udit Reveals As Herald Uncovered Kumasi-Base Group*

The Herald’s investigations into claims that some politicians are paying people to twist facts and paint perfect pictures in the minds of the citizenry about events, have unearthed a long list of serial-callers who have been on the payroll of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 2001.

The list, in addition to excerpts from an audit report as well as some memos in the custody of The Herald, exposes Nana Akomea as a dishonest politician in pointing accusing fingers at others as bribing journalists to promote the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2012 elections.

Between January 2007 and January 2008, Akomea’s NPP spent not less than Four billion, two hundred and fifty-nine million, three hundred and eight thousand cedis (¢ 4, 259, 380,000)

The serial-callers phone into newspaper review programmes of radio stations in the morning, to shape public opinion on issues, as they paint pleasant pictures about their party and its presidential candidate. Their identities, phone numbers and other details, were released to The Herald by sources at the NPP headquarters.

Most often, the stations they call into on daily basis are Peace FM 104.3 and Adom FM 106.3. These station’s morning newspaper review programmes – the popular “Kokorokoo” and “Dwaso Nsem” – are hosted by Kwame Sefa-Kayi and Adakabre Frimpong-Manso respectively.

Indications are that it was these persons who became anonymous groups such as PRIM, Matters Arising, BLOW, GRID, Rapid Response, Media Monitoring and First Responders, among others, which operated at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, under Oboshie Sai-Coffie and Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, and drew so much money from the state kitty.

An audit report on the financial activities of the Ministry of Information for the period January 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008 revealed that as part of the Communication Strategy Implementation Programme, “a total of GH¢ 425,938 was spent on these teams. This expenditure included allowances and travel expenses paid to people whose identities were not disclosed”.

According to the auditors, “two former Chief Directors of the Ministry, Messrs Albert A. Ampong and Dominic A. Y. Sampong, who were in office at the time the teams operated, as well as other key staff, could not provide us the meaning of the acronyms (PRIM, BLOW and GRID), the names of the team members and their terms of engagement”.

This list is made up of names of individuals mostly based in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, and has Samuel Osei Shiffman (Shiffman – Atonsu), 36 years of age, a male by gender and Sales Executive for Occupation, as its co-ordinator. Shiffman lives in the Asokwa Constituency of the Ashanti Region, his cell phone numbers are: 0244438998, 0209710011.

Below are some of the names and particulars of these serial-callers as The Herald prepares to release more details on this grand mind game by politicians who paid people to paint a perfect picture of their political party and government.

Kwaku Asumadu (Kejetia), 33 years of age, male, and constituency – Nhyiaeso. A trader for occupation, with cell phone number, 0249366369; Benjamin Adu Kofi (Ben, Napo Jnr. – Manhyia), 37 years of age, a male, and goldsmith for occupation.

His constituency is Manhyia and cell phone numbers are – 0244642458, 0272908011; Eric Wiafe Akenteng (Kwame NPP – Adum), a male of 33 years of age, a businessman, who comes from the Manhyia Constituency, with cell phone number 0244170661; Abel Akwasi Anokye (Ofa Anokye–Tafo), 38 years of age, a businessman, whose constituency is Tafo Pankrono.

His numbers are: 0244384756, 0207200667; Ernest Obeng Asenso (Akwasi Obeng – Ejisu Besease), a male and 38 years of age, a student and a constituent of Ejisu Juaben. His cell phone number is 0242386987.

Dauda Rasheed (Rasheed – Aboabo), a constituent of Asawase, a male of 34 years of age, with cell phone number 0244408353 and Nana K. Gamfi (Ghana Region), he is a male of 50 years, a goldsmith and a constituent of Manhyia, who uses cell phone number 0244287114.

The others are: Philip Acheampong (Acheampong – Atonsu station), a male of 42 years of age, a trader and a constituent of Asokwa; Kingsley Offei Duodu (Obana Fotos – Santase) of Nhyiaeso Constituency, a photographer by occupation, with cell phone number: 0243277439; Sampson Kofi Nimako (Hon. Abilele), 42 years of age, a driver, a constituent of Bantama with cell phone number 0244126548; Charles Osei Boateng (Kofi Charles – Magazine), 25 years of age, a male, a fuel pump mechanic and constituent of Suame. His cell phone number is 0246171523;

Michael Ofori-Akuoko (Gizo-Sepe Tinpom), 29 years of age, a male, a Marketing Officer and constituent of Nhyiaeso , his cell phone number is 0246267604; Frank Sarpong (Blackman-Dechemso), 41 years of age, a male, a fashion designer and a constituent of Manhyia, his cell phone number is 0244469492;

