Prior to the elections on May 13, 2023, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended the parliamentary primaries in 27 constituencies.
General Secretary Fiifi Kwettey did not give any reasons for the suspensions in two separate releases on February 21 and 22, 2023.
“The National Democratic Congress wishes to announce…that all is set for the opening of nominations for the election of its Presidential candidate and Parliamentary Candidates for the 2024 General Elections.
“As such, effective, midnight of 22nd February, 2023, Nomination Forms for Parliamentary candidateswill be accessible to all persons for purchase on the official website of the party; www.ghanandc.com,” portions of the press statement said.
The General Secretary explained in the statement that the decision to suspend the parliamentary primaries in 27 constituencies was taken by the Functional Executive Committee (FEC).
NDC supporters in a festive mood at previous party functions. Source: Facebook/@OfficialNDCGhana
The first list contained 23 constituencies but on Wednesday, February 22, four new constituencies were added to the suspension list.
Here are the 27 constituencies where the opposition has suspended the parliamentary primaries in alphabetical order:
Adansi Asokwa
Afram Plains South
Ahafo Ano North
Ahafo Ano South West (Aduagyman)
Akontombra
Akwatia
Amasaman
Amenfi East
Asante Akim Central
Assin North
Ayawaso Central
Ayensuano
Binduri
Bosome Freho
Efutu
Evalue Gwira
Fomena
Gomoa Central
Gomoa East
Manhyia South
Manso Adubia
Odododiodio
Offinso North
Pusiga
Sekyere Afram Plains
Subin
Tarkwa Nsuaem
The NDC released another statement on February 22, 2023, announcing suspensions in 4 more constituencies.
The Parliamentary Minority caucus is still committed to its stance that none of the ministerial nominations should be approved.
The Minority had stated on Monday that they will not approve any of the nominees selected by President Akufo-Addo to fill some vacant positions in government.
The decision followed a directive by the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, for Minority members on the Appointments Committee to reject all the nominees.
A section of the public had, however, hoped that the position of the Minority will be altered after participating in the two-day vetting process and particularly grilling some of the appointees for long periods.
The Majority caucus in Parliament on Tuesday also appealed to the National Democratic Congress as well as the Minority caucus to rescind the decision not to approve the new ministers.
Addressing the media, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh appealed to the NDC and its members in Parliament to support the approval of the ministerial nominees.
“I just want our colleagues to understand that for the sake of unity, and the desire for us to forge a working relationship, this is their major decision. In terms of the fact that they are coming into leadership, this is the first time more or less they are going to make such a significant decision”.
But speaking to the media on Tuesday, Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, said their position remains the same.
The Adaklu MP added that their decision was based on principles and not personal interest.
“We stated earlier initially that it has nothing to do with the personalities. We also stated that it was based on principles and that the country’s debt levels were unsustainable and government should find a way of realigning ministries.
“As we speak there is no movement in terms of our decision not to support at this stage, so nothing has changed in our position about approval or disapproval of the nominees.”
The nominees vetted include Bryan Acheampong, who will head the Ministry of Food and Agriculture replacing Dr Afriyie Akoto who resigned to pursue his presidential vision; Stephen Asamoah Boateng will also oversee the affairs of the Chieftaincy Ministry.
The rest are OB Amoah, the MP for Akwapim South now Minister of State at the Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Ministry and Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, MP for Karaga now Minister of State designate at the Finance Ministry.
Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry, Dr Stephen Amoah, has promised to slash his salary should Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, do same.
He says he will accept a reduction in his salary if the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, is willing to do same.
In recent times, there have been calls for government appointees to consider a reduction in their salaries to help salvage the economy.
On the back of this, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, during the vetting of the nominee, asked Dr Amoah if he would like to take a salary cut in the interest of the public purse.
But responding to this, Dr Stephen Amoah said he will embrace the suggestion only if the NDC lawmaker will do same.
“Mr Chairman, I think I said something here; my knowledgeable Dr Ato Forson and I, the only difference is the height.
“So the way we are brothers if he sees me on the corridor and he says brother, let us cut [our salaries] and he cuts his, I will cut mine”, Dr Amoah said.
Dr Stephen Amoah who is also the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, was nominated as the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry by President Akufo-Addo on February 7, this year.
If approved, he will deputise Adansi-Asokwa MP, K.T. Hammond who was vetted yesterday as the substantive minister for the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Meanwhile, Tamale Central MP, Murtala Mohammed, has expressed concern about President Akufo-Addo’s new appointments to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The Tamale Central MP indicated that due to the temperaments of the two politicians, it is not prudent for them to be under one roof.
According to him, putting the two lawmakers together may also affect work at the Ministry.
“We should pray they don’t exchange blows. That’s what I think. These are two very complex individuals. Very, very complex … You are talking of two very complex individuals who are going to work at the same ministry.
“I know honourable K.T. Hammond. He is a no-nonsense man. There are certain things he won’t tolerate under any circumstance. And I know my good friend, ‘Dr. Sticker’. When his name was mentioned, we all rose. We were happy for him.
“But frankly speaking [not] at that ministry, more so one of the most important, if not the most important ministry”, the MP said on Accra-based 3FM on February 8.
Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who have Parliamentary and Presidential ambitions can file their nominations from today, February 22, 2023.
The National Democratic Congress has opened nominations for the election of its Presidential and Parliamentary candidates for the 2024 General Elections today.
Aspiring Parliamentary candidates have been advised to purchase nomination forms on the official website of the party at www.ghanandc.com.
Meanwhile, aspiring Presidential candidates are to pick their forms from the Office of the General Secretary at the Party’s Headquarters at Adabraka, Accra effective 8 am today.
The Functional Executive Committee of the party has however put the opening of nominations for parliamentary primaries in some constituencies on hold. These constituencies are:
1. Ayawaso Central
2. Amasaman
3. Afram Plains South
4. Akwatia
5. Efutu
6. Gomoa Central
7. Amenfi East
8. Evalue Gwira
9. Assin North
10. Pusiga
11. Tarkwa Nsuaem
12. Ayensuano
13. Adansi Asokwa
14. Offinso North
15. Ahafo Ano North
16. Sekyere Afram Plains
17. Ahafo Ano South West (Aduagyman)
18. Bosome Freho
19. Asante Akim Central
20. Manso Adubia
21. Manhyia South
22. Subin
23. Fomena
The Functional Executive Committee will in due course announce the date for the opening of nominations in the above constituencies, the party statement read.
A son of NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Charles Asiedu, has declared his intention to contest in the party’s Tano South parliamentary primaries.
The former NDC Organizer for the Ahafo Region said his contributions to the party’s electoral fortunes in the region and the constituency make him the best candidate for the position.
Although the other 4 persons are lacing their boots to join the race, Asiedu believes his constant touch with the people in the area will get him the position.
If successful, Charles will replace Dr Hanna Bisiw who has been the parliamentary candidate for the area since 2012.
In an interview with Myxyzonline.com, the youth activist said “I am always here with the people and they know me to be a vibrant party person who has served them in different capacities.”
His aim is to maximise the NDC’s fortunes in Tano South and serve as an agent of development that will transform lives in the area.
Charles Asiedu has been a two-term branch organizer who rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Organizer of the NDC.
He is the immediate past Ahafo Regional organizer for the party.
Asiedu was the National Campaign Coordinator for Dr Hanna Bisiw’s campaign for the position of National Women’s Organizer in 2018 and 2022 when she was re-elected.
Asiedu holds a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership and Governance from the University of Ghana Business school.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies (PR) from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).
He has a certificate in Political Leadership and Party Organisation from the Ghana Institute of Social Democracy (GISD).
Charles Asiedu’s areas of expertise are communication, political marketing and branding, research, governance, strategic planning and human resource development.
The Minority in Parliament has proposed a merger of 4 ministries as a cost cutting measure.
The NDC MPs want Ministry of Information added to that of Communications, Railways Development to that of Transport, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs collapsed into Tourism and Creative Arts and Sanitation and Water Resources merged with Local Government.
Addressing the media in Parliament, Minority leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson assured a directive from the party for the nominees to be rejected will be adhered to, to the letter.
In a sharp reaction, the Majority has described as disappointing the position of the Minority.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued the directive of the NDC to its MPs is unconstitutional.
He questioned why the Minority members of the appointments committee are joining the vetting process despite their reservations.
Aspiring flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kojo Bonsu has called for a massive support for farmers in order to revive the challenged economy.
According to him, the country stands to benefit in the form of sufficient food production, supply and exports.
“You need to make sure that these local government offices will support the farmers. Now, when you support the farmers, we are going to get economic stability because we’re going to have food, and after food, we can use some for production and after that we can look at export, then we’re coming into economic stability,” he said.
Mr. Bonsu plans to drive the growth of the country on industrial farming if he becomes the leader of the country. He seeks to lay focus on cash crops such as; cocoa, cashew, cassava, tomato and maize, laying emphasis on yellow-maize farming, saying it is rear to see farms of that category.
The politician explained that although there are lots of farmers in the country, many of them are unable to embark on large-scale farming due to the lack of support from the government.
He therefore stressed the need for the government to supply the local government with industrial farming machines which can be rented out to farmers to embark on large-scale farming. This, he said helps reduce farmers’ huge expenditure on renting machinery.
Mr. Bonsu is a former Kumasi Mayor, a businessman and has served as a sports administrator for a number of football clubs in the country.
According to him, this is the time for him to run for the high office of the country on the ticket of the NDC.
He will be contesting against, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and possibly, former President John Dramani Mahama who is yet to announce his intent ahead of Election 2024.
While Mr. Bonsu commends the former President for his achievements during his tenure, he believes it is time to do things differently and that the person to do it is him.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has acknowledged that his administration erred in its decision to purchase tractors forfarmerswhile he was in power.
Mr Mahama says that given another chance, he will rather buy the tractors, and put them in a pool for someone with the expertise to manage and provide the tractor services to farmers.
“I realised some of the things that we did, we made mistakes, we imported tractors and agricultural equipment, and we gave it to farmers. The farmer does not need the tractor, he does not need the agricultural equipment, he needs the services of a tractor,” the former President said in Munich.
The former President added “so somebody who knows how tomaintain that tractor must have a service centre, where he provides the services to the farmer. But we gave the tractors to the farmers, and in a year or two the tractor had broken down because he [farmer] doesn’t know that every six months you must change the engine oil, you must change the filters, you must grease the tractor, he [farmer] doesn’t know that. So we will approach it differently.
Former President Mahamais in Munich, Germany, attending the 59th Munich Security Conference 2023. The conference provides a platform for high-level debates “on key foreign and security policy challenges.”
Mr Mahama is the Chairperson of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa. The Tana Forum in collaboration with Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (BDI) on Saturday, hosted a side event, an MSC Regional Breakfast on “Africa’s Place in a multipolar world: Moving from strategy to action.”
The session was opened by President Mahama as Chair of the Tana Forum and addressed by the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, and Wolfgang Niedermark of BDI, the Federation of German Industries.
South Africa’s Minister for Defence, Thandi Modise, delivered the keynote remarks.
