Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister, has asserted that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) continues to be the greatest option for Ghanaians as compared to the opposition National Democratic Congress, despite the country’s economic challenges.
He pointed to the depreciation of the Ghana cedis against the Dollar as one of the problems government had been faced with but was quick to add that it would have been worse if any other political party was in charge of the Ghanaian economy at this time.
Speaking to members of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON), in the Ashanti Region at a conference in Kumasi, NAPO as he is popularly called said the cedi which dropped to an all-time lowest in history would have hit Ghs48 to a dollar if the National Democratic Congress(NDC) was in power.
“The worse in NPP is far better than the best in NDC. Some of you are motivated to serve NPP, know that you are motivated to serve the best. It is only NPP that can make Ghana better. No matter the circumstances that you are in, just imagine if it was NDC it would have been times three. If NDC was in government the dollar that could have gotten to 16 would have gotten to 48,” he said.
He admonished the young patriots to keep faith with the party and government amidst the prevailing challenges and eschew in-fighting, animosity and acrimony as such tendencies could potentially affect the ability of the party to break the 8.
“No TESCON member should have a divided mind about 2024. It is better to be the garden boy of the ruling party than to be the landlord of the opposition party,” he added.
The vice-chair of the Ada National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kenneth Kabu Kano, is under criticism from social media users because of a statement he made ahead of the NDC National polls.
The vice-chair brashly stated that he will step down from his position as vice-chair of the party should Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo lose the election.
“Ok I will put it on the line, I said he will win the chairmanship position (Ofosu-Ampofo), I said if he doesn’t win, I will resign as the vice chairman of the Ada constituency,” he said.
After the NDC national elections on Saturday, December 17, 2022, however, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, a.k.a. General mosquito, defeated Ofosu-Ampofo, by a wide margin to lead the party ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Following the results of the elections, some social media users are now demanding for Kabu Kano to step down, arguing that he must leave the position immediately in order to redeem his integrity.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, at the National Congress held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, secured 65.17% of the total vote cast to win the election.
His closest competitor, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo polled just 33.81% of the total vote cast.
According to the Electoral Commission, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah garnered 5,569 while the incumbent Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo managed 2,892 votes
Prior to the general election in 2024, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has given a stern warning to the New Patriotic party.
Fifi Kwetey admonished the NPP government to manage the country carefully to avoid economic difficulties that would cause immeasurable pain for Ghanaians.
He asserts that the NDC would unseat the NPP administration in the general election of 2024, thus they should exercise care in managing the economy to prevent it from worsening.
In addition, he stated that the new leadership will join forces to work together to recapture power in 2024 in an interview with GhanaWeb after winning the election for General Secretary.
“To the NPP all I can say is that, work hard to make sure you do not destroy our county worse, I mean much more than they have done, I mean what we’ve seen has been a moral calamity, what we are seeing has been a complete collapse of morality and therefore we pray that they do not do that, that is my hope, they have been a complete disaster, don’t make it worse and more difficult for the NDC to be able to come and do too much difficulty for the sake of Ghana and for the sake of the younger generation, don’t make it worse,” he said.
Fifi Fiavi Kwetey won the General Secretary race of the National Democratic Congress, replacing Asiedu Nketiah who won the National Chairman contest.
At the National Congress held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, Fifi Kwetey polled the highest number of votes to confirm his status as the new CEO of the NDC.
He got 4,543 of total vote cast to win the race.
Fifi Kwetey took to social media to announce his victory, indicating that he has been called by fellow candidate Dr. Peter Otokunor to be congratulated.
However, he said, the government must provide facts and figures to support the emerging trends in order to assist people make informed decisions.
“The signs are looking good but let us support it with fact,” he told journalists at the Accra Sports Stadium where the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is having its delegates conference on Saturday December 17.
He further told the government to accept blame when things are not going well with the economy and not just blame them on global factors.
“When it so going bad it is global situation but when it is going well it is the government,” he said.
His comments come on the back of positive signs seen with the strength of the Cedi against the Dollar.
The local currency has over the past few days, especially since the start of December 2022, been gaining strength against the major trading currencies particularly, the Dollar.
Per the Bank of Ghana (BoG) rate, the Cedi, as of Thursday December 15, was buying at GHS7.9975 to a Dollar and and selling at GHS8.0056 to a Dollar.
The political atmosphere in the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress, is charged as the party is set to hold its national executive elections.
The race for the party’s National Chairman position, which is being contested by the current National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and outgoing General Secretary, Asiedu Nketiah, has become particularly tense, with leading members of the party declaring their support for their preferred candidates.
The 3rd National Vice Chairman of the party, Alhaji Said Sinare, is one of the people who has declared his support for Ofosu-Ampofo.
This is after Alhaji Sinare abandoned his chairmanship ambitions.
In a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb, Alhaji Sinare could be seen leading a group of NDC supporters to sing songs of praises of Ofosu Ampofo.
“Winner eh he hee winner, winner eh he hee winner, Ampofo ego win ooo, winner. Ampofo ego winner again oo, winner.
“The boys are zuzu, the girls are zaza, NDC is good for evermore more,” the group is heard chanting.
The party’s national elections are slated for Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Candidates will be contesting for various positions, including the National Chairman, National Vice-Chairmen, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, National Organiser, Deputy National Organiser, and the National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.
Others are the National Communications Officer and Deputy, as well as the National Zongo Caucus Coordinator.
The current National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, is expected to face stiff competition from the outgoing General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, for the chairmanship position.
The current National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the opposition party, Joshua Akamba, has urged party delegates to support national executives who are running for re-election.
According to him, the election of George Opare Addo and Dr. Hannah Bissiw as National Youth Organiser and National Women Organiser, respectively, are indications that the delegates appreciate the work done by the current executives prior to the 2020 general elections.
Joshua Akamba explained that his sterling performance as the National Organizer has helped the NDC attain equal seats in parliament with the majority, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He added that with his help, the party has been able to shore up the electoral deficit in the country.
This, he added, was also because he personally bought pickup trucks for regional organizers of the party, as well as lobbying for motorcycles for all 275 constituency organisers to enable them to campaign for the party.
Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Joshua Akamba said that a vote against him would be an injustice to the party.
“The delegates won’t make that mistake.
“The delegates are discerning, and they believe in experience. Now, Opare Addo has won. Hanna Bissiw has won. Elorm, who is an old person, has won, so it should tell you that people want us to win power for us to salvage this country, and they won’t make the mistake of changing us.
“The delegates know that the strategies of the party gave us equal numbers in parliament. The devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know. That is exactly what I am telling the people—that I am the devil they know and I am better than the angel they don’t know,” he told host Kwesi Parker-Wilson of the Oyerepa Breakfast Show.
Joshua Akamba further stated that the work of a national organizer is not on Facebook or WhatsApp, arguing that his contenders who have taken their campaign and work to social media lack appreciation for the work they are vying for.
He assured the delegates that he would continue to work assiduously to ensure victory for the party in 2024.
The Officers and men dressed in anti-riot security gear were heavily equipped with modern riot control gadgets including batons, shields, riot vehicles, ambulances and other intelligence equipment.
They are to provide security for the congress at the Accra Sports Stadium as the party elects its national executives for the next four years.
Over 9,000 delegates take turns to cast their votes for the preferred candidates for the various positions.
With the National Women and Youth Organizers elections out of the way and Sammy Gyamfi’s National Communications Officer as the only contender, there are still nine positions up for grabs with over 62 candidates vying for those slots.
As with elections of this nature, some positions have been earmarked as the most keenly contested owing to the persons involved; this includes the national chairmanship race, General Secretary, National Organiser among others.
Even before the ballot has been cast at the 10th Delegates of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), there already seems to be some signs of intimidation as is evident in most elections of the nature.
The opposition party will on Saturday December 17, 2022 hold its conference at the Accra Sports Stadium and will have over 9000 delegates take turns to cast their votes for the preferred candidates for the various positions.
Ahead of the event, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah who is aspiring to contest the General Secretary position of the party has shared an image of the what seems to be a dead pigeon which he says was thrown into his compound on Saturday morning.
In a post shared via his WhatsApp status, he alleged that persons seeking to contest him were responsible for throwing the dead pigeons into the compound of his home.
“The stupid idiots who think they have lost think they can shake us. Woke up and felt like going outside immediately before the children woke up and saw 2 pigeons tied and what the necks cut and thrown into the compound,” he wrote.
In another separate message on the development, the NDC Director of Elections wrote; “This is what the stupid idiots who’ve lost threw into the compound o, can you imagine? Into God’s house, hahaha their defeat is sure in Jesus name and they shall receive death by the wrath of God.
Aspiring National Democratic Congress(NDC) National Organizer Mahdi Jibril argues that the best person for the job is someone who is well versed in the scientific approach to work and the data of electoral processes.
He believes there is no link between being the national organiser of the party and being physically fit.
