A parliamentary candidate for the Okaikoi Central constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu has said that the party needs him to claim the Okaikoi Central.
The former 3 Media Networks Chief Executive Officer indicated that he is the best man among the other three contestants in the race to bring victory to the NDC in Okaikoi Central as he resonates pretty well with the various voting blocs in the constituency.
In an interview on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, the industrious creative said there are many things that make him refreshingly different in the race.
“There are certain things that make me a refreshingly different candidate. I resonate with the four voting blocs in the constituency, particularly for the NDC. The Akan voting bloc has been one of the hard-to-reach blocs for the NDC in the constituency, but I resonate very well with the bloc”.
Enumerating the voter base and his chances of winning the constituency on the ticket of the NDC, Baba Sadiq said “We’ve got the Akan bloc, the Ga-Adangbe bloc, the Ewe bloc, and the Muslim-Zongo-Northern bloc, and for the NDC to win in Okaikoi Central, it will need a candidate that resonates with these four blocs and beyond having a candidate that resonates with these four blocs, you will also need a candidate that understands the needs of the people and is innovative enough to create ideas that can solve the people’s problems and that who I am.”
“I cannot specifically mention some of our strategies but all the NDC needs is Baba Sadiq in the race against Patrick Boamah [current NPP MP for the area] to win the constituency,” he added.
The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will make a list of all unfinished projects and assure their completion, according to former president John Dramani Mahama.
The former president said the decision by the current government to abandon projects started under the NDC has been one of the major damages to the country.
Speaking to branch and constituency executives in Odumasein the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency, John Mahama said the priority of the next NDC government is to complete all stalled projects under this government.
Meanwhile, the NDC flagbearer hopeful says no youthful person concerned about the state of the country will vote to maintain the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2024.
According to the former President who is on a 3-day tour of the Eastern Region, the reckless and excessive borrowing by the New Patriotic Party has jeopardised the future of the country for the next 10 years.
Addressing branch and constituency executives in Yilo Krobo Constituency, Mr Mahama rallied the youth to vote back the NDC to save the situation.
He observed that the country is choked with debts making it impossible to pay back.
“The NPP government is destroying the future of the youth with excessive borrowing. For those who took the loans, how many years are left for them to leave the surface of the earth to join God? The creditors will not give the future generation loans due to the failure of this government to settle its loans”.
“If you are concerned about your future don’t vote for the NPP government that has put us in this situation. Listen to your conscience, they have spoilt the future of Ghana. For the next ten years, it will be difficult to go outside for loans. They have done enough damage to the country, they should pack out,” he said.
Former President John Mahama has stated that he is the only viable candidate that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) fears and therefore he should be elected as flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Speaking to delegates of the NDC in the Somanya Constituency on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Mahama expressed his confidence in his ability to lead the NDC to victory in the elections.
“I wouldn’t have contested if I was sure that my contenders for the NDC presidential slot could stand against the NPP and win the 2024 general elections, but we cannot take the risk. The only person the NPP fears amongst NDC members is me, John Dramani Mahama,” he said.
Mahama went on to accuse the NPP of being unable to sleep when they hear his name, hence their call for a new face to lead the NDC. He also dismissed calls for a change in leadership within the NDC, saying it was none of their business.
“They [NPP] are unable to sleep when they hear my name. That’s why they have been calling for a fresh person. Are you the ones to tell us what we should do? It’s none of your business, I believe God has given us the power already,” he said.
The NDC is expected to hold its presidential primaries on May 13, 2023, with Mahama and other prominent party members expected to contest for the position of flagbearer.
Ahead of the contest, Mr Mahama is being touted by key figures in the NDC as the presumptive leader of the party.
TheNational Peace Councilstated that it will meet with various political parties and security organizations in the coming days to discuss the recent rise in incendiary remarks made by politicians.
The comment by the Council comes on the back of Abetifi Member of Parliament, Bryan Acheampong indicating that the NPP will not hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) adding that it will do everything possible to remain in power.
Speaking to Citi News on such utterances by political actors, the Chairman of the Peace Council, Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi called on politicians to be circumspect in their commentary ahead of the2024 general elections.
“We’ve received some footage by several political actors from both the NDC and the NPP that we think need to be addressed, and we want to appeal to the political actors to be careful and guard what they say and how they say it. Our intention is to invite the parties to the table to review the things we discussed and see the challenges that we have now and see what we can do going forward.”
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi also disclosed that the Council has scheduled a meeting with the various security agencies on addressing possible conflict issues.
“We’ve also scheduled a meeting with the security agencies which will be coming on next month to look at the things that we need to address between now and the next elections and these will be continuous meetings.”
And when asked if the Abetifi lawmaker, Bryan Acheampong, must be punished for his recent statements deemed reckless, Dr. Adu-Gyamfi said “If somebody does something that is criminal, we expect the security agencies to take up the responsibility if they think so.”
According to former president John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) God has told him the party would prevail in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking to delegates of the NDC in Okere in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, April 11, he said “By God’s grace we have the experience, we didn’t buy it in the store, we didn’t learn it in school, it is God who gave us the opportunity to gather that experience.”
He added “Don’t worry about what some people are saying, it is God’s will, I attend church and when I pray God speaks to me and God has said this is the time for NDC, he has given us power. If God decides no one can change it. Let us continue to pray and trust that what has been arranged will come to pass.”
He further told all Parliamentary candidate hopefuls of the NDC to engage in a decent campaign.
“Let us not resort to insult because we are one family, this is one party, we are looking for one thing, power.
“Let us support whoever will be elected parliamentary candidate and when your time comes you will also be supported.
“It is not only the MP that we have, if we come to power we have board chairmen, we have Ambassadors, DECs, and a lot of appointments and so if you don’t become an MP you will get an appointment.
“So let us keep the campaign decent and when one person has emerged let us all support that person and let the party come to power,” he said.
The National Democratic Congress‘s (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, prospective presidential candidate will begin a three-day tour in the Eastern Region today.
Mr. Mahama will visit thirty-one (31) constituencies where he will meet and interact with branch and constituency executives. He has so far toured 7 regions, touching ground in 106 constituencies.
In the Eastern Region, former President Mahama will speak about his vision of “Building the Ghana we want together,” and why securing a convincing win in the NDC primaries will be a great boost for the 2024 presidential election.
He will also share his plans towards improving the party’s polling and electoral area campaign, through voter mobilizing and canvassing, and the effective utilization of campaign materials and resources.
Mr. Mahama has announced a reward scheme to recognize branches of the party that increase their polling station votes in both the parliamentary and presidential elections.
From the Eastern Region, ex-President Mahama will spend a day touring some constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on Friday, April 14, before heading to the Oti Region.
Five aspirants of the National Democratic Congress’ Keta Constituency parliamentary seat have been cleared by the vetting committee to contest in the upcoming primary.
Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Kojo Jones Mensah, and Madam Enyonam Apetorgbor have been placed in the first, second, and third positions on the ballot.
The rests are Dr. Senanu Kwasi Djokoto and Paul Mensah Voegbor also securing number four and five, respectively.
Kwame Gakpe, after a successful vetting process, expressed excitement over his clearance to fight for a second term.
He said his position signified a good leadership position where he would be “the first.”
Dr Djokoto, the former Keta Constituency Chairman of the NDC, expressed satisfaction about the process and urged all delegates to give him the nod to bring unprecedented development to the area.
Also the Acting Volta Regional Director of Health, he told the Ghana News Agency that he would rebuild the Keta NDC and ensure unity and development when elected the MP.
Dr. Emmanuel Kwadzo Jones Mensah, Madam Enyonam Apetorgbor, and Paul Mensah Voegborlo also expressed the hope that they would win the hearts of delegates for a massive victory.
Several supporters who interacted with GNA remained happy that all aspirants had gone through the vetting process peacefully and urged the candidates to engage in clean campaigns, devoid of insults.
The NDC has set Saturday, May 13, for the parliamentary and presidential primaries.
Investigations into issues related to the filing of nominations by Parliamentary Candidates from the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat have begun, this is according to theNational Democratic Congress(NDC) in the Greater Accra Region.
Three aspirants, John Dumelo, Frederick Nuamah and Moses Baafi Acheampong were expected to have faced the vetting committee on Monday, but the session was rescheduled to Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the vetting was suspended until further notice.
Speaking to journalists, the Secretary of the Greater Accra Regional branch of the NDC and member of the vetting committee, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie says the outcome of the probe would determine the next line of action for the constituency.
“There were some challenges with filing online on the last day. Looking at the two aspirants there were some anomalies, although they claim to have gone through with the process, so our leadership is investigating the matter, so we get the true state of affairs. Once they are done and give us some advice, we will call the constituency and hold the vetting.”
Branch executives have indicated that they are satisfied with any decision taken in the interest of the party.
39 NDC Parliamentary aspirants in various constituencies in the Greater Accra region have been vetted today.
The vetting which started on Monday has seen the approval of 26 aspirants and one person being disqualified.
According to some caterers of the School feeding Programme inKumasi in the Ashanti Region they are likely yo lose their jobs should the New Patriotic Party (NPP) be ousted from power.
Dorothy Ofori-Sarpong, who provides meals for school children in basic schools in the region in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday claimed that all caterers in the region are bonafide members of the NPP.
According to her, there is no way they will be retained if theNational Democratic Congress (NDC) wins the 2024 elections.
She added that it is a known fact all current caterers must be members of the NPP.
Making a point for arrears owed them to be paid, Dorothy Ofori-Sarpong said caterers in the region have sacrificed for long, and it is time the government pays attention to their plight.
“We know that when the NDC wins power, we will all lose our jobs.,” Ofori-Sarpong told host Bernard Avle adding “All of us are members of the NPP”.