Members of Parliament on the Minority side have been directed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to boycott and disapprove the new ministers appointed by President Akufo-Addo.
In a press release dated February 19, the party explained that this is to help push for the reduction in the size of the current government.
The NDC stated that, the party together with other civil society organisations have on numerous occasions expressed concern over government’s size but the President has yet to act on the calls for a reduction.
“The leadership of the NDC, has, against this backdrop, directed the Minority caucus in Parliament not to approve any of the new ministerial nominees and to further push for a reduction in the size of government with a view to reducing the needless drain on scarce public resources.”
Stephen Amoah, K.T. Hammond and Brian Acheampong
“In this moment of haircuts, the most important thing the government can do is to do a “governmental haircut”. Our directive to the Minority in Parliament, we believe strongly aligns with the genuine sentiments of most Ghanaians. Enough is enough,” parts of the statement read.
This comes after President Akufo-Addo made changes to his government on February 7. He appointed new persons while other ministers have been reshuffled to other ministries.
Asamoah Boateng, Mohammed Amin Adam, Hebert Krapah and O.B Amoah
These ministers are expected to appear before Parliament on Monday, February 20, for vetting.
Below is the list of ministers appointed
Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond has been appointed Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.
2. Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Brian Acheampong has been appointed Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.
3. Member of Parliament for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, who was stationed at the Energy Ministry as deputy Minister has been given a new post.
He has been appointed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry. He is set to replace Charles Adu Boahen.
4. Stephen Asamoah Boateng has been appointed Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
5. Herbert Krapah, who was Deputy Minister at the Trade Ministry has been moved to the Energy Ministry as Deputy Minister-designate. He replaces Mohammed Amin Adam.
6. Meanwhile, Dr Stephen Amoah is now Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry to replace Herbert Krapah.
7. Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has been appointed Minister of State at the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.
Ernest Owusu Bempah, the NPP’s deputy director of communications, has alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of planning to utilize staged negative media to undermine the popularity of the administration.
He said the main opposition party has no alternative solutions to the challenges current economic facing Ghanaians.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, February 16, he said “All indications depict the fact that they are on a mission to make this government very unpopular. A strategy that is very diabolical, they are not seeking the interest of Ghanaians.
“Have you heard the NDC talk about alternative solutions, viable alternative solutions for this country’s economic situation we find ourselves in? No. When NPP was in opposition, by this time we have policy plans like free SHS, we said we were going to stop dunsor.
“NDC doesn’t have solutions like that. All that they think about is to sit down and allegedly stoke fire in Bawku enskinment just to make the government unpopular, hide behind people to go about picketing because there’s a bond issue or to hide behind the young youth organizer to come and stoke fire and saying dangerous things which will destroy the fine democracy that Ghana is bequeathed with.
“The agenda of the new leadership of the NDC is just to set an agenda of hatchet orchestrated plan to make the government unpopular, when Ghanaians become dissatisfied with bad news about this government then it means NDC is an alternative, that is what they are thinking but they got it wrong.
Before Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the NDC’s member of parliament for North Tongu, appears in court on February 21, 2023, the Volta Regional Caucus of the opposition National Democratic Party (NDC) has issued a harsh warning to the ruling party.
The MP is being sued by the Secretary of the National Cathedral, Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, who is citing a number of publications and improper conduct claims the politician has made.
The NDC’s Volta Caucus claims that the government’s attempt to silence and persecute its legislative representation is the true purpose of the entire affair.
In a statement signed by the party’s regional communication officer, Sorkpa Agbleze, the NDC has warned that the government would be held responsible if the North Tongu MP is treated unjustly.
“We intensely call on this government not to embarrass this nation further by doing anything untoward to Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa because currently its popularity is extremely low and that burning desire for the ordinary Ghanaian to vent their anger is ubiquitous.
“We want to loudly and clearly once again warn that should anything unjust happen to Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa in his bid to heed the invitation to appear in court on 21st February, there certainly will be a furious spark of reactions, not only in the Volta Region, but across the Country”, portions of the statement read.
Supporters of the NDC in North Tongu have also backed their leaders and warned that they will not take lightly any harm done to their MP.
According to them, there is an attempt by the government to heckle the MP over his quest to hold the government accountable and fight corruption.
Former Cief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, is unimpressed with how administrations have performed since the 1992 Constitution took effect.
Even the New Patriotic Party (NPP), where she served as Chief Justice, is subject to her criticism of underperforming political leaders.
These remarks were delivered by her in an interview on JoyNews which is yet to be aired.
She believes that, to the detriment of the citizenry, succeeding administrations have consistently put the constitution on the back burner.
“I’ve been disappointed with every single government under this Constitution. Because, after all that we went through with the military and everything and we centered the Constitution as the guiding principle, at least, constitutionalism should have been what should have been guiding us,” she told Raymond Acquah.
According to her, “we have eroded so many standards, we’ve eroded so many principles. Yes, it’s not only the NPP government, as far as I’m concerned, every government has failed.”
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth organiser who incited supporters of the party in a recent video to secure power at all cost even if it means doing so through violent means,has been granted bail.
The accused, Razak Koumpa Avoliya, was admitted to bail by the Asokwa Circuit Court in the sum of GH₵50,000 with two sureties.
Speaking to JoyNews correspondent, Nana Yaw Gyimah, the counsel for the accused, Evans Amankwaah thanked the court for accepting their bail application.
He indicated a preparedness to face the prosecution at the next adjourned date.
“Thankfully, the judge has granted our brother (Koumpa Razak) bail and we are thankful to the Judiciary and the judge for granting our brother bail and understanding the position that we were coming from.
“The condition is also good that we are executing the bail at the registry of the court. We are to come to court on the 9th of March. The court has ordered that the prosecution serves us will be at their disclosures so that we can start the trial”, he said.
The Suame NDC Youth Organiser is reported to have made statements to incite violence in next year’s general election.
As a result, the Police issued a statement on Monday on his threat “to attack persons of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the run-up to the 2024 General Elections”.
The accused was detained by the Police on Wednesday after the regional leadership of the party turned him over.
He was, however, arraigned on Thursday and denied bail.
The prosecution told the court that investigation has since been completed but didn’t oppose to application for bail by the lawyers of the accused.
Meanwhile, the accused is expected to appear before the court on March 9.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate hopeful Mr Kojo Bonsu is sympathizing with Christian Atsu and his families following the recent infamous Turkey earthquake that has claimed thousands of lives.
Consequently, the former National Sports Authority (NSA) boss and the former Mayor of Kumasi has as a matter of urgency called on Ghanaians to intensify prayers for the missing former Newcastle United player.
The Ghana winger, who plies his trade with Hatayaspor has gone missing after the earthquake rubble in Turkey, and he is yet to be found by the rescue team.
In a release signed by his communication team, Mr Bonsu said “Whatever happens in any part of the world has a bearing across the world.
“That reality has hit home, especially following the major earthquake of last Monday, in parts of Turkey.
“That natural disaster has claimed many lives, and kept the rest of the world, on edge, given the mounting challenges faced by the rescue teams.”
The release added “Ghanaians have not been exempt from the anxiety of humanity, following the calamity.
“However, our particular interest rests in the timely rescue of our national, Christian Atsu, an ex-international, reported missing, since the huge earthquake hit Turkey.
“Although he has not yet been found, we have no recourse than to keep our hopes, alive, knowing, nothing is ever over until it is.
“So, to all Ghanaians, home and abroad, especially Atsu’s partner, children, parents, other family members, friends and teammates, I say, hang in, there.”
To him, Ghanaians should not rule out the possibility that he can be found, alive. It is never over till it is over saying.
Razak Kuampa Avoliya, NDC’s Suame Constituency Youth Organiser, has been granted a GH50,000 bail with two sureties by the Asokwa Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region after his arrest.
On February 8, 2023, Razak Avoliya was turned over to police by party officials and then arrested, charged, and jailed.
He has been apprehended for urging NDC supporters to commit mayhem against NPP members in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
The NDC National Organiser, Joseph Yammin said the party is happy about the development and urged the party supporters to continue to support their own in times like these.
Five lawyers represented the accused person in court today. The case has been adjourned to March 9, 2023.
The lawyer for the accused person, Evans Amankwah, in an interview with Citi News’ Ashanti Regional correspondent Hafiz Tijani said, “first of all we have to say a big thank you to the numerous supporters of NDC across the region and the nation. And a big thank you to Joseph Yammin”.
Joseph Yammin also said, “we are happy because that is what we have been seeking, we were disappointed when he was not first granted bail. But we believe in our lawyers and as you can see today, the whole court was parked with lawyers to defend our brother. And we are very grateful that the court and the judge found the wisdom in granting our brother the bail.”
Senior Legal Team Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region Evans Amankwah says the Akufo-Addo government has suppressed freedom of speech in the country.
He believes the government is using state security to intimidate members of the opposition and prevent them from speaking on issues of national interest.
Amankwah gave this remark after his client Razak Koampah Avoliya, the constituency youth organiser of the opposition party was remanded by the Asokwa Circuit Court, last Thursday (February 9).
Koampa, aka ‘Mosquito’, turned himself in after he was declared wanted by the police for allegedly inciting political violence captured in a viral video. The 32-year-old was detained, charged and arraigned. A push for bail by Lawyer Amankwah and his team was shot down by the court.
Shocked by the court’s verdict Lawyer Amakwah said: “I am dumbfounded that the court refused bail at this point. As a lawyer no matter how bad the decision of the court you need to respect it. People have made more serious, treacherous and threatening statements than this. Kennedy Agyapong and Sammi Awuku made similarly serious statements and what happened to them?
“Razak Koampa is in high spirits and this time I am speaking as a lawyer and a politician that the incarceration or remand of Razak will not intimidate NDC youth…Nobody can gag our freedom of speech. If putting us behind bars is what they intend doing then we want the IGP and the Interior Minister to build more cells”, the visibly emotional lawyer told reporters.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has set May 13, 2023, as the date for its parliamentary primary elections. In order to run for seats in the various constituencies and enter parliament on the party’s ticket in 2025, many newcomers are lacing up their boots.
Others aim to unseat incumbents, while some target seats in orphan constituencies where there are no MPs currently in office. However, after serving in the legislature for many years, some current members are hanging up their boots.
In no particular order, here is a look at ten relatively young hopefuls to keep an eye on in the lead-up to the NDC primary elections.
1.Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah
Real Estate mogul Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah is eyeing the Keta seat. The seat is currently occupied by Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey. Mr. Gakpey took over from Richard Quashiga who opted out after serving in the 7th parliament.
The resourceful of the business mogul whose wedding took Ghana by storm is expected to ease his path into the legislative house. Even before the contest, the aspirant has started embarking on some developmental projects such as construction of bridges in the constituency.
Profile
Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah
Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah is one of the young millionaires in Ghana who is making the business environment of the Ghanaian market very competitive.
With over a decade of experience in construction, design, and global real estate development, he has established himself as a business mogul.
He gained a lot of experience working with a few construction and real estate companies in the UK.
After working and gaining so much education, experience and exposure from the UK, Kojo returned to Ghana in 2015 to establish a new business alongside his family.
He now runs and owns multiple businesses.