“Being a national organizer has nothing to do with body physique. People are of the notion that if you want to be a national organiser, you need to be well-built but they forget the position of the organizer is not about carrying timber and logs at the office. It is about the scientific approach to the work and the data. You are working with the voter register and the party register, and if you don’t understand the dynamics of this, then you will lose the election,” Mahdi Jibril exclusively told Boama Darko Isaac on Accra-based Original TV.
“You must be a credible organizer who can be trusted by all and is knowledgeable about electoral issues.”
Being the current deputy organizer of the party, he asserts that an organizer must be able to protect the ballot after voting and not only focus on getting people to turn up to vote. “The organizer must have electoral and research understanding, being abreast of electoral dynamics as well.”
Having shown direction and dedication in his capacity as a deputy national Organiser, Mahdi Jibril believes the party is deficient in organization and pledges to resolve that, leading the NDC to achieve victory in election 2024.
The association stated this in a statement on Friday, December 16, 2022.
The group claims to have “noticed the dramatic decrease in fuel costs at the pumps.”
“Despite the reduction, transportation fares have not been reduced,” it stated, adding that “broader consultation with stakeholders is still happening to look into the call for fares reduction.”
Although the current rise in the cost of lubricants and replacement parts makes it nearly difficult to lower prices, travelers are guaranteed a “10% drop in fees from Monday, December 19, 2022,” according to the statement.
The General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah popularly known as General Mosquito has confirmed that the content of a leaked audio making the rounds are comments he actually made.
In the leaked audio recording, Asiedu Nketia, who was addressing some party executives said: “When we were doing the collation, the system you (Chairman Ofosu Ampofo) brought saying it is robust and strong, when we collated five Regions; we are told it has crashed. This is the truth. So, when we decided to the court, we agreed to do manual collation. So, we gathered some people to collect the pick sheets and our Chairman sat on the Collation Committee that he will handle the collation. He went for some University people who did some shoddy work. When the time was up for me to stand in the dock, the results that they gave me if I use it to defend the case, I will be disgraced so we couldn’t send those results to the court.
“They then said we should go to lawyer Tsikata. So we carried all the documents and presented them to lawyer Tsikata. These are things we shouldn’t be saying publicly. When we gave them to him and in the next morning, after he had perused them, he replied us saying take back your grasscutter. If these are the things you are sending to the court, go and look for your lawyer because I can’t do this work. This is why when we went to court and they said where are my results, I replied that I didn’t bring any results. I believe you heard that; I don’t know how to lie. I am saying if I become the Chairman, all this nonsense will not happen,” General Mosquito added in the leaked audio recording.
Speaking on Peace FM’, General Mosquito who is contesting for the General Secretary position of the NDC said he was even surprised they described people are describing it as leaked.
“It is me, it is not a doctored tape . . . I spoke on more than five platforms on the same subject, all I said are true . . . when I heard it was a leaked tape I didn’t even understand it, how can a public statement be a leaked one? . . . ” he told host of the ‘kokrokoo’ show Kwami Sefa Kayi.
Aspiring National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Organizer Mahdi Jibril argues that the best person for the job is someone who is well versed in the scientific approach to work and the data of electoral processes.
He believes there is no link between being the national organiser of the party and being physically fit.
“Being a national organizer has nothing to do with physique. People are of the notion that if you want to be a national organiser, you need to be well-built but they forget the position of the organizer is not about carrying timber and logs at the office. It is about the scientific approach to the work and the data. You are working with the voter register and the party register, and if you don’t understand the dynamics of this, then you will lose the election,” Mahdi Jibril exclusively told Boama Darko Isaac on Accra-based Original TV.
“You must be a credible organizer who can be trusted by all and is knowledgeable about electoral issues.”
Being the current deputy organizer of the party, he asserts that an organizer must be able to protect the ballot after voting and not only focus on getting people to turn up to vote. “The organizer must have electoral and research understanding, being abreast of electoral dynamics as well.”
Having shown direction and dedication in his capacity as a deputy national Organiser, Mahdi Jibril believes the party is deficient in organization and pledges to resolve that, leading the NDC to achieve victory in election 2024.
The Deputy National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edem Agbana, has stated that there is no way the General Secretary of the party, Asiedu Nketiah, will apologise for speaking the truth.
Reacting to the recently leaked audio of the General Secretary, the young NDC executive member said that there is nothing new in what was said there.
He insisted that everything General Mosquito said in that audio is public knowledge and that even ahead of the 2020 election petition at the Supreme Court, it was made clear that the NDC did not have collated results to present in the court.
“What exactly was in the audio that was a top secret? When he was going to court, he was asked where his results were and he said he did not them available and that he was there to contest the results as declared by the Electoral Commission, and so if he comes to say we did not have collated results, what is so secretive about it?
“Everybody knows that we were not carrying our collated results and so he (Asiedu Nketiah) is working with the truth, and we know that our party members are seeing the things that are going on and they know that General loves to speak the truth and it can never affect our chances,” he said.
Speaking to the morning show host on Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Kwesi Parker-Wilson, ahead of the NDC’s national delegates congress, scheduled for Saturday, December 17, 2022, Edem Agbana said that being the typical truthful person he is, Asiedu Nketiah will never apologise.
He added that it is for this reason that he believes the delegates of the party will give their vote to him at the congress.
“In fact, if that audio has done anything, it has rather come to boost the morale of the NDC people to believe that General is someone who, even when things were so terrible, he sacrificed himself, went forward to go and testify; because of the NDC.
“Apologise for what? For speaking the truth? What should General apologise for; for speaking the truth? It is public knowledge and General will not apologise for speaking the truth,” he stated.
Asiedu Nketiah has indicated his intention to challenge the incumbent National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, for his position, after declaring that he will no longer contest for the General Secretary slot.
General Mosquito has been the NDC’s General Secretary for the last 17 years.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, and the newly-re-elected National Youth Organiser, George Opare Addo, to ceasefire on their public banters at each other.
According to him, the exchanges bring no benefit to the party but only serve as a distraction.
He therefore urged them to rather keep their eyes on the prize for the ‘Ghana we want’.
In a Facebook post, the former president shared two separate pictures that showed his engagements with Sammy Gyamfi and George Opare Addo.
“I’ve had meetings with our Youth Organizer and Communications Officer and agreed with them that the current exchanges must stop. It brings our great party no benefit and only serves as a distraction from the hardship caused by the reckless management of our economy.
Let’s keep our eyes on the prize for the ‘Ghana we want’,” he wrote as caption.
The two started their public exchanges just after the National Women and Youth conference that was held at the Cape Coast Stadium on Saturday, December 10, 2022.
Prior to the elections, Sammy Gyamfi openly campaigned for Yaw Brogya Genfi, one of the candidates in the race for the National Youth Organizer position.
However, the candidate, Bronya Genfi, lost by 25 votes to George Opare Addo.
Speaking in an interview after the elections, George Opare Addo expressed disappointment over Sammy Gyamfi’s position against him, adding that all efforts to reconcile with Sammy Gyamfi proved futile.
He also accused Sammy Gyamfi of being an influence peddler and questioned the source of his wealth.
The Sunyani High Court has issued a restraining order against the Constituency Executive Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Dormaa Central Constituency of the Bono Region.
Per the order of the High Court, all the twenty-four Constituency Executive Members in the Dormal Central Constituency have been barred and cannot participate in the National Delegates Congress which is scheduled for Saturday, December 17, 2022.
The restraining order comes after six aggrieved card-bearing members of the party in the Dormaa Central Constituency petitioned the court to seek two reliefs; “An order to declare the election of the defendants (Constituency Executives) as null and void and a perpetual injunction against the defendants from taking part in the National Delegates Congress.”
A portion of the statement of claim as granted by the court and sighted by this reporter reads:
“An order of a perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd-26th defendants from acting as the Dormaa Central Constituency Executive Members of the National Democratic Congress and also restraining the 3rd – 26th defendants from participating in the National Executive Congress taking part in the National Delegates Congress which would be held on the 10th and 17th December 2022 at Accra.”
According to Peter Mensah, one of the petitioners, they decided to seek redress in court after all attempts for the party to declare the fraudulent constituency election as null and void proved futile.
Citing the absence of the Electoral Commission to supervise and conduct the election, Peter Mensah maintained that, that proves that the purported constituency election contravened the party’s own stipulated guidelines.
“We have always maintained that the purported constituency election was fraudulently organized because the party’s guidelines mandate that the Electoral Commission should supervise the election but that was not the case. Sadly, all efforts for the right thing to be done proved futile so we went to court and we are glad that the court has spoken restraining them from carrying themselves as Executive Members of the National Democratic Congress in the Dormaa Central Constituency and by extension they cannot take part in the National Delegates Congress.”
Meanwhile, all efforts to speak to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the time of filing this report were unsuccessful but independent checks indicate that the restraining order has officially been on the National Democratic Congress (NDC), all Constituency Executive Members and Electoral Commission.
Speaking in an XYZ TV interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Asiedu Nketiah said that he had served in the General Secretary position for too long and had to leave to give the youth of the party the opportunity to also serve.
He added that he took the decision to leave the general secretary position eight years ago but was persuaded to stay for the sake of the party.
