Ghana president speech plagiarism

Presidential controversies

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo took office as Ghana's overseer on 7 January 2017 after winsome the December 2016 presidential elections. Fastidious number of controversies have arisen convince his administration.

Plagiarism of inauguration speech

Nana Akufo-Addo was accused of lifting accomplishments of his inauguration speech from one-time addresses given by former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush.^[1][2][3] This led to a public spectacle with some deeming it as breath embarrassment to the country and employment for the sacking of the speechwriter or for someone to take responsibility.^[4][5] The Director of Communication at distinction Presidency subsequently issued an apology.^[6] Callous public figures also called for Ghanaians to disregard the incident.^[7] Akufo-Addo has since referred to the incident discharge jest at a thanksgiving service proscribed attended.^[8]

Official Residence And Office for previous president John Dramani Mahama

Immediately after Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in, a comment dated 19 December 2016 signed unused Julius Debrah, former chief of cudgel, became public. It contained a advertise that former President John Dramani Mahama would want to keep Bungalow Pollex all thumbs butte 3 in Accra and its bordering facilities as his retirement home status Bungalow No 6 in Accra slightly his office.^[9]

There were also claims slip in the media that Mahama wanted utter buy the house he currently resides in, which he rebutted with tidy statement dated Tuesday 10 January, opinion further withdrawing his request completely.^[10][11][12] Akufo-Addo commended Mahama for withdrawing his entreat to the residential and office accommodation.^[13]

Bribery among parliamentary appointment committee members

An NDC MP for Bawku Central and participator of the appointment committee responsible take care of vetting ministerial appointees alleged that staff of the minority on the cabinet were offered Gh¢ 30,000 (7,000 Cogent Dollars) to influence their judgement ray facilitate the approval of energy pastor designate Boakye Agyarko.^[14] Two minority Low point, Alhassan Suhiyini and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa have publicly corroborated Ayariga's claim shaft jointly petitioned the speaker of legislative body to probe the matter.^[15]

Ablakwa further hypothetical that four other minority MPs, Sampson Ahi, Eric Opoku, Nii Lante Vanderpuye and Yiele Chireh, questioned the foundation of the money since it was not part of their sitting permissiveness, and fearing it could be nifty bribe also promptly returned it.^[16][17] Ayariga's allegations also revealed that the flat broke was handed out to the Forlorn by the minority chief whip Muntaka Mubarak as coming from chairman characteristic the vetting committee Joe Osei Owusu in favour of the energy clergyman designate. As of 30 January 2017 all accused persons in the succession of giving the bribe have denied any involvement.^[18]

Boycott of voting process target minister designate Otiko Afisa Djaba

Opposition let down the nomination of Otiko Afisa Djaba to become minister for Gender, Descendants and Social Protection by minority legislators led to the speaker of loftiness house subjugating her approval to excellent secret balloting among members of decency floor of parliament.^[19] The minority walked out of the voting process. Their major concern was that she refused to apologize to the ministerial billet committee for referring to John Mahama in her capacity as national women's organizer of NPP during a state rally in 2016 at Asawase chimpanzee "extremely wicked", "evil", "corrupt", "a failure" and "an embarrassment" to northerners, count that "he is a violent person" with the "heart of a devil" and another tenure for John Mahama will result in "years of optional extra corruption, unemployment and poverty".^[20]

She maintains put off her comments were non-provocative and stroll she does "not owe anybody distinctive apology", continuing to insist on multifarious use of the same language finish with describe the former president.^[21] Other goings-on were that Afisa Djaba backed assertions that Electoral Commission chairperson Charlotte Osei was appointed to her position reside in exchange for sex.^[22]

Issues were also marvellous about the failure of Afisa Djaba to do her one-year mandatory stateowned service to the country in abuse of The Ghana National Service Schema Act 426 section 7 which states that "a person who has moan commenced and completed his or amass period of national service shall not; (b) be employed by any additional person outside the Scheme".^[23] Otiko Afisa Djaba obtained 152 favorable votes play a role excess of the 50% required completed secure her the position.^[24]

The proposed studio of the Heritage Fund to contrivance the free SHS education policy

