The NDC will retire Patrick Boamah, the member of parliament (MP) for Okaikoi Central Constituency, according to Samuel George Nartey, MP for Ningo-Prampram.
He gave the assurance while speaking at the NDC Okaikoi Central Parliamentary Candidate and entertainment and media entrepreneur Abdulai Abu Sadiq’s campaign kickoff.
Sam George claims he was forced to declare his candidacy in the Okaikoi Central parliamentary contest this year because it was time for current MP Patrick Boamah to step down.
“I have lived in this constituency for seven years and last year I gave my blessings to both parliamentary aspirants. But this year, because I have absolute confidence that Baba Sadiq is the man to take this constituency to the next level, I am taking sides” he said.
Sam George also bemoaned the constant “Skirt and Blouse” outcome of results in the constituency, attributing it to disunity in the Party.
“In Okaikoi Central, NDC always wins the Presidential polls but keeps loosing when it comes to the Parliamentary. This is because there is disunity and backbiting in the party,” he added.
“Today, must mark the beginning of the retirement of Patrick Boamah!!!”, he declared.
The launch was graced by party stalwarts including former deputy information minister, James Agyenim-Boateng, 2020 NDC Spokesperson on the Creative Industry, Rex Omar, Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Constituency, Members of the Council of Elders, 2016 and 2020 Parliamentary Candidate, former G/A Deputy youth organizer of the NDC Council of Zongo Chiefs.
Three years into the next [NDC] administration, the reality, according to Bernard Oduro Tacky will dawn on President Akufo-Addo for him to know the mess he presided over in his tenure.
That would be the time, the Chartered Economist says Akufo-Addo, will apologise to Ghanaians.
He has been telling Dr. Prekese on Onua FM’s drive time show, Efie Ne Fie, Monday, March 20, 2023, that when the President leaves office, that would be when he would know the real deals that were happening around him.
For instance, after realising his successor is ruling effectively with 60 ministers, that would be when he will know he shouldn’t have drained the public purse for the many ministers he appointed without results.
Mr. Oduro Takyi says President Akufo-Addo as it stands may not appreciate the truth which he may term as mere criticisms but will know the truth after leaving office.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, former president John Dramani Mahama submitted his nomination to run in the National Democratic Congress’ flagbearer election (NDC).
The campaign team for John Mahama, under the direction of Professor Joshua Alabi, submitted the paperwork on his behalf.
To liberate Ghana from the NPP regime, John Dramani Mahama has urged the delegates to support his bid for the presidency in 2024.
He is pleading with the delegates for a resounding 99 percent vote in his favor.
Others contesting John Dramani Mahama include; Kwabena Duffuor, Ernest Krobeah Asante, and Kojo Bonsu.
Rumors that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership is attempting to have Muntaka Mubarak removed as the party’s representative in Asawase have been refuted by Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC’s national communications officer.
Rumours of Muntaka’s removal have been rife in recent times after some party supporters and branch executives in the Asawase constituency organized a press conference to question the competence of their parliamentary representative with some demanding for him to be replaced going into the 2024 general elections.
Muntaka’s woes began after the leadership of the NDC replaced him with Kwame Agbodza as the Minority Chief Whip in Parliament on January 24.
But speaking on Face to Face on Citi TV, Mr. Gyamfi said it is ridiculous the rumour had gained traction because the party doesn’t have the power to remove legislators.
“It is ridiculous because the party cannot remove any Member of Parliament. MPs are elected by their constituents, so the party has no power to remove a Member of Parliament. The fate of all aspirants or candidates will be determined by the delegates in the 275 constituencies and so the party will not protect any individual, but the party is protecting all the 275 seats but also where for good reason, the party has to engage various stakeholders on specific issues to build consensus, the party will do so.”
The announcement of Muntaka’s removal as theMinority Chief Whip birthed a series of agitations in Asawase where the MP has recently sued 11 branch executives for defamation and is demanding GH¢10 million in damages.
A number of issues, according to former board chair of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Professor Stephen Adei, have contributed significantly to the current economic crisis.
According to Professor Adei, fundamental weaknesses in the economy include low productivity, systematic corruption, a lack of patriotism, a desire for foreign goods, and others.
“It is true that during the domestic debt exchange, those who were campaigning so that individuals do not accept it came out very strong on how expenditure can be reduced, and I agree with them. Government can manage the economy with less. We should be able to make our intentions so that we can avoid the lessons of the past.”
He maintains the blame game between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) does not solve any problems.
“I do not want to make pronouncements as to whether Akufo-Addo government is worse or better than the Mahama government. I think that there is a situation that makes the comparison to apples and oranges because both of them took us to IMF.”
Earlier this week, Prof. Adei took a dig at the Akufo-Addo government for its excessive borrowing which he says is the cause of the country’s economic crisis.
According to the renowned economist, although the emergence of COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukraine war may have affected Ghana’s economy, the fundamental mistake government made was to have borrowed beyond its capacity.
He is thus calling on the government to accept responsibility and work to change the fortunes of the country.
Professor Adei said this when he addressed journalists on the sidelines of the Signature Market Pre-launch campaign at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
“I think the biggest mistake they made is that they borrowed beyond our capacity to service it. If you are a country and you borrow beyond your capacity, you will be in trouble, of course, COVID-19 came in, and the Russia-Ukraine [war].
Professor Adei also wants Ghanaians to strictly hold government officials accountable to prevent a similar situation in future.
“We have to learn and not repeat our mistakes by going on a borrowing spree, we should become watchdogs. The leakages should be reduced, the level of corruption, the wastage from the government after government is high so we don’t get value for money,” he stated.
The National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has alleged that President Akufo-Addo is responsible for corruption in the country.
He again accused President Akufo-Addo of promoting corruption to the extent of going ahead with investigations to exonerate his appointees accused of engaging in corruption-related cases.
Sammy Gyamfi further slammed government officials for engaging in corruption which he said has taken a toll on the economy.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu, on Face to Face on Citi TV, Sammy Gyamfi claimed, “they have come to promote corruption.President Akufo-Addocame to enable corruption, if corruption was a human being, its name would have been President Akufo-Addo. If you wanted to see corruption, and you saw President Akufo-Addo you would have found your answers”.
He stressed, “no President in the history of this country has promoted corruption than President Akufo-Addo. This President engages in corruption, his Vice President engages in corruption, and their officials engage in corruption. When they are caught by state agencies, they either fight them or even before investigations are done, the President comes out to whitewash himself and sometimes his corrupt officials”.
He wondered why the President conferred a national award on the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, who has been indicted by the Auditor General for misusing COVID-19 funds.
“As I speak with you, the Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang -Manu has been indicted by the Auditor General for paying $81 million for vaccines not supplied. Instead of sacking this man, President Akufo-Addo conferred a national award [Order of the Volta-Companion] on him. He also engaged in procurement breaches of Sputnik V vaccines,” he said.
A flyer circulating on social media indicates that multiple award-winning rapper, Ayigbe Edem, is lacing his boots to contest in the National Democratic Congress’ parliamentary primaries scheduled for May 13, 2023.
In a tweet, the rapper posted a picture of himself with NDC colours in the background and said he will give further details on Wednesday at 4pm.
This has sparked speculations that the rapper is venturing into politics.
It’s unclear which constituency the award-winning rapper is eyeing, but persons close to the development say he is likely to contest the Ketu South seat.
Edem is joining the likes of John Dumelo, Fred Nuamah and Baba Sadiq, a few entertainment personalities seeking to go to Parliament on NDC ticket.
Known in real life as Denning Edem Hotor, Edem shot to fame in 2006 after releasing his first single ‘Wotome Woshi’ where he got signed to The Last Two Entertainment Group that same year.
In 2015, he was awarded Best International Act-Africa at the Black Canadian Awards in Canada.
Former President John Dramani Mahama will on Wednesday March 22, 2023, launch a fundraising platform at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful will also hold a public lecture on political party financing in Ghana.
It is believed that Mr Mahama will use the funds to support his campaign, as well as aid other party activities just as he did in previous years.
In January 2020, the former president launched a fundraising platform to financially support his candidacy for the general elections.
Meanwhile, some party stalwarts and bigwigs such as Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary Fifi Kwetey, among others are expected to grace the occasion tomorrow.
On Tuesday, as part of his preparations towards the NDC primaries scheduled for May, Mr John Mahama filed his nominations to contest the flagbearership position.
The filing of nomination was done by his campaign team led by a leading member of the NDC, Prof Joshua Alabi.
They submitted the required documents as well as fees at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Tuesday March 21, 2023.
Prof Alabi gave a strong indication to the Electoral Commission ahead of the 2024 general election that they will not tolerate any level of compromise that will be disadvantageous to their candidate.
