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Tag: John Mahama

  • Ghana’s food inflation of 122%, highest in the world – Mahama

    A former President of Ghana, John Mahama, has stated that Ghana’s food inflation stands at 122%, the highest rate in the world currently.

    According to him, the country’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme which was highly spoken of by the government has been mismanaged.

    He wrote on his official page on November 4, 2022, “Ghana has the highest food inflation in the world at 122%, notwithstanding the much-touted but grossly mismanaged Planting for Food & Jobs programme.”

    The former president also bemoaned the low patronage of the government’s financial instrument as T-bills remain undersubscribed.

    “We are grappling with t-bill rates of about 30% as local investors in financial instruments suffer huge risks,” he added.

    A World Bank report has revealed that Ghana is number one among countries with the highest food prices in Sub-Saharan Africa since January 2022.

    According to the World Bank’s October 2022, Africa Pulse Report, food prices have been on the rise since January 2022 by 122%.

    The report noted that Ghana has experienced very rapid food price increases this year, breaching the “inflation ceiling of the central bank target bands for all countries with an explicit nominal anchor.”

    Ghana’s inflation has been largely influenced by food, transportation, and fuel.

    According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the country’s current inflation rate stands at an all-time high of 33.9% as of August 2022.

    Food inflation alone was 34.4%, higher than the national average.

    The drivers of food inflation in Ghana are Oils and Fats (67%); Fish and Other Seafood (42.9%); Water (42%); Cereal products (40%); Milk, Diary Products, and Eggs (39.7%), Fruits and Vegetable Juices (37.7%) and Live Animals and Meat (34.5%). All of the items recorded inflation rates higher than the national average of 33.9%.

     

  • John Mahama shares experience with participants at African Youth Summit

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has shared his experiences with participants at the African Youth Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    The former President in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency said he shared his thoughts on Pan Africanism and how they could address the challenges the continent and, especially African youth continue to face in their efforts to realize a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa.

    The Africa Prospective Leaders’ Summit 2022 brought together youth from 42 African Countries, including Ghana.

    Former President Mahama expressed gratitude to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Government and People of Ethiopia for the consideration, the initiative and funding of the maiden edition of the Summit.

    He said bringing the youth of the continent together, as had been done, to share experiences and whatever best practices they bring along from their individual countries was a very good start.

    “It also provides them with a great networking opportunity – something the continent needs in the quest to enhance the capacity and skills of our youth to utilize its untapped potential,” Mr Mahama said.

    He noted that African should aim for a take-off to rapid growth, a double-digit growth, and Africa’s breakthrough would be nearer.

    “We are talking smart infrastructure, we are discussing the use of smart technology on our farms, we are looking at how to build an effective digital economy that provides huge opportunities for entrepreneurship and businesses that serve the world from Africa,” Mr Mahama said.

    “With young people that have the right skills set, we should be moving to achieve that.”

    The former President said he was looking forward to all the countries on the African continent allowing for visa-free entry by fellow Africans or an easier visa-on-arrival. process; declaring that “I started it in Ghana in 2016, Rwanda followed suit, later, Kenya, and I think we can all do it.”

    That way, he said, the benefits of the networking African youth were exposed to, could be enhanced with reciprocal visits to each other.

    Source: GNA

  • NPP being stubborn with criticism of Mahama’s speech on economy – Kwakye Ofosu

    Former President John Mahama’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, described the New Patriotic Party as stubborn after its members’ criticism of Mr. John Mahama’s speech on the economy.

    Though some NPP members who commented on Mr. Mahama’s speech described it as hypocritical and in bad faith, among others, Mr. Ofosu said the NPP needed to show humility given the current economic crisis.

    “It is a bit disappointing that they remain obstinate and have not shown any inclination towards addressing the problems we face.”

    “Any objective-minded Ghanaian who listened to the former President on Thursday would admit that he spoke to the issues in a manner that they should be spoken to.”

    Among other things, Mr. Mahama urged the President to cut down on the size of Presidential staffers, reduce the number of ministers to 65, jettison the Finance Minister and stop funding the national cathedral project.

    Mr. Kwakye Ofosu added that the NPP was certain to lose the next election because of its manner of governance.

    “I am certain that if they do not listen to the wise prescription as put out by President Mahama, it is only a matter of time before the people boot them out at the earliest opportunity and then they will learn in humility in opposition”.

    Source: Citinews

  • We weren’t bribed to suspend ‘Ofori-Atta must go’ demand – Appiah-Kubi

    New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central Constituency, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has dismissed reports that he and other MPs were bribed to step down calls for Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to be sacked by President Akufo-Addo.

    Appiah-Kubi led a group of about 80 MPs earlier this week demanding the immediate removal of Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.

    The MPs cited the struggling economy as the basis for their call threatening to boycott government business in the House if their call is not heeded to.

    After a meeting at the Presidency on Tuesday, it emerged that an agreement had been reached between the Majority Caucus and the President to have Ofori-Atta conclude the latest round of talks with the International Monetary Fund and to also present and see to the appropriation of the 2023 budget before ‘leaving.’

    That deal has seen members of the public thrash the MPs for having allowed themselves to be induced financially to back down on their call.

    This, Appiah Kubi stresses is incorrect.

    In an interview with Accra-based Joy News, he said: “I want one person, anybody associated with any such person who thinks that he can give money … If I hear anybody making an allegation, I will come out with information.

    “I will come out with information that we are beyond the bribes, our motivation is not the financial inducement, we don’t have money in our pockets but at least we have conscience. We will not reduce ourselves to that situation,” he added.

    He revealed that they had previously been approached with financial inducement but that they had repelled all such maneuvers.

    “Anybody who wants to attempt, be advised. We have sent this message to some people, they have sat upright. We have sound enough warning to people who want to influence members of our coalition with materialism, it won’t happen.”

    In a separate interview, the MP said he expected Ofori-Atta to be removed as Minister latest by December 31, 2022; by which time the budget appropriation would have been completed all things being equal.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • 3 reasons Mahama can’t call for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal – Ken Agyapong lists

    Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has criticised former President John Dramani Mahama over his call for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance.

    According to him, Mahama should lack the impetus to make such a call stressing that he was not being fair to the minister.

    In an interview with Accra-based Citi TV, the MP in explaining his point indicated that Mahama has once been president and during his tenure, the country was plunged into darkness in what became known as ‘dumsor’.

    He stated that under the tenure of the former President, the country initiated moves to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund in 2015.

    He contended that John Mahama refused to sack his finance minister at the time, Seth Terkper.

    “President Mahama is not being fair to the finance minister. If you request that, I will agree because you have not been in that vehicle before. President Mahama was in the vehicle when the was so-called ‘dumsor’.

    “President Mahama was in the vehicle when he took us to IMF with his finance minister. Did he ever fire any finance minister? This is the question I ask. Ghanaians can ask for that and I agree with them hundred per cent. Elsewhere maybe the finance minister would have resigned himself. Well, it is up to him [to decide to honourably resign]. That I don’t have a problem with.

    “But the very person who is asking for this has been the before and he did nothing. The depreciation of the Cedi is my problem. That is the only challenge we have now that we need to address. But in 2014…have we forgotten? We went through the same under president Mahama. What did he do? The only solution is to take us to IMF,” Ken Agyapong said.

    Former President John Mahama while delivering a lecture titled ‘Building The Ghana We Want’, said it was untenable for Ken Ofori-Atta to remain at post with the claim that he should be allowed to conclude ongoing negotiations with IMF as well as read the budget statement scheduled for November.

    He was reacting to the latest move of some NPP MPs who organized a press conference on October 25 to demand the sack of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta together with Charles Adu Boahene, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, failure which they will not pursue government business in Parliament.

    Following this, the president has held meetings with the MPs where it is reported that he has appealed to them to allow Ken Ofori-Atta in particular complete the IMF negotiations.

    The Majority Caucus in a statement confirmed that the demands of the MPs will be ‘acted upon’ after the conclusion of IMF negotiations and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November 2022, and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill.

    But commenting on the matter, Mahama could not comprehend how Ofori-Atta’s absence will affect the IMF negotiations as well as budget preparation.

    “I only got to know of a press statement by the Majority of a so-called compromise that the Minister will leave after he has completed the budget and the IMF negotiations…budget preparations and IMF negotiations are the results of teamwork, they are not the work of one individual. I fail to see how the absence of the Minister will affect the preparations of the budget and the negotiations with the IMF,” John Mahama explained.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • GFA boss Kurt Okraku charged to raise standard of Ghana Premier League

    Former President of Ghana, John Mahama has urged Kurt Okraku, who is the president of the Ghana Football Association [GFA] to ensure the standard of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) gets better.

    Over the years, the local topflight has struggled to attract fans to the various stadia.

    As part of the FA’s plans to whip support for the team, Mr. Okraku visited John Mahama at his residence.

    John Mahama speaking during the visit believes that the current leadership has brought some vitality to the game but urged them to raise the standard of the local league

     

    .

    “We know that under this administration, the Ghana Football Association [GFA] has brought some more vitality into our football and we are all supporting this administration to make sure we move football to the next level,” he said as quoted by ghanafa.org.

    “I know there are challenges in the domestic league because our people are more interested in the foreign League and so people don’t come to the stadium as they should but it is normally a good family entertainment, but we need to raise the standard so people will love to come to the stadium,” he added.

    The 2022/23 Ghana Premier League will resume this weekend after the court injunction filed by Ashgold was dismissed by an Accra High Court.

    Source: Footballghana

  • Our economic mess is because of ‘an untouchable’ Finance Minister – Mahama

    Former President, John Mahama has blamed the Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta for the country’s economic woes.

    According to him, the President’s seeming inability to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta from office is making the situation worse.

    “To be clear, we’re in this mess because of an untouchable Finance Minister relying on his Databank workers and neglecting the advice of seasoned experts at the Finance Ministry. He has been left to run this economy into the ground’.

