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Mahama’s Impeachment Over Ford Bribe Commences

By Daily Statesman
General News President John Dramani Mahama
AUG 24, 2016 LISTEN
President John Dramani Mahama

Information available to the Daily Statesman indicates that the Minority in Parliament has managed to collect signatures that are more than enough to start the impeacement process against President John Mahama over his decision to accept a ford vehicle, largely seen as a bribe, from his Burkinabe friend who was executing a contract for the country.

The paper can confirm that a motion to recall Parliament was forwarded to the Speaker last Friday, calling for investigations into the Ford gift saga, with an impeachment being the ultimate destination.

Article 69 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that “The President shall be removed from office if he is found, in accordance with the provisions of this article – (a) to have acted in willful violation of the oath of allegiance and the presidential oath set out in the Second Schedule to, or in willful violation of any other provision of this Constitution; or (b) to have conducted himself in a manner -- (i) which brings or is likely to bring the high office of President into disrepute, ridicule or contempt; or (ii) prejudicial or inimical to the economy or the security of the State;”

Article 69(2) states that “For the purposes of the removal from office of the President, a notice in writing --- (a) signed by not less than one-third of all the members of Parliament, and (b) stating the conduct…of the President to be investigated…shall be given to the Speaker who shall immediately inform the Chief Justice and deliver the notice to him copied to the President.”

The Minority insist the Ford vehicle from the Burkinabe contractor, Djibril Kanazoe, was a bribe to influence the President to give out juicy deals to him, citing a conflict of interest.

“We planned and organised our constitution such that the President will not be in need. How many vehicles are in the presidential pool and how many vehicles can he not have? Does he need this gift? Does the state need this gift from a contractor? Why didn’t he [contractor] reduce the cost of the project rather? Some decisions are not personal, whether to impeach the President or not, whether it is right or legal but whether it is politically right is another issue,” Joe Osei-Wusu, Minority Spokesperson on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, has stated.

Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana states, “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office.”

This constitutional provision has informed a new bill, Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2013, presented by Cabinet to Parliament. According to Section 21 (b) a public officer many not “ accept a gift, favour or an advantage that has the potential to influence the proper discharge of the public officer’s functions or judgment, from a person with whom the public officer comes into contact in relation to the public officer’s functions.”

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