Former President John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is continuing with his campaign tour.
He is to tour Oti Region from April 16 to interact with delegates, functionaries, activists, and supporters of the party.
During the visit, the flagbearer hopeful would engage with Branch, Constituency, and regional executives to enlighten them on his vision and plans for the nation.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) urged the nine constituencies’ chairmen to strictly adhere to the agreed programme schedule to ensure a successful event.
It said the leadership of the region, led by Kwadwo Gyapong, had already engaged with the constituency chairmen to deliberate on the visit.
It said John Mahama would interact with some economic and social groups in Guan, Buem, Biakoye, Krachi East, and Krachi West constituency on day one.
He is also expected to engage Krachi Nchumuru, Nkwanta North, Nkwanta South, and Akan constituency executives.
Abdul Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has shaded the police in respect of an invitation extended to him over purported use of military attire.
Salam in a Facebook post of April 12, 2023, hours to his appearance at the Police CID Headquarters in Accra pointed out that he was only wearing a designer shirt bought in the United Kingdom.
His post confirmed receipt of the police invite, went on to jab the National Democratic Congress [NDC] who he accused of petitioning for his questioning before addressing where he got the attire from.
“How the police failed to see the symbol of ‘true religion’ embossed on the shirt left breast-pocket strikes me. How can a shirt bought in a shop in London with its label be described as a military camouflage?” his post concluded.
On April 13, he honoured the police invitation in the company of hundreds of party supporters. Photos shared on his Facebook timeline showed him in the company of some party bigwigs walking from the Kanda area towards the police headquarters.
He captioned the post thus: “One for all, all for one! Thank you all for the love today. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, this is love. For all those who called and texted too, I appreciate you too. You made me feel loved today.
“I honored the invitation of the police and it went well. Sincere gratitude to Senior Counsel Frank Davies and Andrew Khartey for the solid legal representation. Thank you once more!”
Salam’s April 12 post
I received this letter from the Police Commander to report to the Upper West Regional Police Command. Due to some family circumstances, i couldn’t travel to Wa, but upon further communication, we subsequently have arranged for me to meet the police at CID headquarters tomorrow at 12 noon.
I understand that the NDC petitioned the police to invite me because some officers of theirs were invited to answer questions on why they wore camouflage to campaign in the Ashanti Region.
I will honour the invitation tomorrow, but this equalisation attempt has failed. How the police failed to see the symbol of ‘true religion’ embossed on the shirt left breast-pocket strikes me. How can a shirt bought in a shop in London with its label be described as a military camouflage?
According to the results of a recent nationwide poll conducted in April 2023 by Global InfoAnalytics, 71% of respondents believeAkufo-Addo is leading Ghana in the wrong direction.
The poll said 65 percent of voters disapprove of his performance, up from 59 percent in January, while 29 percent approve of his performance, down from 32 percent.
While 58 percent of NPP supporters approve of the president’s performance, 38 percent disapprove.
For supporters of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) engaged, the poll uncovered that 11 percent approved his job performance whilst 86 percent disapproved his performance.
Meanwhile, 15 percent of floating voters approved of President Akufo-Addo’s performance compared to 77 percent who disapproved of his performance.
“71 percent of voters believed Ghana is headed in the wrong direction, unchanged from January 2023 poll. 19 percent believed it is headed in the right direction and a further 10 percent did not have opinion,” parts of the survey by Global InfoAnalytics revealed.
For the NPP primaries, the poll shows Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong (KOA) surging among general voters but not enough to overtake Hon Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten (AKK) and H.E. Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB) in the race to lead the NPP into the 2024 elections.
While for the NDC polls, John Dramani Mahama has a big gap over other flagbearer aspirants.
A National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful,John Dramani Mahama, has stated that Ghana would be doomed if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is retained in 2024.
In Mr Mahama’s view, the excessive borrowing by the NPP administration will have serious implications for the country’s future generations.
Speaking to delegates of the NDC in theFanteakwa Constituencyin the Eastern Region, John Mahama said the NPP poses a threat to the future of Ghana.
“This government has endangered the future of our children by their reckless borrowing because when our children take over tomorrow, and they are in our shoes, and they go to the International market to look for money, these people will say that your fathers borrowed recklessly, and you could not pay your debt, and so we had to cancel your debt for you.”
The former President also stated that no youthful person concerned about the state of the country will vote to maintain the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2024.
According to Mr Mahama who is on a 3-day tour of the Eastern Region, the reckless and excessive borrowing by the NPP has jeopardised the future of the country for the next 10 years.
“The NPP government is destroying the future of the youth with excessive borrowing. For those who took the loans, how many years are left for them to leave the surface of the earth to join God? The creditors will not give the future generation loans due to the failure of this government to settle its loans”.
“If you are concerned about your future don’t vote for the NPP government that has put us in this situation. Listen to your conscience, they have spoilt the future of Ghana. For the next ten years, it will be difficult to go outside for loans. They have done enough damage to the country, they should pack out,” he said.
Richard Ahiagbah, the director of communications for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has asked former president John Dramani Mahama to name the party’s individuals he alleges are involved in galamsey.
Mr. Ahiagbah said the former president must be patriotic enough and help the police bring such persons to book.
Mr. Ahiagbah made the call on the back of a claim by former president Mahama that government has deliberately been harassing NDC supporters who engage in galamsey but allowing NPP fanatics to engage in the practice with impunity.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Ahiagbah refuted the accusations and said the Akufo-Addo government has made strides in its fight against galamsey and admonished the former president to volunteer information leading to the prosecution of such people.
“When the president took control of the fight against galamsey, he engaged everyone because it is an open fight he was leading and there was no secret about it and I call others to come on board and disregard the comments of the former president”.
“If the former president knows anyone engaging in galamsey, he should tell us because all of us are united in the fight against galamsey. But we want to know the NDC supporters he said are engaged in galamsey, so they can be prosecuted for endangering our future.”
“We must be interested in what the former president was saying because it is revealing that there are NDC people who are doing galamsey, and he knows them and encourages them to keep doing it, but they are now disappointed because the fight against galamsey is successful,” Mr. Ahiagbah further stressed.
Mr. Ahiagbah further indicated that the government’s fight against galamsey has been relatively successful and appealed for a collective effort and collaboration of the public to keep it going.
“The Lands Minister is busy reclaiming galamsey lands and the fight against galamsey is ongoing, and we all have to make efforts to help make the fight a success.”
Former President John Mahama says the ruling New Patriotic Party’s fight against illegal mining is only targeted at persons deemed to be members and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking at Akyem-Mosease in the Eastern Region on his three-day tour, Mr Mahama said during the NDC’s tenure in office, the government allowed every licensed miner, regardless of their background, the opportunity to work on concessions, without discrimination.
According to the former president, the most disturbing aspect of the galamsey fight is the situation where seized mining equipment is handed over to NPP party faithful.
“When NDC was in power, we didn’t discriminate. We didn’t say this person was NDC, NPP, CPP or PNC. Anybody who was licensed was allowed to work. But when these people took over, they have taken over people’s concessions, seized their excavators and given to NPP members to work, sidelining the rest of us but everything has an end. There will certainly be a change,” Mr Mahama said.
Also clarifying his ‘do or die’ comment, which he claims has been twisted, John Mahama explained it to mean a determination to succeed in every venture.
“The 2024 election is not going to be a joke. That is why I said it will be ‘do or die’. But when I said do or die some people have twisted it to mean that we are going to cut people with cutlasses and bow and arrows. No, that is not ‘do or die’. ‘Do or die’ means a determination to succeed in a very important venture,” Mr Mahama noted.
The former president’s tour to the Eastern Region is expected to end on Thursday, April 13.
Former President John Dramani Mahama says his ‘do-or-die’ comments have been twisted by his political opponents.
Mr Mahama said his comments were not intended to incite violence in the 2024 general elections.
According to him, he only meant that the 2024 polls is crucial for the NDC and the party will not joke with it.
Mr Mahama, addressing NDC faithful in the Eastern Region on April 12, said his political opponents have twisted his words to court disaffection for him.
“We are not going to joke in the upcoming 2024 general elections. That’s why I said it’s a do-or-die affair. I made these comments and some people have twisted my words saying I meant we will be butchering and killing people with cutlasses and guns.
No, that’s not the ‘do or I die’ I meant. Do or die means the election is very crucial one for NDC to win, so we will not joke with it. It doesn’t mean that we will beat people with sticks and kill them,” Mr Mahama clarified.
Already, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service to arrest him for allegedly making treasonable remarks.
The National Organiser of the party Henry Nana Boakye popularly known as ‘Nana B’ said the NPP wants the CID to arrest the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
According to him, Mr Asiedu Nketia has also made comments that portend great danger to the peace and stability of the country.
He said the two personalities wield influential positions in the country and as such any dangerous comments from them could jeopardize the country’s security.
Nana B thus wants the CID to work on the petition with alacrity as any further delay could cause a “great danger” to the country.
The president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s job approval rating has plummeted after improving in January 2023, according to a new national survey released by Global InfoAnalytics for the month of April 2023.
According to a brand-new nationwide survey conducted byGlobal InfoAnalytics in April 2023, president Akufo-Addo’s job approval rating dropped after improving in January 2023.
The poll shows 65 per cent of voters disapprove of his performance, up from 59 per cent in January, while 29 per cent approve of his performance, down from 32 per cent.
Fifty-eight percent of the governingNew Patriotic Party(NPP) supporters approve the president’s performance and 38 per cent disapprove.