    We’re in this mess because of the so called solid Economic Management Team, who over the last several years has been unable to call the President’s cousin (Ofori-Atta) to order when he embarked on a reckless borrowing spree”.

    Speaking at a lecture on the economy on Thursday, he stressed that the incompetence of the sector minister and the entire Akufo-Addo regime accounts for the depreciation of the Cedi and the other economic challenges plaguing the country.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we in the NDC will not have dared been reckless or would we have been allowed to be irresponsible in the handling of the public purse and the nation’s resources as the NPP has done.

    We would not have been reckless and even society would not have allowed us to do some of the things that they have done. We’ve had our set of challenges in government. But nothing we did, or the outcome thereof has come anyway near close to the disaster unfolding before our eyes today”, he said.

    The theme for the lecture was ‘Building The Ghana We Want’.

    Touching on the hardship facing Ghanaians, he assured that the next NDC government will rescue Ghana from its current state through prudent economic reforms and policies.

    He also urged the current regime to consider measures such as a cut in the number of government appointees as a means of salvaging the economy.

    Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo will on Sunday, October 30, also address the nation on the economic challenges facing the country and its people.

    The President made this known in a Facebook post on Thursday.

    The address is scheduled for 8:00pm, and will be telecast on ‘GTV and on major television networks across the country’, the post said.

    The address by the President comes in the wake of recent public agitations about the ailing state of the economy.

    At the moment, Ghana’s economy is reeling under pressure; a situation which has led to an increase in the cost of living as well as what some have described as a ‘galloping inflation’.

    The country’s local currency is also battling a fluctuation against the US dollar and other major trading currencies across the globe.

    Coupled with graduate unemployment and the general hardship in the system, many Ghanaians have subsequently bemoaned the situation and called on government to speedily resolve the crisis.

    For some, the President’s upcoming address, therefore, comes as a welcome relief amidst the prevailing challenges.

    Meanwhile, government says it is working to put the economy on a better footing.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

     

  • LIVESTREAMING: Mahama addresses the nation on “building the nation we want”

    Former President, John Dramani Mahama, will address the nation on the current economic situation at 7pm tonight.

    The address dubbed “Building the Ghana we want” is taking place at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) Auditorium.

    The address comes at a time when the country is experiencing a severe economic crisis, amidst the fall of the cedi, high inflation, astronomical surges in the prices of petroleum products, among other things.

    Mr Mahama is expected to propose solutions geared towards averting the current economic hardships.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Ofosu Ampofo’s courage was tested at Ayawaso West by-election – Asiedu Nketiah

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, says the National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo’s courage as a leader was tested during the violent Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

    According to him, Mr Ofosu Ampofo’s announcement of the NDC’s withdrawal from that crucial by-election was an outright wrong move.

    The Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election held in 2019 was marred by violence after National Security Operatives brutalized voters resulting in some having their legs broken and being admitted to the hospital.

    Mr Ofosu Ampofo has said he arrived at the decision for the NDC to pull out based on the advice given by the party’s security experts, adding that both ex-President John Mahama and Asiedu Nketia were consulted before the decision was made public.

    But Asiedu Nketiah in an interview on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV denied consenting to that decision.

    “I was attending a conference in the Dominican Republic as the Vice President of Socialist International when Chairman Ofosu Ampofo called me saying that some vigilantes had fired gunshots all over the place and so he thinks the NDC should withdraw from the election. I told him don’t, it is a bad decision, and that he’ll set a bad precedent in the NDC. I told him with violence or not, the NDC will win so the party shouldn’t withdraw.”

    He added: “Right after I was done with him, I received a call from ex-President Mahama telling me he’s picked up information that Ofosu Ampofo intends to announce the party’s withdrawal, it’s a bad move, tell him he shouldn’t do it. I told him I’d spoken to him (Ofosu Ampofo) not to do so. Shortly after, I saw news flashing of Ofosu Ampofo flanked by the party’s security capos announcing the NDC’s withdrawal from the election. One of the reasons he cited was that the NDC Parliamentary candidate is unable to step out of his room. So if the candidate is not able to come out, should the party withdraw from an election,” Asiedu Nketia asked.

    Asked by the host, Bonohene Baffuor Awuah whether he sees Ofosu Ampofo as a weak leader, Asiedu Nketia responded: “his (Ofosu Ampofo) courage was tested at the battlefield and we all saw the results.”

    “During the election in Jaman North and Banda, I was there at the forefront confronting security officers. The good thing about this is that when you are a leader and there’s any frightening situation where soldiers or police officers are intimidating people and the leader steps up and confronts the situation, your followers become empowered and also stand their ground. It is easy for foot soldiers to be attacked when the leadership abandons them,” Asiedu Nketia added.

     

  • Bawumia has proven he is incompetent and not fit for purpose – Stan Dogbe

    A former presidential staffer in the former John Mahama administration says Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia has fallen from an exaggerated platform of perceived competence.

    Stan Dogbe said the Vice President is “simply not fit for purpose.”

    According to the broadcaster, Dr Bawumia has failed to live up to expectations.

    Bawumia has proven he is incompetent and not fit for purpose - Stan Dogbe
    Stan Dogbe

    In a social media post on Friday, October 14, Mr Dogbe insisted that Dr Bawumia’s sole aim for speeches is for “political connections” and not real economics.

    “Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia has fallen massively from an exaggerated platform of perceived competence to the low level he actually belongs. The man is simply not fit for purpose.

    “In fact, the man exposes what is a clear difference between thoughtful competence, grounded in a mastery of analytical prowess and baseless loudness, that is designed only for quick returns,” he said.

    Bawumia has proven he is incompetent and not fit for purpose - Stan Dogbe
    Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

    Mr Dogbe’s disappointment in the Vice President has to do with the continuous depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi and the downtrodden economy.

    The Ghanaian cedi passed the ¢12 to the dollar mark on Friday, selling at ¢12.10 at most forex bureaux or the retail market.

    This development comes within a week after the cedi earlier depreciated against the dollar.

  • Seeking constant bailouts from IMF threatens nation’s democracy – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has said that any government that comes to office must ensure the country never seeks a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) again.

    That, he said, was because constantly seeking bailouts from the organisation creates instabilities thereby threatening the country’s democracy.

    “This should be the last time because going and coming to the IMF creates a certain instability in the whole system and reduces the faith that people have in our democracy,” he said.

    He made the statement in a television interview on the Voice of America (VOA) Straight Talk Africa programme in Washington DC.

    Home-grown policies

    Mr Mahama said engaging in an IMF programme would bring the country’s debts back to sustainable levels and help to achieve policy credibility which would motivate investors to do business in the country.

    However, he urged the government to also develop home-grown policies aimed at transforming the economy to ensure investor confidence.

    Mr Mahama also said the government must make reducing the budget of the Office of the President a key aspect in the negotiations with the IMF which, according to the former president, was necessary to show the government’s commitment to reduce expenditure.

    “They have to cut the budget to the Office of the President to show the way because if the president himself is cutting the budget of government machinery, then it means everybody must be prepared to make a sacrifice,” he explained.

    The former president therefore stated that the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would strengthen stated-owned institutions and undertake a constitutional review as part of their strategy to sustain the economy.

    “We have been operating it for more 26 years and I think the time has come to look at it again and do some tweaking so that we can have a proper constitutional environment in which to grow the economy,” he added.

    Opportunity for Africa

    Mr Mahama also stated that the current global economic crisis had presented Africa with a unique opportunity to trade internally.

    “It is an opportunity for us to look within and see why we can go better in terms of trading with ourselves.”

    Happily, we’ve passed the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and as I speak the first commodities are beginning to be exchanged and that is good news”, he said.

    Mr Mahama was hopeful that the initiative would increase Africa’s internal trade which would create opportunities for its citizens particularly the youth to realise their full potentials.

    Source: Graphiconline

  • Africa needs a post slavery Marshall plan like Europe – Mahama

    In order to develop in terms of commerce and economic recovery after years of slavery, former president John Dramani Mahama has urged Africa to have a Marshall Plan.

    The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was a U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II

    The plan had two major aims; to prevent the spread of communism in Western Europe and to stabilise the international order in a way favourable to the development of political democracy and free-market economies.

    Speaking with Hayde Adams on VOA’s Straight Talk Africa programme, Mr John Mahama said slavery has negatively impacted the growth of the African continent.

    “After slavery, I think there should be a Marshall plan. I mean slavery affected the continent very adversely and I do believe that if a Marshall plan was put up and we got the right leadership on the continent and we do the kinds of things we are doing; trading, building the infrastructure on the continent, we can create a decent existence for our people.”

    The former statesman is optimistic that Africa will emerge as the next major centre for commerce and investment, should the necessary measures be put in place.

    In his submission, the former leader also expressed his excitement about the creation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that it was a cause for which he and others had campaigned.

    Mr Mahama called the 11% increase in intra-African trade “crazy” and emphasised that the AfCFTA could act as a catalyst for reaching 50% intra-African commerce in the near future.

    He claims that by doing this, the African continent will be able to completely benefit from commerce.

    “Happily, we have passed the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and as I speak the first commodities are beginning to be exchanged.

    A shipment of tiles from Ghana I read this morning is going to Rwanda and a shipment of tea is coming from Kenya to Ghana… I mean that’s good news,” he said.

    “We have been advocates of this for so long. We are happy it’s happening now. 11% percent trade amongst ourselves, it’s ridiculous.

    We are hoping that this can push trade between ourselves even to 50% so that we are able to multiply the benefits within the continent but also get benefits from outside,” Mahama added.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • I can’t confirm or deny if I’d contest for NDC flagbearership – Mahama

    Ex-President John Dramani Mahama has said he is yet to decide whether he will run on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general elections.

    The former statesman made the disclosure during an interview with the Voice of America (VOA).

    When asked if he had made plans to run in the next general elections, John Mahama responded in the negative. “No, I haven’t.”

    He explained that he will remain silent to keep the opponents guessing, “so even if I’m not running, I’m not going to say I’m not running.” According to him, information on whether he will be leading the opposition party in the December polls will be announced in the first quarter of 2023.

