The Minority in Parliament has sharply criticised the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), claiming the party misled Ghanaians with false assurances to secure a win in the 2024 general elections.
During the debate on President John Dramani Mahama’s second batch of ministerial nominees on Tuesday, January 21, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin condemned the NDC’s election promises.
He made it clear that his caucus would hold the government to account for its statements and pledges.
Afenyo-Markin expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to deliver on its promises and warned that winning an election does not automatically grant unchecked power.
He emphasised that the Minority would remain vigilant, thoroughly scrutinising the government’s actions to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Minority Leader further accused the NDC of making overly ambitious promises during the campaign, warning that Ghanaians would soon recognise the true nature of the ruling party’s agenda.
He also questioned whether the government could live up to the high expectations it set during its election campaign.
“We will hold your feet to the fire. You think you campaigned and got it handed to you on a silver platter? You will see. You call us a micro Minority, but you will see,” he stated.
Afenyo-Markin wrapped up by reaffirming his caucus’s dedication to scrutinizing each pledge made by the NDC during the campaign, ensuring that none are overlooked or remain unfulfilled.
“Today, you are in government, and we will follow through on every single promise you made while on the campaign platform,” he added.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised concerns over what it describes as bias and procedural flaws in the High Court judge’s decision to order the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collate election results in nine disputed constituencies.
The ruling, issued on December 20, followed a mandamus application filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates, demanding the EC verify results in constituencies where alleged discrepancies had surfaced. The NPP argued that the irregularities necessitated a thorough examination to ensure transparency and credibility.
While some observers viewed the ruling as reinforcing the EC’s duty to ensure credible elections, the NDC has labeled it as legally contentious and flawed.
Although the EC has completed the re-collation in seven constituencies, the process for Dome/Kwabenya and Ablekuma North remains unfinished.
During proceedings on December 27, the NDC’s Director of Legal Affairs, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, argued that the High Court’s decision breached principles of natural justice. He claimed that the NDC had been denied a fair opportunity to present its case, which played a significant role in the outcome.
The NDC further accused the trial judge of bias and failing to meet essential procedural standards. Tamakloe pointed out a “non-jurisdictional legal error,” claiming the judge ignored Order 55 Rule 5(2) of CI 47, which mandates that parties with an interest in a mandamus application be notified and given a chance to respond.
These allegations of judicial misconduct and procedural oversights have added complexity to the ongoing legal battle, with the Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling expected to have far-reaching implications for the case.
“Our ground for this application is that the orders made by the High Court were made in breach of the applicant’s rights to be heard. The further ground is that the trial judge demonstrated apparent bias and partiality.
“There was a non-jurisdictional error of law by failing to exercise the court’s powers under Order 55 Rule 5 (2) of CI 47 to direct second to sixth interested parties to serve the mandamus application on the applicant who have interest in the dispute.”
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who will serve as the majority leader in Ghana’s next parliament, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the new administration to lead with integrity, transparency, and accountability.
During his speech at the first parliamentary sitting following the December 7 elections, Dr. Forson emphasized that the NDC should focus on addressing the needs of the citizens rather than getting caught up in political maneuvering.
“May we never become like the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government,” he stated. “We have to be different. We cannot be like this NPP government. May we be guided by the principles of integrity, probity, and accountability.”
Dr. Forson underscored the necessity for the new government to correct the missteps of the NPP and focus on delivering tangible benefits for the everyday citizen.
He urged that policies should center on the needs of the people, emphasizing that the upcoming administration must not repeat past errors.
The majority leader-elect emphasized that government initiatives must prioritize the welfare of the electorate, not just the interests of political figures and their supporters.
Three Indian Catholic priests stationed in Kpassa, within the Nkwanta-North District of the Oti Region, were attacked by a mob at a fuel station in Nkwanta last Wednesday.
The priests, Father Robinson Melkis, Father Frank Henry Jacob, and Father Martin George, have been serving in Ghana since 2005 as members of the Capuchin Friars.
During the assault, Father Jacob sustained serious injuries, including the loss of hearing in one ear, and has been referred to Yendi Hospital for further treatment. Parts of the attack were captured on video and have been widely shared online.
Two officials from the Nkwanta-South Municipal Assembly, Engineer Samuel Worlanyo Asugbey and the Municipal Town and Country Planning Officer, who were with the priests at the time, were also assaulted.
According to Monsignor Joseph Kofi Nsiah, Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan, the priests had hired a bulldozer from the Nkwanta-South Municipal Assembly to prepare land for a Formation House project in Chaiso.
After paying GH¢9,700, they were refueling the equipment at a fuel station when they were confronted by the mob, who accused them of trying to steal it.
The mob subjected them to a violent attack for nearly 30 minutes before officers from the Ghana Immigration Service arrived to rescue them. Despite their ordeal, the mob reported the priests to the police for allegedly attempting to steal the equipment.
The priests were detained, and the bulldozer was impounded, but they were later released on bail following intervention by Monsignor Nsiah.
The Nkwanta-South branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the attack and issued a public apology. In a statement signed by Constituency Secretary Prince Succeed Fiagadzi, the party expressed sorrow over the incident and described the actions of the youth involved as both unacceptable and regrettable.
They condemned the incident as unacceptable and extended their apologies for the harm, trauma, and distress caused to the priests.
“Your selfless dedication to serving humanity and preaching the message of love and compassion deserves utmost respect and gratitude”, they added.
Rising tensions have gripped the Weija Gbawe Municipality as National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters gathered at the Electoral Commission’s office, demanding a reassessment of the parliamentary election results.
This protest comes after Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, was declared the winner in the Weija-Gbawe constituency during the 2024 general elections.