The former president will come up against former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu and businessman, Ernest Kwaku Krobea, as well as former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, in his quest to run on the ticket of the NDC come 2024.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has finally filed his nominations to contest the flagbearership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) slated for May 13, 2023.
The filing of nomination was done by his campaign team led by a leading member of the NDC, Prof Joshua Alabi.
They submitted the required documents as well as fees at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Tuesday March 21, 2023.
Prof Alabi gave a strong indication to the Electoral Commission ahead of the 2024 general election that they will not tolerate any level of compromise that will be disadvantageous to their candidate.
“We are not prepared to cheat anybody and in the same vein we are not ready for any party to cheat us,” Prof Alabi said, adding that the EC has a role in ensuring that the 2024 general elections are free and fair.
He added that the NDC is also putting in place measures to closely and effectively monitor the elections.
“We are working hard to make sure that our collation system is very robust. Come that day, don’t be surprised when by 12 midnight or 1 am you see us on TV telling you to go out and jubilate,” Prof Alabi told the NDC supporters.
John Mahama picked nominations forms to contest for the NDC presidential primaries. Three others have also entered the race.
The former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu and businessman, Ernest Kwaku Krobea, as well as former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, have all picked forms to contest.
Duffour was a Finance Minister under the late former President Jerry John Rawlings from 1997 to 2001 and also under the late president Atta Mills’ leadership from 2009 to 2013.
Meanwhile, Prof Alabi urged the party supporters to vote massively for John Mahama in the upcoming NDC falgbearership race.
He stated that a unanimous vote will convey to other parties, and their opponents how united the NDC is in their support for the former President.
“Even with 51%, he has won. With 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% he has won, but we want 99.999%. The 2024 elections are not going to be easy. Around the whole country what the people say is very simple, ‘the NDC is coming back’.”
“When something belongs to you and you don’t protect it the thief will come for it. So we are not going to sleep even though the general claim is ‘the NDC is coming back’. We are going to work with all the organs to make sure that in the next election, we give the party a one-touch victory,” Prof Alabi noted.
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has stated that the Akufo-Addo-led administration has failed woefully in the fight against corruption.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah insists that the lackadaisical attitude of President Akufo-Addo towards the canker has empowered his appointees to arrogate state resources to themselves.
Delivering an address titled, “The True State of the Nation Address” on Monday, March 20, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Mr Asiedu Nketiah also criticised President Akufo-Addo’s silence on the matter during the 2023 State of the Nation Address.
He described the President’s silence on the menace as loud and one that means defeat to the battle.
“President Akufo-Addo’s silence on corruption in his infamous address was loud. It was as loud as his guilt. Evidently, corruption has defeated his family and friends’ government.
“Instead of confronting this canker head-on, President Akufo-Addo has constituted himself into a “Corruption Clearing Agent”, ever-willing to whitewash himself and any of his appointees who dabble in corruption, even before investigative processes commence.
“The President’s actions and complicity have emboldened many of his officials, not least the Vice President, Alhaji Bawumia whose name has come up in multiple corruption scandals such as the PDS scandal, the shady Gold-for-Oil deal, the Stolen Rice scandal and the appearance fee scandal”.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah also condemned the recently held National Awards.
According to him, the President desecrated the country’s national honours by conferring the honours on corrupt individuals in his government.
He said the awards scheme which was established by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is to honour distinguished Ghanaian nationals and institutions for their contributions to the development of the country.
For him, it was therefore untenable for the President to confer such honours on corrupt individuals whose cases are before Parliament for investigations.
He explained that awarding appointees whose corrupt acts are under investigation with national honours is tantamount to rewarding criminality, saying “Kwame Nkrumah did not establish the awards to reward criminality.”
National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, says the claims by the government that it used the monies borrowed for road infrastructure is false.
Mr. Nketiah, who delivered what the NDC termed as the ‘true state of the nation address’, said only 1.6 percent of the country’s over GH¢820 billion has been used for road construction.
“It is a tragedy that the President will classify routine minor road management repairs such as re-sealing, refilling, reshaping, pothole filling, re-graveling and even desilting of gutters as new road construction. The claim that this government has constructed over 11,000 kilometres of new roads is false and should be completely disregarded. The President should hang his head in shame.”
His remarks follow the president’s claim that his administration’s achievement in road construction was unprecedented in the fourth republic.
“The President knows that he deliberately misled Ghanaians with this claim because he is aware that only a minute of the overall resources that have accrued to this government since 2017 has been used for the construction and rehabilitation of roads in this country.”
“The truth is that official government of Ghana records show that a whopping 93 percent of the GHS 820 billion has been used on consumption including Akufo-Addo’s luxurious private travels across the world hired over several months at the expense of the taxpayer,” he added.
National Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused President Akufo-Addo of deceiving Ghanaians with the claim that he knows how to “revive the economy.”
Speaking at a press conference dubbed the “True State of the Nation’s Address,” held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), he noted the government has failed in reviving the country’s economy, as it promised.
On the contrary, he said the current administration has plunged the country into a severe economic crisis.
“Despite being the luckiest and most resourced government in Ghana’s history, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government has the least to show in terms of socio-economic development. This is because the NPP has used all your money mainly for consumption. This is contrary to the President’s claim that his government has used “a large amount of the money we borrowed on road construction,” he said on Monday, March 20, 2023.
He further refuted the government’s claim of constructing 11,000 kilometres of new roads, describing it as false “and should be completely disregarded.”
“It is a tragedy that the President will classify routine minor road management repairs such as re-sealing, refilling, reshaping, pothole filling, re-gravelling and even desilting of gutters as new road construction,” he said.
Baffled by the address presented by the President, Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that the President is being evasive about the reality on the ground with regards to what the true State of the nation is.
“It is obvious that President Akufo-Addo who continues to revel in the largesse of high office does not appreciate the present reality of the Ghanaian people. The President continues to live in his own world, far removed from yours and mine, that he fails or neglects to appreciate the true State of the Nation.
“The true State of the Nation is when a ball of kenkey which used to sell between 50 pesewas and GHS1.00 in December 2016, is now being sold between GhS4.00 and GHS5.00. The true State of Ghana today is that, a sack of maize which used to sell for GHS170.00 in 2016 is now being sold for GHS900.00 as at February, 2023.
“The true State of the Nation is when a bag of Gino Rice (5kg) which used to go for GHS25.00 in December 2016, is now being sold for GHS185.00. Similarly, a tuber of yam which used to sell for GHS5.00 is now being sold for GHS25.00, while a bag of Sachet Water which used to sell for GHS1.50 in 2016, is now being sold for GHS10.00 as at February 2023. Also, a bag of cement which sold for GHS27.00 in December 2016 is today selling at a staggering GHS90.00 and last, but not least, sanitary pad which used to sell for averagely GHS2.50 in December 2016 is today selling for GHS20.00.
“When everything is said and done, this is the true State of the Nation. This is what we feel when we go to the market. This is what we feel in our pockets. This is our everyday reality. A reality in which babies do not have vaccines leading to a measles outbreak; the youth do not have jobs; the middle class faces imminent extinction; and the elderly are being deprived of their life-savings by the very government that swore to protect them.
He concluded that: “This is not the Ghana we deserve; this is not the Ghana our forebears toiled and sacrificed for. The NDC shall not be complicit in this mess.”
“It is absolutely important to awaken President Akufo-Addo and the ruling NPP to the uncomfortable, but frank True State of Ghana today – a nation of many living in fear of where to find their next meal, leaving many parents to endure sleepless nights.
“The true State of our dear Nation no longer lies in flowery speeches laced with political chicanery that never accepts responsibility for anything. Neither does it lie in abstract theories that blame personal failings on events that have no significant impact on our lives,” he added.
National Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rubbished the State of the Nations Address (SoNA) delivered by President Akufo-Addo, describing it as inaccurate.
Delivering a presser dubbed “the True State of the Nation’s Address,” on Monday, March 20, 2023, Mr Asiedu Nketiah said the president’s address is a clear indication that he (Akufo-Addo) has lost touch with reality on the ground, since his speech was in contrast with the hardships Ghanaians are experiencing.
“Even before he stepped up to fulfill that Constitutional duty, all Ghanaians were fully aware that the State of our Nation is hopeless, recklessness, corruption, and leadership paralysis define the current state of our nation,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo on March 8, 2023, delivered the State of the Nation’s Address where he provided an update on the government’s implementation of key policies outlined in the 2022 Budget Statement. The President also touted some achievements of the government despite the ongoing economic crisis.
However, during his speech on March 20, 2023, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) auditorium, Mr Asiedu Nketiah contended that Ghanaians are experiencing the worst economic crisis in the history of the country, given the many challenges bedeviling the state.
