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Tag: Election 2020

  • Sam Korankye Ankrah cautions against electoral violence

    Founder and Apostle General of Royal house Chapel International, Most Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah has cautioned against violence and the creation of fear and panic as the country heads to the polls on December 7.

    The man of God who has been very instrumental in providing spiritual direction for the country said there is no need for any group of people to take up arms and cause trouble to win power.

    He emphasised that God’s hand prevails in the affairs of men and the selection of the next president is in the hands of God. Only one of the many candidates will be chosen; as such a country that had gone on the road of elections several times and emerged victoriously, should not experience anything different this year.

    He admonished, “Ghana, as we go on the road of Election 2020, do not fall, by the way, do not kill yourself, does not cause trouble.”

    The Apostle General, preaching the sermon titled, “Is There Not A Cause” from Genesis 45:5-8 & 24, referenced the biblical Joseph as a technocrat and politician. Likening his prison years to being in opposition, he admonished that losing the election does not mean losing all.

    “Just as it was in prison that Joseph learned the art of service, being in opposition is an opportunity to get acquainted with the people at the grassroots and learn about their needs so that when you come into power, you can serve them better,” he said.

    Acknowledging the efforts of the ruling government, he advised the citizenry to appreciate it when other parties do good works because the same hand of God that got them there can get the opposition there another day.

    Using Genesis 41:38-39 as a guide, the Apostle General concluded by urging Ghanaians to consider aspirants who are filled with the Spirit of God, wisdom, intelligence and knowledge.

    Source: Joseph Allotey-Kpakpoe, Contributor

  • Odododiodoo clash: Call violent Nii Lante Vanderpuye to order Bannerman to eminent Ghanaians

    Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Odododiodoo constituency, Nii Lante Bannerman, has urged the Ga traditional council, Imams and other well-meaning Ghanaians to call incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye to order following the violence that erupted over the weekend.

    On Sunday, October 25, 2020, some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) clashed during a peaceful match, resulting in the injury of many.

    Videos circulating on social media show the supporters in party colours throwing stones, bottles and other items at each other at a junction called One Way in the Odododiodio constituency.

    Reacting to this development on Citi News, the NPP parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Nii Lante Bannerman, accused the incumbent of inciting the youth to cause chaos in the constituency.

    He is therefore calling on the police and other eminent Ghanaians to call his opponent to order for peace to prevail in the constituency before they take matter into their hands.

    “I call on the police to as a matter of urgency arrest the NDC thugs and let the law take its full course to serve as a deterrent to their likes. Failing which we will be left with no other option than to take matters into our hands.”

    “I also call on the Ga Traditional Council, the clergy, Imams, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to call the violent MP to order.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We are sure of winning 5 parliamentary seats this year PPPs Brigitte Dzogbenuku

    The flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party, Brigitte Dzogbenuku has stated that the party is sure to win 5 parliamentary seats out of the 20 being contested in the 2020 elections.

    Out of a total of 275 constituencies, the PPP is represented by 20 candidates who are battling for the Parliamentary seats in the various constituencies.

    Currently, there is not a single Member of Parliament from the PPP but according to Madam Dzogbenuku, the narrative will soon change as they are sure of grabbing 5 seats come December 7.

    “We are running for 20 constituencies out of the 275… we are sure of winning 5 of the seats. Looking at the works of some aspirants, I am sure the member will increase in the coming days,” said Brigitte Dzogbenuku in an interview on Peace FM on Monday, October 26, 2020.

    Madam Dzogbenuku was acclaimed as the flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party; her acclamation made her the second female flagbearer of a party after Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

    She is among the 3 female presidential candidates who have been cleared by the Electoral Commission to contest for the highest seat in government.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dont bring ballot boxes here if you dont fix our roads – Sakra Wonoo residents

    Residents of Sakra Wonoo in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region have threatened to boycott the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections over the poor nature of their roads.

    The residents say they have constantly complained about the poor nature of their roads but authorities have refused to repair them.

    The poor nature of the roads they say has affected their farming activities which is the source of their livelihoods.

    Speaking on behalf of the residents, Assemblyman, Andrew Obeng said Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumiaand some of his appointees recently attended the one-week celebration of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John and saw the deplorable nature of the road and promised to repair the road to honour the late lawyer.

    However, they have refused to work on the road which was awarded for contract 20 months ago.

    He indicated the road was awarded for contract some 20 months ago with some drainage systems done but after the Vice President and other appointees came for the one-week celebration, the work has been abandoned.

    He was wondering how long it should take for a 10kg road to be constructed.

    He appealed to the government to get the contractor back to the location and complete the road.

    He said this would be something done to honour the sacrifice and dedication of late Sir John.

    “We are not doing this to denigrate or attack anyone. We are only demanding for development. We vote to see development and so, we want the promise to repair this road fulfilled. We are appealing to the President and his appointees to honour Sir John with this road,” he concluded.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Mahama begins 5-day tour of Greater Accra Region tomorrow

    Flagbearer of the main opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama will from Tuesday, October 27, 2020, begin a five-day tour of the Greater Accra Region.

    Mr Mahama while on his tour will visit Ada, Sege, Shai Osudoku, Ningo Prampram, Kpone Katamanso, Ashaiman, Tema East, Tema Central and Tema West.

    He will later visit Krowor, Ledzokuku, La Dadekotopon, Korley Klottey, Madina, Adenta, Dome Kwabenya and Ayawaso West Wuogon.

    The former President while in Ada will meet with the Ada Traditional Council and Interact with fisher-folks at Ayakpor.

    He will also engage the community on Radio Ada and interact with traders at Kasseh.

    The NDC will also hold a regional thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 1, 2020.

    Source: Class FM

  • Ghana ranked number 1 in country risk index survey

    Fitch Solutions, a research arm of an American rating agency has adjudged Ghana as number 1 in the latest risk index assessment.

    Ghana, having a risk index of 53.9% emerged the first ahead of four West and Central African countries; Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon.

    According to a myjoyonline.com report on the Fitch rating, the evaluation means that Ghana is a good place for investment in both West and Central Africa as the risk involved in engaging in businesses is lower.

    Per Fitch Solutions report, inasmuch as Ghana was equally hit with the global pandemic, Coronavirus, its economy has become pretty strong.

    Ghana also scored 69.7% and 72.9% for short and long term political risk respectively as well as having a 44.1% in operational risk.

    However, the country is swamped with debt and may fail in honouring its obligations.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dec polls: All polling stations in Ashanti Region declared flashpoints

    The Ashanti Regional Police Command of the Ghana Police Service has revealed that the over 5,190 polling stations in Ashanti Region will be considered flashpoints.

    Regional Police Commander COP Kwasi Mensah Duku buttressed this claim with data from the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission which revealed over 635 flashpoints in Ashanti Region.

    Speaking on Akoma FMs morning Show GhanAkoma on Monday, October 26, COP Mensah Duku told host Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin that “all the polling stations in the region have been flagged as flashpoint areas in the face of security ahead of the general elections”.

    He further stressed that “the security situation in the region is under control, however, there is heightening political tension”.

    Speaking on the recent happenings in the Asawase Constituency involving NDC supporters who nearly took over the Suame Police Station on Saturday, the senior police capo commended the personnel who were on duty at for acting professionally during the heat of the agitation.

    COP Mensah Duku appealed to the general public to go about their normal daily activities but admonished the public to give out information on persons with questionable characters to assist the police flush out miscreants from the society.

    Source: 3News

  • Dec polls: EC starts printing ballot papers today

    The Electoral Commission (EC) is expected to start printing ballot papers for the 7 December 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections today, Monday, October 26, 2020.

    There are eleven political parties and one independent candidate on the presidential ballot.

    Each candidate is expected to nominate a representative to observe the printing process.

    At the balloting event for positions on the ballot paper, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) emerged number one while the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was number two.

    The parties balloted for the positions on Tuesday, 20 October 2020 at the head office of the Electoral Commission.

    See the full list below:

    NPP 1

    NDC 2

    GUM- 3

    CPP 4

    GFP 5

    GCPP 6

    APC 7

    LPG 8

    PNC 9

    PPP 10

    NDP 11

    Independent 12

    Meanwhile, on Monday, 19 October 2020, the EC announced the qualified and disqualified presidential aspirants.

