters; we don't know how many we are buying, we don't know. The
specifications, we don't know, the country we are buying from, in fact, we don't even know how much each helicopter will cost. Is that how
Parliament of the Republic of Ghana should operate? Is that what the people of Ghana have asked us to come and do here? No. Let us go and
get these details and come, and we will approve the loan. But, this way, it is not good for the Republic of Ghana.
"Mr. Speaker, when you go to another aspect of this loan, what we usually call the Accra Metropolitan ICT Enhanced Management, we are being
told that government is requesting us to approve between US$150-200 million to do what we call the stranded road construction, and what are the
stranded road construction?
"Mr. Speaker, let me read it and quote; Accra Metropolitan ICT Enhanced Traffic Management - These include an additional financing to enable us
relatively complete the stranded road construction work on key congested roads at risk in the metropolis, especially, 1) Nsawam Road - Achimota
- Ofankor segment. 2) Dodowa Road - Tetteh Quarshie - Haatso segment. 3) La Beach Road - The project developer is the Urban Road
Department, and the amount is US$150-200 million. But, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance on the 12 of August, 2011, a Friday, went to the
Castle, seat of government, to inform the government that he has raised a bond of GH ¢305 million to complete these very roads.
"And it was captured in the following day's Daily Graphic. Mr. Speaker, let me read - it says the amount will cover the roads in Kumasi and Accra,
and the government has released US$23 million for the Achimota-Ofankor road, which is captured here, thus, the same road. Tetteh Quarshie -
Madina road which is captured here - the question, Mr. Speaker, I am asking is why are we being asked to approve a loan that government has
already sourced money for? What are we going to use the US$200 million for? Is the US$200 milion going to enter somebody's pocket or what?"
"Mr. Speaker, what is more worrying is what is called the Eastern Corridor Multi-Moda Transport. What this simply means is that the port
movement of goods, especially, petroleum and other goods, from the south to the north, normally the road that is through Kumasi to the Central
Corridor - the idea is to have alternative movement through water - Akosombo to Buipe - and this project was started in 2007 under Professor
Ameyaw Akumfi."
Minister of Roads and Highways Joe Gidisu makes intervention: "Mr. Speaker, my point of order is on the situation of those roads that were
mentioned. "
Speaker makes an intervention: "Hon. Minister of Roads and Highways, the honourable member quoted the Graphic publication. He quoted the
publication and attributed it to the Minister of Finance, not to you. The Hon. Minister of Finance is here. So, what is the point of order?"
Majority Leader Cletus Avoka makes an intervention: "Mr. Speaker, my honourable colleague said, among things, that in the light of the fact that
there was earlier provision for some of these roads, the current loan agreement that we have also provided for the same roads, whether the
money is going to go into somebody's pocket. That is wrong. He is imputing ..."
Speaker makes an intervention: "Honourable Majority Leader, a statement has been attributed to the honourable Minister of Finance and
Economic planning, and he is here. He might want to respond when it comes to winding up, when he is to explain, or if he can, may be decide not
to respond, or he want to respond when he is winding up. But, he doesn't want to rise up on point of order. So, it was attributed to him alone, and
not the honourable Minister of Roads and Highways."
Majority Leader: "Mr. Speaker, with due respect, you don't want to appreciate my intervention. I am saying among other things, he wondered
whether the money was going to go into somebody's pocket. That is un-parliamentary."
Speaker: "Hon. Majority Leader, for purpose of argument, assuming that that statement has actually been made, and those things have also been
captured in this loan agreement, is it not a legitimate issue to be raised? Assuming the statement is true, I am not saying. Assuming the
publication is true, that publication could be true, it could be false, but assuming it is true, that same project is also captured in the report, is it not a
legitimate issue to be raised in this House?"
Minority Leader Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bosu makes an intervention: "Mr. Speaker, I will plead with my colleague Majority Leader. I think thus far, we
have not resorted to the use of foul language. So, you may allow the debate to flow. If we were to pursue it in that direction, what the Minister
responsible for Water Resources, Works and Housing said when he alluded to his experiences in the basic school that he was doing his people
were heckling him down.
Contribution by Dominic B. A. Nitiwul, MP for Bimbilla
in the regional debate. When the issue of SADA, SEDICOM and other development organisations were lined up for the regions, we all supported
it. And, we all said it was important to find something for the Western Region, particularly, because of the oil.
It was that basic reason that informed us to suggest that 10% of the oil revenue be given to the Western Region - all MPs from this side of the
House. And, over the period of the life of this oil resource, it would have inured to the benefit of the Western Region more than the US$1.8 billion
that is currently being given to them. Mr. Speaker, we all fully support the programmes that are embedded in this loan agreement. But, there are
problems, and it is the duty of us as Parliamentarians to point out these problems to government and to the Executive, and it is the duty of the
Executive to correct them, so that we have a unified and sustained and compromised agreement for the Chinese to see that we are united.