    Providing rationale behind the aforementioned date, he said, “that’s when we hold our party’s primaries for the presidential candidacy.”

    It has been reported that former Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, is interested in representing the party in the 2024 elections. However, comments from Dr Duffuor indicate that he is concerned about presenting a formidable NDC to go up against the ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    In November 2021, while speaking to the media, he said “The NDC has not opened any nomination for Presidency. All that we are doing now is to build a very strong party. So when we get there, we will know.”

    “Let’s get to the river before we cross. We are not there yet, when we get there, we will cross and then we will know. But right now the focus is on the party and not on any individual. Soon, the party will elect its leaders but for now, we are not there yet,” he continued.

    In subsequent interviews, Dr Duffuor also shied away from rating the performance of the erstwhile Mahama administration.

    “I come from an area where when you inherit your brother or uncle, you don’t go in there to talk about the bad things he did. It is a taboo. You only go there to correct what he did quietly and build on that. It is a tradition.

    Have you ever witnessed the swearing-in of a chief? What does he say? ‘What my brother or uncle came to do, is what I’m coming to continue. Not to come and erase what my brother or uncle did and then start all over.’ It has never happened in our tradition and should not happen in politics,” he stated.

    On April 13, 2022, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in a report stated that it expects the opposition NDC to try to revitalise its prospects with a fresh candidate although “the former president, John Mahama, is reportedly considering running again.”

    In response, the party’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, said John Mahama is the NDC’s best bet if they are to win the 2024 election.

    “John Mahama, in my opinion, is our surest bet to win 2024. This is because we got 1.5 million more votes in 2020 than in 2016. Therefore it cannot be true with Mahama; the NDC will be disadvantaged,” he said.

    Currently, the two major political parties, NPP and NDC are yet to determine who would be leading the parties to the polls in 2024.

    The ruling party is hoping to break the eight-year governance system. According to the NDC, this would not be possible following the track record of the government in the running of the country.

    While the former statesman contemplates on his future political plans, he has called on the Presidency to cut down on its budgetary allocations as the country engages the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an economic bailout.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • NDC has no moral right to criticize our galamsey fight – NPP

    The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken a swipe at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) after the latter described its effort in fighting illegal mining in the country as a scam.

    The NPP Deputy Director of Communications, Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah in a statement said the NDC’s conduct is “like the pot calling the kettle black because their track record in the galamsey menace is horrible.”

    Mr. Owusu Bempah accused the NDC of enabling and festering galamsey when they had the opportunity to pull the plug.

    “We are talking about a party that shamelessly launched the Youth in Small Scale Mining programme in the Eastern Region, which apparently opened the floodgate for galamsey.”

    “Of course, the galamsey situation got so bad under Mahama in 2015, such that he had to hang his shame on the people of Kyebi, tagging the place as the headquarters of Galamsay in the country.”

    He further accused the NDC of enabling galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang to thrive in Ghana.

    “For those that may have missed this; the erstwhile Mahama government issued an infinite resident permit to Aisha Huang.”

    “Precisely on 28th March 2015, Aisha Huang was given an indefinite resident permit to live here in perpetuity and to engage in her illegal activities. This happened under the Mahama administration. Meanwhile, she was unsuccessful in getting the permit during the President Kufour era.”

    “So you see, any dastardly attempt by the NDC to rationalize the political economy of galamsay must be roundedly condemned. It is beyond dispute that under John Mahama-led government, the national record of the deleterious impact of galamsay left a lot to be desired. It was simply unprecedented.”

    He explained that all the Akufo-Addo administration has been doing is simply managing a very bad situation as well as it can by the deft and relatively constructive application of the statutory laws of the land.

    The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi while addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, October 6, 2022, said the President is not backing his efforts with action.

    He described the measures and strategies put in place by government to win the war against the illegality as a clear deception, alleging that some members of the NPP and government are behind galamsey in the country.

  • Mahama’s full convocation speech at world’s biggest Christian university

    Former President John Dramani Mahama, on October 5, 2022 shared wide-ranging insights with the academic community of Liberty University, the biggest privately-owned tertiary institution in the United States.

    The special guest of honour at the 2022 Convocation of the Virginia-based university delivered a 10-minute speech to a packed auditorium.

    In his speech, John Mahama narrated how he entered politics at a time he was considering going into academia and the need to turn to God at all times.

    He also spoke of how Ghana continues to be an oasis of peace in a troubled sub-region.

    He described Ghana as “an island of religious calmness in a sea of turbulence,” citing how “almost all our surrounding neighbours have in recent times experienced some major form of insurgency, coup d’etats or other conflicts, including religious conflicts.”

    Governments, John Mahama noted, must guarantee peace and security and avenues to combat youth unemployment so that youth don’t become easy recruits due to frustration and lack of opportunity.

     

  • Diversions of $100m oil money disconcerting; Finance Minister must repatriate funds urgently – Mahama

    Former President John Mahama asked the Finance Minister to as a matter of urgency refund the alleged diversion of $100 million accrued from Ghana’s Petroleum lifting in the first quarter of 2022.

    Mr Mahama said there can be no justification for the said diversion.

    According to him, the move is illegal as per Petroleum Exploration and Production Act (Act 919).

    In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Mahama stated that the Finance Minister did not seek parliamentary approval for the diversion.

    “Section (15) of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act (Act 919), is also clear that “Any borrowing exceeding the cedi equivalent of thirty million United States Dollars for the purpose of exploration, development and production shall be approved by Parliament and shall be in consonance with the Petroleum Revenue Management Act.”

    Diversions of $100m oil money disconcerting; Finance Minister must repatriate funds urgently - Mahama
    Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta

    “There can be no justification for diverting revenues accruing from the nation’s share of petroleum resources into any other account aside from the PHF.

    Diversions of $100m oil money disconcerting; Finance Minister must repatriate funds urgently - Mahama
    Former President, John Mahama

    The Minister for Finance must as a matter of urgency repatriate all such illegal payments back into the PHF without delay as there is no record to confirm parliamentary approval on any such loans acquired by GNPC in their work programme,” he stated.

    The issue was first made public by the Minority in Parliament.

    The Minority, in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 28, insisted the revenue from the Jubilee and TEN fields to a company was transferred illegally.

    The Caucus also alleged that the Finance Minister has ceded shares from the 2021 Occidental (Oxy) transaction in respect of the Jubilee and TEN Fields to an offshore company known as JOHL “in a very surreptitious and opaque manner.”

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • The country is not going well; people are pissed – Shatta Wale calls Nana Addo to action

    Dancehall singer, Shatta Wale, has sent a message to Ghana’s president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    He has charged him to listen to the cry of citizens as they believe that their president hasn’t made any major impact on their lives ever since he came into office.

    Shatta, on Monday afternoon, took to his social media page to detail the true state of the nation under Akufo-Addo, adding that the president’s officials have failed to tell him the real state of Ghana’s economy.

    “It is just that some of us in this country are cowards,” Shatta said.

    According to the famous singer, the president needs to be made aware of his shortcomings, which people on the streets say are worse than the former president, John Mahama.

    “Let me tell you the truth about what is happening on the streets. The street is hot. Mr President, the street is hot, I am telling you something…Mr President, I am telling you, the country is not going well.

    “People just want to come follow you and make money and just go, and your legacy won’t be the legacy you’ve dreamt of. I beg you, ebi Ghana, we all dey oo,” said Shatta Wale in the video sighted by GhanaWeb.

    The Ghanaian entertainer added that not much has been achieved in the entertainment sector under the leadership of the president, adding that Ghanaians are pissed at his leadership.

    “We were in Ghana when they said Mahama wasn’t doing anything, but as for you, the people say you are not even trying. Mr President, forget everything. That is what I am telling you. They say you no dey try. Common entertainment sef they say you no dey try. People are pissed on the street, I am telling you something,” he said.

    The country is not going well – Shatta Wale calls Nana Addo to action

    Source:ghanweb.com

  • 2024 polls: Alan will beat Mahama by 54% – Hopeson Adorye

    Former New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for Kpone Katamanso, Hopeson Adorye, has stated that Alan Kyerematen and former President John Dramani Mahama will lead the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress respectively into the 2024 elections.

    According to him, the contest between the two will see NPP ease past its longstanding political rival NDC by garnering 54% of votes cast – a result which will manifest the NPP’s ‘break the 8’ agenda.

    In an interview with Accra-based Okay FM on October 3, Adorye stressed that Alan Kyerematen was the only candidate amongst candidates interested in the flagbearership slot who will deliver victory for the NPP.

    He said that the Trade and Industry Minister appealed to the middle class, grassroots, people in the academia as well as persons on the other side of the political divide.

    This he believes will inure to the benefit of NPP going into the 2024 elections.

    “NDC’s candidate for 2024 is obviously Mr Dumsor John Dramani Mahama. Alan will defeat him cool. Alan is the only person who is politically careful when speaking. He sticks to facts. You won’t get Alan’s voice in which he is contradicting himself. There’s none like that.

    “The academia, middle class and grassroots like him because of this. It is the polling station officers who are bringing Alan as flagbearer. They are always asking him when he is stepping down from his role as minister.

    “The people on the grounds are mounting pressure for him to step down. NDC’s candidate is automatically John Mahama. John Mahama facing Alan…you will see NPP garnering 54% of votes cast. I’m sure on that,” Adorye said.

    The New Patriotic Party, is bent on breaking the eight-year rotational power cycle between itself and the opposition party NDC.

    Ahead of that, it is billed to elect a flagbearer next year. Some of the names which have popped up besides Alan Kyerematen include Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, and Former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong amongst others.

    Political analysts however predict that the contest is going to be a two-horse race between Alan Kyerematen and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Mahama’s administration completed 46 E-blocks, not 29 – NDC

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that the John Mahama-led administration completed 46 E-Block projects.

    This is in contrast to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) claim that the Mahama administration only completed 29.