Dorothy also slammed the Ashanti Regional Minister for disrespecting them when they besieged his office to demand payments for their arrears.
She revealed that they have not been paid for three school terms and caterers have virtually run out of funds.
The caterers who are calling on the government to pay them their arrears and also increase the amount expressed their disappointment with the Regional Minister over how he received them.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has justified his reason for reacting angrily to caterers under the government’s school feeding programme in the Ashanti Region when they presented a petition to him on Monday, April 3.
Speaking to the media however, Mr Simon Osei Mensah insists that the caterers did not follow due process and were protesting at the Regional Coordinating Council which compelled him to react the way he did.
“I was in a meeting yesterday when I heard some noise outside the office, and so I sent my special assistant to find out, and he came and told me it was caterers protesting outside. They did not even seek security clearance before demonstrating, so you can imagine what would have happened if the security personnel at the Regional Coordinating Council had reacted to them”.
“We must be truthful to ourselves in this country and stop pampering people because impunity is too much. Though I sympathise with the caterers, we should not allow people to break the law in their attempt to have their problems solved. We should solve our problems through legal means. You can’t just take the law into your hands and do what you want because I will not tolerate that.”
There is a tense atmosphere at the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Ashanti Regional Office as candidates for the party’s parliamentary nomination in the Asawase constituency for the 2024 elections take turns being vetted.
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak, and his contender, Masawudu Mubarick have successfully gone through the vetting process and were given their numbers on the yet-to-be-printed ballot for the primaries.
Supporters of both aspirants thronged the vetting centre amidst chants in a contest that is attracting a lot of attention in the region.
The incumbent, Muntaka Mubarak after the vetting told journalists the support he received from the party supporters during and after the vetting is a sign of an endorsement of his retention as the MP for the area.
“You don’t get people to continue to support you after two decades of being a Member of Parliament and for people to continue to support me after two decades, then it means there is something that I am doing right, and I only thank Allah for all that he has done for me and I know Allah is not yet done with me.”
Supporters of Masawudu Mubarick also chanted “we need change” when they entered the premises.
Masawudu Mubarick insists he is the right person to bring the change party supporters are yearning for in the Asawase Constituency.
There is tension in the Sunyani West Constituency after reports that the two candidates in the opposition National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) have been disqualified impending parliamentary primary elections.
Ernest Ayesu, a mining engineer with Newmont Ghana Limited was purportedly disqualified on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, after facing the vetting committee on Monday evening.
Mr Ayesu was lifted shoulder-high after what many described as an incredible performance.
But after the jubilation by his supporters, the vetting committee on Tuesday afternoon indicated that Mr Ayesu is unfit to contest in the primaries.
According to the committee, Mr Ayesu has not lived in the Sunyani West Constituency for the required number of years and therefore cannot participate in the party’s upcoming primaries as specified by the party’s constitution.
In a related development, another contender, Evelyn Akantoa was also deemed unqualified for the contest, following concerns about her membership in the constituency in addition to other allegations of falsified documents.
Her supporters have vowed to employ all means possible to ensure that she gets back into the race.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the vetting committee and deputy national general secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Foyoo Gbande, says neither Ayesu nor Evelyn Akantoa has been disqualified.
Speaking in an interview with myjoyonline.com on the back of the tensions in the constituency, he explained that there is no substantive decision on the two.
According to him, the candidates have temporarily been placed on hold awaiting a final determination of the issues surrounding their candidature.
Mr Gbande said the outstanding issues which came up in the course of the vetting will be addressed by the close of day, Tuesday.
TheNational Democratic Congress(NDC), which is in opposition to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been advised to be accurate in its evaluations of Ghana’s economic predicament.
The NPP is of the view that notwithstanding its excellent handling of the Ghanaian economy, the NDC has grown accustomed to concealing the government’s economic gains using dishonest tactics, a practice it wants the NDC to put an end to.
The NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ntim in an address on Tuesday said, the NDC’s hunger for power cannot be satisfied by lies.
“The NDC must desist from the habit and strategy of deceit in its quest for power. Such methods are often short-term but have long-term ramifications for democracy, public confidence, and, not least, the global perception and embrace of our dear country, Ghana”, he said.
The NPP adds that the NDC’s ploy will not persuade the government to abandon its efforts to better its economic record.
“Let me end by passing this piece of advice through you to the NDC. As a political party, the NDC has a sacred responsibility, to be honest, and upfront with Ghanaians in all things”, he further added.
Stephen Ntim thus urged party members to assist in spreading the NPP’s goodwill.
“I call on the rank and file of the NPP to arise and mobilise behind our government to defeat the onslaught of the NDC propaganda. This means that all of us in the NPP, from polling stations upward, must become canvassers and communicators to help disabuse the minds of our fellow Ghanaians from the misinformation that the NDC is feeding the nation.”
Despite undertaking the historic Debt Exchange Programme and seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the NPP has hailed the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration for diligently managing Ghana’s economy.
Stephen Ntim, echoed claims that the current crippling economic crisis is due to the impact of Covid-19 and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine War and not the incompetence of the economic management team as propagated by the opposition National Democratic Congress.
“The plain truth is that this government has managed the economy diligently and well. The hardships we are experiencing in Ghana are being experienced everywhere because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War. Workers in some of the world’s biggest economies are demanding salary increases due to historic global inflation.”
Alfred Kojo Thompson, a senior communications member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has raised concern over the rising number of candidates filing nominations to serve in Parliament.
Inferring from the mad rush of some aspirants to grab a spot at the various constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Mr. Thompson said that it has become evident that individual interest is prioritized ahead of the national interest and has become a problem challenging the current Parliament.
“It’s becoming a problem with Parliament these days where we all…everybody is complaining and so we need to get people there who will really look at the national interest and not the individual or party interest.”
In a no holds barred conversation with Kwasi Afriyie on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on Tuesday, 4th April 2023, the NPP Senior Communicationist questioned the processes involved in conducting such vettings.
“Greater Accra, they have 111 people chasing 31 seats, then central region 56 chasing 23 seats. So you see that they are poised for the fact that let’s go there. I’m wondering whether really speaking when we do the vetting we really do it well to make sure that we get the right people or get a square pegs in a square holes”
He alluded also that nominations are seeing an increase of this kind because competent and worthy people of these positions are rejected for known faces and suggested that this has become the norm where these popular people drive the party to victory.
“Yeah, or we just bring people in to just go and fill the seats for us because we are popular, we can win.”
He tasked Members of Parliament to be mindful of the reason they are instituted in Parliament and work accordingly to put forward the country’s interest.
“We have to start working on a nationalistic level rather than party level…you go there on behalf of a party but the first and most important thing is to make sure that you are working for the nation because whatever you go and do there will affect the growth of the nation.”
He, however, urged that parties have to collectively work to see national interest propagated rather than its party.
Less than a week after resigning from the presidential contest, Ernest Kobeah, a former flagbearer candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged his support for former president John Dramani Mahama.
The businessman on Monday officially met Mahama to discuss a wide range of issues centering on the NDC and the upcoming primaries.
Sharing the news on Facebook on Monday (3 April), Mahama commended Kobeah for the kind gesture.
“Thank you, Ernest Kobeah for your magnanimity in offering me your support to lead our great party, the NDC, to the 2024 elections,” the former leader wrote.
“Your decision to step down from the contest, even after paying in full the filing fees pegged for the contest is exemplary. May the NDC get better and stronger,” Mahama added in his Facebook post.
Police and several National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters massed up in front of the Tamale High Court over a bench warrant that was issued for the arrest of the Savelugu Member of Parliament.
The bench warrant on Yakubu Iddrisu was issued on Friday, March 31, 2023 by Presiding Judge Justice Richard Kogyapwah.
The MP has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
But appearing in court on Monday, April 3, Yakubu Iddrisu was accompanied by scores of supporters as well as some MPs and regional NDC executives.
On December 9, 2020, state prosecutors said they found an AK-47 rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition in an office which is said to belong to the MP.
This was rejected by the NDC, stating emphatically that its offices are open, with the Savelugu not being an exception and the weapons might have been planted there deliberately.
This was, however, taken to court.
Since the case began, the MP has not been in court.
This is said to have concerned the judge.
The Chief State Attorney, therefore, appealed for a warrant for the MP’s arrest, a plea which was granted last Friday.
According to Mr. Ambrose Dery, the Interior Minister, two platoons of the Formed Police Unit (FPU) would soon be dispatched to the Bunkpurugu-YunyooPolice District Commandto bolster local law enforcement in the area.
This, he said would go a long way to help curb the increasing cases of robberies and other violent crimes in the North East Region and the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo area.
Mr Dery said this in response to a question by Dr Abed-Nego Azumah Bandim, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bunkpurugu.
The MP asked the Minister what measures have been put in place to curb the increasing cases of armed robberies in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District.
The Minister said the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District Police Command was responsible for the Bunkpurugu-Nyankpanduri and Yunyoo-Nasuan Local Government Districts.
He said there were three Police Stations in two Districts with 49 Police personnel, which indicates that the Police to civilian ratio in the district was one Police to 2,842 civilians.
Mr Dery noted that this ratio was far below the United Nations requirement of a 1:500 Police civilians ratio.
He reiterated that this notwithstanding, the Police Administration had put in place measures to combat robberies and other violent crimes in the district.
The measures he mentioned included intelligence-led Policing, mounting Police Check Points at robbery-prone areas, and escort of commercial vehicles and market women to and from various markets.
Other measures included foot and vehicle patrols and organised swoops at criminal hideouts.
