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Akufo-Addo’s Minister caught in conflict? – JoyNews investigations
JoyNews’ investigations have revealed how a company linked to the Deputy Sanitation Minister, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, and registered in the names of his brother, cousin, and personal driver won government contracts at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council during his tenure as Deputy Regional Minister.
The Batuowiisi Company Limited was set up in 2017 barely a month after his appointment and in the same year won a 2.6 million cedi Planting for Food and Jobs contract.
They were again awarded a 12.6-million-cedi road contract in 2019 by the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council.
Documents sighted by JoyNews show that on 22nd July 2019, Batuowiisi Company Limited was awarded a contract by the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council to rehabilitate a 5.7-kilometer selected town roads in Tumu. The contract sum was over 12 million cedis.
The Batuowiisi Company Limited was supposed to have gone to the site on 22nd November 2019, the firm issued its notice to commence work on the same day for commencement on 5th December 2019 and complete the road projects on 4th June 2021.
Eight weeks after the date of commencement, the company failed to mobilize to the site to commence work, contrary to its programme of work.
When JoyNews visited Tumu, the bridges constructed by the contractor remain flooded and partially buried under weeds. The culverts are choked with silt and weeds. It has left in its trail dissatisfaction and agony to the many traders who ply their trade in Tumu in the Sissala East district. The Upper West Department of Urban Roads office pegs progress of work at less than two percent.
Nashiru Nashara, a trader says the current state of the road is affecting their business.
This assertion was corroborated by a middle-aged trader, Mumuni Maria. She is appalled by the state of the roads and wants swift government intervention.
This road contract was awarded to Batuowiisi Company Limited barely three months after the roads and highways ministry issued the company with a certificate to commence work.
According to records from the Registrar General’s department, the Batuowiisi Company Limited, was set up on the 12th of April, 2017 barely a month after parliament’s appointments committee approved the nomination of then deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia.
The company directors were Abdul Bazak Chinnia, the Deputy Minister’s brother, Olantunji Amuda, his cousin and Dimbie Yahaya, his driver.
Executive Director of Community Development Alliance Ghana, Salifu Issifu Kanton, has been advocating for the rehabilitation of the selected town roads. As an indigene of Tumu, he says the frustrations of the people are evident in their disappointment in successive government.
But, according to him, the state of the roads and the circumstances surrounding how the contract was awarded raises concerns of conflict of interest.
He said the selected town road earmarked for rehabilitation is a game changer in opening up Tumu township to business.
Project Manager, Alhaji Keba Mahama, is the contractor who worked on the bridges and culverts. He says the contract was sublet to him by Dimbie Yahaya, the driver of the deputy minister. He says work has stalled because of funds. But, that was not the promise made to him when he was first contacted to take up the project.
When JoyNews contacted the Roads and Highways Ministry for details on the project, Acting Chief Director, Dr. Abass Awulu, said the contract was awarded through open competitive tender and was advertised in the Ghanaian Times.
Three firms bought the tender documents and submitted same on the closing date. On the question of how a company with no track record in road construction was awarded this contract, he said the evaluation of tenders went through post qualification exercise at the end of which the lowest evaluated tender, the Batuowiisi Company Limited, was recommended for the award by the Upper West Regional Entity Tender Committee.
“The process followed for awarding this contract was the national competitive tendering procedures as prescribed by the public procurement act, 2003.”
“The threshold for awarding this contract was within that of the Upper West Regional Entity Committee and the Upper West Regional Tender Review Committee. On whether it was referred to the procurement authority for approval, the ministry said Act 663 does not prescribe reference for approval in national competitive tenders.”
There is even more, a memo obtained from the ministry of food and agriculture dated 24th February 2020 said the Batuowiisi Company limited owned by the Deputy Upper West Minister accessed farm inputs under the planting for food and jobs campaign.
The memo reads that per the arrangement, the company paid GHc1,330,000 of the cost of the subsidized inputs leaving an outstanding balance of Ghc1,330,000 to be paid after harvesting of farm produce. But, several reminders from the acting Director of Crop Services at the agric ministry, Seth Osei-Akoto, for the company to pay the outstanding balance proved futile.
The memo addressed to the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin-Salih, was for him to impress on his then-deputy to pay the balance owed the Agric Ministry. When JoyNews caught up with the Director of Crop Services, Seth Osei-Akoto, he said the ministry has engaged with the Deputy Sanitation minister and Member of Parliament for Sissala East to structure a payment plan to offset the outstanding balance of over 1.3 million cedis.
Currently, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia is the deputy sanitation minister and MP for Sissala East.
The big questions are why would the memo address him as the owner of Batuowiisi Company limited? How did his driver, cousin and brother form a company, which secured a road contract with the Upper West Coordinating Council when he was the deputy minister for the same region?
When JoyNews contacted Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, he admitted that he knows the directors of the Batuowiisi Company Limited, but categorically denied influencing any of the processes leading to the award of the contracts.
The deputy minister also pointed out that when the company was bidding for a road contract at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council he was not aware of the directors of the company. This was two clear years away from when the Batuowiisi Company won a contract under planting for food and jobs campaign at the Agriculture Ministry. The ministry had linked him to the Batuowiisi Company Limited.
Responding to agric ministry’s claims that he is the owner of the company, he indicated that his brother, cousin and his driver who are the directors of the company have written to the ministry to correct the error in that claim. But, that evidence is yet to be submitted to the news team after we placed a request to him.
A tax profile from the Ghana Revenue Authority sighed by the JoyNews Investigative team revealed that in 2018 the Batuowiisi Company Limited paid tax of 600 cedis, in 2019, they paid 600 cedis, in 2020 they paid 3,488 cedis with their tax credits but there is an outstanding tax of 3,250 cedis the company was supposed to pay in 2021.
It has however not paid PAYE for its directors from October 2019 to October 2021. A tax audit of the company’s contracts from 2017 to 2021 by the GRA further revealed that the company is expected to pay a payable tax of 938,493 cedis.
Touching on the GRA tax audit, he said the conclusion that the company was not paying the proper taxes is questionable because the directors of the company say they paid taxes at source.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
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Focus on more pressing issues like Galamsey, not hate speech – Ellen Ama Daaku to Mahama
An aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,Ellen Ama Daaku has advised President John Dramani Mahama to shift his attention from social media hate speech to more urgent national issues such as illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview, she noted that the President’s recent comments about tracking the IP addresses of people who spread hate speech were unnecessary.
According to her, President Mahama must first define what he considers to be hate speech before seeking to punish people for it.
Ms. Daaku argued that the President himself had benefitted from hate speech and social media attacks in the past when he was in opposition.
She said even during his time in government, he described his opponents and their tribesmen in unpalatable terms, which later drew complaints from former President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
She stressed that harsh criticism of leaders on social media should not automatically be considered hate speech, adding that former leaders, including former President Nana Akufo-Addo had all been subjected to it.
“He is only feeling what Nana Akufo-Addo went through for eight years,” she remarked.
While acknowledging the need to regulate misconduct online, Ms. Daaku insisted that going after social media activists should not be a priority.
She noted that many political activists, including herself, had been insulted and attacked online but never called for arrests.
She concluded that President Mahama should focus his energy on solving pressing problems such as galamsey and the economy instead of concentrating on critics on social media.
By: Jacob Aggrey