He is the CEO and Founder of the Empire Conglomerate, which comprises various businesses in various sectors: Empire Concrete Ltd, Empire Domus Ltd, Dominion International Petroleum Ltd, KJM Trading Ltd and Kingscrown Media.
His innate ability lies in identifying, maximizing, and facilitating business development opportunities for creating living experiences that are seen as beyond expectations.
A young African entrepreneur, Mr. Jones-Mensah is committed to creating job opportunities for his people, maximizing opportunity to create and manage wealth for the future.
After successfully acquiring a Bachelor of Laws in Business Law in 2011, he further pursued a Master of Business Administration in 2012 at Coventry University in the UK where he specialized in Oil and Gas Management.
2. Kwame Obeng Adjinah
Kwame Obeng Adjinah
Another young serial entrepreneur Kwame Obeng Adjinah also known as ROYAL, a native of Basengele, a suburb of Bibiani in the Western North Region is lacing his boots for the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai seat. The seat is currently in the hands of the New Patriotic Party’s Alfred Obeng.
The former boss of BOST who exited under controversial circumstances won the seat in 2020 with over 60% of valid votes cast. Should Mr. Adjinah emerged victorious after the NDC internal process, there will be much work to be done to snatch the seat from the governing NPP.
He is however counting on the love he has shown the constituency and his vision to bring real development to his people to give him an urge.
Profile
Kwame Obeng Adjinah is the Managing Director of Wood Acres Limited, a real estate consulting and development company he owns. He is also the Chief Operating Officer of the Omri Projekts Ltd, a real estate construction company he Co-owns.
Kwame is a Housing Consultant for Centre for Affordable Housing Finance (South Africa) for Seychelles Island. He is currently serving on the 13-member Technical Working Group of the Ministry of Works and Housing on the Disposal and Completion of the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.
He completed Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Land Economy and afterward worked for Ghana Home loans as a Junior Collateral Management Analyst.
He holds a Professional Executive Master in ADR from University of Virgin Islands and Pulse of Africa (GGA). He was famously known as a member of “The Big Six”; a group of young men who worked so hard and diligently that they became the cornerstone of a company that has existed and thrived for years.
With determination and an exceptional work ethic, he eventually became the Lead Property Valuer of the continental banking giants, First National Bank GH until he resigned to found his own real estate company.
Kwame is an old student of the famous Ghana National College, Cape Coast. He had his basic school education at Bibiani Presby Primary, Brightest and Best Preparatory School and Otoo Preparatory School.
He’s a Chartered Valuation and an Estate Surveyor certified by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, and a Professional Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner with specialty in real estate dispute resolution and management.
3. Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu
Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu
Another aspirant to look out for in the impending parliamentary primaries of the opposition NDC is entrepreneur and founder of 3 Media Networks Limited Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu.
Popularly known in the entertainment circle as Baba Sadiq, the young business man is eyeing the Okaikoi Central seat. The seat which has been occupied by Patrick Yaw Boamah of the governing New Patriotic Party for a while now has remained with the party since the constituency was created.
Baba Sadiq is however counting on his experience, youthfulness and plans for the constituency to annex the seat should he get the nod to carry the flag of his party.
The constituency has a large number of Zango population mostly youthful and this political pundits believe could play to the advantage of Baba Sadiq.
Profile
Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu is a trained media, communications and sustainability specialist and entrepreneur having worked his way up in the Ghanaian & African media, creative and sustainability industries within the last 17 years working variously as a media and communications executive, channel manager, sustainability specialist and an entrepreneur.
Sadiq is the Founder and former (CEO) of 3 Media Networks Limited, operators of music media brand, 3Music TV as well as the former executive producer of the annual 3Music Awards, the 3Music Awards Womens Brunch, the 3Music Fan Festival.
Sadiq is also founder and Executive director of the WILDALAND Foundation, an ESG organisation famed for the WILDALAND festival. Prior to this role, Sadiq was the founding Country Director of Africa’s number one digital streaming service Boomplay in Ghana leading the setting up of the streaming service’s office in Ghana, building a team and helping it acquire nearly 10 million users in Ghana as well content from every relevant Ghanaian and African content creators.
Sadiq also previously worked for Modern Times Group (MTG) AFRICA as Viasat1 Ghana’s head of Programmes & own productions/executive producer, where he led the team to win 18 various awards within a year and a half period.
At MTG AFRICA, Sadiq was also responsible for the pan-African TV channel, Trace TV’s operations in Ghana and led the launch of Airtel Trace Music Star reality show in Ghana.
Sadiq is also the co-founder of Muse Africa, a millennial targeted music, lifestyle & Entertainment brand where he served as the founding CEO of the brand from 2015 to 2018. Sadiq is also a politician, a member of the NDC in Okaikoi Central Constituency where he has been voting since 2004 and served as the party’s elections 2020 campaign spokesperson on tourism, arts and culture.
With a degree in marketing communications studies from the African University College of Communications (AUCC), Sadiq is currently pursuing a post-graduate LLB education in Ghana.
4. Eric Edem Agbana
Edem Agbana
Edem Agbana has not hidden his intention of succeeding current MP for Ketu North and immediate past deputy minority leader James Klutse Avedzi who is hanging his boots in 2024.
Mr. Agbana who is also the immediate past deputy National Youth Organizer for the NDC was actively involved in students politics which saw him serve as SRC President for the University of Ghana, Legon.
It is unclear the weight of the opposition Agbana will face in his bid to represent the people of Ketu North in Parliament. Reports dean of school of business of the University of Cape Coast Prof. John Gatsi is in the race is yet to be confirmed.
The late Prof. Awoonor’s son, Afetsi Awoonor is reportedly also lacing the boots for the contest.
Eric Edem Agbana is a Management Consultant, Social Entrepreneur, Sports Administrator and Politician, with over a decade experience in youth development, Volunteerism and youth leadership.
He is a Fellow of the prestigious African Young Leaders Fellowship of the European University Institute, a Doctoral Student in Leadership and Governance and hold two Master’s Degree in Economic Policy Management, and Development Finance respectively, and host of other post graduate certificates.
Currently, he is the Project Manager for the African Centre for Development Finance and also, the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Young Apostles FC, a football club in Ghana.
As a former Deputy National Youth Organizer of the NDC, he holds the record as one of youngest ever elected national executive of any political party in Ghana.
He is also a former SRC president of Ghana’s biggest university, the University of Ghana. Among other relevant political experiences, He was the party’s spokesperson on youth policies, and also the spokesperson of Johnson Asiedu Nketia’s campaign team.
Edem Agbana is undoubtedly one of the most charismatic political figures in Ghana today, with mass support among the youth. However, his Edem has many awards and recognitions to his credit, notable among them are Most Influential Young Politician 2020 (Spotlight Africa Awards), Listed twice among 50 Most Influential Young Ghanaians (2018, 2020), Listed among 100 Most Influential Young African Leaders (2018), Coca-Cola awards for 60 young Achievers in Ghana (2017), Best Student Leader in Africa 2014 (by the All Africa Students Union).
5. Lamtiig Abugri Apanga Esq.
Lamtiig Abugri Apanga
Another aspirant to watch is private legal practitioner Lamtiig Abugri Apanga. He has his sight on the Nabdam seat. The seat currently occupied by Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane of the NDC in recent past has been swinging between the party and the NPP.
The contest promises to be an interesting one since the incumbent might not be a walkover. But Mr. Apanga is counting on his service not just to the party in the constituency but at the national level to do the trick for him.
Profile
Lamtiig Abugri Apanga is a native of Gane Zanleregu of the Nabdam District in the Upper East Region. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Accra, he holds HND Marketing from Takoradi Polytechnic (Takoradi Technical University).
Bachelor of Arts from the prestigious University of Ghana and Bachelors of Law (LLB) from the same university. He holds a practicing certificate in Law (BL) from the Ghana Law School.
He has been a private legal practitioner and currently the Managing Partner of Prestige Partners, a private legal firm co-founded by Lawyer Apanga. Lamtiig as he is affectionately called by the people of Nabdam is currently the Legal Co-ordinator of the NDC Upper East Regional Directorate, a position he has held since 2020.
He has offered tremendous legal expertise to the NDC and officers of the party from 2017 to date. He was part of the team led by Prof. Joshua Alabi that vetted the Eastern Regional Executive NDC Elections, he also chaired the vetting committee of constituency executives in the Ashanti Region prior to the 2022 party re-organisation.
He was appointed with Joshua Akamba to supervise the Upper East Regional Elections. He served on the Protocol and Accreditation Committee of the NDC during the National Delegates Conference recently held in Accra.
He aspires to lead the NDC in the Nabdam Constituency to provide a more inclusive leadership in parliament and to accelerate the development of Nabdam in:
1. Promoting Education and Youth Capacity Building
2. Promoting Health and Environmental Protection
3. Women and Girl Child Education
4. Protection of the Physically Challenged and Vulnerable Groups
6. Francisca Mawufemor Adjei
Francisca Mawufemor Adjei
It is going to be all women fight when Francisca Mawufemor Adjei slugs it out with Joycelyn Tetteh; the incumbent MP for North Dayi.
The incumbent has been in Parliament for two terms after upsetting George Loh in the party’s primaries ahead of the 2016 elections.
Francisca who has been one of the female faces for the campaigns of the opposition NDC is seeking to leverage on that and some initiatives she is implementing in the constituency.
Profile
Francisca Mawufemor Adjei served as the Branch women organizer, Ayawaso central constituency (Freeman hostel branch), from 2004 -2012
She was a Branch member in the Odododiodo Constituency from 2012 and became the deputy constituency treasurer in 2018 till 2022
She did my internship with GBC and National service with Accra Metropolitan Assembly. She also worked with the Electoral Commission as an officer during the 2012 voter registration.
She also served as the Personal Assistant to George Lawson (then Deputy General Secretary of the NDC) in 2012.
Francisca worked with the Engineers and Planners (E&P) from 2013 till 2022
She is one of the founders of #iChooseJM, a volunteer group for the NDC 2016 campaign. In 2020, he was the leader of the street campaign.
She is also the CEO of Franca’s Kitchen and Francisca Mawufemor Adjei Foundation. She has a Degree and Masters in Communication from the African University College of Communications
7. Felix Kwakye Ofosu
Felix Kwakye Ofosu
Felix Kwakye Ofosu is another aspirant to watch in the impending primaries of the opposition National Democratic Congress. The former deputy communications minister narrowly lost the Abura Asebu Kwamankese seat to Morris Donkor of the New Patriotic Party after winning the NDC primaries.
Felix, as he is affectionately called fought off stiff competition from seven others to emerge as NDC’s candidate in 2019. He polled 360 votes against the main contender Dr. Nana Ama Browne Klutse who garnered only 327 votes.
Well, 2019 would not be the last time the two go at each other. There is every indication the battle will repeat itself this time around.
Now Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, the senior lecturer at the University of Ghana who is currently an AIMS-Canada Research Chair in Climate Change Science is expected to give Felix a run for his money.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu is a product of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST. He served as deputy communications minister under the Mahama administration. He is currently works at the office of former President John Dramani Mahama.