Shaib secured a narrow victory with 32,608 votes, edging out the NDC’s Felix Odartey Lamptey, who received 30,460 votes in a closely fought contest. His success strengthens the NPP’s position in the constituency and increases their parliamentary representation.
Wilfred Ayitey Blankson, Presiding Member of the Assembly, acknowledged the NDC’s concerns about alleged inconsistencies in the vote count.
He expressed fears about the potential for unrest, noting that the proximity of the Electoral Commission’s office to the Assembly building could endanger its assets.
Blankson called on the Electoral Commission to address these concerns promptly to prevent further disturbances and maintain calm in the municipality.
“We want to protect lives and properties. We are witnessing what is happening in other municipalities and regions. Furthermore, we don’t want anything to happen in Weija Gbawe”.
“We are for peace and we don’t want our toil and the justice we deserve to be taken for granted. The situation currently at the assembly is bad.
“The military and the police are there but the people keep trooping in and out of the municipal assembly.”
Yendi is grappling with a ballot paper shortage, causing unrest among political parties.
According to reports, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that some ballot papers went missing after being collected from the Electoral Commission (EC) and transported through regional and constituency channels.
NDC officials claimed that the number of ballots received in Yendi did not align with the figures they were provided at the national level, suggesting a possible discrepancy in the distribution process.
They explained that upon the materials’ arrival, they discovered a shortage of ballots, sparking discussions that eventually led to a resolution.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) also expressed concerns. A representative pointed out that the figures they were given differed from the actual number of ballots delivered, calling the situation confusing.
In response, an Electoral Commission (EC) Director, speaking to Saharan, confirmed the issue and speculated that the shortage could have been caused by a mix-up during transportation.
“The materials came sealed and intact, so it’s difficult to determine where the problem lies,” he said. “We cannot rule out the possibility of a shortage, but we need to wait until all the bags are sorted before jumping to conclusions.”
The EC director called for patience, urging all parties to refrain from making hasty conclusions and allow time for a thorough investigation.
After a meeting lasting around an hour, the political parties agreed on a provisional solution to tackle the ballot shortage. They decided to raise the number of polling agents at each station to three.
“Since we couldn’t locate the missing ballots, the best course of action was to add more polling agents,” explained a senior party official. “This way, we can ensure that any ballot books arriving in the bags from the national level are properly accounted for and do not end up in the ballot boxes.”
Tensions rose at the Mampong Infantry Jnr Primary School (St. Monica’s) in Ashanti when National Democratic Congress (NDC) polling agents raised alarms over broken seals on the voting materials.
The seals, which should have remained intact until opened in front of party representatives and candidates, were found already broken, prompting protests from the NDC agents.
With 617 voters expected to cast their ballots at the station, the situation threatened to delay the voting process. Fortunately, the issue was resolved after an Election Officer intervened to restore order.
The Teachers and Educational Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TEWU-TUC) will commence a nationwide strike today, Monday, November 18, to protest the government’s inaction on addressing their long-standing concerns about conditions of service.
TEWU-TUC expressed frustration with the government’s prolonged delays in finalizing and implementing revised conditions of service for employees under the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Library Authority, the Museums and Monuments Board, and Public Technical and Traditional Universities.
Negotiations for these revisions, the union highlighted, have dragged on for several years without resolution, leaving members increasingly dissatisfied.
The union insists the situation has become untenable, with industrial action now deemed the only effective way to demand progress. TEWU-TUC argues that the unresolved issues are detrimental to the well-being of its members and the smooth functioning of these vital institutions.
To address the matter, the National Labour Commission (NLC) has called for a meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The session will involve TEWU-TUC and other stakeholders, aiming to mediate and work toward resolving the union’s concerns.
Meanwhile, the strike is expected to disrupt services in the affected sectors. TEWU-TUC has emphasized that their industrial action will continue until the government adequately addresses their grievances. They are urging swift action to finalize and implement the revised conditions of service.
The NDC’s presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, has supported his proposal to eliminate the National Food Buffer Stock Company’s involvement in supplying food to Senior High Schools (SHSs).
This is a key part of his broader plan to reassess the Free SHS policy.
Mahama’s remarks come in response to allegations raised by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who accused the National Food Buffer Stock company of distributing 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice to SHSs across the country in February 2024.
Mr Ablakwa further claimed that the distribution was conducted in collaboration with a company called Lamens Investments Africa Limited.
Speaking during a campaign event in Asawinso, Western North region, Mahama explained that the decentralization of food distribution is key to improving the system.
He said, “I know you have heard that some expired and repackaged bags of rice have been distributed by the National Buffer Stock to various SHSs across the country for our kids to eat.
“That is why we say we won’t buy foodstuff for the schools. The money for the food will be given to the schools directly to make such purchases”.
A report by Fitch Solutions predicts that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), under the leadership of former President John Mahama, will emerge victorious in the upcoming December polls.
The analysis, published on Friday, April 5, 2024, asserts that the NDC is poised to secure victory after two terms of New Patriotic Party (NPP) governance.
This projection stems from the increasing public perception of economic mismanagement in Ghana, driven by persistent inflation and declining living standards.
“We anticipate that the opposition National Democratic Congress WILL WIN the upcoming December 2024 general elections in Ghana, following two terms of New Patriotic Party rule.
“The rising perceptions of economic mismanagement in Ghana due to persistently high inflation and weakened living standards will erode support for the incumbent New Patriotic Party in the elections.
As a result, support for the incumbent New Patriotic Party is expected to diminish.
Fitch Solutions also anticipates minimal social stability risks leading up to the elections, citing Ghana’s established democracy and history of peaceful transitions of power as contributing factors.