“In Ghana today, childhood vaccines are in short supply leading to a measles outbreak. We are going through a draconian debt restructuring programme [where] for the first time on our entire history, thanks to the monumental mismanagement of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, pensioner bondholders have had to engage in a historic public manifestation as they picketted at the Ministry of Finance.
“All credit rating agencies have declared Ghana bankrupt. Youth employment is at an all time high according to the [recent] population census. Many businesses, banks and industries have collapsed and some have relocated to other countries in the sub-region. There have been massive job losses as a result
He added that: “Corruption has reached epidemic levels as epitomised by the Special COVID-19 audit which was an IMF bailout precondition. The President refuses to cut down the size of his bloated government, human rights violations are on the ascendancy with the recent condemnable killing of a soldier and the unfortunate brutalities in Ashaiman of all which President as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed forces refuse to speak about government has become impervious to advice.
“We all are living the reality of the worst economic crisis in our nation’s history and there can be no denying of this. The President’s address only served to deepen the anxiety, hopelessness and uncertainty about the future of this country. It was all too clear that this government is grappling with the extent of the crisis they have created let alone figure out what to do to bring us out of the mess.
“President Akufo-Addo failed to convince the Ghanaian people that there is any end in sight to the suffering and pain that his governments recklessness and misguided policies have brought on us. In the end he cut an image of a leader who is hopelessly out of touch with the reality and genuine difficulty of his people,” he added.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has entreated the government to take sole responsibility for the unpalatable state of the economy.
While delivering what the party terms as the “True State of the Nation’s Address” on Monday at University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), he noted that Ghanaians are sick and tired of the “flimsy” excuses government has continued to preach.
“Ghanaians want relief from the socioeconomic hardship visited on them by the NPP administration and not flimsy excuses Ghanaians want a government to be truthful even in difficult times and listen to them in humility,” he said.
He noted that COVID-19 is not blame for the nation’s woes as purported by government. According to the NDC Chair, Ghana, way back as 2019 has recorded significant economic challenges.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah said the public debt had increased from “120bn in 2016 to 225 in 2019, representing an increase of 105 bullion in the country’s debt stock.”
“COVID was nowhere. Ukraine and Russia had not even thought about fighting,” he added.
Ghana’s biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, is holding a counter press conference on the State of the Nation’s Address (SoNA) delivered by President Akufo-Addo.
Dubbed “The True State of the Nation’s Address,” the NDC will highlight various issues it claims President Akufo-Addo failed to touch on while delivering the SoNA, key among them is the ongoing economic hardships.
The press conference is being held at the National Headquarters of the NDC.
National Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia is addressing the press.
Pollster and Managing Editor of the Dispatch Newspaper, Ben Ephson, has stated that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is likely to emerge as the preferred candidate to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He says the Vice president Mahamudu Bawumia stands a high chance of becoming the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His comment comes at the back of the Vice president’s visit to Akwasidae at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Where over 80 lawmakers, government appointees and some stakeholders who matter within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) accompanied him to the event.
Ben Epson said this move witnessed, sends a strong message.
“Human head is not a coconut to see inside and I believe that the various delegates will vote in secret and the delegation I think was to send a message because you need to bear in mind that many of the Members of Parliament of the NPP will be seeking reelection.
“For your chances in seeking reelection many of the delegates that will vote for you as the Member of Parliament to remain in Parliament you will ensure that people who will obey you are people you have handpicked and elected. So it is likely that many of the MPs have handpicked those they can control to vote for them to remain in power,” the Pollster stated.
He continued: “So it is meant to send a signal and I am waiting for the date of the flag bearer ship of the NPP to be announced and I will conclude my seventh book on elections. But I have done some work before the election of the executives and post-election of the executives.
“I can reveal exclusively on your program that I think that Bawumia is in the lead in terms of possibly winning the NPP flag bearer ship race,” starrfmonline.com.gh quoted Ben Ephson.
Mr. Ephson added that there is a high change Dr Bawumia will poll over 60 per cent voted in the NPP’s flagbearer race.
Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has noted that he will not rescind his decision to sue some National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch executives in his constituency until they withdraw their libelous allegations.
The allegations made against him claimed that he owned 15 shops in the newly-built Asawase Market.
Mr. Muntaka has filed a defamation suit demanding GH¢10 million in damages against the 11 branch executives involved in publishing and circulating the allegations.
Former President John Dramani Mahama visited the Constituency on Saturday, March 18, to begin his three-day campaign for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Primary.
During the rally, Mr. Mahama urged all warring factions to reconcile and seek peace.
Following the rally, Mr. Muntaka told TV3 that he would not withdraw his lawsuit despite calls for peace.
He said the issues must be addressed to prevent any future issues during the NDC and New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary contest.
“Obviously, if they want that, they will have to retract what they said because you cannot make those kinds of allegations,” he said.
“Remember, beyond the primaries we have a contest with the NPP and if I don’t fight it now and they start to quote my own people, what do I have to say?”
Despite efforts made by national executives to resolve the issue, some executives have put resources together to pick nomination forms for a rival candidate, Mubarak Masawudu.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer hopeful, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has hinted at filing his nomination on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the former Minister of Finance, Antonio Edem Asinyo, it said that Dr. Duffuor will file the forms at the NDC’s headquarters in Accra.
“Aspiring Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor will be submitting his nomination to contest the flagbearer election at the Party HQ on Thursday, 23rd day of March 2023 at 11:00am,” the statement said.
Also, the statement said that the initial date of Wednesday, March 22, was changed due to a request from the national executives of the party.
This, he explained, is due to the fact that on that initial date, the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is set to present what the party has termed the True State of the Nation Address.
“The change in date from Wednesday to Thursday is in response to a request from the National Executive of the party to reschedule, due to the party’s True State of the Nation Address to be delivered by the Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia today, Monday at the UPSA auditorium at 2pm,” he added.
The Duffuor camp has since urged members of the party to be present at the event, adding that their candidate will also be present.
A flagbearer hopeful of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, will cement his decision to contest in the parties upcoming primaries and subsequent national elections with the filing of his nomination.
He is expected to file his nomination to contest the May 13th, 2023, primaries on Tuesday at 1.00 pm.
The filing was scheduled for Monday, March 20, but has been postponed due to a presentation by the party on the True State of the Nation Address on Monday.
In a release by the John Mahama Campaign team it stated, “very sorry for the postponement, which is in response to a request from the party to reschedule because of the presentation of the party’s True State of the Nation Address on Monday.”
Mr. Mahama will however continue his first phase tour of the Ashanti Region, which ends today, a statement by the aide to the former President, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, said.
Two weeks after president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivered the State of the Nationa Address (SoNA) to the nation through Parliament, the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to present the ‘true’ SoNA today.
The widely advertised event is slated for the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA). The address will be delivered by the Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
The address is expected to point out areas of misgovernance and to counter some of the claims that the president made during the SoNA.
On Wednesday, March 23, 2023, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a prospective presidential contender for the oppositionNational Democratic Congress (NDC), will submit his nomination form.
Contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the former Minister of Finance, Antonio Edem Asinyo, it said that Dr. Duffuor will file the forms at the NDC’s headquarters in Accra.
“Aspiring Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor will be submitting his nomination to contest the flagbearer election at the Party HQ on Thursday, 23rd day of March 2023 at 11:00am,” the statement said.
Also, the statement said that the initial date of Wednesday, March 22, was changed due to a request from the national executives of the party.
This, he explained, is due to the fact that on that initial date, the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is set to present what the party has termed the True State of the Nation Address.
“The change in date from Wednesday to Thursday is in response to a request from the National Executive of the party to reschedule, due to the party’s True State of the Nation Address to be delivered by the Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia today, Monday at the UPSA auditorium at 2pm,” he added.
The Duffuor camp has since urged members of the party to be present at the event, adding that their candidate will also be present.
Today, Monday, March 20 the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will address the country on the theme ‘The True State of the Nation’.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the Chairperson of the NDC, will deliver the speech during the event, which will be held at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA).
The ‘True State of the Nation Address’ is expected to counter ‘The State of The Nation Address’ delivered by President Akufo-Addoon Wednesday, March 8.
The NDC address, under the auspices of the party’s National Communications Bureau, is expected to focus heavily on the economy and factors that have pushed the country for an IMF bailout.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament says Ghana will not be able to secure the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) board approval at the end of March 2023 contrary to claims by the government.
The opposition group explained that the government has not been able to satisfy the financing assurances regarding the bailout which includes the board documents.
“Mr Speaker, our President said on authority that Ghana would get an IMF Board approval by the end of this month, I don’t know who is briefing our President, but Ghana will not be able to get an IMF Board approval by the end of this month because even the board documents are prepared.