“I have never believed that the chief executive of an organisation should be at post for too long. I consider 17 years (as General Secretary of the NDC) to be too long. I have demonstrated this all my life. I decided not to be a Member of Parliament again after three terms, not because somebody could have removed me but because I want to give the youth who had served me the chance to lead,” he said in Twi.
He added that many people in the NDC had previously told him that they have the dream of becoming general secretary, but they are not contesting because they do not want to challenge him.
Asiedu Nketiah also explained that people staying in political party positions for too long makes the party less attractive to the youth.
He added that, comparing the NDC to the NPP (New Patriotic Party), the youth in the NPP transition faster to top positions than their NDC counterparts, which makes them more attractive.
“Look at this young man who became the General Secretary of the NPP (Justin Kodua Frimpong). He started in the NPP just 10 years ago. So, if he started in the same university as NDC members and he, a TESCON member, has risen from president (of TESCON) to youth organiser and now to the national organiser of the NPP, the youth will be more attracted to the NPP because they will feel they progress faster there,” he said.
Some leading members of the NDC, including Ambassador Victor Smith and Kojo Adu-Asare, have suggested that Asiedu Ntetiah’s decision to challenge the current chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, is because he is bitter for not being chosen as the running mate of John Dramani Mahama for the 2020 presidential elections.
The party’s national elections are slated for Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Candidates will be contesting for various positions, including the National Chairman, National Vice-Chairmen, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, National Organiser, Deputy National Organiser, and the National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.
Others are the National Communications Officer and Deputy, as well as the National Zongo Caucus Coordinator.
The current National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, is expected to face stiff competition from the outgoing General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, for the chairmanship position.
Ahead of the second phase of the NDC’s National Delegates Congress, the Chairman of the party, National Democratic Congress, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has indicated that he is unfazed about the falsehood his naysayers are peddling against him in order to dent his reputation.
He said his main focus will be his campaign and not on these critics since responding to them will only derail his campaign.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo is for the second time contesting as the National Chairman for the party. According to him, he would rather concentrate on his campaign activities by reminding delegates of his achievements and sharing his aspirations for the party with them.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he noted that his achievements in office can speak for themselves, hence there is no need going on a rebuttal spree.
“I don’t want to react to anybody. I want to concentrate on the campaign that I’m doing. I have been the national chairman for the past four years. When I took over the party, the NDChad lost elections in 2016 by nearly one million margin and we’ve lost about 53 seats in Parliament. The 4 years that was given to me and my team to lead the party, we managed in the 2020 elections to appreciate our votes from about 4.4million to almost 6.3million.
“We managed to increase our parliamentary seats from 106 to 137, and for the first time in the history of our fourth republican dispensation, the NDC as an opposition party has been able to produce a Speaker of Parliament; this is unprecedented.
“And if this is an indication of the fact that I haven’t done anything, then I will say to the contrary that myself and the team that were elected into office have provided the strategic leadership that has repositioned the NDC party, rebranded the NDC party, made the party more attractive and almost made the party a party of choice as we go into the 2024 elections.
“And for me, I think it is something that all of us must be proud of. This is a record that we have made for ourselves,” he told host, Aisha Ibrahim.
He admits that while his chief objective as Chairman of the Party i.e. to win the 2020 elections, were not realized, he is hopeful that when given the mandate, he will build on his previous gains to secure a “convincing victory” in 2024.
“My objective when I took over the party as its chairman and subsequently as the leader of the party was to lead the party to form government. And so what I’ve not been able to achieve under the four years was the fact that we could not form a government even though we believe that we never lost the 2020 elections.
“So going forward, my objective is to put the pieces together, is to sharpen the rough edges and ensure that going into 2024 elections, our aim will be nothing short of a victory, a convincing victory that will enable us to form the next government and manage to put our policies and programmes in place in order to reverse the deteriorating situation that we find ourselves in as a nation,” he said.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson AsieduNketiah, has explained why he did not attend the 10th Women and Youth Conference of his party in Cape Coast.
Speaking in an interview on XYZ TV monitored by GhanaWeb, Asiedu Nketiah said that he could have attended the conference to encourage the youth of the party, but he did not have any official function to perform there.
He added that he did not see the need to go there and campaign like others did because he was approaching the delegates in person to ask for their support.
“I didn’t go there (the conference); I was on the field working. I could have gone, but my absence spoils nothing. Because it was the youth who were going to have their elections, I could have gone there to encourage them, but there was no specific responsibility for me to go and discharge there.
“Some people were thinking it was an opportunity to campaign. But I see no need for that. The people who went to the conference I am already been meeting them in their constituencies. So, it is a matter of style that somebody wants to meet them in a jamboree,” he said.
The NDC General Secretary is speaking out for the first time since the leakage of audiovisuals of him saying that the party didn’t have concrete evidence during the 2020 election petition to the Supreme Court.
On the tape recording that has gone viral, Asiedu Nketiah, affectionately called ‘General Mosquito’ who appeared to be talking to some NDC members in a closed-door meeting, could be heard accusing and blaming the chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, for the party’s shoddy work in relation to the election petition.
He stated categorically that he denied having the results when he stood in the dock during cross-examination at the Supreme Court, because the NDC had no evidence to back their claim, and if he hadn’t denied it, he would have been disgraced.
Asiedu Nketiah further revealed that lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, who defended the party, had earlier refused to stand for the NDC because of the lack of concrete evidence but decided to defend the party after the petition was reviewed.
Samuel Bryan Buabeng, a presidential staffer has called for prayers to help save the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from destruction.
He holds that with current ongoings in the party relative to public disagreements between top members, the party could cease to exist by 2024 by the time the next General Elections are held.
“Pray for the NDC,” he tweeted on December 13, adding: “If care is NOT taken, they will kill themselves and destroy the party before 2024.”
The main opposition party has been hit by disagreements from the just ended National Youth Organizer election that produced Geroge Opare Addo as winner over Brogya Genfi.
Opare Addo, alias Pablo, since his victory has gone on a tirade against the NDC’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi and Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George.
The two top part members supported Brogya Genfi against Pablo.
Genfi has protested the outcome of the vote and the process used.
There is also a continuing media war between current General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.
The two are the frontrunners in the upcoming National Executives election slated for December 17 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
A former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP), Joseph Saaka Akati, has been reported dead.
According to myxyzonline.com, the former MP for Bole-Bamboi died on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, in Accra.
The body has been flown to Bole and arrangements for the funeral will be communicated later, a family source indicated, according to the report.
Akati won the Bole-Bamboi seat with 11,452 votes in 2008, succeeding John Dramani Mahama who was contended with the late John Atta Mills for the
presidency that year.
That was when he began his political career, representing his constituents in the 5th parliament.
A former national organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan, has urged the NDC’s leadership to refrain from supporting candidates in elections.
He claims that supporting one’s favourite candidate has done more damage to the party than good and for that matter electorates should choose whom they want as their leader, and not personal ties to candidates should determine the outcome of elections.
“I will not allow them to seal my mouth, I will say what I feel will help the party… the elders should stop being behind and rooting for some candidates… we won’t allow anyone to take the party as their bonafide property,” he said in Twi.
Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ show on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, the astute NDC member stated that the election’s credibility has been compromised if the national executives are endorsing the many candidates running in the various contests; especially the recent NDC national conference held at the University of Cape Coast. He advised the national executives to publicly refute the fact that they all had no involvement in the election.
“All the elders, from former President to former National Executives, they should all come out and defuse the notion that they support a particular candidate… Hanna Bissiw (Women’s Organiser) even tells me what is happening, the hatred is too much, how?” he added.
The National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has explained what led to the confusion during the women and youth leadership elections at the party’s 10th Women and Youth Conference at the University of Cape Coast.
Speaking in an interview on Power FM, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, George Opare Addo, who is popularly known as Pablo, said that the election was delayed because of issues surrounding the eligibility of some of the delegates who were to take part in the elections.
He explained that there were issues with some delegates who had been barred from taking part in the elections by court orders, as well as the leadership of student groups that had intentionally not held their elections.
According to him, there was a court order barring three executives from the Eastern Region, the regional youth organiser and his two deputies, from taking part in the election, but his opponent was saying that all the executives from the region, including the constituency executives, were not to take part in the elections.
He, however, indicated that the issues raised were resolved with the help of the party’s lawyers, who were present, and the organisers of the conference, allowing the elections to continue.
“They made a lot of demands, which I accepted; my only demand was that I was not going to accept their move to exclude executives from three constituencies in the Eastern Region because they were misinterpreting the court order.
“And that one was based on facts, law. Because the law did not say that they should not be allowed to vote. The law stated those who were barred from voting, and they were the regional organiser and his two deputies,” he said in Twi.
He added that in the Greater Accra Region, some of the names on the voters’ registers had to be taken out, and the two parties to the youth elections came to an agreement for the elections to proceed.
Pablo was the eventual winner of the NDC’s youth organiser position, but the election was marred by violence.
The Ghana Police Service has even declared 16 people who were involved in the violence during the election, wanted.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has once again denied his preference and endorsement for candidates in the ongoing NDC national executive elections.