“Some newly passed out constables have been posted to augment the existing Police strengthen in the District to perform visibility duties,” he stated.
Member of parliament for the Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has detailed how the two years of court proceedings regarding her nationality have had an impact on the residents and development of her district.
The MP said some investors she contacted refused to come and invest in Jomoro because she was in court in the first two years of her tenure.
Madam Affo-Toffey gave these explanations in an interview on Onua FM’s drive time show Efie Ne Fie with Dr. Prekese on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
The Sekondi High Court in November 2022 dismissed a petition that sought to challenge the eligibility of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP).
That meant Dorcas Affo-Toffey could continue to be an MP and continue to represent the people of Jomoro in Parliament.
The court said per her application and subsequent issuance of a Ghanaian passport, she automatically lost the Ivorian nationality.
The court held that per Ivorian laws, immediately the MP acquired a Ghanaian passport, she automatically ceased to be an Ivorian and therefore there was no need for her to have formally renounced her Ivorian citizenship as argued by the petitioners.
Reacting to the issue, Madam Affo-Toffey explained that Jomoro can boast of several natural resources that when utilized, can create several employment opportunities not only for the people in Jomoro Constituency, but also the entire country, yet poverty is rampant.
“My constituency has two different areas. The coastal area and farming area and we are blessed as constituency. We have oil, cocoa, coconut, rubber, cassava and others but we have bad roads in some areas, bad telecommunication networks which I have been able to solve – unemployment and electricity challenges in some small towns,” she explained.
The MP added that “on schools, we have just two SHSs, one was built by Nkrumah and the one was done during NDC era. Some communities were cut off from the rest…but we get cocoa from there. They carry sick people on a stretch”.
She explained that due to the nature of poverty in the area, she started contacting some investors in the US for them to come and create jobs in Jomoro but these investors did not come because of the court case.
“I travelled to the US and met two huge companies who were willing to come and invest in Jomoro but they said, we are coming because of you and you are in court so we cannot come. So the court petition did not help me at all. It did not help me and my people. They would have done a factory for both coconut and cassava processing. The frustrations were too much but I am not perturbed and discouraged”.
Madam Affo-Toffey said “you are in Parliament but you do not know what will happen next. The court for two years did not help the development of me and my people”.
Commenting on her achievements despite the court petition which delayed development, the MP said “every witch is afraid of me because my people pray for me always because of what I have been able to do for them in these few years despite the court petition”.
“I have given over 350 SHSs students educational material such as mattresses.I have given over 200 tertiary students scholarship to study, I have built CHPS compound for some communities, I supplied pharmaceuticals to clinics, hospital and CHPS compounds, I have done over 600 desks to school….My target is to do over 2,000. I have the carpenters who manufacture them in the constituency. On water project, there were schools that pupils walk kilometres to drink water and return to school. I have provided them with potable water. My target is to do something for every community. I have decided to do the rest by the end of the year”.
Madam Affo-Toffey added that “I am building a 6-unit classroom block for one of the communities. I have done a bridge …three of those bridges…but the one in a place called Mitica is the best because since the inception of the town, no one has been able to go there with a car but I have done it. I don’t think even if my common fund for four terms cannot pay that for the Mitica Bridge but I have done them all”.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed gratitude to Ernest Kobea for supporting him by withdrawing from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer competition.
Kobea who was one of four members of the NDC to pick presidential nomination forms, announced his withdrawal from the race on Wednesday, March 29
The party has scheduled Saturday, May 13 on which to go to polls to elect the man to lead its presidential campaign in next year’s elections.
Four persons including Mr Kobeah had picked nomination forms to contest the primaries. They have all since been vetted.
On Tuesday, March 28 when he faced the Vetting Committee, Mr Kobeah was asked to return with some documents.
He was, however, full of praise for the Committee members, describing the brief process as “successful”.
“There is no issue,” he told journalists after facing the Committee.
“Just [that] I need to come back tomorrow [Wednesday]. Everything is fine and successful.”
His withdrawal leaves Mr Mahama,Dr Kwabena Duffuorand Kojo Bonsu as the aspirants awaiting the Vetting Committee’s report for clearance or otherwise to contest the primaries.
Commenting on his Facebook page,Mr Mahama said “Balloting has been done for the May 13 presidential primaries and John Mahama is No.1 on the ballot.
“I thank you all for your dedication, support and prayers through it all, thus far. I also want to thank my younger brother, Ernest who has not only stepped down from the contest, but has declared his support for me.”
One of the candidates for the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) flagbearer race, John Dramani Mahama has taken the number spot on the ballot paper.
Former Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kojo Bonsu, and former Finance MinisterDr. Kwabena Duffuorpicked the second and third slots respectively.
Chairman of the NDC Vetting Committee, Edward Doe Adjaho speaking to the media said the balloting was done after the successful vetting of the threecandidates.
The fourth candidate Ernest Kwaku Kobeah withdrew from the contest before the balloting was done. Ernest Kwaku Kobeah
The NDC’s Presidential and Parliamentary primaries are slated for May 13, 2023.
Ernest Kwaku Kobeah, one of the four potential flagbearer candidates for the National Democratic Congress(NDC), has been directed to return before the screening panel on Wednesday to complete the procedure.
He was one of two aspirants who appeared before the Vetting Committee on Tuesday, March 28.
Former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor took about one-and-a-half hours to go through the vetting process.
However, businessmen Ernest Kobeah took less than an hour.
“There is no issue,” he told journalists after the process was said to have been put on hold.
“Just [that] I need to come back tomorrow [Wednesday]. Everything is fine and successful.”
He expressed happiness about the reception given by the Committee, noting that “they welcomed me and talked to me like father and son”.
He is expected to present some documents for the vetting to complete.
Meanwhile, former Kumasi mayorKojo Bonsu will take his turn on Wednesday, March 29.
Presumptive candidate John Dramani Mahama was at the party headquarters on Monday, March 27 for his vetting.
The head of the political science department at the University of Ghana,Dr. Seidu Alidu, claims that the subject is misconstrued if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members of parliament are simply labeled as traitors for not voting down the President’s nominees for ministerial positions.
According to him, many factors have to be taken into consideration to determine the reasons that influenced the defecting MPs to vote in the way they did.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he explained that while outsiders may just simply view it as the MPs defying the orders of the party, it could be more than just that.
“You’re looking at relationships individual MPs have had with other MPs across the divide, but you’re also looking at group interests. So the group interests, the MPs operate in caucuses so we have Volta caucus, Eastern caucus, Ashanti caucus, Northern caucus, Muslims, Christians and all those things.
“So you have a member of parliament who is NPP and he has been nominated as a minister and he fellowships at the same church with you, he’s in the same caucus with you, you’re from the same region with him, and you know that he can dispense patronage to you when he becomes a minister.
“You’re in opposition you need a very bad road in your constituency to be fixed for you to win re-election, he has assured you he will do it for you, can you look him in the eye and vote against him?” he said.
He also added that the close friendships that some MPs have cultivated with MPs from across the political divide sometimes also affect the way they come to a decision in cases like these.
“Some of them are in-laws, some of them are very good friends even though they’re from the same divide, they sit together they eat together, when they’re out of parliament they’re together, they do a lot of things together.
“And then the personal interest, you see the NDC has opened up nominations, people need money to file, people need to justify their inclusion through projects, people need a lot and then somebody promises you ‘if you’re able to do this I’ll give you that.’
“So Evans, our analyses have focused largely on the formal institutions, the constituency, the party interest, the national interest. But we cannot also ignore that informal dynamics that occur daily among MPs and sometimes which are even stronger than some of the party, state and constituency interest,” he said.
Dr. Seidu Alidu further stated that the defecting MPs may have voted the way they did as a protest against certain actions taken by the party or by the party’s leadership in recent times.
Thus, while these MPs may have lacked the courage to raise their objections during group consultations with party leadership, felt the need to register their displeasure by breaking rank during the secret balloting.
“People may not be happy with a lot of things that have happened in the party or something that has happened in the party. When you engage them they won’t tell you, but they will have to prove to you that they’re not happy by the way they vote.
“And in national elections, protest votes do occur, and when protest votes occur what you need to do is to find out why people are protesting or defying the party three-line whip and then see how you can engage them,” he said.
“The MPs are so close that the Majority side knows some of the people who are disillusioned and disaffected and have challenges or don’t like what their leadership is doing or what their party is doing and the NDC knows on the NPP side those people.
“So sometimes it is very [easy] for them to just go straight to them, take advantage of their disappointments, offer them something that will make them very happy or to prove to them that they’re not happy with their leadership and they’ll go,” he added.
Meanwhile, he has urged that cool heads prevail and that the party leadership foment trust within the party’s rank and file to prevent a repeat situation in the future.
“So I think … that cool heads must prevail. There’s still a lot that’s supposed to happen up to the end of this parliament and 137-137 is more about the definition of politics – compromise and consensus building – you will have to create that element of trust within your rank and file, and that will give you the impetus to engage the other.
“Identify the people with the challenges in your rank and file and know how to bring them on board, other than that the other side will identify them and work with them,” he said.
He noted that should the NDC decide to witch-hunt the defecting MPs, it will “deepen mistrust and suspicion in the party,” and this would affect the party’s chances of reclaiming victory in the upcoming general elections.
Member of parliament for the Asutifi South Constituency, Collins Dauda, is the only lawmaker who has for 14 years wore solely white to parliament.
Collins Dauda, who is one of Ghana’s longest-serving Members of Parliament, in a conversation with Ghanaweb’s Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese said he is always in white because it’s his favourite colour and he has no reason for loving it.
He recounted that even his late father did not like anything that was dark in colour, including fish and meat.
He said even though he joined parliament in 1993, his decision to wear white only started in 2009.
