The Independent Ghana is reliably informed that Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, is no longer the leader of the Minority Caucus in parliament.
Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has also been relieved of his position.
It is unclear what prompted the NDC leadership to take this decision, however, reports indicate that there had been conversations around removing these two from the NDC front bench in Parliament.
MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, Cassiel Ato Forson, is now Minority Leader.
Dr Ato Forson takes over from Haruna Iddrisu, the Tamale South MP.
The change in leadership was announced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament
Dr Forson would be assisted by Mr Kofi Armah Buah, the new Deputy Minority leader who takes over from Mr Klutse Avedzi.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has released new images of what he says is evidence that the JNS Talent Centre received an amount of GHC3.5million from the National Cathedral Secretariat to supply it with paper towels.
According to the MP, who has been on a recent campaign to uncover some alleged corrupt and dubious actions of the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, this new detail makes matters worse for the preacher.
Earlier, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had provided documents to the effect that JNS Talent Centre, owned by a certain Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, is only an alias of Rev. Kusi Boateng.
In this latest document, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP said that the details show that indeed, the amount of GHc3.5million that was received by JNS Talent was not a loan but money for the supply of some items.
This, he added, is contrary to earlier claims made to the effect that the amount given to the company was a loan from the National Cathedral Secretariat.
“Evidence secured of how the ubiquitous JNS Talent Centre Limited, secretly & dubiously owned by Kwabena Adu Gyamfi AKA Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, received a staggering GHS3.5million of Ghana’s COVID-19 cash to supply paper towels. This further complicates his cathedral loan claims,” the MP wrote on Twitter.
It will be recalled that the Executive Director of the Cathedral project, Dr. Paul Opoku Mensah, earlier explained that an amount of GHc2.6 million was paid to JNS Talent Centre Limited because it was an interest-free loan the company helped it secure to meet some contractual obligations in 2021.
“We had signed a contract; we were supposed to pay them (contractors) mobilization and that was part of the seed money from the state, and the state had actually transferred the money to the Minister of Finance, but the Controller (and Accountant General) had asked for some time to pay it.
“We had already kind of postponed this payment to the contractors, so a board member said he could help us top-up because he had some money, and we could just top it off to pay the contractors,” he stated.
See the post by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa below:
Evidence secured of how the ubiquitous JNS Talent Centre Limited secretly & dubiously owned by Kwabena Adu Gyamfi AKA Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng received a staggering GHS3.5million of Ghana’s COVID-19 cash to supply paper towels.
One of the best things you can do for yourself to turn your money situation around is to review the budget that you had for the past month and see where things went wrong. Taking a closer look at your spending will show you all the bad money habits that you need to start doing away with in order to turn things around for your account.
2. Unlink your Mobile Money from your bank account
3. Switch to a group Netflix/Spotify/Apple Music plan
If you’re going solo on any of your streaming subscriptions then you probably deserve the broke-ness that’s following you. Most of the streaming services that you use have family plans that you can get with your friends and split the bill for. It’s an easy way to cut back on some of the money that you’re leaking.
4. Start thinking of thoughtful Valentine’s gifts
Everyone knows that valentine’s day is one of the more expensive periods at the beginning of the year. If you’re all coupled up, there’s still a chance for you to save your bank account from taking a bloody combination to the face. Just start thinking of the most thoughtful gifts you can get your person. That way you can deliver on the thought that counts and leave your coins in your account.
The general secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has paid a visit to his home district to convey his gratitude to the local chiefs and populace.
The NDC party executive was the immediate past Member of Parliament for the Ketu South constituency until 2020 when he stepped down, making way for the current legislator, Abla Dzifa Gomashie.
In photos and videos shared online, Fifi Kwetey shared his excitement at returning home, adding that he felt really at home.
“Over the weekend, I was in Ketu South. It was such a wonderful experience to return to the constituency where I grew up and once served as an MP. I sincerely appreciate the warm reception I received from the religious leaders, traditional authorities, party executives and the good people of the area,” he wrote on Facebook.