For the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), 11 per cent approved Nana Akufo-Addo’s job performance whilst 86 per cent disapproved his performance.
Additionally, 15 per cent of floating voters approved of his performance compared to 77 per cent who disapproved his performance.
Also, 71 per cent of voters believe Ghana is headed in the wrong direction, unchanged from January 2023 poll.
Nineteen percent believed it is headed in the right direction and a further 10 per cent did not have opinion.
For the NPP primaries ahead of the 2024 national elections, the poll shows Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong (KOA) surging among general voters but not enough to overtake Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen (AKK) and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB) in the race to lead the NPP into the 2024 elections.
Kennedy Agyapong according to the polls now attracts 23 per cent of votes when voters were asked to indicate their preference for the NPP leadership.
Alan Kyerematen stills leads Dr Bawumia 30 per cent to 29 per cent among all voters. However, among NPP affiliates, Dr Bawumia still has a slender lead over Alan Kyerematen. Dr Bawumia now attracts 39 per cent of NPP votes, Alan Kyerematen attracts 37 per cent while Kennedy Agyapong has 23 per cent.
Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch and constituency have been promised lavish incentives before the general elections of 2024. John Mahama, the party’s former president and current vice presidential candidate, said that if the party wins the presidency in January 2025, the executives will be rewarded for their dedication to the cause.
Explaining himself, the former president who’s currently on a tour of the Eastern Region told the crowd of party delegates and executives at Lower Manya Krobo that the award scheme will reward branches and constituencies of the party that work hard to increase the party’s parliamentary and presidential votes in 2024.
According to Mr. Mahama, his 2024 campaign will be anchored by the branches, adding that the award aims to set targets for the constituencies and inspire them to meet or exceed them.
“We’re going to look at all the results starting from 2012, 2016, 2020 and for every branch, we’re going to give you a percentage that we want you to increase your votes by, if you achieve that percentage or exceed it, all you the nine-member executives, we’re going to reward you…and it’ll be the same for the constituency executive, we have 28 constituency executives in each constituency, we’re also going to give the constituency executives a target and if you also exceed that target, all you the 28 constituency executives, you’ll get a handsome reward,” assured Mr. Mahama.
He furthered that though the revolutionary ideologies of the party impressed on members to sacrifice for the Ghanaian people, the time was ripe for executives to also get their fair share of the national cake.
“Because of the tradition of our party that we’re a revolutionary party, we’ve always had the sense of sacrifice, that we must sacrifice for the rest of Ghanaians to enjoy and so most of the time, our party executives, our party cadres, they’ve worked without expecting any reward but we’re in new times, our party executives are also Ghanaians, they’re entitled to benefit from the opportunities that Ghana has to offer so I want to assure you that when we come into office, any opportunity that are available in Ghana for Ghanaians, our party executives are also going to benefit,” he said.
The benefits, he explained would be in the form of loans, employment opportunities, empowerment through entrepreneurship skills, educational scholarships, etc.
His words excited the executives who received the message and shouted in pleasure. The NDC flagbearer hopeful added the branch executives would take charge of the party’s campaign in the run-up to the upcoming general elections with the regional and national executives and flagbearer following.
“This campaign belongs to you, you’re going to lead the campaign, the 2024 election is going to be different, the branch executives are going to lead the campaign, the constituency executives are going to follow, the regional executives will follow, the national executives will follow and I the flagbearer, insha alla will follow,” he said to loud cheers from the crowd.
Addressing the enthusiastic party faithful, he further assured them that the old system of campaign resources being delivered to national through regional executives to constituency executives that resulted in the reduction of campaign materials would give way to a new order where constituency executives would directly receive the logistics and resources.
He assured them: “Because you’re going to lead the campaign for the 2024 elections, the resources and logistics needed for the campaign are going to come to you the branch executives. Mr. Mahama said the new system would present some transparency and address the age-old complaints from branch executives of being denied campaign materials.
As part of efforts to win the 2024 general elections, he charged supporters of the party to work hard and stay awake and vigilant to police the counting process.
According to him, a computing system would be installed at the constituency offices to relay the results to the national head office in real time, adding that victory for the NDC would be confirmed by midnight.
He said, “We’re putting a system in place and you’re all going to be involved…by twelve o’clock, one o’clock, 2am we would have received our results and we’d know that NDC has won, you can start jubilating.”
He also accused the Akufo-Addo government of failing to complete the 15.8km Trom-Kpong highway since his party left office in January, 2017. The former president further chastised the current government for failing to maintain the completed portions of the road, leading to its complete destruction within few years of construction.
Member of Parliament for the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi and the Constituency Chairman, John Matey assured ex-President John Mahama of delivering to him 99.9 percent of votes in the presidential primaries slated for May, 2023.
The aspiring NDC flagbearer on Tuesday also visited all four constituencies in the Krobo bloc including Lower Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman as well as Akuapim-North.
The prospectiveNational Democratic Congress(NDC) flagbearer, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has stated that only a serious-minded person with the required skills and credentials could handle the nation’s economic situation.
He noted that state resources have been wasted by the NPP which has led to the country’s economic downturn.
Addressing the NDC party executives in Tamale, the flagbearer hopeful told party faithful that the race to salvage Ghanaians from the current economic hardship must be devoid of attacks on personalities.
He added that the party needs peace and unity in order to get the needed win from the NPP.
Dr Duffuor further urged party executives to vote for him on May 13th to save the country from the NPP.
The northern regional chairman of the NDC, Ali Adolf who received the campaign team at the party secretariat urged Dr. Duffuor to still support the party rank and file even if it does not go in his favour during the party’s primaries.
Dr. Duffuor and his team moved to the Tamale South constituency where a huge crowd met him.
He lashed out at the Akufo-Addo led government for mismanaging Ghana’s economy.
The team also moved to Mion, Saboba, Tatali, and Bimbilla constituencies where party delegates and party executives welcomed Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his team.
He noted that state resources have been wasted by the NPP which has led to the country’s economic downturn.
Addressing the NDC party executives in Tamale, the flagbearer hopeful told party faithful that the race to salvage Ghanaians from the current economic hardship must be devoid of attacks on personalities.
He added that the party needs peace and unity in order to get the needed win from the NPP.
Dr Duffuor further urged party executivesto vote for him on May 13th to save the country from the NPP.
The northern regional chairman of the NDC, Ali Adolf who received the campaign team at the party secretariat urged Dr. Duffuor to still support the party rank and file even if it does not go in his favour during the party’s primaries.
Dr. Duffuor and his team moved to the Tamale South constituency where a huge crowd met him.
He lashed out at the Akufo-Addo led government for mismanaging Ghana’s economy.
The team also moved to Mion, Saboba, Tatali, and Bimbilla constituencies where party delegates and party executives welcomed Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his team.
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mark Oliver Kevor, has stated that reacted to ‘reckless’ comments by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong.
According to Oliver Kevor, the NDC is not intimidated by Bryan Acheampong’s statement that the New Patriotic Party will use all means necessary to win power in the upcoming elections.
He cautioned that the NDC is also prepared to use all means to win the vote.
Oliver Kevor, while speaking to party supporters during a tour by NDC flagbearer hopeful John Dramani Mahama to the Eastern region, said they are prepared to fight for victory in other ways if necessary.
“The NPP is self-aware that the time has come for John Mahama to be president, so it has resorted to intimidation.
“The NPP is threatening not to hand over power to the NDC in 2024. As regional chairman, I believe I have the support of other executives at various levels, and so I say we will also devise any means to snatch power from the governing NPP to John Mahama. We are ready as a party to match the NPP boot for boot,” he said.
Bryan Acheampong’s comment has been met with criticism from opposition parties, who accused the NPP of seeking to undermine the democratic process of the country.
Bryan Acheampong is on record as saying the governing New Patriotic Party will do everything within its means to win the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the NDC; therefore, his party will go to the election fully prepared.
He stated that the NPP has the men to match the opposition boot for boot during the 2024 polls.
Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong stressed that “We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections…It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We’ll use any means for NPP to stay in power.”
Dr. Senanu Djokoto, a parliamentary aspirant in the upcoming Keta NDC primary, has petitioned the appeals committee concerning the clearance of Dr. Emmanuel Jones Mensah, another aspirant, to contest.
Dr. Djokoto said he considered it an error by the vetting committee that Dr. Jones Mensah had met the mandatory requirements of Regulation 2.1(III) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Guidelines for clearing parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election.
The guidelines provide that a person desirous of contesting the position of parliamentary candidate “shall be an active member of the party in the constituency for not less than four years… pending the date of filing their nominations.”
Dr. Djokoto, in his petition sighted by the Ghana News Agency, said he found the committee’s decision to accept a letter from Dr. Mensah distancing himself from fraudulent registration conduct at Ashiaman untenable.
“I also find the vetting committee’s investigation into the alleged Ashaiman membership of the aspirant inconclusive, as no effort was made by the committee to authenticate the said alleged membership,” he said.
Dr. Djokoto said he had dutifully served the NDC in the Keta Constituency and was aware that most members and executives valued truth, honesty, and integrity, hence the need for a fair and just resolution of the matter.
Any decision on Dr. Jones Mensah’s legibility or otherwise “may adversely affect me as a candidate in the election,” he said.
“Under the circumstances, I believe that it will be prudent for the appeals committee to lay this matter to rest to forestall any legal tussle that can arise from same.”
A parliamentary candidate for the Okaikoi Central constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu has said that the party needs him to claim the Okaikoi Central.
