A grand exhibition of political unity and camaraderie was observed during the lavish 70th birthday celebration of Kwesi Pratt Jnr., the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper.
The event, which took place on August 9, 2023, at Accra’s Sky Bar, was orchestrated by the family of the esteemed journalist as a celebration.
Images and video footage accessible on GhanaWeb depicted a diverse gathering of politicians from both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the primary opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Others from his own Convention People’s Party (CPP) and other smaller parties were also present.
On the part of the government, the highest-ranking official at the party was the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare while on the part of the NDC, its national chairman, Johnson Asiedu- Nketiah was spotted.
The NDC’s 2020 vice presidential candidate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was also in attendance along with other prominent people like Tsatsu Tsikata, investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and TV show host, Kweku Sintim Misa.
Here are five photos that demonstrate the political harmony that Ghanaian politicians exhibit when they agree on issues
Other notable faces present are listed below in no particular order:
a. Paul Adom-Otchere
b. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
c. Joyce Bawah-Mogtari
d. Kweku Sakyi-Addo
e. Collins Admoako-Mensah, NPP MP for Afigya Kwabre North
RE: RESPONSE TO PARLIAMENT’S MINORITY GROUP ON BANK OF GHANA’S 2022 PUBLISHED ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The NDC Caucus in Parliament has noted with dismay a press statement from the Bank of Ghana dated 9th August, 2023 which purports to respond to our press conference on the above-subject held on 8th August, 2023.
In the said press statement, the Bank of Ghana attempts to shamelessly justify its recklessness and mismanagement, which resulted in the huge losses of GHS60.8 billion and the negative equity of GHS55.1 billion it recorded in the year 2022.
As a matter of fact, the Bank of Ghana’s unsigned press statement, is full of deliberate distortions and flimsy justifications which do not address the serious matters that were raised in our Moment of Truth presser last Tuesday.
The Minority caucus hereby responds as follows:
The referenced Bank of Ghana’s statement does not address the most fundamental issue which has to do with the printing of money by BOG for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government in 2021 and 2022 in clear contravention of Section 30 of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (ACT 918). Indeed, throughout the statement, BOG does not and could not have offered any reasonable justification for printing a whopping GHS35 billion in 2021 and GHS42 billion in 2022 to finance the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government, in clear breach of their governing law.
It is an indisputable fact, that the amount of monies printed by BOG for the reckless Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government both in 2021 and 2022 far exceeds the legally acceptable threshold of 5% of the previous fiscal years’ total revenue.
This the Bank did without cognizance of the legal duty imposed on the Governor of BOG to inform the Minister of Finance, who is required upon notification from the Governor of BOG to notify Parliament of the attainment of the 5% threshold and/or the setting of a new limit of government’s borrowing.
Indeed, the facts show that BOG acted as law unto itself by willfully engaging in the illegal printing of monies to finance the recklessness of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government both in 2021 and 2022.
This illegal conduct of the Governor of BOG constitutes a criminal offense under section 67 of the Bank of Ghana Act and cannot be wished away by the flimsy justifications mounted by the Bank in the multiple press statements they have issued in the last couple of days.
As a matter of fact, contrary to claims by the Governor of the Central Bank and his deputies that they were committed to promoting a cash-lite economy, they have been printing higher denominations of new GHS100 and GHS200 notes.
This together with the large injections of money into the economy caused currency-outside-banks to increase from GH¢14 billion in 2019 to GHȼ31.4 billion by 2022, representing an increase of over 124%.
Strangely, while the BoG kept increasing its policy rate and undertaking these injections at the same time, they knew very well that their actions could spike inflation and result in the Bank incurring significant costs.
As a direct consequence of the illegal printing of monies by the Bank of Ghana, the rate of inflation in the country spiraled to hyper levels last year, when Ghana recorded a record-high inflation rate of 54.1% in December 2022.
It bears reminding the Bank of Ghana that according to a recent World Bank report, this hyperinflation which was mainly occasioned by their recklessness and mismanagement, pushed over 850,000 people into poverty.
It is therefore totally irresponsible for the managers of the Bank of Ghana to conveniently ignore these serious legal infractions which have brought untold hardships on Ghanaians and rather engage in flimsy justifications and needless equalizations.
Secondly, on the very important issue of the illegal write-off of about GHS48 billion debt owed by the government to the Bank of Ghana, the explanation canvassed by the Central Bank in its statement of 9th August, 2023 is untenable, as it has no legal basis whatsoever.
The Bank of Ghana ought to know, that the mere reference to Government’s intention to engage in a domestic debt exchange program (DDEP) as communicated by the Finance Minister in the 2023 budget statement to Parliament, does not and cannot justify the bank’s breach of section 53 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016.
For emphasis, a mere declaration of intent to Parliament by the government to engage in debt restructuring does not amount to a resolution or approval by Parliament for BOG to write-off public funds. Neither does the IFRS accounting standard referred to by the Bank of Ghana permit the writing-off of public funds without Parliamentary approval.
We wish to state unequivocally for the records, that at no point has the Finance Minister presented a report to Parliament informing the house of the attainment of the 5% borrowing threshold or the setting of a new limit of government borrowing as required by section 30 of the Bank of Ghana Act. Nor has the Finance Minister sought the approval of Parliament for BOG to write-off any public funds, as required by section 53 of Public Financial Management Act 2016 (Act, 918).
The Bank of Ghana must do the needful by immediately reinstating the illegally written off liability of Government and stop the baseless justifications they are mounting.
It is instructive to note that, the Bank of Ghana has for the first time admitted that Ghana’s present economic malaise has been accessioned by a “culmination of fiscal overruns and debt distress” which resulted in Ghana losing access to both domestic and international markets, with its attendant credit rating downgrades, high currency depreciation, hyperinflation among others.
It is worthy of note, that for the first time, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana has effectively confessed, that COVID-19 and the Russia Ukraine war are not the main causes of our present economic woes as a country, but rather “fiscal overruns and debt distress” starting from 2019.
This confession by the Bank of Ghana, confirms the NDC’s long-held view that the economic mess we have on our hands is the product of the reckless borrowing and expenditures of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.
Sadly, instead of advising the government to embark on the needed fiscal reforms and adjustments, the Bank of Ghana confesses that they decided to fund the recklessness of the government by engaging in the illegal printing of monies for the government, part of which they have illegally written off without recourse to Parliament.
The managers of the Bank of Ghana must recognise that the economic difficulties it alludes to in its statement of 9th August, 2023 are all self-inflicted and cannot be reasonable justification for the palpable illegalities they have engaged in and the unprecedented mess they have created.
Additionally, we wish to make the point, that none of the explanations put forward by the Bank of Ghana in its press statement of 9th August, 2023 can rationalize or justify the outrageous operational expenditures they engaged in 2022, as reported by their Auditors in the 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Bank.
We maintain, that despite the high rate of inflation and currency depreciation recorded last year as a result of the recklessness of BOG and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government, it was unconscionable and unacceptable for BOG to have spent a staggering GHS131.6 million on vehicle maintenance; GHS67.9 million on computer-related expenses; GHS97.4 million on foreign and domestic travels; GHS32 million on communication expenses; and GHS357.9 million on banking supervision, in 2022 alone.
We say so because the severe economic difficulties the nation has been plunged into by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government with the abetment of BOG, calls for prudence and austerity by all state institutions including the Central Bank.
It is totally reprehensible, that the fees of the very Directors who have supervised this mess were increased by about 80% in the year 2022 alone.
Even more bizarre is the contrived justification for the new BOG head office which is costing the taxpayer a colossal $250 million (GHS3 billion) at this time of excruciating hardships for the nation.
The excuse that the current Bank of Ghana Head office is not earthquake resistant is most ridiculous to say the least.
We need not remind the Bank of Ghana that previous Governors and Directors of the bank maximized the operations and profit of the bank from that same old facility by deploying more reasonable options of relocating aspects of the bank’s operations to the Cedi House and another facility of the Bank on the Spintex Road.
The question BOG must answer is that; if at the time the Bank of Ghana recorded successive years of profit under NDC/Mahama government (2012-2016), the managers of the bank did not consider a new office complex an urgent priority but rather invested in the construction of the BOG hospital to support the healthcare needs of the country, how can BOG prioritize a new $250 million dollar office complex at a time it has recorded an unprecedented loss of GHS60.8 billion and a negative equity of GHS55.1 billion?
It is instructive to note, that the cost of the ill-timed new head office complex the BOG is rapidly putting up is four times the cost of the ultramodern Ecobank Head Office building and six times the cost of Kempinski hotel in Accra.
In fact, our conservative estimates show that the cost of the new head office complex the BOG is putting up can build at least, 3,750 new six (6)-unit classroom blocks to expand access to education or at least 3,500 CHP compounds to improve the access to health care delivery in the country.
It is also instructive to note, that the cost of the new Bank of Ghana head office complex is more than the capital expenditure allocation of the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Ministry of Transport put together.
Clearly, the outrageously expensive new head office complex of BOG is a misplaced priority. There can be absolutely no justification whatsoever for this profligacy at a time the Bank of Ghana must be concerned about its immediate recapitalization.
In the BOG press release dated August 9, 2023 the Governor stated that “ This financial outcome has very little implication for the operations of the Bank of Ghana as supported by evidence from other Central banks”.
This statement is completely erroneous and must be treated with utmost contempt. The truth of the matter is that the Central banks BOG is referring to, did not underwrite the insolvency or bankruptcy of their Governments. Neither did they violate their governing laws with impunity as BOG has done. Hence, they would have space to absorb temporary losses unlike BOG.
The unprecedented losses incurred by BOG counts for various reasons and must not be taken lightly at all.
The BOG must understand that losses can reduce its gravitas and authority in supervising the financial sector. Also, losses can limit its ability to engage in effective monetary operations and impair its ability to use moral suasion in the discharge of its mandate.
In their press statement of August 1, 2023, BOG referred to a statement by the external auditors that “even though BOG would have a significant negative equity based on the huge impairment from 2022, structures are in place to ensure that the BOG remains policy solvent and well able to deliver on its primary mandate”.
This is clearly a misleading statement because it assumes that government would be able to recapitalize BOG over time and that the achievement of macroeconomic stability would in turn restore policy solvency to BOG.
As BOG itself stated, “the inability to cover costs and build sufficient buffers over the long term may require capital injection from the government which can undermine its independence and credibility of monetary policy and also affect public confidence in the Central bank’s operations”.
We must be mindful of government’s fiscal difficulties, hence the possibility that it may now be able to recapitalize BOG any time soon.
Also, there could be exogenous shocks that can impact the economy going forward which can result in macroeconomic instability and a continued depreciation of the cedi, for which BOG could experience huge losses again.
Therefore, the assessment of the External Auditors that the Central Bank will continue to remain policy solvent and discharge its mandate effectively should not be taken as a guarantee at all.
Again, the impression should not be created as though BOG’s source of funding its operations is infinite. As BOG itself stated in its statement dated August 1, 2023, “a Central bank policy solvency is the ongoing ability to fund and implement operations in line with the policy aims for which it has independent responsibility without recourse to the government. Therefore, policy solvency requires sufficient realized revenues to cover costs and to build longer-term capital reserves allowing for independent and appropriate policy decisions”.
Again, in their press statement dated August 1, 2023, BOG engaged in some unnecessary equalization by referring to other Central banks (not its peers) that have operated with negative equity. It also raised the issue of whether there is a difference between insolvency and negative equity; and, whether other Central banks (again not its peers) made losses in 2022.
The fact remains that the countries cited by BOG are all advanced industrialized countries with different economic structures.