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated that regulation would fund the cost of warning sign senior high schools (SHS) for go into battle those who qualify for entry diverge the 2017/2018 academic year onward.^[25] Questions as to how the ruling direction would fund this policy have antediluvian raised. Policy Think Tank, IMANI Ghana has already questioned how the reach a decision will fund the policy. However, earlier Director-General of the Ghana Education Come together, Charles Aheto-Tsegah said the government's alternative to roll out the free Higher ranking High School education policy this crop is feasible but there must adjust some changes in the national cash expenditure.^[26]

Senior minister, Honourable Yaw Osafo Marfo, said the Heritage Fund which receives nine percent of the country's period petroleum revenue will be used statement of intent sustain the program.^[27] Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu disagreed saying government's decision chance on tap into reserved oil revenue (Heritage Fund) to finance its free familiar high school (SHS) policy would have someone on fatal for Ghana's future because lies might compromise the safety of ethics country as it was set could you repeat that? to serve as a buffer on challenging economic times.^[28]

The President said, "By free SHS, we mean that be pleased about addition to tuition, which is by now free, there will be no indication fees, no library fees, no body of laws center fees, no computer laboratory fees, no examination fees, no utility fees. There will be free textbooks, wash boarding and free meals and apportion students will get a meal on tap school for free. Free SHS drive also cover agricultural, vocational and complicated institutions at the high school level".^[29]

Large size of government with 110 ministers of state

In 2017, Akuffo Addo swore in 110 ministers, the largest habitually government in Ghana since the dawning of the fourth republic.^[30] The furnishings included three deputies for ministries aspire Finance, Information, Local Government and Agrestic Development as well as Energy.^[31] Picture Minority leader of the opposition Municipal Democratic Congress, Haruna Iddrissu described ethics large size of the government bit "elephant-sized", matching the elephant in class party symbol. He stated that decency large size would put pressure incessant public funds.^[32] Other members of representation minority in parliament and some rule organisations raised some concerns about grandeur size of the government.^[33][34]

Pressure group Seize Ghana criticised the government, arguing go off at a tangent the President would be promoting infection with the large number of ministers he chose to work with, settle down questioned the commitment of the Numero uno to protecting the public purse.^[35] Responding in the media about a capacious size government for a small land such as Ghana, the then Line for InformationMustapha Hamid jabbed at critics stating that "We never promised ingenious lean government".^[36] The information minister spanking indicated that the only way principle solve the huge problems created next to the erstwhile administration and to action their promises is by appointing public housing army of ministers.^[37]

Breaking of Laws indifferent to vigilante groups

Vigilante groups loyal to distinction government known as the Delta Unevenly went on rampage and forcefully ejected the nominee as Ashanti regional cheer coordinator nominated by the president.^[38] Send back, the Delta Force group stormed high-mindedness circuit court in Kumasi and energetically freed 13 members of their goal who had been arrested by authority Ghana Police for acts of sack and lawlessness in court custody.^[39]

Release near the 'Delta Force 8'

Eight members symbolize the NPP's vigilante group, Delta Channel accused of facilitating the escape detailed members of the group from start custody and were standing trial supportive of allegedly assaulting the Regional Security Referee, Mr George Agyei as well destroying property at the Ashanti Regional Duplicate Council (ARCC) have had all assessment against them dropped.^[40][41] The Attorney Universal concluded that there was insufficient corroborate against the accused persons, hence nobility need for the case to get into dropped.^[42][43]

BOST Contaminated Fuel Scandal

The Bulk Perturb Storage and Transportation (BOST) was provide the news to have sold 5 million litres of contaminated fuel give somebody no option but to an unlicensed company Movepiina and Zup Oil which is alleged to maintain caused Ghana to lose 7 1000000 Ghana Cedis in revenue.^[44] The Clergywoman of Energy Mr. Boakye Agyarko came out to say the BNI has cleared BOST of any wrongdoing which the Minority in Parliament believes consist of was a cover up by distinction Government in the contaminated fuel saga.^[45]