The former 3 Media Networks Chief Executive Officer indicated that he is the best man among the other three contestants in the race to bring victory to the NDC in Okaikoi Central as he resonates pretty well with the various voting blocs in the constituency.
In an interview on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, the industrious creative said there are many things that make him refreshingly different in the race.
“There are certain things that make me a refreshingly different candidate. I resonate with the four voting blocs in the constituency, particularly for the NDC. The Akan voting bloc has been one of the hard-to-reach blocs for the NDC in the constituency, but I resonate very well with the bloc”.
Enumerating the voter base and his chances of winning the constituency on the ticket of the NDC, Baba Sadiq said “We’ve got the Akan bloc, the Ga-Adangbe bloc, the Ewe bloc, and the Muslim-Zongo-Northern bloc, and for the NDC to win in Okaikoi Central, it will need a candidate that resonates with these four blocs and beyond having a candidate that resonates with these four blocs, you will also need a candidate that understands the needs of the people and is innovative enough to create ideas that can solve the people’s problems and that who I am.”
“I cannot specifically mention some of our strategies but all the NDC needs is Baba Sadiq in the race against Patrick Boamah [current NPP MP for the area] to win the constituency,” he added.
Tamale North Member of Parliament Alhassan Suhuyini has blasted national leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for shirking their core responsibilities and rather focusing on policing the Minority Caucus.
The MP is worried about the manner in which the national leadership continue to meddle in affairs of the caucus in parliament describing their actions as that of coaches.
He warned during a discussion on Pan African TV that the 2024 elections will be lost if the executives fail to recognize that their responsibility is to deal with core party issues and to run the NDC along with parliament.
He said instead of coaching MPs, the leaders should be working on piling pressure on government from outside the House by among others organizing street protests to back their opposition to bad laws and policies.
“So, when they have debate in parliament and the parliamentarians win that debate, you expect the national organisers and the women’s organisers and the chairmen and the secretary to be massing people up on the street.
“To complement what parliament is doing, but when what we have is executives sitting on the bench coaching parliament and that will not take us to victory.
“Our party leaders must begin to wake up and understand that the 2024 elections will not be won in parliament. It will not be won by the work of any parliamentarians,” he stressed.
Suhuyini is one of the open opponents of a change in the leadership of the Minority Caucus dictated via a statement from the party headquarters early this year, barely a month after Johnson Asiedu Nketiah took over as National Chairman.
The changes saw the removal of Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader and Cassiel Ato Forson, coming in as his replacement.
The National Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has disclosed that they are forwarding a petition to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for the arrest and prosecution of former President John Dramani Mahama over his ‘do-or-die’ comment.
Nana Boakye said Mr. Mahama needs to be arrested for inciting political violence.
Mr. Mahama prior to the 2020 general elections said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will face the NPP boot for boot if they attempt to intimidate them with hoodlums.
He also mentioned that the 2024 general election is a ‘do or die’ affair for the NDC.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News, the NPP National Organiser said, “former President, John Mahama, said for the 2020 general elections, it’s boot for boot, and 2024 general elections it’s going to be a do-or-die affair” insisting that those utterances could incite violence in the country.
He disclosed, “We [NPP] are forwarding a petition to the police CID. We are calling for the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of former President John Dramani Mahama for all these comments that he has made. We are of the view that, it undermines national security and the peace that we are enjoying, it undermines our democratic stability”.
He also indicated that the NPP has included the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah in their petition for saying that the NDC will do everything within its power to win the 2024 elections even if they have to sacrifice their lives.
“We have also included the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah over his statements which in our view undermine the peace and stability we enjoy as a democratic nation. During his acceptance speech at the NDC congress, he said they are prepared to sacrifice everything including sacrificing their lives to achieve victory. We are calling for the arrest of these two gentlemen, former President Mahama and Asiedu Nketiah for these comments they made,” he said.
He reiterated that the NPP fully supports the comments by Mr. Acheampong adding that his comments are premised on the economic crisis which the government is working to change the fortunes of the country.
According to him, the NPP will not hand over power to the NDC if they win power in the 2024 general elections.
“We support Bryan’s utterances because we are not going to hand over power to you [NDC] because we will win, if we lose we will hand over power to you. He never said whether the NDC loses or wins we are not going to hand over power to them. He never said NPP whether we win or lose we are not going to hand over. We find absolutely nothing wrong with his comment, we fully support him,” the National Organiser of NPP stated.
Former President John Mahama has asserted that he is the only candidate who the current government’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) fears, and that as a result, he ought to be chosen to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the impending general elections in 2024.
Mahama reaffirmed his confidence in his abilities to lead the NDC to victory in the polls while addressing NDC delegates in the Somanya Constituency on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
“I wouldn’t have contested if I was sure that my contenders for the NDC presidential slot could stand against the NPP and win the 2024 general elections, but we cannot take the risk. The only person the NPP fears amongst NDC members is me, John Dramani Mahama,” he said.
Mahama went on to accuse the NPP of being unable to sleep when they hear his name, hence their call for a new face to lead the NDC. He also dismissed calls for a change in leadership within the NDC, saying it was none of their business.
“They [NPP] are unable to sleep when they hear my name. That’s why they have been calling for a fresh person. Are you the ones to tell us what we should do? It’s none of your business, I believe God has given us the power already,” he said.
The NDC is expected to hold its presidential primaries on May 13, 2023, with Mahama and other prominent party members expected to contest for the position of flagbearer.
TheNational Peace Councilstated that it will meet with various political parties and security organizations in the coming days to discuss the recent rise in incendiary remarks made by politicians.
The comment by the Council comes on the back of Abetifi Member of Parliament, Bryan Acheampong indicating that the NPP will not hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) adding that it will do everything possible to remain in power.
Speaking to Citi News on such utterances by political actors, the Chairman of the Peace Council, Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi called on politicians to be circumspect in their commentary ahead of the2024 general elections.
“We’ve received some footage by several political actors from both the NDC and the NPP that we think need to be addressed, and we want to appeal to the political actors to be careful and guard what they say and how they say it. Our intention is to invite the parties to the table to review the things we discussed and see the challenges that we have now and see what we can do going forward.”
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi also disclosed that the Council has scheduled a meeting with the various security agencies on addressing possible conflict issues.
“We’ve also scheduled a meeting with the security agencies which will be coming on next month to look at the things that we need to address between now and the next elections and these will be continuous meetings.”
And when asked if the Abetifi lawmaker, Bryan Acheampong, must be punished for his recent statements deemed reckless, Dr. Adu-Gyamfi said “If somebody does something that is criminal, we expect the security agencies to take up the responsibility if they think so.”
Former President John Dramani Mahama has encouraged all Parliamentary candidate hopefuls of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to remain steadfast in their support to the party despite the outcome of the party’s upcoming primaries.
In the event of failing to obtain their goal, the NDC presidential candidate assured that positions such as Ambassadors, District Chief Executives (DCEs) among others, will be up for grabs to failed candidates should the NDC win the 2024 polls, per reports.
Speaking to Asuogyaman NDC delegates as part of his tour of the Eastern Region on Tuesday, April 11, 2022, he suggested that those who would abandon the party would not be considered in the next NDC administration.
“If your party is in government, there is a lot of work you can do. So if it is not yet your time and we elect someone else, just support the person.”
“Because if God opens opportunities for us in future, the assistance you showed is the same assistance you would receive. It is your time to get appointed. So do not make a mistake to shift sides,” he said per campaign videos monitored by The Independent Ghana.
“It is not only the MP that we have, if we come to power we have board chairmen, we have Ambassadors, DCEs, and a lot of appointments and so if you don’t become an MP you will get an appointment,” Mr Mahama is also quoted to have said by TV3 news.
According to the 64-year-old, it is imperative that aspirants in the Parliament contest battle it out with transparency and decency.
The former President on the other hand offered job opportunities to the unemployed party supporters he engaged, explaining that it would serve as a reward for their “sacrifices” for the party.
He noted that it is high time their hardwork and dedication to the party pay off.
“We will help you with employment opportunities. We will help you to set up your own businesses so that you can look after yourself. We will seek the welfare of our party people. We will no longer expect that you only sacrifice so that other people enjoy it. The opportunities Ghanaians enjoy, are party executives and cadres must also enjoy,” he promised.
On Day 1 of his 3-day tour of the Eastern Region, Mr John Mahama engaged delegates of Lower Manya, Yilo Krobo, Aburi, Akuropong and Okere. He is expected to visit 33 constituencies.
From the Eastern Region, Mr Mahama will spend a day touring some constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on Friday April 14, before heading out to the Oti Region.
According to former president John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) God has told him the party would prevail in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking to delegates of the NDC in Okere in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, April 11, he said “By God’s grace we have the experience, we didn’t buy it in the store, we didn’t learn it in school, it is God who gave us the opportunity to gather that experience.”
He added “Don’t worry about what some people are saying, it is God’s will, I attend church and when I pray God speaks to me and God has said this is the time for NDC, he has given us power. If God decides no one can change it. Let us continue to pray and trust that what has been arranged will come to pass.”
He further told all Parliamentary candidate hopefuls of the NDC to engage in a decent campaign.
“Let us not resort to insult because we are one family, this is one party, we are looking for one thing, power.
“Let us support whoever will be elected parliamentary candidate and when your time comes you will also be supported.
“It is not only the MP that we have, if we come to power we have board chairmen, we have Ambassadors, DECs, and a lot of appointments and so if you don’t become an MP you will get an appointment.
“So let us keep the campaign decent and when one person has emerged let us all support that person and let the party come to power,” he said.