    According to the NDC, the Education Ministry’s handing-over note states it clearly.

    “The handing-over notes of the former Minister of Education under the NDC/Mahama government, the venerable Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang bears out this fact.”

    The main opposition party in the country added that all these projects were properly furnished.

    The party insists that all these facilities were inspected by the President, the Chiefs, community leaders and the media during the commissioning.

    “Interestingly, the first Minister of Education of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, Mathew Opoku Prempeh is on public record to have said in 2017 that the NDC/Mahama government completed 46 Community Day Senior High Schools. This was widely reported by the media. The internet never forgets.”

    “Post-facto this public admission by their own Minister of Education, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government in a futile effort to distort the superior record of the NDC/Mahama government deceptively reclassified some completed E-Block projects as uncompleted, thereby reducing the total number to 29.

    This so-called reclassification was largely done on the contrived and flimsy grounds that some of the 46 completed E-blocks had no furniture even though the physical structures had been fully completed.”

    The party attached a list of Community Day Senior High Schools that were completed and/or commissioned by former President John Mahama before exiting the office.

    Find the list below

    1. Seventh Day CDSHS- Abease, Pru West

    2. Dermaa CDSHS- Dermaa, Tano South

    3. Lambusie CDSH- Lambussie District

    4. Nchumuru CDSHS- Krachi

    Nchumuru

    5. Maame Krobo CDSHS- Kwahu, Afram Plains South

    6. Kwabenya CDSHS- Ga East

    7. Atta Mills CDSHS- Ekumfi Otuam

    8. Nkwanta CDSHS- Nkwanta

    9. Nyanoakwaboah CDSHS- Upper West Akyim, Adeiso

    10. Adobewora CDSHS- Atwima Mponua

    11. Adugyama CDSHS- Ahafo-Ano South

    12. Bamiankor CDSHS- Bamiankor, Nzema East District

    13. Nsawora Adumafa CDSHS- Sefwi Akontonbra

    14. Takorase CDSHS- Akwatia, Denkyembour District

    15. Frafraha CDSHS- Madina, Accra

    16. Katamanso CDSHS- Kpone Katamanso, Accra

    17. Volo Community Day- North Tongu

    18. Loggu CDSHS- Wa East

    19. Zulugu CDSHS- Binduri

    20. Daboya CDSHS- Daboya

    21. Wapuli CDSHS-Saboba

    22. New Longoro-Kintampo

    23. Asuosu CDSHS- Offinso North

    24. Agric Nzema CDSHS- Kumasi Metropolis

    25. Kwamekrom CDSHS- Oti

    26. Diaso CDSHS- Upper Denkyira West

    27. Kyekyewere CDSHS-Upper Denkyira East

    28. Moree CDSHS- Abura Asebu Kwamankese

    29. Namanwora CDSHS- Agona East

    30. Sankor CDSHS- Ahanta West

    31. Awutu Bawjiase CDSHS- Awutu Senya West

    32. Awutu Ofaakor CDSHS- Awutu Senya East

    33. Anum Apapam CDSHS- Ayensuano

    34.Avenorfeme CDSHS- Akatsi South

    35. Fodoa Nkwanta CDSHS-Kwahu West

    36. Mem Chemfre CDSHS- Kwahu, Afram Plains North

    37. Yabram CDSHS- Dambai

    38. Krobo CDSHS- Techiman North

    39. Agona Fankobaa CDSHS- Agona West

    40. Gyaman CDSHS- Gomoa Gyaman

    41. Enyanmaim CDSHS- Ajumako Enyan Essiam

    42. Kanjaga CDSHS- Builsa South

    43. Pakoso CDSHS- Asokore Mampong

    44. Gambigo CDSHS- Zuarungu, Bolga East

    45. New Longoro CDSHS- Kintampo North

    46. Kwamekrom CDSHS- Biakoye District

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • NDC’s constitution amendment committee accused of scheming to impose Mahama on party

    Ahead of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) delegates’ congress to elect new leaders in December this year, the committee charged to oversee the amendment of the constitution has been accused of engaging in moves that will eventually see John Mahama emerge as the party’s leader going into the 2024 polls.

    The Constitutional Amendment Committee of the NDC according to Angelonline.com.gh sources is seeking to disenfranchise some delegates.

    It has emerged that the Constitutional Amendment Committee has resolved to smuggle in obnoxious laws and remove delegates at the branch level and prevent them from voting.

    According to Article 42G of the NDC’s constitution, which talks about Presidential elections in the party and who is eligible to vote, Branch executives, Constituency, Regional, National Executives and founding members are permitted to vote.

    However, the source claims that the committee wants to expunge the branch executives from the list. The move is to allegedly pave way for former President John Mahama to lead the party for the fourth consecutive time.

    This is coming at a time a leading member of the party, Dr Kwabena Duffour’s name popped up in the flagbearship race.

    Due to his popularity at the grassroots level, some members of the party who are pro-John Mahama are said to be deliberately trying to sideline Dr. Duffour to give their favorite an advantage.

    Dr. Duffour’s self-help public finance practical ‘Ahotor project’ has been widely accepted by the grassroots as it brings hope to the various branches and constituencies to be self-financing.

    According to the source, the unwarranted exercise by the Committee has raised questions as it believes, would impact the fortunes of the party going into the 2024 elections.

    The move to ensure that the ward statutory officials of the party are excluded from certain party nomination processes at the state level which will put the party in bad light, a situation some have vowed to oppose.

    The source, who noted that some members of the party who have vowed to resist the move, said that “it is a Constitutional breach and is an evil agenda against the grassroots.”

    The source said that the objective of having the delegates at the ward and the grassroots to integrate the people and give power back to the people has been defeated with the planned action.

    On the planned amendment, the source said, “the party must be people-centered to make any reasonable impact in the coming elections since the expansion of the party statutory delegates to the ward level was to achieve the objective of bringing the party closer to the grass root.

    “An attempt of this nature will, therefore, be a nullity since it will not meet the stipulated constitutional positions,” it added.

     

  • I won’t boo Mahama if he becomes president again – KT Hammond ‘schools’ youth on courtesy

    Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has reiterated his discontentment with the booing of President Akufo-Addo at the recently held Global Citizen Festival.

    Speaking to Accra-based Joy FM, the MP indicated that the youth must at all times demonstrate respect towards people in authority no matter the circumstances.

    Citing himself as an example, he maintained that he has never uttered foul language at the 2020 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, who has been president before and who is seen as a political opponent.

    He insisted that it was wrong to insult leaders in that regard.

    “It doesn’t matter if it was Akufo-Addo president or John Mahama president. John Mahama president, I have never in my life said anything insulting about John Mahama. I don’t do that.

    “I am a different person. I don’t believe it is proper. I can take on the NDC I can take on…how much criticism haven’t you heard me make of the NDC administration and all of that? But I don’t insult personalities.

    “I don’t believe that is the way politics should run . NDC administration is a bogus administration and this and that…it is unthinkable that I will at any point in time say it is appropriate to hoot at a president. He is the figure head,” KT Hammond opined.

    He added that: “I don’t think I will ever boo at John Mahama when he becomes president again. When he was, I never insulted him.

    “As I speak right now, John is my good friend. I have many friends in the NDC. It doesn’t cost much to respect”.
    The booing of President Akufo-Addo at the global concert has been topical throughout this week with members of the New Patriotic Party expressing varying opinions on the matter.

    While some insist the crowd rather cheered, others claim it was the opposition National Democratic Congress that planted rogues to cause the embarrassment to the president.

    The NDC has however rejected the accusation, maintaining that the incident was a reflection of the frustration of the youth in the country.

  • Mahama’s aide challenges K.T. Hammond over his “insults” to youth

    Kobina Tahir Hammond, a member of parliament for Adansi Asokwa, has been called to awaken to the dawn of a new era for the youth by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, an aide to former president John Dramani Mahama.

    Her remarks follow the MP’s viral video, in which he is seen engaging with media and criticising young people for booing President Akufo-Addo over the weekend at the Global Citizen Festival.

    In a Twitter post on September 28, the aide said the youth were now more at the center stage of affairs and had a huge voice – a deviation from the past status quo of silence.

    She mentioned that as a result, they have become influential and cannot be overlooked by the world all over.

    “Hon K.T Hammond should please wake up and smell the roses! All over the World, young people have taken center stage! They have a huge voice, are a huge constituency and should not be overlooked or described in such disparaging terms,” Bawah Mogtari tweeted.

    What K. T Hammond said

    In an interview with journalists earlier this week, the legislator expressed his disgust at the booing of President Akufo-Addo while arguing that it was not right for the youth to disrespect the president and by extension elders in the society, especially for political reasons.

    He urged the youth to at all times remain humble and accord the necessary respect to people who are advanced in age.

    K. T Hammond added that the platform on which the president spoke was not a political one to warrant the reaction he had from some patrons of the event.

    “We don’t live in a country and do that. Let’s be humble. Whatever we do, the president is the executive head of this country. When he came, he didn’t say anything. It wasn’t even a political platform,” he stated.

  • Russia-Ukraine crisis and COVID-19 exacerbated Ghana’s economic problems – IMF

    Gerry Rice, the director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) communications department, has reiterated the devastating consequences of the worldwide pandemic COVID-19 and the crisis in Russia and Ukraine on Ghana’s economy and other economies across the world.

    He claims that many nations, like Ghana, have been put through more hardship because they were already at the mercy of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Russia-Ukraine crisis started.

    He is quoted by citinewsroom.com as saying, “I would say, as just to repeat, the war in Ukraine has triggered a global economic shock that’s hitting Ghana and, as I said, many other countries, and all at a time when, for many of these countries, their room for fiscal maneuver, if I could put it that way, is already extremely limited because they’ve used a lot of fiscal power already in the pandemic.”

    His remarks come after numerous Ghanaians, notably the former president John Mahama, disputed with claims made by the MD of the IMF that foreign causes were to blame for Ghana’s economic issues.