He added that his colleagues in parliament also ask him questions about why he opts to wear white every day and his response is always the same.
“I grew up loving white and I have always worn white. I have a reason for loving white. If you ask me to buy something in the shop for you I am likely to bring white, it attracts me more than anything. It’s in me and I have no reason. It’s just like loving somebody, there is no reason.”
He narrated that the one time he was compelled to wear a black outfit for an event in parliament, he had difficulty getting a black outfit to wear so he had to go and purchase one as there was nothing dark in his wardrobe.
When asked what he wears when he attends a funeral that requires black attire, he said he will usually wear a smock for such occasions.
Collins Dauda has served in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th parliament of the 4th republic.
He became a member of the Asutifi District Assembly between 1978 and 1981.
He was a member of the Consultative Assembly that drew up the 1992 Ghana constitution between 1991 and 1992.
He was first elected to parliament in the 1992 parliamentary election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress making him the first MP for the Asutifi South in the Fourth Republic.
He won a second term in the 1996 parliamentary election. He however lost his seat in the 2000 parliamentary election.
The lawmaker made a return in 2004 and regained the seat in parliament. In 2002 to 2004, when he was out of parliament, he was the Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Brong Ahafo Region. In February 2009, Collins Dauda was appointed Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources and reshuffled to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Dr. Zenator Agyemang-Rawlings has said that her father, the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, would have challenged all National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs to take a “lie detector” test over the approval of ministerial appointees.
Her comment comes after a section of the minority voted to confirm six appointees of President Akufo-Addo as Ministers in a secret ballot on Friday, 24 March 2023.
Some Ghanaians have expressed disappointment in the Minority for approving the ministers to join the already over bloated government.
Some high ranking NDC members like former President John Mahama, North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the party’s general secretary Fiifi Kwetey, a leading member Prof Joshua Alabi among others have all condemned the action of their members who betrayed the party by voting YES in the secret ballot to approve the nominees.
Adding her voice to the many that have expressed shocked and disappointment, Dr Agyemang-Rawlings in a Facebook post said “on Friday night, I felt this deep pain that maybe it was perhaps better that he [JJ Rawlings] was not alive to witness what had happened to the NDC. But then again, I thought perhaps had he been alive he would probably have challenged all of us to go and swear on Antoa or dared us to take a lie-detector test!”
Alas! She noted the Founder is no longer with them, “but we have come too far to destroy our own legacy! We must course correct, immediately!”
“We need to return to the values and principles on which this party was built including honesty, accountability, integrity, discipline and commitment to our nation, Ghana,” the Klottey Korle MP added.
According to Dr Agyemang-Rawlings due to the tension and suspicion on the day of the secret ballot, she had to record her vote, although not appropriate, as prove that she voted against the approval of the nominees as the party had directed them to.
She said she took the decision to do so, so that she is not wrongly accused one day of being part of those MPs who betrayed the party and Ghanaians.
Read details of her full statement below:
The I in the Collective!
The NDC took a decision to vote against the President’s nominations on principle. We needed President Akufo-Addo to avert his mind to the bloated size of his government/cabinet to show the commitment of the Executive to reduce its expenditure as the government struggles with unsustainable debt.
If you disagree with a position the party and leadership have taken, have the courage of your convictions and speak up! It is cowardice and treachery to hide within the collective to pursue your individual parochial agenda!!! For the first time, I was forced to keep evidence of my votes to protect my integrity and my name!
I’m still reeling from the outcome of the secret ballot in the House on Friday. I’ve sat with the sad realisation that the unfortunate side of being part of a collective is the collective shame that comes with the actions of a few unknown faces whose actions affect everyone.
In the Chamber, when the back and forth was done, the voting began amidst threats to annul your vote if you were caught displaying your ballot paper.
My sister MP, Angela Alorwu-Tay and I, began a discussion on how to ensure that we had evidence of our votes. The last time there was a secret ballot, the women in our caucus were falsely accused en bloc of having betrayed the NDC. Some unscrupulous person even used my picture and that of a number of colleagues as part of that ludicrous headline at the time. We had no intention of allowing our integrity to be attacked again!
The idea of taking a photo of my vote was so alien to me but given the high level of suspicion and finger pointing already in the public domain, I realised it was imperative to take such a drastic measure to protect my integrity, “in the interest of probity and accountability (in the words of the late President JJ Rawlings).”
As the time drew closer for me to vote and I felt the increasing tension in the room, and I decided to put my camera on video mode.
I knew it was risky taking my phone into the booth, because there was a chance that the Speaker might chastise me openly. I told my colleagues sitting in my section what I was going to do and why. I got to the voting booth and nervously lifted my phone to record my hand ticking the ‘No’ column, feeling so annoyed that I was having to subject myself to this! When I got to my seat, I checked the video to make sure it had captured my vote, and then informed my colleagues that it had worked! I then suggested that they do same, for their own protection.
I must admit that I was still shocked by the results. I was crestfallen! But even the knowledge of my evidence of how I voted, did not bring me the relief I had hoped for. People were looking up to us, and we had let the side down.
As I’ve enquired about the possible reasons for what happened, I’ve concluded that we are looking at a situation of different interests converging in a single outcome. So, what is the solution to this wicked problem?
As a party, we have been drifting from our principles and values not-so-slowly, and I guess this is a wakeup call that this drift can no longer be ignored or brushed under the carpet. It took a handful of people and a single iceberg to sink the titanic and with it, many innocent persons drowned or froze to death.
As I type and share this, I’m cognisant of the usual abuse that some people are happy to hurl at anyone who dares, however I know that my reticence on this matter will be even more damaging!
My father continued to advise and chastise the party in the face of sometimes outright abuse from his own, but he remained true to his convictions. I still remember vividly when from his hospital bed, he asked me how the people in my constituency were doing in the lead up to the 2020 General Elections. Even when he was a few days away from his own death, he was still worried about Ghana! On Friday night, I felt this deep pain that maybe it was perhaps better that he was not alive to witness what had happened to the NDC. But then again, I thought perhaps had he been alive he would probably have challenged all of us to go and swear on Antoa or dared us to take a lie-detector test!
Alas! Our Founder is no longer with us, but we have come too far to destroy our own legacy! We must course correct, immediately! We need to return to the values and principles on which this party was built including honesty, accountability, integrity, discipline and commitment to our nation, Ghana!!
Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Abass Apaak has attributed greed and disloyalty to the failure of the Minority in parliament to vote against the approval of six ministerial nominees.
Although the National Democratic Congress minority had earlier stated their decision to reject the nominees, all six of the president’s ministerial nominees won more than the required 138 minimum votes when the House conducted a secret balloting on Friday, March 25, 2023.
Reacting to the results of the election in a Facebook post, Dr Apaak said those who betrayed the cause of the party will be exposed with time.
“Approval of Ministers – Most devastating and disappointing outcome. Greed and treachery is our bane. Yet again we have failed to live up to expectations. The traitors will surely be exposed by their collaborators in no time,” he wrote.
Parliament approves all six nominees, two Supreme Court Justices:
Parliament on Friday, March 24 approved all six ministerial nominees of president Akufo-Addo after a heated debate, 24 hours prior and a tense voting process.
Final results declared by Speaker Alban Bagbin showed that all nominees got more votes than the minimum of 138 votes required because out of the 275 eligible voters, there were three absent.
The NDC prior to the vote had directed all members of the minority to reject the nominees on the basis of the size of the government in the face of the country’s current economic hardship.
Below are the final figures for each nominee:
Total eligible 275
Absentees = 3
Total valid votes = 272
Hon KT Hammond, Minister for Trade and Industry
Yes = 154 No = 116 Rejected = 1 Abstention = 1
Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Food and Agriculture
Yes = 167 No = 98 Rejected = 1 Abstention = 3
Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
Yes = 147 No = 122 Abstention = 3
Mohammed Amin
Yes = 152 No = 117 Rejected = 1 Abstentions = 2
Osei Bonsu Amoah
Yes = 149 No = 120 Abstentions = 2
Stephen Amoah, deputy minister of Trade and Industry
Yes = 146 No = 123 Abstentions = 3
Meanwhile, Parliament also voted on the report of two remaining two Supreme Court justice nominees appointed by Akufo-Addo.
At the end of a vote demanded by the Minority, both nominees were approved by a slight majority. George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal got 139 YES votes against 133 NO votes, whiles Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court got 138 YES and 134 NO votes.
Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Sitsofe Anyidoho has officially been inducted as an Accredited member of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana.
The former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) together with notable professionals became Accredited Members of the sole professional body for Public Relations practitioners in Ghana during its annual general meeting and summit.
The 2023 edition of the IPR Annual General Meeting organized at Kwahu in the Eastern Region of Ghana saw a total of 59 professionals inducted as Associate and Accredited members.
The IPR Annual General Meeting summit held under the theme “Staying Credible Through Rough Patches” brought together distinguished practitioners across the country to share insights on trust and the significance of credibility.
The Minority caucus in Parliament is demanding that the voting onPresident Akufo-Addo‘s candidates be completed today.
After Speaker Alban Bagbin suspended the session because neither side could agree on how to vote for the confirmation of four Supreme Court Justices, as well as Ministers and Deputy Ministers nominated by President Akufo-Addo, there was an uproar in Parliament.
The Majority demanded that voting for the Supreme Court Justicesand the Ministers be done concurrently, but the Minority insisted that voting and counting be done separately.
The Majority also demanded that MPs from their side openly display their vote, but that was immediately shot down by the Minority who demanded that voting be done in secret.
The Minority led by Cassiel Ato Forson vehemently rejected the proposal of the Majority and urged the Speaker to allow MPs to vote in secret.