The Office of the Vice President has refuted claims that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia recently said “there are jobs everywhere” in the country.
Dr Bawumia’s Office said the Vice President never said that hence, the claim is false.
The Office has therefore demanded that the media house, Multimedia Group, retracts and delete quotes attributed to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and contained in its story about some 2.1 million jobs created by the current administration and the supposed joblessness during the era of National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Office in a response issued and signed by Dr. Gideon Boako, also wants that the media house apologise for misquoting and misrepresenting the Vice President.
The statement noted that the demand being made on Multimedia is to ensure that persons who have not had access to the full address of the Vice President are not misled.
Subsidiaries of Multimedia, MyJoyOnline.com and Joy News, had reported that the Vice President claimed in an address at Kwahu Mpraeso that the NPP had created some 2.1 million jobs and quoted him to back the report. But the Office of the Vice President says he did not say” These days there are jobs everywhere,” and therefore wants a retraction, a deletion and an apology.
Read full statement below:
The attention of the Office of the Vice President has been drawn to a quote in a myjoyonline.com news report titled: “We’ve created 2.1m jobs unlike the NDC who created unemployment – Dr. Bawumia”, which was published on Saturday, April 7, 2023.
The story quoted Dr. Bawumia as saying: “During the NDC administration, there were no jobs, they created unemployment instead of employment, BUT THESE DAYS THERE ARE JOBS EVERYWHERE.”
The Office of the Vice President wishes to state for the record that portions of the quote were fabricated, as nowhere in the Vice President’s address at Mpraeso did he say, “These days there are jobs everywhere,” as was reported by myjoyonline.com and shared by its social media handles.
The Office finds it strange that comments he did not utter, found their way into the story and were attributed to him in a direct quote.
The misrepresentation is still highlighted on some social media platforms of multimedia such as Joy News.
We have been compelled to set the records straight, as many unsuspecting readers may not have the benefit of the full address of the Vice President’s address. We ask that a media house of the stature of Joyfm retract and delete the fabricated quotes and apologize for what can only be described as unprofessional conduct on the part of some of its employees who engaged in this fabrication.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has called the bluff of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over their intention to withhold power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) come 2025.
Over the weekend, an NPP MP, Bryan Acheampong, the MP for Abetifi told party faithful that the Party would at all cost win the 2024 general elections.
He added that if the NDC dares to use threats and brute force in the 2024 election, the NPP will show them that “we have the men.”
Reacting to the Mr Acheampong’s statement, Mr Nartey George in a Facebook post over the weekend belittled the armor of the ruling party asking that “people who did a 6 month Military Course now threaten the NDC? I mean how?”
According to him, there is no need to get worried over “the rantings of scarecrows and hype simpletons into cult status.”
He has therefore challenged the NPP to stay true to their words.
“Can we go back to our old days? We are children of a REVOLUTION! Can we call these imposters out and dare them to try? Let’s stop glorifying folks who don’t deserve our attention and focus on what we have to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NDC want the Police to execute their mandate and invite the Abetifi MP in for questioning over his “treasonable” statement.
Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam/Adoagyiri Constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh has affirmed the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) full support for Minister of Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong’s recent remarks on the NPP’s commitment to retaining power at all costs, despite concerns over potential national security implications.
Mr Acheampong, who is also a former Minister of State in Charge of National Security, made this assertion when he addressed party supporters at Mpraeso on Saturday, 8th April 2023 and emphasised the party’s resolve to never hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) by any means necessary.
“NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence, and foolishness in the 2024 election, we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men![He screamed to emphasise]. It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost”.
He also stressed his party’s ability to develop the nation by citing how the government’s recent economic interventions have started yielding positive results, reflecting in the stabilisation of the cedi and the reduction in fuel prices.
While several Ghanaians and members of the opposition have condemned Mr Acheampong’s statement, his party however, is full support of his sentiments.
In a Facebook post addressing Mr Acheampong’s critics and those calling for his restraint in addressing such issues as the general elections approach, Mr Annoh-Dompreh expressed total support for his fellow party member and asked all critics to “leave Bryan alone”.
He accused the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy in their criticisms.
This is because the NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, directly addressing Mr Acheampong’s comments, chided the MP for his unfortunate words and accused the NPP of attempting to subvert the will of the people in 2024, and assured that the NDC will also do everything possible within its power to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people.
“The NDC, a party that both in the years 2001 and 2017, handed power to NPP when the people of Ghana voted for the NPP, wants to assure Ghanaians that we SHALL DO EVERYTHING that is necessary to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people. We wish to assure the good people of Ghana of our resolve and readiness to do whatever is necessary to preserve the democratic will of the people – even at the peril of our lives. The supreme will of the Ghanaian electorate will be manifested come December 7, 2024.”
In rebuttal, the NPP also dismissed the NDC’s concerns and accused them of having ill-founded and hypocritical motives and thriving on diabolic propaganda with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians in furtherance of their selfish political interest.
This is not the first time a Ghanaian politician has used strong statements to describe their party’s resilience.
The NPP cited similar statements by former President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC National Chairman, Asiedu Nketiah in previous years and expressed how as such, the NDC has no moral right to condemn or attack Bryan Acheampong.
“If anybody has to be arrested by the Police for treasonable comments, then certainly it is John Dramani Mahama for his continuous “Do or die for the NDC” in reference to the 2024 general elections, and Asidedu Nketiah for his brazen proclamation that members of the NDC are willing to sacrifice their lives to win the 2024 elections.
The use of such strong language in Ghanaian politics is unfortunately common. However, as the country approaches the 2024 general elections, the use of such rhetoric has the potential to compromise national security. It is crucial for all political parties to demonstrate restraint in their language and actions to ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process.
The National Democratic Congress‘s (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, prospective presidential candidate will begin a three-day tour in the Eastern Region today.
Mr. Mahama will visit thirty-one (31) constituencies where he will meet and interact with branch and constituency executives. He has so far toured 7 regions, touching ground in 106 constituencies.
In the Eastern Region, former President Mahama will speak about his vision of “Building the Ghana we want together,” and why securing a convincing win in the NDC primaries will be a great boost for the 2024 presidential election.
He will also share his plans towards improving the party’s polling and electoral area campaign, through voter mobilizing and canvassing, and the effective utilization of campaign materials and resources.
Mr. Mahama has announced a reward scheme to recognize branches of the party that increase their polling station votes in both the parliamentary and presidential elections.
From the Eastern Region, ex-President Mahama will spend a day touring some constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on Friday, April 14, before heading to the Oti Region.
A member of the Minority in Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini, has alluded that some National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs were bribed by the government to approve its newly sworn in ministers.
Speaking on Pan African Television (Aljahi & Alhaji) over the weekend, the Tamale North MP indicated that an amount of GHS40,000 was all that was needed to turn the decisions of some members of the Minority.
He implied that the dire circumstances some MPs live in made them susceptible to bribes – a condition he does not affiliate with. Mr Suhuyini therefore stated that he would not be able to vouch for his colleagues with regards to being loyal.
“I know my colleagues. So if I use myself as a yardstick, I will be unfair. And I say that I can’t be tempted with money. But I know the situation that others live in. So when you give them a task at a time I know they can be tempted with money and I draw your attention to it, it is not because I can be tempted with money. So we need a strategy. Some people, GHC40,000 to raise that to file was such a big deal. Yes, it doesn’t excuse whatever they did. But that is judging them on your standard and not their standard,” he said.
The Tamale North MP noted that the betrayal could have been avoided should things have been put in their rightful places by the party leadership.
“It is condemnable, unacceptable that anybody in Parliament will sacrifice a party interest, National interest for that but people did. Could you have prevented it? I believe we could have a party, if we were honest and planned better,” he asserted.
On March 24, 2023, the Minority in Parliament came under intense criticism by the rank and file of the NDC.
The NDC MPs failed to uphold their word to reject the five individuals President Akufo-Addo had appointed to head a number of ministries.
Since then, it has been speculated that some MPs had been convinced by the government with a token. The exact MPs who were compromised have not been fished out since the incident.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifii Kwetey, per reports, has however, provided an uncompleted list of loyal MPs who voted against the approval of then ministerial nominees.
So far, the identities of 46 loyal NDC MPs have reportedly been released by Mr Fiifi Kwetey via Whatsapp. It is believed that 39 MPs betrayed the party.
Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome (South Tongu MP), Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui (Awutu Senya West MP), Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman MP), Edward Abambire Bawa (Bongo MP), Yusif Sulemana (Bole Bamboi MP), Richard Kwame Sefe (Anlo MP) and Yao Gomado (Akan MP) are among those viewed as loyalists.
But the likes of former Minority leader and his ex-Chief Whip, Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak respectively, are yet to find their names on the list.
Following the incident, Mr Muntaka Mubarak spoke against the fact that Party interests were being pursued in Parliament rather than national interest.
“We are taking too many entrenched positions on both sides, those in government taking too much entrench position, those in opposition taking extreme positions and I can tell you this is not helpful to our country, it is not helpful to us.
“The better both sides begin to think that there is a national interest above the NPP interest and above the NDC we will be sinking our country,” the Asawase MP stated.
Meanwhile, Mr Alhassan Suhuyini has entreated the leadership of the NDC to effectively liaise with the leadership in Parliament and stop acting like “coaches” directing what should be done in the House.
“Party leaders are not chosen to manage Parliament. They are not chosen to be coaches of Parliament. They are chosen to run the party alongside Parliament. So when you have debates in Parliament and the Parliamentarians win that debate, you expect the national organisers and women organiser, Chair and secretary to be massing people up on the street to complement what Parliament is doing.