"At least, STX has thought us a lesson. That is why I am urging the government not to rush on this particular loan, but to take the discussion and the
points we are churning out very seriously. Mr. Speaker, what are we being asked to approve?
"Four things - We are being asked to give government the opportunity to go and sign for a loan; we are being asked to give the government the
opportunity to use the ABFA to pay for this loan; We are also being asked to allow the government to lend the money to the government agencies;
And, to the last point, to use 40% to give to subsidiary agreements.
"But, Mr. Speaker, all the other three we agreed not to deal with them in this House. So, we are virtually dealing with one agreement - that is to give
government the opportunity to go and sign for an agreement with the Chinese.
But, Mr. Speaker, if we sign this agreement with the Chinese today, does it mean that we are ready to take the money? No. The agreement that
has been granted to us - Schedule 1.3.2 tells us that until we sign the subsidiary agreements, and they are twelve in general, we are not going to
lay our hands on the cash. We are not going to lay our hands on the money. So, why don't we bring all these agreements to Parliament, plus the
main loan, and then we can all move and sign this agreement. What is the rush for?
"The only beneficiary in what we are doing today is the person who will get this upfront payment - that is the only beneficiary. And, that person, in
twenty days time, will go to the bank and collect US$3.7 million cash, that is, if we pay upfront. But, if we don't pay upfront, and we deal with the
Cabinet memo, the person will go to the bank and collect US$47 million cash. That is the only beneficiary. Mr. Speaker, are we rushing just
because we want somebody to get cash into his pocket when we are not ready to take the cash? Mr. Speaker, with gas infrastructure, we are
being told that Parliament should give government the opportunity to use US$100 million to purchase helicopters, and I hope my friend, Hon.
Asiamah, is listening. We remember a month ago, government brought a deal to buy aircrafts. At that time, we knew the cost of these aircrafts, we
knew where they were coming from, and we knew the types and specifications.
"Today, we are now being told that we need US$100 million to buy helicopters; we don't know how many we are buying, we don't know. The
specifications, we don't know, the country we are buying from, in fact, we don't even know how much each helicopter will cost. Is that how
Parliament of the Republic of Ghana should operate? Is that what the people of Ghana have asked us to come and do here? No. Let us go and
get these details and come, and we will approve the loan. But, this way, it is not good for the Republic of Ghana.
"Mr. Speaker, when you go to another aspect of this loan, what we usually call the Accra Metropolitan ICT Enhanced Management, we are being
told that government is requesting us to approve between US$150-200 million to do what we call the stranded road construction, and what are the
stranded road construction?
"Mr. Speaker, let me read it and quote; Accra Metropolitan ICT Enhanced Traffic Management - These include an additional financing to enable us
relatively complete the stranded road construction work on key congested roads at risk in the metropolis, especially, 1) Nsawam Road - Achimota
- Ofankor segment. 2) Dodowa Road - Tetteh Quarshie - Haatso segment. 3) La Beach Road - The project developer is the Urban Road
Department, and the amount is US$150-200 million. But, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance on the 12 of August, 2011, a Friday, went to the
Castle, seat of government, to inform the government that he has raised a bond of GH ¢305 million to complete these very roads.
"And it was captured in the following day's Daily Graphic. Mr. Speaker, let me read - it says the amount will cover the roads in Kumasi and Accra,
and the government has released US$23 million for the Achimota-Ofankor road, which is captured here, thus, the same road. Tetteh Quarshie -
Madina road which is captured here - the question, Mr. Speaker, I am asking is why are we being asked to approve a loan that government has
already sourced money for? What are we going to use the US$200 million for? Is the US$200 milion going to enter somebody's pocket or what?"
"Mr. Speaker, what is more worrying is what is called the Eastern Corridor Multi-Moda Transport. What this simply means is that the port
movement of goods, especially, petroleum and other goods, from the south to the north, normally the road that is through Kumasi to the Central
Corridor - the idea is to have alternative movement through water - Akosombo to Buipe - and this project was started in 2007 under Professor
Ameyaw Akumfi."
Minister of Roads and Highways Joe Gidisu makes intervention: "Mr. Speaker, my point of order is on the situation of those roads that were
mentioned. "
Speaker makes an intervention: "Hon. Minister of Roads and Highways, the honourable member quoted the Graphic publication. He quoted the
publication and attributed it to the Minister of Finance, not to you. The Hon. Minister of Finance is here. So, what is the point of order?"
Majority Leader Cletus Avoka makes an intervention: "Mr. Speaker, my honourable colleague said, among things, that in the light of the fact that
there was earlier provision for some of these roads, the current loan agreement that we have also provided for the same roads, whether the
money is going to go into somebody's pocket. That is wrong. He is imputing ..."