“We need to get China to give Ghana financing assurance and that they are ready to take a haircut and China has not agreed,” Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson said.
Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has submitted his candidacy paperwork to run in the Tamale South Constituency National Democratic Party (NDC) parliamentary primaries.
Haruna Iddrisu, who is widely expected to keep his seat, claims that his work in the constituency is still ongoing.
The fifth-term member of parliament for Tamale South delivered his nomination papers to the NDC’s Tamale South Constituency office while being accompanied by a sizable audience.
The Tamale South Member of Parliament claimed that he would be re-elected by a landslide, extolling his prowess and escalating influence over the years, while encouraging potential challengers to feel free and run against him.
“Today I am here to honour the NDC constitutional requirement of filing my nomination as the NDC unbeatable candidate for the 2024 general election and today marks the beginning of the NDC journey to victory in 2024. But the Tamale South seat is free, you can come in. The only thing I can assure you is that you won’t get more than 5% of the votes or probably 2%. You won’t make more than five percent,” he said.
Haruna Iddrisu indicated that he will work to ensure an absolute victory for the NDC in the Tamale South Constituency.
“Tamale South in the last presidential and parliamentary made a significant contribution of 69,000 votes and my pledge this year is that we will contribute ninety thousand votes for John Mahama or whoever leads the NDC in the 2024 elections,” he added.
Addressing supporters of the party after submitting his nomination forms, Haruna Iddrisu called for unity and hard work ahead of the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the mismanagement of the economy by the Akufo-Addo government vindicates the NDC as the best party to lead the country.
“We must all come together, shun divisiveness, and work towards an NDC victory, because that is the surest way to win power,” he indicated.
After being a student leader for years in his tertiary education period, Iddrisu transitioned into mainstream national politics and rose to become the National Youth Organizer for the National Democratic Congress in 2002.
He held that position for 8 years even whilst the Minister of Communications until stepping down in 2010.
Haruna first stood for MP in the 2004 parliamentary election in the then-newly formed Tamale South Constituency. He served as the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications and also the Minority Spokesman on Communications in the fourth Parliament when the NDC was in opposition.
He retained his seat in the 2008 parliamentary election by gaining 78.2% of the total votes cast. He once again retained his seat in the 2012 parliamentary elections by getting 74.6% of the total votes cast.
Even though his party lost the Presidential Elections, Haruna retained his seat in the 2016 Elections and was selected to lead the Minority Caucus as the Minority Leader of the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic in Ghana.
He served as the Minority Leader for NDC in Ghana’s 8th Parliament from January 2017till January 2023.
He has also held various positions in government, including Minister for Communications under the Mills and Mahama governments as well as Minister for Trade between 2013 and 2014. He was appointed the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations by President Mahama in July 2014.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the deputy minority leader in parliament, has submitted his nomination documents to run for the Ellembelle seat a fifth time.
After ousting the outgoing NPP Chairman Freddie Blay, who was then theConvention People’s Party‘s representative in Parliament, Armah-Kofi Buah first won the Ellembelle seat in 2008.
Speaking to Citi News after filling his nomination form at Ayinase which was marked with a massive float by supporters to the Ellembelle NDC office, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said his motivation to contest the seat again is because the people want him to continue the good works he has been doing in the constituency.
“The last seven years of governance has been a disaster. Almost every development project we’ve tried has come to a stop. I believe that I have earned the right to be in a position to help the District to develop, so that is why I’m running again. Look at the enthusiasm and the support base and I believe the people of Ellembelle want me to continue the good works I have been doing, and I’m proud to serve them,“ he said.
Although two other persons have their posters in town to contest the sitting MP, the Ellembelle NDC constituency Chairman and other executives told Citi News they are supporting Armah-Kofi Buah because of how well he has changed the face of Ellembelle in a positive light since he became an MP.
Film director and producer, Fred Nuamah, has stated that the current misunderstanding between him and John Dumelo regarding the Ayawaso West Wuogon ticket for the NDC will soon be settled.
John Dumelo would not consider the creative who has teamed up with numerous other colleagues to run for political office, specifically to represent their people in Parliament, as a friend, but rather as a brother.
According to him, the National Democratic Congress, on whose ticket they both want to run for the upcoming elections is a family, and they won’t allow politics to tear them apart.
John Dumelo who contested for the seat in the 2020 elections and lost has made his intentions of contesting the Ayawaso West Wuogon slot again.
But Fred Nuamah, a colleague in the creative industry has picked nominations to contest the same seat, which Dumelo said is “a stab in the back.”
“John is not my friend. He is my brother and I won’t allow this politics to divide us and apart from him being my brother from the other side, the NDC is one party and the matter between us is an internal matter and for all you know, we have even resolved it already,” he said on United Showbiz Friday, March
When asked of the allegations being made against him for picking the forms, he reiterated it was John’s decision to go to SALL that made him pursue his interest.
“I don’t blame John for calling me a liar and betrayer because if I explain, you’ll understand me. I did a research with my future constituents some years back when my brother decided to go to the other side (SALL it is an open secret that John made up his mind to go to SALL so I don’t want to dwell on it).
“I called my brother about two years ago and I told him I don’t want our seat here to be vacant once you’re leaving here. So even with brotherly advice my brother told me that, Fred, why not choose a different place because this place is very expensive. And I told him no because I live here I want to go for this seat. And then because of the love we do have for each other, some months ago, I heard some rumours that my brother is coming back so I picked a phone to call him and maybe he was busy so he wasn’t answering. So I started sending messages and asked him that I’ve heard you’re coming back so if that’s the case, let me back out and he said wait, I’m waiting for a certain call so when the greenlight comes then I’ll give you the go ahead.
Former National Communication Officer of theNational Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah has cast a shade at former President Mahama over his ‘I would cancel ex-gratia’ comment.
Dr. Kwabena Duffour, notJohn Dramani Mahama, who has tasted ex gratia and may not have the hunger to do so, is the best candidate to lead a government to annul ex gratia, according to a member of the Dr. Duffour campaign team.
Speaking on a Kumasi-based radio station, Mr. Nkansah said the NDC and Ghana have reached a point where people must be doers and not talkatives.
He spoke to Julius Caesar Anadem on the Abusua Nkomo Show.
“We have reached a point in our democracy that we can’t throw money away just like that. We need people who are committed to the course of making this country better. Dr Duffour is a doer and has shown this over the years,” he said.
“Duffour is well accomplished, when he was finance minister he never took salary, he did not take ex gratia, so if we want someone who can be trusted to cancel ex gratia who will it be?” he questioned
“He has not taken ex gratia before so obviously he will not condone the payment of it. So when Duffour comes and tells Ghanaians to sacrifice they will heed. He has done his bit for Ghanaian politics and is considered an angel in politics”
“Even before he becomes flagbearer of the party, he has introduced the Ahoto Project, can’t people see the signs already,” Solomon Nkansah said.
At the launch of his campaign former President John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap the payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive and article 71 should he be re-elected in the 2024 elections.
Mr. Mahama said he will take the necessary steps to scrap the payment as soon as he assumes power.
Paul Amaning, a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) communication team, said that even the IMF’s managing director had said Ghana was on track for sustainable growth, barring exogenous shocks like COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
He emphasised that the NPP government has provided significant infrastructure to every sector of the economy.
If not for the current global financial crisis, according to him, the government had a clear vision for the country and was on track to carry it out.
He claims that whenever he hears the NDC criticizing wasteful spending, even though they are well aware of the fact that the government has invested in every area of the economy, they always seem to forget that many public employees have been working from home for close to a year as a result of COVID-19 while still receiving their salaries. Even though Ghanaians had their power costs cut in half, the country’s tax revenue was negatively impacted since businesses stopped operating.
“But in all, we were vindicated by the IMF Boss. Do you remember she used Ghana as an example for countries that had tangent growth that would have been sustainable but was affected due to external factors”, he told Movement Tv.
“This is a clear indication that government has better plans for the country which has been affected by external crisis. There are some countries where workers did not receive salaries. But ours is different due to the leadership ofNana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo”, he added.
Asawase MP Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has filed a lawsuit against 11 NDC branch executives in his constituency for spreading defamatory remarks about him.
The remarks were circulated through various media outlets and deemed to be libelous against the MP.
Mubarak is seeking GH¢10 million in damages from the defendants.
A Kumasi High Court has ordered the defendants and any other media organizations that published the defamatory material to retract the comments and issue an unqualified apology in a national newspaper.
The NDC members responsible for the defamatory remarks issued a press statement on March 10, 2023, which led to the lawsuit.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former minister of food and agriculture, has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama for neglecting to take action to address the country’s cocoa swollen shoot virus epidemic during his administration.