“We believe that social stability risks will be limited in the run-up to the vote given Ghana’s entrenched democracy and history of peaceful transfers of power.”
Key View
We anticipate that the opposition National Democratic Congress will win the upcoming December 2024 general elections in Ghana, following two terms of New Patriotic Party rule.
The rising perceptions of economic mismanagement in Ghana due to persistently high inflation and weakened living standards will erode support for the incumbent New Patriotic Party in the elections.
We believe that social stability risks will be limited in the run-up to the vote given GhanaaEURtms entrenched democracy and history of peaceful transfers of power.
“We anticipate that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by former President John Mahama, will win Ghana’s December 2024 elections.
“Our forecast is informed by the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP)aEURtms waning popularity, attributed to rising popular perceptions of economic mismanagement and the erosion of real household incomes over the past two years.
“Notably, inflation averaged 40.3% across 2023 – the highest rate since 1996-largely due to the sharp depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the US dollar (the cedi has depreciated by 21.2% against the dollar since January 2023).
“In a survey by Global Info Analytics, 65% of respondents cited the economy as their foremost concern, and it is our view that the NDC is strategically positioned to secure victory in the upcoming general elections, particularly given that 41% of those surveyed by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research institution, expressed strong disapproval of the current members of parliament.
The Ministry of Education’s Public Relations Officer, Kwasi Kwarteng, has unveiled the government’s intention to expand the Smart School initiative to encompass basic schools.
Mr Kwarteng clarified that the Smart Schools endeavor isn’t solely confined to Senior High Schools (SHS).
The Ministry intends to introduce a novel venture concentrating on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) classrooms.
Addressing the Pulse on Thursday, April 4, Kwarteng rebuffed assertions made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s presidential candidate, John Mahama, regarding the government’s Smart School project being a ploy to garner votes in the upcoming elections.
He highlighted a newly constructed kindergarten in Kwabenya, which, despite the students being ineligible to vote, boasts smart facilities.
Mr Kwarteng urged the populace to evaluate government policies based on their long-term implications rather than hastily aligning them with political affiliations.
“We need to have a strong and clear balance and try to distinguish the politics of the day from very sensitive national issues,” he said.
Mr Kwarteng emphasized the necessity for the NDC to comprehend the evolving educational paradigms within the global arena.
“We are not training students just to read and write alone. We are not training students to memorize and chew and pour. We are training students who are assertive, who are critical thinkers, who are problem-solvers and who, at the end of the day, the kind of education that they will have an impact on the socioeconomic transformation.”
The Ministry of Education’s PRO underscored that the triumph of a governmental initiative doesn’t automatically translate into electoral support for the ruling party.
“So, we need to elevate the conversation. We need to benchmark the conversation in a way that is very holistic and not necessarily play politics with everything.”
Kevin McCarthy, a former leader of the US House, has announced that he will be leaving Congress at the end of December.
Mr McCarthy, who is 58 years old, announced on Wednesday in an article in the Wall Street Journal.
He said he will leave the House at the end of the year to help America in new ways.
Mr McCarthy, who is a Republican, was removed from his position as Speaker in October because some members of his party rebelled against him.
In January, it was very chaotic when he became Speaker. It took 15 rounds of voting before he got enough support for the job.
In his article, Mr. McCarthy said that even though he’s not in Congress anymore, he will keep trying to get really smart and talented people to run for office.
“The Republican Party is getting bigger all the time, and I want to use my experience to help the new leaders,” he wrote.
The California lawmaker has decided to retire after working in the House for 16 years. During that time, he moved up the ranks of the Republican leadership, serving as Majority Whip, Majority Leader, and then Speaker. His retirement marks the end of his career in the House.
In his last year as President, there were disagreements within his own party because some members didn’t agree with him making a deal with Senate Democrats to fund government agencies and prevent a shutdown.
Mr McCarthy was removed from the Speaker role by a rarely used procedural tool called a motion to vacate, which was filed by Florida Republican Matt Gaetz.
Mr Gaetz said that Mr. McCarthy made a secret agreement with Democrats to keep giving money to Ukraine for their defense against Russia. Some Republicans think the US can’t afford to keep doing this.
Mr McCarthy said it wasn’t true. However, he was removed from his position by a small margin, with 216 people voting for his removal and 210 people voting against it.
He said in the Wall Street Journal that he still feels positive about things.
“Why wouldn’t I be. My dad is a firefighter. ” I have been in the same job for 17 years. I was once not allowed to intern there. He said it only happens in America.
His leaving means California Governor Gavin Newsom will have to schedule a special election to choose someone new.
The Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency, James Gyakye Quayson, has refuted claims of distributing money during the Assin North by-elections held in June.
As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the by-election, Quayson emerged victorious.
After the by-election on June 27, 2023, Quayson secured 17,245 votes, equivalent to 57.56 percent of the total votes, surpassing Charles Opoku from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Bernice Enyonam Sefenu from the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).
Opoku received 12,630 votes, representing 42.15 percent of the total, in the closely contested by-election, while Sefenu managed only 87 votes (0.29%).
Quayson, previously elected in the 2020 polls with 17,498 votes, was expelled from Parliament due to dual citizenship before filing nomination forms.
The Assin North seat was declared vacant following a Supreme Court order to remove Quayson’s name from parliamentary records on May 17.
The court ruled that Quayson was ineligible to contest the 2020 parliamentary election for Assin North Constituency when he submitted his nomination forms on October 9, 2020.
Amid the by-election, accusations of vote-buying by both the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress surfaced.
However, in an interview with the media Quayson dismissed allegations that he offered money to voters to influence their votes.
According to Quayson, the items he distributed to voters were aimed at fulfilling their needs, noting that these needs had been expressed before the by-election.