8. Prince Benson Mankotam
Prince Benson Mankotam
Prince Benson Mankotam is a young private legal practitioner who has set his eyes on the Sunyani East Seat. This seat has been occupied by the NPP since the creation of the constituency.
It’s current occupant, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh is currently on his 4th term in the house of the legislature. Should Mr. Mankotam emerge as NDC’s candidate and go ahead to clinch the seat, political bookmakers will describe the feat as the biggest upset not just in the region but nationwide
Profile
Prince Benson Mankotam had his professional law education at the Ghana School of Law after obtaining his LLB at the University of Ghana, Legon.
He also had his first degree; BA. Political Science with Philosophy & Classics at the same University. He is BARRISTER & SOLICITOR OF THE SUPREME COURT OF GHANA.
Prince is a Legal Associate with experience in Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Labour Adoption, Debt Recovery and Intellectual Property. As a home-grown lawyer, he has conducted due diligence for and on behalf of local and international clients on the legal framework for corporate restructuring, and matters relating to inheritance and trusts.
He has assisted both companies and individuals with regulatory compliance in line with transactions, and has drafted and reviewed various agreements to ensure that they are in compliance with the existing regulatory framework of Ghana.
Prince is a focused and driven young lawyer and thrives in teamwork. He is very meticulous and exhibits diligence with a variety of client instructions. Prince has interest in Arbitration and Litigation, and has been involved in successful recovery of debts for clients of the Firm.
9. John Dumelo
John Dumelo
Celebrated Ghanaian actor, farmer, and politician, John Dumelo will be another candidate to watch in the impending parliamentary primaries for the opposition NDC.
The actor reated a lot of buzz in the 2020 elections by contesting for the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat. He however lost to the incumbent Lydia Seyram Alhassan.
Mr. Dumelo, a first timer however gave his opponent a run for her money. Ghanaians might however witness a rematch come 2024 as Mr. Dumelo has reportedly decided to have another bite at the cherry in the same constituency.
This development is despite reports that Dumelo set his sights on the yet to be created Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi (SALL) constituency in the OTI region.
Mr. Dumelo had set camp in the area engaging in a number of projects including distribution of farming implements to constituents. But latest development has revealed Mr. Dumelo might just stick to the Ayawaso West Wuogon where he will go head to head with another actor Fred Nuamah who has already thrown his heart into the race
Profile
John Dumelo had his basic school education at Christ the King School in Accra and his secondary school education at Achimota Senior High School. He further studied Civil Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
John Dumelo has been gracing the silver screens for more than a decade now with many movies to his name. During the National Democratic Congress NDC Party’s Campaign in 2016, Dumelo was one of the most influential and outstanding celebrities who were seen campaigning for the NDC Government.
It is said and believed that, as an appreciation for his engagement and patriotism to the Party, he was appointed by the former president of Ghana H.E John Dramani Mahama, to serve his Party as a Director of Operations for a pro-NDC youth group for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
John Dumelo, picked up a nomination form to contest in the NDC primaries as a parliamentary candidate. On August 24th, 2019, he won the NDC parliamentary primaries to represent the NDC in Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the 2020 general elections.
10. Amelia Amenate (Dela Goldheart)
Amelia Amemate
This might be the first time many are hearing the name Amelia Amemate even though the bearer of this name is a very popular you might add controversial woman in the country especially on social media.
But Dela Goldheart will certainly ring a bell and that is the woman eyeing the Anlo seat on the ticket of the opposition NDC. The seat is currently occupied Richard Kwami Sefe who joined the house of the legislature in 2021.
Dela Goldheart is not someone to chicken out from taking on men in any contest. Many will remember her battle with private legal practitioner Ace Annan Ankoma on social media and how it ended that’s if it has indeed ended.
Dela has been involved in activities of the NDC both at the national and constituency level. Political watchers will describe the move by Dela Goldheart as a bold one but as to whether she can fend off competitions and dislodge the incumbent, May 13 has the answer when delegates make their decision.
Profile
Amelia Amenate was part of the 2020 Batch of Gates Cambridge Scholars. She was to pursue PhD in Gender Studies at the University of Cambridge.
She is the first Ghanaian woman to become a Gates Cambridge Scholar as a PhD candidate. Biography Confronting issues affect women and girls has always been part of Dela’s development process.
According to her growing up in a small coastal town, she noticed boys are treated unequally and women and men are held to different expectations. The above experience pushed her to focus on gender issues from a very early stage of her life.
She obtained her first degree in political science at the University of Ghana in 2014 and later followed up with masters in American Culture Studies at the Bowling Green State University in 2020.
The National Communication Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has demanded that Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, be charged with fraudulently printing more than GH45 billion for the government.
In a tweet shared on February 9, 2023, Sammy Gyamfi said that the Bank of Ghana has violated the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918) by printing money above the allowed threshold without the approval of parliament.
He added that, that action by the central bank is criminal, as such, Dr. Ernest Addison and another individual who is involved in the illegality should be dealt with by the law.
“This statement from the BoG is an admission of criminality and can suffice as a confession statement. The governor of the BoG and all those culpable are candidates for criminal prosecution under section 67 of the ACT 612 for violating section 30 of ACT 612 as amended by ACT 918,” parts of the tweet read.
The NDC national communications officer was reacting to a justification by the central bank on its decision to print over GH¢40 billion for the government to finance the 2022 budget which is above the required threshold and needs the approval of parliament.
According to the BoG, it was left with no option but to support the government because it’s (the government’s) access to International Capital Marketwas closed and the domestic market was also struggling.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 9, 2023, the central bank posited that its action was not wrong since the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 which was suspended by the Parliament of Ghana, had not been reinstated.
The statement by the BoG comes after it was heavily criticized by some Ghanaians after a Bloomberg report indicated that it printed GH¢41.9 billion for the government in 2022.
Broadcaster, Dr. Randy Abbey, who was reacting to the Bloomberg report, said that the BoG, which is supposed to be regulating the country’s financial sector, appears to be breaking all the rules in the sector.
“The level of seeming recklessness and lawlessness, and irresponsibility when it comes to the operation of the central bank and the lack of transparency is getting worrying,” he said.
The National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has accused the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, of printing over GH¢45 billion illegally for the government.
he thus has called for the prosecution of Mr Addison.
In a tweet shared on February 9, 2023, Sammy Gyamfi said that the Bank of Ghana has violated the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918) by printing money above the allowed threshold without the approval of parliament.
He added that, that action by the central bank is criminal, as such, Dr. Ernest Addison and another individual who is involved in the illegality should be dealt with by the law.
“This statement from the BoG is an admission of criminality and can suffice as a confession statement. The governor of the BoG and all those culpable are candidates for criminal prosecution under section 67 of the ACT 612 for violating section 30 of ACT 612 as amended by ACT 918,” parts of the tweet read.
The NDC national communications officer was reacting to a justification by the central bank on its decision to print over GH¢40 billion for the government to finance the 2022 budget which is above the required threshold and needs the approval of parliament.
According to the BoG, it was left with no option but to support the government because it’s (the government’s) access to International Capital Market was closed and the domestic market was also struggling.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 9, 2023, the central bank posited that its action was not wrong since the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 which was suspended by the Parliament of Ghana, had not been reinstated.
The statement by the BoG comes after it was heavily criticized by some Ghanaians after a Bloomberg report indicated that it printed GH¢41.9 billion for the government in 2022.
Broadcaster, Dr. Randy Abbey, who was reacting to the Bloomberg report, said that the BoG, which is supposed to be regulating the country’s financial sector, appears to be breaking all the rules in the sector.
“The level of seeming recklessness and lawlessness, and irresponsibility when it comes to the operation of the central bank and the lack of transparency is getting worrying,” he said.
A former presidential candidate and steadfast member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sylvester Mensah, finds it encouraging to see Sophia Akuffo, a former chief justice, picketing outside the Finance Ministry in support of pensioners and other private bondholders.
Mr Mensah in a Facebook said he deduces from the CJ’s statements that she understood the voluntary nature of opting onto the DDEP,
He, however, believes the former Chief Justice only sought to articulate some of the issues “in an effort to bring clarity to how we got here, and government’s inadequate share of the burden of domestic debt restructuring.”
“She also articulated the government’s arrogant posture and the vain threat of sinking together if bondholders refuse to participate.”
The former NHIA Boss expected the former Chief Justice to have gone further to say there is a lack of confidence in the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, “whose poor management and self-interest in the reckless borrowing over the past 6 years have brought Ghana to the edge of a cliff.”
“How do we re-fuel our bus for the same bad and reckless driver, who has driven us into a ditch to drive us “safely” home? Change the driver, Mr. President!”
“We applaud former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for her discerning and distinguished voice in these deeply troubling times in Ghana. It is entirely predictable that NPP apologists and grassroots attack dogs would be unleashed to devour her, but to no effect: Ghanaians have been awoken from their slumber by the super incompetence of the worst government in Ghana’s post-independence history,” he added.
Elsie Addo Awadzi, the Bank of Ghana’s second deputy governor, stated in October 2020 that the country’s central bank was not to blame for the failure of the financial firms.
She claims that the BoG’s duties include regulating and licensing financial institutions, as well as removing failed institutions from the system.
It’s crucial that the media guides the public conversation in a neutral and knowledgeable way.
Headlines like “Bank of Ghana has collapsed companies” are ones we’ve heard far too frequently. Bank of Ghana never lets anything go under. No. We supervise, we license, and when an institution fails, we remove it from the system in a way that doesn’t have an impact on the system, she said.
Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Elsie Addo Awadzi, has asked the media to use the right terminologies in their reports on the sector to send the right messages to the public.
Speaking at a media sensitization workshop organised by the BoG and associations representing Specialised Deposit-taking Institutions (SDIs), the 2nd Deputy BoG Governor said some headlines distort the salient point in an event within the sector.
“It is important that the media leads the public discourse in a dispassionate and expert manner…We have heard too often, headlines such as ‘Bank of Ghana has collapsed companies’. Bank of Ghana never collapses anything. No. We licence, we supervise and then when an institution has failed, we take it out of the system in a manner that does not affect the system.
“So do not say ‘Bank of Ghana has collapsed anything’. Bank of Ghana does not collapse anything. These institutions are run and governed by their shareholders, who put their Board of Directors and a team of management. So, they collapsed the companies. We don’t collapse the companies. It is important for the media to understand that,” she stressed.
The media sensitisation event brought together key players in the sector and presented a rare opportunity for the SDI associations to better explain their operations to the media.
It also enabled the media to ask appropriate questions of the key players in the sector and provide feedback to SDIs as to what the public thinks of their service.
Elsie Addo Awadzi said it is important that the media grows to become a key partner that understands the financial sector and the regulatory framework within which the financial sector operates.
“[The financial sector] is very different from other types of businesses and it is important that the media, when they engage in discussions related to the financial sector, they do so with an understanding of regulatory environment as well as the policy environment within which the financial sector operates,” she admonished.
Former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has commended former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for joining the protest to resist government’s proposed Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
He stated that the former government appointee has demonstrated what it takes to be a responsible citizen of the country rather than a mere spectator.