Speaking after the sitting was suspended, the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson insisted that they will not have the voting any other day than today.
“We want the voting today, Friday, March 24, 2023, and not any other day. We urge those on the Majority side to return to Parliament immediately, so we vote.”
“We are ready with all our MPs and want the voting right away.”
Prior to the vetting of the newly nominated ministers on Monday, February 20, 2023, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) directed the Minority group not to approve them, describing their appointments as an insensitive move that would increase the government’s expenditure in the midst of an economic mess.
The nominated ministers include the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond as the Minister for Trade and Industry with the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah serving as his deputy.
The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, was also appointed as the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng was appointed as the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs among others.
The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region has refuted claims that it prevented one of its members from submitting his nomination forms.
According to Jeff Tetteh Kavianu he has been unable to submit his documentation because the leadership has purposefully shut its office, and refused to return his calls.
However, the NDC’s Regional Secretary, Baba Jamal Konneh, tells Citi News that the party has no intention of barring any aspirant from running.
“The NDC needs power, and so we don’t want a situation where someone will feel that we treated him unfairly. We want that kind of unity and cohesion to wrestle power from the NPP so we are actually trying our best. We have entreated everyconstituency election committee to treat every aspirant fairly without trying to be biased.”
He also stated that if the former lawmaker so desires, he may seek intervention at the national level.
“The party has a hierarchy, so he can go to national executives and talk to them. We work on the instructions of national so if they ask us to take his forms we will because we have no option. We are here to serve everybody”, he added.
The fate of President Akufo-Addo‘s new appointments will be discussed in Parliament today, Friday, March 24.
This occurs after the house delayed a discussion on the report for more than five hours so that members might convene a joint caucus meeting.
Although members on both sides of the house were not in support of the directive, the Speaker stood by his position.
“We agree to disagree, at the end of the day, my decision is that we will debate [the report on Thursday] and take the decision on Friday. I have listened to your submissions, I will permit three from each side of the caucus, ten minutes per person and we will take the next step. My proposal is that we take the decision on Friday, but we will do the debate on Thursday,” the Speaker stated.
Prior to the vetting of the newly nominated ministers on Monday, February 20, 2023, theNational Democratic Congress (NDC) directed the Minority group not to approve them, describing their appointments as an insensitive move that would increase government’s expenditure in the midst of an economic mess.
The nominated ministers include the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond as the Minister for Trade and Industry with the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah serving as his deputy.
The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong was also appointed as the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng was appointed as the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs among others.
Meanwhile, the Minority has threatened to vote against the newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers.
Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson outlined some basis for the group’s position.
“We stand with the people of Ghana, and we are urging our colleagues from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stand for Ghana and not to stand for their colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the nominees are our colleagues, but the principle is that it’s not about them, it’s about the republic of Ghana. They may be our colleagues and friends and relatives, but it’s not about them. I call on you to look them in their faces and vote against them for the republic of Ghana. For the future of our country,” he said.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu however appealed to the house to consider the approval of the nominees.
“I will just plead that we approve the ministers,” he appealed.
The concerned youth of the Ho West Constituency has called on the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), for the area, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah to step down after being in the House of the legislature for 16 years.
According to the concerned youth, the inactions of the MP have led to the division of the party in the constituency by opening doors for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to gain grounds.
The concerned youth, therefore, want the MP to step down to enable the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to amass votes in the Constituency.
The leader of the concerned youth Emmanuel Dobi who spoke on behalf of the group said: “What the MP and his cohorts fail to understand is that the NDC is bigger than any individual or group of greedy or selfish people.”
The youth called on the “party leadership at both regional and national to conduct an investigation about their loyalty to the NDC before the primaries.”
The leader of the concerned youth of Ho West added: “The Honourable MP Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah should step aside for a new face in order to maximise both presidential and parliamentary votes in the Ho West Constituency even though he has filed his nomination to contest in the upcoming primaries.
According to former president John Mahama, 60 ministries and deputies are sufficient to manage the country.
He asserted that this will guarantee the effective use of Ghana’s limited resources for the benefit of all citizens.
According to him, this will also curb the disparities in privileges enjoyed by political officeholders and citizens.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s 2024 Presidential Candidate hopeful said this is part of amendments that he will make to the 1992 constitution.
“We plan to take up and conclude the constitution review process that started underPresident John Evans Atta Mills. The reforms will include a review of the controversial Article 71,” he said.
“I still believe that in this crisis period, Ghana can be managed with not more than 60 ministers. And to cut down on the number of officeholders and remove the disparities in privileges and emoluments.”
Mr Mahama said this at a programme organised on Wednesday, March 22, on the theme “Financing political campaigns in Ghana we want: A case for more transparent and broad-based citizen participation.”
He had earlier announced that if elected President in the 2024 general elections, he will assemble a government made up of only 60 ministers and deputy ministers.
“I shall assemble and operate the leanest but most efficient government under our fourth republic. We will reduce, significantly, the size of the government,” he explained.
“As I announced in my Ghana We Want address at UPSA late last year, I will form a government of less than sixty (60) ministers and deputy ministers of state.”
A former mayor of Kumasi and a candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer position, Kojo Bonsu, claims that despite the fierce competition, he will continue to run for the NDC presidency.
In the race set for May 13, the flagbearer aspirant will face strong competition from former President John Mahama and former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor.
Mr. Bonsu declared his intention to run in the party’s Presidential primaries in 2018, ahead of the 2020 general election, but then dropped out and threw his support to the winner of the primaries.
However, the aspirant running for the second time says he is ready to lead the NDC in the upcoming general polls.
“The last time, I didn’t go further like this coming all the way to pick up nomination forms and filing. I have paid GH¢500,000, do I have to drop for this money to go? No way, I am not that rich, but my chances are very bright. I know what I am doing. It’s all about how you are able to do your things and how you are organized.”
He did, also, criticize the party for the approved nomination fee of GH¢500,000.
“I don’t support the nomination fees because it’s a lot of money. So, if I didn’t have that money and I had the acumen and competence to run the leadership of the party, does it mean that I can’t do it? And we are a social democratic party. I am a branding expert, and everybody knows that, so I am going to rebuild and rebrand the party.”
Addressing journalists after the submission of his nomination form, Mr. Bonsu said, “I want to thank my team for having time to come and receive me today. I appreciate all that you have done. It’s one party in the NDC, we have to do things together, the common enemy we are all looking for is not any individual in the party.”
As claimed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo manipulated his delivery of the State of the Nation message to Parliament.
The largest opposition group claims that the President ignored the nation’s grave situation and solely focused on glorifying himself.
Presenting what it called the “true state of the nation”, the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, touched on various issues, ranging from the bad state of the economy, the oversize government to the growing spate of corruption and described the current state of the nation as one of “hopelessness, recklessness and corrupt, with a leadership paralysis”.
Attendance
The event, which took place at the UPSA Auditorium yesterday, brought together the rank and file of the NDC, including members of its Functional Executive Committee (FEC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), regional executives and Members of Parliament (MP).
Notable personalities were the running mate to John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 presidential elections, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang; a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong; the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson; the General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey; a member of the Council of Elders, Kofi Totobi Quakyi, and an aspiring flag bearer of the party, Dr Kwabena Duffuor.
The auditorium was filled with an enthusiastic crowd who clapped and cheered intermittently as the presentation was made.
Flowery speeches
Mr Nketiah said “the true state of our dear nation no longer lies in flowery speeches laced in political chicanery that never accepted responsibility for anything but in taking the bull by the horns”.
He called on President Akufo-Addo to demonstrate leadership by taking immediate steps to cut down the size of his government to signal a new beginning.
“We further expect the government to be tolerant of dissent, heed calls for the implementation of the Constitutional Review recommendations, eschew profligacy, desist from nepotism and corruption, sanction corrupt officials and be honest about the true state of our nation,” he said.
Mr Nketiah stressed that it was unacceptable that in the midst of the economic crisis the country was going through, and despite the numerous calls by many groups, the President remained adamant to cut down the size of his government.
He said some appointees at the Presidency had no business keeping their positions when they added nothing unique to the country’s governance.
Economy
Turning to claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) inherited a bad economy, Mr Nketiah said the NDC-led government rather handed over an economy with better indicators.
He noted that it was bad governance, wasteful expenditure and a bloated government that put the economy in a crisis situation.
The NDC chairman said the public debt increased from GH₵120 billion in 2016 to GH₵600 million currently, with the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio also increasing from 56 per cent to 103 per cent within the same period.
Again, he said the budget deficit of 6.2 per cent in 2016 had increased to 12 per cent currently, while inflation also skyrocketed from 15.2 per cent in 2016 to 52 per cent.
Touching further on economic indicators, he said the lending rate, which stood at 25 per cent in 2016, increased to between 38 and 45 per cent, with the rate of exchange depreciating from 9.6 per cent in 2016 to 23 per cent in the first two months of 2023.
Mr Nketiah said the downgrading of the country’s economy from B- in 2016 to below junk status was ample testimony of a country that had failed to honour its debt obligations.
In terms of the rate of unemployment, he said the situation worsened from 8.4 per cent to 14 per cent as of 2021, as captured by the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC).
He said the debilitating economic conditions, in addition to the high taxes and high cost of power, had led to the laying off of workers by businesses, while some of them had relocated to some African countries.
“The growth of the agricultural sector reduced from 2.7 per cent in 2016 to 0.7 per cent in 2022, despite the so-called planting for food and jobs (PFJ); growth in the manufacturing sector reduced from 7.9 per cent to 4.5 per cent in 2022, in spite of the one district, one factory (1D1F); growth in the construction sector declined from 8.4 per cent in 2016 to 4.2 per cent in 2022, despite the claim that the government built 11,000 kilometres of road. This is the true state of the nation,” he said.