Many hectares of farmland were harmed by the disease, and the former president, according to Dr. Afriyie Akoto, should have proposed some solutions to stop its recurrence.
Parts of the country were severely hit by the swollen shoot virus disease during the erstwhile Mahama administration. Western and Eastern regions were the most affected.
Cases of the disease were recorded in Ghana between 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017 and 2021, where millions of trees were affected.
But laying the blame on Mr. Mahama, on the Point of View with Bernard Avle, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said, “cocoa production has almost stagnated and for a good reason. The swollen shoot virus disease set in about 11 years ago. The NDC-Mahama administration should have taken measures immediately when the incident started to stop spreading. But it was only when we came that through the African Development Bank, we managed to get a loan for rehabilitation to control the virus in the cocoa industry. The project started in 2020, it’s in 3rd year of implementation”.
He stressed, “the Ivorians took measures when it should have been taken, unlike Ghana where it festered to the extent that Western North production came down. We have taken some measures to correct something which should have been done 10 years back”.
The cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is one of the most devastating diseases on cacao and causes significant production losses and death of cacao trees. The CSSVD is caused by a badnavirus within the family Caulimoviridae.
Samuel Koku Anyidoho, a former general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has ridiculed the immediate past Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, over comments he made regarding his presidential ambition.
Dr Afriyie Akoto, in an interview on JoyNews, on Tuesday, said that he wants to become president of Ghana because he wants to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“I want to be president because I want to be flagbearer of the NPP which is what is driving me; to give an opportunity for me to make a contribution to the New Patriotic Party as you saw in 2020,” he said.
Reacting to this in a tweet shared, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, Koku Anyidoho could not believe what the NPP presidential hopeful said.
Koku Anyidoho, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Atta-Mills Institute, said that Dr Afriyie Akoto has gotten his aims twisted.
“You want to be President because you want to be Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party? Please can someone explain to me what he is trying to communicate? A case of, reverse osmosis?” parts of the tweet read.
He also indicated that the former agriculture minister failed in the implementation of the government’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme.
“Is he eating the food before he plants? Then what happens to the jobs?”
The member of parliament for Asawase in the Ashanti Region, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has filed a defamation lawsuit against 11 local NDC branch executives.
The 11 individuals have been accused of publishing and disseminating remarks deemed libelous against the MP.
The Asawase MP is demanding GH¢10 million in damages against the defendants.
A Kumasi High Court has also directed the defendants and other media houses that published the said defamatory material to retract and render an unqualified apology in a national newspaper.
Some members of the NDC in the Asawase Constituency led by the 11 branch executives issued a Press Statement on March 10 2023 which contained the said defamatory remarks.
Counsel for the defendants declined comments on the development when Citi News contacted him, but said he is working to defend his clients in court.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, says his next administration will not construct new projects until existing ones are completed and put to use.
Mr Mahama said the current economic crisis requires new ways of doing things other than the usual.
According to him, an inventory will be taken of all ongoing projects with strict time lines to ensure their completion to prevent wastage of scarce resources.
Engaging delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Tano South in the Ahafo Region, Mr Mahama said the interest and needs of Ghanaians will be paramount to his next administration.
“With the economic crisis that we currently have, by the time the NDC comes into power in 2025, we are still going to have a restricted fiscal space because of the economic difficulties.
“A new NDC will not be in a hurry to start new projects. What we will do is that the projects that have been ongoing and have been abandoned and uncompleted, we will take an inventory of all of them and with the little resources, we will dedicate it to finishing them.”
Mr Mahama accused President Akufo-Addo of abandoning many of the projects started during his government’s tenure.
This, he said is disappointing and must be addressed urgently.
According to him, schools and road projects among others initiated during his time as President have been left unattended to.
Mr Mahama is currently campaigning for delegates of the party to vote for him to lead the party into the 2024 general elections.
Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has cast doubt over the ability of the National Identification Authority (NIA) to print and issue out all outstanding Ghana Cards before the EC commences the continuous Voters Registration Exercise.
He stated that the leadership of the party does not trust the National Identification Authority (NIA) due to the inconsistency in their communication on the issue of the Ghana Card.
He contends that the NIA cannot be taken seriously because its executive secretary, Professor Ken Attafuah, failed to fulfil a promise he made to Ghanaians that he would issue them with their Ghana Cards by December 2022.
Speaking in an interview on “The Pulse” on Joy News, on March 14, 2023, Aseidu Nketiah lamented by saying “The cause of this problem is the lack of complete trust between us (NDC) and the NIA and other state agencies.
“Where are we now? We are approaching March ending 2023 and they’re still replacing those promises with other promises. In other jurisdictions, Ken Attafuah would have resigned because we are discussing state business and you come and swear on your honour that this is what we have put in place,” he said.
He added “It’s state business, and we must all work together to make it happen, and I am going to play this part within three months, now, it’s been six months and more, and what you promised hasn’t happened, do you think you are entitled to be listened to?” he asked.
The proposed C.I. by the EC, which would require the EC to use Ghana Card alone to register citizens for the new voter ID cards, has received harsh criticism from some members of the NDC. They assert that the new C.I. is an effort on the part of the Electoral Commission to rig the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Jean Mensa appeared before parliament on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, over the proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) her outfit brought before the House.
Her appearance came after Speaker Alban Bagbin, summoned her to appear before the committee of the whole.
On their part, the National Identification Authority (NIA) says it is set to print more cards as the government has settled the GH¢100 million debt owed creditors. Printing of the cards was suspended following financial constraints faced by the NIA.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has all it takes to win the 2024 elections, according to Peter Mac Manu, a former national chairman.
He contended that, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has demonstrated that it is unable to secure significant victories in national elections.
He said with a united front, the NPP can win the next elections.
Speaking with Nana Yaa Mensah on Sunday Night on Asaase 99.5, Accra, Mac Manu said, “If you look at the past election results it tells you that if you put the late President Rawlings from the NDC stock aside, the NDC has not won any elections beyond any appreciable levels…NPP has the base. Our base is stronger than theirs (NDC) because when we win, we win with huge margins.”
“So where we stand now, I think that we have all it takes to ‘break the 8’. We [NPP] are superb in terms of internal democracy.”
He added that “People are getting worried about our next primaries … and we are maturing [in terms of] giving support to whoever emerges as our candidate. I do not expect anybody to single himself out because he has lost the primaries.”
“We have built a party on a sense of unity and we have all the various machinery to bring unity post-primaries available.”
On whether the chaotic selection of a flagbearer in the lead-up to the 2008 election contributed to the party’s loss, Mac Manu said, “I think that complacency was part of the lost and that because of the massive work; the infrastructure that President Kufour had built, we thought that alone could win us the elections but even if we built the infrastructure you will have to propagate the story and that wasn’t good enough.”
“But times have changed; our party structures, machinery and our system of communicating have changed … and the dynamics are quite different.”
“Long campaign”
The former NPP national chairman said there is no need for anyone to compare the NPP to the NDC and question why the governing party has not set a date for its internal elections.
“For me, I do not understand why we want a long campaign, if we elect people now it means they will have to campaign for two years. It is never done anywhere …” he said.
According to former president John Dramani Mahama, the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will finish off abandoned projects rather than start new ones.
John Mahamaasserts that the administration cannot wait to launch fresh initiatives due to the nation’s economic state.
Speaking to delegates in the Tano North constituency as part of a campaign tour in the Ahafo Region, Mahama, a flagbearer aspirant of the NDC, said that when the party takes office, it will ensure that all abandoned infrastructural works are completed.
“With the economic crisis that we currently have, by the time the NDC comes into power in 2025, we are still going to have a restricted fiscal space because of the economic difficulties. A new NDC will not be in a hurry to start new projects. What we will do is that the projects that have been ongoing and have been abandoned and uncompleted, we will take an inventory of all of them and with the little resources, we will dedicate it to finishing them.”
Former President John Mahama has accused the Akufo-Addo administration of abandoning many of the projects started during his government’s tenure.
The former President says he finds it disappointing that a number of the projects remain uncompleted since his administration left office in January 2017.
According to him, schools and road projects among others initiated during his time as President have been left unattended to.
John Dramani Mahama has been describing this situation with development projects as very unfortunate.
The former president is campaigning to lead his party the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 general elections.
But the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed former President John Dramani Mahama’s claims that government has abandoned several projects initiated by the previous NDC administration in the country.
Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has dragged 11 NDC Asawase branch executives to court for defamation.
The defendants are said to have issued a press statement of various defamatory statements which claims that the MP owns 15 stores at the newly built Asawase Market and the MP cannot deny.