Koku Anyidoho continued by saying that anyone willing to make such a bold decision in his political party the NDC, where he previously held the position of deputy general secretary, would have been criticized and labelled as a traitor for speaking out against the party.
Because the party despises boldness and labels those who speak their minds as traitors and bitter individuals.
“I can imagine how my people will be jumping on this, and praising Sophia Akufo for being bold. Yet, within our own party, we abhor boldness and refer to people who speak their minds as, “traitors” & “bitter people”. Hypocrites & parasites. Tweaa!!!” he said in a social media post.
The former Chief Justice of Ghana, who was appointed by the sitting president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stated in an interview with Ghanaweb on February 10, 2023, that, she finds it unlawful and wicked for the government to sacrifice the profits of retirees for its domestic debt exchange.
“I find this wicked, disrespectful, I find it unlawful. I find it totally wrong, period, because you don’t solve your problems by sacrificing your aged. That’s the last thing you should do especially when you don’t have any services that are actually geared at the comfort and relief of the aged,” she added.
Responding to the comment by the former Chief Justice, Samuel Koku Anyidoho praised Justice Sophia Akufo and urged the public to follow in the footprints of the former government appointee.
“Very Senior ‘CITIZENS’ (not spectators), are talking. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church”. Revelations 2:29. Amen,” he added.
National Youth Organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Opare Addo popularly known as Pablo, is optimistic that Ghana’s dwindling economy can be resuscitated by the former President John Dramani Mahama.
He stated that only former president John Dramani Mahama can transform Ghana’s economy, hence Ghanaians should offer thanksgiving to God for providing the country with an opportunity for economic optimism.
He argued further that the former president is the only person who can offer solutions to Ghana’s current problems.
Speaking in an interview with Original FM, Pablo stated that the current NPP administration is relying on the former statesman’s policy positions and interventions that were put in place during his term in office to survive.
He added that, in critical times of economic crises, there is a need for a competent and skilled person to be able to assist in cleaning up the economic mess and rebuilding.
“2017 was Ghana’s best-performing year (economically). In 2015, president Mahama at the state of the nation address said that in 2017, the economy will turn around. So, he was a prophet, he foresaw the future and predicted it right.
“Because of the sound policies that he implemented in 2015 and 2016. The only government that 2016 in an election year implemented zero finance from the central bank. That was the level of discipline that he brought on board when we were challenged.
“And that is the kind of discipline that we need currently to turn the economy around. And that’s why I say that we have to thank God for President Mahama as the only option for an economic turnaround. Because he has that discipline and that tenacity to be able to build,” he said.
Government is seeking a programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the view to salvage the economy which suffered a torrid in 2022 characterised by a depreciating currency, galloping inflation and a general increase in the cost of living.
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is optimistic that Ghana will conclude talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a possible financial bailout programme.
According to President Akufo-Addo, though the government’s debt exchange programme was fraught with several challenges after its announcement, it has largely been accepted by the citizenry.
He made this known when the German Federal Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner, paid him a visit at the Jubilee House.
“We have already taken one important step forward in concluding a staff-level agreement with the IMF. One of the steps was the domestic debt exchange programme which encountered a lot of difficulties, but it has now been virtually concluded…We are now looking towards going the full hog and concluding the agreement. We’re hoping that will be done by the middle of March,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He also called on Germany to encourage China, an ad hoc member of the Paris Club to support Ghana’s debt restructuring efforts.
Minority Leader, Ato Forson, has disclosed that he had no knowledge of his appointment until barely 24 hours to the announcement.
According to him, much like the rest of the NDC parliamentary Caucus, he had no say whatsoever concerning the decision.
Speaking in his first interview following the announcement on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, he said he was surprised by the decision after he was informed in a short face-to-face meeting by the party’s national leadership.
“I was told the night before. It’s a decision that the party had made so they were informing me not for me to make a choice as to whether I’m going to accept it or not to accept it. But I took it like a call to duty.
“In fact, it shook me, it took me by surprise. But what I told you earlier is that I adapt so easily and that’s my biggest strength, it doesn’t take me a couple of minutes to adapt so I sat back and said ‘hey…’”
Speaking concerning his relationship with the erstwhile Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, the Ajumako-Enyam-Essiam MP stated that working with him had allowed him to excel.
“Let me put it this way, if there is any person in this House who has worked so hard for Haruna Iddrissu and worked for him, I don’t think there will be two people more than me. My loyalty to him is unquestionable.
“I’ve loved him; in fact, I’m a product of his leadership because he gave me room to work and to excel. It’s not every leader that will give his ranking the opportunity to excel at that magnitude.
“And I work for him; I go to him every morning, sit him down and brief him on a daily basis. The first thing I do when I get to Parliament, mostly before 9 am, is walk straight to his office…we’ll have our small meeting, I brief him for the day and then we disperse and go to the Floor. So we have that cohesion,” he said.
According to Dr Ato Forson, he is honoured to have been the one chosen to fill the “very big shoe” of his predecessor.
He said while he has “never wished for his job” he takes the appointment as an opportunity to “also step in and to lead the party.”
“So when I was told, my first concern was is he aware of it and how will he feel? But Haruna Iddrisu knows that I’ve never wished for his job.
“However, if at a point in time, one person will have to stand up and do something for the Caucus and I happen to be the one, I think it’s an honour for me to step in the very big shoes of my predecessor, Haruna Iddrisu.
“It’s a big decision…the party took a big decision it believes is the right decision. The NDC thinks where we’ve gotten to it needs a new general to take us to that kind of war, that’s how I interpreted it.
“Haruna has done his part and done it very well, his successes are out there for everybody to see. And clearly, the time has come for a new general to step into the fire. I recognise that and honestly, I take it as an opportunity to also step in and to lead the party,” he said.
He said immediately after being informed of the decision, “I called him [Haruna Iddrisu] to inform him about it.”
“As soon as I left the place I placed a phone call to him out of respect I have for him.”
The new Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has pledged that the NDC Caucus in Parliament under his leadership will not tolerate any bad governance from the current administration.
In his maiden speech to Parliament as a Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson said the minority will offer fair and unbiased, balanced, consultative, and principled leadership to ensure the Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia’s government account in a manner that helps deliver public goods.
“To you my colleagues in the Minority Caucus, we pledge to offer fair and unbiased, balanced, consultative, and principled leadership in our journey to broaden the frontiers of Parliamentary oversight and hold the Akufo-Addo & Alhaji Bawumia government to account in a manner that helps deliver public goods,” he said.
He thanked the party and colleagues for allowing him to serve, and also commended Haruna Iddrisu for his distinguished public service since 2017.
“In January 7, 2009, I took the first step in this very chamber towards becoming a representative for the people of Ajumako Enyan Essiam and contributing my quota to Ghana’s Parliamentary Democracy. Fourteen years on, from a fresh legislator, I have the unique honour of being entrusted with the leadership of the Minority Caucus in the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.
“I wish to convey our profound gratitude to my party, the great National Democratic Congress, and our colleagues on the Minority side for this opportunity to serve at an even higher level and help shape the trajectory of this Parliament. I want to express on behalf of my colleagues, our profound appreciation and thanks to the immediate past Minority Leader and my senior brother, the Hon Haruna Iddrisu, for his many years of distinguished public service and his sterling leadership of the Caucus since 2017,” he said.
On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong made a dramatic entrance into the chamber of Parliament, which was resounding with commotion.
After the House of Representatives went into recess in December, the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic convened at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
A lot has transpired during the intermission, with MPs raising their voices to support or disparage various characters.
Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin MP, entered the house and was hailed by both sides of the house with loud cries of “presidoooo, presidooo,” the MP grinning the entire time.
The MPs cheers appears to be linked to the Assin Lawmaker’s decision to contest as flagbearer for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) when nominations are opened
Other persons who received cheers and plaudits on the floor of Parliament included Dr. Stephen Amoah, who was hailed by loud noise upon his appointment as Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.
“Sticka Stickaaaaaaa” the MPs cheered loudly. Same could be said for Adansi Asokwa’s K.T Hammond who will serve as the direct boss of Dr. Stephen Amoah at the Ministry.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Suame Constituency, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has condemned some comments made by an executive of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He says the inciting comment made by the Suame NDC youth organiser to the effect that the NDC is ready to “kill for power” is unfortunate.
According to the New Patriotic Party MP, such comments as made by the youth organiser is as a result of the propaganda being perpetuated by the leaders of the NDC.
“I believe it’s a very unfortunate comment from anyone engaged in politics. When you look at Article 55 of our Constitution, it clearly spells out the purpose of a political party. It says we have a duty to build this nation to prosper around economic, social and political ideas. Sell your policies to people in your constituency to vote for you, how does that warrant killing?
“He claims Akufo-Addo killed 8 people to gain political power. That is a very sad commentary from a person involved in politics. It is a problem with propaganda because these claims started being shared by some leaders of the NDC; claiming that Akufo-Addo killed people for power. But if we are going to look back in that regard, what happened at Atiwa during elections?… When Anita Desoso drove through a crowd injuring some people was it to win them power?” he said during an interview on Hello FM monitored by GhanaWeb.
The police has announced that it had mounted a search for the said executive for his alleged comments relative to the 2024 general elections.
The announcement by the police followed the publication of the viral video in which the said organiser is seen inciting members of the party to engage in violence to win power.
Speaking to a journalist on the sidelines on what looked like a party event, the man charged members of the NDC not to hesitate to shed blood if it is what it will take to win power.
“As journalists, you were witnesses to a situation where people were shot and killed in the 2020 elections. So standing here today, I am to make sure that no NPP member can come and kill me. So we are in and I will advise every true NDC member that in the 2024 elections when it becomes necessary to kill someone to win, kill them; even if it requires that you shoot someone or club them to win us power do it,” he told a journalist with Oyerepa FM.
According to the Majority Leader, whereas there have been similar incidents of violence under an NDC administration, the blame cannot necessarily be placed on the president at the time.
“Sometimes unfortunate things happen during elections but I will not accuse Prof Mills of being behind what happened in previous elections as well,” the MP said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has welcomed the old leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus back to Parliament with a heartwarming message.
He also referred to a scripture in the Bible as a way of congratulating the old leadership of the Minority caucus in parliament.
The new leadership, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who took over from Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader, was welcomed by the Speaker after he announced to the House that he had received the correspondence from the NDC leadership.
In welcoming them, Alban Bagbin told the new leaders that they have come to the ‘hot seat.’
“On behalf of the House, and on my part, I warmly welcome them to the hot seat of the leadership of parliament; and I want to emphasise, hot seat of the leadership of parliament,” he said.
He referred to the famous scripture in Psalm 23 to the former leadership, led by Haruna Iddrisu.
“All I can say to the former leaders is, the Lord is your shepherd, you shall not want. When one door closes, many doors open, and I can tell you for sure that many of the open doors are better and higher than the closed door.
“Look at the open doors, and not the close ,” he told them.
The new leaders of the Minority in Parliament include Emmanuel Armarh Kofi Buah, as Deputy Minority Leader; and Kwame Governs Agbodza as Minority Chief Whip.
