Ghana: Supreme Court calls in KPMG to audit the pink sheets

 

The Supreme Court has called in KPMG to audit the pink sheets tendered as evidence of the alleged irregularities in the December 2012 presidential elections.

 

The court, presided over by Justice William Atuguba, took the decision after a disagreement between the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) petitioners and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) respondents over the number of pink sheets submitted as exhibits in the case (see Comment and Analysis).

 

The court also decided that two representatives from each of the two parties to the suit should assist in the counting of the pink sheets, while the parties are also required to pay KPMG's bill.

Last week, NDC lead counsel Tsatsu Tsikata insisted on a physical count of pink sheet exhibits sworn in affidavits by the NPP.

 

Continuing his cross-examination of NPP witness and former vice presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Tsikata insisted that the petitioners had initially submitted 8,621 pink sheets displaying alleged irregularities, omissions and malpractices, and not the 11,842 stated in the affidavit filed by the petitioners, nor the 11,916 pink sheets declared in the second amended petition.

He also said that an examination of pink sheet exhibits served his clients by the petitioners revealed that 115 of the 8,621 contained no relevant data, and a further 373 pink sheets were duplicated.

 

Support for the audit came from the respondents in the case: President John Mahama's lead counsel Tony Lithur; lead counsel for the petitioners Philip Addison; and James Quarshie-Idun who is lead counsel for the Electoral Commission.

 

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

 

© 2013 Menas Associates

Suriname: KPMG to set up social security system

The Surinamese government has brought in the Dutch consultancy bureau KPMG to develop a Surinamese social security system. Vice President Robert Ameerali has again promised in the National Assembly that he country will have a new social security system no later than 1 January 2014. Suriname Politics & Security has previously reported on the plans to set up a social security system.

 

Addressing parliament, Ameerali looked more deeply into the parameters of the system. New retirement provisions will be introduced (many pensions have not yet been adjusted to the price increases for decades); general health insurance; a minimum wage and labour legislation will also be incorporated into the new system.

The vice president says that the government and KPMG are already working on a draft of the system.

 

By mid-2013, the government wants to start introducing some elements of the system.

The opposition has tried to insinuate that the contract with KPMG for setting up the social security system was arranged by a so-called 'underhand agreement'. But Ameerali defended the granting of the contract to the Dutch firm by explaining that only two companies registered to participate in the public bidding. The government chose KPMG on quality terms.

For more news and expert analysis about Suriname, please see Suriname Politics & Security.

© 2013 Menas Associates