The lawmaker indicated “that on or about 10th March 2023 to 11th, defendants issued a Press Statement, which was published, distributed and/or otherwise circulated by the general public and media houses. In the said Press Statement, the Defendants published various defamatory statements of and concerning Plaintiff. These defamatory statements comprise the following: “a. “If you will recall, a few days ago, the office of the MP Hon. Muntaka Mubarak of Asawase Constituency issued a statement which sought to whitewash the MP after he was exposed for forcibly allocating some 15 stores/sheds to himself at the Asawase Market built by next Flagbearer of NDC and the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama”;
“b. “The youth stated categorically that the office of Hon. “Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak as usual is being economical with the truth”;” among others.
According to the MP, this defamatory statement meant that he was engaged in public deception, abuse of power and/for corruption for his own personal.
Muntaka is also of the view that the statement made him look like a fraud a liar, and a corrupt among others.
Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka is demanding 10 million Ghana cedis for aggravated and exemplary damages and a retraction and unqualified apology by the defendants to be published to all media houses that the defendants caused to publish and circulated or distributed the defamatory materials with the same prominences as the publication made of and concerning plaintiff.
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says the use of the Ghana Card as sole proof of eligibility for prospective voters in the next general election has its own challenges.
He says the EC’s decision to exclude other forms of identification in the voter registration exercise will not resolve the challenges confronting the election management body in terms of protecting the integrity of the electoral roll.
Speaking in an Interview with Joy News’ Blessed Sogah on The Pulse, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said, “people who are holding Ghana Card also has its own challenges even if every Ghanaian has it. Do you know mad people have the right to get the citizen’s card? Do you know that undischarged bankrupts have the right to own a Ghana card?
“So you want to issue the card to a mad person and when he presents it at the registration center you can’t stop him, but a person who is active and alert and who doesn’t have the card cannot participate in the elections?
“So look, one source of identification document is good, but don’t let us misuse it. Let us go gradually and make sure that we have come to a point where there is no backlog,” he said.
The NDC Chairman was reacting to the justification offered by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa when she addressed Parliament over the proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) on electoral reforms ahead of the 2024 general election.
She indicated that the use of the Ghana Card is to protect the integrity of the voters register.
She added that it will also prevent unqualified persons from influencing elections in the country, thus “having a say on who should govern our country.”
Meanwhile the opposition NDC says it will not back down in its “operation save our democracy” as Mr. Nketia says Members of Parliament on the NDC ticket have been directed to kick against the CI.
Some 11 branch executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been suspended by the Ashanti Regional Secretariat for breaching an order which urged them to desist from the use of press conferences and press statements in addressing internal party matters.
According to the Ashanti Regional Secretary, Dr Frank Amoakohene, the 11 executives violated this order after they held a press conference on March 7, 2023, in the Asawase Constituency hence their suspension.
The matter, the letter added, will be heard by the Disciplinary Committee.
Some of the suspended executives are Alolgo Martins, Branch Chairman- Asokore-Mampong, Eric Nana Wiafe, Branch Chairman, Mohammed Sabiu Sherif – Branch Chairman Alidu Adam, branch secretary, Alhassan Fuseini- Branch Organiser, Asamawu Alhassan-Branch organiser, and Mohammed Abdul Baki- Branch youth organiser,
The others are Umar Yaser- Brach Youth Organiser, Idrdrisu Adam, Branch Youth Organiser, Yakubu Musah-Branch Organser, and Umar Harris- Chairman for Concern Constituency.
Reports indicate that the constituency chairman is not aware of the suspension, and that the directive was backed by the constituency secretary and organiser.
Members of the party who have been suspended are yet to receive their letters.
The Police have arrested one more person in relation to the chaosNational Democratic Congress’ (NDC) National Youth and Women’s Congress held on December 10, 2022, at Cape Coast in the Central Region.
Fuseini Lukman Yidana, the suspect, was taken into police custody after being detained at the Tamale Cultural Centre on March 9, 2023, he will be brought before court.
This brings to seven (7) the number of people arrested so far in connection with the disturbances.
The six earlier arrested are Abdul Halid Shaibu alias Oluu, Ibrahim Razak, Iddrisu Abass alias Jango, Dawda Mohammed Nazir, Dawda Hassan and Hajj Abdul-Fataw Adams.
Police in a statement indicated that “the face of the suspect has been shown because he had been declared wanted together with his image already displayed in our quest to seek public assistance in getting him and the rest arrested.”
“The intelligence operations are still ongoing to get the remaining 9 suspects arrested, “it added.
A former chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has questioned the commission’s decision to abandon the guarantor system for the ongoing voter registration process.
He stated that the EC’s assertion that the guarantor system was ineffective and the Ghana Card should be the exclusive method of registration was unpersuasive.
According to Dr Afari-Gyan, as far as the National Identification Authority (NIA) allowed the guarantor regime in the registration for the Ghana Card, nothing prevented the EC from doing the same for the voter registration exercise and making that system more robust as it wanted it.
“What prevents the commission from instituting, in the upcoming constitutional instrument (CI), a guarantor regime as robust as or even more robust than the one being used by the NIA for doing the Ghana Card?” he queried.
Guarantor system
In line with Article 11 (7) of the 1992 Constitution, the EC is seeking to lay a CI before Parliament to regulate the continuous voter registration exercise.
Per the article, the CI, which seeks, among other things, to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for the exercise and the only means for registration, when laid in Parliament, will come into force after 21 sitting days, except the house annuls it by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all Members of Parliament (MPs).
Last month, the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Adukwei Mensa, told Parliament, as part of the pre-laying of the CI, that the Ghana Card as the sole registration document would ensure that only eligible Ghanaians registered as voters.
Such a move, she said, would give the country a credible voter roll and enhance its electoral process.
The EC boss said her outfit jettisoned the guarantor system because it was susceptible to abuse, which affected the credibility of the electoral roll.
“The challenges with the guarantor system are that it opens the door for registered voters or guarantor contractors to guarantee/vouch for persons who are less than 18 years and it allows the guarantors to vouch for foreigners. Such unqualified persons used the door of the guarantor system to try to get onto the register.
“Truth be told, the guarantor system was not the best under any circumstances, but we did not have other options, since a significant number of people did not possess the Ghana Card at the time. Even, then, we had 10 million Ghanaians using the Ghana Card to back their citizenship at the time of registration,” she said.
Criticisms
Dr Afari-Gyan is not the only person to criticise the EC over the proposed CI.
The CI has faced a backlash from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), a civil society organisation, especially concerning the decision by the EC to throw away the guarantor system, which hitherto allowed a registered voter to vouch for the citizenship of another person seeking to register.
The NDC has described the CI as “obnoxious and a threat to the country’s democracy” and directed its MPs not to absent themselves from Parliament to enhance the fight against the proposed law.
For the CDD, the elimination of the guarantor system would make it very difficult for many Ghanaians to register and that would, ultimately, infringe on their constitutional right to vote.
“The current CI 126 allows for a guarantor to guarantee for up to five people; this can be reduced to three,” it said.
Citizenship
Dr Afari-Gyan, who is the longest-serving Chairperson in the history of the EC, further reiterated his criticism of the use of the Ghana Card as the sole source document for the registration exercise.
In a previous statement to the Daily Graphic in August last year, he had said making the Ghana Card the sole identification document would disenfranchise millions of qualified Ghanaians and as such the move by the EC was against electoral inclusivity, fairness and justice.
In his new critique, he said he was not against the use of the Ghana Card and did not also disagree with the EC that the Ghana Card was of great importance and would go a long way to sanitise the electoral roll
“I think that it is grossly unfair and misleading to try to create the impression that the debate over whether or not, as of now, the Ghana Card should be the only basis for a Ghanaian citizen to be registered as a voter revolves wholly around how useful the card is. I have not heard anybody saying that the Ghana Card is not a good thing to have or use,” he said.
According to him, his disagreement was because the EC was gradually making the Ghana Card the only means of citizenship, which is the criterion for one to register as a voter.
It was his contention that the Ghana Card did not bestow citizenship on anyone but rather validated that citizenship; therefore, making the Ghana Card the sole means of registration meant the EC was trying to define those without the card as not citizens of Ghana eligible to vote.
“In my view, as of now, it cannot be reasonably assumed that every Ghanaian of voting age has the Ghana Card, or can get one well ahead of the next elections,” he said.
“In fact, given that even under continuous registration there is a cut-off period, during which time one can register as a voter but cannot vote in the following election, I think it is far too early yet to make a fetish of Ghana Card as the only basis for registering a Ghanaian citizen as a voter,” Dr Afari-Gyan averred.
As one of his initiatives when given the nod to lead the party, NDC flagbearer hopeful, Kwaku Kobeah has promised to pay all NDC’s executive every month.