“Of paramount interest to President Mahama is Victory for the NDC in 2024 to work with expectant and suffering Ghanaians to “Build the Ghana We Want. He, like other supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will work with whoever the delegates choose and elect,” a statement by Mr Mahama said.
This comes on the back of attempts by some candidates to push a narrative, despite his previous cautions, that he supports their candidature.
The former leader thus condemned a publication in a tabloid newspaper that he and his family are in support of one of the aspirants for National Chairman of the NDC.
“The said claim and the publication are false, and the rank and file of the party are encouraged to disregard them,” the statement issued by the 2020 Flagbearer of the NDC concluded.
Whenever the subject of the economy came up, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which is theoretically in charge of the EMT, promptly enlisted Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the member of parliament for Suame stated it was curious.
He cited how, despite economic challenges under the John Atta-Mills administration, then-Vice President John Dramani Mahama was not ‘attacked’ as head of EMT in order to make the argument that the president bears primary responsibility for the economy.
“When the Minority Group discusses the current economic challenges, they chuck along the Vice President as chair on Economic Management Team of cabinet. President Mills after 2011 had GDP growth rate drop from 14.4% in 2010 to 9.5% in 2011. Into 2012, GDP swung down again, the Vice President (then John Mahama) was chair of EMT but nobody roped him in.
“The reason is that the Finance Minister manages the economy for and on behalf of the president not the Vice President. In the cabinet set up, in the committee system, the Vice President is not the chairman of the Economic Committee. Vice Presidents have never been.
The MP who also doubles as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs made the submissions on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 during his final submissions on the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government debate in Parliament.
Ghana is currently facing economic headwinds with a domestic debt programme facing opposition from stakeholders – largely from institutional bondholders.
Government is hoping to close a deal on debt restructuring at home in order to be able to access an International Monetary Fund (IMF) facility to support the failing economy.
Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta on December 6 announced that government was restructuring bonds held by institutional investors, putting them into four groups stretching 15 years. With interest also spread in four tranches in four years.
The Domestic Debt Exchange programme as it is called has faced some stiff opposition from major professional groups and workers union in the country.
A member of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) and representative for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has questioned the party’s current youth leadership.
According to the MP, the current youth leadership of the party has become too passive and has failed to rally the youth of Ghana to demonstrate against the corrupt Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
Speaking in a Good Morning Ghana interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Sam George added that the failure of the current NDC youth leaders is the reason why he will be supporting Brogya Genfi, a national youth organiser hopeful, in the upcoming national executive elections of the party.
“I have seen leadership in diplomacy, one that engages in press conferences than actions. I want to see leadership of courage. I want to see a leadership that begins to raise the temperature of this country, galvanizing the youth front of our nation and saying to them that we need to demand better of the kleptocrats in government, the thieves in government, those who are running down and destroying the future of this country.
“This youth leadership is interested in press conferences, Akufo-Addo, at 50, did kumepreko… and that is why I support Brogya Genfi. I believe in the courage and fire of leadership that Brogya represents. And I believe that he will bring about a sterling turnaround in the next two years,” he said.
“We want to see a youth leadership that will raise the temperature in all 16 regions and make demands of this government. Demand accountability from this government. Enough of the press conferences. A youth wing that will open up the intellectual debates on campuses,” he reiterated.
The party’s national elections are slated for Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Candidates will be contesting for various positions, including the National Chairman, National Vice-Chairmen, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, National Organiser, and Deputy National Organiser, as well as the National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.
Others are the National Communications Officer and Deputy, the National Women’s Organiser and Deputy, the National Zongo Caucus Coordinator, and the National Youth Organiser and Deputy.
The current National Youth Organiser of the party, George Opare Addo, is expected to face stiff competition from Brogya Genfi in the National Youth Organiser race.
A former president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has urged citizens to donate money to help organize the 10th National Delegates Conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The conference, slated for Saturday, December 17, in Accra, is to elect national officers to steer the Party’s affairs for the next four years.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday, Mr Mahama said about 9,000 constituency, regional and national executives, being accredited delegates, would have to be transported to Accra and accommodated for the conference.
“The Party needs your support to fund this congress,” he said.
“I am inviting 500,000 willing Ghanaians, NDC supporters, sympathisers, and friends to donate a minimum of 10 Ghana cedis each to help us fund the congress. You don’t have to be a member of the NDC to donate.”
The donation should be made via MoMo number 059 860 4199 or pay into the NDC Congress Account at the GCB Bank, into Account Number: 13-9113-00-00-837.
“If you want to arrange other forms of support, please send me an email- [email protected],” former President Mahama said.
Youth Organiser for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Opare Addo, has been tipped to retain his position when the party elects its new batch of national executives on December 11, 2022.
In some two days, the main opposition party, NDC will hold its National Delegates Congress, in Cape Coast.
Nine positions are up for grabs but the aspirants–nine times the number of portfolios available–will slug it out.
The positions available for grab are Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Organiser, Communication Officer, Women’s Organiser, Youth Organiser, Zongo Caucus Coordinator and National Executive Committee members.
One of the talked about portfolios is the Youth Organiser. This is because the heart of the Party lies with the youth and the Youth Organiser is responsible for organising the youth wing of the party.
In his bid for the re-election, he has released a set of projects and policies he intends to roll out when given the nod.
The projects outlined by the Youth Organizer dubbed 2022 and beyond include;
Provide quarterly fuel allowances for constituency Youth Organizer.
Set up financing for Youth Wing Members running for District Assembly elections.
Operationalize the Youth Wing command center with digital infrastructure for volunteers for operation 24/7.
Reassemble a National Youth Operation wing ahead of the 2024 elections.
Provide Megaphones and information packed flash drives for each constituency youth organizer ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Print T-shirts and other Paraphernalia for constituency youth organizers.
Provide a motorbike for each youth organizer and the deputy to increase grassroots mobilization by December 2023.
Provide cars to deputy regional youth organizers and regional youth organizers without functioning cars.
Provide a National TEIN Coordinators Vehicle under the auspices of the TEIN secretariat
Establish the “Support The Youth Fund” with seed money for constituency Youth organizers.
Mr Opare Addo will be going up against the Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser, Brogya Genfi, his closest contender during the 2018 National Delegates Congress.
He polled 523 votes to beat Brogya Genfi, who got 396 votes.
Among the two candidates, the current Youth Organiser is considered the favorite.
His good works have been identified by many including the Coordinator of the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC in the Savannah Region, Jacob Nwaangu Gbelinyari.
He described Opare Addo as “humble, respectful, accommodating” and above all “one who is very committed to the NDC and his assigned duties.”
Since 2018, when he assumed office, Mr Opare Addo has worked to maintain the party’s good reputation.
In 2020, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) blamed the NDC for the fire outbreaks that happened in the country’s capital.
The NDC Youth Organiser, stood his ground, arguing that that NDC has no intention to burn market facilities which were constructed when they were in power.
He shepherded a protest at Odumase Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, where the NDC youth called on government to find the root cause of the fire outbreaks.
In the same year, with “Our Heritage”, the Youth Organiser started a social media promotion of elite NDC members, reminding Ghanaians that the biggest opposition party has the men to work.
Mr Opare Addo has also charged the party to be critical of government activities, which he believes will not augur well for the country’s development.
The issue of illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”, as well as macro economic variables such as unemployment have been of major concern to him.
Also, he opposed the introduction of the Electronic Transaction Levy, also known as E-levy, which is to widen the tax net of the government.
Holding the assertion that the E-levy would exacerbate the worsening economic conditions of citizens, he led the “Yentua Demonstration” which took place in February this year.
Mr Opare Addo is currently seeking a possible amendment of the party’s constitution, an undertaking many grassroots are pleased with.
The current state of the constitution prevents Constituency Executives from voting at Regional Conference and main National Delegates Congress.
A proposal by a committee from the Youth Wing under his leadership, if approved, will allow all other youth representatives to become fully-fledged Constituency Executives; making them eligible to vote.
It is reported that the youth wing of the party are pleased by his work, therefore, are willing to provide him a second term to guide the opposition party to victory in the 2024 general elections.
Already, Mr Opare Addo has stressed that the NDC will leave no stone unturned to ensure victory is theirs in order alleviate Ghanaians from their current challenges.
“The NDC will win the 2024 Presidential Elections & the Youth wing under my leadership will stop at nothing to make it happen. We are the NDC Youth Wing. We are the Green Army. We are Power Ready and We are Power Hungry,” he tweeted on October 2, 2022.
An aspirant for the National Executive Committee membership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Wonder Victor Kutor, is predicting that the party will be in political office for at least 16 years if it wins the 2024 general elections .
He said there is no doubt the NDC will form the next government, judging from the abysmal performance of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to Kutor, the NDC is not just going to win the 2024 elections on the back of the failure of the NPP but on account that Ghanaians appreciate them as the best managers of the economy, for which reason they would want their comeback.
Speaking to journalists after interacting with delegates in the Eastern Region over the weekend, Wonder Kutor expressed the view that, it is only an NDC government that is able to change the lot of Ghanaians.
