COMPLAINT OF CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF OFFICE AND POWER AGAINST DR. LOUISA HANNA BISSIW

The Commissioner,
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice,
Accra.

Dear Madam

Very respectfully, the Forum for Public Accountability (FOPA) is a public spirited group with a prime objective of ensuring that public officials entrusted with public resources do not abuse same and the influence accruing from their offices, for personal gain. Our aim is to enforce public accountability and to render the issue of corruption, politically expensive for any government official.

It is against this background that we humbly present the instant complaint bordering on suspicion of corruption, abuse of power and office by Dr Louisa Hanna Bissiw, the Honourable Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing. The complaint of corruption and abuse of office is hinged on the acquisition by the Honourable Deputy Minister of certain properties and other massive projects undertaken by her which are utterly inconsistent with and insupportable by her income as a Deputy Minister.

Without further ado, we hereby proceed to give particulars of our allegation.

1.Dr Hanna Bissiw within an alarmingly short period constructed a multi-billion twin mansion in her hometown of Techimantia. Upon being probed by a section of the Ghanaian media, Dr. Hanna Bissiw, after a series of inconsistent denials, alleged that she put up the mansion with a Government of Ghana loan. With the explanation offered by Dr Bissiw, the following questions are begging for answers:

(i) What was the exact nature of the facility given to Dr. Bissiw?
(ii) Who was the authority?
(iii) What was the value of the loan?
(iv)What was the interest rate?
(v) What was the guarantee and who was the guarantor?

(vi) What is the cost of the houses?
2. Dr. Hanna Bissiw, as published by the Ghanaian Times (Friday, 4th February, 2011) personally financed the construction of a Four Unit classroom block and a dormitory facility for the Presbyterian Senior High School at Techimantia at a cost of One Hundred and Forty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 140,000).

3. Dr. Bissiw again personally financed the construction of an office complex for the Tano South Constituency Office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a cost of well over One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (100,000 GHC).

4. Information reaching FOPA also indicates that Dr. Bissiw also financed the construction of boreholes in Techimantia and the rehabilitation of lorry parks in Techimantia.

5. It is also on record that, in an exhibition of profligacy, Dr Bissiw donated an amount of Five Thousand United States Dollars (US$5000) to the Bechem United Football Club.

Madam Chairman, the foregoing represents expenditure by Dr Bissiw far in excess of any reasonable expectation of her legitimate financial capacity. Clealy, Dr Bissiw could not have financed the execution of all these massive projects with the support of her income as a Deputy Minister. There is absolutely no record with any state agency which suggests any such income. Prima facie, it indicates corruption and an abuse of her position as a Deputy Minister of State.

The instant petition should not, with the greatest respect, be construed as a witch-hunt against Dr Bissiw. She only represents the first example of our eagerness to demand accountability from public officials. Dr Bissiw is test case of corruption and the fight against same.

We wish to indicate the preparedness of our organisation to co-operate with you towards the investigation of the matters raised in this humble petition.

Respectfully submitted.
Yours faithfully,

Daniel Marfo Ofori-Atta
National Convenor.
0206650442.