National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has mounted a strong defence for the NDC youth organiser in the Suame Constituency.
Mr Gyamfi says his “the message the young man sought to convey did not come out as intended.” He, thus, wants Ghanaians to forgive the him.
Mr. Gyamfi is of the view that the message the young man sought to convey did not come out as intended.
In a statement, he said the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has benefitted and continues to profit from violence as “we witnessed in the Ayawaso West Wuogon By-election, the 2020 Voter Registration Exercise and the 2020 General Election during which eight (8) innocent Ghanaians were murdered by state-sponsored bandits belonging to the ruling NPP.”
In his view, therefore, it is hypocritical that the Ghana Police Service “which failed to even comment on or take action against the NPP bandits who perpetrated these heinous crimes against innocent Ghanaians, most of whom are NDC members, will turn around to swiftly call for the arrest of a young man for misspeaking.”
He is calling for a pardon for the Suame Youth Organiser.
The Youth Organiser in an interview with the media was preaching violence against the NPP and urging NDC supporters not to hesitate to cause injury or even kill NPP supporters in their quest to win the 2024 elections to make former President John Mahama president again.
Below is the statement in its entirety:
We have taken notice of a video in circulation on social media in which the NDC Youth Organizer for Suame is heard making some statements that bother on possible reprisals to state-sponsored violence during elections.
We note that the young man misspoke, as the message he sought to convey did not come out as intended.
It is an indisputable fact that state-sponsored violence and thuggery have been the modus operandi of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.
The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has benefitted and continues to profit from violence as we witnessed in the Ayawaso West Wuogon By-election, the 2020 Voter Registration Exercise and the 2020 General Election during which eight (8) innocent Ghanaians were murdered by state-sponsored bandits belonging to the ruling NPP.
It is hypocritical that the Ghana Police Service which failed to even comment on or take action against the NPP bandits who perpetrated these heinous crimes against innocent Ghanaians, most of whom are NDC members, will turn around to swiftly call for the arrest of a young man for misspeaking.
Again, it is the height of hypocrisy to hear people in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and the New Patriotic Party pretend to condemn the statement of this constituency youth leader, when not too long ago, NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo and other NPP national leaders threatened fire and brimstone at a time when this nation had not experienced anything close to the barbarity seen during the Ayawaso West Wuogon and 2020 general elections.
We have not forgotten about the infamous “All die be die” mantra of the current President, nor have we forgotten about Kennedy Agyapong’s call for the murder of people of certain ethnic extraction in Ghana; a comment that was celebrated by the NPP.
Sammi Awuku’s call for NPP supporters to inflict pain and injury on their opponents with pestles is still fresh on our minds, and so is Anthony Karbo’s call for Afghanistan to be visited on Ghana.
We have also not forgotten about Wontumi’s call for an Arab Spring-styled violence in Ghana.
Whilst we do not subscribe to violence as a party, except in cases of self-defence, we cannot overlook the genuine sentiment and frustration of people who feel helpless in the face of incessant and unprovoked attacks and killings under this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
In the circumstances, we reiterate that the young man misspoke and must be pardoned.
The Ghana Police Service must stop harassing this innocent NDC activist, who clearly spoke out of the pain he and other NDC supporters have suffered at the hands of NPP thugs in the Ashanti Region over the years and rather, focus on arresting NPP bandits and terrorists who have attacked a Court of competent jurisdiction in Kumasi and have maimed and killed several innocent Ghanaians.
We urge the millions of our young supporters to continue to exercise restraint and not allow the fact that President Akufo-Addo rode to power on the back of so much bloodshed and barbarity to make them want to mimic Nana Akufo-Addo and his very violent political party.
The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is advocating that governments focus on offering better policies and initiatives in Zongo communities than just food.
“We in the NDC seek to bring something that can lift the Zongo communities; so just as our Imam said, we have gone beyond sharing of rice and sardines. If you want to do something to help Zongo communities, educate their children,” Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said this in a speech at Kobreso, a community in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region,
He was at a fundraising ceremony organized by the Ghana Muslim Mission in the area to build a technical school and a clinic.
At the event, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah also emphasized that the NDC has a great love for Zongo communities across the country which is why the party established the Islamic Education Unit at the Ghana Education Service in 1987 to introduce the secular subjects pursued under the national curriculum into the Islamic schools and also started major educational projects under the elsewhere NDC administration.
He however revealed that the narrative has changed under the current NPP government as it has abandoned all educational projects in Zongo communities that were started by the NDC.
“We promised to build Islamic schools, but whiles you do that, you also need to find where to train Islamic teachers, that is why we built Islamic Training College at Wenchi in my District. For that reason, in the last campaign, we promised to continue that project but since we left office, all plans and documentation have been abandoned to date”. National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah chided.
According to the National Democratic Congress’ Council of Elders, the party will always remember the contributions made by the immediate past Minority Caucus leaders.
The party stated in a statement on Monday that James Klutse Avedzi, Muntaka Mubarak, and Haruna Iddrisu, the former minority leader, had all performed admirably in their roles and that the party should not disregard their labors.
It praised their work and urged all of its lawmakers to stick together despite the current conflicts brought on by the party’s shift in parliamentary leadership.
“The Council of Elders acknowledges the leadership and sterling achievements of the outgoing leaders of the NDC caucus namely, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Hon. James Klutse Avedzi and Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak who have raised the profile of the NDC minority caucus and demonstrated that indeed it is the NDC who has the men and women capable of turning the fortunes of Ghanaians around.
“Their efforts have contributed to reassuring Ghanaians that the NDC party is ready to assume power and rescue the nation from the depths of despair and desperation. Indeed, the NDC party must not and will never forget the contributions of our three respected comrades in improving the electoral fortunes of the party”, portions of the statement read.
In the meantime, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders claims that the party needs to reevaluate changes to how it chooses its legislators.
The Council stated in its statement on Monday that this has become necessary as a result of recent conflicts inside the party as a result of a shift in its parliamentary front.
In order to avoid similar situations in the future, the agreement signed by the Council’s Chairperson, Mahama Iddrisu, stated that the party was willing to discuss a new structure that would govern how the party chooses its leaders in the House.
“While recognising that the party leadership was within its rights to make appointments or rotate the leadership of the NDC Caucus in Parliament as has been the case since the inception of the Parliament of the 4th Republic, the Council is of the view that the processes need to be improved”, the statement emphasised.
The party’s elders further indicated that they have resolved the impasse surrounding the changes in its parliamentary front.
In doing so, the party said it, “approached the engagements conscious of the need for an early resolution which will be in the best interest of the party and mindful of the imperatives of unity and cohesion at a time Ghanaians are looking up to the NDC to rescue the country from the dismal state of affairs which has been the hallmark of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government”.
Background
On Tuesday, January 24, a statement from the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, announced Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader with Emmanuel Kofi-Armah Buah as the Deputy Minority Leader.
MP for Adaklu, Governs Kwame Agbodza was also named as the party’s new Minority Chief Whip, taking over from Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak.
This development has since been met with a lot of resentment from some quarters of the party, including Tamale Central MP, Murtala Mohammed who has questioned the timing and relevance of the change.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho also took to Twitter to berate the changes.
Later, some displeased members of the party allegedly stormed the premises of Radio Tamale where the party’s Deputy General Secretary was having an interview.
According to the report, the irate party supporters pounced on him and visited harm on his person.
But speaking to ‘JoyNews on Thursday in the wake of the rumours, Mustapha Gbande disclosed that the reports of assault on him are untrue.
According to him, he only addressed the concerned party faithful who came to the premises after which they all left the scene.
Following this, former NDC lawmaker, Ras Mubarak, also took a swipe at the critics of the changes in the parliamentary leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a Facebook post, he noted that despite the reservations from some quarters of the party, the changes will not be reversed.
According to him, there is the need for the aggrieved members of the party to suspend their reservations and throw their weight behind the new Miniorty Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and his team.
This he believes will inure to the greater good of the party in its quest to win the 2024 general election.
The statement from the party’s Council of Elders is therefore expected to bring an end to all the media alterations which the party has described as regrettable.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership has stated that the party will focus its efforts on ensuring that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governs the nation effectively.
According to the National Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, all members of the party must support the agenda following the resolution of the issue of the leadership change in Parliament.
The party has indicated that the challenges confronting the reshuffle of the Minority leadership in Parliament have been addressed after a meeting among the national executives, the Council of Elders and the Minority caucus on Monday.
Speaking to the members of the caucus, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah urged the new leadership to work assiduously.
“We are going to refocus on the issue of bad governance in the country including works on the National Cathedral. We’ve cautioned the new leadership that, the record of the performance of the old leadership serves as a yardstick to the measurement of their own performance.”
Chairman of the Council of Elders for the NDC, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu said the party must win the next polls.
“From the reception the new leaders have received, this is not the beginning but the end of the meeting. The excitement shows that the issue has been resolved. There is no problem now. Our problem is to win the 2024 election.”
The meeting which took place at the DF Annan Auditorium in Parliament had stalwarts of the party including the Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and his General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, among others present.
Others at the meeting included former Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, and former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adzaho.
“You can see from the enthusiasm that the challenges that arose from the announcement of the new leadership of our Caucus have all been resolved”, Johnson Asiedu Nketia added.
The Ghana Police Service is on a manhunt for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth organiser in Suame Constituency over some comments he made.
This follows the publication of a viral video in which the said official is seen inciting members of the party to engage in violence to win power.
“The attention of the Police Service has been drawn to a viral video in which a person who identifies himself as the Youth Organiser for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Suame Constituency of the Ashanti Region calls on supporters of the NDC to attack persons of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the run-up to the 2024 General Elections.
“The Ashanti Regional Police Command has initiated steps to get this person arrested to face justice,” the police said in a statement.
The police further entreated political actors to be circumspect in their utterances and actions to safeguard national peace and security.
Youth organiser incites party members
The now wanted man was captured on tape making inciteful comments with respect to the 2024 general elections.
Speaking to a journalist on the sidelines on what looked like a party event, the man charged members of the NDC not to hesitate to shed blood if it is what it will take to win power.
“As journalists, you were witnesses to a situation where people were shot and killed in the 2020 elections. So standing here today, I am to make sure that no NPP member can come and kill me.
“So we are in and I will advise every true NDC member that in the 2024 elections when it becomes necessary to kill someone to win, kill them; even if it requires that you shoot someone or club them to win us power do it,” he told a journalist with Oyerepa FM.
The 2020 elections albeit largely peaceful, saw pockets of violence which led to the death of about 8 persons.
According to the opposition NDC, the New Patriotic Party through state security and vigilantes used violence at various polling stations to rig the election.
However, the NDC has said that things will be different in the 2024 elections as it will go into the polls more prepared to ward off any such incidents.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that issues relating to the reorganization of the Minority leadership in Parliament have been settled.
This comes after a meeting between the National Executives, the Council of Elders of the NDC, and the Minority Caucus in Parliament on Monday, February 6, 2023.
The meeting which took place at the DF Annan Auditorium in Parliament had stalwarts of the party including the Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and his General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, among others present.