    Five of the 17 aspirants who filed their nominations were disqualified.

    They include independent aspirant Marricke Gane (fake signatures), Akwasi Addae Odike of the UPP (fake signatures), Kwesi Busumuru of the Popular Action Party (fake signatures and had no supporters for some districts in GA/R), Nana Agyenim Boateng of the UFP (three persons denied endorsing his candidature) and Kofi Koranteng, an independent aspirant.

    Source: Class FM

  • After implementing free SHS, Akufo-Addo can achieve anything Adeiso Chief

    Chief of Adeiso, Osabarima Asare Oduro II, has said because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been able to make the near-impossible free Senior High School (SHS) policy a reality, he can achieve anything he promises.

    “Akufo-Addo is not the only person who has been President of Ghana, but he is the only person who has done what no one has ever done,” Osabarima Asare Oduro II, is quoted in a report by Myjoyonline.

    According to the report, the traditional ruler made the comments when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of Adeiso during the visit of Vice President Bawumia on Sunday, October 25.

    “Osabarima was full of praise for the leadership and vision of President Akufo-Addo, especially his landmark intervention to provide free secondary education for all Ghanaian children.

    “Osabarima described the Free SHS intervention by President Akufo-Addo as unprecedented, and prayed for God to bless the President for prioritising the future of all Ghanaian children,” the report added further.

    According to the report, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia thanked the gathering for acknowledging the development agenda of President Akufo-Addo.

    The Vice President also urged the chiefs and people of the area to rally behind the President and the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the Upper West Akim Constituency, Frederick Obeng Adom.

    Dr Bawumia said the NPP has proved to be a party with the vision to transform the country, according to the report.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Flawed elections are not possible under current system EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has said fears that the upcoming elections on December 7 could be flawed are untenable because the system it operates is airtight.

    Deputy EC Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, said because the electoral system the EC is following is firmly grounded in law, a flawed election is impossible.

    “You can never have a flawed election the way our system operates. When you look at the current C.I. [Constitutional Instrument] we are operating with, it talks about a Regional Collation Officer who will be in charge of the results. The EC Commissioner is the Returning Officer for only the Presidential election.

    “Then when you go to the constituencies, the Returning Officers there are in charge. So, the Chairperson, being the Returning Officer for the Presidential election, before the Chairperson will have access to the results all the constituencies, the regions have seen it,” he said.

    Dr Asare made the comments on a current affairs programme on Joy News in response to the issues raised by the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) about the credibility of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary polls.

    John Dramani Mahama had said at a press conference in September that events that characterised the compilation of the voters register in June points to polls that may not be credible.

    Although the EC responded to the comments by the leader of the main opposition party at the time, on the current affairs programme on Joy News, dubbed The Probe, on Sunday, October 25, Dr Bossman Asare said the concept of a flawed election is alien to the systems adopted for the upcoming polls.

    “When people talk about flawed elections, I think that they are only imagining something,” he said.

    He said the C.I. that the EC is mandated to adopt emphasises transparency from the registration process to the voting process.

    “So when you look at it, flawed elections cannot be part of us,” he said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • About 30,000 people disqualified from voting on Dec 7 EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed that about 30,000 out of the over 16 million people who took part in the voter registration exercise have been disqualified.

    Deputy EC Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, said about 14,000 of the 30,000 disqualified voters have been put on the Exceptions List while about 16,000 names have been put on the Multiple List.

    A name is put on the Exceptions List after it has been excluded from the Provisional Register on grounds of disqualification registration outside the stipulated time.

    Also, the Multiple Registration List contains the names and photographs of persons who have registered more than once.

    “They cannot vote because they had engaged in infractions,” Dr Bossman Asare said.

    Dr Asare made the revelation when he spoke on a current affairs programme on Joy News on Sunday, October 25, 2020.

    He said the disqualification of these 30,000 people went through a legal process, presided over by a judge, after their eligibility was challenged a point he made to explain that the removal of the names from the provisional voters’ register followed due process.

    He said although a few issues cropped up during the voters registration exercise, the EC has been able to make sure that every Ghanaian who registered in the just ended exercise would be able to vote on December 7.

    “Your details are intact. Your biometric details fingerprint, facial recognition all of them are intact. So, the Commission is assuring all the good people of this country. Once you took part in the registration, your details are intact. You are part of the 17 million or so people,” he stressed.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Turn yourselves in Police to NDC supporters who stormed Suame police station

    The Ashanti Regional Police Command has advised National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters who besieged the Suame Police Station to report themselves to police.

    The command has given them until 9 am on Monday, October 26.

    The persons stormed the police station on Saturday demanding the release of some of its members who were arrested in a police swoop.

    The command claims the protesting supporters “attacked the Police officers on duty, verbally and physically,” though Citi News is yet to sight evidence to this effect.

    They were also seen “in the video hitting the counter at the Charge Office.”

    In a statement, it notes one Yakubu Tony Aidoo of the NDC after scrutinising video footage from the incident.

    It said they were “seen in the video hitting the counter at the Charge Office.”

    “The Command is therefore, advising the persons involved who besieged the Suame Police Station in their own interest to report to the Regional Police Command latest tomorrow 26th October, 2020 at 0900hrs to assist Police with investigation, without fail,” the statement added.

    The incident occurred after the Ashanti Regional Police Command embarked on a special Police Operation and arrested a number of persons to assist with investigations into recent robberies within the Metropolis.

    The command also acted on intelligence in respect of suspected whose names came up during the investigation and conducted swoops within the Metropolis.

    It was these suspects that were taken to the Suame and Central Police Stations to assist the Police investigation.

    Earlier on Sunday, NDC members also gathered at the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters to demand the release of 10 party supporters who were picked up in the Asawase Constituency.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Translate warm reception into votes MP urges electorates

    Atwima-Nwabiagya MP, Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere, has urged Ghanaians to translate the warm reception given to President Akufo-Addo and the NPP into votes in December 7.

    He said the overwhelming enthusiasm and appreciation shown by the people all over the country during the campaign tours of the President and his Vice, were a clear indication that Ghanaians were happy with the sterling performance of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP.

    “However, Ghanaians could show much appreciation if they vote massively for the President and the NPP in the December elections, to enable the party continue with the good work to transform the nation and improve the living conditions of the people.”

    Mr Anhwere said the social intervention policies of the government greatly benefited the people all over the country and there was the need for them to vote for the NPP to continue with such initiatives to transform Ghana.

    He said the NPP through Nana Akufo-Addo had demonstrated that it was capable of moving the country from its present state to a more industrialized and developed nation, where everybody would have an opportunity to develop his or her potential and contribute to national development.

    Mr Anhwere called on the people to vote massively for the NPP to continue with its national transformation agenda for the benefit of all.

    Source: GNA

  • Kwapong Women ‘ditch’ NDC for NPP

    A group of known NDC supporters in Kwapong, in the Asunafo South Constituency of the Ahafo Region, have ‘ditched’ their long-time party, the NDC for the New Patriotic Party.

    The former NDC stalwarts, numbering about 100, announced their defection at a grand durbar of Chiefs and people of Kwapong during the visit of Vice President Bawumia on Tuesday.

    The women said their defection to the NPP was informed by the good policies of the Akufo-Addo government, especially the flagship Free Senior High School policy, which they said has relieved many parents the difficulty of funding their children’s secondary education.

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia warmly welcomed them into the elephant fraternity, and symbolically took a group photograph with them.

    The Ahafo Regional Chairman of the NPP, Owusu Sekyere also welcomed them into the party and assured them of the party’s love and care.

    “We welcome you into our family. From today, you are one of and we assure you of our love and care,” the Regional Chairman said.

    The regional Chairman asked for special NPP tee shirts to be presented to the defectors to seal their move from the NDC to the NPP.

    Source: presidency.gov.gh

  • ‘Akufo-Addo is very vindictive’ Isaac Adongo cries over constituency neglect

    Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo says his constituency lacks proper development because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has threatened to sack any minister that agrees to award him contracts and projects.

    According to Mr. Adongo, even the ones he is able to secure, he is discreet about it because he would not want to implicate any minister.