Moreover, those countries did not finance their respective governments excessively, as BOG has done since 2019. Nor did they underwrite the insolvency of their governments like BOG has done.
BOG should rather pay heed and listen to criticisms and stop the window dressing of the dire straits it finds itself in. BOG should accept that the Bank is at a historic low and request immediate help to coerce government to prioritize re-financing the Bank as a matter of urgency.
CONCLUSION There is no gainsaying the fact that, the Governor, his deputies and directors of BOG have compromised their independence and made their continuous stay in office untenable.
Their failed attempt to cite non-best practice as justification for their recklessness and mismanagement is most irresponsible to say the least, and yet another reason why they should pack out of the Bank of Ghana immediately
The fate of BOG now hangs solely on the ability of the bankrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP Government to recapitalize it.
In fact, it will take the nation more than 20 years to fix the mess that the current managers of BOG have created and move the bank from its current negative GHS55.1 billion equity to positive equity.
There is an urgent need for BOG’s internal operations to be reviewed to ensure that no losses would be posted or repeated this year.
The Governor, his deputies and entire Board have failed the nation and must resign without delay to begin the process of saving the BOG.
Kumasi’s Mayor, Samuel Pyne, has received a request to permit tricycle operators to use the roads within the central business district of the city.
Abass Nurudeen, the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed during an episode of the TV XYZ show “Inside Politics” on Thursday that the presence of tricycles on the roads in the congested parts of the Ashanti Regional capital should not be solely held responsible for the traffic congestion.
Instead, he attributed the heavy traffic congestion in those areas to street hawkers and vendors who sell their goods on the sides of roads in places like Kejetia, Adum, and other sections of the central business district.
It will be recalled that operators of the tricycles clashed with the police in Kumasi over a ban by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on their operations in certain parts of the city.
The clash resulted in several injuries among the police while some of the protestors were arrested.
The matter has not been fully resolved as police in Kumasi prevent riders of tricycles from operating in some areas.
Nurudeen believes the KMA Boss, Sam Pyne, is over stepping his territories by placing hurdles on the way of the men whose only source of livelihood is from riding those mini cabs.
To him, the KMA Boss is being partisan with his approach because the operators of the tricycles are mainly from the stronghold of the NDC and thus he has to frustrate them.
“Sam Pyne must be careful with his approach. The riders of these tricycles are earning decent money from their daily work,” Nurudeen said in Akan.
” Sam Pyne knows those who are causing traffic jam in Kejetia and Adum. He knows it is the women who sell on the shoulders of the road and in some cases, overtake parts of the roads at Adum and the Hello FM area. He is reluctant to sack them from the roads because they are members of his party–the NPP.”
Nurudeen also alleged that the traffic jam is caused by some illegal lorry terminals at Adum and Kejetia market that were created by the KMA Boss.
” He [Sam Pyne] knows about this. He is one of those who have created illegal lorry terminals and taking daily sales from the drivers,”Nurudeen fumed.
He added, ” the KMA Boss should rethink his actions or else we will face him.”
A Lecturer at Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has lauded a presidential hopeful for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Boakye Agyarko, for his remarkable potential to lead Ghana.
Dr. Otchere-Ankrah believes that Agyarko possesses the necessary attributes to become the country’s president, yet laments his lack of massive support from the public.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah emphasized the significant role of a strong and extensive supporter base in propelling a candidate to the pinnacle of political leadership.
He pointed out that, in the realm of politics, the possession of a large following often proves more decisive than rigid adherence to principles.
Having a substantial following is key for a candidate’s success; principles matter less in politics. Despite his remarkable wisdom and vision, it’s astonishing that Boakye Agyarko still lacks supporters.
“If we consider leadership, Boakye Agyarko possesses charisma and profound wisdom that’s truly impressive,” he added.
Dr. Otchere-Ankrah commended Agyarko’s exceptional wisdom and visionary thinking, expressing his surprise at the relatively modest number of supporters rallying behind him.
The lecturer noted that Agyarko’s charisma and depth of insight set him apart, making him an exceptional candidate for leadership.
When considering potential leaders for the nation, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah pointedly highlighted Agyarko’s outstanding qualities.
He characterized Mr Agyarko as a charismatic figure who exudes wisdom, leaving a profound impact whenever he speaks.
Dr. Otchere-Ankrah commended Mr Agyarko for his remarkable leadership potential and urged him to continue sharing his vision and wisdom with the public, in hopes that his message will resonate more widely and eventually gain the support it deserves.
Mr Agyarko who served as the former Minister of Energy, has claimed to be the sole candidate capable of ending the party’s eight-year political cycle.
According to him, the only party that has better plans for the country is the NPP.
On July 12, 2023, the party’s vetting committee granted clearance to all 10 presidential aspirants for the upcoming special Electoral College election.
The NPP on August 26, 2023, will hold a special delegates conference to choose five out of the ten candidates for the November 4, 2023 presidential primary.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, has voiced disappointment regarding President Akufo-Addo’s approach to the Niger coup issue.
In an official statement, the NDC made clear its non-support for hastily involving brave Ghanaian soldiers in any impulsive and poorly thought-out actions.
The NDC firmly believes that the pursuit of productive dialogue and skillful diplomacy should be continued.
“The NDC finds President Akufo-Addo‘s conduct deeply disheartening. His failure to present this crucial matter for parliamentary deliberation denies him a legitimate democratic mandate from the Ghanaian people’s representatives, which is essential for determining the country’s best interests.”
The NDC emphasizes the need for broader bipartisan consultations to establish a unified Ghanaian stance on such a sensitive issue.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, stated “President Akufo-Addo’s actions stand in contrast to his attempts to educate other nations about democracy. His consistent disregard for constitutional and democratic channels to shape Ghana’s stance on critical matters of this kind is concerning.”
Deputy Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jennifer Queen, has suggested that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is leaning towards the idea of toppling a democratic governance system.
In an interview on Okay FM’s Ade Kyea Bia on August 9, 2023, she accused the NDC of instigating the youth against the government.
“It seems like our siblings in the opposition wish that there should be a coup or something dangerous so that the youth will take over, when you listen to their line conversations, it is directed towards fear and panic stuff,” she said.
She added: “But let me say this… countries that are experiencing coups and uncertainty… Ghana has experienced similar before, and it is our hope and prayer not to have the same experience again.”
Jennifer Queen, who has been a victim of a military takeover, entreated the opposition party to consider diplomatic alternatives to have their concerns addressed.
“So, what I am saying is that a coup is not something we should call for, because we have only one Ghana… so if Sammy Gyamfi feels like things are not going on well and he doesn’t understand, he is a lawyer who practices democracy so there is nothing that stops him from taking the issue to court and sue the Bank of Ghana,” she added.
According to Jennifer, she had to sacrifice her hand during the 1981 coup in order to save the life of her sister.
“I quite remember in 1990, my twin siblings had been born, I was carrying the junior one (Kakra) at my back, my mother was a nurse and had a tent at the Kumasi market, so, Rawlings was firing tear gas, and everyone was running helter-skelter to go and find safety elsewhere.”
“My right hand whenever I meet you, I will show it to you, I used my hand to save my sibling Kakra, if not she would have been dead by now.
“I had to sacrifice my hand for the trotro mate to smash it with the car door because the baby’s head was hanging outside,” she recounted.
A prominent figure within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamekloe, has attributed the persistent occurrence of coup d’états in Africa to a dearth of mature leadership across the continent.
He asserted that unless African leaders adopt a more mature mindset, the cycle of coup d’états will likely persist.
In an interview with the media, the seasoned politician highlighted the recent coup that unfolded in Niger on July 26, 2023, as a vivid example.
Dr. Tamekloe pointed out that many African leaders focus on manipulating systems to their advantage and diverting resources for personal gain.
Drawing parallels across the African context, he emphasized that the issue transcends national borders, encompassing the entire continent.
Dr. Tamekloe criticized leaders who cling to power, manipulate elections, and prioritize personal interests, which he identifies as root causes of the recurring coup dynamics.
He stressed that a shift towards more mature and responsible leadership is crucial to breaking this cycle.
Dr. Tamekloe warned that the self-serving greed of current politicians and their successors could lead to the downfall of their countries. Such practices, he argued, hinder the true progress and prosperity of a nation, undermining its potential for sustainable development.
The recent series of coup d’états in the Western and Northern regions of Africa has raised serious concerns, both within the Sub-region and internationally.
Driven by the military junta, these upheavals have posed challenges for efforts to restore democracy and stability.
Despite the intervention of bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a formidable alliance has formed among the military leadership in Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, and now Niger, complicating regional stability.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti region has discredited reports suggesting the suspension of a women’s organizer in the Kumawu Constituency.
Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NDC, in a statement clarified that the publication made by the Chronicle newspaper, which was subsequently republished by other media outlets, is untrue.
Dr. Amoakohene deemed these publications to be malicious in nature.
He also emphasized that the name mentioned in the story, Akua Afriyie, is not recognized in any of the party’s official records as a women’s organizer or party executive at the branch, constituency, or regional level.
In light of these clarifications, the NDC in the Ashanti region has expressed its commitment to accurate information dissemination and maintaining transparency within its organizational structure.
“I also want to put on record that the said name (Akua Afriyie) which is linked to the story does not exist in any of our records as a party women’s organizer or party executive either at the branch, constituency or regional level,” the Ashanti Regional Secretary, Dr. Frank Amoakohene stated.
More than US$2 million was spent by the Bank of Ghana in purchasing two gold watches, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said.
According to the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson this information was contained in the recently released Bank of Ghana (BoG) Annual report and Financial Statement.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ajumako Enyan Esiam Constituency noted that: “We also saw in the report that the Bank of Ghana indeed spent an amount of US$2million on gold watches.”
He made the remarks during a press conference on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at the NDC headquarters in Accra.
During the presser, he leveled various allegations against the Bank of Ghana Governor Ernest Addison, whom he accused of supervising gross mismanagement of funds at the Central Bank.
“After this dastardly act of over-lending to the government by the Central Bank, they then proceeded to do the unthinkable – to write-off a whooping GHC 48.4 billion, about half of Ghana Government’s indebtedness to the Central Bank, without parliamentary approval. This is illegal and criminal and the NDC Members of Parliament will not allow this to pass.
“Beyond the mismanagement of the economy and our finances, the spectacular recklessness and ineptitude of the Governor and his team has called into question the wisdom of leaving him at the helm of affairs of the Central Bank,” Dr Ato Forson said.
He further accused the governor of supervising the loss of huge sums of money which cannot be accounted for.
“The Report revealed that millions of Ghana Cedis have been wasted on frivolous administrative
expenditures. The Bank of Ghana spent a whopping GHC131.6 million on Motor vehicle maintenance and running in 2022 alone – a 114% increase over the previous year’s expenditure.
“Similarly, foreign and domestic travels of the Bank of Ghana cost the Ghanaian tax payer a staggering GHC97.4 million, which is about 246% increase over the previous year,” he said.
The Minority Leader further indicated that the Bank of Ghana dissipated another GHC8.6 million on Director’s remuneration alone.
“This represents about 87% increase over the previous year’s expenditure. This simply means that Ghanaians were charged a “Mismanagement Fee” to deliver the collapse of the Bank. The Bank further claimed to have spent a colossal GHC357.9 million on Banking Supervision Expenses. The report disclosed that the bank spent a whopping GHC67.9 million on computer expenses while communication expenses amounted to GHC32 million.
