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Tag: 0 NDC flagbearer

  • NDC appeals to High Court to reinstate Joana Cudjoe as PC for Amenfi Central

    NDC appeals to High Court to reinstate Joana Cudjoe as PC for Amenfi Central

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is taking legal action to challenge an injunction that bars Joana Cudjoe, its parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central, from identifying herself as such.

    The party has filed this application with the Sekondi Takoradi High Court as the deadline approaches for securing her position on the ballot for the December 7 elections.

    Previously, an Accra High Court had rejected the NDC’s attempt to halt the Electoral Commission from preparing ballots and the Notice of Poll for Amenfi Central, citing questions about the candidate’s eligibility.

    The hearing for the NDC’s application to lift the injunction is set for November 7, 2024, at the Sekondi Takoradi High Court.

    Joana Gyan Cudjoe, wife of musician Keche Andrew, initially won her party’s parliamentary primary convincingly.

    However, a group of dissatisfied party members filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against her candidacy, which led to the NDC annulling the results of the primary election. A subsequent primary was held on September 8, 2024, in which Cudjoe triumphed once more, reinforcing her claim to the nomination.

    Nonetheless, the Electoral Commission later disqualified her from contesting in the December 7, 2024, parliamentary elections, citing the injunction related to the earlier annulled primary.

    In its most recent filing, the NDC is urging the court to reinstate Joana Gyan Cudjoe on the Notice of Poll and the ballot papers for the upcoming parliamentary election in Amenfi Central.

  • NDC is collaborating with Bagbin to sabotage us – NPP

    NDC is collaborating with Bagbin to sabotage us – NPP

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of utilizing the recent standoff in Parliament as a strategic move to secure a win in the 2024 elections.

    According to the NPP, this alleged strategy is detailed in a document called “Winning the 2024 Elections and Beyond: A Comprehensive NDC Strategy.” The NPP claims the document outlines how the NDC intends to use its near-majority in Parliament to obstruct government business.

    At a press conference held on Wednesday, October 23, the NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, charged that the NDC is collaborating with Speaker Alban Bagbin to intentionally hinder the legislative agenda of the ruling government.

    Ahiagbah further contended that the NDC has been executing this plan since 2021, leading to parliamentary gridlock and the derailment of crucial government operations, all aimed at advancing their electoral strategy for 2024.

    The NPP urged the Ghanaian public to remain alert to these alleged tactics, warning that they could jeopardize national governance and impede significant development initiatives.

    “This strategy the NDC has operated with since 2021 is on full display with what is happening in parliament. So we have a situation where the NDC, for some odd reason, decides they want to be the majority and, therefore, in partnership with the speaker actively aids that seeming coup détat by the NDC.

    “But the point that ought to be made is that this is not an isolated incident, this is part of a coordinated effort by their own design outlined in its books to ensure that they use every means available fair or foul to disrupt government business.”

  • A divided Parliament will hinder our economic growth- Economist

    A divided Parliament will hinder our economic growth- Economist

    Economist Professor Lord Mensah has expressed concern that the ongoing developments in Parliament could exacerbate investor uncertainty regarding Ghana’s economic outlook.

    He emphasized that critical fiscal policies need to be reviewed and passed by Parliament in a timely manner, but this process could be hindered by the ongoing disagreement between the two major political parties the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over which party holds the majority in the House.

    Prof. Mensah cautioned that such political discord could send negative signals to both investors and businesses looking to operate in Ghana.

    “Parliament plays a major role when it comes to approvals of expenditure lines and our approvals of some revenue line. So if it turns out that as a result of this power shift things are not beings settled, of course the investor community are going to see it to be more or less a bad signal”, he cautioned.

    He further noted that political uncertainty creates an unfavorable environment for investors, who value predictability and a clear future direction.

    “At the end of the day it will impede their decisions as to whether to settle on Ghana or move elsewhere. Under a democratic dispensation, everything has to do with timelines and we are moving into November. We have to start concluding on our budget lines for next year”, he said.

    Highlighting the importance of timing in investment decisions, Prof. Mensah stressed that any further delays in passing necessary fiscal laws could erode investor confidence.

    Using the upcoming November budget as an example, Prof. Mensah warned that any delay in its presentation could harm the country’s economic prospects.

    “At the end of the day it will impede their decisions as to whether to settle on Ghana or move elsewhere. Under a democratic dispensation, everything has to do with timelines and we are moving into November. We have to start concluding on our budget lines for next year”, he said.