    “I am saying that even when I lobby and I get contracts, I have to be circumspect in disclosing who gave me that contract…They may sack the minister [ because giving me contracts will] promote me in Bolga. If they are aware that this minister is treating me with kid gloves. And I have examples of them here. And I have those projects here. Privately, I can mention all of them to you,” he told the host of the Word Community Watch Show.

    “The government itself is denying its citizens because it is the most incompetent government that has borrowed over the roof but cannot show anything for,” he added.

    To him, he has excelled as a Member of Parliament ever since he took over the Bolgatanga Central Constituency.

    Source: My News GH

  • Mahama promises 50% reduction in tuition fees for tertiary students next year

    The flagbearer of the National Democracy Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has promised to cut off tuition fees to fifty per cent (50%) for tertiary students in the 2020/2021 academic year if elected president.

    Mr. Mahama said this during an interview in Takoradi, as part of his campaign tour of the Western Region.

    According to him, this has become necessary because of the impact COVID-19 and the response to challenges many parents and self- parenting students are facing.

    “Dislocation in the economy caused by mismanagement of this current administration and worsen by the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted our attention to give relief to parents and students by absorbing 50% of what they would have to pay when re-elected into power,” he pledged.

    Touching on the Public Universities Bill (PUB), Mr. Mahama said the suspension of the bill is not enough, instead, Government should withdraw the bill completely.

    “Unless they want to say that they [New Patriotic Party] are waiting to win the presidential seat again before the finally pass the bill,” Mr Mahama added.

    He also questioned, if teaching and learning is moving on smoothly, why should there be interference by the government.

    Mr. Mahama noted that universities are places of learning which should be devoid of political interference.

    About the Public Universities Bill

    The Public Universities Bill seeks to harmonise the finances, administration and governance structure of all public universities.

    The Bill, when passed, will give the government power to appoint a majority of members of the University Council.

    The Council would also have the power to appoint and fire public university officials.

    The Bill would also give the President power to dissolve the University Council which will now have the power to appoint a chancellor.

    It would also give effect to the University Council to control the finances of the university and determine the allocation of funds.

    In the bill is a proposal to rename four public universities after various personalities.

    https://youtu.be/C9iF64Rlyak

    Source: angelonline.com.gh

  • Sammi Awuku, others escape another accident; vehicle goes up in flames

    The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammi Awuku and some Northern Regional Executives of the party escaped another accident in Tolon some few hours ago.

    MyNewsGh.com has confirmed that a Tundra vehicle carrying their PA system suddenly went up in flames in the middle of the crowd where party supporters had gathered to be addressed.

    The incident happened at the Tolon station around when the National Organiser, Regional Chairman and the Parliamentary candidate were expected to address the multitude of supporters gathered there.

    The vehicle which was parked in the middle of the station with supporters and constituents already in attendance to listen to the National Organiser and the Regional Chairman suddenly caught fire with people running for their lives. The cause of the fire is not immediately known.

    The National Organiser and the team had left the Palace of the Tolon Naa and heading towards the events grounds with just a few meters away when the vehicle went up in flames accompanied by some explosion.

    The Personnel of the Ghana Fire Service were at the scene to bring the fire under control.

    The National Organiser, the Regional Chairman and the Parliamentary Candidate are reported safe but were forced to cancel their scheduled event in the town. They had earlier visited four other communities within the Constituency.

    Source: My News GH

  • US delegation calls on IGP to discuss election-related security

    A delegation from the U.S Department of State has paid a courtesy call on the Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, to discuss issues related to security in the upcoming December 7, 2020.

    The US delegation was led by the Regional Security Officer, Bill Peiler, who also used the occasion to formally introduce himself to the IGP.

    According to a post on the official Facebook page of the Ghana Police, Mr Peiler also assured Mr Oppong-Boanuh of his support to peace in the upcoming elections.

    “The IGP made it clear that the Police Service will protect the ballot on the election day and will confidently discharge their duties to the good people of Ghana before, during and after the elections,” the Facebook post said.

    Police personnel last month held what it called ‘an endurance march’ to demonstrate their preparedness to adequately ensure security in the upcoming elections.

    Police ambulance, trained dogs and armoured vehicles were displayed during the march through the principal streets of Accra.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Vote based on Akufo-Addos record First Lady to Ghanaians

    The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, has asked the public to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the upcoming polls based on its development record.

    Mrs. Akufo-Addo made the call when she paid an official visit to the Ablekuma South constituency as part of her campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region.

    According to her, the good record that has been set by the NPP should be the reason the NPP government should be retained for another four years.

    She noted that the flagship Free SHS, One District, One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, and NABCO policies of the ruling government is impacting positively on the lives of Ghanaians.

    “Right now, Free SHS has helped Ghanaians and a lot of people are benefiting. The government has also established more than factories all over Ghana which are creating jobs for citizens,” she added.

    “NABCO has also come to address the issue of youth unemployment.”

    Addressing the gathering, she said President Akufo-Addo has started a process of moving the country to another level of development which must be supported by all.

    “You have all seen how through the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, the country is changing, and we need to support him and the NPP government so the change can be permanent,” she urged.

    With less than two months to the general elections, Mrs Akufo-Addo urged all to go out peacefully and vote on December 7 for the NPP and the Ablekuma South NPP parliamentary candidate, Bernard Brown.

    She said, “We are a peaceful country, and we have shown this by holding free, fair and peaceful elections over the years.”

    The First Lady also pledged to liaise with the appropriate authorities to address the concerns raised by fishermen and market women in the constituency.

    “As soon as I get home, I will talk to the President about the outboard motor and personally see to it that the Tuesday Market is completed on time for you to continue trading,” she assured.

    Ablekuma South NPP parliamentary candidate, Bernard Brown, in a brief remark, said the NPP is the best option for the continued development of Ghana and called on the constituents to retain the NPP for another four years, to secure the future of the country.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Ghana Police releases list of election 2020 hotspots

    As part of preparations toward the upcoming December polls, the Ghana Police Service has released a list of some constituencies across the country which are prone to various levels of violence and discrepancies.

    Per details of a statement released by the Ghana Police Service, the areas have been grouped according to districts and the number of probable hotspots in the specific area.

    According to the Police, the areas listed are to be keenly monitored in order to prevent or foil any attempts to cause tension ahead, during, and post elections.

    The areas were also selected in all the 16 regions in the country.

    Ashanti Region came top with 635 identified hotspots including; Offinso North, Asawase, Effiduase/Asokore, Ejura/Sekyedumase, and Bantama as top five.

    In Bono Region, 192 hotspots have been identified with Tain, Jaman South, Banda, and Wenchi as top four.

    Other areas like Bono East and Ahafo regions have been noted to have 118 and 80 hotspots, respectively.

    Meanwhile, leadership of the Ghana Police Service has already given indications that they are up and ready to defend the peace during and after the elections.

    Below is a copy of the statement 

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YhLDSLytgSG3q2hS_mWDgxMixjA2IyM9/view

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • December 7 polls the most important in Ghana’s history – Ambassador Ayisi Boateng

    Ghana’s Ambassador to South Africa, George Ayisi Boateng has described the upcoming elections as the most significant in the history of the country.

    This according to him, is the reality because the polls will provide an opportunity for the nation to chose the path of continuity in progress or retrogress.

    He explained that a vote for president Akufo-Addo will represent the path for continuity in development, whereas, a vote for former President Mahama will be the other way round.

    In an interview with this reporter, Ambassador Ayisi Boateng, said the Akufo- Addo-led government, has laid a solid foundation for massive development drive in the country.

    He posited that the nation was on her knees when the government took over the reins of administration on January 7, 2017.

    But due to dedication and commitment to service, coupled with the display of competence, the economic fundamentals have been stabilised and ready for a gargantuan take of.

    In spite of the daunting challenges, the founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), indicated that the government has managed to implement some key policies that have come to define the development path of the nation.

    Chief among the policies he stated are the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, planting for food and jobs, restoration of teacher trainee and nurses allowances.

    Also, the meaning and value for money infrastructural development dotted all over the country, is a significant indication of the path of progress the nation is heading.