Additionally, “the Report disclosed ‘other’ undisclosed expenses amounted to GHS287.8 million of the taxpayer’s money. Perhaps the more troubling fact is that, having brought the Bank of Ghana to this terrible financial state, the Governor and his deputies have found it prudent and expedient to invest $250 million (GHC2.8 billion) on another Head Office building somewhere at Ridge,” Dr Forson said.
It is in view of this and other claims that the CDC has issued a 21 day ultimatum to the governor of the Bank of Ghana or face their wrath.
“In our circumstances, this is the height of insensitivity in the management of the finances of a troubled country. The BOG’s illegal printing of money is responsible for the depletion of Ghana’s external reserves which resulted in the unprecedented depreciation of the Cedi, the main cause
of hyperinflation in 2022. It is important to state that the Governor breached section 30 (7) of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2012 (Act 612 ) and Section 60 of the Bank of Ghana Amendment Act, 2016 (Act 918). An estimated 850,000 people were further reported to have been pushed down the poverty line as a result of the hyperinflation in 2022.
“In this regard, we call for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank and his deputies within 21 days from today. We are resolved to embark on popular action to occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept, callous and criminal mismanagers of the finances of this country and Save the Bank of Ghana. The March to Ensure Accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bags and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated. Dr Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW!” he said.
A member affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kumawu, Madam Akua Afriyie, has faced expulsion due to her public declaration of support for Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a hopeful candidate from the opposing New Patriotic Party.
Despite her membership within the National Democratic Congress, Afriyie openly expressed her admiration for Alan Kyerematen’s bid for the NPP presidency. Her bold proclamation was captured in a viral video during the Kumawu by-election.
Afriyie disclosed that she was relieved of her position shortly after the video gained widespread attention. In the video, she did not hesitate to state her willingness to back Alan as the NPP’s flagbearer in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Her rationale was that she believed Alan possessed a visionary outlook that could positively impact the nation and instill hope among the younger generation.
This revelation propelled her into the center of political discussions, a development that did not sit well with her NDC associates.
Consequently, the party chose to dismiss her from her role. In the aftermath of her removal, Akua Afriyie has embraced the status of a floating voter, indicating that her allegiance is now unattached and her political preferences up for consideration.
“I am currently not a member of the NDC or a member of the NPP but l am a strong supporter of Mr. Kyerematen”.
She strongly cautioned that if the NPP were to deny Mr. Kyerematen the opportunity to lead the party, she, Akua, would opt to abstain from participating in the 2024 elections altogether.
Simultaneously, the constituency delegates gathered at the Durbar for the Kumawu, Afram Plains, and Effiduase Asokore constituencies in remarkable numbers. During the event, these delegates expressed their determination that Alan’s victory would not be obstructed this time around.
In a unanimous chorus, the delegates assured that the Ghanaian populace is now exceptionally vigilant and will not allow themselves to be caught off guard. They argued that it is undeniably Alan’s moment to guide the party, and no obstacle should hinder his path this time.
Ghana’s major opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is mounting pressure on the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison to resign from post.
Speaking at a press brief conveyed in Accra on August 8, 2023, the party leveled a series of allegations against Mr Addison, including claims that his actions and inactions have amounted to substantial mismanagement within the Central Bank.
The NDC asserted that this has contributed to the institution’s financial distress, leading to its purported bankruptcy and potential insolvency.
Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for the Ajumako Enyan Esiam, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who addressed the press said: “The Bank of Ghana, which is our Central Bank and lender of last resort, has been dealt a catastrophic blow by the reckless, clueless and criminally-minded NPP mis-managers of our economy and this has necessitated an urgent call for action to Save Our Central Bank.
“We in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) saw the red flags and have consistently warned of the mismanagement of the financial sector by the Governor of the Central Bank and his team of incompetent deputies,” he said, adding that their caution was not headed to, leading to the current poor state of affairs at the Apex Bank.
The press conference follows the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank of Ghana which was released last week.
Dr Ernest Addison
The report revealed that the Bank of Ghana the Bank of Ghana (BoG) incurred a loss of GH¢60.8 billion from its audited financial statement for the 2022 fiscal year. This loss according to the BoG is largely due to the government’s debt restructuring activities.
Speaking on GBC’s Talking Point programme, the Finance Minister affirmed the claims made by the central bank.
“You can call it a sort of technical loss. It is not money that was given that will never be paid”, he said. “The issue of debt exchange in which certain interests were expected to be paid had been cut, resulting in those types of losses. Then you’ll have to impair the balance sheet because of expected revenue that was coming that will not come so that is what is happening”, he further explained.
However, the NDC asserts that the loss is unjustified.
“GH¢60.8 billion, is equivalent to $6 billion. This is twice the amount we are to receive from our recent IMF bailout. This means the recklessness and mismanagement of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana has cost the nation twice what we are struggling and sacrificing to receive from the IMF amid major conditionalities,” he lamented.
He further noted that: “It is however our position that those who have so recklessly mismanaged the Central Bank and brought it to its knees cannot remain at the helm of affairs of the bank without being held accountable.”
“We in the NDC will continue to explore ways of rescuing this country to prevent it from the doom that has befallen several West African countries. The March to Ensure accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bag and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated.
“Dr Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW!” Dr Forson noted.
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpandai constituency in the Northern region, Mathew Nyindam, is highly confident of securing around 98% of delegate votes to become the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate in the 2024 elections.
Nyindam, in contention with Richard Noamah for constituency candidature, filed his nomination on Saturday, citing his unmatched work in the constituency as a key factor for his candidacy.
Asserting his belief in winning the seat back, Nyindam emphasized his commitment to a decent campaign and urged his opponent and supporters to follow suit.
“I think I am the best candidate to win back the seat. My work on the ground is unmatched. The current MP knows he’s on his way out. He is going to be a one-term MP. I am winning the primaries with over 98% of the vote, and my target is the general elections,” he said.
Even if he doesn’t win, Nyindam vowed full support for the winner in the general elections, urging his opponent to do the same.
Council of elders chairman in the constituency, Mr. Agbedji Augustine, stressed unity among delegates and supporters, highlighting the importance of cohesion after the primaries.
“I have been decent throughout my political career. I welcome the advice from the council chairman for us to be decent. I want to ask my colleague to emulate my example. I am also pledging to offer my full support to him if I should lose. I am counting on him too to come on board so that we can recapture the seat,” he said.
Deputy regional secretary of NPP in the Northern region, Bediako Jeremiah, expressed support for Nyindam, noting his local presence and achievements for constituents, deeming him the ideal choice to represent the party.
“I am calling for unity within the party, and I want to urge the delegates to be circumspect of the aspirants. The delegates should know that this is an internal contest, and party unity after the primaries is key,” he said.
“Honourable Mathew is the people’s man. He has been with the people on the ground, and if you ask people, many don’t know Richard Nuamah. He’s NPP alright, but we want a candidate who can win the seat for us in 2024. The work of Hon. Mathew is unmatched,” he added.
Nyindam’s nomination was accompanied by substantial delegate backing, showcasing strong community support for his candidacy.
President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, has rejected claims that the organization holds a negative view of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He clarified that the GBA has not remained inactive during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, contrary to what certain segments of the public have implied.
Yaw Acheampong Boafo emphasized that his organization is dedicated to guaranteeing impartial treatment of all parties, without favoring any specific group, including the NDC.
He restated that the Ghanaian judicial system functions independently and does not show bias towards any political party.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show, on Monday, August 7, 2023, the GBA president said he believes that the Ghana Bar Association has not been biased toward the NDC.
“Nobody can tell me that the Bar has treated the NDC under President Mills or Mahama bad, than under the current president,” he said.
The president of the GBA urged the general public to have confidence in the legal system as it focuses on delivering fairness and justice.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his administration’s inability to proceed with the Saglemi Housing project.
As reported by citinewsroom.com, the ex-president alleged that President Akufo-Addo’s failure to finalize the Saglemi Housing project stemmed from its initiation by himself.
Mahama further stated that it is incomprehensible for the government to allocate more than GHC500 million towards the construction of the Ghanaian National Cathedral, a project marred by corruption allegations, while neglecting the nearly completed Saglemi Housing Project that was initiated during his tenure.
“It is unacceptable for Akufo-Addo to spend over half a billion cedis on a national cathedral project that has ultimately failed due to corruption and is now abandoned, yet refuses to commit funds to complete a housing project that will benefit thousands of Ghanaian families.
“Knowing the NPP government, they did not want to complete the Saglemi housing project simply because it was initiated by John Mahama and an NDCadministration,” he is quoted to have said.
Mahama, who is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 elections, also said that the decision by the government to go one with the National Cathedral project shows its lack of prioritisation.
“Leaders must always prioritise the well-being of their citizens and ensure that they benefit from government resources and projects, regardless of who initiated them.
“The misplaced priorities of a government that claim it is unable to raise money to complete the Saglemi housing project and yet is willing to spend half a billion cedis on the largest civil excavation in Africa is a humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians who entrusted Akufo Addo with their mandate.”
He added that “Just think about the countless number of Ghanaian families who could have had decent living conditions over the past 7 years and the individuals who could have had a place to truly call home in Saglemi”.
Six out of the seven surviving founding fathers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti region have wholeheartedly thrown their support behind Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto as the party’s most viable contender for the coveted flagbearer position.
Described as the ‘Big Six’ due to their substantial influence in contemporary Ghanaian politics, these elder statesmen visited Dr. Akoto at his residence in Danyame on August 5, 2023.
Led by Chairman Kofi Obiri Yeboah, they engaged with Dr. Akoto, delving into his vision for the party and the nation at large.
Their collective aim is to reignite unity within the party as they approach the 2024 general elections.
The esteemed members of this group include Akwasi Gyeabour Asante, William Asafu-Agyei, George Appiah, Nicholas Kofi Nyantakyi, and Peter Kwabena Anokye. The seventh member, Owusu Badu, sought permission from the Chairman to be absent.
The ‘Big Six’ expressed unwavering confidence in Dr. Akoto’s ability to steer both the NPP and Ghana, citing his exemplary track record within the party and his tenure as the Minister of Food and Agriculture under President Akufo-Addo.
This endorsement comes as part of Dr. Akoto’s campaign for the NPP flagbearer position. Similar endorsements have already been received from constituency chairpersons in the Greater Accra, Volta, and Central regions of the country.
Dr. Akoto expressed his elation and gratitude for the support shown by the Founding Fathers, emphasizing the significance of their backing. He highlighted his familial connection to the party’s origins and the role his father played in its formation.
“I am elated by the endorsement of the Founding Fathers of the NPP in the Ashanti Region. The promise that their votes will be for me come August 26, 2023 signifies the confidence they have reposed in me and I am very grateful to them for expressing such huge support for my candidature to bear the flag of the NPP”, he noted.
He added, “this show of support by the Founding Fathers is very significant to me because as you know the origin of the party started with the intervention of my father, Baffour Osei Akoto, who together with others, on the 19th of September, 1994 performed certain rites for the creation of the National Liberation Movement (NLM),made up of the Northern Peoples Party, led by the late S.G Dombo;the Togo Congress and others from the Anlo Youth Organisation and the Greater Accra region came together to form the United Party (UP) soon after independence in 1957.
Allen Gyimah, Deputy Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NPP and Coordinator for ‘Team Akoto’ in the Ashanti Region, underscored the party’s desire for effective leadership in the upcoming elections.
The resounding endorsement from the ‘Big Six’ further solidifies Dr. Akoto’s candidacy as he strives to lead the NPP into the 2024 general elections.
President Akufo-Addo has emphasized the remarkable progress of the country despite challenges.