He pointed out, for instance, the massive infrastructural developments which dotted the country under former President John Dramani Mahama, as evidence of his assertion.
He added that many of these projects were transformational in the life of the Ghanaian and reflected in the economy.
“The NDC has proven to be the party to transform Ghana and this time when it returns to power, Ghanaians will not like the party to leave power and I am sure we would be in power for 16 years,“ he said.
Wonder Victor Kutor, who is contesting with 18 other aspirants, likened the 16 years of NDC in power to his own sixteenth position on the ballot, saying it is a good sign.
To achieve this however, he said there is work to be done which is why he is putting himself up to be able to get these results.
As former parliamentary candidate aspirant for the Anlo constituency, Victor Kutor, said he is battle-ready to aid the comeback of the NDC, if given the nod as the National Executive Member.
“My vision and strategies for the party in going into 2024 elections has a great tendency of recapturing power from the inept NPP government because election 2024 is a must win for NDC, which will see us be in power for the next 16 years,“ he stressed.
The NDC will hold its national delegates congress later in December 2022.
Former President John Mahama received a courtesy call from the National Democratic Congress (NDCfreshly )’s elected Greater Accra and Volta Regional Executives.
According to the CEOs, they went to meet the previous president to introduce themselves.
The two regions also vowed to back John Mahama’s bid to represent the NDC in the 2024 elections.
Additionally, the region brings up a number of topics that they think will facilitate the fight for success in 2024.
President Mahama congratulated the new teams and encouraged them to work hard, bring on board all key stakeholders in their regions, and ensure that there is unity among the rank and files.
President Mahama also reiterated the need to build dedicated corps of polling agents that will ensure vigilance on polling day.
The new regional executives presented gifts to Mr. Mahama on his 64th birthday.
Abronye, who identified Mr. Mahama as a friend, wrote a mocking message on his Facebook page in which he expressed his desire for the former president to be unsuccessful in achieving his goal of winning reelection.
“Have a happy birthday, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, my dear buddy.
After 2024, I wish you the best of luck as you continue to represent Ghana’s longest-running opposition.
Raila Odinga of Ghana,
again, happy birthday.
Thank you,” he wrote.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, lost a second presidential term bid in 2016 and failed another attempt at capturing power on the ticket on the National Democratic Congress in 2020.
Ahead of the 2024 presidential elections, former President Mahama is tipped as the likely candidate to lead the NDC.
Meanwhile, the governing New Patriotic Party is hoping to maintain power beyond 2023.
There have been rumours that Koku Anyidoho, Dela Coffie, Yaw Boateng Gyan, and other disgruntled party members are supporting the current National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia, who is challenging him for the position.
For collaborating with those who do not represent the National Democratic Congress’s interests, the Chairman has been branded a traitor.
To him, the propaganda will not wash and there is a need for his opponents to rethink their ways.
“It is a figment of their own imagination. Under no circumstance will I take people who have been ousted from the party to be part of my campaign team. I ended my campaign in the Greater Accra Region Yesterday and about 10 to 15 constituency Chairmen were following me as members of my campaign team. I don’t lack people who will campaign for me who are bonafide members of the NDC…Those contesting me should not hide behind people and say that Koku Anyidoho, Yaw Boateng Gyan, Dela Coffie, and Allotey Jacobs are regular panel members on Ahotor FM which is a radio station which belongs to me. None of them have been a panelist on my radio station,” he said.
It has been predicted that the race between Mr. Asiedu Nketia and Ofosu Ampofo for the position of National Chairman of the NDC at Congress will be close.
Ofosu Ampofo, however, contends that if anyone, including his general secretary, lacks a message, they should give up and let him run unopposed as he has a lot to offer the political party.
To him, claims that he is working with people suspended by the party is a figment of his opponent’s imagination and not a fact.
“It is a figment of their own imagination. Under no circumstance will I take people who have been ousted from the party to be part of my campaign team. I ended my campaign in the Greater Accra Region Yesterday and about 10 to 15 constituency Chairmen were following me as members of my campaign team. I don’t lack people who will campaign for me who are bonafide members of the NDC,” he said.
“Those who are contesting me should come and tell the people what they will do when they are voted for to become National Chairman and others. Those contesting me should not hide behind people and say that Koku Anyidoho, Yaw Boateng Gyan, Dela Coffie, and Allotey Jacobs are regular panel members on Ahotor FM which is a radio station which belongs to me. None of them has been a panelist on my radio station.”
“I want to use this medium to dismiss the propaganda and to also let them know that if they don’t have a message, they should throw in the towel and withdraw from the race,” he said.
Franklin Cudjoe, the founding president of the think tank Imani Africa, has criticised Kwaku Rafiki’s imprisonment over remarks he made on social media concerning the financial industry.
Cudjoe believed that those who had stated that the nation would not request a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and those who had stated that there would not be “haircuts” should also be detained.
National Security agents detained Kwaku Rafiki, an activist who supports the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for reportedly inciting fear and terror through his social media posts.
After much engagement between Kwaku Rafiki’s lawyers and the National Security and the Ghana Police Service, he was granted bail.
Reacting to the news, Franklin Cudjoe wondered who gave the order for his arrest.
“Who gave the order for Kwaku to be picked up? I have a few recommendations. Those who said we were not going to the IMF and No Haircuts on investments could be invited too. The economy is stupid,” he wrote.
Ghana should be boasting of 1,500 factories by now if past presidents had done what President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is doing with the One District One Factory (ID1F) project, Former Member of Parliament for Tema West , Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, has said.
He said the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) can boat of only one factory, the Komenda Sugar Factory, while the Akufo-Addo has so far built 126 factories that are fully operating with 143 at various stages of completion.
He said this while contributing to a debate on the 2023 budget in Parliament on Wednesday November 30.
The former Deputy Minister of Trade said “Today, as I speak to you we have close to 300 factories under the Akufo-Addo government. Mr Speaker, out of this 296 or so factories, about 126 of them are operational, 143 are at various stages of construction and 43 pipeline projects.
“Let us assume Mr Speaker, if since 1992, all the presidents that have come to stay on for 8 years, now Akufo-Addo is the 5th President, if every president was bringing or churning out 300 factories in Ghana we will be having 1,500 companies as at today.
“Unfortunately, from 2009 to 2026 the Komenda Sugar factory is the only one that we heard off from the other side (NDC) and yet they have the effrontery to speak to us as if we have not done anything in this country.
“But fortunately for them those who have 1D1F in their constituencies or municipality their own siblings, their own children are working in these factories. I want to point out to them that if they provoke us we will mention names.
“When some president had the opportunity in this fourth republic to ensure that they provide workforce for the youth they rather sold the factories or companies that we had in Ghana.”
The NPP claims that it recalls the NDC failing to provide any supporting documentation for its claims in the Supreme Court petition about the 2021 election.
“This is what the NDC has repeated in the Techiman South petition,” the Director of Communications of the NPP, Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, said.
“They claim the election was rigged but failed to provide any evidence to justify that claim which was the basis for the attack on the Electoral Commission and the reported death,” he added.
Mr. Ahiagbah said this in a tweet after the Wenchi High Court ruled on the Techiman South Constituency parliamentary election petition case on Wednesday, 30 November 2022.
The Wenchi High Court affirmed Mr Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, as the duly elected Member of Parliament of the Techiman South Constituency.
Mr Ahiagbah admonished the NDC to stop going to court without evidence going forward.
He further stated that all this could have been avoided if the NDC had done what was right and accepted the results that were transparently counted, collated, and declared.
He concluded that the man who lost his life would have been alive today had the NDC not played to the gallery.
There is heavy police presence at the Wenchi High Court in the Bono Region ahead of the ruling of the Techiman South Parliamentary election petition today, Wednesday, November 30.
The election petition was filed by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in respect of the 2020 parliamentary elections in the Techiman South Constituency.
The NDC had said that it won the Techiman South Parliamentary election, but claimed the Electoral Commission (EC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) connived to deny it the seat.
The suit by the NDC seeks to quash the declaration of the NPP’s Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah as Techiman South MP, and declare Dr Christopher Beyere Baasongti as the legitimate winner of the Techiman South 2020 parliamentary elections.
The NPP has always maintained its candidate and current Member of Parliament (MP), Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah was legally elected as announced by the Electoral Commission, accusing the NDC of engaging in propaganda.
The Electoral Commission also maintains that Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah polled 49,682 votes as against 49,205 votes for Christopher Beyere of the NDC.
The Minority Leader claims that during the discussion of the government’s 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members in the August House will make a solid case for that.
, has urged the government to further evaluate the proposed one percent (1%) e-levy at zero rate to 0.5 percent at a threshold of GH300 and above in order to earn support from Ghanaians.
The Minority Leader claims that during the discussion of the government’s 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members in the August House will make a solid case for that.
The Tamale South lawmaker explained that setting the e-levy at 1% will have a negative impact on individuals and businesses that rely on electronic money transfer services.He thus urged the government to reconsider the newly proposed rate.