    Ambassador Ayisi Boateng argued profusely that it takes a decisive and bold leader in the calibre of President Akufo-Addo, to implement free SHS in the midst of the economic hardship the nation was faced with.

    He mentioned the introduction of the free SHS policy as the best thing to have ever happened to the country because the policy will provide the needed human capital to spearhead the nation’s development drive in the future.

    Ambassador Ayisi Boateng, therefore, entreated the electorates to be more concerned with the path of development the nation has chosen under President Akufo Addo and endorse him for a second term on December 7.

    The former board member of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), further tasked the electorates not to repeat the mistake of 2008, when voters failed the nation by voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    According to him, had voters voted for the NPP to continue the line of progress in place at the time, the nation would have been placed on a higher level by now.

    The NPP founding member contended that the vote for the NDC in that elections derailed the gains the ex-President Kufuor’s administration made and brought the nation back to the path of retrogression.

    “This time around, another opportunity has prevailed and we can’t afford to fail ourselves” Ambassador Ayisi Boateng observed.

    Source: Owusu Morgan, Contributor

  • Election 2020 is about Ghanas future and the unborn generations Sammi Awuku

    National Organizer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammi Awuku says election 2020 is about the future of Ghana, its children and the generations unborn.

    According to him, the decision taken on December 7 will determine whether the country is headed forward or backwards.

    Sammi Awuku who has been in the Northern region for some time now made this known when was campaigning for NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Gushegu, Lawyer Hassan Tampuli.

    He reminded residents of Gushegu how honest the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration has kept its promises with the People of Ghana and Gushegu.

    “Gushegu has had their fair share of National Development, under the 1 Village 1 Dam, A Shea processing Company under the 1 District 1 Factory, a new health centre and also with many of the children benefiting from the Free SHS”, he enumerated.

    Reminding them of the need to vote Lawyer Hassan Tampuli as their Member of Parliament, Mr Awuku said Hassan Tampuli has been a development-oriented person and there is, therefore, the need to throw their weight behind him so that more can be done for the people.

    Source: My News GH

  • Election 2020: EC to start printing ballot papers on October 26

    The Election Commission is set to commence the printing of electoral materials for the December presidential and parliamentary polls from Monday, October 26, 2020.

    According to a citinews report, seven printing houses have been selected to commence the printing of notices of polls and ballot papers.

    The commission is said to have written to the parties contesting to appoint a representative each to observe the printing of materials at the printing houses.

    Parties are expected to give out details of their representatives to Electoral Commission by Monday for accreditation.

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana announced that 12 presidential candidates out of 17 who filed their nominations for the upcoming 2020 elections have been cleared to contest.

    The Commission has also disqualified five presidential candidates out of the 17 who initially submitted their nomination forms.

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa explained that the five disqualified candidates had amongst other things, presented forged signatures to the Commission and also had IT issues with their forms.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Disqualified presidential aspirant seeks injunction on Dec 7 elections

    One of the five disqualified presidential aspirants has filed an application for an interim injunction to restrain the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) from going ahead with the conduct of the December 7 elections.

    The flagbearer of the United Front Party (UFP), Nana Agyenim Boateng, popularly known as Gyataba, filed the suit at a High Court in Accra on Thursday, October 22.

    According to the writ, Gyataba described the decision by the Commission to disqualify him on Monday, October 19 as “irrational” and “illogical”.

    He further stated that the decision violates the constitutional instrument (CI) 127 and Article 23 of the 1992 Constitution. He explained that the EC has even gone ahead to conduct balloting for positions for 12 other presidential aspirants without the involvement of the UFP flagbearer “and has stated its intention to print ballot papers without the name and participation of applicants”.

    Nana Agyenim Boateng wants the Court to grant his application as failure will, among other things, deny Ghanaians “the opportunity of electing their preferred candidate as president of Ghana”.

    The Court has, consequently, scheduled Monday, November 2 to hear the case.

    Together with Kwesi Addai Odike, Kofi Koranteng, Marricke Kofi Gane and Kwesi Busumbru, Gyataba was disqualified from contesting the elections on grounds of infractions, which have been reported to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.

    Twelve aspirants including Madam Akua Donkor and Christian Kwabena Andrews were cleared to contest the elections.

    Source: 3 News

  • Vote based on Nana Addos record First Lady

    The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Naa Okiakor Akufo-Addo, has asked the public to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo based on its development record. Mrs Akufo-Addo made the call when she paid an official visit to the Ablekuma South Constituency as part of her campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region.

    According to her, the good record that has been set by the NPP, should be the reason the NPP government is retained for another four years.

    She noted that the flagship Free SHS, One District, One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs and NABCO policies of the ruling government is impacting positively on the lives of Ghanaians.

    “Right now, Free SHS has helped Ghanaians and a lot of people are benefiting, the government has also established more than factories all over Ghana which are creating jobs for citizens,” she added. “NABCO has also come to address the issue of youth unemployment.”

    Addressing the gathering, she said President Akufo-Addo has started a process of moving the country to another level of development which must be supported by all.

    “You have all seen how through the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, the country is changing and we need to support him and the NPP government so the change can be permanent,” she urged.

    With less than two months to the general elections, Mrs Akufo-Addo urged all to go out peacefully and vote on December 7 for the NPP and the Ablekuma South NPP parliamentary candidate, Bernard Brown.

    She said, “We are a peaceful country and we have shown this by holding free, fair and peaceful elections over the years.”

    The First Lady also pledged to liaise with the appropriate authorities to address the concerns raised by fishermen and market women in the constituency.

    “As soon as I get home, I will talk to the President about the outboard motor and personally see to it that the Tuesday Market is completed on time for you to continue trading,” she assured.

    Ablekuma South NPP parliamentary candidate, Bernard Brown, in a brief remark, said the NPP is the best option for the continued development of Ghana and called on the constituents to retain the NPP for another four years, to secure the future of the country.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • EC opens nomination for Yapei/ Kusawgu seat

    The Electoral Commission has announced it will receive a nomination for persons who wish to contest for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate of the Yapei/ Kusawgu Constituency from Tuesday, 27th October and Wednesday 28th October 2020.

    Electoral Commission is extending the nomination period for the Yapei/ Kusawgu Constituency of the Savannah Region to allow for the replacement of the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Abu Kamara, who died in a fatal car accident.

    The parliamentary nominee for Yapei-Kusawgu constituency’s car crashed into an articulated truck with two others.

    The EC urged any person interested in contesting to fill nomination forms through the Retuning officer of the Yapei/ Kusawgu Constituency, at the Yapei/ Kusawgu District Office of the Electoral Commission between the hours 7:00am and 5:00pm for the two days.

    “Following Regulations 13, Subregulation (4) of, the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I.127), “Where at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of ten (10) days shall be allowed for nominations.” In this regard, the Electoral Commission is extending the nomination period for the Yapei/ Kusawgu Constituency of the Savannah Region to allow for the replacement of the Candidate,” part of the EC statement reads.

    Below is the statement

    RECEIPT OF NOMINATION YAPEI/ KUSAWGU CONSTITUENCY

    The Electoral Commission will receive nominations for the Yapei/Kusawgu Constituency on Tuesday, 27th October and Wednesday 28th October, 2020.

    This has become necessary as a result of the demise of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate of the Yapei/ Kusawgu Constituency.

    In accordance with Regulations 13, Subregulation (4) of, the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I.127), “Where at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of ten (10) days shall be allowed for nominations.” In this regard, the Electoral Commission is extending the nomination period for the Yapei/ Kusawgu Constituency of the Savannah Region to allow for the replacement of the Candidate.

    Any person who intends to contest for the Parliamentary Election should send his or her filled Nomination Forms to the Returning Officer of the Yapei/ Kusawgu Constituency, at the Yapei/ Kusawgu District Office of the Electoral Commission on the dates stated above. The Returning Officer shall receive all Nominations between the hours of 7.00am and 5.00pm for the two days.

    ELECTORAL COMMISSION

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Disqualified aspirants could serve up to 10 years if found guilty of forgery – Samson Lardi Anyenini

    Legal Practitioner, Samson Lardi Anyenini, has said the five aspirants disqualified by the Electoral Commission could serve prison sentence if found guilty of forging official documents.