“But what we have are Executives sitting on the bench coaching Parliament and that will not take us to victory. I say this at the risk of sometimes being ostracized. But our party leaders must begin to wake up and understand that the 2024 election will not be won in Parliament,” he cautioned.
On the other hand, President Akufo-Addo on April 4, 2023, swore into office his five new ministerial appointees approved by Parliament..
Trade Minister KT Hammond and his deputy Dr Stephen Amoah, Bryan Acheampong, the Agric Minister, Chieftaincy Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Dr Mohammed Amin Adams, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Local Government, Osei Bonsu Amoah took their oath at the ceremony which took place at the Jubilee House.
In his speech, President Akufo-Addo urged the ministers to uphold the interest of Ghanaians as their appointment comes at a critical time in Ghana’s history.
He noted that there is “enough time to make a difference and make a significant contribution to the development of the country.”
President Akufo-Addo has been accused by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the persistent claim the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not hand over power to an NDC government in 2024.
The party through its National Organizer Joseph Yammin seems to suggest, persons who are making positions of not handing over power in 2024 and breaking the eight are only taking cues from the President who is just a bad influence.
Mr. Yammin has vowed as long as he remains a leader of the NDC during the election 2024, the NPP wish will only remain that and not a reality.
He spoke in a Facebook live stream monitored by MyNewsGh.com
“As the national organizer, I will not lead the NDC into election 2024 for Bryan Acheampong and the NPP to make such useless statements, this is not the first time such a statement has been made, unfortunately, the president of the republic made a similar statement and I wonder why people with a conscience did not speak against the president. That is the hypocrisy you find in this country, that you have men of God, CSOs that will not see the wisdom in criticizing the president when he makes a statement like that”, he lashed out.
“Nana Akufo-Addo is the first person to say he will hand over to an NPP government, does the president understand the words he was using, and then Lord Commey comes to repeat such nonsense”, he added.
Comments from Abetifi MP, Bryan Acheampong, suggesting that the New Patriotic Party will never hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) continue to attract backlash from the public.
The MP has been highly criticised by some Ghanaians who believe that the comment is a threat to the security of the country.
Latest to react to the statement is MP for the Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu, who has indicated that the NDC will not be intimidated by the statements.
Mr Acheampong, who doubles as Agric Minister, at a New Patriotic Party rally on April 8 is on record to have said the NPP will match the opposition come 2024 and that they were never going to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress.
Sosu via an April 9, 2023 post on Facebook reminded Acheampong that the NDC was birthed from a revolution, stressing in parables that the NDC was ever ready to face the NPP when the need arises.
“We may look like sheep outside but we’re lions within. We’re children of the Revolution and not intimidated by mere vituperations. Ghana will vote NDC in 2024 and would stand by the NDC to take over power from the NPP and nothing will happen. Tsoooooooboi” his post read.
The revolution referred to is the 31st December, 1981 coup that marked the second coming into office of Jerry Rawlings with the Provisional National Defense Council, PNDC.
The council ruled for 11 year till 1992 when Rawlings formed the NDC largely out of the PNDC. He went on to win two elections with the NDC before leaving office in 2000.
Bryan Acheampong booms
Bryan Acheampong‘s controversial views were made at a party rally over the weekend.
He is heard saying in a viral video that the NPP will do everything within its means to win the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), therefore, his party will go to the election fully prepared.
He stated that the NPP has the men to match the opposition boot for boot during the 2024 polls.
Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong stressed that “We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections…It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We’ll use any means for NPP to stay in power.”
Former president John Dramani Mahama has counted the blessings of God in his life relating it to his political journey from an assembly man to occupying the office of president.
Speaking as an invited guest at an Easter Sunday service of the Holy Hill Faith Cathedral in Accra, Mahama used his political journey as an example of how a politician journeys through life with the risk of trappings of power.
“God has blessed me, He has guided my steps. Any possible office in the politics of this country, I have occupied. I have been a deputy minister, I have been a minister, I have been a Member of Parliament for three terms, I have been a vice president.
“And ultimately I have been the president of the republic of Ghana,” he added before stressing home how the trappings of office confers a sense of immortality on politicians.
“What it does is that it gives you a sense of immortality. If you are used to the trappings of office, you will think that you will never step out of that office.
“And so, for me; what I say to Christian politicians is let’s take Christ-like features into the work we do as politicians,” he is heard saying in a video shared on his Facebook timeline.
John Mahama, a political thoroughbred
Mahama’s political roots date as far back to the days of Ghana’s independence when his father served in the Nkrumah government.
He is reputed to be one of the most thoroughbred politicians of the Fourth Republic having served from the local level (Assembly) through to becoming a Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi on the ticket of the NDC.
Mahama held deputy minister and ministerial portfolios under the Rawlings government before rising to become vice president under John Mills and president when he took over from Mills then won his first full term in 2012.
He is widely expected to be elected NDC flagbearer in a race against three other contenders ahead of the 2024 polls as he seeks a final term in office on the back of two straight defeats to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2016 and 2020.
Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has defended his fellow MP representing the Abetifi Constituency over his comment suggesting that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will never hand over power to the opposition NDC.
He restated the support of the New Patriotic Party for Bryan Acheampong, a colleague MP and Minister of Agric.
Acheampong has come under opposition critique following controversial comments he made last Saturday at a party event in Mpraeso, stating among others that the NPP was never going to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress after the 2024 polls.
The NDC has since described the statement as reckless and treasonable and called for the minister’s arrest.
The NPP in a response said they stood by the minister’s comment and that he was responding to similar comments by opposition leaders including by John Mahama and Asiedu Nketiah, the former president and NDC National Chairman respectively.
Annoh-Dompreh who was at the event where Bryan spoke tweeted his support for the party position on Sunday, April 10.
“Leave Bryn alone. He said nothing new…The entire Party & the parliamentary Caucus is fully associated with him.. The hypocrisy of our colleagues is just nauseating often times…” he wrote.
Bryan Acheampong booms
Bryan Acheampong‘s controversial views were made at a party rally over the weekend.
He is heard saying in a viral video that the NPP will do everything within its means to win the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), therefore, his party will go to the election fully prepared.
He stated that the NPP has the men to match the opposition boot for boot during the 2024 polls.
Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong stressed that “We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections…It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We’ll use any means for NPP to stay in power.”
Tamale North Member of Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini has blasted national leadership of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing them of sleeping on their real responsibilities.
A visibly angry Suhuyini, whiles speaking on Accra-based Pan African TV said the current situation where the leadership are seeking to coach parliament was totally wrong and inimical.
He holds that the leadership should be managing core party business along with its leadership in parliament.
“This is something I have said at the risk of being ostracized from the party, party leaders are not chosen to manage parliament. They are not chosen to be coaches of parliament. They are chosen to run the party along side parliament.
“So when they have debate in parliament and the parliamentarians win that debate, you expect the national organizers and the women’s organizers and the chairmen and the secretary to be massing people up on the street.
“To complement what parliament is doing, but when what we have is executives sitting on the bench coaching parliament and that wil not take us to victory. Our party leaders must begin to wake up and understand that the 2024 elections will not be won in parliament. It wil not be won by the work of any parliamentarian,” he stressed.
Suhuyini is one of the open opponents of a change in the leadership of the Minority Caucus dictated via a statement from the party headquarters early this year.
The changes were rung barely a month after Johnson Asiedu Nketiah took over as National Chairman.
The changes saw the removal of Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader and Cassiel Ato Forson, coming in as his replacement.
The Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Mr James Agalga, has called for the arrest of the Abetifi MP.
He appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to arrest Mr Bryan Acheampong for publicly declaring that the governing New Patriotic Party will never hand over power to the main opposition National Democratic Congress in the 2024 elections.
Mr Acheamping, who is the Minister of Agriculture, and also served as a Minister of State in Charge of National Security, told party supporters after a health march at Mpraeso in the Eastern Region on Saturday, 8 March 2023: “NDC party will collapse”.
“If the NDC dares to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men”, he threatened, stressing: “We will show them that we have the men. We have the men”.
Mr Bryan then noted: “It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC”.
“It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remains in government at all cost”.
In his view, the government is fixing the economy, which will inure to the NPP’s electoral fortunes.
“Now with the way things are changing the economy will bounce back again, I am telling you that we are going to come around that curve and we are going to win the 2024 elections hands down.”
At the same event, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia taunted former President John Mahama, saying his only claim to fame are dumsor and guinea fowls under the Savanna Development Authority (SADA) project, flying away to neighbouring Burkina Faso.
According to him, unlike the Akufo-Addo administration, Mr Mahama cannot boast of one transformational achievement in his several decades of politics.
“Do you know that John Mahama has been in politics his entire adult life; over 30 years?” he told the crowd, adding: “He has been an assemblyman, deputy minister to minister then Vice President and then President”.
“But can you mention a single transformational policy that he has implemented?” he asked.
“Just mention one, but there is none. Only Dumsor and guinea fowls; that’s all, but with the NPP, we have mobile money interoperability, one district-one factory, digital address, Free SHS, zongo constituency fund; there is so much we have done.”
Also, Dr Bawumia said the National Democratic Congress (NDC), under President John Mahama, only created unemployment while in office but the Akufo-Addo administration has created 2.1 million jobs so far.
“During the NDC administration, there were no jobs; they created unemployment instead of employment but these days there are jobs everywhere”.