Speaker makes an intervention: "Honourable Majority Leader, a statement has been attributed to the honourable Minister of Finance and
Economic planning, and he is here. He might want to respond when it comes to winding up, when he is to explain, or if he can, may be decide not
to respond, or he want to respond when he is winding up. But, he doesn't want to rise up on point of order. So, it was attributed to him alone, and
not the honourable Minister of Roads and Highways."
Majority Leader: "Mr. Speaker, with due respect, you don't want to appreciate my intervention. I am saying among other things, he wondered
whether the money was going to go into somebody's pocket. That is un-parliamentary."
Speaker: "Hon. Majority Leader, for purpose of argument, assuming that that statement has actually been made, and those things have also been
captured in this loan agreement, is it not a legitimate issue to be raised? Assuming the statement is true, I am not saying. Assuming the
publication is true, that publication could be true, it could be false, but assuming it is true, that same project is also captured in the report, is it not a
legitimate issue to be raised in this House?"
Minority Leader Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bosu makes an intervention: "Mr. Speaker, I will plead with my colleague Majority Leader. I think thus far, we
have not resorted to the use of foul language. So, you may allow the debate to flow. If we were to pursue it in that direction, what the Minister
responsible for Water Resources, Works and Housing said when he alluded to his experiences in the basic school that he was doing his people
were heckling him down.
Contribution by Dominic B. A. Nitiwul, MP for Bimbilla
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Brothers of Togo leader appear in court for 'coup plot'
Two half-brothers of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe along with 30 others appeared in court for the first time Thursday over an alleged 2009 coup plot, but the case was immediately suspended.
The court appearance included brief applause from supporters of Kpatcha Gnassingbe, accused of being behind the plot and one of the numerous sons of Gnassingbe Eyadema, the general who ruled the country for 38 years until his death in 2005.
Supreme Court president Abalo Petchelebia suspended the case to September 6 after a French lawyer for one of the accused, who was not present in the packed courtroom, requested in writing more time.
"The session is suspended and will reconvene on September 6," Petchelebia said.
The court appearance came more than two years after former defence minister Kpatcha Gnassingbe was arrested while trying to take refuge at the US embassy for being the alleged mastermind of the plot against his half-brother.
A second half-brother, Essolizam Gnassingbe, as well as the ex-head of the armed forces, Assani Tidjani, are also among the accused in the West African nation of some 6.7 million people.
The suspects are accused of attempted violation of state security, criminal conspiracy and rebellion, among others, and face up to life in prison.
All 32 accused were in court. They have not yet entered a plea.
Details of the alleged plot remain unclear, though at the time it was claimed that the coup was to be carried out while the president was away on a trip to China. Kpatcha Gnassingbe's house was raided by elite troops in an operation that led to a bloody gunfight.
Questions have arisen as to whether there in fact was a coup plot, with some analysts arguing that the rivalry between the president and Kpatcha Gnassingbe was strong and intensifying at the time.
Some observers say Kpatcha was ambitious and there was speculation that he was eyeing the presidency in 2010.
Kpatcha's lawyer told AFP on Thursday that he believed his client still had parliamentary immunity since he was a lawmaker at the time of his arrest and it has not been formally lifted.
Just before the start of the court hearing, Kpatcha put on the ceremonial sash worn by parliament members.
"We told him to put it on because his parliamentary immunity has not been lifted," his lawyer Zeus Ajavon told AFP.
Faure Gnassingbe was installed in the presidency by the army shortly after the announcement of his father's death in 2005. He has since won elections in 2005 and 2010.
The court appearance included brief applause from supporters of Kpatcha Gnassingbe, accused of being behind the plot and one of the numerous sons of Gnassingbe Eyadema, the general who ruled the country for 38 years until his death in 2005.
Supreme Court president Abalo Petchelebia suspended the case to September 6 after a French lawyer for one of the accused, who was not present in the packed courtroom, requested in writing more time.
"The session is suspended and will reconvene on September 6," Petchelebia said.
The court appearance came more than two years after former defence minister Kpatcha Gnassingbe was arrested while trying to take refuge at the US embassy for being the alleged mastermind of the plot against his half-brother.
A second half-brother, Essolizam Gnassingbe, as well as the ex-head of the armed forces, Assani Tidjani, are also among the accused in the West African nation of some 6.7 million people.
The suspects are accused of attempted violation of state security, criminal conspiracy and rebellion, among others, and face up to life in prison.
All 32 accused were in court. They have not yet entered a plea.
Details of the alleged plot remain unclear, though at the time it was claimed that the coup was to be carried out while the president was away on a trip to China. Kpatcha Gnassingbe's house was raided by elite troops in an operation that led to a bloody gunfight.
Questions have arisen as to whether there in fact was a coup plot, with some analysts arguing that the rivalry between the president and Kpatcha Gnassingbe was strong and intensifying at the time.