During the 2023 Founders Day celebrations held at the Jubilee House, he revealed that 88 percent of Ghanaians now have access to safe water and electricity.
He urged the country to acknowledge these milestones amid current difficulties.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated that the pursuit of progress should not be obscured by present uncertainties.
He lauded the increase in national electricity access from 79.3 percent in 2016 to 88.54 percent in 2022, positioning Ghana among the top six countries in Africa.
“Yes, there are difficulties, but let us not forget that 88 percent of Ghanaians presently have access to safe water, the national electricity access rate increased from 79.3 percent in 2016 to 88.54 percent in 2022, making us among the top six in Africa, and we are still expecting to achieve the 90 percent universal access rate by 2024,” he said.
He expressed optimism about achieving a 90 percent universal access rate by 2024.
He emphasized the elimination of financial barriers to education, with free Senior High school education benefiting 1.7 million students. Enrollment figures have reached historic highs, and efforts are underway to ensure gender parity in enrollment.
President Akufo-Addo outlined his commitment to guide Ghana’s transition from a raw material exporter to a value-added industrialized economy.
He acknowledged setbacks caused by factors such as COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict but affirmed the government’s unwavering pursuit of a ‘Ghana Beyond Aid.’
Focusing on modernization, the President emphasized investment in the digital revolution, health, infrastructure, inner-city communities, security agencies, and anti-corruption initiatives. He projected that these efforts would propel Ghana toward becoming a modern, competitive economy.
Paying tribute to Ghana’s founding fathers for their vision and sacrifices, President Akufo-Addo underscored the need to break free from neo-colonial economic structures.
He emphasized building a prosperous, developed, and progressive nation, fulfilling the responsibility of being the first sub-Saharan colonial country to gain independence.
The event was attended by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Chief Justice Getrude Torkenoo, Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare (Chief of Staff, Office of the President), former first lady Nana Agyemang Rawlings, and Mr. Sam Okudzeto, a member of the Council of State.
The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks alternative strategies to counter the government’s economic revitalization policies.
He noted that NDC members have been disparaging the economy and negating its progress.
Ahiagbah added, “the NDC’s criticism of the economy arises from their inability to provide viable alternatives to challenge the government’s policy initiatives aimed at rejuvenating our economy. The economy has taken a positive turn, and it is imperative for Ghanaians to support the government in stabilizing it.”
It’s noteworthy that the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, challenged Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s claim that the economy had turned a corner.
Dr. Forson argued that the Finance Minister’s policies exacerbated Ghana’s economic difficulties.
Ofori-Atta, during the mid-year budget review presentation, shared that the government had successfully averted dire situations, such as shortages of essential items and fuel queues. He acknowledged the collective efforts and investments made since March 2020 to navigate challenges.
Responding to Dr. Forson’s statements, Ahiagbah criticized the NDC for intentionally deceiving the public and attempting to undermine the government’s popularity. He denounced their partisan approach and highlighted their lack of substantive ideas to address the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War.
Ahiagbah stated, “The NDC’s assertion that the mid-year fiscal revisions invalidate the notion of turning a corner is unfounded and should not be taken seriously. Their absence of constructive ideas is evident, and their strategy seems to be discrediting the government’s genuine efforts to mitigate pandemic and war-related economic impacts.”
He urged Ghanaians to recognize that if the NDC were in power, the country’s situation might have worsened due to their apparent dearth of innovative proposals.
He emphasized the need to assess the NDC’s contributions since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War, highlighting their lack of original ideas to support economic recovery.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, has strongly criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to abandon the Saglemi Housing Project and allocate over GHc500 million to the National Cathedral project.
Mahama alleged that the government’s abandonment of the Saglemi Housing Project was solely due to its initiation during his administration.
President Akufo-Addo had recently launched a new housing project with private sector support, justifying the abandonment of Saglemi due to potential increased national debt.
In response, Mahama accused the government of misplaced priorities, condemning the allocation of funds to a national cathedral while neglecting a housing project aimed at providing affordable homes for Ghanaians.
He criticized the government’s refusal to complete the Saglemi project, calling it a “humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians” and suggesting political motives behind the decision.
Mahama emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of citizens and ensuring that government resources benefit the people, regardless of the project’s initiator.
He expressed disappointment in the government’s choices, highlighting the missed opportunity to provide decent living conditions and homes for countless Ghanaian families through the Saglemi Housing Project.
“It is unacceptable for Akufo-Addo to spend over half a billion cedis on a national cathedral project that has ultimately failed due to corruption and is now abandoned, yet refuses to commit funds to complete a housing project that will benefit thousands of Ghanaian families.
“Knowing the NPP government, they did not want to complete the Saglemi housing project simply because it was initiated by John Mahama and an NDC administration.
“Leaders must always prioritise the well-being of their citizens and ensure that they benefit from government resources and projects, regardless of who initiated them.
“The misplaced priorities of a government that claim it is unable to raise money to complete the Saglemi housing project and yet is willing to spend half a billion cedis on the largest civil excavation in Africa is a humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians who entrusted Akufo Addo with their mandate.
“Just think about the countless number of Ghanaian families who could have had decent living conditions over the past 7 years and the individuals who could have had a place to truly call home in Saglemi.
President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, has addressed concerns surrounding perceived bias towards the National Democratic Congress (NDC) within the association.
Mr Boafo emphasized GBA’s dedication to upholding justice and fairness for all political parties, including the NDC.
He underscored the independent and unbiased nature of Ghana’s legal system during a discussion on the Citi Breakfast Show on August 7.
Reassuring the public, Boafo asserted that the GBA maintains its impartiality and is resolute in upholding the rule of law under all circumstances.
While some members of the public have suggested that the GBA remained quiet on certain matters during the NPP administration despite being vocal during the Mills and Mahama administrations, Boafo refuted such perceptions.
He highlighted GBA’s overarching mandate to ensure justice without discrimination based on political affiliations.
Addressing these sentiments, Boafo stated, “No one can convincingly argue that the Bar treated the NDC unfairly during President Mills or Mahama’s tenure compared to the current president’s term”.
Boafo concluded by encouraging political parties and citizens to maintain trust in the judicial system’s capacity to uphold the rule of law.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has refuted allegations suggesting that he is not qualified to participate in the upcoming presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in his pursuit to lead the party in the 2024 general elections.
Countering the ‘aduru meso’ narrative, Dr Bawumia drew a comparison between his political trajectory and influence within the NPP to the experiences of the biblical figure Paul. He expressed a strong determination to disrupt the established pattern of eight years of governance under the Fourth Republic.
He told delegates on his campaign tour: “sometimes great individuals emerge at pivotal moments in history, just like the Apostle Paul emerged to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ,” proclaiming that “in the same way, my coming could be seen as a turning point for our nation”.
During his campaign tour in the Eastern Region, specifically in Aburi, Dr Bawumia made these remarks while engaging with party delegates. He encouraged them to support his candidacy for the party’s flagbearer position, emphasizing his intention to guide the party to victory in the 2024 general elections.
Addressing a gathering at the Aburi Presbyterian Women’s Training College, Dr Bawumia explained that “I stand before you today as a testament to the transformative power of politics. My journey has been like that of Paul, who went from being a persecutor to an apostle. Similarly, I have grown and evolved within the NPP, and I believe I am the ideal and surest candidate to ‘break the eight-year cycle’’.
Dr Bawumia stressed that he had succeeded in transforming the Vice Presidency from one of docility to activism, symbolic representation to policy implementation, and from mysticism to realism.
He said he believes he can effectively lead the NPP and bring about positive change for the nation, adding that “I have dedicated my life to public service, and I am determined to bring progress and prosperity to the people of Ghana. Together, we can build a nation that thrives on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable development’’.
Outlining some of his achievements, he noted that he had played a pivotal role in formulating and implementing programmes such as Zongo Development Fund, One District One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Free Senior High School, Gold for Oil programme, among others.
He also accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of engaging in religious and tribal politics.
Dr. Bawumia asserted that the NDC is only resorting to divisive tactics by exploiting religious and tribal sentiments for political gain.
However, he urged the delegates to be mindful of such tendencies since the NDC has no message of hope for them, adding that the party was using these strategies to appeal to specific voter base and consolidate power, rather than focusing on the needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
Dr Bawumia further argued that the NDC’s approach is detrimental to the unity and progress of Ghana as a nation, and stressed the importance of politics based on issues, policies, and the overall welfare of the population, rather than identity-based divisions.
The Council of State has issued a response to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) petition concerning the approval of Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani as Members of the Electoral Commission.
The Council firmly asserted that the approval recommendation remains unalterable.
In a letter directed to the NDC, the Council clarified that, having thoroughly examined the nominees’ CVs and advised the President, the appointment process was deemed concluded. The subsequent inauguration of the appointees solidified the Council’s role in the process.
“As correctly noted in paragraph 8 of your letter’s third page, following the President’s swearing-in of the two individuals, the Council of State has become functus officio in their appointment process.
“It is hence not feasible to reconsider the recommendations already provided by the Council to the President,” stated Nana Otuo Siriboe, Chairman of the Council of State.
The Council emphasized that once recommendations are submitted to and acted upon by the President, they cannot be revisited within its jurisdiction. This decision effectively closes any avenue to revisit the approval process for Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani.
The nomination of Electoral Commission members significantly upholds Ghana’s democratic process. The Council of State’s role in vetting and advising on these appointments is crucial in safeguarding the Electoral Commission’s integrity and transparency.
While the NDC voiced concerns about the appointees’ perceived NPP affiliations, the Council’s response underscores the diligent execution of the approval process according to established protocols.
A Parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Tempane Constituency in the Upper East Region, Alhaji Ibrahim Bashiru, has asserted that he stands as the most qualified candidate to secure the parliamentary seat against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He calls upon NPP delegates to cast their votes overwhelmingly in his favor, leading the party to triumph in the forthcoming 2024 parliamentary election.
In his capacity as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer overseeing operations at the Youth Employment Agency, Ibrahim Bashiru will be contending with former Deputy Attorney-General, Joseph Kpemka, in the bid to represent the constituents in Parliament.
Following the submission of his nomination forms in Tempane, Ibrahim Bashiru, in conversation with the media, characterizes Mr. Kpemka’s administration as retrogressive and subpar. He expresses his commitment to enhancing the constituents’ well-being if entrusted with the responsibility.
“Under lawyer Kpemka’s leadership, the constituency has regrettably witnessed a decline instead of progress. We find ourselves moving backwards. This motivates my decision to present myself as an option to the people of Tempane, appealing to their awareness and asking for the chance to become the parliamentary candidate and subsequently the Member of Parliament, ushering in a change of direction.”
Bashiru underlines his unparalleled record of development within the constituency and implores for the opportunity to uplift the marginalized area.
He pledges to run a transparent administration and leverage his network and goodwill to advocate for projects that enhance the lives of the constituents.
“I have extended crucial job opportunities to the youth of this constituency. I’ve aided in the recruitment of over 40 individuals in the teaching sector, more than 1,535 in YEA, as well as many others across institutions such as COCOBOD, SSNIT, GWC, among others.
I am dedicated to representing the Tempane constituents in the Parliament effectively, advocating for development initiatives including hospitals, roads, schools, education, agriculture, and all other essential undertakings that contribute to a more meaningful life in Tempane.”
Furthermore, Mr. Bashiru urges fellow party members to refrain from using inflammatory language during the campaign period.
He affirms his commitment to supporting whichever aspirant emerges victorious in the forthcoming parliamentary primaries.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has challenged the government’s claims of stabilizing the economy, asserting that President Akufo-Addo is avoiding responsibility for his administration’s fiscal irresponsibility, which has led to the current economic challenges.