The NDC Chairman said the President also failed to tell Ghanaians the state of the country in terms of the fight against corruption.
“Instead of confronting the canker head-on, President Akufo-Addo has constituted himself into a corruption clearing agent, ever willing to whitewash himself and any of his appointees who dabbles in corruption, even before investigative processes commence,” he said.
For instance, he cited President Akufo-Addo’s declaration of “nothing dishonourable was done with the COVID-19 Funds” as one of the issues among the litany of failed attempts to conceal the rot that had left many scandalised following the publication of the Special Audit into COVID-19 funds by the Auditor-General.
“How does President Akufo-Addo reasonably expect Ghanaians to accept as honourable the Auditor-General’s finding that COVID-19-related payments totalling over GH₵543 million were made to various service providers outside of the Ghana Integrated Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378)?” he quizzed.
He stressed that the government’s management of the COVID-19 funds could not be said to be honourable when the Auditor-General could not verify bills and validate dubious payments amounting to over GH₵37.6 million by the Ministry of Finance to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private individual water providers under the ‘free water’ initiative.
The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC’s) national communications officer, Sammy Gyamfi, claims thatCOVID-19 is not the cause for Ghana’s economy woes.
The Akufo-Addo administration has attributed Ghana’s economic crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Russia and Ukraine.
The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva had earlier agreed that COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war negatively affected the country’s economy.
But speaking on Face to Face on Citi TV with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Sammy Gyamfi, said the IMF Chief was being diplomatic with the truth on the true state of the Ghanaian economy.
According to him, the MD of IMF didn’t want to jeopardise the progress of the bailout the government is seeking to restructure its debt, hence the massaged facts regarding the economic crisis.
The NDC’s National Communications Officer reiterated that the economy was broken before the outbreak of COVID-19.
“The economy was worse before COVID-19 came in, even before COVID-19 our economy was broken. It’s not what the IMF or World Bank says, it’s about what the facts say. The IMF is like a doctor, doctors have a certain duty of care to their clients. They will tell you reasons for your sickness but in a diplomatic way and well-dressed manner”.
He maintained, “right now that we have gone to IMF for a bailout, they are our doctor, and we are the patient. They will definitely not say something that actually reflects the reality, knowing that it can hamper the bailout and economic recovery programme we are seeking from them. They were being diplomatic. In diplomatic settings, it’s very normal. If you listen to what these external players are saying, you will be deceived. You need to examine things for yourself, before COVID-19 what was the state of the economy?”.
Mr. Gyamfi asserted that the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be used as a justification by the government for the woes of the country slamming the government for spending money on wasteful ventures.
“They [NPP government] had more resources to transform this country than any government since Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s tenure. Yet have wasted these funds on needless and useless ventures such that today they have very little to show for the unprecedented resources they had. These and many falsehoods were presented by President Akufo-Addo in his state of the nation address,” the National Communications Officer of NDC pointed out.
According to him, the local currency had depreciated by close to 13% against the dollar before COVID-19 describing as false claims that the economy was on a good trajectory before the pandemic.
“Before COVID-19, our cedi had depreciated against the dollar by close to 13%. That claim that we were on a good trajectory before COVID-19 is false,” he stated.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful will also hold a public lecture on political party financing in Ghana.
The event is expected to be attended by party stalwarts and bigwigs such as ChairmanJohnson Asiedu Nketiah and General Secretary Fifi Kwetey.
It is believed that the funds raised through the platform will be used to support Mahama’s campaign as well as aid other party activities, just as he did in previous years. In January 2020, the former president launched a similar fundraising platform to support his candidacy for the general elections.
As part of his preparations for the NDC primaries scheduled for May, Mahama’s campaign team, led by a leading member of the NDC, Prof Joshua Alabi, filed his nominations for the flagbearership position at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The team submitted the required documents and fees to contest the position.
Speaking after the submission of the nomination forms, Prof Alabi gave a strong indication to the Electoral Commission that they would not tolerate any compromise that could be disadvantageous to their candidate ahead of the 2024 general election.
Mr Mahama will face competition from former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, businessman Ernest Kwaku Krobea, and former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffour in his quest to run on the NDC ticket in 2024.
Rumors that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership is attempting to have Muntaka Mubarak removed as the party’s representative in Asawase have been refuted by Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC’s national communications officer.
Rumours of Muntaka’s removal have been rife in recent times after some party supporters and branch executives in the Asawase constituency organized a press conference to question the competence of their parliamentary representative with some demanding for him to be replaced going into the 2024 general elections.
Muntaka’s woes began after the leadership of the NDC replaced him with Kwame Agbodza as the Minority Chief Whip in Parliament on January 24.
But speaking on Face to Face on Citi TV, Mr. Gyamfi said it is ridiculous the rumour had gained traction because the party doesn’t have the power to remove legislators.
“It is ridiculous because the party cannot remove any Member of Parliament. MPs are elected by their constituents, so the party has no power to remove a Member of Parliament. The fate of all aspirants or candidates will be determined by the delegates in the 275 constituencies and so the party will not protect any individual, but the party is protecting all the 275 seats but also where for good reason, the party has to engage various stakeholders on specific issues to build consensus, the party will do so.”
The announcement of Muntaka’s removal as theMinority Chief Whip birthed a series of agitations in Asawase where the MP has recently sued 11 branch executives for defamation and is demanding GH¢10 million in damages.
A number of issues, according to former board chair of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Professor Stephen Adei, have contributed significantly to the current economic crisis.
According to Professor Adei, fundamental weaknesses in the economy include low productivity, systematic corruption, a lack of patriotism, a desire for foreign goods, and others.
“It is true that during the domestic debt exchange, those who were campaigning so that individuals do not accept it came out very strong on how expenditure can be reduced, and I agree with them. Government can manage the economy with less. We should be able to make our intentions so that we can avoid the lessons of the past.”
He maintains the blame game between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) does not solve any problems.
“I do not want to make pronouncements as to whether Akufo-Addo government is worse or better than the Mahama government. I think that there is a situation that makes the comparison to apples and oranges because both of them took us to IMF.”
Earlier this week, Prof. Adei took a dig at the Akufo-Addo government for its excessive borrowing which he says is the cause of the country’s economic crisis.
According to the renowned economist, although the emergence of COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukraine war may have affected Ghana’s economy, the fundamental mistake government made was to have borrowed beyond its capacity.
He is thus calling on the government to accept responsibility and work to change the fortunes of the country.
Professor Adei said this when he addressed journalists on the sidelines of the Signature Market Pre-launch campaign at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
“I think the biggest mistake they made is that they borrowed beyond our capacity to service it. If you are a country and you borrow beyond your capacity, you will be in trouble, of course, COVID-19 came in, and the Russia-Ukraine [war].
Professor Adei also wants Ghanaians to strictly hold government officials accountable to prevent a similar situation in future.
“We have to learn and not repeat our mistakes by going on a borrowing spree, we should become watchdogs. The leakages should be reduced, the level of corruption, the wastage from the government after government is high so we don’t get value for money,” he stated.
The National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has alleged that President Akufo-Addo is responsible for corruption in the country.
He again accused President Akufo-Addo of promoting corruption to the extent of going ahead with investigations to exonerate his appointees accused of engaging in corruption-related cases.
Sammy Gyamfi further slammed government officials for engaging in corruption which he said has taken a toll on the economy.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu, on Face to Face on Citi TV, Sammy Gyamfi claimed, “they have come to promote corruption.President Akufo-Addocame to enable corruption, if corruption was a human being, its name would have been President Akufo-Addo. If you wanted to see corruption, and you saw President Akufo-Addo you would have found your answers”.
He stressed, “no President in the history of this country has promoted corruption than President Akufo-Addo. This President engages in corruption, his Vice President engages in corruption, and their officials engage in corruption. When they are caught by state agencies, they either fight them or even before investigations are done, the President comes out to whitewash himself and sometimes his corrupt officials”.
He wondered why the President conferred a national award on the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, who has been indicted by the Auditor General for misusing COVID-19 funds.
“As I speak with you, the Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang -Manu has been indicted by the Auditor General for paying $81 million for vaccines not supplied. Instead of sacking this man, President Akufo-Addo conferred a national award [Order of the Volta-Companion] on him. He also engaged in procurement breaches of Sputnik V vaccines,” he said.
According to him, the President is arrogantly refusing to listen to advice on how to reduce the expenditure of his government, but he is going around the globe begging the debtors of Ghana for debt cancellation.
He added that Akufo-Addo has particularly become tone-deaf on the matter of him cutting down the size of the government, which is a key solution to the current difficulties in the country, myjoyonline.com reports.
“Stop the arrogance relating, for example, about the refusal to cut down your government, because that is a solution. Do something about the size of your government. The fact that we even have a situation where with all this crisis, with the country suffering haircuts, the President and his government do not want to have what we call a government haircut is a tragedy because that’s what you want to do.
“That’s what, for example, the German ambassador will tell you, that you are coming to us pleading for us to help you be able to have debt forgiveness. But you are keeping the size of government that in our countries that you expect our taxpayers’ money to be used to help you, we do not keep. Then the president arrogantly tells them that they should not meddle in Ghana’s issue, a beggar with a choice.
“You’re on your knees begging for help and you still have the arrogance to be able to speak the way you do. Show some humility, go on your knees and show that you’re really in trouble and ask for help and stop showing the arrogance that you’re showing. So that’s an area that the President and his government should be able to do something. Do something about the size of your government,” he said.