“We will subject this new proposal to further critical and thorough discussions as a caucus, but without going into the scenarios, as you look at your scenarios, consider for say of 0.5% at a threshold of ¢300 as compared to what you have admitted of 1% at zero threshold.”
The Tamale South MP hinted that his side was yet to take a decision on the proposed increase of the VAT rate by 2.5 percent.
He, however, warned that the 2.5 percent increase in VAT may have terrible consequences on businesses.
Government announced last Thursday that it was reducing the rate from 1.5 percent to 1 percent and removing the 100 cedis tax-free daily threshold. That means any amount transferred is taxable.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Afriyie Akoto, has come under fire from the ranking member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee of Parliament for giving the false impression that plantain was on the list of crops for the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative (PFJ).
The ranking member said that neither the PFJ budget nor crop list included plantain output.
He remarked, “I was astounded to see the minister praising plantain as PFJ’s success story.
Mr. Eric Opoku took issue with the minister’s purported impression that it was the Planting for Food and Jobs program that led to the glut in plantain production.
“So it is not as a result of the PFJ that there is the availability of plantain on the market,” he added.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo South Constituency in the Bono Region was speaking in an interview with the host of the Ghana Yensom morning show, Emmanuel Quarshie (The Hitman), on Accra 100.5 FM on Monday, November 28, 2022.
He challenged the sector minister to parade the crops produced by the PFJ.
He was quick to say the PFJ has not been able to ensure food security in the country.
“It is important to note that PFJ has failed because the government has cut investment in the country’s agriculture sector,” he said.
He further said the reason imported rice is relatively cheap in the country is because of the investments made in its production in the country of origin.
He said fertilisers, among other inputs from where the rice is imported, are catered for by the government.
“In Ghana, this (NPP) government pays a 15 per cent subsidy on fertiliser for the ordinary farmer to pay 85 per cent,” he complained, and added that in 2016, the NDC government imported tractors from Brazil and subsidised them by 60 per cent for the farmer to pay 40 per cent.
Under the current government, however, farmers are bearing the full-cost, he added.
He said the NPP government has refused to make investments in agriculture, adding that now Ghana imports 730,800 metric tons of fish annually to augment its consumption levels of one million metric tons, all because premix fuel is unavailable.
He claimed that doing this was the only way to prevent the economy of the nation’s from collapsing as it was about to.
If the economy collapses while you are in opposition and you are satisfied with the current situation, there will be no country for you to inherit even if you win the election in 2024, he said. “Let us all hold hands together as Ghanaians beyond political and family considerations to make sure that we recover this economy,” he said.
The Former President made the observation at Wa on Sunday during the final Islamic funeral rites (Adua) of the late Alhaji Mumuni Mankaama, a former regional executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party who died and was buried on November 7.
The late Alhaji Mankaama who left behind five wives and fifteen children was a former youth organizer and later, a regional executive and contributed to the gains of the party in the region.
Former President Mahama claimed that even though the hardship and economic setback the country was experiencing were as a result of mismanagement by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government, as patriotic citizens, Ghanaians must do the little they could to help restore the fortunes of the state.
The former President described the deceased as a “kind and God fearing man” of integrity, who rendered his sincere services to humanity and the nation without a shred of malice.
“The late Alhaji Mumuni Mankaama was a great listener, adviser, a teacher and apolitician who cared so much about his subjects, I pray he fine peace with his marker “, he said.
He extended a word of advise to the mourners to learn from the exemplary life of the deceased particularly, candidates who failed to acquire the nod to continue in the next administration as party executives in the just ended regional elections of the party.
“Those who have lost, I wish to tell you that is not the end of your life, I have lost some battles and I am still here so don’t give up, join hands with those who won and let’s work together for the NDC to win the elections”, he charged.
Mansura Mumuni Mankaama, daughter of the deceased in a tribute, described her father as a strict disciplinarian who played the role of a father and a companion, saying he exhibited the qualities every child would want in a father and pushed for unity amongst the siblings.
Hundreds of people across the region and beyond attended the Adua of the late Alhaji Mankaama at the forecourt of Dondoli park to mourn with the bereaved family.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has said that Ghanaians made a mistake by voting out his government in the 2016 presidential elections.
According to him, in spite of the achievements of his government, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was able to convince Ghanaians that he was incompetent, which led to his being booted out of office.
Mahama, who made these remarks while addressing constituency and regional executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region, added that Ghanaians are now suffering the consequences of the wrong choice they made in 2016.
“Whatever happens in this country affects everybody. When we make a wrong choice, it affects us not today, but tomorrow and tomorrow next, and next year and the year after.
“We made that wrong choice in 2016. Despite everything we did, the people of Ghana were convinced that we were incompetent, and so they voted against us. And the effects of that decision in 2016 are continuing to follow us every day till now,” he said.
Mahama also said that Ghanaians should not accept the excuses of the government that the Russia-Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic are what caused the hardship in the country.
He implied that the government’s poor management is causing unprecedented hardships for Ghanaians.
The former president, therefore, urged the executives of the party, from the polling stations to the national level, to work hard to rescue Ghanaians from the current NPP government.
National Chairman of Ghana’s largest opposition party-National Democratic Congress, NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo says withdrawal from the grisly by-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon was the best decision which he has not regretted because it saved lives.
On January 31, 2019, hooded masked National Security Operatives armed to the teeth and deployed in Police armored vehicles invaded the Bawaleshie Presbyterian polling station, attacked and shot some supporters of the NDC during the by-election that saw the New Patriotic Party’s Member of Parliament, Lydia Alhassan, elected after the death of her husband, Mr. Kyeremanteng Agyarko, who was the incumbent MP at the time.
Six supporters of the NDC sustained serious gunshot wounds whilst dozens suffered minor injuries.
NDC immediately withdrew from the election
Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has since been accused by his critics in the party of being a coward hence does not deserve to lead the party into a crucial election such as the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
However, speaking to the media in Koforidua on Thursday, November 24, 2022, after meeting 16 constituencies as part of his campaign tour in the region, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo stated that, the withdrawal from the by-election was tactical decision taken in consultation with security experts in the party to protect lives of unarmed NDC supporters in the face of rampaging riffle wielding national security operatives.
“I have led so many by-elections in this country. Ayawaso West Wuogon was a different election. It was the only time state security agencies armed with assault riffle hunted down on Innocent people who were only going to vote. I will put the lives of my party people always first beyond any other consideration so that decision was not a unilateral decision.It was a decision I took in consultation with the party’s national security system -Naval Captain Asaase Gyiamah was the chairman of our national security committee, Totobi Quachie was immediate past minister of National Security in our government and so these are people who were even with me when I was announcing our withdrawal, and other Senior people”.
He said, as a result of that decision Emil Short Commission was set up to investigate the violence which also led to passage of legislation disbanding vigilantism in Ghana’s politics.
“Government was put under pressure to pass a law against vigilantism and other offences and in 2020 vigilantism and vigilante activities were not seen in polling stations that is as a result of the tactical withdrawal from the by-election to save lives and properties”.
Samuel Ofosu Ampofo believes election is not a war to deploy thugs to cause mayhem but building resilient party structures at the grassroot to regional level will rather repel anything detrimental to the party.
“Obama said we don’t need strong personalities but we need strong institutions. What I am doing is to build resilient institutions at the branch level, ward level, constituency level, and at the regional level after all you don’t need one strong person to be in all 275 constituencies on election day. You can’t get one strong person to be in 40,000 polling stations on election day. You need strong structures, strong people that we will train”
He added “Will train the party agents one year before the election. We will build their capacity and give them the knowledge. Elections are won at the polling stations. You don’t need a machoman to win an election. You need a strategic person, a person who understands electoral system to do things right “.
Mr. Ampofo said he has led the party to establish security and intelligence desk, and attached legal experts to all Constituencies as part of preparation towards 2024 elections since the party and John Dramani Mahama have taken a position not to go to the Supreme court again.
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo (born March 10, 1962) is an experienced politician who has passed through the ranks serving as an assembly member, and District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa North before becoming a Member of Parliament for the area.
He is also a former Eastern Regional Minister and served as Minister for Local Government and rural Development. He is also a former National Organizer and currently National Chairman of the NDC seeking reelection for a second term but facing fierce contest from another experienced politician currently the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia aspiring to annex the position.
However, Mr.Ofosu Ampofo says he is confident of winning the election having led the party to improve its performance from 4.8 million votes to about 6.3million votes in 2020 presidential election, increased parliamentary seats from 106 to 137, and annexed the speaker of Parliament position for the party.
He added that under his leadership, retreats have been organized for constituency and regional executives, party reorganization conducted ensuring that branches and wards of the party are activated towards 2024 polls.
A general secretary aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has descended heavily on the media in Ghana, describing it as being overly considerate of the government of the day.
He explained that the contribution of the media has added to the current mess that the country is facing, as it has refused to be as critical as it is supposed to be, at least in terms of how it performed in the NDC era of governance.
Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk with host Edward Smith Anamale, the former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC stated that the media in Ghana today has been pampering the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
“The reason we are in this state is because a lot of media people have pampered this government; a lot of media people. When they started messing around, instead of media people speaking the truth to them, the media people became gatekeepers.
“So, things that if half of it happened under NDC, they’ll come out strongly, at a point they said if they want to talk then it is because they want to be the devil’s advocate. Really? You are only a devil when it’s about the NPP? What devil’s advocate? Facts are facts,” he stated.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah further stressed that if only the media in Ghana could be half as critical as it was of the erstwhile NDC government and stop the ‘false equivalents’ between the two governments, it would put the incumbent on their toes to deliver better.
“The same way that NDC was held to account when we were in power, if half of it had been done to NPP today, we won’t be where we are today, but because they know that when they mess up, when (sic) comes to show, media people will be asking funny questions and trying to be doing false equivalents; NDC and NPP are the same. We can never be the same,” he stated.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has sent goodwill message to the Black Stars ahead of their 2022 World Cup opener against Portugal on Thursday.
Black Stars will begin their campaign against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal before taking on South Korea and Uruguay in the other Group H matches.
Black Stars, who are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
“Let’s go Ghana! All the best of Luck!! Shine on Ghana!!!”, Asiedu Nketia said.
Ghana are making a record 4th World Cup appearance in Qatar having previously played in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 in Germany, South Africa and Brazil respectively.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be hoping to progress from the group stage at this year’s tournament.
Black Stars exited the group stage at the 2014 edition in Brazil after a slow start to the tournament.
An aspirant for the General Secretary position of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has cautioned his party members not to think that the general elections of 2024 will be just a walk in the park.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah explained that if people are of the view that the NDC will come by an easy win in the next general elections, then they have failed to understand who their main opponent, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are made of.
Speaking to GhanaWeb’s Edward Smith Anamale on Election Desk, the former Director of Elections of the NDC indicated that it would be a great deceit for people to think his party would easily win the general polls of 2024.
“I have a vision, I have a track-record, I have experience. The 2024 elections is not going to be that easy the way people are making it look like we’ve won already (sic), no. I know the NPP and if you don’t know the NPP then you’d be deceiving yourself; I know them very well,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is also a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, further put himself forward as the right candidate to help the party go head-to-head with the NPP and win.
This, he said, is because he understands the dynamics of their game better and can therefore, bring his experiences to bear, ensuring that the NDC gets a deserved win.
“And so, you’d need somebody who is tough, who is seasoned, who understands them, who has been at the battle front before and who has done it with the track-record and that is where I come in. And that’s my message to the delegates,” he said.
The aspirant also spoke about a number of other issues, including his assessments of the performance of the incumbent NPP government as compared to what the erstwhile NDC government did.
The caucus believes that the project must remain government-run in order enable employees of the government, including MPs, to purchase the homes at reasonable prices.
On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, as the minority members of the committee were touring the site, Mr. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the ranking member of the select committee on works and housing, told journalists, “We are stating our position clear that we wouldn’t want any private developer to come in at all.”
“In 2025, we are very optimistic that the NDC will form the next government, so, any private developer that will partner the government to complete this project; the project will be taken away from him because it should remain affordable and the mortgage system; it should go to the workers of Ghana”, he warned.
“So, we came around for you to know that this government has neglected it and caused so much financial loss to the state [and] the people of Ghana because you have taken shots of what has happened here [removal of doors, burglar proofs and cables]; as to whether it was even organised by the government so that while we see the level of deterioration, that will give them the energy and confidence to tell Ghanaians that the project has failed so that they can sell it to themselves, but, at least, we have seen it; there’s still a way out”, he noted.
The visit revealed that security doors, burglar proofs, power and phone cables have been “stolen” from the housing units.
The caucus’ visit followed a recent announcement by the Minister of Works and Housing that the government intends to sell the project to a private investor.
Speaking at a press briefing a couple of weeks ago, Mr Asenso-Boakye said that the decision was taken after an assessment of the project and some consultations were done.
According to the minister, the “government will have to provide additional financing to the tune of approximately US$46 million to provide off-site infrastructure, i.e. water, electricity, and storm drainage systems to make the housing units habitable.”
“Additionally, there is the need to invest approximately US$68 million to complete the buildings and other essential on-site infrastructure works,” Mr Asenso-Boakye told journalists.
He said after spending US$196 million on the project, the government has decided against sinking any further taxpayer money into it.
“After a painstaking period of assessment, verification and consultations, the government has decided to explore the possibility of selling the Saglemi housing project, covering the 1,506 housing units, at the current value, to a private sector entity to complete and sell the housing units to the public, at no further cost to the state,” Mr Asenso-Boakye said.
Mr Asenso-Boakye said the proceeds from the sale would be reinvested into other affordable housing projects.
The minority is, however, suspicious of the government’s intention, thus, its visit to the site on Tuesday, 22 November 2022.
Speaking to the media at the site of the project during the minority’s tour, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, a member of the select committee on works and housing, said the houses were even more habitable than some residences in the prime areas of Accra and wondered why the government abandoned it for so long
“I have not seen double lanes in even in Trasacco, I haven’t seen dual carriageways; in fact, one lane here can take three vehicles. You can see the vegetation here; everything is perfectly done”, he observed.
He said the stripping bare of the buildings could only be an organised crime.
“You see the way the cables are cut off, you have to be professionals to be able to cut these cables. It’s not about any ordinary thief moving in to say: ‘I’m going in to steal’. Even removing the windows, it will take them more than one month to remove all the windows here [and] all the burglarproof.
“The security gates here were fixed and they have been removed. So, count the number of security gates or doors that were removed. How many articulated trucks will be able to move it out? Where were they sent to? Where were they sold? Plus the burglar proofs. These are aluminium ones. How were they removed? Where were they taken to? How many articulated trucks drove in here to come and pick them up?” he wondered.
“Apart from that, telephone cables, electricity cables [were] removed. The rest of the things: the fittings in the kitchens and everything removed. It means it is organised”, he pointed out.
Thieves, reptiles take over Saglemi housing project after years of government neglect
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“I’m inviting the clergy to come here, I’m inviting the council of state members to come here, I’m inviting whoever matters in this country to come here and look at it yourself”, he added.
In his view, “people have actually organised to commit a crime [against] the state just to make money and I’m telling you, they are going to sell them so cheap to their brothers and sisters. Check it; there would be somebody buying this linked to the government and that is the thing they’ve been doing”.
The 2,172 acres on which the Saglemi housing project is situated were procured in 2002 during the era of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
On August 15, 2012, the late President John Evans Atta Mills gave executive approval to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to implement the project.
The project involved the construction of 5,000 housing units for sale to public members through mortgages provided by Ghana Home Loans.
The project was implemented by Constrastora OAS Ghana Limited through a buyer’s credit of up to $200 million.
By the end of the stipulated completion date, the original contract of the project had been amended three (3) times, with the project scope reducing from the initial 5,000 housing units to 1,506 housing units, although US$195,854,969.52 representing 98% of the project funds had been expended.
That notwithstanding, the 1,506 housing units were at various stages of completion.
None of these 1,506 housing units was habitable because the project currently lacks basic amenities such as water and electricity and other related amenities.
At the same time, a technical assessment report by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors in September 2020, valued the total cost of on-site works at US$64,982,900.74.
There is an ongoing criminal prosecution at the High Court to determine the discrepancies with the funds expended on the project vis-à-vis the valued cost of works and original project scope.
No Phasing
In 2021, former Works and Housing Minister E.T. Mensah denied claims that the $200-million project was planned to have been executed in phases.
The council of state member told Paul Adom-Otchere on Accra-based Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programme on Tuesday, 3 August 2021: “I was not involved in any phasing system”.
“We knew that we wanted to build – that is 5,000 houses to be built for workers – and it was approved”, he said.
According to him, “executive approval was given and parliament approved it, so, if anything at all, if I wanted to change something, I had to go through the same process again”.
Collins Dauda Charged
Mr Mensah’s successor, Mr Collins Dauda, was charged with causing financial loss to the state in connection with the Saglemi housing project.
The opposition politician is accused of intentionally misapplying the project sum of $200 million “by causing the said amount, which had been approved by the parliament of Ghana for the construction of 5,000 housing units, to be applied toward the payment of 1,412 housing units”.
In 2020, Mr Dauda’s successor, Samuel Atta Akyea, disclosed that all former government appointees and officials involved in the project were being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Atta Akyea, who described the project as a rip-off, noted that it does not measure up to the cost purported to have been invested in it.
Mr Atta Akyea disclosed this while speaking to the parliamentary press corps on Thursday, 8 October 2020.
He also condemned the habit of new governments discontinuing projects started by previous administrations.
“In relation to Kufuor’s uncompleted housing structures, the evidence is clear that the Mills government and the Mahama government did not continue it. Then, I was met with this jejune argument that we have abandoned Saglemi. I say, ‘no, we have not abandoned Saglemi,” the minister said.
Mr Atta Akyea further noted that the Mahama-led administration ripped the country off in executing the project.
He stated: “Saglemi is tainted with embezzlement”.