The visit by the NDC General Secretary was done in the company of the sitting MP, Dzifa Gomashie; the Volta Regional Chairman, Mawutor Agbavitor; and other executives of the party.
The team met with constituency executives and engaged in a number of activities geared towards rekindling the spirit of patriotism in their members.
The team also visited some churches in the community.
“I thanked the leadership of both churches for their support to the NDC and Ghana and appealed to them not to relent in their efforts to make the nation better, great and strong,” he added.
Fifi Fiavi Kwetey and the team also paid homage to Togbui Fiti Adzonugagag Amenya V, the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Council; as well as Togbui Addo of the Klikor Traditional Area, and Tigbui Adamah of Some Traditional Area.
“My tour ended with a visit to my hometown, Nogokpo, where I paid homage to the chief, Togbui Sabah,” he added.
Fifi Kwetey was elected as General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at their recent National Delegates Congress, where he beat competition from the likes of Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor.
The congress also saw the election of Johnson Asiedu Nketiah as the National Chairman of the party, beating the incumbent, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.
The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, has donated GHC 50,000 towards the payment of rent arrears of the party’s Regional Office at South La, in Accra.
The donation, which he said was from his personal resources, was a contribution to defray the legacy debt of the office rent amounting to US$38,000.
“As we speak, I have donated an amount of GHS50,000 towards the settlement of part of the rent arrears of our regional office,” Nii Ashie Moore told journalists during an interview in Accra.
The donation came days after Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin had donated GHS100,000 for defraying part of the rent arrears.
“We recently received similar support from the Speaker of Parliament who happened to be one of our Fathers of our Party, the Great NDC,” Nii Ashie Moore said.
He gave an assurance to lead in building a regional party office during his four-year term as Regional Chairman.
He said: “I’m assuring our party supporters that by the end of my four-year mandate as Regional Chairman, we should have our own office, built for our activities. We cannot keep on spending this huge sum of money renting. So, by 2024-2025, we should start something for our office.
“Even if I don’t complete it before my mandate ends, at least, there will be a building site for that purpose.”
According to NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman, plans were far advanced to put up a permanent Regional NDC office to avoid the future occurrence of such rent arrears.
He expressed his commitment to ensuring that the party has a place conducive for meetings to prepare for the 2024 general election.
A new survey conducted by Global Info Analytics, a polling company in Ghana, has revealed that 71% of citizens are of the view that, Ghana is headed in the wrong direction.
The poll also revealed that 60% of New Patriotic Party (NPP) affiliates disapprove of the path the country is headed while 81% of affiliates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) also say the party is on the wrong path.
On the question of whether the NPP can “break the eight”, 24% of voters believe the party can “break-the-eight” whilst 59% said they can’t and 17% had no opinion.
The poll shows the president’s job approval rating has made a significant recovery from 26% in October, leaping to 32% in January 2023, whilst his disapproval declined sharply from 69% in October to 59% in January 2023.
The vice president enjoys 32% approval and 58% disapproval. In the case of Alan Kyerematen, 35% of voters approved of his performance as Trade and Industry minister whilst 45% disapprove of his performance.
The poll used a sample size of 5,844. The sample size was allocated to all the regions based on the total number of voters in each of the regions as per the Electoral Commission’s 2020 register.
A random selection of 30% of constituencies from each region was then selected and allocated the regional quota based on the total voters in each of those constituencies.
Respondents were selected randomly in the streets, homes and workplaces.
In the race to lead the NPP for the 2024 elections, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are tied with no clear favourite.
The poll conducted between 31st December 2022 and 15th January 2023, shows the race to lead the NPP is a dead heat among NPP voters as Dr Bawumia has lost the slender lead he enjoyed in October 2022 over Mr Kyeremanten.