Others at the meeting included former Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, and former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adzaho.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said the concerns raised have offered the party the opportunity to establish a framework for the running of the Minority caucus in Parliament.
“You can see from the enthusiasm that the challenges that arose from the announcement of the new leadership of our Caucus have all been resolved.”
The Chairman also disclosed that the party has learned some key lessons from the row that accompanied the announcement of the reshuffle and has led to the formulation of a framework to determine the leadership of the Caucus in the future.
“The challenges that we have been through in the few days have produced very beneficial results and it has led to the formulation of a framework for leading our Caucus in Parliament
“One of the takeaways from this meeting is for us to go and quickly expedite action for the formulation of a framework of leading our Caucus in Parliament in the future.”
Meanwhile, one of the petitioners who called for a suspension of the reshuffle for further engagements, Dr. Dominic Ayine said the group will support the new leaders in the discharge of their duties.
Cassiel Ato Forson replaced Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader on January 24.
Muntaka accepts Minority leadership reshuffle
In a related development, the former Minority Chief whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has finally accepted the decision by the National Democratic Congress to reshuffle the Minority leaders in Parliament.
His decision comes after former President John Dramani Mahama intervened and held discussions with the Member of Parliament for Asawase.
In a Facebook post, the former Chief Whip wrote “to all our supporters within and without. I had a lengthy meeting with my big brother, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, on Saturday evening over the parliamentary reshuffle. I want to, first of all, thank him for his words of advice and encouragement to me as a younger brother”.
“His Excellency’s intervention has brought an end to all the brouhaha associated with the reshuffle.”
“We are in the interest of our party NDC. We need to move on as a party and channel all our energies towards the 2024 elections.
“I thank all our chiefs, Queen Mothers Imams, and supporters for your prayers and solidarity. I pray for Allah’s guidance in all our affairs. Long live NDC long live Ghana,” he concluded.
Konkombas have reacted to wild speculations that they are “violent people.”
As the indigenous of the North-Eastern part of Ghana commenced an image-cleansing campaign, they disputed the long held stereotype that Konkombas are violent people.
Years of conflicts have left Konkomba tribesmen suffering the shame of being tagged as violent and warlike.
The Konkombas have had a checkered history ridden with tribal conflicts and land disputes.
Notable among these have been the inter-Komkomba-families land disputes at Saboba; the Konkomba – Bimoba clashes; the Komkomba – Chokosi feud in Chereponi and the infamous Kokomba – Nanumba Guinea Fowl barter war that claimed over a thousand lives and valuable property.
Addressing a durbar in Kumasi; the Komkombas enumerated several of their kith and kin serving productively in various capacities both in private and public life
“We have komkombas who have served in the past and present government. We have nine MPs, five from the NDC and four from the NPP. In this government, we have the Defense Minister, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs,” the Konkombas stated.
“It is an enviable record that apart from the Ashanti’s, there is no other tribe aside Komkombas that dominate in over 30 constituencies and we decide who wins as an MP in those constituencies.”
The tribesmen reiterated hundreds of Konkombas who had risen through academia to lecture and head major departments of tertiary institutions and boasted of producing the first and youngest black managing director of Multinational shipping Company, Maersk.
“Apart from that, we have yam markets all over the country and those markets generate a lot of revenue in taxes for the nation,” they added.
President of the Kumasi Komkomba Youth Association John Womborti appealed for their tribe’s men to be accepted as peace-loving and productive members of the society.
“We want to tell the world that Konkombas are a peace-loving people, hardworking and trustworthy but people always associate us with our violent past. We want to remove this stigma. Things that happened in the past is regrettable but we shouldn’t be seen as violent.” John Womborti pointed out.
The leaders encouraged their relatives to participate actively in politics but warned they will not countenance any Komkomba tribesman engaging in any acts of electoral violence as the country gets closer to its campaigning and electioneering period.
Parliament will resume its operations on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 after the House went on recess in December.
A statement signed by Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, on January 24, said: “The Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic shall commence at 10 o’clock in the forenoon of Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
It adds that, the Speaker of Parliament, by Clause (1) of Article 112 of the 1992 Constitution, appointed Parliament House, Accra, to be the place of meeting.
Upon assumption, the minority will see new leaders in charge of its caucus following a major shake-up by the NDC leadership.
The new leaders are Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah and Kwame Governs Agbodza, who have replaced Haruna Iddrisu, James Klutse Avedzi, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, as Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip, respectively.
Some of the issues the house is expected to consider include the LGBTQ+ bill, the COVID-19 expenditure probe, and the call for the Finance Minister to leave office, National Cathedral expenditure among others.
Two more suspects who were involved in the NDC’s National Youth and Women’s Congress held on December 10, 2022, at Cape Coast in the Central Region.
The suspects, Abdul-Fataw Adams and Hajj Dawda Hassan were on the wanted list of the police until they were arrested at Wenchi in the Bono Region and Tishegu, Tamale in the Northern Region respectively.
Suspect Hajj Abdul-Fataw, is currently on bail while suspect Dawda Hassan is in Police custody and will be put before the court to face justice.
This brings to six (6) the number of people arrested so far in connection with the disturbances. The six are Abdul Halid Shaibu alias Oluu, Ibrahim Razak, Iddrisu Abass alias Jango, Dawda Mohammed Nazir, Dawda Hassan, and Hajj Abdul-Fataw Adams.
“Faces of the suspects have been shown because they had been declared wanted with their images already displayed in our quest to seek public assistance in getting them arrested.
“The intelligence operations are still ongoing to get the remaining 10 suspects arrested,” a statement by the Police said.
Two astute politicians in the country, Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, have dared former President John Dramani Mahama to tell Ghanaians what he will do different if he is given the nod as President of the republic in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Former president John Dramani Mahama has been referred to severally as the presumptive presidential flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) going into the 2024 general elections.
This is ahead of May 13, 2023 presidential primaries that are expected to formally elect the NDC’s flagbearer for 2024.
Mahama, who was president between 2012 and 2017, is being challenged by two opponents to show what he will do differently if given the nod after losing two successive reelection bids in 2016 and 2020 to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central had harsh words for Mahama in a recent interview, describing his desire as borne of greed and that he is not an option given his previous record in office.
Agyapong who is an NPP flagbearer hopeful said on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programme earlier this week: “If you compare the two governments, Akufo-Addo and Mahama, Mahama is not an alternative to Ghana because the man has been fortunate to succeed Atta Mills for two years.
“He has been fortunate to go one term which is four years, six years and we saw what happened in this country, so, what is he going to tell Ghanaians again. What is Mahama going to tell Ghanaians?” he asked.
On his part, Koku Anyidoho, a former deputy General Secretary of the NDC also asked Mahama to justify why he deserves to be returned in 2024.
The avowed Mahama critic tweeted his challenge on February 2, 2023.
“If John Mahama wants to be President again for only four years, let him tell us what he will do differently,” he tweeted.
National Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, says the changes in the party’s leadership in parliament was due in 2021.
The process delayed till last month when the party notified Parliament of changes which included replacing Haruna Iddrisu with Cassiel Ato Forson as Minority Leader.
The party also replaced Haruna’s deputy and Chief Whip.
Addressing concerns about the timing of the party’s changes, Asiedu Nketiah said the changes had actually delayed by two years.
“We needed to have done these changes as far back as March 2021, we’ve delayed and the closer we got to elections, the more difficult it will become to implement such changes and we think that that is the best time to go about the changes.
“The leadership that we have just changed, they’ve done their part. We needed them at the time we chose them, we felt that they possess the skill set that could meet the challenges as at that time and they discharged their work creditably.
“Now, we are facing new set of emerging challenges and so it is only reasonable to go for a new set of leadership that possesses the skill set that will be able to discharge the responsibilities that have emerged because of the changing times,” he told party faithful in London last week.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has described the issue surrounding the change in the leadership of the minority caucus as a needless distraction.
According to him, the focus of the National Democratic Congress and its MPs should be on helping find solutions to the numerous challenges the people of Ghana are facing.
Ablakwa said that the issue surrounding the change in the minority leadership has overshadowed important national issues including the debt exchange programme and corruption allegations in the government’s COVID-19 expenditure, as well as the construction of the National Cathedral of Ghana.
“If you look at the current situation in our country, we are in a very turbulent chaotic time. We are really in crisis and we see what is happening with the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, where so many people have been forced to take haircuts… we have an avalanche of corruption reports, look at the Auditor Generals’ Report on COVID-19, look at our own exposé.
“The Ghanaian people expect us to be focused on those matters, to offer leadership, to be their voice because that is why they sent us to Parliament.
“So, the point I am making is that, this is a needless distraction,” the MP said in a JoyNews interview monitored by GhanaWeb, on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Ablakwa, therefore, called on his colleague National Democratic Congress MPs to finalize the matter on their leadership and move on to national issues.
“So, some of us have been urging colleagues that we have to quickly close ranks, deal with this matter expeditiously and move on to the national issues,” he added.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Some MPs of the party have petitioned its National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East), and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), who are calling for the suspension, argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
The member of parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has chastised the Ghana Armed Forces for the killing and mistreatment of some of his constituents and vowed to do everything in his power to seek reparation.
According to a statement issued under the name of the MP, on the night of Tuesday, January 31, 2023, there were reported gunshots heard in the Bawku township.
This, he added, was part of efforts by the military to ensure that it brought the situation under control, but things spiralled and, in the end, some six civilians are said to have been killed at the hands of the soldiers.
He said that the people who were killed were first chased and then shot, per the information available to him.
“Let me condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the infliction of mortal casualties on innocent civilians by members of the Ghana Armed Forces in Bawku today. This is totally unacceptable and I will leave no stone unturned in my fight for redress for these victims.
“Report reaching me is to the effect that there were gun fires last night across the Bawku town. The military, as part of their efforts to curtail the situation, chased anyone they saw, Information reaching is to the effect that they were chasing some people and other people saw those being chased running and also took to their heels. The military shot at them and in the process killed six civilians,” he stated.
Mahama Ayariga further explained that one of the people who were killed was a little boy who had also gone into hiding, bringing the number of reported deceased to 7.
He added that some other persons were physically abused, including an assemblyman.
“A little boy who also run to hide behind some grasses was also shot. The grass caught fire and burnt him to death, making the number 7. In addition, the Assemblyman for Missiga Electoral Area was physically assaulted by military personnel and sustained serious injuries.
“Several unspeakable brutalities have been reported,” he added.
Vehemently condemning what transpired in his constituency, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP called out the continuous attacks of the military on his citizens.
He has therefore called on the government to immediately investigate the matter, while calling for calm among the people of the Bawku township.
“This is totally unacceptable and I condemn the military in very strong terms. There was similar killing of two men at patelmi because they allegedly broke curfew laws. This is preposterous. The Government must immediately investigate this report and bring to book the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
“I urge everyone to lay down their weapons and let’s work towards peace and not give opportunities to others to inflict such inhuman treatment on us,” he added.
The price for wholesale electricity is set by a bidding process, with each generating company saying what it would be willing to accept to produce a unit of power.
When it’s windy and sunny enough to meet demand for electricity through renewables, the wholesale cost drops to close to zero.