“I have been looking at the data lately and we have created 2.1 million jobs”.
He said 975, 000 of those jobs are in the private sector while 1.2 million are in the public sector.
“This is verifiable and identifiable data which is available”, Dr Bawumia noted.
Dr Bawumia told the crowd: “We are not done yet because there are more jobs for us to create”.
“But when it comes to job creation, no government since independence has created more jobs than the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo”, daring: “Anybody can challenge me and I will provide the data”.
“But we want to do more; we want to get to the Promised Land. We can be a Dubai, we can be a South Korea, we can be a Singapore’ it is possible”, he noted.
Speaking to the crowd, too, the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Justin Frimpong Kodua, said the government will fix the ravaged economy by the end of the year.
“Akufo-Addo has stated that the NPP has the men to turn the economy around. We are confident that by the end of the year, the economy will be in good shape. We just need your support because the alternative is worse, it is empty and hopeless”.
Responding to his fellow MP’s comment, Mr Agalga said in a statement: “… The dishonourable conduct of Bryan Acheampong poses a direct and grave threat to Ghana’s democracy and for which reason he must be held accountable”.
“Consequently, we entreat the Inspector General of Police to, as a matter of urgency, arrest Bryan Acheampong and cause his prosecution for engaging in conduct which has the potential to undermine the peace and security of our country”.
Mr Agalga said Mr Acheampong’s track record and the behavior of the Akufo-Addo government toward the electoral commission, gives cause for worry.
Political Scientist and Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana Dr. Michael Kpessa-Whyte has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor by the University.
The astute academic and stalwart of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with expertise in Comparative Public Policy and Political Institutions, joined the Institute of African Studies(IAS) in 2011.
He had previously served as Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Jonson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Dr Kpessa-Whyte has brought his expertise to bare both in impacting his students and advising Government. He served as Policy Advisor to former President John Mahama, and Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, where he initiated several reforms.
Education
Dr Kpessa-Whyte holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana (2001); Master of Arts, Political Science (International Relations), Department of Political Science, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada(2005); and a Ph.D. in Political Science (Comparative Public Policy), Department of Political Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada(2009).
His research interests are in but not limited to Social Policy and Socio-economic Transformation in Africa; Aging and Retirement Income Security (Pension) Policies in Africa; Politics of Early Post-Colonial Africa; Public Policy and Democratization in Africa; The Politics of Development Policy Decisions in Africa; Theories of African Development Institutional Theory in the Context of Informality African Political Thought & Pan-Africanism.
The 2024 election appears to be a stiff one as political parties, especially, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are ensuring that the election would be conducted in a free and fair manner.
According to the Member of Parliament for Abetifi Constituency, Bryan Acheampong, the NPP will resist any attempt from the NDC to harass or intimidate its members during the general election.
Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong said the NPP will prove to the NDC that they have the men should they try anything mischievous on election day.
Amidst shouts and cheers from the party faithful, the NPP MP said, “We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us, or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections…”
“It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We’ll use any means for NPP to stay in power,” he stated.
It would be recalled that Former President John Mahama on March 13, 2023, made the same comments, stating that, the National Democratic Congress will match the New Patriotic Party boot for boot in the 2024 elections if the government attempts to intimidate and harass supporters of the NDC.
He said NDC will be very vigilant at the polling stations during the general elections in 2024.
John Dramani Mahama said this when he addressed party supporters in the Tain and Banda constituency in the Bono East Region.
National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Joseph Yammin has reacted to comments by the Member Parliament (MP) for Abetifi Bryan Acheampong, that suggest that the NPP will not hand over power.
He assured the party that they will beg to hand over the NDC and John Mahama in 2024.
In a Facebook post reacting to statements made by the Abetifi MP after a walk for Vice President Bawumia in Kwahu suggesting the NPP will break the 8 with a Bawumia presidency at all cost, Mr. Yammin said the NDC will be well prepared to face NPP and any tricks that will unfold in the 2024 elections.
“When I hear people speak so childish like what a dishonorable member of parliament by name Bryan Acheampong or something is reported to have said I get to wonder if indeed they know and understand the exact words coming out of their mouths.”
“Let me tell them and I mean the NPP that if their thinking of breaking the 8 is not about how good they’ve been as a government but how prepared they are to rig the elections then they should forget about the so-called breaking the 8.” He said.
“If their thinking is that the NDC will go into the 2024 elections unprepared then they should rethink because we are ready to meet them.
Let me tell them and they should mark it that THEY WILL BEG TO HANDOVER POWER TO JOHN MAHAMA AND THE NDC IN 2024 if Ghanaians vote against them,” he warned.
Entrepreneur and businessman Kojo Jones is one of five aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cleared by a vetting committee to contest in the Keta Constituency parliamentary primary.
Dr. Kojo Jones Mensah will on May 13 face off with four others including Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and Madam Enyonam Apetorgbor.
Per the balloting done by the committee, Kojo Jones is sandwiched between the incumbent MP and Madam Apetorgbor who are first and third on the ballot.
The rests are Dr. Senanu Kwasi Djokoto and Paul Mensah Voegbor also securing number four and five, respectively.
Kwame Gakpe, after a successful vetting process, expressed excitement over his clearance to fight for a second term.
He said his position signified a good leadership position where he would be “the first.”
Dr Djokoto, the former Keta Constituency Chairman of the NDC, expressed satisfaction about the process and urged all delegates to give him the nod to bring unprecedented development to the area.
Also the Acting Volta Regional Director of Health, he told the Ghana News Agency that he would rebuild the Keta NDC and ensure unity and development when elected the MP.
Dr. Emmanuel Kwadzo Jones Mensah, Madam Enyonam Apetorgbor, and Paul Mensah Voegborlo also expressed the hope that they would win the hearts of delegates for a massive victory.
Several supporters who interacted with GNA remained happy that all aspirants had gone through the vetting process peacefully and urged the candidates to engage in clean campaigns, devoid of insults.
The NDC has set Saturday, May 13, for the parliamentary and presidential primaries.
Investigations into issues related to the filing of nominations by Parliamentary Candidates from the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat have begun, this is according to theNational Democratic Congress(NDC) in the Greater Accra Region.
Three aspirants, John Dumelo, Frederick Nuamah and Moses Baafi Acheampong were expected to have faced the vetting committee on Monday, but the session was rescheduled to Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the vetting was suspended until further notice.
Speaking to journalists, the Secretary of the Greater Accra Regional branch of the NDC and member of the vetting committee, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie says the outcome of the probe would determine the next line of action for the constituency.
“There were some challenges with filing online on the last day. Looking at the two aspirants there were some anomalies, although they claim to have gone through with the process, so our leadership is investigating the matter, so we get the true state of affairs. Once they are done and give us some advice, we will call the constituency and hold the vetting.”
Branch executives have indicated that they are satisfied with any decision taken in the interest of the party.
39 NDC Parliamentary aspirants in various constituencies in the Greater Accra region have been vetted today.
The vetting which started on Monday has seen the approval of 26 aspirants and one person being disqualified.
According to some caterers of the School feeding Programme inKumasi in the Ashanti Region they are likely yo lose their jobs should the New Patriotic Party (NPP) be ousted from power.
Dorothy Ofori-Sarpong, who provides meals for school children in basic schools in the region in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday claimed that all caterers in the region are bonafide members of the NPP.
According to her, there is no way they will be retained if theNational Democratic Congress (NDC) wins the 2024 elections.
She added that it is a known fact all current caterers must be members of the NPP.
Making a point for arrears owed them to be paid, Dorothy Ofori-Sarpong said caterers in the region have sacrificed for long, and it is time the government pays attention to their plight.
“We know that when the NDC wins power, we will all lose our jobs.,” Ofori-Sarpong told host Bernard Avle adding “All of us are members of the NPP”.
Dorothy also slammed the Ashanti Regional Minister for disrespecting them when they besieged his office to demand payments for their arrears.
She revealed that they have not been paid for three school terms and caterers have virtually run out of funds.
The caterers who are calling on the government to pay them their arrears and also increase the amount expressed their disappointment with the Regional Minister over how he received them.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has justified his reason for reacting angrily to caterers under the government’s school feeding programme in the Ashanti Region when they presented a petition to him on Monday, April 3.
Speaking to the media however, Mr Simon Osei Mensah insists that the caterers did not follow due process and were protesting at the Regional Coordinating Council which compelled him to react the way he did.
“I was in a meeting yesterday when I heard some noise outside the office, and so I sent my special assistant to find out, and he came and told me it was caterers protesting outside. They did not even seek security clearance before demonstrating, so you can imagine what would have happened if the security personnel at the Regional Coordinating Council had reacted to them”.
“We must be truthful to ourselves in this country and stop pampering people because impunity is too much. Though I sympathise with the caterers, we should not allow people to break the law in their attempt to have their problems solved. We should solve our problems through legal means. You can’t just take the law into your hands and do what you want because I will not tolerate that.”
The current economic situation in the nation would have been worse under an NDC administration, according to Justin Frimpong Koduah, general secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The country has seen a downturn since 2022 with the government embarking on a debt restructuring exercise, and it’s also seeking a $3 billion bailout from theInternational Monetary Fund(IMF).
Speaking on Face to Face on Citi TV with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mr. Koduah stated that Ghanaians still have confidence in the government despite the economic challenges expressing hope that they will break the eight in the 2024 polls.
The NPP’s chief scribe indicated that even without the impact of COVID-19 coupled with the Russian-Ukraine war, the NDC wouldn’t have been able to manage the economy.