He emphasized that these items, such as machetes for farming and weedicides, were not to be considered as vote buying.
Quayson clarified that his engagement with constituents had been limited for over a year due to restrictions, which were lifted for the by-election.
He highlighted that his distribution of items was based on a list of communities that required resources like boreholes and community centers. These items were intended to fulfill genuine needs and were previously identified by the constituents.
“I never gave out money for votes, if I gave anything, it was logistics geared towards the needs of the people. I gave out machetes for their farms and weedicides. I don’t call that vote buying. These are items I wish I could get for them, maybe the timing. If it’s the timing you are talking about, I don’t even think it’s a problem. Even last week, we got some Wellington boots and weedicides from the government’s Common Fund, and I went to distribute them. In fact, I just came back just yesterday.”
“We have to explain the process and how certain things happen. Consider an MP who has been restricted for over a year, 14 months to be precise. Until the time of the by-elections, April 2022 until June 2023. My engagement with them could even be perceived as breaching the law. Don’t carry yourself as an MP, and suddenly the opportunity avails itself, there was a by-election. The people had already expressed some of the things they needed, I will never give them what they don’t need”.
“I had a list of communities that needed boreholes, community centres and all the items they needed, so I focused on those lists. For the past 14 months, I couldn’t do it, and I said here is my list, this is what I can do for the people”.
The candidate representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, John Dumelo, has claimed that he did not lose the 2020 parliamentary election.
He maintained that he considers himself the winner, as he was not far from securing the constituency’s seat.
Dumelo emphasized that his party achieved the best results in the constituency’s history, leading him to refrain from terming it a loss.
He has also expressed his determination to secure victory in the upcoming 2024 elections, highlighting that although his team faced defeat in 2020, they have since formulated strategies to succeed.
“In my perspective, we emerged victorious in the 2020 election. We achieved unprecedented results in the history of Ayawaso West Wuogon. Progress is often marked by initial steps. Shortly after assessing the results, we analyzed and devised plans for winning the forthcoming election,” he elaborated.
Talent manager and entertainment pundit, Mr. Logic has stated that the actor will experience a second defeat in his bid against his contender Lydia Alhassan.
According to him John Dumelo’s demeanor appears to be marked by arrogance and excessive self-assurance, as he because he believes to be the preferred choice of the people.
Mr Logic added that Dumelo’s focus seems to be more on showcasing himself as a member of parliament to validate a certain perspective.
“I was happy Fred Nuamah was contesting John Dumelo, He is boastful and overconfident, he feels to be the people’s favorite and I wanted Fred to prove a point that the people can change. Fred’s withdrawal makes me think he is not confident, however, I personally love Fred Nuamah to John Dumelo”
“If I had the right to vote in that constituency, my choice was Fred Nuamah. Apart from John Dumelo being a hard worker, politically I feel his just hopeful to be an MP to prove a point and my research shows John Dumelo will lose for the second time. The people already have their candidates and my research shows John isn’t the favorite”.
In 2020, the actor-turned-politicia strived to assume leadership in the constituency through a heated parliamentary rivalry with the incumbent, Lydia Seyram Alhassan.
Mrs. Alhassan stepped into the role previously held by her deceased husband, Emmanuel Boakye Agyarko, when she participated in and triumphed in the parliamentary election in January 2019.
Based on preliminary results, Lydia Alhassan of the NPP secured 39,851 votes, while Dumelo of the NDC followed closely in second place with 37,778 votes.
Meanwhile, Mr Dumelo has issued a caution to his former 2020 advising her to brace herself for a defeat in the upcoming 2024 elections.
In a tweet he stated “Lydia Seyram Alhassan, your downfall is next!”
The US Congress has successfully passed a deal to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, averting a potential default on its debt just days before the deadline.
The bipartisan agreement swiftly moved through the Senate with a vote of 63-36, following its approval in the US House of Representatives.
President Joe Biden has expressed his intention to sign the bill into law, ensuring that the United States avoids a disastrous default on its substantial $31.4tn (£25tn) debt.
With the country projected to surpass its existing debt ceiling on Monday, June 5th, this legislation provides a crucial resolution to the looming financial crisis.
Failure to raise the borrowing limit would severely restrict the government’s ability to borrow money and meet its financial obligations, with far-reaching implications both domestically and internationally. It would have a detrimental impact on global markets, affecting prices and mortgage rates in other countries.
During Thursday night’s session, the bill received backing from 44 Democrats, 17 Republicans, and two independents. In the 100-seat chamber, which is narrowly controlled by Democrats, a minimum of 60 votes was required to pass the measure.
Thirty-one Republicans, including prominent party member John Barrasso, opposed the bill. Notably, four Democrats, including senators Bernie Sanders, John Fetterman, and Elizabeth Warren, voted against it.
Initially, senators proposed 11 amendments to the debt ceiling bill. However, all of these amendments were swiftly rejected, clearing the path for the final vote. Had any of the amendments passed, the entire bill would have had to be returned to the House for further consideration, leaving little time to secure its final passage before the US faced a perilous financial situation.
“America can breathe a sigh of relief, a sigh of relief because in this process we are avoiding default,” Democratic Majority leader Chuck Schumer told the Senate.
In a rare display of bipartisanship, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters he would be “proud to support it without delay”.
The deal easily cleared the House on Wednesday evening by a vote of 314-117. Some 165 Democrats joined 149 Republicans in approving it by the required simple majority.
With Republicans in control of the lower chamber of Congress and Democrats holding sway in the Senate and White House, a deal proved elusive for weeks until Mr Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy inked a compromise last weekend.
The agreement suspends the debt ceiling, the spending limit set by Congress that determines how much money the government can borrow, until 1 January 2025.