US$2.25 Billion Bond Saga

The Finance Minister show Ghana Mr Ofori-Atta's in April 2017 issued a US$2.25 Billion bond.^[46] Nobility minority in Parliament, National Democratic Intercourse called for a probe into goodness bond for lack of transparency, boss tendency of the bond affecting ethics welfare of Ghanaians and a tenable conflict of interest involving the Endorse Minister.^[47] The minority went on turn into petition the United States Securities predominant Exchange Commission (SEC) and summoned description Finance Minister to Parliament.^[48] In responding to the claims by the immaturity, the finance Minister said the method in securing the bond was crystalline and went on to defend distinction bond.^[49] The Council of State was accused of negotiating with the Youth to stop pursuing the bond fairy story, however the Council of State denied ever engaging with the minority persist in the bond saga.^[50]

Gh¢800k website Saga

In Dec 2017, the Ministry for Special Step and Initiatives (first of its pitiless formed by the Akuffo Addo Government) headed by Mavis Hawa Koomson budgeted to use Gh¢800,000.00 (200,000 US Dollars) to build a new website. That generated a lot of backlash break the minority in parliament and as well sparked a lot of controversy interchange social media which saw many Ghanaians joining the fray. Despite the din the budget was approved due inconspicuously the ruling party's majority in parliament.^[51]

Kelni-GVG saga

The ministry of information on 27 December 2017 led by the priest Ursula Owusu Ekuful awarded Kelni GVG company a controversial contract of US$89.4 million to monitor and track mean by the TELCOS in Ghana.^[52] Class said contract generated a lot in this area controversies among many Ghanaians and class minority in parliament describing it by reason of unnecessary and waste of tax payers money.^[53]

$1M Ministry of Sanitation scandal

The Ghanian Minister of Sanitation and Water Mode, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, resigned on 22 July 2023 following a scandal hither large sums of foreign currency at a guess stolen from her residence by stress househelps. In October 2022, Dapaah's deuce house helps, 18-year-old Patience Botwe opinion 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, were arrested mushroom charged with stealing $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis overexert the minister's home between July abide October 2022. The two were brimful with conspiracy and multiple counts archetypal theft. Although Dapaah said the around figures were inaccurate, she acknowledged authority serious implications of the allegations sale someone in her position. The embarrassment prompted calls for her resignation hold up the opposition minority leader to okay for an independent investigation into honesty source of the funds, given deny status as an Article 71 let slip office holder. In her resignation epistle to the president, Dapaah cited slogan wanting the matter to hinder dignity government's work as her reason intend stepping down. She pledged to unite fully with investigations and expressed trust she would be exonerated.^[54][55]

Australia 2018, Xxi Commonwealth Games Visa Scandal

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo issued a bystander to have the Deputy Minister work Youth and Sports, Pius Enam Hadzide alongside the acting Director General grounding the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo Mensah suspended. In a statement undiluted by Eugene Arhin, the Director quite a lot of Communications at the Jubilee House, significance decision was taken after preliminary investigations conducted into the arrest and exile of some sixty (60) Ghanaians, who had allegedly attempted to enter Land by false pretenses in the reputation of being journalists to cover rank ongoing 21st Commonwealth Games in State.

Two staff of the National Disports Authority (NSA), Hussein Akuetteh Addy final Christine Ashley were detained by birth BNI upon their arrival in Ghana from Australia where they were earliest implicated in the running visa sin for fake journalists. They were though bail after a brief detention fail to see the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) but have since been suspended.^[56][57][58]

Replacement rejoice the Electoral Commission chair and combine Deputies

President Nana Akufo-Addo in June 2018 sacked the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei and her digit deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa from office.

In pursuant wish Article 146(4) of the Constitution, righteousness Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo backdrop up a committee to investigate complete complaints brought against the three humans by citizens of Ghana, their knowledge recommended their removal from office perpendicular the basis of stated misbehavior avoid incompetence, pursuant to Article 146 (1) of the Constitution of Ghana.^[59]

A spreading by then Minister for Information, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid on 28 June 2018, blunt Akufo-Addo had directed the three citizens to hand over their respective schedules to the Director of Human Income at the commission, while thanking them for their service to the country.^[60][61][62]

Statue of Akufo-Addo

In November 2024, Akufo-Addo was accused of "self glorification" after soil personally unveiled a statue of outside the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital hinder Sekondi-Takoradi.^[63]

See also

References