The NDC argues that the government cannot boast of economic stability without acknowledging its own role in causing the current state of the economy.
Fifi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, criticized the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, accusing him of attempting to cover up the government’s mismanagement of the economy.
“The kind of collapse we have seen in terms of the economy is one that requires a certain amount of humility. To rush quickly and want to start beating your chest and applauding, it indicates that somehow they have not learned as quickly as they should,” he said.
He said, “by no means can you call this ‘turning the corner.’ In the first place, you can’t even call it turning the corner. A situation where inflation has gone up to over 50 per cent, and now they are trying to bring inflation down to some 30 or a little below 30, you call it turning the corner?”
Mr. Kwetey further pointed out that the government is claiming to have stabilized the economy because it is desperate to look good.
“The very fact that they still allow the country to believe that the Russia-Ukraine war and Covid-19 are the real reasons why we are where we are tells me that this is a group that simply has not accepted responsibility,” he continued.
Although he accepts that there were external economic shocks during the period, he believes, “those obstacles have been faced by other countries, but no country in West Africa or Africa has gone through what we’ve gone through.”
Mr Kwetey added that the government not accepting responsibility shows that they have no genuine remorse.
“There’s not even an acceptance of the real acts of irresponsibility, fiscal irresponsibility, and moral leadership irresponsibility that have brought us here. So to jump quickly and start celebrating worries me because it’s like you haven’t really learned. And therefore, if you are given an opportunity, you quickly run it down again.”
President Akufo-Addo has raised concerns about Ghana’s lingering colonial economic structures, which he believes continue to adversely impact the nation.
Despite this, he assured the public of resolute actions aimed at dismantling the current reliance on raw material production and exports.
Instead, he envisions a transition toward a contemporary, value-added, and industrialized economy.
Highlighting pre-pandemic and pre-conflict economic indicators that aligned with this vision, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the challenges faced by the nation.
Nonetheless, he underlined substantial advancements across various sectors.
“As the leader of Ghana, my focus has been on steering our nation’s course from raw material exports and imported goods retail to a modern, value-adding industrialized entity,” President Akufo-Addo affirmed.
These statements were made at a banquet honoring senior citizens in observance of Founders’ Day, a significant date in Ghana that commemorates the nation’s liberation from colonial rule and its foundation.
The event, held at the Jubilee House’s Banquet Hall, was attended by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, has advocated a return to strong leadership values as a remedy for Ghana’s economic challenges.
In an interview with the media, Kwetey lamented the erosion of morals among current leaders and emphasizes the importance of leaders with values and a genuine passion for the nation.
He criticized President Akufo Addo and Vice President Bawumia, asserting that both lack these crucial qualities.
Kwetey underscored that the NDC was founded on values and urges the party to uphold and differentiate itself based on those values.
He asserted that values define one’s character and drive and that the NDC’s focus on values is even more significant than policy positions.
He urges the NDC to prioritize rebuilding and embracing its core values before formulating policies.
Kwetey believes that strong values are essential for effective policy implementation and transformation.
He blames Ghana’s economic challenges on the NPP’s lack of love for the nation and fiscal irresponsibility.
“Positioning ourselves as people with values, different from the NPP is even more important than policies. Values are critical because values define who you are. Anyone can have a policy but any policy proposed by people with no values become an empty husk and will show their degeneration just as we are seeing now.
“The NDC is not made up of perfect people”, he said, “we do not also claim to have all the answers, but Ghana is safer in our hands”.
The General Secretary stated that “Ghana’s economic meltdown is not from Covid or Russia -Ukraine war but the fact is that the NPP that supervised the collapse of our country does not have the humility to accept that their lack of love for nation and fiscal irresponsibility led us here.”
Kwetey criticized the NPP’s leadership style and accuses them of prioritizing political power over the nation’s welfare.
Kwetey concluded by asserting that the NPP relies on falsehoods to win power and warns of the deeper consequences of their leadership and moral collapse, stating that it outweighs the current economic crisis.
Following the passage of a motion sponsored by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and some National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs, Parliament has decided to conduct an independent enquiry into the National Cathedral Project.
The motion alleges significant impropriety surrounding the $400 million project, with claims that $58 million has already been spent, but the work done does not correspond with the expenditure.
Mr. Ablakwa urged the House to investigate the allegations of misappropriation and seek answers regarding the discrepancies in spending.
The project’s cost has reportedly increased from the initial $100 million to $400 million, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
The North Tongu MP previously provided evidence of what he believed were dubious activities related to the construction of the National Cathedral.
“This motion is a very important one and I pray that this House will approve this under Order 191. The Order provides that the House at any time by motion appoint a special or adhoc committee to investigate any matter of national importance. The National Cathedral of Ghana is potentially the most expensive project of Ghana.”
“Already, Mr Speaker as we speak this project has ballooned from an initial $100m to $400m and is still rising.
“So far, Mr Speaker about $58m has been spent on the project and what we see has become a subject of considerable controversy. We only see a hole and we are not too sure if it is really $58 million that has gone into the project,” he said.
In his social media posts, he shared documents related to the fundraising and incorporation of the project, suggesting criminal activity may be involved.
The decision to conduct an independent enquiry reflects the House’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised and ensuring proper oversight of this high-profile project.
A member of the Alan Kyerematen campaign team, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has declared Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen as the most suitable candidate to tackle the pressing issues facing Ghana.
In an interview with the media, he expressed confidence that if elected as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate and eventually becomes Ghana’s president in the 2024 polls, Mr. Kyerematen will effectively address the country’s challenges, particularly the issue of unemployment.
Asamoa acknowledged that the former Trade and Industry Minister cannot be absolved of responsibility concerning the current economic crisis.
However, he emphasized that Kyerematen is fully prepared to provide solutions to the country’s problems.
He asserted that what Ghanaians seek is leadership that offers practical solutions, and Alan Kyerematen’s track record with GTP (Ghana Textile Printing) demonstrates his ability to provide such solutions.
As the party markets him to the nation, they are confident that Kyerematen’s leadership will resonate with the people.
Acknowledging the difficulties faced in governance and the economy, Asamoa highlighted past leaders’ achievements in addressing specific issues.
He then pointed out that Ghana now needs a leader who can focus on job creation, a domain where Alan Kyerematen has proven expertise.
Asamoa extolled Kyerematen’s accomplishments over the years and called on delegates to vote for him, stressing the importance of entrusting leadership to an experienced problem-solving leader. According to Asamoa, Kyerematen has demonstrated his capacity to establish frameworks for job opportunities, making him the right person for the job.
This endorsement reflects the belief within the Alan Kyerematen campaign team that he possesses the necessary attributes and solutions to address Ghana’s challenges and lead the country forward.
A prominent spokesperson of the Dr Mahamudu Bawumia campaign team, Nana Akomea, has voiced his strong support for the Vice President as the ideal candidate to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2024 general elections.
He believes that Dr Bawumia is the most suitable person to break the eight-year cycle of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning the presidency and also possesses the ability to gain support from both parties’ traditional strongholds.
During an interview with the media, Nana Akomea asserted that Dr Bawumia’s leadership could pose a threat to the NDC in their strongholds, such as the Volta Region, the Northern Region, and the Zongo settlements.
He emphasized that Dr Bawumia’s appeal lies in his capacity to bridge the gap between NPP and NDC strongholds, making him the most suitable candidate among all aspirants.
Furthermore, Nana Akomea expressed astonishment at the remarkable responses from party delegates to Dr Bawumia’s message of being the best candidate to break the eight-year cycle. He cited the extraordinary reactions, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where seven of the contesting aspirants hail from. Despite this, Dr Bawumia’s reception among delegates in Ashanti has been surprising and promising.
Nana Akomea’s statements reflect the growing support and belief within the NPP that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is the right leader to steer the party to victory in the 2024 elections and bring an end to the NDC’s presidential reign.
“The NDC has their traditional strongholds in the Volta Region, the Northern Region, and the Zongo settlements. With Dr Bawumia, we believe that the NDC in the Northern Region and the Zongos will be threatened.
“He is the best person to reach across the NPP strongholds and the NDC strongholds. He is the best person among all the aspirants.
“Delegates’ responses everywhere have been extraordinary, particularly in Ashanti. I was particularly shocked by the reaction of the delegates because seven of the gentlemen in the contest are from Ashanti, so I wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction Dr Bawumia got in the Ashanti region,” he added.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region is urging the government to address the dire state of roads in the area.
The NDC emphasizes that taking action to improve the roads is essential to prevent potential legal actions by the people of Jomoro.
“To avoid other actions supported by law from indigenes of Jomoro”, the government must do them the honours and come to their aid,” it added.
They call on the government to step up and assist the community.
Last week, residents, particularly commercial drivers in Nzemaland, held demonstrations to protest the appalling condition of the roads.
They refused to operate their vehicles, leading to road blockades and even burning of vehicle tires as a response to the government’s failure to address the issue.
In response to the situation, police had to resort to firing gunshots to disperse some of the demonstrators.
During a press conference in the Jomoro Constituency, the Communications Officer, Nyamekeh Lenrie, expressed gratitude to the Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, for taking some initiative to repair certain roads for the residents.
Read below the full press conference:
A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY COMRADE NYAMEKEH LENRIE, CONSTITUENCY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) – JOMORO 29th July, 2023.
DEPLORABLE STATE OF THE SAMENYE TO HALF ASSINI, NEWTOWN ROADS NETWORK.
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen and to our friends from the media here present and across the world.
Today, we have gathered here to add our voices to the numerous calls by various individuals and groups in calling on the Nana Addo – Bawumia NPP led Government to fix our deadly road that spans from Samenye barrier to Jaway Wharf and to Newtown. Unlike the NPP in Jomoro who are only bothered with personal interest such as scrapping off a whole Power Barge at Effasu, we in the NDC side with the masses, hence the need to add our voice to the numerous voices calling on the government to fix our roads.
This road has become a thorn in the flesh of both drivers and passengers in the Jomoro constituency.
We have received several promises from this government, some of whom include the vice president of the republic, H. E. Alhaji Bawumia and the MCE, madam Louisa Adde.
Friends from the media, you will recall that, on October, 9th 2020, the vice president during a two-day working visit to the western region, came to Jomoro and in the presence of Awulae Annor Adjei III, cut sod for the construction of the Samenye barrier to Jaway Wharf and to Newtown roads. In that ‘votes winning’ ceremony, the vice president promised that the 108.8km road (Including some town roads such as Bonyere, Tikobo 1, Tikobo 2, Ebonloa etc) will be completed in Two years by My Turn Ltd and Kinspok company Ltd.
Ladies and gentlemen from the media, it will interest you to know that, the time frame given by the vice president for the road to be completed elapsed last year and yet our roads have rather moved from bad to worse. The MCE, Ms Louisa Arde, also on the other hand kept on keeping our faith high in the heavens. Just November last year, the MCE is on record to have stated on NewDay Fm that she has done all that she’s supposed to do and in no time contractors will move to site to begin work.
Friends from the media, it has been realized that, just like the appointor, the appointee also lied to us. If it is tomorrow that the contractor will come on the road, that we do not know. Let me at this point commend the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Hon. Dorcas Affo Toffey. But for her swift intervention in reshaping roads linking communities such as Tweakor 1, Tweakor 2 and farm roads in the Kabenlasuazo enclave, all in her constituency, residents in those areas wouldn’t also have had it easy. We would also want to commend her for having the Samenye barrier to Jaway Wharf and the town roads at heart for which reason, on the 10th of March 2023, she summoned the Roads minister to the floor of Parliament and asked about when the said road will be completed. It was striking to note from the Minister’s response that the road that was supposed to have been completed on 24th December, 2022 has now become a death trap for residents in Jomoro as at today the 29th of July 2023. Indeed the good people of Jomoro are never taken serious a bit by this inept and deceitful government.