Also in the group are: Appiah Kubi Benson (Teacher Kudjo- Tepa Anyinasuso), 29 years of age, a male, a teacher and a constituent of Ahafo Ano North, his cell phone number is 0247848013; Mustapha Owusu (New Suame), 39 years of age, a male, a Driver and a constituent of Suame. Cell phone number 0243664147; Osei Dapaah Hayford (Sir Faxt-Jachie), 41 years of age, a male, a teacher and a constituent of Bosomtwe. His cell phone numbers are 0243387791, 0275034936; Cynthia Osei (Empress Pokuaa-Bomso), 27 years of age, a female, a Trader and a constituent of Oforikrom, her cell phone number is 0242342142;

Faati Tahiru (Agoroo-Aboabo), 45 years of age, a female, a Trader and constituency – Asawase. Cell phone number is 0246766036; Emmelia Addae (Sister Emmelia-Asokwa), 35 years of age, a female, a Trader and Constituency – Subin. Cell phone number is 0243001435;

Rebecca Yeboah (Sister-Bantama), 32 years of age, a female, a Businesswoman and Constituency – Bantama. Cell phone number is 0244964934; Opoku Agyeman (Agya Manso), 41 years of age, a male, a Businessman and Constituency – Subin Cell Phone Number Is 0243202026;

Kinsford Aboagye (Kofi Dubai-Kejetia), 31 years of age, a male, a Trader and Constituency – Suame, cell phone numbers are 0244690937/0277689043; Fiakyei Addae Obodum (Chief Soso-Adanse Fomena), 33 years of age, a male, a Student and Constituency – Fomena. Cell phone number 0246266517; Samuel Kwabena Arthur (Mensah Sarbah-North Suntreso), 43 years of age, a male, a News Vendor and Constituency – Bantama, cell phone number is 0277854150/0205344310; Hamza Abdul Razak (Hamza – Sefwi Boako), 31 years of age, a male, a Businessman and Constituency – Oforikrom, cell phone number is 0276295111/0200569131;

The document named other as Clement Nsafoah (Kwaku Nsafoah-Adwiretia), 42 years of age, a male, a Trader and Constituency – Kwabre West, cell phone number is 0276926626; Alhassan Lukeman (Lukeman & Alaska-Goaso), 28 years of age, a male, a Businessman and Constituency – Subin, cell phone numbers are 0243675012/0271179913; Philip Kusi-Asare (K. Kusi-Ejisu Besease), 45 years of age, a male, a Teacher and constituency – Ejisu Juaben, cell phone numbers are 0243005126/0202542277; Robert Frimpong (Robee-Dechemso) 36 years of age, a male, a Fashion Designer and constituency Manhyia cell phone number is 0244854387;

The rest are: Owusu Martins (Asuoyeboah IPT), 44 years of age, a male, a Dispensary Technician and Constituency – Kwadaso, cell phone number 0209111950; George Anane (Champion Thick 5), 40 years of age, a male, a Businessman and Constituency – Asokwa, cell phone number is 0245052783; Yaw Amponsah (Krofa Ahenfie), 44 years of age, a male, a Driver and constituency – Asante Akim South, cell phone number is 0244078729; Felix Kofi Boateng (D.J. Opaedimoer – Suame), 33 years of age, a male, a Carpenter and constituency – Suame, cell phone numbers are 0242321227/0204780115

Kwadwom Antwi (Boom-Roman Hill), 39 years of age, a male, a Businessman and Constituency – Subin, cell phone number is 0242268272; Samuel Kofi Boamah (Ogyam Boamah-Adanse – Asokwa) 38 years of age, a male, a Waste & Sanitation Supervisor and constituency Adanse Asokwa, cell phone numbers are 0201537857/0244093909; Collins Nana Kusi (Area Kusi-Central Market) 42 years of age, a male, a Trader and Constituency – Bantama, cell phone number 0244115950; Nicholas Manu (Manu-Brofoyedu Adumasa), 42 years of age, a male, a Trader and Constituency – Atwima Kwanwoma, cell phone number is 0261299363;

Kofi Anto (Mamponteng) 45 years of age, a male, a Teacher and Constituency – Kwabre East, cell phone number is 0246822214 and Michael Owusu (Obaatanpa-Onwe), 49 years of age, a male, a businessman and Constituency – Ejisu Juaben, cell phone number is 0244777277.