The Criminal Conduct Of NPP Bigwigs

• Bigamy ? P.C. Appiah-Ofori, MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa
• Corruption ? President J.A. Kufuor, President of the Republic
• Stealing ? Upper Denkyira West MP
• Drug trafficking ? Eric Amoateng, Nkoranza North MP
• Visa Racketeering ? Moctar Musa Bamba, ex-Wenchi East MP
• Insurance Fraud ? Ex Odotobri MP
• Moral Turpitude (Fornication /Adultery) ? President Kufuor/Dr. Richard Anane

The list of NPP criminals, accused criminals and alleged criminals is beginning to read like the "Who is who in Ghana?s Criminal Underworld" and must give cause for very serious concern. The list ranges from the highest-up ? President Kufuor himself, to low-level backbench MPs such as PC Appiah-Ofori and Eric Amoateng.

Bigamy

The project to revisit the list of NPP criminals has been prompted by the Daily Graphic?s publication of Hon. P.C. Appiah-Ofori as the latest to be added to the list ? his offence being the usually unprosecuted offence of bigamy alleged against him by his estranged wife.

Bigamy is a misdemeanour under the Criminal Code, 1960, Act 29, section 262. Section 263 (1) states that "a person commits bigamy who, knowing that a marriage subsists between him or her and any person, goes through the ceremony of marriage, whether in Ghana or elsewhere, with some other person".

According to the Daily Graphic, Mrs. Rebecca Appiah-Ofori, estranged wife of Hon. P.C. Appiah-Ofori, NPP MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, has accused him of bigamy.

Corruption

Corruption is an offence under sections 239-244 of the Criminal Code, 1960, Act 29. The list of NPP officials accused of corruption is very long indeed but the most prominent is that of President John Agyekum Kufuor who was directly accused by his Party Chairman Haruna Esseku, of collecting kickbacks from contractors who won Government contracts. He mentioned specifically Sonitra Company and some ?25 billion bribe collected on the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange project.

Drug Trafficking

Many NPP bigwigs are involved in drug trafficking, but the most notorious is Eric Amoateng, resigned NPP MP for Nkoranza North who was caught in the act of inspecting his heroin import into the USA worth US$6 million by America Drug Enforcement Agency agents. He has pleaded guilty to the offence and is in a US jail awaiting sentencing.

Visa Racketeering

NPP MPs, Party officials, Ministers and other bigwigs are all involved in visa racketeering. Even family members of the President have been mentioned in this connection. The most notorious however turned out to be Moctar Musa Bamba, ex-NPP MP for Wenchi East and ex-Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs with his office in the Presidency. Among his numerous "sins" was his specialisation in the acquisition of Austrian visas through fraudulent misrepresentations.

Insurance Fraud

The ex-NPP MP for Odotobri went to hide his brand new Vento Car in his village, bought an accident Vento car, and presented it as his new car which he tried to use to claim insurance. He was caught by the insurance company.

Moral Turpitude

Moral turpitude is not a crime under the Criminal Code. However, it is an impeachable offence under the 1992 Constitution as it is one of the disqualification clauses for MPs and persons must be qualified to be MPs before they can qualify to contest the Presidency or be appointed as Ministers.

Article 94 (2) (c ) (i) of the Constitution states as follows: "A person shall not be qualified to be a member of parliament if he has been convicted for high crime under this Constitution or high treason or treason or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude."

President Kufuor has been accused by his girl-friend, Giselle Yajzi, of having had sex with her and bearing her twin sons, John and Philip, despite the fact that the President is married to Mrs. Theresa Kufuor under Catholic rites. The President?s conduct constitutes both adultery and fornication and is moral turpitude of the highest order.

Dr. Richard Anane, NPP MP and ex-Minister of Road Transport, has admitted having extra-marital raw sex with the American lady Alexandra O?Brien as a result of which she has borne him a son, Nicholas Anane. As a monogamously married man, his conduct also constitutes both adultery and fornication, serious offences of moral turpitude...

The list of NPP crimes and criminals is long.