Friends from the media, isn’t it surprising that the minister in his response to the question filed by the Honourable Member of Parliament for Jomoro, said that, the road is seeing a slow pace because of inadequate funding when we know that, the funding agency for this road project is the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC)? GNPC as we all know is funding hundreds of projects nationwide including road networks in the Eastern region, the president’s home region. The good people of Jomoro deserves development. As article 36(6) of the 1992 constitution clearly states, there shall be fairness in the distribution of development and equality in economic opportunity to all without exception. How come a constituency which is at the heart of Ghana’s oil and gas sector is denied of its fair share of development. This is mere wickedness and intentional deprivation. We need our share from the oil and gas proceeds.
So we say Fix Our Roads Now! Concerned Drivers Association in the constituency also couldn’t hold their nerves any longer as they are the immediate affected people of the bad nature of roads. Apart from the rising prices of spare parts and the increasing fuel prices at the pumps (despite the gold for oil policy), they have to also spend hours on a road that they could have spent minutes on. So they had to embark on a three day sit down strike without moving their vehicles. This brought untold inconveniences to passengers.
Pregnant women have to endure the pain of labour as well as the pain of making a deadly voyage to hospital for antenatal. Fix Our Roads Now
Surprisingly, H. E. Bawumia this week came to Jomoro on Tuesday, 25th July, 2023 to campaign to be elected as the NPP flag bearer. And in running away from his own shadow, knowing very well he has lied to the good people of Jomoro, decided to use the Alabokazo Benyinli road that was constructed by the erstwhile Mahama government just to swerve the deplorable road from Samenye. We ask a simple question: What was the size of the elephant on the Samenye barrier route that blocked the fleet of cars of Dr. Bawumia from using that stretch of road?
We do not want to believe that, just like the one district, one factory and the $1million a year per constituency, the year of road has also been a sham. Jomoro is a constituency that can boast of four approved boarder towns, generating huge sums of money for this government, yet, with the year of roads launched by this bungling government; *Drivers are suffering *Passengers are suffering *Market women are suffering *Students are suffering *Mates are suffering *Pragya drivers are suffering *Farmers are suffering *Okada drivers are suffering *Everybody is suffering on this road because of its state.
In conclusion, Ghanaians and for that matter, Jomoronians voted for NPP to solve our problems and not to become problems for us. We are therefore calling on the government to fix our roads now (at least bring it to its former state as they met it) to avoid other actions supported by law from indigenes of Jomoro.
The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Ms. Lariba Zuweria Abudu, on Tuesday, August 2, announced that the Ministry is currently in the process of amending the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) to align it with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main goal of this amendment is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for individuals with disabilities. These rights encompass education, health, employment, and accessible transportation.
One of the key proposals in the reviewed Act is to grant tax exemptions to employers who hire persons with disabilities and provide training opportunities for unemployed PWDs. This measure aims to increase the employment rate of disabled individuals and create more inclusive workplaces.
Ms. Abudu made this statement during her parliamentary session, responding to a question raised by Mr. Mohmmed Adamu Ramadan, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Adentan, on behalf of Mr. Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, the NDC MP for Madina.
Mr. Adamu Ramadan inquired about the strategies in place to enhance the employment of PWDs in line with Sustainable Development Goals Eight and 10.
The Ministry has also collaborated in the development of the Employment Equity Policy by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
The aim of this policy is to foster equitable employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, particularly in the public service and the broader labor market.
Sustainable Development Goal Eight focuses on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
On the other hand, Goal 10 aims to reduce inequalities in income and opportunities based on factors such as age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic status within a country. It also addresses inequalities among countries, including representation, migration, and development assistance.
These Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected objectives introduced by the UN in 2015 as a universal blueprint for fostering peace and prosperity for people and the planet, both now and in the future.
Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah, has characterized the recent times as challenging for every politician in Ghana.
He made these remarks in response to reports of stolen funds found in the home of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
According to Kumah, fear has become a prevailing sentiment among all appointees in President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government.
“Our lives are in danger but the good thing is that we are given police protection. The idea and perception people have about us is now scary and it will be difficult for people to accept public offices in years to come,” he said.
He mentioned that while they are provided with police protection, the perception people hold about politicians has become frightening, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to accept public office in the future.
During an interview with the media, Kumah expressed concern about the negative image politicians are facing, leading to growing apathy within the system.
He emphasized that not all politicians keep large sums of money in their homes, and the current situation poses dangers for them collectively.
Kumah urged caution and called on the media to reshape discussions on the matter, highlighting the potential problems that could arise from exaggerations.
The case originated from a report of theft filed by the former Minister and her husband, Daniel Osei-Kuffour, which prompted police investigations and subsequent arrests.
Stolen items were recovered, and the investigation docket was submitted to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice for review and guidance.
On July 24, 2023, the OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor) took action by arresting Madam Dapaah for questioning following over 200 petitions received, urging an investigation into her.
Searches at her residences in Ablemkpe and Cantonments revealed allegedly stolen amounts totaling US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis, which were reported to have been taken by her housekeepers between July and October 2022.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, has informed Parliament that the National Gender Policy (2015), which served as the supporting policy framework for the approval of the Affirmative Action Bill, has expired.
However, the Ministry has undertaken stakeholder consultations and revised the National Gender Policy (2023-2032) to support the Bill. A Cabinet Memorandum is being finalized for submission to Cabinet.
The Minister stated that after assuming office in January 2023, the Affirmative Action Bill was resubmitted to Cabinet on 2nd March 2023 for consideration and approval.
In anticipation of Cabinet’s approval, the Ministry plans to engage with Parliament’s leadership, the Women’s Caucus, Standing Committee on Gender and Children, and the Select Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to expedite the process.
Mr. Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, an MP from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), inquired about the status of the Affirmative Action Bill and urged the Minister to ensure its passage, emphasizing the House’s full support for the bill.
During her vetting by the Appointments Committee on December 15, 2022, Ms. Abudu expressed her commitment to the Affirmative Action Bill, recognizing its significance and the need for its passage.
She believed that with the support of Parliament members, both female and male, the bill could be successfully passed.
Ghana previously legislated an Affirmative Action Act in the 1960s, allowing ten women members to represent the country’s regions in the Legislature.
Despite recognizing the importance of women’s political participation, women’s representation in policy-making spaces in Ghana remains below the United Nations’ threshold of 30 percent. Currently, women’s representation in Ghana’s Parliament is 14.5 percent, and in the District Assembly System, it is below five percent.
Women also face low representation in government ministerial, ambassadorial, and board appointments, hindering their effective contributions to the country’s development.
The Affirmative Action Bill aims to address these disparities and promote gender equality in decision-making processes.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has charged his nine contenders in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race not to lose focus of their goal in contesting for the flagbearership position.
According to the Vice President, the objective is for the NPP to beat the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) come December 7, 2024, hence all should work in unity irrespective of the outcome of the party’s primaries in November this year.
“As a family, all factions must recognize that a united front is necessary to confront the NDC,” Dr. Bawumia stated in Kumasi during a campaign tour to party delegates.
To ensure disunity does not rear its ugly head after the NPP primaries, the Vice President has entreated all presidential aspirants to thread carefully while campaigning.
He advised against the use of ill words and strategies that wreak of malice.
Depicting the adage that ‘Charity begins at home’, he said: “I have instructed all my supporters and spokespersons that we must conduct a clean campaign, avoiding any form of insults.”
The NPP is scheduled to elect its flagbearer for the 2024 elections on November 4.
Ten flagbearer hopefuls have been cleared to participate in the upcoming elections.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has completed the balloting for its ten presidential aspirants for the super delegates conference slated for August 26.
The balloting came off on Wednesday, July 26, at a meeting which sought to address the concerns of aspirants about the impending election.
On the ballot, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong appears first, followed by former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen in the second position.
Essikado-Ketan MP Joe Ghartey comes in at number three, Energy Expert Kwadwo Poku at number four, while Dr Afriyie Akoto, former Minister for Food and Agriculture will take the fifth position.
Also, former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong will be sixth on the ballot, Former member of Parliament for Mampong Constituency Addai Nimo takes the seventh slot followed by former Trade Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku at number eight. Mr. Boakye Agyarko, a former Energy Minister is at number nine and lastly, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is at number 10.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has unveiled his “One Constituency 10 Appointments Policy,” which aims to address the longstanding issue of neglecting constituencies during government appointments in Ghana.
During a meeting with delegates from the Awutu Senya East constituency, Vice President Bawumia expressed concerns raised by party loyalists who felt excluded from the governance processes after the party came to power.
To foster better integration between the party and the government, he proposed three initiatives, the first being the appointment process.
Under this policy, all 275 constituencies in Ghana will be given the opportunity to have a representative on various government boards and agencies. Currently, a president can make approximately 7000 appointments. With the addition of one more constituency next year, the total number of constituencies will be 276. The Vice President’s plan is to allocate 10 appointments to each constituency, resulting in a total of 2760 appointments for all constituencies.
By implementing this policy, Vice President Bawumia aims to ensure that no constituency is left out and that party loyalists from every region have a fair chance to participate in the governance of the country.
“Party loyalists tell me that when the party is voted into power to form a government, they are left out in the processes of governance. That is why I’m coming up with three initiatives which I believe that if effectively utilised the party and the government will be well integrated. The first one is appointment. Anytime there are appointments, the constituencies normally say they have been left out.”
“So what I will do is that in governance, a president can make about 7000 appointments, and we have 275 constituencies which we will add one more next year to make them 276, so my plan is that some of the 7000 appointees can come from the constituencies. My proposal is that one constituency, 10 appointments. Doing that will ensure that all the constituencies will have a total of 2760 appointmet,” Dr Bawumia stated.
The Minority in Parliament has raised objections to the sod-cutting ceremony conducted by President Akufo-Addo for the National Affordable Housing Project.
This project aims to construct approximately 8,000 units of affordable houses with support from the private sector.
Sampson Ahi, a member of the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, has criticized the government, stating that they have not provided the necessary details of the agreement to Parliament for approval.
According to him, the project’s Essential Project Committee (EPC) agreement has not been laid in Parliament, and as a result, it has not been officially approved. Despite this, the ceremony took place, which the Minority perceives as a disregard for established government procedures.
The concerns raised by the Minority revolve around the lack of transparency regarding the project.
They are seeking answers regarding the value of the land involved in the project and the cost of onsite infrastructure that the government is obligated to provide as part of its equity in the venture.
By questioning these aspects, they aim to ensure accountability and proper adherence to parliamentary approval processes.
“This particular project is supposed to be laid in Parliament today, but it has not been done which means that the EPC agreement has not been approved in Parliament and so if you have presented such a document to Parliament for approval, it has not even been laid, yet we are there cutting sod to commence work and that is a slap or disrespect to government structures.”
“We are raising concerns, and we will want to know the value of the land, the cost of the onsite infrastructure that the government is supposed to provide as part of its equity in the project, and all these questions must be answered.”
The former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akwatia in the Eastern Region, Mercy Adu-Gyamfi, popularly known as Ama Sey, is determined to reclaim the Akwatia seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general election.