The poll now shows Dr Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are level at 40% apiece among NPP voters.
However, among general voters, Mr Kyerematen’s lead over Dr Bawumia has been cut from 41% to 32% compared to 44% to 31% in October 2022. New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, is in third place with 14% of the votes.
The NPP is yet to set a date for its presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the 2024 elections.
Mr Kyerematen who resigned from his post is likely to face off with the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former Railways Minister Joe Ghartey who has also declared his intention to contest for the slot.
The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is actively gearing up for a busy 2023 ahead of crucial 2024 General Elections as they look to wrestle power from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It will be the first major test for the newly-elected batch of executives led by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who until December 2022 had served for 17 years as the party’s General Secretary.
Asiedu Nketiah, along with his successor Fifi Fiavi Kwetey and members of the National Executive body are gunning for early victory by way of leading the NDC into the Jubilee House after eight years in opposition.
The party on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 released detailed guidelines on how its presidential and parliamentary primaries will be conducted later this year.
GhanaWeb looks at the major highlights contained in both processes.
Major modalities for the presidential primary
Date and venues:
The election of the Presidential Candidate shall be held on Saturday, 13th May, 2023 at Voting Centers in all 276 Constituencies of the NDC which includes the SALL/Guan catchment area.
The National Headquarters of the NDC shall constitute an additional voting center for all delegates from external branches of the party.
Nomination process and completing forms:
Nominations shall be opened between 22nd and 24th March, 2023
A candidate must be proposed by a party member in good standing and endorsed by five others in each constituency in each region across the country.
Candidates shall be subjected to a vetting process which is expected to take place at the party Headquarters on a specified date.
Cost of forms and submission:
Nomination forms shall be made available in the office of the General Secretary for purchase at a non-refundable fee of Thirty thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢30,000.00) paid by bankers’ draft.
The completed forms (Nomination and endorsement forms) are to be returned to the General Secretary of the Party with evidence of the payment of a non-refundable filing fee of Five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢500,000.00) via bankers’ draft.
Female candidates and Persons with Disabilities shall pay fifty percent (50%) of the filing fees
Election Day:
The presidential primary will take place concurrently with the parliamentary primary with the party’s national headquarters serving as the collation center.
A candidate will require 50% plus one to win a first-round victory.
Major modalities for the parliamentary primary
Date and place:
It shall be held on same day as the presidential primary (May 13, 2023). The election shall be held at a venue within the Constituency as determined by the Constituency Executive Committee in consultation with the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the respective region.
Nomination forms
Forms shall be made available online for download on www.ghanandc.com and a non-refundable fee of Five thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢5,000.00) paid online via the stipulated momo or bank card.
The completed forms (nomination and endorsement) shall be completed and submiited to the Elections Directorate of the constituency after the payment of a non-refundable filing fee of Forty thousand Ghana cedis (Gh¢40,000.00) via Bank Card on www.ghanandc.com.
Completing forms:
Each contestant must be proposed by one person and seconded by three (3) persons all of whom must be members of good standing of the party in different branches of the constituency.
Each prospective candidate shall be endorsed by at least one branch executive member of the party from 50 percent of the total branches in the constituency.
Day of voting:
All rules as applies in national elections shall be applicable along with any other rules as communicated by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Candidates can appoint agents to monitor the process. Ballots shall be counted and collated immediately after the process and winner shall be declared on the basis of first past the post – aspirant with highest number of votes.
Key timelines for the process:
OPENING OF NOMINATIONS MONDAY 22ND – 24TH FEBRUARY, 2023
SUBMISSION OF FORMS/ FILING OF NOMINATION MONDAY 20TH – 22ND MARCH 2023
The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame, has said that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is in pole position to win power for an unprecedented third consecutive term.
According to him, both the NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) want to set a new record in the 2024 election, with the NDC seeking to bring a former president back to power, but his party has the upper hand.