Some observers say Kpatcha was ambitious and there was speculation that he was eyeing the presidency in 2010.
Kpatcha's lawyer told AFP on Thursday that he believed his client still had parliamentary immunity since he was a lawmaker at the time of his arrest and it has not been formally lifted.
Just before the start of the court hearing, Kpatcha put on the ceremonial sash worn by parliament members.
"We told him to put it on because his parliamentary immunity has not been lifted," his lawyer Zeus Ajavon told AFP.
Faure Gnassingbe was installed in the presidency by the army shortly after the announcement of his father's death in 2005. He has since won elections in 2005 and 2010.
Zimbabwe expels Libyan diplomats
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Libyan diplomats who defected to their country's rebel-led National Transitional Council are leaving Zimbabwe on orders from the government.
Zimbabwe had close relations with Moammar Gadhafi and has not recognized the rebels. The southern African country said it was expelling the Libyans and gave them a 72-hour deadline that expires Thursday.
Reporters followed Ambassador Taher al-Megrahi from his suburban residence to the downtown embassy that has been shut for weeks. An interpreter said he and other Libyans were leaving the country later Thursday.
They are believed to be the first Libyan diplomats to be deported for defecting.
Zimbabwean officials acted after al-Megrahi led Libyan protesters who tore down and burned the old Libyan flag outside the embassy and hoisted the rebel tricolor
Zimbabwe had close relations with Moammar Gadhafi and has not recognized the rebels. The southern African country said it was expelling the Libyans and gave them a 72-hour deadline that expires Thursday.
Reporters followed Ambassador Taher al-Megrahi from his suburban residence to the downtown embassy that has been shut for weeks. An interpreter said he and other Libyans were leaving the country later Thursday.
They are believed to be the first Libyan diplomats to be deported for defecting.
Zimbabwean officials acted after al-Megrahi led Libyan protesters who tore down and burned the old Libyan flag outside the embassy and hoisted the rebel tricolor
Libya rebels claim Gadhafi foreign minister caught
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libyan rebels have captured Moammar Gadhafi's foreign minister, a rebel official said Thursday.
Ahmed Said, an adviser to the interior minister in the rebels' interim government, confirmed that the foreign minister had been captured but he did not identify him by name.
"We cannot give you details, but I can confirm that he is in custody," Said said.
A week ago, Gadhafi's Foreign Minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi told British broadcaster Channel 4 that Gadhafi's 42-year rule was over.
After six months of civil war, rebels have seized control of most of Libya, including the capital Tripoli, effectively ending Gadhafi's rule. The longtime leader and his family, however had not been captured and rebels are hunting senior figures in the ousted regime. Rebels say they are hot on Gadhafi's trail.
Late Wednesday, two men claiming to be two different sons of Gadhafi made conflicting appeals from hiding, one calling for talks with rebel leaders and the other urging regime loyalists to fight to the death.
The dueling messages reflected the growing turmoil in Gadhafi's inner circle on the eve of the 42nd anniversary of his rise to power. The rebels are pooling tips about Gadhafi's whereabouts from captured regime fighters and others, and believe he is most likely no longer in Tripoli, said Abdel Hakim Belhaj, the rebels' military chief in the capital.
Rebel forces have been advancing toward three regime strongholds: Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte, the town of Bani Walid south of Misrata and Sabha, hundreds of miles south of the capital Tripoli.
There has been speculation that Gadhafi is hiding in one of those three towns.
Ahmed Said, an adviser to the interior minister in the rebels' interim government, confirmed that the foreign minister had been captured but he did not identify him by name.
"We cannot give you details, but I can confirm that he is in custody," Said said.
A week ago, Gadhafi's Foreign Minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi told British broadcaster Channel 4 that Gadhafi's 42-year rule was over.
After six months of civil war, rebels have seized control of most of Libya, including the capital Tripoli, effectively ending Gadhafi's rule. The longtime leader and his family, however had not been captured and rebels are hunting senior figures in the ousted regime. Rebels say they are hot on Gadhafi's trail.
Late Wednesday, two men claiming to be two different sons of Gadhafi made conflicting appeals from hiding, one calling for talks with rebel leaders and the other urging regime loyalists to fight to the death.
The dueling messages reflected the growing turmoil in Gadhafi's inner circle on the eve of the 42nd anniversary of his rise to power. The rebels are pooling tips about Gadhafi's whereabouts from captured regime fighters and others, and believe he is most likely no longer in Tripoli, said Abdel Hakim Belhaj, the rebels' military chief in the capital.
Rebel forces have been advancing toward three regime strongholds: Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte, the town of Bani Walid south of Misrata and Sabha, hundreds of miles south of the capital Tripoli.
There has been speculation that Gadhafi is hiding in one of those three towns.
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