The legislation will result in $1.5tn in savings over a decade, the independent Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday.
The contents of the bill drew objections from both right-wing Republicans and left-wing Democrats, but there were more than enough political centrists in both parties to get it over the line.
The last time the US came this close to overshooting its debt ceiling, in 2011, the credit agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded the country’s rating, a move that has yet to be reversed.
Ahead of the Senate vote, US stock markets made gains, with the Dow closing 0.5% higher. The broader S&P 500 index rose by 1% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq ended the day 1.3% higher.
US President Joe Biden has expressed optimism regarding the ongoing discussions with top Republican Kevin McCarthy concerning the US debt ceiling, despite Congress going on a holiday weekend recess.
Their objective is to strike a deal to raise the government borrowing limit for a two-year period, ensuring that the nation can continue meeting its financial obligations.
The urgency stems from the approaching 1 June deadline for a potential US debt default, which would have severe repercussions on the economy and create a global impact.
President Biden mentioned “several productive conversations” with McCarthy, highlighting the positive momentum in their negotiations.
If an agreement is reached, both parties could claim victories. Republicans could secure spending curbs, while Democrats could protect important domestic programs.
Speaking at a White House event on Thursday, President Biden affirmed that his team was maintaining communication with McCarthy’s team, emphasizing that progress was being made in the discussions.
He added: “I made clear time and again defaulting on our nation debt is not an option.” He said Americans deserved certainty over issues such as social security payments.
The debt ceiling is a spending limit set by Congress which determines how much money the government can borrow – an issue on which Democrats and Republicans disagree.
With no deal yet struck, the Treasury has warned that the US will not have enough money to pay all of its bills as soon as 1 June.
Analysts say there could be severe economic consequences if the US fails to honour its obligations.
‘Two-year deal’
A US official told Reuters that the White House was considering scaling back an increase of the Internal Revenue Service to hire more auditors, which was intended to target wealthy Americans.
The Times reported negotiators were closing in on a deal that would raise the debt limit for two years while imposing strict caps on spending, with the military and veterans’ budgets protected from caps.
Republicans are seeking spending cuts in exchange for raising the $31.4tn (£25tn) cap on government borrowing.
Mr McCarthy – who leads Republicans in the House and has been the most high-profile public face of the talks for his party – earlier said Democrats and Republicans had worked past midnight on Wednesday and would continue to negotiate.
“There’s a couple of issues still hanging out there that we’ve got to get done,” he said. “We’re gonna work 24/7 to try to make that happen.”
Another key Republican said he believed a deal to raise the nation’s debt-ceiling deal was “likely” by Friday afternoon.
“We are inching closer to a deal. I think it’s some of the finer points they are working on right now,” Rep Kevin Hern told Reuters news agency. “You are likely to see a deal by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Neither side is going to get exactly what they want,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were trading higher at midday on Thursday, lifted by positive updates on earnings from some companies, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down about 0.6%.
That followed several days of declines. Any agreement formed between the two sides will need to be turned into a legislative text to be approved by Congress.
Mr McCarthy has promised to give lawmakers 72 hours to review the bill, and at least 24 hours’ notice if they have to return to Washington early. If a deal is reached this week, a vote could happen early next week.
There is little wiggle room for objections to be raised, as the Senate would also have to vote on the bill, which would then go to the White House for signing.
Lawmakers could also temporarily lift the debt cap to give the talks more time.
Following the rejection of a similar proposal the day before amid widespread protests that are causing the nation’s economy to suffer, the Peruvian Congress has now voted down a second proposal to move elections to 2023.
On Thursday, the Free Peru Party’s motion was defeated with only 48 votes in favour, 75 votes against, and one abstention.
Elections would be moved from April 2024 to July 2023, and the proposal also called for a referendum on establishing a constitutional convention, which was a key demand of the protesters.
President Dina Boluarte supported a similar motion the day before, but it did not receive enough support.
Peru has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily demonstrations since December 7, when then-President Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
At least 48 people, including a police officer, have been killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, according to the human rights ombudsman’s office.
Protesters have erected roadblocks causing shortages of food, fuel and other basic commodities in several regions of the Andean nation.
The economic fallout of the demonstrations is hitting hard on workers. Luz Camacho, a local farmer who picks up pomegranates in the southern region of Ica has lost one-quarter of her wage, enough to not be able to pay her debt to the bank.
“It has affected us a lot because we haven’t worked and we have loans and debts. Where are we going to get an income?” Camacho told Al Jazeera.
The chamber of commerce estimates that the region has lost $300m since the crisis started in December.
“This political crisis is turning into a social economic crisis,” said Jose Luis Gereda, the director of Pomica, an Ica-based company that packs fruits to be shipped abroad. Gereda buys 70 percent of its products from small producers who have been prevented by protesters from accessing fields.
Chief adviser resigns
In December, lawmakers moved elections, originally due in 2026, up to April 2024, but as protesters dug in their heels, Boluarte called for holding the vote this year instead.
The unrest is being propelled mainly by poor Indigenous Peruvians from southern areas of the country.
They perceived Castillo, who is also from that region and has Indigenous roots, as an ally in their fight against poverty, racism and inequality.
Boluarte’s government began to show additional cracks on Thursday, with the departure of Raul Molina, a chief adviser.
Molina blamed Boluarte for a lack of “substantive political gestures” as well as for not establishing any clear suspects in the deaths of protesters during the crisis.
“Madam President, listen to our people, to the great majority who are asking for changes”, read Molina’s letter of resignation released on Thursday by the press.
In a furious reaction to Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters storming Congress, tens of thousands of Brazilians participated in pro-democracy protests.