    According to him, the disqualified aspirants could serve a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

    “If the decision of the Electoral Commission is charging them with forging of official documents, then they are looking at a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if they were found guilty. But if the decision was to charge them for forging other documents, then they are looking to a maximum of 3 years in jail,” Joy News quoted the lawyer in its publication on October 22, 2020.

    Mr Anyenini added that aside from the imprisonment, the parties who have been found guilty will not be able to contest as presidential aspirants any longer as the constitution requires that you must first be qualified to be a Member of Parliament.

    “Now if they were found guilty, what that means is that they will not have the opportunity next time to contest. Because to be qualified to be a president, the constitution requires that you must first be qualified to be a Member of Parliament. The constitution, again says that you are not qualified to be a Member of Parliament if you have been convicted of certain crimes such as fraud, dishonesty, and even questions of moral turpitude.”

    The Electoral Commission on Monday disqualified five of these aspirants from contesting the December 7 polls, citing breaches on their forms.

    Kofi Koranteng, Marricke Kofi Game, Akwasi Addae Odike, Kwasi Busumbru, and Nana Agyenim Boateng were those disqualified.

    The Election Commission said the elections management body will file an official complaint to police against the failed presidential aspirants for allegedly forging supporting documents to their nominations forms, leading to their disqualification.Disqualified aspirants could serve up to 10 years if found guilty of forgery – Samson Lardi Anyenini

    Legal Practitioner, Samson Lardi Anyenini, has said the five aspirants disqualified by the Electoral Commission could serve prison sentence if found guilty of forging official documents.

    According to him, the disqualified aspirants could serve a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

    “If the decision of the Electoral Commission is charging them with forging of official documents, then they are looking at a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if they were found guilty. But if the decision was to charge them for forging other documents, then they are looking to a maximum of 3 years in jail,” Joy News quoted the lawyer in its publication on October 22, 2020.

    Mr Anyenini added that aside from the imprisonment, the parties who have been found guilty will not be able to contest as presidential aspirants any longer as the constitution requires that you must first be qualified to be a Member of Parliament.

    “Now if they were found guilty, what that means is that they will not have the opportunity next time to contest. Because to be qualified to be a president, the constitution requires that you must first be qualified to be a Member of Parliament. The constitution, again says that you are not qualified to be a Member of Parliament if you have been convicted of certain crimes such as fraud, dishonesty, and even questions of moral turpitude.”

    The Electoral Commission on Monday disqualified five of these aspirants from contesting the December 7 polls, citing breaches on their forms.

    Kofi Koranteng, Marricke Kofi Game, Akwasi Addae Odike, Kwasi Busumbru, and Nana Agyenim Boateng were those disqualified.

    The Election Commission said the elections management body will file an official complaint to police against the failed presidential aspirants for allegedly forging supporting documents to their nominations forms, leading to their disqualification.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Akufo-Addo urges Volta Region voters to back him in 2020 polls

    President Akufo-Addo has asked the people of the Volta Region to vote massively for him and the New Patriotic Party in the December polls to consolidate the gains made so far.

    He said policies and programmes introduced by his administration have touched lives and transformed the country.

    Speaking at a mini-rally in Ketu North as part of his tour of the Volta Region, President Akufo-Addo said his government needs to continue with the agenda of building a future of hope for young people.

    “On 7th December, do we want to go on building this house or do we want to go back to the old broken system that we had until the 7th of January 2017? We are going forward, and we are going to build this new house we want to create in Ghana,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo is currently on a three-day working visit to the Volta and Oti Regions which ends today, Thursday, October 22, 2020.

    On this trip, he has commissioned road projects, hospitals and security installations.

    He has also cut the sod for new projects to begin and met the chiefs and people of the respective traditional areas.

    Later today, President Akufo-Addo will inspect work on the Kete Krachi Town Roads in the Krachi West constituency.

    He will also commission the Nandi Junction-Dordo Kope road and the Krachi-Banda road at Borae Junction in the Krachi Nchumuru constituency.

    President Akufo-Addo will then attend a meeting with the Oti Regional House of Chiefs at Dambai, cut sod for the NYA Youth Resource Centre there, and end the three-day work visit in the two regions with a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the Zoomlion Waste Recycling and Compost Plant at Yariga No.1 also in the Krachi East constituency of the Oti Region.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • NPP has fulfilled most of its manifesto promises, Ghanaians can see them Kajaji Chief

    The acting President of the Nkomi-Kajaji Traditional Council in the Sene East District of the Bono East Region has dismissed claims that the Akufo-Addo administration has failed to fulfil the promises it made to Ghanaians ahead of the 2016 elections.

    According to Nana Osore Sunkwa, no objective Ghanaian can dispute the manifesto achievements of the government, and anyone who does so is only refusing to face reality.

    “You have fulfilled majority of your manifesto promises; no one can challenge that” Nana Sunkwa declared on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at Kajaji at a durbar of chiefs and people to welcome Vice President Bawumia at the beginning of his two day tour of the Bono East Region.

    “Let me give one example. For decades there has been no proper train moving in Ghana, but now we see works ongoing to get the trains running again,” Nana Sunkwa continued.

    “We have seen the effect of Planting for Food and Jobs on our farmers; the afforestation jobs, NABCO, restoration of the Teacher and Nursing Training allowances, and the biggest of all, Free SHS.

    “Your Excellency, we have seen the digitisation work you have been doing, and how it has made life easier for all of us in this country.

    “Today, more local people are getting scholarships to school because you have decentralised the application. I was a member of the district interview panel, and I know how happy many parents are because their children have qualified for the scholarship.

    “The matter of a new region has been on our hearts for years, and though many governments promised us, you are the ones who have fulfilled your promise. We are most grateful.

    “You made all of these promises and more in your manifesto, and you have fulfilled most of them. We know that if we give you more time you will fulfill all” he stated.

    Nana Sunkwa indicated that even projects that were not in the manifesto are receiving attention.

    “When President Akufo-Addo visited us not long ago, he cut sod for work to begin on our major road, from Atebubu to Kajaji. We can see construction going on, and we are confident that we will soon see coaltar on our roads”.

    Dr Mahamudu Bawumia reminded the chiefs and people of Kajaji that the December 7 election is about safeguarding the major gains made so far in our national development agenda, and a vote for the NPP would ensure even more equitable sharing of the national cake to every nook and cranny of the nation.

    “Give Nana Akufo-Addo and our Parliamentary candidates the opportunity to serve you even better. Sene East has always voted NDC, but there has been no corresponding development. But in less than 4 years of voting for an NPP government, you can see the improvements. Vote NPP, and see even more development” Dr Bawumia urged.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Election 2020: John Mahama satisfied with number 2 on ballot paper

    Correspondence from Western Region:

    The Presidential candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama has expressed his satisfaction with the balloting for the 2020 general elections.

    On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Peter Otokunor picked the number two position on the ballot paper on behalf of the party’s Presidential Candidate which was conducted and officiated by the Electoral Commission EC) of Ghana.

    Commenting on his position on the ballot paper on Tuesday night at Aiyinasi Health Center park in the Ellembelle Constituency where he addressed thousands of NDC faithful as part of his a five-day campaign tour of the Western Region, John Mahama, the NDC 2020 Presidential candidate said the number two position on the ballot paper was the indication of victory.

    He also added that his position on the ballot paper was his second coming to govern this country for the next four years.

    “Today as God be on side we went for the balloting and we picked the number two position, it shows the second coming of NDC, it is two sure, it is a victory for NDC”, he said.

    However, the supporters of the party who stormed the park to listen to the message of Mr. John Mahama, chanted “two sure, two sure, the second coming of JM”.

    Earlier at Tarkwa, Mr. John Mahama emphasized that he would pursue the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for MenzGold, Nana Appiah Mensah aka NAM1 to retrieve held up investment of aggrieved customers if elected into power come December 7, 2020.

    Launching the NDC Tarkwa-Nsuaem 2020 Campaign at Tarkwa, Mr. Mahama fathomed why the Akufo-Addo-government does not appear to be interested in confiscating the properties of NAM1 but rather venting their anger on customers.