“Ghanaians still have confidence in this government despite the economic challenges, because they know that between the NDC and the NPP, NPP are better managers of the economy than the NDC. Ghanaians also appreciate the fact that had it not been NPP in power, and if it were the NDC, the situation would have been worse off than what we are experiencing now. I’m telling you if NDC were in government, the situation would have been worse off”.
He added, “Even without any COVID-19 or Russian-Ukraine war, they [NDC] wouldn’t have been able to manage the economy well. We saw what happened under H. E. President John Mahama’s tenure– four years of ‘Dumsor, the scrapping of the teacher/nursing trainee allowances, among others”.
Mr. Koduah called on Ghanaians to exercise restraint assuring that the country will come out of the challenges soon.
He said Ghana had been touted as the fastest-growing economy before COVID-19 struck.
“Ghana was touted as the fast-growing economy in the world until COVID-19. At the end of the day, we will come out of the challenges, unlike the NDC which told Ghanaians that children should stay home and not be allowed to go to school during COVID-19. When we discovered oil, they termed it as coconut oil ‘adwengu’. The same NDC told Ghanaians that free SHS is not possible. Can you tell us that they are better managers of the economy than NPP?” the NPP chief scribe stated.
Parliament on Friday, March 31, passed the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill 2022 and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.
The financial bills seek to raise about 4 billion Ghana Cedis annually as part of domestic revenue mobilisation.
The bills are also crucial to aid the government’s quest to facilitate the Board Approval for the $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme staff-level agreement.
Many industry players have kicked against the passage of the new taxes arguing that it will kill businesses.
The vetting of all three Parliamentary aspirants of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency have been suspended indefinitely.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reportedly suspended the vetting of all contestants in the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary primaries indefinitely.
According to a news report by TV3, the parliamentary hopefuls for the constituency – John Dumelo, Fred Nuamah and Moses Barfi Acheampong – did not appear before the vetting committee as of the second day of the vetting.
The report indicated that the NDC has said that it will decide how to proceed with the primaries for the constituency after the deadline for vetting elapses on April 5, 2023.
The parliamentary primaries for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency has attracted interest after the decision of Fred Nuamah, an actor and film director, to challenge his close friend, whom he describes as his brother, former NDC parliamentary candidate for the constituency, John Dumelo.
Fred Nuamah insists that he had the blessing of John Dumelo to contest in the Ayawaso West Wuogon primaries because he (John Dumelo) told him that he would be gunning to become the party’s candidate for the expected Guan Constituency in the Oti Region.
But John Dumelo has accused Fred Nuamah of betraying him, saying that he never gave his blessing to contest for the primaries.
Meanwhile, at least 37 candidates have been vetted for the parliamentary primaries in the Greater Accra Region, which is slated for May 14, 2023.
There is a tense atmosphere at the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Ashanti Regional Office as candidates for the party’s parliamentary nomination in the Asawase constituency for the 2024 elections take turns being vetted.
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak, and his contender, Masawudu Mubarick have successfully gone through the vetting process and were given their numbers on the yet-to-be-printed ballot for the primaries.
Supporters of both aspirants thronged the vetting centre amidst chants in a contest that is attracting a lot of attention in the region.
The incumbent, Muntaka Mubarak after the vetting told journalists the support he received from the party supporters during and after the vetting is a sign of an endorsement of his retention as the MP for the area.
“You don’t get people to continue to support you after two decades of being a Member of Parliament and for people to continue to support me after two decades, then it means there is something that I am doing right, and I only thank Allah for all that he has done for me and I know Allah is not yet done with me.”
Supporters of Masawudu Mubarick also chanted “we need change” when they entered the premises.
Masawudu Mubarick insists he is the right person to bring the change party supporters are yearning for in the Asawase Constituency.
The Electoral Commission’s (EC) immediate resignation of Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani has been demanded by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO).
Dr Appiahene and Ahmed Tijani were appointed by President Akufo-Addo to the board of the Electoral Commission in March 2023.
The appointment of the two has courted controversy over their political affiliation with the ruling NPP.
NDC Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams in an earlier interview with Citi News alleged that Dr Appiahene is an NPP activist who was a patron of the Tertiary Education Student Confederacy Network (TESCON) – a university wing of the NPP.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, a leading member of CODEO, Rev. Dr Fred Degbey called for Dr Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani to resign to protect the cross-party trust in the commission.
“We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely. However, nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC.
“This will be in the supreme interest of our country’s continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest.”
The appointments were in line with Article 43 (1 and 2) of the 1992 constitution which states that “there shall be an Electoral Commission which shall consist of a Chairman, two Deputy Chairmen, and four other members.”
The Electoral Commission is one of the governance institutions provided under the 1992 constitution.
It was established by the Electoral Commission Act (Act 451) of 1992 and set up purposely to manage the conduct of all public elections and Referenda, to handle all matters directly related to the conduct of elections in the country.
All 30 aspirants who filed their nominations to contest the upcoming Parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region have been cleared after successfully going through the vetting process.
The vetting exercise, which was expected to commence at about 9 am on Monday, April 3, started at around 11 am and ended around 11 pm.
Out of the 30 aspirants, Jennifer Nanfuri, the only female, is contesting for the Jirapa Constituency slot against the incumbent MP, Cletus Dapilaah, and Bright Salia.
A press statement signed by the Upper West Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Issah Kantagyere commended the aspirants and their supporters for exercising restraint to ensure a violence-free exercise.
The Deputy National Women’s Organiser and member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Abigail Elorm Mensah chaired the five-member vetting committee with Mohammed Alhassan who is also a member of the NEC.
Other members included Abdul Nasir Saani, NDC Upper West Regional Chairman; Alhaji Nurah Issah Danwanaa, Deputy Regional Secretary and Hajia Bintu, Regional Council of Elders’ representative.
The statement entreated the aspirants to place the interest of the party ahead of their personal interests as winning all eleven seats in the region for the party come 2024 was paramount.
“It is a family affair, and we will all need each other collectively to achieve our target agenda of winning all 11 seats and also increase the votes for John Dramani Mahama come December 7, 2024, and this can only be achieved if and only if there is total unity among us,” it explained.
Speaking after going through the vetting process, Bede A. Ziedeng, the incumbent MP for the Lawra, expressed confidence that he would win the primaries overwhelmingly on May 13, 2023, considering his achievement in his first term in office.
“I am confident, absolutely confident that I am going to win this election because of what I have done in the constituency in the health sector, education, and water and sanitation,” Mr Ziedeng explained.
He cited the rehabilitation and mechanisation of two water systems at Eremon and Dowmine Health Centres, the repairing of over 50 broken-down boreholes, donation of three heavy-duty air-conditioners to the cold room of the Lawra Municipal Health Directorate among others, as some achievements in his two years in Parliament.
Mr Ziedeng said he had also supported about 220 students in the Constituency with part-payment of their school fees amounting to ¢250,000 and supported the Brifoh and Lawra Senior High School and the Eremon Senior High Technical School during their distress moments.
On his part, Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu, the incumbent MP for Wa West Constituency, also expressed confidence that the delegates would retain him to lead the party in the constituency into the 2024 general election.
Other aspirants also expressed confidence in emerging victorious in the elections.
Out of the 30 aspirants, 22 are new entrants while the remaining eight aspirants are sitting MPs.
The Wa Central constituency had four aspirants; Nadowli-Kaleo, Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (DBI), Sissala West, and Nandom constituencies had two aspirants each; while Wa West, Wa East, Jirapa, Lawra, Lambussie, and Sissala West Constituencies had three aspirants each.
Three incumbent MPs on the Minority side will be going unopposed in the upcoming parliamentary primaries.
They are Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader in Parliament, Madam Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui, Awutu Senya West MP and Mr. Daniel Ohene Darko, Upper Denkyira West MP.
Also, Madam Emelia Ankomah, Upper Denkyira East and Mr Nurien Shaibu Migyimah, Assin Central constituencies went unopposed in the Region
However, Madam Sawyer Queenstar Pokuah, incumbent MP for Agona East stands a chance of contesting unopposed if her contender Mr. Eric Turkson’s disqualification hold.
Out of the 56 aspirants who filed to contest the parliamentary primaries for 20 constituencies in the region, three were disqualified by the committee.
The disqualified aspirants are Mr. Paul Ofori Amoah, Agona West, Mr. Ebenezer Quayson, Upper Denkyira West and Mr. Eric Turkson, Agona East constituencies.
20 out of the 23 constituencies in the region took part in the vetting process, three were withheld based on reasons yet to be disclosed by the party.
The withheld constituencies include Assin North, Efutu and Gomoa Central.
Mr Joseph Yammin, the National Organizer of the NDC and the Chairman of the interim vetting committee in an interview with GhanaWeb cautioned the aspirants to conduct campaigns devoid of insults to avoid division and separation among the delegates which could affect the general elections come 2024.
The chairman advised the aspirants to focus on winning both presidential and parliamentary seats for the party and not to fight themselves that the primaries were an internal contest.
Mr Yammin told the aspirants to ensure the vision of the regional executives to win 20 seats in the region was accomplished.
He wished all the aspirants well and success in their contest adding that the party should win at the end of all contests for victory in 2024.
Incumbent MP for the Asunafo South will be standing unopposed in the upcoming parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This is after the Ahafo Regional Vetting Committee of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) disqualified the former District Chief Executive, Christian Oppong Frimpong, one of the aspirants who filed a nomination to contest the party’s primaries in the Asunafo South Constituency.