According to the A 43-year-old businessman based in the United Kingdom, this is possible as measures will be put in place to generate revenue for the party.
“Let us smile together and welcome monthly salary for executives in the offing” Kwaku Kobeah posted on Facebook.
Ernest Kobeah, has picked his nomination form to contest in the flagbearership race of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He picked the form briefly after the former president, John Dramani Mahama picked up his forms at the party’s headquarters to contest the flagbearship race.
“I am here to pick nomination forms and you know the NDC, will always bring a surprise. So, I am the new one to bring all the surprises in the NDC. I also want Ghanaians to know that the NDC, we support democracy and we will build a new Ghana for anyone to live in,” he said when he picked his form.
The National Democratic Congress opened its nominations for the election of its Presidential candidate and Parliamentary Candidates for the 2024 General Elections.
So far, four flagbearer hopefuls have picked thei nominations; John Mahama, Ernest Kobeah, Kojo Bonsu, and Dr. Kwabena Duffour.
Deputy Roads and Highways Minister, Stephen Pambiin Jalulah has stated that the Pokuase Interchange was constructed by the ruling New Patriotic Party, hence the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot take credit for it.
It was only a “dream” for the NDC government, even if it secured funding for the Pokuase Interchange.
According to Jalulah, the NDC after securing the funding for the project they did not negotiate to get workers on the ground nor start any construction works and it cannot be right that they seek to take credit for what they did not do.
The works, Mr Jalulah noted, was done when the NPP came into power. “It’s one thing to dream and it’s another thing for the dream to be actualised,”
“You go to tell a lender that give me money to do a road and they say okay I’ll give you the money, then you go to parliament, parliament approves, that said, you are supposed to negotiate with the lender then you negotiate with the contractor to come and build the road for you,” he said.
Speaking on The Probe with Blessed Sogah, the Deputy Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Pru West Constituency in the Bono East region indicated that a government can only take credit for a project they initiated and completed.
“Any government that executes any project should take credit for it, in this case, they never did anything,” he indicated.
He hinted that there is another project underway but which not materialise in the tenure of the current President, therefore if another President comes into power to actually build and finish it, President Akufo-Addo who initiated it cannot claim credit for it.
“We’re doing one currently but it will not materialise under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but the next government which hopefully will be Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia,”
“Now Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cannot claim credit for what he’s doing now for an interchange to be built in another city of the country,” he stated.
Mr. Jalulah also disclosed that seven more interchanges will be completed by 2024.
“And as I told you we are having so many of this happening, on the Akosombo road we’re having two interchanges, Ofankor we’re having about four,”
“Even the most talked about Accra-Tema Motorway, this year hopefully it will come on stream and we’re having about four interchanges on that road,” the MP hinted.
Actor-turned-politician John Dumelo has dismissed claims that he gave his blessings to his friend and colleague Fred Nuamah to contest for the Ayawaso West Wuogon NDC Parliamentary seat.
According to him, Fred Nuamah knew he would contest to represent the constituency once again in the 2024 elections but he (Nuamah) went to pick the forms anyway.
Speaking on UTV’s United Showbiz, he said the Ghana Movie Award CEO’s claims that he (Dumelo) had not informed him of his “second coming” and had given his blessing is untrue.
“I never gave him my blessings and I never told him in the face that ‘Fred I am not coming back (to Ayawaso) so you can go there’. I never said it, never in any conversation whatsoever,” he said.
John Dumelo added that “he called me two months ago and said he had heard of my return and so he was ready to support my bid to come back. He came to my birthday on February 3, and later in the evening he released his flyer.”
Fred Nuamah, John Dumelo said, later sent him a long message explaining why he was also bidding to contest.
However, the 2020 NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon said “I insisted then that I never told him I wouldn’t come back so which blessings did I give?”
“I think this is a betrayal and a stab in the back, especially for someone I’ve known for more than 20 years. I didn’t want to speak about this but I needed to clear the air after his statements…he is a liar,” John Dumelo added.
This comes after actor turned-politician Fred Nuamah claimed he was taken aback by his friend, John Dumelo’s “u-turn” after his declaration to contest once again for the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat after previous assurances that he would not.
In an interview with graphic showbiz, Mr Nuamah explained that the 2020 NDC Parliamentary candidate for the constituency had informed him and others that he would no longer contest for a parliamentary seat in the Greater Accra Region.
Noting that he will not back down in the contest, Fred said that “he gave me his blessings when I made up my mind to contest.”
“I would have rather expected him to honour his word when he said he won’t contest the seat and, therefore, throw his support behind me,” the Ghana Movie Awards CEO said.
However, John Dumelo insists that no such interactions happened saying “does he deserve my blessings.”
John Dumelo is confident he will win the NDC primaries especially since he believes the delegates and constituents want him back.
Background
Ghanaians were taken aback by the news that Fred Nuamah and John Dumelo would be battling for the NDC parliamentary candidacy for Ayawaso West Wuogon ahead of the 2024 general election.
Although they will be contesting for the same position, in the same party, and at the same constituency (Ayawaso West Wuogon), John and Fred are good friends; Fred was actually John’s best man at his wedding in 2019.
Fred Nuamah announced his intention to contest first and days later John Dumelo made known his.
Meanwhile, in the 2020 election, John Dumelo vied for the constituency seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but lost to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Lydia Seyram Alhassan.
He polled 37,778 votes against the incumbent, New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Lydia Seyram Alhassan’s 39,851 votes, offering hope for a good chance to probably win the slot at the next general election in 2024.
An outspoken member of parliament for Assin Central and candidate for the party’s presidential nomination, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has criticized the Electoral Commission (EC) for choosing to adopt the Ghana Card as the only form of identification for registration in the general elections of 2024.
The new Constitutional Instrument (CI) seeks to see the elimination of the guarantor system for all first-time registrants to the country’s electoral register.
But the MP in a media interview on a local radio station, Sompa FM, in Kumasi, indicated that the new CI laid in Parliament by the Electoral Commission is “bogus”.
He maintains that it makes no sense that the Ghana Cardwould suddenly be raised above the Ghana Passport in determining the identity of citizens.
‘’I am against it. Ghana has people taking bogus decisions. We have a whole Ghana passport, but you (EC) claim that to register to vote you can’t use it to register as a voter. What makes me know that I am a Ghanaian? It is my passport”, he said.
His comments come as a surprise as members of the NPP side in Parliament had constantly supported the EC in its move for the Ghana card to be used as the only source of identification for the voters register.
But as it stands, the NDC Members of Parliament are being whipped to be in the house at all cost to kick against the proposed CI.
Former president,John Dramani Mahama has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not compromise in its effort to gain power during the general elections of 2024.
On his campaign visit for the party’s flagbearership contest, he informed party supporters in the Tain and Banda constituency in theBono East Region that the NDC will prioritize the polling places in its effort to ensure its mandate after the vote.
Mahama, who is seeking a fourth straight shot at the presidency, use two controversial phrases in Ghana’s political phraseology to drive home the seriousness the NDC will deploy in 2024.
“I have no doubt that NDC will win the 2024 elections. So, the vote will be a do or die affair and we will be matching them boot to boot at the polling station.
“When the time comes, we will take names of polling station agents and I plead that we need educated persons who can do at least arithmetic, so, that you can decipher what we really got and to ensure the biometric details match the number of papers in a ballots box.
“It is not about who is older in the party. We need a knowledgeable person who can be trained to undertake the task. You can bring your wards who are educated to be trained for the purpose,” he stressed.
Mahama, who will come up against four other competitors said the NDC planned to have its own collated results by midnight of December 7.
“With that, when voting ends at 5 pm, we will be able to declare our victory by midnight. We would have our results. We won’t sleep on the evening of 7th December till we have assured ourselves of victory,” he added to massive applause.
Flagbearer aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr Kwabena Duffuor has pledged to restore the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to full operating capacity, if elected as flagbearer and subsequently President of Ghana.
The former finance minister who is one of four contenders for the leadership of the main opposition party going into the 2024 general elections was speaking to party delegates during a campaign tour of the greater Accra region this week.
The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) shut down its operations in June 2018 due to several management issues including an inability to make available steady supply of crude oil, a main raw material for the refinery.
He believes that TOR is one of Ghana’s biggest national assets which must not be left to deteriorate especially at a time that it is essential to bring down the cost of petroleum products, critical for the economic well-being of all Ghanaians.
The renowned economist told NDC party supporters that he will fix TOR and commit to ensuring that the refinery operates efficiently and sustainably, providing affordable fuel to the people of Ghana.