In the country’s largest city of São Paulo, crowds chanted that Mr Bolsonaro must go to prison.
About 1,500 people have been held over Sunday’s riots in the capital Brasília.
They came a week after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn in after October’s election that divided Brazil.
On Monday evening, the 77-year-old new leader – widely known as Lula – visited the damaged buildings of Congress, the presidential palace and Supreme Court together with the country’s governors, condemning the “terrorist acts” and vowing to punish the perpetrators.
Mr Bolsonaro, 67, has not admitted defeat in the tightly-fought election, and flew to the US before the handover on 1 January. On Monday, he was admitted to hospital in Florida with abdominal pain.
Image caption, Marina Rodrigues Carmona fears that similar rioting could happen again
On Monday, street rallies were held in a number of cities and towns.
The turnout at São Paulo’s demonstration was impressive, the BBC’s Katy Watson reports from the city. A part of Paulista Avenue, Brazil’s most famous street, was blocked off as crowds filled the area, singing, dancing and chanting for justice.
Many came dressed in red, the colours of Lula’s Workers’ Party; others waved placards saying “No amnesty for the coup mongers” and called for those responsible to be punished. There were also chants of “Prison for Bolsonaro”.
“I don’t agree with what happened in Brasília – it was a nightmare. I don’t agree with those who believe that with democracy you can use your power to destroy democracy,” Gabriel, who only gave his first name, told the BBC.
“I want to show to the world and our country that even though there are thousands of people who believe the elections weren’t valid, here in Brazil, we have a gigantic number of people who believe we can trust our government, we can trust in our democracy,” he said.
Image caption, A pro-democracy march in Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, around 1,200 miles (1931km) from the capital Brasilia, where the riots happened
Marina Rodrigues Carmona, another demonstrator, told the BBC: “Polarisation is a big problem – everyone has their own ideas, and I don’t think there’s much dialogue between the two sides.”
There was, however, a huge police presence. At times, the atmosphere has felt tense. People are still processing what happened in Brasilia and nerves haven’t yet calmed for many, our correspondent says.
Sunday’s dramatic scenes in Brasília saw thousands of protesters clad in yellow Brazil football shirts and flags overrun police and ransack the heart of the Brazilian state.
Lula was forced to declare emergency powers.
On Monday morning, heavily armed officers started dismantling a camp of Mr Bolsonaro’s supporters in Brasília – one of a number that have been set up outside army barracks around the country since the tightly-fought presidential election.
Watch: Ros Atkins on… Why the Brazil riots happened
Authorities arrested 1,200 people on Monday – in addition to 300 detained a day earlier.
Mr Bolsonaro condemned the attack and denied responsibility for encouraging the rioters in a post on Twitter some six hours after violence broke out.
Meanwhile, Brasília Governor Ibaneis Rocha has been removed from his post for 90 days by the Supreme Court.
Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes accused him of failing to prevent the riot and of being “painfully silent” in the face of the attack.
Video shared by the Brazilian outlet O Globo showed some officers laughing and taking photos together as demonstrators occupied the congressional campus in the background.
Bolsonaro supporters created camps in cities across Brazil, some of them outside the military barracks. That is because his most ardent supporters want the military to intervene and make good elections that they say were stolen.
Some protesters are not just angry that Mr Bolsonaro lost the election – they want President Lula to return to prison.
Lula spent 18 months in jail after being found guilty of corruption in 2017. His convictions were later annulled, after initially being sentenced to more than nine years.
Heads of state around the world have also denounced the violence.
Late on Monday, President Joe Biden “conveyed the unwavering support of the United States for Brazil’s democracy” during a phone call with Lula, the White House said in a statement.
Comparisons have been drawn with the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Bolsonaro.
The political atmosphere in the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress, is charged as the party is set to hold its national executive elections.
The race for the party’s National Chairman position, which is being contested by the current National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and outgoing General Secretary, Asiedu Nketiah, has become particularly tense, with leading members of the party declaring their support for their preferred candidates.
The 3rd National Vice Chairman of the party, Alhaji Said Sinare, is one of the people who has declared his support for Ofosu-Ampofo.
This is after Alhaji Sinare abandoned his chairmanship ambitions.
In a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb, Alhaji Sinare could be seen leading a group of NDC supporters to sing songs of praises of Ofosu Ampofo.
“Winner eh he hee winner, winner eh he hee winner, Ampofo ego win ooo, winner. Ampofo ego winner again oo, winner.
“The boys are zuzu, the girls are zaza, NDC is good for evermore more,” the group is heard chanting.
The party’s national elections are slated for Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Candidates will be contesting for various positions, including the National Chairman, National Vice-Chairmen, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, National Organiser, Deputy National Organiser, and the National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.
Others are the National Communications Officer and Deputy, as well as the National Zongo Caucus Coordinator.
The current National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, is expected to face stiff competition from the outgoing General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, for the chairmanship position.
Top guns of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were in attendance at the Sekondi High Court when the verdict of the election petition case involving Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey was delivered.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
GhanaWeb checks indicated that about half a dozen Members of Parliament were around to lend their support to their colleague. Among them were Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, James Agalga, Teddy Nana Yaw, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe and Emmanuel Armah Buah.
The embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson – who is also battling a citizenship case – was also in attendance.
Other party bigwigs present included Kofi Totobi Quakyi and former Attorney General Marietta Brew-Oppong.
The petition which the victorious MP described later as ‘frivolous’ and a ‘distraction’ was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
The case has been in court for over 20 months since she was elected to represent the people of the Jomoro constituency.
An aspiring General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has responded to questions on whether he will be able to adequately fill in the shoes of the longest-serving General Secretary of his party, Asiedu Nketiah.