    He, therefore, fumed, “What is so special about NAM 1 that Akufo-Addo is shielding him? Why do you unleash the police on innocent customers while NAM 1 walks free”.

    Mahama who was optimistic of winning the December 7 polls, took the opportunity and assured that his next government would thoroughly investigate NAM1 and his Directors and use all legitimate means to retrieve the funds.

    Customers who spoke to GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent at the event lauded the former President for his assurance and called on him to retrieve their locked up funds for them immediately he came to power.

    They took the opportunity to pledge to vote massively for their satisfaction.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Studies show the position of the ballot matters – Political analyst

    Political marketing strategist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Dr Kobby Mensah, has said that the position of flagbearers on ballot papers play a role on how Ghanaians will vote.

    According to Dr Kobby Mensah, being on top makes it easier for voters to decide easily rather than the middle as voters tend to play with their ballot in between.

    Speaking on JoyNews, “Studies show the position of the ballot matters. When you are in the middle of the pack, there is a tendency that people could play their ballot in between.”

    “Being at the top of the pack helps because it is at the eye level. Among floaters or middle ground voters, top or bottom of the pack is a preferred choice,” he added.

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana led by Jean Mensa has officially conducted the balloting process for qualified presidential aspirants and political parties for the upcoming December 7, 2020.

    The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be on top of the ballot paper in the December 7 election.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Why are you protecting NAM 1? – Mahama to Akufo-Addo

    Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Mahama says he will pursue the Chief Executive Officer for Menzgold Nana Appiah Mensah popularly known as NAM 1, to retrieve held up investment of customers if he wins the December polls.

    Speaking at Tarkwa-Nsuaem in the Western Region, Mr Mahama wondered why the Akufo-Addo government does not appear to be interested in confiscating the properties of NAM1 but rather venting their anger on customers.

    “What is so special about NAM 1 that Akufo-Addo is shielding him? Why do you unleash the police on innocent customers while NAM 1 walks free,” he fumed.

    He assured that his next government will thoroughly investigate NAM1 and his directors and use all legitimate means to retrieve the funds.

    NAM 1 TRIAL

    The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Her Honour Ellen Asamoah on September 7 adjourned the case in which Chief Executive officer (CEO) of Menzgold Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM1) has been adjourned to October 1, 2020.

    The State had previously on June 24, 2020, filed new charges against NAM 1 at the Accra Circuit Court.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare then told the Court that his directives were that he should hold on to the new charges and the plea taking of the accused.

    On July 20, ASP Asare told the court that, they were seriously working to advise the court on the matter.

    To this end, he prayed the court for a long adjournment after which they would have been able to advise the court on their intention of prosecution on the matter.

    He said when the advice is ready, they will issue a hearing notice to the accused persons to appear before the court to do the needful.

    But in court on Monday, prosecutor prayed for an adjournment and it was granted.

    The accused person NAM 1 was present in court.

    Bail

    The Circuit Court on July 26, 2019, granted NAM 1 bail in the sum of GH¢ 1 billion cedis with five sureties, three to be justified.

    He had pleaded not guilty to all initial 13 charges levelled against him by the State. The state had since amended its charged sheet which is yet to be moved.

    He is also to report to the police every Wednesday at 10:00 hours.

    He was initially charged with abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretences, carrying on a deposit-taking business without licence, sale of minerals without licence, unlawful deposit-taking, and money laundering.

    It is alleged that the accused had taken various sums of money, totalling GH¢1.6 billion from customers.

    Source: Starr FM

  • NDC has better proposal for Technical Education Prof Naana Jane

    The running mate of former President John Dramani Mahama contends the National Democratic Congress has the best blueprint for comprehensive technical education in Ghana.

    According to Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, the conversion of Polytechnics into Technical Universities under her watch as then Education Minister was part of a larger industrialization plan for Ghana.

    Speaking on Abusua Nkomo on Kumasi based Abusua FM, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang pointed out that the NDC government undertook the most rigorous research and audit of the technical education infrastructure before rolling out the Technical University Program.

    “We did a good technical audit of the schools, conducted a capacity audit of its staff and assessed a resource audit before sending it to parliament. It was not just drafted and sent to be assented,” She explained.

    She pointed out that the bigger plan was to ensure that persons with technical acumen studied their technical courses from the basic through to high school to the tertiary level to be able to attract jobs in high earn businesses.

    “It breaks my heart that when industries set up their factories, oil rakes et-cetera in Ghana, they had to go out to bring carpenters and welders from outside Ghana because our welders and carpenters did not have advanced knowledge in the very technical aspects of their work,” she stated.

    She said the country was fashioning itself to model the German system where technical skills constituted the mainstay of their economies.

    She told host Kojo Marfo, “If you go to Germany, the mainstay of their economy is their technical skill. Importing tables will just employ persons transporting it but manufacturing it will involve a whole chain of processes that will employ several others.”

    She indicated that the NDC will continue its technical education program which saw an upgrade of some 13-second cycle technical schools; build the capacities of technical education teachers, equip technical labs and provide all the resources that the technical schools will need to realize their full functionalities.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Akufo-Addo will retire Mahama on December 7 – Ambassador Atta Boafo

    Former President John Dramani Mahama will have no more appetite for political office after the December 7 general elections, says Ambassador Kingsley Atta Boafo.

    Ghana’s Ambassador to Congo Brazaville contends that the former president will be humiliated in the upcoming polls more than what he suffered in the 2016 polls.

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer in 2016 suffered what has come to be known as the worst electoral defeat suffered by a flagbearer in the country’s election history.

    Then candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo beat the incumbent president by a whopping margin in excess of one million votes.

    Ambassador Boafo expressed optimism in an interview with this reporter stated that the good works of President Akufo-Addo will hand him a handsome victory in the polls.

    He stressed that the defeat awaiting the NDC torchbearer will be humiliating that he will not have the taste of occupying the highest office of the land even if it is offered for free to him.

    “They say 2016 was humiliating for ex-President Mahama and the NDC, but I forsee a higher scale of humiliation in the next election for them,” the former Member of Parliament ( MP) for Fomena underscored.

    That imminent defeat he accentuated will finally retire former president Mahama from the country’s Frontline politics even at his comparatively tender age.

    His Excellency Atta Boafo is confident that electorates will remember the implementation of free Senior high school policy when they go to the polls in 48 days time.

    Also, planting for food and jobs, restoration of nurses and teacher trainee allowances will be on the lips of voters in voting day.

    Additionally, the voting public will not forget about the strong economic foundation laid down by the government awaiting for a take off in 2021.

    “Ghanaians will not derail the gains we have made so far by voting back former President Mahama into office, a move that will shatter progress made so far” Ambassador Atta Boafo confidently postulated.

    Source: Owusu Morgan, Contributor

  • I wont sack Martin Amidu if I win Mahama

    Former President John Mahama has served notice he will not interfere with the work of the special prosecutor, Martin Amidu, in the likely event that he wins the 2020 elections.

    Mr. Mahama said the role of the special prosecutor is important in the fight against corruption hence he will allow the office to continue to function since it was set up by an act of Parliament.

    To this end, he noted that he will warn his appointees not to mess with Mr. Amidu because he will give him space to execute his responsibilities effectively.

    Speaking to Accra-based Adom FM, the former President said the current NPP administration is making it difficult for the Special prosecutor to function effectively.

    “If we come, we leave the office of the Special Prosecutor to work freely, we will maintain it because it was established by Parliament. And the point is I will warn my appointees against messing with him (Amidu) because, if he gets hold of any of them for corruption, I cannot intervene. And that should be the attitude of a President towards corruption,” the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for the December 7 elections said.

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor of Ghana was established after an act of the Parliament passed the Office of Special Prosecutor Bill in 2017.

    The office serves as an independent investigating and prosecution body to make inquiries into corruption, bribery, or other criminal cases at the national level whether they be in public or private sector

    The Government intended to lessen the burden on existing anti-corruption agencies and remove the institutional roadblocks that exist as hindrances to the fight against corruption. With the end result being to make anti-corruption agencies in the country more effective at discharging their duties.

    In addition, government experts have expressed the ineffectiveness of the Attorney-General as an effective prosecution and law enforcement tool in the fight against corruption because the appointment and dismissal of the Attorney-General is determined by the president.