“I understand the importance of TOR to the Ghanaian economy, and if given the opportunity to lead, I will work tirelessly to bring it back to full operation. The high cost of petroleum products is a significant burden on the average Ghanaian, and we must do everything we can to make fuel prices more affordable,” Dr. Duffuor assured.
He explained that his plan to revive TOR includes a comprehensive review of the refinery’s operations and infrastructure as well as the implementation of sustainable measures to ensure that the refinery runs efficiently. He added that he will also work with industry experts to explore alternative sources of crude oil to ensure a steady supply for the refinery.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor who was once governor of the Bank of Ghana said his plan to revive TOR will not only bring down the cost of petroleum products but also create job opportunities for Ghanaians and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Supporters of Dr. Duffuor have hailed his commitment to bringing back TOR to full operation as testament to his vision for a better Ghana and his dedication to making life more affordable for all Ghanaians.
As the NDC Presidential primary elections approach, Dr. Duffuor’s pledge to revive TOR is one of the many policy initiatives that he is presenting to the grassroots with the confidence that his vision for a better Ghana will resonate with voters and bring about the change that NDC and Ghana needs at the moment.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has cautioned Ghanaians against voting for another hung Parliament in the future.
According to the Bekwai MP, the situation has impeded the work of the House.
He wants Ghanaians to vote massively for either the NPP or NDC in the 2024 general elections to give one political party an overwhelming majority in the House.
According to him, the seventh Parliament, for instance, passed over 100 laws but the current Parliament which is in its third year has passed less than 10 laws.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has urged Ghanaians never to vote for another hung Parliament in the future.
The Bekwai MP believes the situation has made the current legislature less efficient as compared to the seventh Parliament.
He wants Ghanaians to vote massively for either the NPP or NDC in the 2024 general elections to give one political party an overwhelming majority in the House.
According to him, the seventh Parliament, for instance, passed over 100 laws but the current Parliament which is in its third year has passed less than 10 laws.
Citing the approval of ministerial nominees and nominees to the Supreme Court as an example, he stated that there is less cooperation and the Minority tends to oppose almost all government’s decisions irrespective of the substance of the issues.
Speaking exclusively to Citi News, he stated that the lack of effective collaboration in Parliament is adversely affecting governance in the country.
“It is affecting governance generally. I am saying that next time Ghanaians should vote more. If they want the NPP to be the Majority, they should give them more votes. If you want NDC to be the majority give them more votes. This one is affecting governance very badly.
“The seventh Parliament, probably because of the numbers, passed the highest number of laws since 1993, we passed over 100 laws. This Parliament is our third year, but I doubt we have passed even 10 laws. The level of cooperation that I saw is no longer there.”
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has dared a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, to publish details of his alleged research on registration equipment.
This is after the Professor in a recent Facebook post alleged that the distribution of equipment for the production of the Ghana Cards is skewed to favour the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and to the disadvantage of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“NIA respectfully challenges Prof. Gyampo to take out of the realm of conjecture his allegations and so-called research findings and conclusions, by publishing the relevant details of his research within the next 24 hours. This will permit an objective assessment of the nature, purpose, scope and method(s) of the research, as well as the facticity and soundness of his findings and conclusions,” the NIA responded in a statement issued on March 10, 2023.
The NIA in its statement stated that the allegations by Professor Gyampo without any evidential support amount to idle rumour-mongering.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has given a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, a 24-hour ultimatum to publish details of his alleged research on registration equipment.
Professor Gyampo in a recent Facebook post alleged that the distribution of equipment for the production of the Ghana Cards is skewed to favour the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and to the disadvantage of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“NIA respectfully challenges Prof. Gyampo to take out of the realm of conjecture his allegations and so-called research findings and conclusions, by publishing the relevant details of his research within the next 24 hours. This will permit an objective assessment of the nature, purpose, scope and method(s) of the research, as well as the facticity and soundness of his findings and conclusions,” the NIA responded in a statement issued on March 10, 2023.
The NIA in its statement stated that the allegations by Professor Gyampo without any evidential support amount to idle rumour-mongering.
The NIA described the comments by the Political Science lecturer as most scurrilous.
“This is a most scurrilous, astonishing and false allegation, and published by a professor of political science, it is all the more damning and concerning! The publication of this bare statement, without any evidentiary support, amounts to idle rumour-mongering. Such conduct is unbecoming of a professor who must, instead, manifest a commitment to sharing information that is sound and based on accessible and/or testable research. It is never sufficient to publish a bare allegation, simply because one has become aware of it, or dreamt of it! A person minded to publish such a conflict-laden allegation bears a duty of proof and circumspection,” the NIA added in its statement.
The NIA further indicated that it will not go by the advice from Professor Gyampo to accept his findings.
“Prof. Gyampo insists that his comments are grounded in research he has conducted, and he therefore advises NIA to humbly accept the findings and implications of his research and address the identified concerns. NIA has no reasonable basis to accept Prof. Gyampo’s claim,” the NIA pointed out.
Former President John Mahama says Ghanaians are yearning for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to return to power.
He says the citizenry is calling for the NDC government to come and rescue the country from the economic crisis caused by the inept Nana Addo administration.
He stated that unless Ghanaians rise and rescue the country from the hands of this family and friends’ government, things will deteriorate.
At this point, we must rescue Ghana from the hands of this government of family and friends. A family is on the verge of destroying this country, and as Ghanaians, we must rescue it from their clutches.
He made the remarks while speaking to NDC delegates in Techiman North as part of his Bono East Region campaign tour.
He stated that the country belongs to the next generation and that if we don’t find someone to save it, there will be no country for the next generation.
We require an experienced leader to lead the country. I’ve already been there. We witnessed what I did as president. I am not a newcomer. I have the knowledge. I have been to the Flagstaff House, where President Akufo-Addo is currently working as President. We must save this country.”
He went on to say that the NPP peddled lues and encouraged Ghanaians to try them, which destroyed our economy.
He said the NPP slammed him and described him as incompetent but when they were given the nod, they failed to deliver on their promises.
“Experience is not sold in the market. We need experience and not experimentation. We can no longer allow someone to come and experiment with our country.”
11 medical professionals have expressed interest in running for Parliamentary seats on theNational Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket in the impending 2024 general elections.
The 11 doctors, who work in some of the largest hospitals nationwide are eager to join the Legislature and contribute to the narrative of the nation’s progress.
They are:
Dr. Thomas Winsum Anabah, a former Administrator of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital for Garu Constituency in the Upper East Region;
Dr. Grace Ayensu -Danquah, for Essikado-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region
Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto for Keta Constituency in the Volta Region
Dr Madison Adanusa for Gomoa Central Constituency in the Central Region
, for Ho Central Constituency in the Volta Region
and Dr. Titus Beyuo for Lambussie Constituency in the Upper West Region
Others are Dr Abubakari Bawah Abdulai for Karaga Constituency in the Northern Region
Dr Prince Arhin, for Mfantseman C.onstituency in the Central Region
Dr. Roland Taylor, Essikado-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region
Dr. Winfred Korletey Baah for Lower Manya Krobo Constituency in the Eastern Region
and Dr. Kassim Abdallah for Sene West Constituency in the Bono East Region.
Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh, Vice President of Global Health, took to his Facebook wall to write the following words for his colleagues vying for the NDC’s ticket:
“So exciting to see many social democrats in the medical profession step up and out to contest the upcoming NDC primaries.
“A major boost for the fortunes of the National Democratic Congress and wonderful prospects for the country’s Parliament eventually.
“The Ghana we want will need all hands on deck!
“Knowing many of these colleagues personally, I am excited for the NDC!
“Wishing you well in the primaries, guys! It is time indeed!”
According to Abraham Amaliba, head of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team,President Akufo-Addois no more traveling in fancy private jet due to lack of funds.
He alleged that the President was able to fly in luxurious private jet due to Covid funds made available by the World Bank to assist nations in managing the economic difficulties they were experiencing in the course of the pandemic.
According to the legal practitioner, the use of Covid funds to finance the President’s travels is one piece of evidence of the mismanagement of the funds by Ghana.
Mr Amaliba was speaking on TV3‘s New Day during a discussion on President Akufo-Addo’s reply in his sessional address to Parliament on Wednesday, March 8 to assertions that government has misused Covid funds.
According to the NDC representative on the show on Friday, March 10, theCovid funds were what the president “used to finance his lifestyle”.
Asked by host Berla Mundi if the decision by the President was not as a result of incessant calls, especially by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for accountability, Mr Amaliba retorted: “Did we start crying today?”
For him, he believes government no longer has enough to continue to rent the “luxurious” private jets for the President’s international travels.
Mr Amaliba added that President Akufo-Addo should rather thank his stars that he is still the President of Ghana because other countries have chased out their leaders from office for the same “infractions”.