According to him, there is no doubt that the position Nketiah has held over the years comes with a large task; however, he is eager to contribute his bit to the party’s future.
Speaking in the yet-to-be-aired second part of his interview with GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk, the former Director of Elections of the party acknowledged the immense work that the party’s outgoing Chief Executive Officer has done over the period.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah described Asiedu Nketiah as a peculiar character who has paid his dues.
“I think we must give credit where it is due. Having held that position for 17 years; which led to two electoral victories and, of course, two defeats, I think that he has paid his dues. He’s a peculiar character, somebody that I get along with very well; the same way that I get along with the National Chairman also. I’ve worked with both of them very very closely.
“I think that there’s a lot to learn from him, but we are also building an NDC for the future. I believe in learning lessons from the [past], looking at the present, and forging a way forward,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is also a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, stated that while it appears that should he win the race to be the party’s CEO, he would be left with a huge responsibility of filling a big shoe, he would do things differently.
He explained that, rather, he would come to the job with his own shoes and execute the job accordingly.
“So, somebody asked me if I was going to fill his shoes; can I fill his shoes? I said no. I love General’s shoes – beautiful shoes (figuratively), but I’ll wear my own shoes,” he added.
Nearly one week after the US midterm elections, the race for control of the lower chamber of Congress remains tight.
Republicans must win at least 218 seats to retake control of the House of Representatives, a task that has become increasingly difficult.
According to CBS News race projections, the party has currently won 214 seats, while Democrats have won 210.
Meanwhile, Democrats retained control of the Senate, the upper chamber of Congress.
The Biden administrationhad feared that a loss of power in Congress would bring the president’s agenda to a halt.
If the two parties split control of Washington, Democrats will “maintain our positions” but voters should not “expect much of anything”, President Biden said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters in Indonesia, where he is attending the G-20 summit, Mr Biden said the results had “sent a very strong message around the world that the United States is ready to play” and wants to remain “fully engaged in the world”.
He noted there was “a strong rejection” of election denialism, political violence and voter intimidation. But he warned that, without a majority in the House, Democrats would be unable to codify abortion rights through legislation, a key priority for liberal voters.
Out of the 11 House races that still remain to be called, most are in western and southwestern states, including California and Arizona.
The latter’s race for governor is also too close to call, with Republican Kari Lake – a chief proponent of false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump – trailing Democrat Katie Hobbs.
A loss for Ms Lake would see her join the ranks of pre-eminent Trump-backed election deniers who lost last week. But a BBC News tally of results found at least 125 election deniers have won races for the House, Senate and governorships.
Newly elected members of Congress, including the first lawmaker from Generation Z and the first openly gay Republican, have already begun arriving in Washington for orientation.
History suggests the party controlling the White House usually loses seats in a midterm election, and Democrats’ performance this year is considered the best for a sitting party in at least 20 years.
That has endangered leadership bids for the top Republicans in the Senate and House ahead of the party’s internal elections on Tuesday.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy – who hopes to succeed Nancy Pelosi as Speaker in the next Congress – and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are both reportedly scrambling to garner support from their colleagues.
Divisions within the party have been on full display in recent days as former President Donald Trump,who has received some of the blame for a poor showing, prepares to launch another presidential run later this week.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has donated GH¢1,953,000 to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The donation is to aid the party in its internal elections with the regional elections commencing today, Friday, November 11.
This was announced by the National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi in a press statement issued today.
According to the said statement, GH¢853,000 is for the conduct of the regional elections and the balance for a debt owed to the Electoral Commission (EC) for the conduct of the party’s constituency elections.
“The NDC’s flag-bearer for the 2020 general elections has donated an amount totalling ¢1,953,000 to support the conduct of the party’s constituency and regional internal elections.
The donation is made up of an amount of ¢853,000 to the national party leadership for the organization of regional election conferences across the country and an amount of ¢1,100,000 to the Electoral Commission to clear the debt owed them by the party in respect to the just-ended constituency elections of the party,” the release said.
The release concluded that “the party is most grateful to His Excellency and his generous sponsors for coming to the assistance of the party at this crucial time.”
The largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to begin its regional election conferences nationwide beginning today, Friday, November 11, 2022.
The party has asked delegates to play by the rules outlined.
Delegates in the Greater Accra Region will vote for the positions of youth organizer and women organizer at the Du Bois Memorial Center today.
At least 712 candidates will be contesting the various positions that are up for grabs.
This includes Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Organiser and Deputy Organiser, Treasurer and Deputy treasurer.
Others are Communications Officer and Deputy, Women’s Organiser and Deputy, the Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Youth Organiser and Deputy.
Elections have been suspended in the Bono East and Ahafo, while, in the Eastern Region, only the women and youth organiser elections will come off as scheduled.
Upper West Region
The election in the region will have a delegate list of 407 to make the decision.
Some key executives such as Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Organizer, Zongo Caucus, and communications officer positions are asking to be retained in their positions come Saturday while other incumbent executives have sought to seek other positions.
All Constituency executives are expected to participate in the elections but for Nandom where five Coptic members are not expected to vote.
Greater Accra
In the Greater Accra Region, the incumbent chairman, Kobina Ade Coker, who is seeking re-election, is being challenged by four other candidates.
They are a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Adentan, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore; Thomas Ashong; Kojo Obeng Berkoh and Michael Tetteh Kwetey.
A statement signed by the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections, Daniel Amartey, said all is set, in terms of security arrangements, logistics and venues, for the regional contests.
The exercise will end on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
Lauren Boebert rose to prominence as a “Maga” phenomenon during her first term in Congress.
The Trump-supporting Republican was expected to easily win re-election in conservative western Colorado. Instead, as the votes are tallied, she will face a formidable challenge from a centrist Democrat.