    Gerry Rice claims that the IMF has taken note of the difficulties that various nations are facing and is acting to hasten their recovery.

    And we’re well aware of it.
    And for that reason, as I stated at the outset, we are stepping up to assist nations where we can, and that includes Ghana,” he insisted.

    He said, “I don’t have a date for you, but [it will be] in the coming weeks.” When asked when Ghana should expect the anticipated $3 billion from the Bretton Woods organization, he stated, “I don’t have a date for you.”

     

  • Komenda Sugar Factory did not attain operational status under NDC Trade Ministry

    The Komenda Sugar Factory was not finished and put into operation during the previous John Mahama administration, contrary to assertions made by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

    This comes after the opposition New Patriotic Party was accused by the opposition National Democratic Congress of failing to run the $36 million plant that was left to them.

    Prince Boakye Boateng, the Trade Ministry’s public relations officer, responded to the allegations in an appearance on Top FM by stating that the Komenda Sugar Factory had not yet become operational under the previous administration.

    He also gave some information regarding the president’s recent visit to the factory, which was intended to let him know how the work was going.

    “Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo did not attend the inauguration of Komenda Sugar Factory.
    The president went to see how things were going at work.
    The Komenda Sugar Factory is not yet open for business.
    The factory was created and taken to a certain point by the previous administration, but in reality, it was not running.
    A few components weren’t even installed, he said.

    He continued, “That was the extent to which the work on the factory had reached, but it was not operational. But now, by the grace of God, the parts that were yet to be installed have been installed.”

    The PRO for the ministry stressed that it would be an act of peddling falsehood should anyone claim that the factory was completed for operationalization by the erstwhile NDC.

    “Anyone that claims Komenda Sugar Factory was completed by the NDC is peddling falsehood,” he stressed.

    Meanwhile, during a recent working visit to the factory, President Akufo-Addo expressed hope that the Komenda Sugar Factory, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will be commissioned for operation by end of this year.

    The factory is said to have undergone two successful test runs ahead of its inauguration later in the year.

    Officials at the factory said 12.5 metric tonnes of unrefined brown sugar have been produced from the two successful test runs.

    Background

    Though the erstwhile John Mahama administration recommissioned the factory on May 30, 2016, in a bid to get it functioning once again and offer employment for the youth, the move hit a snag as the Akufo-Addo-led government took office shortly in 2017.

    The Komenda Sugar Factory was expected to create some 7,300 direct and indirect jobs at full operational capacity. The factory is said to be able to crush 1,250 tonnes of sugar cane daily.

    The sugar-producing factory was first established in 1964 by Dr Kwame Nkrumah but became defunct over the years due to technical difficulties and setbacks.

    The birth of the factory was based on the premise of producing sugar locally to reduce importation and for commercial purposes.

  • Oleksiy Vadatursky: Ukraine grain tycoon killed in Russian shelling of Mykolaiv

    One of Ukraine’s richest businessmen has been killed with his wife in “massive” Russian shelling of the southern city of Mykolaiv.

    Oleksiy Vadatursky, 74, and his wife Raisa died when a missile hit their home overnight, local officials said.

    Mr Vadatursky owned Nibulon, a company involved in grain exports. He had also received the “Hero of Ukraine” award.

    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described Mr Vadatursky’s death as a great loss.

    Mykolaiv mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said it was probably the heaviest Russian bombardment of the city so far.

    There was damage to a hotel, a sports complex, two schools and a service station, as well as homes.

    Mykolaiv is on the main route to Odesa, Ukraine’s biggest port on the Black Sea, and has been hit repeatedly since Russia launched its invasion on 24 February.

    A Ukrainian investigator works inside one of the damaged houses in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine. Photo: 31 July 2022Mykolaiv regional prosecutor’s office
    A number of houses in Mykolaiv were destroyed in the latest Russian shelling, local officials say

    The region’s leader, Vitaliy Kim, said Mr Vadatursky’s “contribution to the development of the agricultural and shipbuilding industry, the development of the region is invaluable”.

    An adviser to President Zelensky’s office said he believed Russia had deliberately targeted the businessman.

    Mykhailo Podolyak said one of the missiles had hit the businessman’s bedroom, adding that this left “no doubt” it had been guided.

    Nibulon has built many storage facilities and other infrastructure for exporting grain.

    Ukraine and Russia are major exporters of wheat and other grains, and the disruption of exports caused by the war has sent food prices soaring worldwide.

    The two countries signed a UN-brokered agreement in Turkey last week, aimed at easing the food crisis. The deal was almost derailed by a Russian attack on the Odesa port the following day.

    The resumption of Ukrainian exports has been further delayed by security checks. But on Sunday Turkey said the first ship carrying grain was expected to leave Odesa on Monday morning.

    Ukraine accuses Russian forces of stealing grain from farms on occupied land and exporting it via Crimea – Ukraine’s southern peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia denies Ukrainian claims.

    Blow to Russian Navy Day

     

    Russia cancelled Sunday’s Navy Day celebrations in occupied Crimea.

    The reason given by Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev was an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters. The fleet has long been based in Sevastopol.

    A senator in Crimea later said a drone had been launched from within Sevastopol, and the perpetrators would be found by the evening.

    Senior Ukrainian official Serhiy Bratchuk dismissed Russia’s claims as a “provocation”.

    “The liberation of our Crimea will take place differently and much more efficiently,” he said.

    A photo posted by Governor Razvozhayev showed him in a courtyard littered with leaves, but with no obvious structural damage. He said the Navy Day celebrations had been cancelled for security reasons.

    The scene after an alleged drone hit on the Black Sea Fleet HQ in Sevastopol (pic: Governor Razvozhayev)Razvozhayev/Telegram
    The scene after an alleged drone hit on the Black Sea Fleet HQ in Sevastopol

    Navy Day is an annual Russian holiday, and celebrations are taking place across Russia. President Vladimir Putin is overseeing events in St Petersburg, his home city.

    He signed a new naval doctrine naming the US as Moscow’s main rival, and also setting out the Kremlin’s global maritime ambitions for key areas such as the Arctic and in the Black Sea.

    In a blow to the Black Sea Fleet, in April, its flagship Moskva sank after what Ukraine described as a strike with two Neptune missiles.

    Russia admitted there had been a big fire on board caused by exploding ammunition, without attributing it to a Ukrainian attack, and said the missile cruiser had sunk in a storm while being towed.

    It remains unclear how many Russian sailors were killed or injured in the ship’s demise.

    In the north, Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv was hit by Russian missiles again, mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Three Russian S-300 missiles reportedly struck a school there, destroying the main building, he said.

    The BBC was unable to verify the latest reports.

    Map showing areas of Ukraine that remain under Russian military control
    1px transparent line

    In a late-night address on Saturday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky told all civilians still living in parts of eastern Donetsk region under Ukrainian control to evacuate.

    The region has seen heavy clashes amid a slow advance by Russian forces, who already control large parts of it.

    “The more people leave Donetsk region now, the fewer people the Russian army will have time to kill,” Mr Zelensky said. “We will use all available opportunities to save as many lives as possion.

    Source: BBC

  • Afghan-Iran border clash: Taliban says one killed

    The militants say one of their fighters was killed in Sunday’s fighting in the border area between Nimroz province in Afghanistan and Hirmand in Iran.

    Each country blamed the other for the incident, the latest since the Taliban overran Afghanistan a year ago.

    Last month Iran reported the death of one of its guards in an incident in the same area.

    The exact circumstances of the latest skirmish are unclear but one Iranian report says shooting started when Taliban forces tried to raise their flag on non-Afghan territory.

    There were reportedly no casualties on the Iranian side.

    Map

    Source: BBC

  • How Mahama dealt with inadequate textbooks in basic schools

    Formal education builds competitive approach and gives unique experiences which boost the confidence of children and expand their circle of knowledge. There are a few billionaires like Bill Gates, Ritesh Agarwal, and Gautam Adani who achieved success without having a college degree, but education played a crucial role in laying the foundation for their success.

    The basic knowledge and experiences gained are what allowed the wider picture to emerge in their later life. It is against this background that President John Dramani Mahama saw the need to invest in the development of children at the basic level of education in Ghana.

    In 2013, the Mahama-led government distributed 12.5 million English, Mathematics, and Science textbooks to public basic schools. This enabled Ghana to exceed the universal textbook-pupil ratio of three textbooks for one pupil.

    By the time President John Dramani Mahama was leaving office, Ghana’s textbook-to-pupil ratio stood at 4:1 (four textbooks for one pupil.) Before this achievement, three pupils used to share one textbook.

    Besides, 1,437,500 readers, 6,900 teaching manuals, and 9,200 teaching guides were distributed to facilitate teaching and learning.

    Aside this, President Mahama made many other unprecedented interventions to improve basic education in the country.

    For instance, about two million pupils were supplied with free school uniforms from 2010 to 2016.

    Also, a total of 854,040 BECE candidates benefited from the payment of BECE subsidies.

    The total coverage of the School Feeding Programme was increased from 441,189 children to 1,693,000 children. It was fully funded by the Government of Ghana after the Dutch Government withdrew its funding.

    To improve ICT education, 60,000 free laptops were distributed to Basic School pupils in all the then ten regions, under the Basic School Computerization Program. Furthermore, 50,000 basic school teachers across the country benefited
    from ICT training.

    To further consolidate these gains and offer more opportunities for Ghanaian school children, the following interventions were made:

    Ten thousand free locally produced school sandals were distributed to pupils in selected deprived districts.

    Under the unequaled Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Resit Policy, one thousand, one hundred and eighty-one (1,181) candidates had the chance to resit their BECE as private candidates in February 2015. These were persons who, but for this golden opportunity would have had their education terminated at the Junior High School level.

    Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 of the Bible said: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things.”

    In a similar vein, I want you to think of the above-mentioned achievements of President Mahama at the basic level of education in Ghana: whether they are true; whether they are honest; whether they are just; whether they are praiseworthy, and whether they are of good report.

