General News of Saturday, 9 November 2013

Source: peacefmonline.com

Freeze Victoria Hammah's assets - John Boadu

Aspiring NPP National Youth Organizer, John Boadu has called on government to freeze the assets of the former Deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah, who was caught on tape making some damning revelations about the operations of some government officials.

According to him, her assets must be frozen to show the current administration’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the recent acts of corruption within government.

A voice purported to be that of Ms. Hammah was heard on tape expressing disgust over the misconduct of her colleague Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Rachel Appoh.

Rachel Appoh recently made the news headlines for picking a bone of contention with her boss (Nana Oye Lithur).

Nana Oye Lithur was reported to have threatened to arrest her Deputy over her decision to give an 18-month-old baby girl to some foster parents after discovering that her mother was mentally deranged. The decision did not sink well into the heart of Nana Oye Lithur, who in turn gave her (Rachel) a 24-hour ultimatum to return the baby.

In the wake of such hostile relationship between the two Ministers, Victoria Hammah who also decided to air her views on the issue in a conversation with a female friend, expressed worry over the conduct of her colleague Deputy Minister.

According to her, Rachel is "senseless, ugly and deadly," and that she should play her cards well if she wants to remain in office.

Ms. Hammah also wished to make a million dollar fortune in her political career.

"You want to fight Oye Lithur. Tony Lithur controls three Ministries. That Rachel is not wise…Tony Lithur has been the friend of the Rawlingses, been a friend to President John, now and his wife. I learnt even before even the verdict, Nana (Oye Lithur) was with the Justices and all that. You don’t know the role she has played for us to win the court case. Then, you want to use your lack of intelligence to push her out...Tony Lithur and John Mahama, they’ve got an alliance. They are allies, you understand. They defend each other. Rachel, who do you have?

"...I understand politics very well. If I haven't made a million dollars I wouldn't go and attack people. If you have money, then you can control people.”

Following these revelations by the former Deputy Communications Minister, the Information Ministry in a terse press release announced her dismissal from government.

"His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has relieved Ms. Victoria Hammah, Deputy Minister of Communication of her post as Deputy Minister," the statement signed by the Information Minister, Hon. Mahama Ayariga read.

But to John Boadu, sacking her is not enough.

He believed the Deputy Communications Minister has been in office for several months since her appointment and might have already begun the process of amassing the $1m wealth she talked of in the leaked tape and deserves to be thoroughly investigated.

“If seriously, the government wants to deal with it; they should freeze her assets now. Because she’s been in power for about three or four months…enough time to start the $1m project…," he said.