The NDC general secretary said that the members of Parliament of the party, the minority caucus, will continue to oppose the approval of the five ministerial nominees who were recently appointed by the president till Akufo-Addo begins to listen to advice.
He added that the party trusts its parliamentarians to force the president to cut down the size of his government by opposing all his ministry nominees in the interest of the country.
The majority of National Democratic Congress(NDC) delegates in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese Constituency in the Central Region are massively supporting former Deputy Minister of Communication, Felix Ofosu Kwakye in his bid to become the Parliamentary candidate to lead the party to the 2024 election.
According to the delegates, they believe Ofosu Kwakye is the only candidate capable of snatching the seat from the New Patriotic Party.
They describe the former deputy Minister as a very vocal and selfless person who has done so much for the constituents even though he’s not a Member of Parliament.
They commend him for getting many young persons in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese Constituency recruited into the various Security Services and also supporting others in apprenticeship.
A huge number of delegates on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, thronged the NDC Office to offer their support to Felix Ofosu Kwakye as he filed his nomination forms.
Speaking in an interview with Kasapa News Yaw Boagyan, Felix Ofosu Kwakye confidently said, he is the only Candidate who can win the seat for NDC in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese Constituency.
According to him, the constituents are thirsty for development but unfortunately, there’s no development ongoing in the Constituency, and hence he has vowed to ensure massive development should he win the party primaries and go on to win the Parliamentary election in 2024.
Felix Ofosu Kwakye appealed to the delegates to have faith in him and elect him, promising never to disappoint them.
On Wednesday, March 23, 2023, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a prospective presidential contender for the oppositionNational Democratic Congress (NDC), will submit his nomination form.
Contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the former Minister of Finance, Antonio Edem Asinyo, it said that Dr. Duffuor will file the forms at the NDC’s headquarters in Accra.
“Aspiring Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor will be submitting his nomination to contest the flagbearer election at the Party HQ on Thursday, 23rd day of March 2023 at 11:00am,” the statement said.
Also, the statement said that the initial date of Wednesday, March 22, was changed due to a request from the national executives of the party.
This, he explained, is due to the fact that on that initial date, the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is set to present what the party has termed the True State of the Nation Address.
“The change in date from Wednesday to Thursday is in response to a request from the National Executive of the party to reschedule, due to the party’s True State of the Nation Address to be delivered by the Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia today, Monday at the UPSA auditorium at 2pm,” he added.
The Duffuor camp has since urged members of the party to be present at the event, adding that their candidate will also be present.
Today, Monday, March 20 the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will address the country on the theme ‘The True State of the Nation’.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the Chairperson of the NDC, will deliver the speech during the event, which will be held at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA).
The ‘True State of the Nation Address’ is expected to counter ‘The State of The Nation Address’ delivered by President Akufo-Addoon Wednesday, March 8.
The NDC address, under the auspices of the party’s National Communications Bureau, is expected to focus heavily on the economy and factors that have pushed the country for an IMF bailout.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament says Ghana will not be able to secure the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) board approval at the end of March 2023 contrary to claims by the government.
The opposition group explained that the government has not been able to satisfy the financing assurances regarding the bailout which includes the board documents.
“Mr Speaker, our President said on authority that Ghana would get an IMF Board approval by the end of this month, I don’t know who is briefing our President, but Ghana will not be able to get an IMF Board approval by the end of this month because even the board documents are prepared.
“We need to get China to give Ghana financing assurance and that they are ready to take a haircut and China has not agreed,” Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson said.
Former National Communication Officer of theNational Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah has cast a shade at former President Mahama over his ‘I would cancel ex-gratia’ comment.
Dr. Kwabena Duffour, notJohn Dramani Mahama, who has tasted ex gratia and may not have the hunger to do so, is the best candidate to lead a government to annul ex gratia, according to a member of the Dr. Duffour campaign team.
Speaking on a Kumasi-based radio station, Mr. Nkansah said the NDC and Ghana have reached a point where people must be doers and not talkatives.
He spoke to Julius Caesar Anadem on the Abusua Nkomo Show.
“We have reached a point in our democracy that we can’t throw money away just like that. We need people who are committed to the course of making this country better. Dr Duffour is a doer and has shown this over the years,” he said.
“Duffour is well accomplished, when he was finance minister he never took salary, he did not take ex gratia, so if we want someone who can be trusted to cancel ex gratia who will it be?” he questioned
“He has not taken ex gratia before so obviously he will not condone the payment of it. So when Duffour comes and tells Ghanaians to sacrifice they will heed. He has done his bit for Ghanaian politics and is considered an angel in politics”
“Even before he becomes flagbearer of the party, he has introduced the Ahoto Project, can’t people see the signs already,” Solomon Nkansah said.
At the launch of his campaign former President John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap the payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive and article 71 should he be re-elected in the 2024 elections.
Mr. Mahama said he will take the necessary steps to scrap the payment as soon as he assumes power.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is putting measures in place to collate the results of the December 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections by midnight of the election day.
He, therefore, urged party members, particularly polling agents who would be selected to man the polling stations across the country not to sleep but be vigilant on December 7, 2024 until results are counted and declared.
Mr Mahama, who was speaking in Sunyani in the Bono Region to end his two-day campaign tour, charged persons to be selected as polling agents to ensure that all ballot papers were counted and reported to the party’s office through mobile phone calls before they brought the pink sheets personally to the party’s office.
He said figures secured by the party would be uploaded into a system and gave assurance that by midnight of the election day, the party would have all results.
Training workshop
Mr Mahama said the party would organise five different training workshops for all polling agents to be selected by the party in order to improve their knowledge and skills.
He said victory in the 2024 general election required hard work and sleepless nights and, therefore, urged polling agents to exhibit competency by being extremely vigilant to ensure that the ballots were protected until the results were counted and declared.
Mr Mahama said he would work hard to pool resources together such as vehicles, motorbikes and bicycles, including party T-shirts and flags in order to facilitate the 2024 campaign.
100 per cent
The NDC delegates from the region pledged 100 per cent votes for Mr Mahama in the upcoming party presidential primary.
The delegates in the 12 constituencies in the region warned that the party would suffer another heavy defeat if they failed to endorse Mr Mahama’s candidature in the party’s presidential primary slated for May 13, 2023.
Previous works visible
The Bono Regional Chairman of the party, Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who spoke on behalf of the delegates, said the former President had a good record of accomplishments.
He said Mr Mahama’s performance as President in the country was incomparable and unprecedented in the Fourth Republic, explaining that his achievements were still visible across the country.
At Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District, Mr Mahama said the government had overburdened businesses with huge taxes thereby leading to their collapse.
He said he was disheartened by the way businesses were folding up as a result of the reckless management of the economy.
The former President Mahama also took his campaign to Wamfie in the Dormaa East Constituency where he said the next NDC government would not start new projects but would rather concentrate on and complete all abandoned and uncompleted projects scattered across the country.
“We won’t be in a hurry to start new projects, every district, we will take an inventory of all projects that have been abandoned and we will commit our resources to finish them and when that is done, we can start new projects”, he stated.
Unity
Speaking at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central Municipality, Mr Mahama called on the rank and file of the party to unite in order to win the Dormaa Central seat.
He said he (Mahama) had observed that it was disunity that had made it impossible for the party to win the seat and challenged members to unite to win the seat during the 2024 general election.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
The Order of Volta awards, which were given to some Ghanaians for their participation in the government’s COVID-19 efforts and most recent accomplishments, have been rejected by some party members, according to the National Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah claims that the NDC members refused the awards on moral grounds since some of the recipients, including some ministers of state, profited from money raised for the pandemic and are to blame for the misery in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on Wednesday, Asiedu Nketaih said that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Ataa, and the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, who also received awards, deserve the Order of Birim and not the Order of Volta because the Birim river is the most polluted in Ghana.
“Most of the awardees contributed to the messing up of the COVID-19 funds. And so, if people who have done wrong are being awarded what is the motivation for people who have worked hard to take part in it.
“I suggest that they change the name of the award to Order of Birim, they should remove the Volta from it. The Volta River is clean by the Birim is the most polluted in Ghana, that is what they deserve,” he said in Twi.
About awards
Individuals, institutions, and partners who distinguished themselves in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, have been honoured by the state at the National Honours and Awards 2023, held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Also receiving awards are members of the legal team, both men and women, who were charged with ensuring that the maritime boundary dispute with Cote d’Ivoire ended favourably for Ghana.
In all, some 19,557 frontline health workers received certificates and plaques for their dedicated services in the line of duty.
Additionally, about 50 individuals and entities also received the Order of the Volta – Companion awards, comprising members of the National COVID-19 Taskforce, Trustees of the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, and International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Technical Team and Legal Advisors.
The national awards are presented to persons who have made immense and recognized contributions in sectors such as the civil service, military, prisons service, education and public health, agriculture, commerce and industry, the judiciary, scientific and other research, sports, culture and the arts, and the financial sector.
Beatrice Annan, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) media team, has accused Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of misleading Ghanaians regarding his assertion that the Gold-for-Oil policy, which he is supporting, is the cause of the country’s lower fuel prices.
She claims that the small amount of oil imported into the nation as a result of the program has no bearing on the cost of oil-related goods.
Speaking in an interview on TV3, on Thursday, which GhanaWeb monitored, lawyer Annan added that oil prices are going down because world market prices are going down.
“If somebody tells you that in the space of 5 months, I have brought you Gold-for-Oil that can not even supply you for a month but some way somehow that is what is accounting for the reduction then even if you are not an industry player you know from the word go that he lied.
“Because in January world oil price was $87 per barrel, in February it reduced to $86, as at now it is $74.47. And so fuel prices at the international market are reducing.