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • NDC to elect 2024 presidential candidate in November

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has slated November 2022 to elect its flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.

    A communiqué signed by the General Secretary, Asiedu Nketia, unveiled the roadmap for the conduct of its internal elections.

    Per the provisional timetable sighted by The Independent Ghana, the internal election will commence with the branch executive elections scheduled to take place on June 15 and end in July.

    The branch executive results, according to the General Secretary, will be collated to build data for the constituency executive elections to be held in September 2022.

    The constituency elections will be followed by the regional executive elections in October 2022 and the election of the national executive officers in November 2022.

    Among other aspiring presidential candidates, one name that has popped up is the former President, John Dramani Mahama who seeks to return and lead the opposition party battle for the Presidential seat come 2024.

    But, a recent report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has predicted challenges if Mr. Mahama is elected to pick the mantle to lead his people into the Jubilee House.

    EIU noted that the NDC would win the 2024 polls if it elects a fresh candidate.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Mahama condemns killing of Al Jazeera reporter, demands justice for Ahmed Suale

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has denounced the assassination of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed while covering an Israeli operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

    In a Facebook message, the former President expressed his condolences to the reporter’s family and urged for an independent investigation into his death.

    He praised Shireen Abu Akleh, describing her as an expert in her profession.

    “The killing of ace Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is a most condemnable act. For a journalist who has for many years covered and brought us reports of events in Israel and the Middle East region, we all mourn her loss. It is our prayer that whoever pulled the trigger and any associates will be brought to justice through an Independent and transparent process,” he said.

    The 51-year-old Palestinian-American journalist died, while her producer survived a bullet wound. They were “presumably” shot by Palestinian gunmen during an exchange of fire, according to Israel’s prime minister.

    While commiserating with Al Jazeera on their loss, John Mahama took the opportunity to highlight the country’s rising number of journalist attacks.
    He urged President Akufo-Addo and the Ghana Police Service to speed up the investigation into the killing of Ahmed Hussein Suale, the head undercover investigator of Tiger Eye PI.

    He stated that the perpetrators of such a heinous crime should be held accountable.

    “Having said that, we also note that the murderers of Ghanaian journalist, Ahmed Suale, are still walking free. We call on the Akufo-Addo administration and the Police Service to take this investigation seriously and bring the murderers to justice”.

    On January 16, 2019, Ahmed Suale was assassinated in Madina, Accra. His death came as a result of his final inquiry (Number 12), which revealed corruption within the Ghana Football Association. The murder case has not been concluded three years after his death.

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • John Mahama commiserates with family of Dag Heward-Mills

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has paid a visit to the family home of the Founder and General Overseer of the United Denomination Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC) to mourn with them over the passing of his first son.

    A week ago today, news broke on how the first child of the evangelist, Dr. David Heward-Mills, had died.

    He was a psychiatrist living and working in the United States. He is reported to have died after a short illness.

    Leading a delegation of the top party executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other members of the party, John Mahama met with the family in their home to express his condolences and his sympathies to them during the difficult times.

    In a Facebook post that announced his Thursday, April 21, 2022, visit, the former president said it is a difficult thing to lose a child.

    “I visited the Heward-Mills family on Thursday evening to express my condolences to Bishop Dag and the family on the loss of their son, Dr. David Heward-Mills.

    “Losing your child is a painful experience. Bishop Dag, his family and the church’s loss is our loss. We all feel the deep pain.

    “I also expressed the condolences of my wife, Lordina, and the National Democratic Congress to the family and the Lighthouse Group of Churches,” he wrote.

    John Dramani Mahama also signed a book of condolence opened in the memory of the late David Heward-Mills.

    The news, which broke on Good Friday, April 15, 2022, got many wondering how the family would sail through such a tragic loss, but it did not take long for the evangelist to comment on it.

    During his Easter Sunday Service sermon on the title, The Grave is Not the End, Bishop Dag spoke for the first time about death, stressing that it makes nonsense of everything.

    “Death has been destroying our lives for years, amen. Death spoils everything. Death spoils everything. My son David just passed away. It spoils everything.

    “You ask me am I sad? If you had a son who died, will you be sad? You should ask yourself that question. It [spoils everything. It brings a funny environment and it makes nonsense of everything. We always try to wish it further and further away but that is how it is,” he told his congregants at the First Love Church in Accra.

    Days after, the first lady of the church, Lady Rev. Adelaide Heward-Mills, also shared a portion of scripture along with a photo she took with her son in what was her first comment after the news broke.

    “2 Cor 1:8-11 NLT “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

    “9. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

    “10. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

    “11. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety,” she wrote.

    Here are some photos:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Be resolute today’ – John Mahama’s message to Black Stars ahead of Nigeria game

    Former President, John Dramani Mahama is backing the Black Stars to block Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the seventh time. 

    The Super Eagles will host the Black Stars at the Moshood Abiola Sports Stadium in Abuja for the return of the FIFA World Cup playoff after drawing goalless in Ghana on Friday, 25, 2022. 

    Despite the belief among many that the tie will be difficult for the Black Stars because Ghana doesn’t fare well on Nigerian soil, the former President is optimistic about qualification for Qatar World Cup. 

    “Ghana vs Nigeria… the friendship is strong, and the history is rich. I urge the @GhanaBlackstars to be resolute today to qualify Ghana for the FIFA 2022 World Cup tournament in Qatar. Go Black Stars Go!,” John Dramani Mahama wrote on his Twitter page. 

    The Super Eagles will host the Black Stars of Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Sports Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in a bid to qualify for their 7th FIFA World Cup tournament. 

    The first leg in Kumasi ended goalless and Ghana will have to avoid a defeat in Abuja as any scoring draw will see them qualify ahead of Nigeria for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar because of the away goal rule.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Mahama imposter who defrauded businessman of GH¢50,000 granted bail

    A known communicator of the opposition National Democratic Congress alleged to have used the name of former President John Dramani Mahama to defraud a businessman has been granted bail by a Kumasi Circuit court.

    Gabriel Agah is facing charges of defrauding by false pretense after he was alleged to have used the name of the former president to extort an amount of GH¢150,000 from one Nana Opoku Agyemang.

    The suspect on his first appearance in court somewhere in December 2021 was remanded into custody.

    On his second appearance on Wednesday, December 5, 2021, the suspect was admitted to a bail sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one to be justified with a landed property.

    The bail application came after he had spent nearly two weeks in police custody. The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, February 2, 2022, to allow the Police to conduct further investigation into the matter.

    Background

    Gabriel Agah was arrested by the Ashanti Regional Police Command in December 2021, at the Manhyia Palace during the observation of the Akwasidae festival.

    The suspect is said to have attempted to defraud the Chief Executive Officer of O. A. Transport, Opoku Agyemang having already succeeded in taking some GH¢50,000 from the businessman.

    The suspect had informed the businessman on phone that he was former President John Mahama and needed some cash for medical care abroad.

    The businessman is said to have released the money to the suspect because he said former President Mahama sent him for the cash on his behalf.

    After several months of no communication from the suspect, Mr Agyemang received another call from the suspect pretending he is the former President and requested an additional one hundred thousand Ghana cedis.

    According to the O. A. boss, the suspect promised to make him a big businessman if the NDC wins the 2024 elections. The businessman requested they meet at the Akwasidae Festival celebration for the money.

    Upon meeting the suspect, the businessman insisted on meeting the former President himself but this was unsuccessful leading to the arrest.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Mahama reveals role government played in brother’s burial

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has thanked Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and the Ghana Airforce for the support given to his family as part of burial arrangements for his late brother.

    Mahama in a post on his Facebook handle also extended appreciation to the National Democratic Congress and all officials who extended support and condolences after the incident.

    Mr Emmanuel Adam Mahama’s death was announced by a spokesperson of the former president on Friday, December 31, 2021.

    He was laid to rest on Monday, January 3, 2022, at Bole in the Savannah Region in accordance with Islamic customs.

    Mahama’s appreciation message as posted on Facebook

    I want to extend my appreciation to all our comrades in the National Democratic Congress for the condolences extended to my family on the death of our brother, Emmanuel Adam Mahama. Thank you to all who accompanied us to Bole for his burial on Sunday. 

    We are particularly indebted to our senior comrade and Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu for his presence and support. 

    We also want to thank Madam Chief of Staff Frema Osei-Opare, the Chief of Air Staff and the Airforce for the support to airlift the remains of our brother on Sunday. 

    Similarly, I thank all Ghanaians for the support and comforting words.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • John Mahama signs Captain Tsikata’s book of condolence

    The 2020 flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has today Monday, November 29, 2021, signed the book of condolence opened for the late Captain Kojo Tsikata (Rtd).

    Captain Kojo Tsikata (Rtd) was reported to have passed away on November 20, 2021, with no details about the cause of his death.

    A statement from the family signed by Col. Joshua Agbotui (Rtd) and Fui Tsikata said Captain Tsikata died in the early hours of Saturday, November 20, 2021.

    He served in the Ghana Army as a top officer and was the former Head of National Security and Foreign Affairs of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

    John Mahama described the death of one of the founding members of the NDC as a significant loss to the party.

    “The passing of our senior comrade, pan-Africanist and freedom fighter, Captain Kojo Tsikata (Rtd.), is a great loss to the National Democratic Congress, Ghana, Africa, and all progressive movements across the globe. Captain as he was simply referred to, contributed immensely to the development, peace, and stability of Ghana, the global liberation movement, and actually fought alongside our Cuban comrades in Angola in the war against the forces of apartheid and colonialism,” he said in a statement.

    See below images of former president John Mahama signing the book of condolence of the late captain Kojo Tsikata

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Our manifesto captured Oti region for agro processing enclave’ – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama, the 2020 Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has revealed that the Party’s 2020 manifesto captured the Oti Region as suitable for an agro-processing enclave.

    He said the area, which was noted for rice production needed the support to enable them process the product in addition to animal rearing.