    Therefore, the Office of the special prosecutor serves as the autonomous body to handle sensitive cases which the Attorney General will otherwise be ineffective at handling.

    Amidu is the first to hold the position of a special prosecutor.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Ill warn my appointees against messing with Amidu – Mahama

    NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, says he will warn his appointees not to take the office of the Special Prosecutor for granted if he wins the December polls.

    Mr Mahama also says he will give the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu the space to do his work to the best of his abilities.

    Speaking to Accra-based Adom FM, the former President said the current NPP administration is making it difficult for the Special prosecutor to function effectively.

    “If we come, we leave the office of the Special Prosecutor to work freely, we will maintain it because it was established by Parliament. And the point is I will warn my appointees against messing with him (Amidu) because, if he gets hold of any of them for corruption, I cannot intervene. And that should be the attitude of a President towards corruption”.

    OSP

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor of Ghana was established after an act of the Parliament passed the Office of Special Prosecutor Bill in 2017.

    The office serves as an independent investigating and prosecution body to make inquiries into corruption, bribery, or other criminal cases at the national level whether they be in public or private sector

    The Government intended to lessen the burden on existing anti-corruption agencies and remove the institutional roadblocks that exist as hindrances to the fight against corruption. With the end result being to make anti-corruption agencies in the country more effective at discharging their duties.

    In addition, government experts have expressed the ineffectiveness of the Attorney-General as an effective prosecution and law enforcement tool in the fight against corruption because the appointment and dismissal of the Attorney-General is determined by the president.

    Therefore, the Office of the special prosecutor serves as the autonomous body to handle sensitive cases which the Attorney General will otherwise be ineffective at handling.

    Martin Amidu is the first to hold the position of Special Prosecutor.

    Source: Starr FM

  • UG: Delay in reopening should not prevent you from voting TESCON to students

    Persons, especially students, who have their polling centres on the campus of the University of Ghana, have been asked not to hesitate in coming back to campus to cast their vote in the forthcoming December polls.

    This is coming from the University of Ghana chapter of the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party.

    It comes on the back an announcement from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that tertiary universities are to commence the 2020/2021 academic year in January 2021.

    Speaking to UniversNews, TESCON communications member, Kofi Ampong, admonished students to make efforts to come back to campus on election day just as they did during the voter registration exercise.

    He pointed out the voting was their civic right, hence, the need to break any hindrance that may prevent them from exercising it.

    “If we cast our mind back to the registration period, we were all aware that we were home but yet still students managed to find their way to campus to register. The same way by which students found their way to campus to register to vote, that is the same way by which they should find their way to campus to vote,” he said.

    He was, however, quick to add that students may use the option of vote transfer if they believe that coming to campus will be a problem.

    “In any case, if you are a student and you feel intimidated or that coming to campus to vote in December will be a problem for you, the Electoral Commission has opened a window of voter transfer where anyone who registered can transfer their votes to another place of your choice. So that is another option student can explore,” he added.

    Source: My News GH

  • Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu will retain Suame seat Haruna Iddrisu

    The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, has said his Majority counterpart, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, will win the upcoming parliamentary elections, despite challenges from an independent contender for the Suame seat.

    Mr. George Prempeh, with links to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), is contesting as an independent candidate, determined to unseat Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

    Mr. Prempeh was unable to contest the NPP primaries because the delegates endorsed the current Suame MP to go unopposed.

    However, the Minority Leader, during a comment on the Floor of Parliament, suggested that attempts to unseat the incumbent Suame MP would fail.

    He was speaking during the motion for the House to adopt the Business Statement for the Third Week.

    Mr. Iddrisu suggested that legislators must ensure there was a balance between their presence in their constituencies and the work in the House, as they endeavoured to retain their seats in the next elections.

    He called on the ministers of state and the Majority Leader to prioritize bills to the House rather than stampeding the House with bills in what he called “the November of the four-year mandate.”

    He said bills like the National Ambulance Bill and the National Blood Transfusion Bill could wait in preference to critical bills of government like the Council of State and Anti Money Laundering bills.

    Mr. Iddrisu commended the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo, who was present in the House, for writing to inform him on legislation she would want to be worked on.

    Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced that 60 bills were programmed for the meeting and that there had been a meeting for ministers to prioritize bills scheduled for the House.

    He explained that the National Blood Transfusion Bill had come on board because of the exigencies of the time.

    Meanwhile, Majority Chief Whip, Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, reading the Business Statement on behalf of the Majority Leader, announced that the House would sit on Monday, October 26, 2020.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • EC must be commended for refunding filing fee to disqualified candidates – Kwaku Azar

    US-based Ghanaian law lecturer, Kwaku Asare has commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for refunding the GHc100,000 filing fee to the disqualified presidential aspirants in the upcoming 2020 presidential polls.

    The lawyer and accountant in a Facebook post said the EC led by Mrs. Jean Mensa deserves commendation for this decision.

    The respected lawyer, however, asked the EC to also refund the filing fee of the qualified candidates to help them use it for their campaigns.

    His post read: “My sister, Jean Adukwei Mensa and the EC, deserve applause for refunding the filing fees of the disqualified presidential aspirants”.

    We also urge her to refund the filing fees to all qualified aspirants who need the funds to wage an effective campaign.

    We commend the disqualified candidates for their courage in offering their services and wish them luck the next time.

    We wish the qualified candidates luck in December and pray that they will not only campaign on the issues but also govern in the interest of all the people if, Insha Allah, they win.

    “We urge the citizens not to be lured into any needless violence over who should lead the country but rather do serious analysis prior to casting the ballot.”

    Five presidential aspirants have been disqualified by the EC.

    According to the EC, the 5 were disqualified over forgeries on their innovation form a.

    The forgeries by the presidential aspirants have however been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.

    The disqualified candidates include Kwesi Busumbru [PAP], Akwesi Addae Odike [UFP], Marricke Kofi Gane [independent], Kofi Koranteng [independent], and Agyenim Boateng [independent].

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Why EC disqualified Odike and 4 others from 2020 Presidential polls

    The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has made public some of the problems disqualified candidates had with their nomination forms.

    According to the Commission, independent aspirant Marricke Gane presented fake signatures on his forms.

    Also, Akwasi Addae Odike of the UPP faked signatures of people to complete his form. Kwesi Busumuru of the Popular Action Party also had fake signatures and had no supporters for some districts in Greater Accra Region.

    For Nana Agyenim Boateng of the UFP, three persons denied endorsing his candidature.

    This means 12 candidates will be found on the Ballot paper on December 7 after five of the candidates were cleared off the contest.

    Source: My News GH

  • Hold Akufo-Addo accountable Mahama charges media

    John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition NDC, has urged the media to hold President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo accountable for the promises he made to Ghanaians ahead of the 2016 general elections.

    “The media is not holding the government accountable despite knowing what is going on in the galamsey sector,” Mahama said in an interview aired on the Multimedia platforms.

    He further accused the government of seizing concessions and handing them over to NPP members.

    “So, if you go to the mining communities, DCEs [District Chief Executives] and NPP party chairmen are actively in the galamsey business,” he alleged.

    Mahama noted that scrutiny by the media during his tenure is not the same as during the Akufo-Addo presidency.

    “Government officials have never been involved in galamsey in our time as compared to now,” he said.

    “Akufo-Addo has failed when it comes to the fight against galamsey and he probably should even not be running for office.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu cannot be unseated Minority Leader

    Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said his Majority counterpart, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, will win the upcoming parliamentary elections, despite challenges from an independent contender for the Suame seat.

    Mr George Prempeh, with links to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), is contesting as an independent candidate, determined to unseat Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the MP for Suame and Leader of Government Business.

    Mr Prempeh was unable to contest the NPP primaries because the delegates endorsed the current Suame MP to go unopposed.

    However, the Minority Leader, during a comment on the floor of Parliament, suggested that attempts to unseat the incumbent Suame MP would cut no ice.

    He was speaking during the motion for the House to adopt the Business Statement for the Third Week.

    Mr Haruna suggested that legislators must ensure there was balance between their presence in their constituencies and the work in the House, as they endeavoured to retain their seats in the next elections.