“It is the reason fuel prices are reducing, not because of Gold-for-Oil. And for God’s sake we have to be truthful to the people of Ghana,” she said.
The Head of Ghana’s Economic Management Team, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, took a swipe at critics of the government’s Gold-for-oil policy.
Touting the success of the policy which is currently in its third month of implementation, the vice president said the country will witness more benefits from the policy which ultimately will help stabilise the exchange rate as well as prices of fuel.
“We have to understand, the prices of fuel will go up and will come down. But what we expect to see under the Gold-For-Oil Policy is more stability in the pricing and also savings in foreign exchange. There is more to come, this is the third month of the operation of the policy.
“Some people said it will not work; Ghana does not have enough gold. How can you say that? We’ve been mining this gold for 200 years; they keep taking it out and it cannot work for us? It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
“There are people who are very disappointed that it is working but bleeding is allowed. We have an impossibility mindset. They can keep to it, for us all things are possible by the grace of God,” Dr Bawumia added.
Daughter of former National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Alhaji Said Sinare, Enam Sinare, has recently exchanged vows with Mohammed Abdul Kabir Abdul Salam in a glamorous private ceremony attended by close family and friends.
The wedding was a beautiful and intimate affair that showcased the couple’s love and commitment to each other.
In some videos shared by Live_weddings_with_kwaku on Instagram, the bride looked stunning in her shiny white gown that perfectly accentuated her beauty and grace while her ceremony took place in an exclusive setting with only a select few guests in attendance.
Capturing the beauty and splendour of the wedding, the bride’s mother, Hajia Sinare, was spotted praying for her daughter and covering her face with a veil before walking up to her husband.
The groom, Mohammed Abdul Kabir Abdul Salam, looked dashing in his flamboyant kaftan, which he matched with a hat.
Enam’s father, Alhaji Sinare, was also present, dressed in a white kaftan embellished with beautiful yellow designs, while her sister, Habiba Sinare, looked stunning in a white dress, showing her support and love for her sibling.
In another video, the couple changed into their second outfits, with Enam looking radiant and bright in gold and the groom looking handsome in a matching outfit.
According to former president John Dramani Mahama, the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will finish off abandoned projects rather than start new ones.
John Mahamaasserts that the administration cannot wait to launch fresh initiatives due to the nation’s economic state.
Speaking to delegates in the Tano North constituency as part of a campaign tour in the Ahafo Region, Mahama, a flagbearer aspirant of the NDC, said that when the party takes office, it will ensure that all abandoned infrastructural works are completed.
“With the economic crisis that we currently have, by the time the NDC comes into power in 2025, we are still going to have a restricted fiscal space because of the economic difficulties. A new NDC will not be in a hurry to start new projects. What we will do is that the projects that have been ongoing and have been abandoned and uncompleted, we will take an inventory of all of them and with the little resources, we will dedicate it to finishing them.”
Former President John Mahama has accused the Akufo-Addo administration of abandoning many of the projects started during his government’s tenure.
The former President says he finds it disappointing that a number of the projects remain uncompleted since his administration left office in January 2017.
According to him, schools and road projects among others initiated during his time as President have been left unattended to.
John Dramani Mahama has been describing this situation with development projects as very unfortunate.
The former president is campaigning to lead his party the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 general elections.
But the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed former President John Dramani Mahama’s claims that government has abandoned several projects initiated by the previous NDC administration in the country.
The Police have arrested one more person in relation to the chaosNational Democratic Congress’ (NDC) National Youth and Women’s Congress held on December 10, 2022, at Cape Coast in the Central Region.
Fuseini Lukman Yidana, the suspect, was taken into police custody after being detained at the Tamale Cultural Centre on March 9, 2023, he will be brought before court.
This brings to seven (7) the number of people arrested so far in connection with the disturbances.
The six earlier arrested are Abdul Halid Shaibu alias Oluu, Ibrahim Razak, Iddrisu Abass alias Jango, Dawda Mohammed Nazir, Dawda Hassan and Hajj Abdul-Fataw Adams.
Police in a statement indicated that “the face of the suspect has been shown because he had been declared wanted together with his image already displayed in our quest to seek public assistance in getting him and the rest arrested.”
“The intelligence operations are still ongoing to get the remaining 9 suspects arrested, “it added.
A former chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has questioned the commission’s decision to abandon the guarantor system for the ongoing voter registration process.
He stated that the EC’s assertion that the guarantor system was ineffective and the Ghana Card should be the exclusive method of registration was unpersuasive.
According to Dr Afari-Gyan, as far as the National Identification Authority (NIA) allowed the guarantor regime in the registration for the Ghana Card, nothing prevented the EC from doing the same for the voter registration exercise and making that system more robust as it wanted it.
“What prevents the commission from instituting, in the upcoming constitutional instrument (CI), a guarantor regime as robust as or even more robust than the one being used by the NIA for doing the Ghana Card?” he queried.
Guarantor system
In line with Article 11 (7) of the 1992 Constitution, the EC is seeking to lay a CI before Parliament to regulate the continuous voter registration exercise.
Per the article, the CI, which seeks, among other things, to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for the exercise and the only means for registration, when laid in Parliament, will come into force after 21 sitting days, except the house annuls it by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all Members of Parliament (MPs).
Last month, the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Adukwei Mensa, told Parliament, as part of the pre-laying of the CI, that the Ghana Card as the sole registration document would ensure that only eligible Ghanaians registered as voters.
Such a move, she said, would give the country a credible voter roll and enhance its electoral process.
The EC boss said her outfit jettisoned the guarantor system because it was susceptible to abuse, which affected the credibility of the electoral roll.
“The challenges with the guarantor system are that it opens the door for registered voters or guarantor contractors to guarantee/vouch for persons who are less than 18 years and it allows the guarantors to vouch for foreigners. Such unqualified persons used the door of the guarantor system to try to get onto the register.
“Truth be told, the guarantor system was not the best under any circumstances, but we did not have other options, since a significant number of people did not possess the Ghana Card at the time. Even, then, we had 10 million Ghanaians using the Ghana Card to back their citizenship at the time of registration,” she said.
Criticisms
Dr Afari-Gyan is not the only person to criticise the EC over the proposed CI.
The CI has faced a backlash from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), a civil society organisation, especially concerning the decision by the EC to throw away the guarantor system, which hitherto allowed a registered voter to vouch for the citizenship of another person seeking to register.
The NDC has described the CI as “obnoxious and a threat to the country’s democracy” and directed its MPs not to absent themselves from Parliament to enhance the fight against the proposed law.
For the CDD, the elimination of the guarantor system would make it very difficult for many Ghanaians to register and that would, ultimately, infringe on their constitutional right to vote.
“The current CI 126 allows for a guarantor to guarantee for up to five people; this can be reduced to three,” it said.
Citizenship
Dr Afari-Gyan, who is the longest-serving Chairperson in the history of the EC, further reiterated his criticism of the use of the Ghana Card as the sole source document for the registration exercise.
In a previous statement to the Daily Graphic in August last year, he had said making the Ghana Card the sole identification document would disenfranchise millions of qualified Ghanaians and as such the move by the EC was against electoral inclusivity, fairness and justice.
In his new critique, he said he was not against the use of the Ghana Card and did not also disagree with the EC that the Ghana Card was of great importance and would go a long way to sanitise the electoral roll
“I think that it is grossly unfair and misleading to try to create the impression that the debate over whether or not, as of now, the Ghana Card should be the only basis for a Ghanaian citizen to be registered as a voter revolves wholly around how useful the card is. I have not heard anybody saying that the Ghana Card is not a good thing to have or use,” he said.
According to him, his disagreement was because the EC was gradually making the Ghana Card the only means of citizenship, which is the criterion for one to register as a voter.
It was his contention that the Ghana Card did not bestow citizenship on anyone but rather validated that citizenship; therefore, making the Ghana Card the sole means of registration meant the EC was trying to define those without the card as not citizens of Ghana eligible to vote.
“In my view, as of now, it cannot be reasonably assumed that every Ghanaian of voting age has the Ghana Card, or can get one well ahead of the next elections,” he said.
“In fact, given that even under continuous registration there is a cut-off period, during which time one can register as a voter but cannot vote in the following election, I think it is far too early yet to make a fetish of Ghana Card as the only basis for registering a Ghanaian citizen as a voter,” Dr Afari-Gyan averred.
Dr Robert Doh, a Parliamentary aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ho Central Constituency has presented some health equipment to the Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta region worth Gh¢12,000.00.
The items included central venous lines, femoral artery catheters, foley catheters, chest tubes, pneumothorax kit, and gloves and were aimed to help the hospital to deliver quality healthcare to the people.
Dr Doh told Ghana News Agency in an interview that he had a vision and plan for medical service and excellence for Ho Central and the Volta region at large.
The Parliamentary aspirant said health facilities would be able to deliver quality, effective and timely services to their clients if they had adequate equipment.
He said plans were underway to engage hospitals outside the country in exchange programmes with the Ho Teaching Hospital as a way of boosting and offering some form of support to the hospital in its operations.
Dr Doh said the donation was in memory of his friend’s daughter who lost her life at the hospital due to kidney disease and that the gesture would continue sometimes.
The Parliamentary aspirant said the life of the lady would have been saved if the condition was to be detected early, and therefore, advised the citizenry to visit health facilities for regular checkups.
Professor Yaw Asante Awuku, Head of Medicine at the Ho Teaching Hospital, thanked Dr Doh for the gesture and assured him that the items would be used well.
He called on benevolent individuals and organisations to emulate the gesture of Dr Doh and support the hospital in its quest to deliver quality services to the people.