    Mr Mahama addressing the Oti Regional House of Chiefs and other sub- chiefs at Nkwanta during his “Thank you” tour to the Region, noted that the region’s location showed that if money was invested into it, it would yield enough revenue to ensure creation of jobs to prevent rural urban migration.

    Mr Mahama said a rice factory for the Region would save about 800 million dollars used for rice importing every year.

    He also noted that a poultry factory for Oti would also produce eggs and chicken for the entire country, thereby saving money used for importing eggs and chicken.

    Mr Mahama further stated that palm plantations in the Region would also save the country from the importation of about 437,000 metric tonnes of palm oil being imported from Malaysia.

    He noted that hardship under the NPP government including increment in fuel prices, prices of cement and roofing sheets were worst as compared to his administration.

    Mr Mahama noted that the Eastern Corridor was a major project under the NDC, which would have been completed since 2018, adding that contractors were on site during his administration.

    He noted that there was the need for roads to completed to be routinely maintained.

    Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Chairman of the Party, noted that the tour to the Region was to show appreciation to the Region for voting massively for the NDC especially in securing all the eight Parliamentary seats in the Oti Region.

    He said the Party did not discriminate in allocating development projects nationwide.

    The Party Chairman noted that the NDC as a Party made plans to build regional hospitals and public universities in all new regions, which would have been created if they had won power.

    He commended the chiefs and people of the Region for taking into consideration their long-term development and not influenced by monetary gains in the last general elections.

    Nana Kanawu Addo Chederi II, on behalf of the Chiefs, noted that Mr Mahama’s visit was a prelude to the “bigger votes” the people of the region in 2024, adding that Mr Mahama would garner 50,000 votes in 2024.

    He said the warm reception Mr Mahama received from the Region anytime he visited was due to his charisma, honesty, humility and openness.

    The Chief noted that the former President’s God fearing and respect for tenets of power saved the state from being plunged into chaos during the 2020 general elections.

    Nana Addo Chederi noted that Mr Mahama’s and his predecessor’s stance on LGBTQAI+ was well-known, unambiguous and admirable because the societal norms of the people they represented were taken into consideration.

    The former President also met religious leaders and Party stakeholders.
    Mr Mahama is accompanied by Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, Running Mate of the Party, National, Regional and Constituency Executives.

    Source: GNA

  • Martin Amidu did not get the free hand to operate – John Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has stated that former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu did not get the cooperation he needed to make his work efficient.

    Mr. Mahama said Martin Amidu did not get the needed independence and support from the government to aid his work.

    Addressing the Media in Tamale ahead of his thank-you tour of the region, the former president said the government should give the new special prosecutor the independence and support to fight corruption.

    The former president also argued his government fought corruption while he was in office, which led to the prosecution of some people in his government.

    Mr. John Mahama recounted how Martin Amidu raised concerns over his finances and the challenges he encountered in his office.

    He said Ghanaians Ghanaians heard complaints about how the executive tried to interfere with the work of Martin Amidu.

    All these challenges Mr. Mahama added deprived Martin Amidu of effectiveness and it should be something that must be corrected under the new Special Prosecutor.

    Source: rainbownradioonline.com

  • Mahama, NDC hold victory party to celebrate Bagbin as Speaker of Parliament

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has held a party to celebrate its victory in the just ended Speaker of parliament election won by parliamentary veteran Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin of the NDC.

    The party, which was strictly by invitation was attended by parliamentarians from the NDC and top party officials including John Dramani Mahama, campaign Manager Joshua Alabi and other national and regional executives of the party in Accra.

    According to MyNewsGh.com sources, the party announced that it is the majority in parliament and proceeded to celebrate, while commending the leadership of the party in parliament who fought to give NDC the top leadership of parliament.

    In a closely contested secret ballot in Parliament on Thursday for the position of Speaker of Parliament, Former MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Sumana Bagbin of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was elected Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

    Polling 138 votes, Alban Bagbin won against his predecessor Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye who had 136 votes. One legislator failed to vote.

    Bagbin himself was not at the party, but was represented, MyNewsGh.com was told.

    Source: My News GH

  • Probe military invasion, unruly attitude of Carlos Ahenkorah in Parliament – Mahama

    Former president, John Dramani Mahama, has called on Parliament to conduct investigations into the snatching of ballot papers by the Member of Parliament for Tema West, Carlos Ahenkorah as well as the invasion of the chamber by military personnel on Thursday, January 7, 2020.

    According to him, the uncalled for attitude displayed by the lawmaker is unacceptable.

    While condemning the military invasion in the House, the former president labelled the act as worrying and needless.

    John Dramani Mahama stressed that “The attempt to snatch ballot papers by the MP-elect for Tema West and the invasion of the Chamber by armed military personnel are images one had never expected to see in our 4th Republican Parliament. The recent use of the military in civil democratic processes has become a major worry and gives the impression that this administration is continually seeking to resurrect the exorcised ghosts of our military past. Parliament must conduct an investigation into the two incidents and exact appropriate sanctions.”

    He made these comments on his social media page, Facebook and was sighted by GhanaWeb.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Peace can only exist without justice in a nation of powerless citizens John Mahama

    Former President John Mahama has said justice is important for peace to prevail in any country. According to him, it is only in a country of powerless citizens that peace can exist without justice.

    Mr. Mahama said this when he addressed the nation after his party announced their decision to challenge the results of the just-ended election which John Mahama has said was not free and fair but was rigged for his opponent, Nana Akufo-Addo.

    “It is only in governments where the people are powerless, and at the mercy of those who hold office, that peace—or at least what passes as peace—can exist without justice.” He said.

    John Mahama said he is fighting in court for the same thing Akufo-Addo fought for in 2012, the removal of doubt and to create a system that answers questions.

    “Some people have asked me what I hope to gain by challenging the results of this election. Let me tell you: I want, perhaps, the very same thing that my opponent wanted when in 2012 he challenged the results of that election; I want the removal of doubt. I want for all of us to know that our elections should be free, fair, and safe—and that we do not have to settle for a process that leaves us confused, and with more questions than answers.”

    “I want a Ghana where institutions of the state can be held to account. Where we can stand on principle and demand transparency without the risk of losing our lives.

    When people lose their lives as seven people did in the course of our elections, we are moving backwards not forward; we are unravelling the very fabric of our democracy; we are risking the loss of three decades worth of progress.”

    The respondents, which is the EC and President Akufo-Addo have 10 days to respond.

    Source: My News GH

  • I want the same thing Akufo-Addo wanted in 2012 election petition – JDM

    Former President John Dramani Mahama says many were those impressing upon him to vacate his petitioning the Supreme Court over the outcome of the December 7, 2020 presidential polls.

    He said those people continually ask him what it is he is seeking to gain from the exercise.

    And according to the former president and candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the election, his answer to that question is that he is seeking the same thing President Akufo-Addo, then candidate of the New Patriotic Party in the election, sought when he petitioned the apex court in 2012.

    Mahama caused his lawyers to file the petition Wednesday afternoon, and explained why he chose to go to court, during a late night broadcast.

    “Let me tell you: I want, perhaps, the very same thing that my opponent wanted when in 2012 he challenged the results of that election; I want the removal of doubt. I want for all of us to know that our elections should be free, fair, and safe—and that we do not have to settle for a process that leaves us confused, and with more questions than answers.

    “I want a Ghana where institutions of state can be held to account. Where we can stand on principle and demand transparency without the risk of losing our lives”, he said.

    According to John Mahama, when people lose their lives—as seven people did in the election, “we are moving backwards not forward; we are unraveling the very fabric of our democracy; we are risking the loss of three decades worth of progress.

    “When today we see armed military and militia in our collation centres and election outcomes declared at the point of a gun, for us who have witnessed our country’s journey through all its post-independence travails, we wonder if we have truly exorcised the ghosts of our tortuous past. We must continue to be a nation in which our young citizens have faith in our institutions, trust the rule of law, and rely on the presence of peace because there is justice.

    “Ghana must be a country where we citizens know and believe, without any doubt whatsoever, that the way forward is determined by the will of the Ghanaian people. And that we can hold our institutions of state accountable and guarantee that they work in favour of the national interest and not in the interest of the administration or person in power.

    “That is what I want.

    “This is why earlier today, my lawyers filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Ghana challenging the declaration of the results of the December 7, 2020 Presidential Election made by Mrs. Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

    “I have been compelled to do this because of her clear failure to act in accordance with the Constitution.”

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Concede defeat for the sake of peace, 2024 is for you – Mahama told

    Founder of the Faith African Faith Tabernacle Church, Pastor Kwabena Mensah, has asked former President John Dramani Mahama to concede defeat in the interest of peace.

    The man of God said although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised concerns over the results, they have to let go.

    He claims Ghanaians will reward Mr. Mahama with massive votes in 2024 should they forget about the 2020 results and accept defeat.

    Pastor Kwabena Mensah speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm said it is painful to lose an election but in the interest of peace and unity, John Mahama must accept defeat and move on.

    Pastor Kwabena Mensah said the NDC as a party has not collapsed and for them to be elected in 2024, they should just forget about it.

    He advised the leadership of the NDC to speak to their followers to stop the demonstrations.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • US ambassador urges Mahama to go to court

    The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan has urged National Democratic Congress candidate, John Dramani Mahama to address his concerns with the just-ended 2020 election in court.

    She said this in a meeting with John Mahama and his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on Thursday, December 17.

    This comes after the former President John Mahama and his party expressed their unwillingness to accept the results of the 2020 elections as declared by the Electoral Commission, December 9.

    She further urged all other political parties “to pursue legal channels for any electoral disputes and to preserve the peace in Ghana”.

    Supporters of the NDC have since the rejection of the 2020 election results by their party leaders been protesting across the country demanding that the EC declares Mahama as president-elect.

    On Thursday, 26 protestors were arrested in front of the EC headquarters in Accra for unlawful gathering.