Despite losing in her re-election bid during the party’s parliamentary primary to Ernest Kumi, who subsequently lost the seat to the NDC in the 2020 election, Ama Sey is determined to make a comeback.
A group of NPP polling station executive members presented the party’s parliamentary nomination forms to Ama Sey, expressing their unwavering support for her candidacy in the 2024 elections.
Ama Sey emphasized that her desire to return to Parliament is driven by her commitment to serving the people of Akwatia and bringing development to the area.
She has engaged in consultations with key personalities within and outside the NPP regarding her intention to contest for the parliamentary seat once again on the NPP ticket.
The party has opened nominations in the 137 constituencies where it has no sitting MPs, known as orphan constituencies, starting from July 11, 2023, until August 10, 2023.
Elections in these orphan constituencies to elect parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election will take place between September 2023 and December 2, 2023.
The Akwatia parliamentary seat is currently held by the NDC, with Henry Yiadom Boakye as the MP. In the 2020 general election, Boakye won the seat with 19,899 votes (51.5%), defeating Ernest Kumi of the NPP, who received 18,742 votes (48.5%). Ama Sey is determined to reclaim the seat for the NPP in the upcoming elections.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has conducted a two-day capacity-building workshop for all Constituency Organisers, their deputies, and Zongo Caucus Coordinators in preparation for the 2024 elections.
The workshop aimed to empower participants to help the party regain political power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and bring positive change to the Volta Region.
Joseph Yamin, the National Organiser of the NDC, emphasized the crucial importance of the 2024 elections for the party’s prospects and urged the attendees to be dedicated, passionate, and committed to winning the elections.
He highlighted that victory in the upcoming elections would depend on adequate preparations, making the workshop timely and relevant.
The Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mawutor Agbavitor, reiterated the region’s determination to contribute significantly to the party’s efforts to regain political power.
The Hohoe Constituency Chairman, Newton Darkey, expressed the constituency’s support for the workshop and its readiness to work hard to regain the parliamentary seat. He emphasized the crucial role of the participants in the party’s success and encouraged them to utilize the investments made in their capacity-building effectively.
The Hohoe Constituency Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC, Worlany Tsekpo, pledged the participants’ commitment to work diligently to regain the seat and urged them to make the most of the knowledge gained during the workshop.
James Gunu, the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, mentioned various initiatives undertaken by the party, such as inviting election losers to collaborate and equipping regional executives through decentralised meetings. The party also aimed to eliminate “skirt and blouse” voting in endemic constituencies and was implementing a strategic organization and visibility program.
Siki Abibu, the NDC Volta Regional Organiser, explained that the workshop covered redefining the duties of Zongo Caucus Coordinators and properly assigning the “Other Eight” members who were part of the various constituency executives.
Additionally, the workshop aimed to devise strategies to ensure the party’s complete control of various assemblies in the forthcoming District Assembly Elections and foster closer collaboration between Constituency Election Directors and Constituency Organisers.
2020 National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate to John Mahama, Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang, has offered valuable advice to the party’s Women’s Wing.
During the Ahafo Regional NDC Women’s Wing Conference in Goaso, Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang urged them to adopt a campaign strategy that avoids insults and disrespect as the party prepares for the 2024 elections.
Based on her research, Prof. Agyemang emphasized that political parties that resort to campaigns filled with insults and disrespect tend to struggle in winning power. She urged the women campaigning for the NDC to refrain from such behavior.
According to the Professor, insults and disrespect do not play a significant role in gaining political power.
Therefore, she called upon the party members to be mindful of their conduct and to focus on constructive and positive approaches in their efforts to unseat the NPP and attain victory in the upcoming elections.
“The respect shown me means a lot to me and we should accord one another with this same respect. Looking back at our history as a nation, respect forms an important part of us and so there’s a lot of work to be done,” she explained.
Charity Gardiner, the Ahafo Regional Women’s Organiser for NDC, expressed the party’s commitment to providing comprehensive training sessions for its members, with a particular focus on women. These training programs are aimed at equipping members with valuable insights and knowledge in the field of politics.
“The number of women in politics is quite few even in the parliament. We are empowering and encouraging our women so that we will have a lot of them participating in elections from assembly to parliamentary henceforth. Training of this nature is what I am undertaking to empower my women in my region.”
Dr. Louisa Hannah Bissiw, the NDC Women’s Organiser, expressed her concerns about the failures of the NPP government across various aspects.
She lamented that the current economic situation has adversely affected women, leaving them in a difficult situation. Additionally, Dr. Bissiw criticized the school feeding program, stating that students are not receiving the intended benefits from it under the current government’s administration.
Ghanaians from all walks of life have gathered on Twitter to express their grievances about the current state of affairs in Ghana, with the hashtag #LifeHardUnderThisGovt.
The hashtag, believed to be sponsored by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has swiftly become a focal point for citizens to express their concerns and frustrations regarding the policies of the present government and their impact on daily life.
The social media sensation coincides with the day Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta presented the highly anticipated 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review.
The trending hashtag has allowed users to pinpoint specific instances where they feel let down by the government’s response to crucial issues such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed deep concern about the governance of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, stating that it poses a significant threat to Ghana’s democracy.
Taking to Facebook on Monday, July 31, Mr. Mahama urged Ghanaians to vote out the current administration in the upcoming 2024 election to save the nation from further challenges.
“Transparent and accountable governance in which opportunities are open to all and not just a few is the greatest guarantor of our democracy.
“The almost seven years of Akufo Addo and Bawumia’s maladministration is the biggest threat to the survival of our constitutional democracy. Only a CHANGE in this inept NPP government can ensure the sustainability of our democracy.
“The next NDC administration will work to restore hope to Ghanaians quickly. The business-as-usual approach to governance, lies and propaganda will not work. We cannot and must avoid repeating the mistakes of the NPP.”
He firmly believes that the nearly seven years of the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administrations have put Ghana’s constitutional democracy at risk.
According to him, the only way to ensure the sustainability of democracy and restore hope to the people is through a change of leadership.
He emphasized the need to replace the current inept NPP government with the NDC administration.
Mr. Mahama stressed that transparent and accountable governance, where opportunities are accessible to all, not just a privileged few, is crucial for upholding democracy in the country.
He further warned against the business-as-usual approach to governance, lies, and propaganda, and pledged that the next NDC administration would work diligently to address the challenges and restore hope to the Ghanaian people.
In addition, John Dramani Mahama criticized President Akufo-Addo’s appointees for their conduct and actions, which he believes are in stark contrast to the president’s previous advice about seeking personal enrichment in the private sector, rather than in politics.
Mahama expressed his disappointment that the current behavior of President Akufo-Addo’s appointees deviates significantly from the president’s wise words spoken more than six years ago.
These remarks were made during his address to the graduating class of 2023 at the Academic City University College.
“Some of you who will find yourself in politics, I wish to sound a note of caution, as President Akufo-Addo said if your goal into office is to enrich yourself, then don’t come, go to the private sector.
“Very profound words were spoken by the President, more than 6 and a half years ago. With what is happening today, I’m sure the President himself does not remember he spoke these very wise words.”
The former president and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged that the next NDC government will allocate billions of dollars to foster the development and progress of the country through technology infrastructure investments.
Addressing the graduation ceremony of Academic City University College, Mahama emphasized the paramount importance of technology in shaping the economies of today’s world.
He highlighted the urgency of revolutionizing the country’s education system to meet the demands of the 21st century, where innovation and originality are key driving forces of progress.
Mahama stressed the need to equip the next generation with critical thinking skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities to navigate this digital era successfully.
To achieve their vision for Ghana’s future, the NDC aims to collaborate with the private sector, directing substantial investments towards an integrated ICT infrastructure system, which includes both onshore and offshore super highways and electronic applications.
Moreover, the planned investment will harness the power of 5G technology, boosting communication, commerce, civil liberties, individual expressions, and supporting other national priorities, as outlined by Mr. Mahama.
“The 21st century thrives on the digital revolution in which innovation and originality are the propelling forces of progress and to thrive in this era, our educational system must evolve to equip the next generation with critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation to solve problems and this is why the NDC in her quest to build the Ghana we want, seeks to partner with the private sector to invest billions of dollars on an integrated ICT infrastructure system including onshore and offshore super highways and electronic applications.”
“The investment will leverage 5G technology to propel communication, commerce, civil liberties and individual expressions while supporting other national priorities,” Mr. Mahama added.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken action against one of its members in the Abuakwa North Constituency, Edgar Asamoah Boateng.
The party’s decision to suspend Mr. Boateng stems from his move to seek a court injunction preventing the party from conducting both the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries, not only in Abuakwa North constituency but in all the 275 constituencies.
Mr. Boateng had filed for a high court injunction against the NDC’s May 13 presidential and parliamentary primaries, citing the lack of a voters’ register provided to his fellow aspirants.
In a letter signed by the General Secretary of the party, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the NDC informed Mr. Boateng that his actions were in violation of Article 49 (1) (d) of the Party’s constitution, leading to his suspension.
Read the full letter below:
Mr. Edgar Asamoah Boateng
Abuakwa North Constituency
Eastern Region
Dear Sir,
SUSPENSION OF MR. EDGAR ASAMOAH BOATENG AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
At its meeting on Tuesday 25th July 2023, the Functional Executive Committee reviewed the challenges that prevented the party from holding the parliamentary primaries in 17 constituencies across the country.
In the case of Abuakwa North Constituency, FEC took a serious view of your conduct in seeking a court injunction to prevent the Party from holding both the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries, not only in Abuakwa North but in all the 275 constituencies in Ghana.
This conduct of yours is in breach of Article 49 (1) (d) which provides as follows: “for the avoidance of doubt, any party member who commences legal proceedings against the party for whatever reason without exhausting the complaints procedure and reliefs available under this constitution shall be subject to Party discipline under clause 8 of article 48”.
At the end of its deliberations, the following decisions were taken in accordance with articles 46 and 48 of the Party’s constitution.
i. That with immediate effect your membership of the NDC be suspended
ii. That the matter be referred to the Party’s National Disciplinary Committee for further action
You are therefore by this letter to take note, and notice is hereby given, that your membership of the NDC is suspended pending the hearing and final determination of the matter.
We hope to count on your utmost cooperation for the expeditious disposal of this case.
Central Regional Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Gabriella Tetteh has labeled President Akufo-Addo has waded in recent corruption scandals involving the current administration.
Speaking in an interview, she said the current administration, led by President Akufo-Addo has failed woefully in the fight against corruption.
To her, it appears the ‘god of corruption’ has been awakened by the current administration led by President Akufo-Addo.
“The bigger problem is that as a country, we have failed in the fight against corruption and under President Akufo-Addo’s regime, we have failed woefully, she said.
She made the remarks during a conversation on Cecilia Dapaah’s recent corruption saga where she intimated that Ghanaians have lost confidence in the current as a result of various corruption scandals that have emerged.
Making reference to the country’s ranking on the Global Index on Corruption, she expressed the view that Ghana’s performance in terms of the fight against corruption is abysmal.
Additionally, she said Ghanaians have totally lost confidence in the President due to the economic hardships that the country has been plunged into.
“The hope Ghanaians had in [President Akufo-Addo] which led to them voting to elect him as President has totally diminished. Ghanaians no longer have confidence in him,” she added.
Former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has recently been in the news following a theft case involving two of her house helps.
The women, an 18-year-old, and a 32-year-old, are said to have stolen huge sums of money from the former Minister’s home. The case is currently in court, however, the Special Prosecutor has taken up the matter for further investigations.
Meanwhile, Ghanaians have questioned the source of wealth of the former minister.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has asserted that the only individuals claiming that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are similar are disillusioned NPP members.