    Mr Iddrisu called on the ministers of state and the Majority Leader to prioritise bills to the House rather than stampeding the House with bills in what he called “the November of the four-year mandate.”

    He said bills like the National Ambulance Bill and the National Blood Transfusion Bill could wait in preference to critical bills of government like the Council of State and Anti Money Laundering bills.

    Mr Iddrisu commended the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akufo, who was present in the House, for writing to inform him on legislation she would want to be worked on.

    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced that 60 bills were programmed for the meeting and that there had been a meeting for ministers to prioritise bills scheduled for the House.

    He explained that the National Blood Transfusion Bill had come on board because of the exigencies of the time.

    Meanwhile, Majority Chief Whip, Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, reading the Business Statement on behalf of the Majority Leader, announced that the House would sit on Monday, October 26, 2020.

    Source: GNA

  • 4More 4Nana means 4 more years of debt for Ghana – Mahama jabs Akufo-Addo

    The leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has poked fun at the popular slogan of the ruling government (4More 4Nana) in the build-up to the December Presidential and parliamentary elections.

    He said the slogan is merely designed to add more debts and weaken the economy since that has become the hallmark of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since they came into power.

    “They have done nothing with the money, yet they are asking for four more. Is it four more to add more debts to the already existing debts” Mr. Mahama, delivering a speech at a Town Hall meeting at Cape Coast in the Central Region, recounted how his government utilized the national revenue?

    He stated that his government incurred a debt of GH¢56 billion but President Akufo-Addo, in his first term, has recorded a whopping 140 billion debt stock.

    “What has he used the 140 billion his government has borrowed for?” the NDC flagbearer quizzed

  • Dec polls: Live up to expectation IGP to Police

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, has urged Police Officers and officers from other security services who will partake in election security for December 2020 to live up to the expectation of Ghanaians and the global community.

    “Ladies and gentlemen we are duty bearers. Our duties are governed by law. When discharged effectively, the people we serve would definitely be happy with us. Let us live up to the expectation of the people,” Mr Oppong-Boanuh said.

    The IGP made this counsel when he met with Police Officers in the Ahafo region, on 14th October 2020 when he inspected the operational capability of the Ahafo Regional Police Command, and their readiness for the upcoming elections.

    The Ahafo Regional Police Commander, DCOP Mr Ernest Kwabena Owusu briefed the IGP on the state of capability of the Police.

    Simulations exercises were also undertaken to demonstrate preparedness of the officers.

    Source: Class FM

  • Three candidates file nominations to contest Akyem Oda constituency seat

    Three parliamentary aspirants have filed their nominations to contest the Akyem Oda constituency seat in the upcoming general election.

    They are Jones Asante, a businessman contesting on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Alexander Akwasi Acquah, a journalist and CEO of Community Hospitals Group contesting on the ticket of the NPP and Madam Lucy Ansah, a teacher on the ticket of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM).

    Kofi Annan Nunoo, Birim Central Electoral Commission (EC) Officer, in an interview with the GNA called on the aspirants to adhere to all the COVID-19 preventive protocols in their campaign strategies to curtail the widespread spread of the disease.

    Source: GNA

  • GUM will focus on women in the informal sector – Parliamentary Candidate

    Ms. Petra Adwoa Penianah, the Parliamentary Candidate for the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) in the New Juaben South constituency, has disclosed that GUM would focus on the welfare of women in the informal sector to improve the economic status of women.

    Ms. Penianah, indicated that women formed the majority in the informal sector and GUM believed that when the needed attention was paid to the informal sector in the area of soft and accessible loans and improvement of the market areas, it would impact on the socio-economic development.

    Speaking in an interview with the GNA, she mentioned that when given the nod as the member of parliament, she would institute a loan scheme with moratoriums in the informal sector, explaining that the current trend where traders were given loan and made to pay in less than two months with huge interest, was rather collapsing a lot of small trading activities.

    Ms. Penianah has appealed to the electorates to vote massively for GUM in the upcoming elections to change the face of politics in Ghana as well as for her as the member of parliament for the area, to implement the ideas of the party.

    She observed that the youth in Ghana was lacking behind in terms of employment, and said the party under the leadership of Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, had put down measures to improve the livelihoods of the youth and called on the electorates to vote massively.

    Ms. Penianah, said when given the nod as the parliamentary candidate, she would establish a fashion training school in the constituency to train the youth as a means of creating job opportunities.

    The 46-year old businesswoman said GUM had a big chance in winning the New Juaben South seat because both the NPP and NDC had failed the people and assured that they would deliver on all their promises when voted into power.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo’s government exempts kayayei from paying market tolls

    After several years of calling on the government to come to their aid by rescuing them from the financial hardship they encounter while going about their daily duties in the market, head potters, popularly known as Kayayei have finally had a solution to their problem as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hearkened to their call.

    The President in a tweet on Friday, October 16, 2020, announced that the District Assemblies in collaboration with his government have successfully exempted these head potters from paying market tolls.

    Professing his love for Ghanaians, President Akufo-Addo stated that the welfare of Ghanaians matters to him.

    “The NPP government has exempted kayayei from market tolls. #YourWelfareMatters #4MoreForNana,” he said in a tweet.

    Also, “the NPP government has established a Social Protection Single Window Citizens Service designed to provide a single-entry point for the major social protection programmes.

    This is a way of bridging the gap between the maginalised Ghanaians and the privileged in society.

    Read his tweet below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Your welfare matters to me Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said he is concerned about the welfare of Ghanaians hence he should be voted for in the December 7 elections.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said he had demonstrated over the past three and a half years in office that he cares about Ghanaians especially the marginalized.

    This is seen in the implementation of some pro-poor policies and programmes, he said.

    For instance, he said, his administration has exempted kayayeis from paying market tolls in order to ease the pressure on them.

    “The NPP government has exempted kayayei from market tolls. #YourWelfareMatters #4MoreForNana,” he said in a tweet.

    He added “ The NPP government has established a Social Protection Single Window Citizens Service designed to provide a single-entry point for the major social protection programmes.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Military has no business with vigilantes Ghana Armed Forces

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has described as “totally false”, allegations that it intends to give its military uniforms to vigilante groups and equip them with 4,000 weapons to operate in the Volta Region on Election Day.

    The GAF in a statement signed by its Director of Public Relations, Colonel Aggrey-Quashie, said the “The Ghana Armed Forces wish to state categorically that the allegations are totally false and malicious. There is no iota of truth in them.

    “We, therefore, demand a retraction of the false publication and an apology. We also urge the public to totally disregard the false statements,” the statement said.

    It said “As an institution, the GAF does not usually respond to political commentary nor engage in political discussions. However, when factual inaccuracies are peddled against it, the GAF has a duty and responsibility to set the records straight.

    “And the truth is that no weapons have been moved out of its armouries and neither have any uniforms been issued or planned to be issued to any group as alleged,” it added.

    The statement said GAF would continue to carry out its constitutionally-mandated roles in a robust and professional manner, regardless of any attempts to draw it into the political fray.

    Source: GNA

  • Court allegedly issues bench warrant for the arrest of an independent Parliamentary candidate

    The Sefwi-Wiawso Magistrate court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Martin Bonye, an independent Parliamentary candidate for Sefwi-Wiawso constituency, his brother Bioh and another person at large for allegedly leading an attack on some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Mr Lawrence Buer Buenor, the presiding judge, issued the warrant.

    Addressing the media at Sefwi-Wiawso, Western North Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Nana Kwaku Duah said on October 6, 2020, a misunderstanding ensued between the supporters of Martin Bonye and some NPP followers after he filed his nomination forms at the Sefwi-Wiawso District office of the Electoral Commission.

    He said even though the two factions had their differences resolved, the Independent candidate organized his sympathizers to assault some NPP supporters in their homes with guns and cutlasses.

    Superintendent Duah noted that one person was injured and a motorbike was destroyed during the attack.

    According to the Regional Crime Officer, Kwame Nkrumah, Enock Brafi and John Apeteng were arrested in connection with the incident and were arraigned before the Wiawso magistrate court and have since been remanded into police custody to re-appear on October 20, 2020.

    He cautioned residents to avoid political violence as the security agencies would deal with anyone who is apprehended.

    Source: GNA