PRESS RELEASE:

Doe Adjaho Must Act Responsibly

The Professional Knowledge Network, is an organization which is made up of persons from diverse professional backgrounds. The main objective of the group is to inculcate in professionals the attitude of demonstrating good behavourial skills and discipline with regards to their respective professions. The group also seeks to provide the necessary environment for the youth to uncover their talents through training. This, we believe, will help provide alternative ways and solutions to looking at issues, events and the aspirations of people of Ghana.

We are shocked and disappointed at the intolerant, insulting and dis-honourable manner with which the politician, Doe Adjaho who occupies the seat as 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, responded yesterday on radio to the disagreement expressed by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom to his ruling on the amendment proposed by members of the minority in Parliament to the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill. Dr. Nduom in an answer to a question posed by a journalist at a “How CPP Will Do It” encounter with the media in Kumasi expressed his disagreement with the ruling by Mr. Adjaho to disallow an amendment proposed by the minority in Parliament that would set aside 10% of oil revenue to the Western Region. In his submission, Dr. Nduom argued that the proposal did not constitute a charge on the Consolidated Fund but would be a re-distribution of funds already set aside to fund government’s development activities. Later, Dr. Nduom explained that it is situations like this that make it necessary for the 1992 Constitution to be amended to make it possible for MPs to introduce Private Members’ Bills and be able to compel government to spend money that Parliament as a whole agrees to since the members represent the people. Dr. Nduom added that the demand from the Western Region chiefs for 10% of the oil revenues can be addressed without resorting to parliamentary maneuvers that restrict MPs right to debate important issues in Parliament.

It is this disagreement that did not sit well with the all-knowing 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament Doe Adjaho. We consider it truly amazing that Mr. Adjaho finds it within his purview to bring himself to a level to pass judgment on Dr. Nduom as politician, parliamentarian and as a person. Who is Doe Adjaho and who is Dr. Nduom? If not for politics, would Mr. Adjaho find himself where he is by his personal standing or professional experience? Is Mr. Adjaho a propaganda mouthpiece for a political party, or is he supposed to be an arbiter of and decision-maker in a House of Parliament where dissenting voices and opinions co-exist? By his shocking and disappointing

Most Ghanaians agree that Dr. Nduom is one the most ideas-based, gentlemanly and well-spoken politicians in Ghana. He has had a successful career in politics having served his people well as an elected District Assembly Member, Member of Parliament and Minister (Economic Planning & Regional Cooperation; Energy; Public Sector Reform) and as Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission and Chairman of the Millennium Development Authority. It is this Dr. Nduom who Mr. Adjaho says is not a “…serious politician” and then proceeds to insult and generally throw mud at with obvious un-truths as if he was standing on a partisan political platform to spew propaganda aimed to destroy the credibility of an opponent. We have copies of the papers Dr. Nduom delivered in Parliament on many topics – including national development, independence, road accidents etc. Who can forget the fact that it was Dr. Nduom who raised the matter of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Independence that led many to become more interested in activities and accountability associated with the Anniversary Secretariat? Where was Doe Adjaho?

It was Dr. Nduom’s participation in government that led to so many improvements in public service – National Identification System, the new Pension Law, the Millennium Challenge money, Model Secondary Schools and many, many others including the Single Spine Salary Scheme. Who is not a serious politician, Adjaho or Dr. Nduom?

Indeed, we are happy that when the radio station called Dr. Nduom to discuss the matter, he rightfully and politely refused preferring for the intemperate words of Mr. Adjaho to speak voluminously and stay on record! He is not worthy of a response from the likes of Dr. Nduom. It is by luck that he is where he is. Otherwise, what in his personal or professional background would qualify him to be where he is? It is understood that his job in Parliament all along has been to be an attack, missile thrower with frequent verbal diarrhea. So he has just stayed in character. We only wish those who put him there will exercise better judgment next time!

On the other hand, Dr. Nduom reached the highest level in his profession as a Certified Management Consultant and a Partner in a competitive public accounting and management consulting profession in the USA. He has invested and created over 2000 jobs in this country – jobs that are distributed in each one of the ten regions! He is a family man who conducts his affairs with humility and great care. In Parliament, unless Doe Adjaho has been sleeping on the job he has been paid for by tax payers, Dr. Nduom was a quiet effective force. The Subvented Agencies Act, the Millenniuim Development Authority Act, the Fair Wages and Salaries Act and others were envisioned and presented by him. He introduced bills that have led to the restructuring of VRA.
We call on Dr. Nduom to ignore Doe Adjaho and treat his boorish behavior with all the contempt that it deserves. Ghana deserves better than this!


Signed by: Peter Owusu Asamoah

On behalf of Professionals Knowledge Network
Tel: 0208274852
Email: Profkn@Yahoo.com
26 February, 2011