    They burnt car tyres and pelted stones at the EC office until they were dispersed up by the police.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Mahama storms Techiman South to visit victims

    Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended elections John Dramani Mahama will be in the Techiman South Constituency in the Bono East Region on Wednesday, December 16 to visit families of victims of post-electoral clashes there.

    Two persons Abdallah Ayaric and Tajudeen Alhassan died while four got injured after the military fired warning shots at the Constituency Collation Centre in the early hours of Tuesday, December 8.

    Addressing journalists to announce his rejection of the declaration of results by the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Mahama said there was a third death later at a hospital.

    The NDC believe they won the Techiman South Constituency but the Returning Officer had declared the results in favour of the Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, who is also the Deputy Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development.

    Results from that Constituency were not added to the total national tally before the final declaration by Jean Adukwei Mensa.

    Aside visiting the bereaved families to commiserate with them, the former president will also visit the injured on admission in the hospital.

    Source: 3 News

  • Mahama to visit Techiman on Wednesday

    Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is expected in the Bono East Capital, Techiman, on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.

    A statement issued by Mr Mohammed Shamsudeen Ali, the NDC Secretary for Bono East, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said upon his arrival Mr Mahama would pay a courtesy call on the Techiman Traditional Council.

    He would then have “a solidarity visit to the family of those who have lost their lives in the battle to see NDC win power and those who were injured in the same course.”

    “The Regional EC Office and the Techiman South Constituency EC Office will feel his presence and this visit will accord him the opportunity to interact with the leadership of the Party, supporters, sympathisers and Party faithful within the Region,” it said.

    “By this release, all constituencies within the Region are invited to make this visit a memorable one. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

    Source: GNA

  • Mahama prays with Proverbs 16:20 after rejecting results

    Flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama on Sunday, 14 December 2020 visited the Ringway Assemblies of God Church for fellowship.

    This happens to be his first church service following his defeat in the December 7 polls.

    Mr. Mahama was accompanied to Church by his Vice-Presidential Candidate Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and their families.

    Mr. Mahama who is currently challenging the election results quoted a Scripture from the Bible on Facebook which read; “Provers 16:20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.”

    Meanwhile, it is unclear what the NDC and Mr. Mahama intend to do about the election results but many Ghanaians and Civil Society Organisations have entreated them to proceed to court and settle any kind of dispute legally.

    The opposition party believes the EC rigged the 2020 polls for the sitting President and his government.

    Click the link below to see the facebook post

    https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJDMahama%2Fposts%2F3933762973301496&show_text=true&width=552&height=760&appId

    Source: Class FM

  • Go to court if you disagree with election results IDEG, CFI to political parties

    The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) have asked political parties that disagree with the results of the just-ended elections, as announced by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa to go to court to resolve the issues.

    IDEG and CFI said this is the best approach to resolving any election-related dispute.

    The comments come after the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said he will not accept the results of the elections because in his view, the results were manipulated in favour of Akufo-Addo by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa.

    Addressing the nation on Thursday December 11, the presidential candidate of the NDC said “The facts and figures on the pink sheets available to us indicate that numerous steps have been taken to manipulate the elections in favour of the incumbent.

    “This calls into question the credibility of one of our most important institutional pillars of democracy, the Electoral Commission. It is now obvious to many objective minds that the Commission and its chairperson have been used to manipulate results from the various constituencies and in that process seek to subvert the sovereign will of the Ghana people.”

    He added “Since the inception of the Fourth Republic, final election results have always been declared within a 72hour period to allow for thorough and diligence collation.

    “Surprisingly, this Electoral Commission chairperson announced quite suspiciously for reasons known to her a hurried 24hour deadline which as we all know could not and would not be met.

    “The Chairperson of the EC in less than 24 hours after her declaration has admitted that she made unacceptable errors which go to the heart of the entire electoral process and cast deep doubt on the credibility of the announced outcome.”

    But a joint statement issued by IDEG and CFI on Friday December 11 said “wish to commend Ghanaians for the high turnout and the orderly manner in which the electorate exercised their franchise on December 7. We further wish to commend the Electoral Commission and the political parties for their role in delivering relatively peaceful election. We however observed with growing concern that both the presidential and parliamentary elections results have stoked partisan controversy with both sides claiming victory.

    “The disputed results have raised questions about the credibility of the outcome of the elections which can only be resolved in a court of law. Accordingly, we urge the aggrieved parties to resort to the court system to deal with the disputed aspects of the results instead of resorting to violence. The public has the right to know the truth about any discrepancies relating to the results because this election was the best opportunity for the electorate to exercise their sovereign right.

    “The courts have the mandate and the tools to investigate, review and resolve any election related disputes based on the evidence provided in a transparent manner. Moreover, the supreme court is not only an avenue for peaceful resolution of election conflicts, but also clarifying electoral rules and regulations in order to improve electoral standards and advance critical reforms in the electoral system as demonstrated by the supreme court of Ghana in 2013.

    “In the meantime, we appeal to the leaders and supporters of the two parties, to conduct themselves peacefully, mindful of the commitments their presidential candidates made by signing the Presidential Election Peace Pact on Thursday 4th December 2020 at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra. In this pact, the leaders pledged: That we hereby commit ourselves and our supporters to peaceful elections in the December 2020 general elections; That we undertake to accept the results of the said elections; That we undertake to restrain our supporters from resorting to violence in the aftermath of the said elections; and That we are committed to the Judicial resolution of all election disputes.”

    “Furthermore, we appeal to the National Chief Imam, the National Peace Council and the National House of Chiefs to engage and ensure that the Electoral Commission acts expeditiously on all complaints and encourage the parties to go to court as they have committed in the peace pact agreement.”

    “Finally, we appeal to all Ghanaians including our vibrant youth to honor the memory of the founding father of the Fourth Republic, former President Jerry John Rawlings, by maintaining the peace, stability and security of the nation. Going forward, we entreat that collectively as a nation, we renounce violence as an option for resolving electoral disputes.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Go to court if you think 2020 election was rigged – GUM tells Mahama

    The presidential candidate of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, also known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom, has advised former President John Dramani Maham to go to court to challenge the results of the presidential election if he feels it has been rigged.

    The reverend minister said there is no other solution for the candidate to explore aside from going to court.

    He said the agitations and disagreements from the two major parties will amount to nothing.

    The best solution he stressed is for the NDC to use the court to contest the results.

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has clearly stated that the government used the Electoral Commission (EC) to manipulate results in favour of the incumbent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    For this reason, Mr Mahama said the party will not accept anything short of the true reflection of the votes of the people.

    He said there is no doubt that Ghanaians in all regions voted for change in both the parliamentary and presidential elections.

    “I stand before you tonight unwilling to accept the fictionalised result of a flawed election.”

    He added: “There is no doubt that every Ghanaian in this country voted for change. We did so both In the presidential and parliamentary elections.

    “I am a staunch believer in the experiment of democracy, a system of governance that allows the ultimate decision-making power to rest in the hands of you the good people of Ghana. We the people who with an eye towards the future we will like for our dear country elect representatives to forward and realize that vision. Government serves at the choice and direction of the people of this great nation.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Rojo Mettle Nunoo was not thrown out of national collation centre EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has described as “surprising” reports that National Democratic Congress representative Rojo Mettle Nunoo was thrown out of the national collation centre on Tuesday, 8 December 2020.

    According to the EC, the report is “false.”

    “Mr Rojo Mettle Nunoo was never at any point driven out of the national collation centre. This allegation comes as a surprise to the Commission,” the election management body said in a statement.

    Read the full statement below:

    Source: Class FM

  • Nobody cares if Mahama concedes defeat or not – NPP

    The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party, John Boadu, has said that his party does not care if former President John Dramani Mahama concedes defeat in the 2020 presidential elections or not.

    Reports went viral that John Dramani Mahama, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress has placed a call to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to congratulate him for winning the 2020 presidential elections.

    However, John Dramani Mahama has denied these reports in no certain terms saying, “I want to state categorically and firmly that I have not congratulated any person.”

    Reacting to Mahama’s response in his engagement with the media at the Accra International Conference Centre, John Boadu stated that they in the NPP do not care if Mahama concedes defeat or not.

    “Who cares if Mahama concedes or congratulate his opponent. This is because congratulating your opponent is not a prerequisite for anything but only shows good conduct and statesmanship.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Your comment could incite violence, be calm – Gyampo reacts to Mahama’s ‘victory’ utterance

    Associate Professor with the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Edward Gyampo has called on former President John Dramani Mahama to refrain from passing comments that have the potential of instigating violence.

    The former President who is the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday evening said the party will resist any attempt by the Electoral Commission to circumvent the results of the 2020 polls.

    Flanked by some executives of the party at a brief media engagement, Mr. Mahama said, “No attempt should be made to steal this election. We’ll resist it. I’ve looked at the results we’ve collated so far and I’m excited about the results. We’ve won in 10 regions out of 16…”

    “We will resist any attempt to subvert the will of the people. Some of what is happening is unacceptable. Nana Akufo-Addo continues to show credentials that are not democratic. You cannot use the military to overturn some of the results in constituencies that we have won.”

    But making a submission on UTV, Prof. Gyampo said it was unfortunate for Mr. Mahama to pass such a comment. According to the lecturer, the NDC flagbearer’s remark could inform some persons who are not level-headed’s decision to misbehave.

    He said: “Even though they are within his rights, it can prepare some people’s mindset. Once we haven’t heard the certified results, there is no cause for alarm unless you have enough evidence to prove the election is being rigged.”

    Gyampo noted that there are avenues for any candidate to seek redress hence due process must be followed instead of uttering such remarks. He reminded Mr. Mahama of his right to challenge the results in court or make his evidence known to the Ghanaian people.

    “We’ve not seen any attempt by the EC to rig; what has happened are things that are normally associated with elections so let’s wait till the results are declared,” he urged.

    Prior to this engagement with the media, the NDC had held three press conferences to proclaim it had won 140 parliamentary seats and was happy about the outcome of the presidential results it had gathered so far. The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) counter-attacked with two press conferences as they rubbished the claims.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com