During an interview on the KSM show, Mahama, who is the presidential candidate of the NDC for the 2024 elections, emphasized that there is no basis for comparing the NPP to his party, as the NDC’s track record speaks for itself.
He further urged NPP members to refrain from making such claims and instead face the consequences of the actions their party has taken, which, according to him, have led to challenges in Ghana.
“It is NPP propaganda… they are in their mess and want to draw everybody else into the same mess. You’ve messed the country up.
“Not all politicians are the same. But they’re happy to push that mantra and make it look like Oh, whether NDC comes or NPP comes, you’re better off staying with us because when NDC comes it will be the same.
“That is the psychology of the propaganda they are doing. We are not the same,” he told veteran journalist Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM).
During his comparison of the NDC and NPP’s records in various sectors, the former president highlighted the educational sector.
He pointed out that the NDC has been responsible for constructing all the public universities in Ghana, while the NPP, in contrast, has only renamed them without significant infrastructure development.
“We have given more Ghanaians electricity than any party in the history of this country. Rolling started the national electrification program, and the rural electrification program, which has brought Ghana to above 80% electricity coverage.
“In our time we’ve given more Ghanaians water than any party in the history of this country. When proof came into office water coverage was 55%.
“By the time I left office, water coverage was 72%. We have built all the public universities in this country, NPP hasn’t built one public university, they’re just good at renaming them with their party figures,” he said.
He added that Ghana’s digitalising agenda which the NPP drags off started under his watch when he was theMinister of Communications.
“We started the digital revolution in this country. I was Minister of Communications when we divided posts and telecommunications and created Ghana Telecom and allowed Space Phone and all the mobile operators to come in. We started laying optic fibre in this country, did the Eastern Corridor Optic Fibre. And so that whole digital revolution started in our time.”
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has refuted the notion that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are the same.
Speaking to the media, the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections emphasized the distinctive records of the two parties and urged NPP members to acknowledge the issues their party has caused in Ghana.
He criticized the NPP’s propaganda, stating that not all politicians are alike, and accused them of attempting to create an illusion that regardless of which party comes to power, the outcomes will be the same.
Mahama underscored that the NDC’s accomplishments in various sectors, including education, electricity, water, and digitalization, set them apart from the NPP.
“It is NPP propaganda… they are in their mess and want to draw everybody else into the same mess. You’ve messed the country up. Not all politicians are the same. But they’re happy to push that mantra and make it look like Oh, whether NDC comes or NPP comes, you’re better off staying with us because when NDC comes it will be the same.
“That is the psychology of the propaganda they are doing. We are not the same,” he stated.
Highlighting their contributions to education, Mahama noted that the NDC constructed all public universities in Ghana, while the NPP merely renamed them.
Furthermore, he claimed that the NDC provided more Ghanaians with electricity and water than any previous party, increasing water coverage from 55% to 72% during his tenure.
“We have given more Ghanaians electricity than any party in the history of this country. Rolling started the national electrification program, and the rural electrification program, which has brought Ghana to above 80% electricity coverage.
“In our time we’ve given more Ghanaians water than any party in the history of this country. When proof came into office water coverage was 55%. By the time I left office, water coverage was 72%. We have built all the public universities in this country, NPP hasn’t built one public university, they’re just good at renaming them with their party figures,” he said.
Regarding digitalization, Mahama highlighted his role as the Minister of Communications in initiating the digital revolution in Ghana by dividing posts and telecommunications, establishing Ghana Telecom, and laying optic fiber across the country.
In conclusion, Mahama urged for a fair assessment of each party’s achievements and emphasized that the NDC’s record speaks for itself.
“We started the digital revolution in this country. I was Minister of Communications when we divided posts and telecommunications and created Ghana Telecom and allowed Space Phone and all the mobile operators to come in. We started laying optic fibre in this country, did the Eastern Corridor Optic Fibre. And so that whole digital revolution started in our time.”
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has expressed dismay at President Akufo-Addo governance, citing a worsened economy and broken promises.
As the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for 2024, Mahama believes Ghanaians were deceived by the Akufo-Addo-led NPP during the 2016 elections.
In an interview with the media, Mahama expressed sympathy for the country’s youth under the NPP government.
He recalls how the NPP focused their campaign on him and made numerous promises that remain unfulfilled for the citizens.
“I mean today, this is the highest unemployment in the history of Ghana. So it was just [about] say anything to win political power,” he stated.
“NPP came in with a lot of propaganda and they were prepared to promise heaven in order to win political power do a lot of the promises they made to Ghanaians were like just promise anything,” he averred.
“I mean I was watching a video of John Boadu saying oh! is it about jobs? If it’s about jobs, don’t worry. There’ll be so much [SIC] jobs that Ghanaians can do [and] we will have to go and bring foreigners to come and work to fill the rest of the vacancies,” he added.
One of the major concerns he highlights is the alarming rate of unemployment, which he claims is the highest in Ghana’s history.
Mahama accused the NPP of resorting to propaganda and making unrealistic promises to secure political power.
The recent World Bank report indicating that inflation pushed 850,000 Ghanaians into poverty supports Mahama’s assertions about the dire economic situation. He believes that President Akufo-Addo’s leadership has been a failure, and he urges Ghanaians to place hope in the NDC for a better future.
Confident in his chances in the 2024 polls, Mahama pledges to rebuild the country’s democracy and economy if elected.
Deputy Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has affirmed the government’s strong commitment to passing the Code of Conduct Bill.
In an interview with the media, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah emphasized the extensive efforts put into drafting the bill, including public engagements and discussions.
The final draft of the bill currently awaits approval from the cabinet before being presented to Parliament for further consideration.
Mr. Tuah-Yeboah highlighted that the Code of Conduct Bill addresses various important issues, making it crucial for public officers to exercise caution in their actions as they will be held accountable.
He stressed that the bill covers a wide range of matters, indicating that those who believe they can act recklessly would need to rethink their approach.
The Deputy Attorney-General expressed optimism that the Code of Conduct Bill would become one of the country’s significant and commendable laws once passed into legislation.
Former president, John Dramani Mahama has stated that if he had caused even a fraction of the problems he perceives the current government to have created, Ghanaians would have criticised him.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, 25 July 2023, he accused the ruling party of employing a deliberate propaganda strategy to mislead the public into believing that both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are alike and urged Ghanaians not to fall for this deception.
According to Mr. Mahama, the NPP has fostered a crisis of confidence in Ghana’s democracy, leading people to view politicians as dishonest and power-hungry.
He stated that he would have faced severe backlash and condemnation had he done even one-tenth of what the current government has done during their eight years in power.
“They [NPP] have created a crisis of confidence in the population in our democracy because now it’s easy for Ghanaians to think that politicians are liars; they’ll just lie for political power. If I did one-tenth of what they have done these last eight years, I’m sure that I would have been pilloried and crucified on a cross by now. There’s a bit of hypocrisy in it.”
“It’s NPP propaganda…they are in their mess, and they want to draw everybody else into the same mess,” the flagbearer of the NDC for the 2024 elections added.
“They [NPP] are happy to push that mantra and make it look like, ‘Oww, you’re better off staying with us because if the NDC comes, it will be the same.’ That is the psychology of the propaganda they are doing, It’s not the same.”
He attributed this perceived hypocrisy to NPP’s propaganda, which aims to implicate others in their own shortcomings.
The NDC’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections highlighted his party’s achievements, emphasizing that the NDC has a track record of delivering tangible benefits to Ghanaians.
He pointed out that the NDC has been instrumental in expanding electricity coverage in the country, citing the national and rural electrification programs initiated during Rawlings’ tenure.
He also noted the NDC’s contributions to the digital revolution, telecommunications development, and the provision of water, which significantly increased during his time in office.
Mr. Mahama further criticized the NPP for not establishing any public universities but rather renaming existing ones after their party figures.
He urged them to accept responsibility for their actions and refrain from trying to portray both parties as similar, as the NDC and NPP have distinct approaches and accomplishments.
In conclusion, former president Mahama defended his party’s record and called out the NPP for their alleged propaganda, urging them to focus on their own actions and leave the NDC to pursue their objectives separately.
“We started the digital revolution in this country. I was the Minister of Communication when we divided post and telecommunications and created Ghana Telecom and allowed Spacefon and all the mobile operators to come in. We started laying fibre optics in this country. We did the eastern corridor fibre optic.”
“We’ve given more Ghanaians water than any party in the history of this country. When Prof [John Evans Atta Mills] came into office, water coverage was 55 per cent; by the time I left office, water coverage was 72 per cent.”
“Seventy-two per cent of Ghanaians had access to good drinking water. We have built all the public universities in this country. NPP hasn’t built one public university. They are just good at renaming them with their party figures. And, so, somebody builds a university and you come and name it Dombo University, Tedam University, and so, don’t let them come to tell us we and they are the same. We are not the same. They should just wallow in their mess and leave us alone.”
The Deputy Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Malik Basintale, has provided more details on the ongoing saga concerning the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
Speaking to the media, Basintale highlighted the overwhelming scale of the reported stolen wealth.
He emphasized that an average worker in Ghana earning GH¢3,000 would need to work for a century to accumulate the reported $1 million supposedly stolen by the former minister.
He further illustrated the magnitude of the stolen funds, stating that even an ordinary lecturer earning GH¢10,000 would have to work for 100 years to amass the stolen dollars and euros.
For a nurse, it would take 333 years of work to reach the $1 million that was found in Cecilia Dapaah’s house. Basintale aimed to provide a perspective on the vast sums involved in the case.
Basintale expressed surprise at some government communicators downplaying the severity of the reported theft.
He pointed out that the charge sheet filed by the victim clearly showed that substantial amounts of money had been stolen, and attempts to minimize the matter were unwarranted.
The former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, has been at the center of public attention in relation to this saga.
She was invited and subsequently arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor on July 24, 2023, after it was reported that her maids had stolen $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis from her. She was later granted bail with a surety.
Ghanaians have been urged to rekindle the spirit of patriotism exhibited by their predecessors during and after the struggle for the country’s independence.
The Superintendent Minister of the Kwashieman North Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana, Very Rev. Ebenezer Grantson, made this call when he was addressing congregants.
He expressed concern that individualism had taken precedence over collective nation-building, leading citizens to pursue personal benefits rather than working for the greater good of the nation.
“Just look at what is happening on our political front.
“We surely do, but the truth is that they have all forgotten about the Christian principles which taught us to be faithful and to love one another, and rather joined the train to collect money from aspirants and candidates, knowing very well that they had only one person in mind,” he stated.
Rev. Grantson pointed out the state of politics in the country, emphasizing that some political delegates voted not based on their conscience but on who offered the most money.
He lamented that even Christian delegates seemed to have forgotten the values of faithfulness and love, becoming entangled in monetary considerations during political processes.
Speaking at the 35th-anniversary celebration of the Dunwell Methodist Society, Rev. Grantson stressed the need to look beyond material gain and instead focus on bringing in politicians and officials committed to serving the country rather than their self-interests.
He attributed corruption to the pursuit of personal gains at the expense of the nation.
Rev. Grantson called for a change in attitudes among Ghanaians, emphasizing that behavioral change was essential.
He cited the environmental challenges and the issue of illegal mining, urging the congregation to work together and support each other’s God-given talents, regardless of their size, to build a better society.
The Dunwell Methodist Church was established on July 17, 1988, through the efforts of Very Rev. Thomas Oseku Aful and ministerial students who were motivated to plant a church in Santa Maria after planning and collaboration with various societies and circuits.