Boebert confronted Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke in Aurora, Colorado, in 2019, after he had made gun control a central campaign issue. It was the day he reiterated his call to outlaw semi-automatic weapons.
Three months later, Boebert announced her bid to represent Colorado’s third congressional district in Congress. Much like her run-in with O’Rourke, she arrived in Congress in January 2021 ready for a fight.
In one of her first days on the job, she voted to overturn the election results.
Keeping up her advocacy for gun rights, she vowed to bring her handgun to the Capitol and drew attention for a family holiday card picturing her four young sons wielding rifles.
Prominent state Republicans, including state Senator Don Coram, who ran against Boebert in the primary, called her an “embarrassment” and endorsed her opponent, Democrat Adam Frisch.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has submitted his nomination forms to contest the position of general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana’s largest opposition party.
The former Director of Elections of the party presented the forms on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at the party headquarters in Accra.
Presenting the forms, Elvis Ankrah stated that the pending national delegates congress of the NDC is its most critical election ever because it holds the hopes of many Ghanaians.
“But I can tell you right now that this delegate congress is the most critical elections in the history of our dear country. If we get it right as a party the whole country will get it right and if we get it wrong the country will sink.
“Take a moment and carefully think about the ramifications of putting the wrong people in the right offices. It’s akin to going fishing with a sharp shovel. This party is the last frontier of hope for the many hopeless people across this country and this election is the most hopeful thing that the people of this country are looking forward to this year,” he said.
He added that the outcome of the elections will largely determine the future of the party.
“How we move forward as a party and a country is predicated largely on the outcome of this election,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah is facing competition from Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, the current Deputy General Secretary of the NDC; and Fifi Kwetey, a former Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Deputy Minister of Finance.
The NDC will hold its national delegates congress in December 2022.
Millions of Americans are voting in the midterm elections today, Tuesday, with the balance of power in Congress at stake.
The entire US House of Representatives, about a third of the Senate and key state governorships are up for grabs.
President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and ex-President Donald Trump, a Republican, made their closing arguments in competing rallies.
Mr Biden’s ability to pass laws will be stymied if Republicans take the House, as most projections expect.
Democrats currently control the White House and – by razor-thin margins – both chambers of Congress.
The party in power typically sheds an average of two dozen or so seats in the midterms, which fall midway through a president’s four years in office.
A political thumping for Democrats on Tuesday could embolden murmurs within the party about whether Mr Biden, who turns 80 this month, should run for re-election in 2024.
He went to Maryland on Monday night to campaign for Wes Moore, who is expected to make history as the third black governor ever elected in the US.
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption, Wes Moore (centre) looks set to become the third black governor ever elected in the US
“Today we face an inflection point,” Mr Biden told a cheering crowd at a historically black university outside Washington.
“We know in our bones that our democracy’s at risk and we know that this is your moment to defend it.”
According to a tally by the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, more than half of Republican midterms candidates have raised doubts about the integrity of the 2020 White House election, echoing Mr Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud.
While Mr Biden himself is not up for re-election on Tuesday, midterms are often seen as a referendum on a president’s leadership.
Despite delivering on promises to lower prescription drug prices, expand clean energy and revamp US infrastructure, Mr Biden has seen his popularity suffer following the worst inflation in four decades, record illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border, and voter concerns about crime.
Mr Trump spent the eve of election day holding a final rally in Ohio alongside Republican Senate candidate JD Vance.
The former president, who has been teasing a 2024 White House comeback bid, said he would make a “very big announcement” at his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago on 15 November.
He told the crowd: “If you support the decline and fall of America, then you must, you absolutely must vote for the radical left, crazy people.
“If you want to stop the destruction of our country, then tomorrow you must vote Republican in a giant red wave.”
Mr Trump’s party needs to net only five seats to flip the House and a single seat to take over the evenly divided Senate.
Non-partisan election observers project the Republicans will pick up roughly 15-25 seats in the 435-seat House.
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption, Supporters of Donald Trump await his arrival for Monday’s rally in Vandalia, Ohio
But the battle for the upper chamber of Congress could go either way, according to most political forecasts, and is expected to come down to hotly fought races in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona.
Should Republicans win the House, they have vowed to shut down the Democratic-led inquiry into last year’s Capitol riot and launch investigations into the Biden administration.
Kevin McCarthy, who would probably become Republican speaker of the House – placing him second in line to the presidency – has refused to rule out impeachment proceedings.
Mr Biden’s power to appoint judges or administrative posts for the next two years would be severely curtailed if Republicans win the Senate.
More than 43.5m early votes have already been cast, according to the US Elections Project.
But it might be days or weeks before the outcome of the midterms is clear if races are close, as some states allow ballots to be posted on election day, and there could be recounts.
The Aspiring General secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Peter Buamah Otukonor has revealed that the NDC will do everything possible to win the 2020 general elections.
According to him, the 2024 elections will be a ‘do or die affair’ as they will not let history to repeat itself.
In an interview with GhanaWeb, he said they don’t expect the NPP to repeat whatever they did in the 2020 elections.
“(2024 elections) do or die it will certainly be because we can not afford to stand a minute with this incompetent and clueless government. Most importantly and particularly too, on behalf of the people of this country, we cannot tolerate the continuance of this government and so whatever it will take to win political power in 2024 we are going to do that together with the people of this country to make sure we change government and bring a government to understands the plight and need of people,” he said.
He added that the power of the people should not be underestimated.
He said the signs are already clear that the Ghanaians have lost trust in the President Akufo-Addo.
He cited the booing in his recent public appearance and the during his tour as clear examples of the mistrust.