“There’s no dispute about it, and I could tell you that the Ghana Institution of Surveyors has come out with a conclusive report to the effect that Saglemi is a rip-off and the amount of money that has been blown in Saglemi is over USD100 million and the housing structures over there do not measure up to the money they’ve collected”, he said.
“So, I’m not here to embarrass anybody; I’m here to say that if you didn’t go into the legalities of it, how do you continue? So, now that we’ve surrendered the report of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors to CID, now, we can deal with the issue of going to continue”, he added.
Mr Atta Akyea noted at the time that: “We’re pushing so hard to deal with the issue of Saglemi; it’s not abandoned. It doesn’t give this nation credit at all.”
“They’ve invited several of them, including Honourable Collins Dauda. They’ve invited them but you see how civil NPP is; we don’t make it like a drama, so, the police are dealing with them. We’re not going to parade people like: ‘Look at how they’ve arrested this man or they’ve arrested that man’”.
“That is what civility is all about. You do not try to embarrass somebody because you think that he’s been investigated by the police. Eventually, the police might say that they do not have anything against the person and you would have embarrassed him”.
“So, all those people who were involved in Saglemi, they’ve started inviting them. I’m telling you and even people working in my Ministry, they’ve started inviting them. So, investigations are ongoing, let’s leave the police to do its work. There’s no propaganda or party issues about theft, theft is theft,” the minister added.
Charges Against Collins Dauda ‘Frivolous, Trumped-up, Political’ – Haruna Iddrisu
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, in 2021, said the 52 charges levelled against Mr Dauda and four other persons for causing financial loss to the state in connection with the project, were frivolous and trumped up.
Mr Iddrisu, who led other minority MPs to court on Thursday, 5 August 2021, to solidarise with the Asutifi South MP, told journalists: “It is instructive that they are being charged when the courts are themselves on vacation”, wondering: “What is the hurry and what is the desperation in this?”
Concerning the alleged financial loss, Mr Iddrisu asked: “Whose value?”
“The Attorney General says it is $64 million. I believe that these are frivolous, trumped-up charges intended to politically persecute and politically harass”, he said.
“We remain undoubted. I do not think that these charges can stand the test of the law. I am very convinced about this,” he said.
Mr Dauda and Kweku Agyeman Mensah, also a former housing minister, appeared in court on Thursday, 5 August 2021 and were granted separate bail bonds.
Mr Dauda was granted a self-recognisance bail after pleading not guilty in the matter of causing financial loss.
Mr Agyeman Mensah and a third accused person, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Chief Director of the ministry of housing, were each granted bail of $65 million.
They were both to produce three sureties each, one of which must be a public officer.
Another accused person, Mr Andrew Clocanas, an Executive Chairman of Constructura OAS Ghana Limited, was also admitted to a bail bond of $179 million with three sureties, one of whom should be a public servant.
A fifth accused person, Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, was also admitted to a bail bond of $13 million with three sureties.
The court, presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame, seized the passports of all the accused persons.
Per the facts of the case presented by Attorney General Godfred Dame, Mr John Mahama, as president, granted an executive order for the construction of 5,000 affordable housing units in August 2012 at Saglemi in the Ningo Prampram the constituency of the Greater Accra region.
Parliament approved the deal, which had funding from Credit Suisse.
The houses were to be sold to workers through mortgage arrangements provided by the Ghana Home Loans Company as it was at the time.
A Brazilian company, Construtora OAS Ltd, was the contractor.
The AG said the borrower, the Ministry of Finance, and the lender, signed a facility agreement on January 4, 2013, for the release of $200 million to fund the construction of the 5,000 housing units, the day on which the Housing Minister also signed the EPC agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas, the fourth accused.
According to the AG, the project was to be executed in four phases on 2,172 acres of land at a contract price of $200 million, including consultancy services.
An Escrow Management Agreement, a condition precedent to the release of the facility to the borrower, was also signed, pursuant to the facility and the EPC agreements, he said.
Mr Dame further stated that on February 27, 2014, Mr Dauda, without parliamentary approval, reviewed the EPC agreement and signed both the original and the revised (restated) agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas.
The revision allegedly changed the scope of works and the application of the $200 million approved by Parliament.
This new agreement required the contractor to execute the project in three phases over a site of 1,272 acres, while the $200 million was now to be applied towards the execution of only the first phase of the project, comprising just about 1,502 housing units.
This was contrary to the executive and parliamentary approvals, as well as the facility and Escrow Management agreements.
On December 21, 2016, according to the facts, the Chief Director, Yakubu, again reviewed the original and revised the (restated) agreement and signed them (second and his revised or restated), without recourse to Parliament.
That led to a further reduction in the scope of works to 1,412 housing units at a revised price of $181 million, and extended the completion period to July 31, 2017, the prosecutor alleged.
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party,Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has described as refreshing a decision by a High Court to dismiss a suit challenging the election of Jomoro Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey.
According to him, the decision by the court among other things is a clear indication of the fairness of the judiciary system of Ghana
“Congrats! It is refreshing to be amply reminded that the legal system works! That, Lady Justice remains blind,” Mr Otchere-Darko wrote in a tweet in reaction to NDC member, Joyce Bawa Mogtari’s celebration of the court’s decision.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has over the period accused the bench of being bias against the party.
Some NDC members have cited the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the party’s petition against the 2020 presidential election result to back their claim.
However, the Sekondi High Court on Monday, November 21, 2022, dismissed a petition against the NDC Member of Parliament for Jomoro.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court, presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
The petition was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
Top guns of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were in attendance at the Sekondi High Court when the verdict of the election petition case involving Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey was delivered.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
GhanaWeb checks indicated that about half a dozen Members of Parliament were around to lend their support to their colleague. Among them were Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, James Agalga, Teddy Nana Yaw, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe and Emmanuel Armah Buah.
The embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson – who is also battling a citizenship case – was also in attendance.
Other party bigwigs present included Kofi Totobi Quakyi and former Attorney General Marietta Brew-Oppong.
The petition which the victorious MP described later as ‘frivolous’ and a ‘distraction’ was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
The case has been in court for over 20 months since she was elected to represent the people of the Jomoro constituency.
The hard economic times are now being reflected by the dwindled offerings in church, former President John Mahama has observed and urged Christians to pray for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and him for “rescue” Ghana from the current “suffering”.
At the 175th-anniversary thanksgiving service of the E.P Church in Ho, Volta Region, Mr Mahama urged Christians to be generous with the little they have since times are hard.
“We must always spread Christian love, especially in this time, when money doesn’t like noise”, he told the church, stressing: “Especially, at this time when we all agree that times are hard”.
“This is the time we must show our Christian charity by loving our neighbours as ourselves”, Mr Mahama urged.
“And, so, whatever little you have to share, you should share with your neighbour”, he told Christians.
Using an appeal for funds event at the church as the litmus test of the economic hardships, Mr Mahama pointed out: “I mean, we could tell the hardship in the system from the appeal for funds”.
“When it was GH¢2,000, madam chair and a few people came and donated. Then it came down to ¢1,000, then to ¢500, then to ¢200 and ¢100”.
“And when it got to the silver collection, ¢1, ¢2, the place was full, it shows that the pocket was not too good”, he observed.
He then told the church, which had on its schedule, a prayer session for Christians in Pakistan: “After we pray for Pakistan, Moderator should also say a special prayer for me and for the NDC so that, in some year that is just coming, luck will smile on us, God will smile on us and give us the power to come and rescue this country from the suffering we are going through”.
Ghana is currently experiencing an economic crisis which President Nana Akufo-Addo has acknowledged, forcing him to address the nation on Sunday, 30 October 2022 about measures being put in place by his administration to fix the problem.
Top guns of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were in attendance at the Sekondi High Court when the verdict of the election petition case involving Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey was delivered.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
GhanaWeb checks indicated that about half a dozen Members of Parliament were around to lend their support to their colleague. Among them were Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, James Agalga, Teddy Nana Yaw, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe and Emmanuel Armah Buah.
The embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson – who is also battling a citizenship case – was also in attendance.
Other party bigwigs present included Kofi Totobi Quakyi and former Attorney General Marietta Brew-Oppong.
The petition which the victorious MP described later as ‘frivolous’ and a ‘distraction’ was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
The case has been in court for over 20 months since she was elected to represent the people of the Jomoro constituency.
He claims that the crisis has had a substantial effect on Christians’ ability to give tithes and offerings to God.
John Dramani Mahama stated during his sermon at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s 175th anniversary ceremony in Ho that the current trying times require Christians to exhibit compassion and generosity to one another.
“And so, whatever little you have to share, you should share with your neighbour. I mean we could tell the hardship in the system from the appeal for funds,” the former president said.
“When it was GH¢2000, madam chair and a few people came and donated, then it came down to GH¢1000, then to GH¢500, then to GH¢200 and GH¢100. And when it got to the silver collection, GH¢1, GH¢2, the place was full, it shows that the pocket was not too good”, he stated.
The former president also called Christians in Ghana to remember him and the National Democratic Congress in prayers.