But when it’s not, the wholesale cost is set at the level that all providers will accept – which is the highest bid.
In the past, gas powered generation was among the cheapest ways of producing electricity.
But the cost has soared recently as economies have recovered from the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted supplies.
Charging an average price for wholesale electricity would have made the bill in the two years from 2021-22 £7.2bn lower, the Carbon Tracker Initiative said.
According to BBC calculations that’s about £250 per household.
Due to the current system, firms that make renewable energy have been paid much more for their power than it costs them to generate.
For this reason the government introduced a temporary 45% tax in January on what it calls “extraordinary returns” from low-carbon electricity generators in the UK.
Lower bills
Jonathan Sims, an energy analyst who wrote the CTI report, said the findings showed how the global gas market over the last two years had skewed British power prices.
He said these prices did not reflect the different technology the UK now uses to generate electricity.
The CTI’s report takes into account the need for sources of power that can be fired up immediately such as gas-fired, or provide near constant output such as nuclear, whereas wind power for example is weather-dependent.
The analysis also suggested Europe’s most gas power-dependent countries, the UK and Italy, had consistently paid the highest prices for electricity during the recent period of gas price volatility.
The business department said it was consulting on changes that “would stop volatile gas prices setting the price of electricity produced by much cheaper renewables”.
It also said its windfall tax on renewables generators would “help fund energy bill support for households and businesses”.
Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu is optimistic of a complete win the NDC parliamentary elections for his Constituency.
Although he called for contenders to feel free to file nominations to contest him when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds parliamentary primaries in May, he m,entioned that none of his contenders will win more than 1% of the total votes cast.
Whiles giving hope to would-be aspirants, the Tamale South Member of Parliament assured that he would win re-election by a landslide touting his prowess and growing influence over the years.
“The Tamale South seat is free, it is open. When nominations open, 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 told Evans Mensah on a Joy News programme.
Haruna has been in Parliament since 2008 when he joined the Fourth Parliament, he has since served in the 5th, 6th, 7th and in the current 8th Parliament.
He has also held a number of ministerial portfolios over the period, among others Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the Ministry of Communications.
‘Powerful’ Haruna Iddrisu may go unopposed in primaries – Asiedu Nketiah
NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah all but endorsed Haruna Iddrisu to sail through upcoming primaries for the Tamale South seat.
Asiedu Nketiah said the MP, who is in his fifth term, had become so powerful in his constituency that it would even be surprising if he is contested at all when the primaries are held later this year.
“The outgone Minority Leader, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, he is so powerful in his constituency, he is almost always not contested at all. I have my doubts whether anybody will contest him,” Asiedu Nketiah told party faithful during a meeting in London.
The one-time General Secretary was addressing concerns that the January 23 changes to the party’s leadership in Parliament was going to affect some of the replaced leaders at the upcoming primaries.
The NDC will hold presidential and parliamentary primaries on May 13, 2023.
NDC rings changes in parliamentary leadership
The NDC, through its General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to announce the replacement of three members: the Minority Leader, the deputy Minority Leader, and the Minority Chief Whip.
The NDC picked Ato Forson to replace Haruna Iddrisu as leader of the Minority Caucus.
Other changes included Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembele, who is the new deputy Minority Chief Whip.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is also retained as second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, is predicting chaos ahead of Parliament’s first sitting this year. His prediction follows the reshuffle of NDC leadership in Parliament.
He said that the military and police must be deployed to Parliament on February 7, 2023, when the House resumes its sittings.
According to him, it is likely there will be chaos in the House because of the change in the leadership of the minority caucus.
Speaking in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Obiri Boahen added that there might be chaos because some of the leaders who have changed have not indicated that they are stepping down and their supporters are running riot.
“… soldiers must be sent to Parliament when the House resumes on the 7th. The number of police and soldiers sent there should be like deployment for a war… Supporters of Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka are very adamant that they are still the leaders of the minority and are determined to cause trouble if there are attempts to replace them.
“Something is going to happen when parliament resumes on the 7th (of February). Because the supporters of Haruna Iddrisu will not agree for someone else to be in his chair and Ato Forson is also determined to take the position of majority leader.
“I not happy about this… but some African politicians learn history but don’t learn from the lessons of history. The Swedru declaration led to the NDC losing power and the NPP coming to power. And this reshuffle done by the NDC will either make or break them,” he said in Twi.
Meanwhile, the National Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is expected to meet the party’s Members of Parliament (MPs) on the appointment of their new leadership, on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
According to the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, the executives will be meeting with the minority caucus to explain their decision, after which a confirmation of the new parliamentary leadership will be made.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Some MPs of the party have petitioned its National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East), and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), who are calling for the suspension, argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
Contrary to claims that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is divided following the reshuffle of its Leadership in Parliament, National Chairman for the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, says the party is united.
According to him, the reactions being seen as a result of the reshuffle are normal and should be expected after any change, citinewsroom.com reports.
He added that the majority of NDC faithful have accepted the change in the party’s parliamentary leadership.
“The NDC is not fragmented at all; it’s still a very united party. The truth about every decision is that every change comes along with new gainers, so you will definitely have some reactions.
“But the change has been welcomed by the majority of NDC members across the country, I guess even here [UK]. The reshuffle has brought some new excitement on the front of NDC,” Asiedu Nketiah is quoted to have said while addressing NDC supporters in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The national chairman also explained that the party’s change in parliamentary leadership was long overdue.
“This leadership ought to have been reshuffled around March 2021. I explained to Ghanaians that, because of our court case, we didn’t feel like proceeding with that work. And I indicated clearly that it was a work in progress and that somewhere along the line, we will come out to indicate to Ghanaians who our next leadership will be.
“And so I’m surprised that people were surprised about the move. In fact, we were running late for the changes,” he added
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Some MPs of the party have petitioned its National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East), and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), who are calling for the suspension, argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
Founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party, Akua Donkor, has disclosed that she has entered a covenant with God to deal with former president John Dramani Mahama.
According to Akua Donkor, she enthusiastically supported the former president during the 2012 general elections, but afterwards, the latter colluded with the then-electoral commissioner, Madam Charlotte Osei to crush her goal of becoming president of the country in the 2016 elections.
Speaking in an interview with Rainbow Radio, Akua Donkor stated that until after her death, the former president who is also aspiring to be the NDC’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections will never hold office as president in the country again due to the terms and nature of her covenant with God.
”I went into a covenant with God never to peddle falsehood, so whatever I am saying here today represents nothing but the truth. I prayed and asked God to deal with him (Mahama) for taking me through such pain.
“I supported his campaign in 2012 and helped him win power, but in 2016, he instructed the EC to disqualify me. I then prayed and asked God to deal with him. That prayer worked, and that was why he lost. He will not win the 2024 polls. As long as I am alive, Mahama will never be elected President.”
In an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s morning program “Kokrokoo,” Mr. Senyo Hosi emphasized the utter failure of the President’s “Planting for Food and Jobs” policy, which was intended to boost the agricultural industry.
“After all these years, show me one agriculture sector that has been well-structured. It’s zero,” he exclaimed.
“How much irrigated fields do we have? Have we invested in our irrigated fields to march our needs as a country? But when you look at the billions we have spent on this Planting for Food and Jobs which we can’t see any particular thing that’s sustaining the industry. I think that it’s a failed project. It’s a totally failed project.”
Mr. Senyo Hosi asked the government to concentrate more of her efforts on improving the agric sector which he believes is the country’s engine of progress.
“We have the capacity to progressively grow and then eventually fully supply Ghana. It’s possible for us to feed our own self,” he stated.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia very certainly supports Haruna Iddrisu, the former minority leader, to win the Tamale South party nomination.
Asiedu Nketiah said the four-time Member of Parliament (MP) had become so powerful in his constituency that it would even be surprising if he is contested at all when the primaries are held later this year.
“The outgone Minority Leader, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, he is so powerful in his constituency, he is almost always not contested at all. I have my doubts whether anybody will contest him,” Asiedu Nketiah told party faithful during a meeting in London last week.
The one-time General Secretary was addressing concerns that the January 23 changes to the party’s leadership in Parliament was going to affect some of the replaced leaders at the upcoming primaries.
“They will not be impacted by the changes, one of the ousted persons, Dr. Avedzi (former deputy Minority Leader) is not going to Parliament again,” he explained.
On the case of Mohammed Muntaka-Mubarak, Asiedu Nketiah said despite recent challenge he was facing, “we didn’t think that this change will affect his fortune one way or the other and so we felt this is the best time to undertake these changes.”
He stressed that the advantages of expedition outweighed the concerns that were being raised about the timing.
NDC rings changes in parliamentary leadership
The NDC, through its General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to announce the replacement of three members: the Minority Leader, the deputy Minority Leader, and the Minority Chief Whip.
The NDC picked Ato Forson to replace Haruna Iddrisu as leader of the Minority Caucus.
Other changes included Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembele, who is the new deputy Minority Chief Whip.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is also retained as second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
The Member of the Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North in the Ashanti Region, Collins Adomako-Mensah has lamented the impact of the new minority leadership in parliament, branding it as an incompetent and weak working force.
The lawmaker claims that the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) current leadership are not qualified enough to manage a country if power is ever transferred to them, because in his opinion, they are incapable compared to the previous leaders.
Speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV, the MP asserted that the nation is experiencing an economic crisis and needs competent and good leadership to manage its affairs rather than what he perceives to be weak leadership in the minority’s recent reshuffle.
“I always say that for the NDC, their problem is that they’ve been in government before. That’s their biggest problem. Now that Ghana is having a debt exchange programme because of an economic crisis, everybody knows that the economy is weak. Can you imagine handing a weak economy to weak leadership?
“How can we hand a weak economy to weak leadership? Because as we speak, we don’t even know who the minority leader is? “…then it won’t be a matter of debt exchange but rather double debt exchange. It will be chaotic, how do you do this?” he lamented.
The NDC, through its General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to announce the replacement of three members of its leadership in the House: the Minority Leader, the deputy Minority Leader, and the Minority Chief Whip.
The NDC picked Ato Forson to replace Haruna Iddrisu as leader of the Minority Caucus. Other changes are Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembele, who is the new deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Minority Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is also retained as second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
Today, Tuesday, January 31, the National Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will meet with members of the Minority Caucus to discuss the changes made to their leadership in the legislature.
The meeting comes after the resistance that greeted the reshuffle which saw Haruna Iddrisu removed as Minority Leader and replaced by Dr Cassel Ato Forson.
Tuesday’s meeting is expected to explain to the caucus reasons behind the reshuffle and get the support of all aggrieved Minority MPs.
There has been a division among members of the group following a reshuffle of its leadership by the national executives of the NDC.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with the leadership after his appointment, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson assured of a collaboration with the former leaders of the caucus to deliver on their mandate in Parliament.
“We have just come out of a very successful meeting with the leadership of the party. We are going to deliver on our mandate. ”
“And as has been agreed with the leadership of the party, there will be a series of activities that will be undertaken beginning from today. We will have our maiden meeting with our leadership and the party leadership on Tuesday,” he added.
As part of the leadership changes, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle also replaced Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip.