    On October 22, 2024, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin adjourned the House indefinitely amid controversy over vacant seats.

    This decision came during a session where NDC MPs had taken over the Majority side of the aisle, following the walkout of NPP Members of Parliament over a dispute regarding which party holds the majority.

    During the brief proceedings, the Speaker agreed with MP Francis-Xavier Sosu that the parliamentary record should be amended to reflect that the NPP was in the Minority during their walkout last Thursday.

    Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who led the NPP MPs out of the chamber, explained that they had retreated to their offices, awaiting further directives from Speaker Bagbin. He stated that the NPP MPs opted for peace rather than engaging in confrontation, emphasizing that Ghana must remain a peaceful nation.

  • I told AG I will use my underworld skills to pay him back for taking my liberty – Jakpa tells court

    I told AG I will use my underworld skills to pay him back for taking my liberty – Jakpa tells court

    The third accused in the ongoing Ambulance trial, Richard Jakpa, revealed in court that he initiated a conflict with Attorney General (AG) Godfred Yeboah Dame after the court instructed him to begin his defense.

    Jakpa stated that he had been assured by the Attorney General that he would be acquitted in exchange for assisting in the prosecution of Dr. Ato Forson.

    However, he felt betrayed when the court ruled that he must present his defense.

    During cross-examination, Jakpa disclosed that he had a contentious meeting with Godfred Dame at the residence of his cousin, Justice Yonny Kulendi, following this ruling.

    He recounted heated exchanges where strong words were exchanged.

    Jakpa explained that it was during these interactions that he declared a personal conflict against Attorney General Godfred Dame, viewing him as unjustly attempting to deprive him of his freedom as an innocent citizen.

    According to Jakpa, he accused Godfred Dame of damaging his business, international networks, and causing him considerable distress.

    “I told him (Godfred Dame) that he is using his law, skills and knowledge to take my liberty away from me unjustly and I am going to use my underworld skills to pay him back,” Richard Jakpa said under cross-examination.

    Regarding the recording of the Attorney General, which was mentioned in court, Jakpa clarified that he would not have recorded him if their interactions had been limited to the meeting at Justice Kulendi’s house.

  • Election 2024: Mahama will beat Alan or Bawumia – Survey

    Latest election survey by Global InfoAnalytics has predicted former President John Dramani Mahama as the preferred candidate to win the 2024 general elections.

    The survey indicated should the 2020 NDC flagbearer be given the mandate by his party, Ghanaians will vote for him as the next president over any of the frontrunners of the governing NPP thus, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia or Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen.

    The October 2022 report sampled views across the length and breadth of the country and stated that presently, Mahama has more appeal than both the Vice President and the Minister for Trade and Industry.

    “In the general elections, the poll shows Mahama (JDM) continues to lead his potential rivals from the NPP, Bawumia (DMB) and Alan Kyeremanten (AKK) by a significant margin if the elections were held today.

    “The poll shows further that among voters who are likely to vote in the 2024 elections, JDM leads DMB 62% to 33%, representing a 29% lead. 6% of voters prefer to vote for someone else (SO). In the race between JDM and AKK, JDM leads AKK 60% to 36%, representing a 24% lead. 5% prefer to vote for SO”, excerpts of the survey read.

    The report continued: “The poll also shows JDM regaining the Northern region after lagging behind in earlier polls. JDM continues to lead in the North East region, the home region of the Vice President, according to the poll.

    “JDM lead DMB 69% to 28% and leads AKK by 29% to 69%. In the North East, JDM leads DMB by 53% to 45% and AKK by 52% to 48%.”

    In the race for the NDC’s flagbearership, the report said John Dramani Mahama is ahead of all other contenders.

    “He leads Dr. Kwabena Duffour (DKD) 71% to 19%. Hon. Kojo Bonsu, attracts 3% of the votes with someone else,7%. DKD’s improvement in the polls suggests that people who had earlier said they intended to vote for someone else in the July polls, opting for him instead”, the survey said.

    Global InfoAnalytics

    Global InfoAnalytics Ltd, is a research company based in Accra. The company describes itself as “the trusted foundation for decision making; we earn that trust through the application of sophisticated methodologies to the real-world problems of companies, political organisations and policy and strategic decision-makers.”

    Global InfoAnalytics has uniquely addressed the market demand for big data analytics solutions and services and provide clients with cost-effective and result-oriented service offerings that enable them to gain a competitive edge.