Do not demonize the Ghana@50 Commission - Chairman

Accra, July 24, GNA – Mr Justice Isaac Duose, Chairman of the Ghana@50 Commission, on Friday appealed to the media not to demonize the work of the Commission with sensational headlines that are likely to divide the nation.

“A section of Ghanaian media has started using some screaming headlines which create the impression that we have passed judgement on others. Such headlines will only help to create unnecessary tension among Ghanaians and nothing else,” he said.

Mr Justice Duose said this at the end of the second day of the sitting of the Commission at Old Parliament House in Accra.

He said the commission was in the interest of all Ghanaians and should not to be misconstrued as a ploy by the government to witch-hunt its political opponents.

“Remember that we have only one Ghana and if we destabilize it, you will never be recognized anywhere with respect and dignity that you enjoy now.”

Earlier, Mr David Famiyeh, Credit Monitoring Manager of the National Investment Bank (NIB), confirmed that his outfit was part of the African Union Development Consortium Limited (AUDCL) that sponsored the construction of 30 mansions at Ridge to accommodate visiting presidents and officials during the AU Summit in 2007.

He said NIB was also part of the consortium that sourced additional funding from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to construct the 30 mansions at Ridge.

When he was asked by the counsel for Attorney-General's Department if they were making any losses in the investments, Mr Famiyeh said the NIB was not expected to make any losses as interest rates were charged against all the principal amounts of money that were released for the projects.

Mr Paul Ofori Agyiri, Deputy Managing Director of Agricultural Bank, said although his outfit was part of the AUDCL that provided funds for the construction of the 30 mansions at Ridge, Prudential Bank played a lead role in the consortium where most correspondence were channelled through.

He said apart from the US$9 million dollars the consortium provided, they also contracted US$10 million dollars to complete another 30 houses at La to accommodate presidents and officials during the AU Summit and Ghana@50 celebrations.

Mr Agyiri attributed the delay in the loan recovery to the fact that the houses built were yet to be sold out.

“The AUDCL has engaged valuers and developers to scout for buyers of those mansions and the proceeds will be used to defray all outstanding expenses incurred during the execution of the projects.”

The Deputy Managing Director said the ADB also granted loans to three individual companies to execute some of the projects for the Ghana@50 celebrations and the AU Summit.

“We gave GH¢100,000 to Lamra Company Limited, US$700,000 dollars for Fairlopp International Limited to purchase Jaguar cars and US$360,403.00 to Glamary Enterprise Limited for supplies at the Castle.

GNA