According to the committee, Christian Oppong Frimpong forged over 25 delegate signatures on his nomination form to qualify him to contest the Asunafo Constituency.
Speaking in an interview, Nii Boi who is the Asunafo South constituency elections director;
“After he has submitted his form, we had to go through, and we have the branch constituency forms and we had to compare them with that of Christian Oppong Frimpong’s forms. After the comparison, we found out he had forged some of the people’s signatures.
“We petitioned the vetting committee to consider those things and after the vetting, they made a decision that he forged signatories and that is against the rules and he is been ruled out of the game. She forged 25 names and 13 impersonations of signatories.”
Following this development, the incumbent MP, Eric Opoku, will be contesting unopposed in the 2024 general elections.
11 out of 12 prospective aspirants who picked nominations to contest the NDC’s parliamentary primaries in five (5) out of six (6) constituencies in the Ahafo Region were able to file.
Tano South has been put on hold by the party at the national level.
There is tension in the Sunyani West Constituency after reports that the two candidates in the opposition National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) have been disqualified impending parliamentary primary elections.
Ernest Ayesu, a mining engineer with Newmont Ghana Limited was purportedly disqualified on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, after facing the vetting committee on Monday evening.
Mr Ayesu was lifted shoulder-high after what many described as an incredible performance.
But after the jubilation by his supporters, the vetting committee on Tuesday afternoon indicated that Mr Ayesu is unfit to contest in the primaries.
According to the committee, Mr Ayesu has not lived in the Sunyani West Constituency for the required number of years and therefore cannot participate in the party’s upcoming primaries as specified by the party’s constitution.
In a related development, another contender, Evelyn Akantoa was also deemed unqualified for the contest, following concerns about her membership in the constituency in addition to other allegations of falsified documents.
Her supporters have vowed to employ all means possible to ensure that she gets back into the race.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the vetting committee and deputy national general secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Foyoo Gbande, says neither Ayesu nor Evelyn Akantoa has been disqualified.
Speaking in an interview with myjoyonline.com on the back of the tensions in the constituency, he explained that there is no substantive decision on the two.
According to him, the candidates have temporarily been placed on hold awaiting a final determination of the issues surrounding their candidature.
Mr Gbande said the outstanding issues which came up in the course of the vetting will be addressed by the close of day, Tuesday.
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Stephen Ntim, has accused the John Dramani Mahama-led administration of employing more presidential staffers than necessary.
He said the Mahama government employed more presidential staffers than this government, including three wise men.
According to him, this government on the hand has listened to calls by Ghanaians to reduce its government size rather than give needless positions.
Speaking at a press conference, he said, “The NDC has been promoting the view that this government has appointed people to needless positions and is paying them for doing nothing. It must be stated for the record that many of the workers at the Presidency are public sector employees. Today, out of the 995 workers at the Presidency, 658 (66%) are public sector employees.
“The NDC government had more presidential staffers than this administration. Whiles, we have 44 presidential staffers and 1 Minister of State at the Presidency, the Mahama-NDC Administration had 61 presidential staffers, 6 Ministers of State, and the 3 “wise men,” he added.
He said Akufo-Addo is maintaining a dynamic team of ministers and appointees to deliver his mandate.
“Therefore, it is not true that the government has ignored calls to reduce its size. Instead, the government has been listening to Ghanaians, establishing a more robust control mechanism to manage expenditure while maintaining a dynamic team of ministers and appointees to deliver on its mandate,” he said.
TheNational Democratic Congress(NDC), which is in opposition to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been advised to be accurate in its evaluations of Ghana’s economic predicament.
The NPP is of the view that notwithstanding its excellent handling of the Ghanaian economy, the NDC has grown accustomed to concealing the government’s economic gains using dishonest tactics, a practice it wants the NDC to put an end to.
The NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ntim in an address on Tuesday said, the NDC’s hunger for power cannot be satisfied by lies.
“The NDC must desist from the habit and strategy of deceit in its quest for power. Such methods are often short-term but have long-term ramifications for democracy, public confidence, and, not least, the global perception and embrace of our dear country, Ghana”, he said.
The NPP adds that the NDC’s ploy will not persuade the government to abandon its efforts to better its economic record.
“Let me end by passing this piece of advice through you to the NDC. As a political party, the NDC has a sacred responsibility, to be honest, and upfront with Ghanaians in all things”, he further added.
Stephen Ntim thus urged party members to assist in spreading the NPP’s goodwill.
“I call on the rank and file of the NPP to arise and mobilise behind our government to defeat the onslaught of the NDC propaganda. This means that all of us in the NPP, from polling stations upward, must become canvassers and communicators to help disabuse the minds of our fellow Ghanaians from the misinformation that the NDC is feeding the nation.”
Despite undertaking the historic Debt Exchange Programme and seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the NPP has hailed the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration for diligently managing Ghana’s economy.
Stephen Ntim, echoed claims that the current crippling economic crisis is due to the impact of Covid-19 and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine War and not the incompetence of the economic management team as propagated by the opposition National Democratic Congress.
“The plain truth is that this government has managed the economy diligently and well. The hardships we are experiencing in Ghana are being experienced everywhere because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War. Workers in some of the world’s biggest economies are demanding salary increases due to historic global inflation.”
Alfred Kojo Thompson, a senior communications member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has raised concern over the rising number of candidates filing nominations to serve in Parliament.
Inferring from the mad rush of some aspirants to grab a spot at the various constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Mr. Thompson said that it has become evident that individual interest is prioritized ahead of the national interest and has become a problem challenging the current Parliament.
“It’s becoming a problem with Parliament these days where we all…everybody is complaining and so we need to get people there who will really look at the national interest and not the individual or party interest.”
In a no holds barred conversation with Kwasi Afriyie on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on Tuesday, 4th April 2023, the NPP Senior Communicationist questioned the processes involved in conducting such vettings.
“Greater Accra, they have 111 people chasing 31 seats, then central region 56 chasing 23 seats. So you see that they are poised for the fact that let’s go there. I’m wondering whether really speaking when we do the vetting we really do it well to make sure that we get the right people or get a square pegs in a square holes”
He alluded also that nominations are seeing an increase of this kind because competent and worthy people of these positions are rejected for known faces and suggested that this has become the norm where these popular people drive the party to victory.
“Yeah, or we just bring people in to just go and fill the seats for us because we are popular, we can win.”
He tasked Members of Parliament to be mindful of the reason they are instituted in Parliament and work accordingly to put forward the country’s interest.
“We have to start working on a nationalistic level rather than party level…you go there on behalf of a party but the first and most important thing is to make sure that you are working for the nation because whatever you go and do there will affect the growth of the nation.”
He, however, urged that parties have to collectively work to see national interest propagated rather than its party.
Less than a week after resigning from the presidential contest, Ernest Kobeah, a former flagbearer candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged his support for former president John Dramani Mahama.
The businessman on Monday officially met Mahama to discuss a wide range of issues centering on the NDC and the upcoming primaries.
Sharing the news on Facebook on Monday (3 April), Mahama commended Kobeah for the kind gesture.
“Thank you, Ernest Kobeah for your magnanimity in offering me your support to lead our great party, the NDC, to the 2024 elections,” the former leader wrote.
“Your decision to step down from the contest, even after paying in full the filing fees pegged for the contest is exemplary. May the NDC get better and stronger,” Mahama added in his Facebook post.
Police and several National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters massed up in front of the Tamale High Court over a bench warrant that was issued for the arrest of the Savelugu Member of Parliament.
The bench warrant on Yakubu Iddrisu was issued on Friday, March 31, 2023 by Presiding Judge Justice Richard Kogyapwah.
The MP has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
But appearing in court on Monday, April 3, Yakubu Iddrisu was accompanied by scores of supporters as well as some MPs and regional NDC executives.
On December 9, 2020, state prosecutors said they found an AK-47 rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition in an office which is said to belong to the MP.
This was rejected by the NDC, stating emphatically that its offices are open, with the Savelugu not being an exception and the weapons might have been planted there deliberately.
This was, however, taken to court.
Since the case began, the MP has not been in court.
This is said to have concerned the judge.
The Chief State Attorney, therefore, appealed for a warrant for the MP’s arrest, a plea which was granted last Friday.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Smauel Okudzeto Ablakwa has commended his fellow MPs on the Minority side for ensuring that Parliament did not approve two loans being sought by the government.
Describing the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as being addicted to borrowing, Ablakwa said the minority on Friday blocked the approval of two loan agreements amounting to US$210 million.
“The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/Ofori-Atta government is notoriously incorrigible. Despite plunging Ghana into debt distress and bankruptcy, they are still chronically addicted to borrowing.
“I commend NDC MPs for mounting Friday’s successful blockade of these US$150million and US$60million loan requests,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, parliament on Friday passed three new tax measures during an extended sitting.
The said taxes also faced stiff opposition from the Minority Caucus in the House but the Majority managed to marshall all their numbers on the day to get the taxes passed.
The three new taxes are: Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022 and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.
The bills were presented to Parliament as part of government’s plans to raise about GH¢4 billion annually in domestic revenue mobilisation.
They are also crucial to help secure Board Approval for the US$3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme after a staff-level agreement was reached late last year.
As part of measures to meet the criteria set by the IMF to qualify for a bailout, the government has completed tariff adjustment by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Publication of the Auditor-General’s Report on COVID-19 spending, and Onboarding of Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and Road Fund on Ghana integrated financial management information system (GIFMIS).
Government in justifying the introduction of the taxes said they are critical for recovery from the current economic crisis.