Speaking in a Good Evening Ghana interview on Tuesday, (January 17, 2023), which was monitored by GhanaWeb, the attorney general said that Ghanaians will choose the NPP over the NDC in the 2024 elections because of the record of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
“I think the NPP has always been in a better position to break the 8. And indeed in 2008, President Akufo-Addo nearly broke the 8… so we have always stood the chance of breaking the 8.
“And I think that now on account of the human resources at our disposal, on account of the record of the government indeed we stand a better chance of breaking the 8.
“Breaking the 8 has not been done before but so is the return of a former president to power. We want to break the 8, they want to reignite the past. And I think that the people of Ghana will reject it with every ability that they can command,” he said.
Dame stated that the NDC has nothing new to offer and that Ghanaians will reject them.
He went on to say that the NDC’s new national executives are people the NPP has previously defeated and will do so again.
Former president John Dramani Mahama has described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party as the better manager of Ghana’s economy, as the state is in near collapse under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
According to him, poverty has worsened due to extreme inflation and price volatility.
These deteriorations were discovered during his visits to the Savanna, Northern, and Upper West Regions.
In a Facebook post, he said the country is near collapse.
“I am back to Accra from a trip to the Savanna, Northern, and Upper West Regions – and poverty has worsened due to extreme inflation & price volatility. The economy is in a near state of collapse; clearly, the NDC has been a better manager of the economy!” he said
Member of Parliament (MP) and Former Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says those seeking to contest Former President John Mahama in the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential primaries should rather rally behind him because “2024 elections is for Mahama” and nobody else.
“For me, I will appeal to all those lacing their boots that, this is not going to be the last primaries in Ghana so they can look at that. This 2024 election is for President John Mahama.” The lawmaker said.
According to him, there has been a lot of destruction in the country caused by the current administration led by Akufo-Addo which needs to be redeemed, hence, there is no time to waste in trying to find a leader.
To him, such a contest will only waste their time and may switch the focus of the party.
“Looking at the contest we are yet to face and how they (NPP) have destroyed the country; Ghanaians are saying we should go back for NDC, people even say if you meet John Mahama tell him we are sorry”, Ablakwa said this on TV XYZ in an interview.
Ablakwa also revealed that he honestly, agrees with the NDC’s General Secretary that, “we should be able to sanction some of these aspirants who waste our time”.
“Everybody is calling for John Mahama, so you just have to come on board. Let’s unite. This is not the time as the only hope for the country when they turn to you then you are engaged in needless internal squabbles”, he stressed.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has set May 13, 2023, as a date to elect their flagbearer.
The party will also elect parliamentary candidates for various constituencies across the country on the same day.
This was announced by the NDC General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey at a press conference at the NDC headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
According to the General Secretary, both elections will happen concurrently in all 276 constituencies of the NDC instead of 275 as they recognise SALL.
The court was adjourned today (Tuesday, January 17) to allow the accused’s and sureties’ attorneys to certify a document that they possess about the accused but that the court disputes because it was not notarized.
How does this serve a legal purpose, wondered the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, in evaluating the document’s legal impact.
The court said the document in its current form does not work for it to be part of a record as to whether the recognizance has been forfeited.
Justice Asare-Botwe, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal after listening to the parties adjourned the case to January 24 for the lawyers to authenticate the document.
According to EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, Mrs Tamakloe Ationu has been absent from court for the last two legal year since 2021.
The two sureties who executed the GHc5M bail conditions for former CEO of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) were first ordered to produce the accused on December 22, 2022.
The Financial and Economic Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, now elevated to the Court of Appeal who held that the former MASLOC boss has “absconded,” extended the period to January 17.
But in court on Tuesday, January 17, the parties were given a week more period.
At the last court sitting on December 22, Lawyer for the first surety Lawyer Beatrice Annan-Fio, for Gavivina Tamakloe said “We have exhausted every effort within our means but we have not been able to produce the first accused person.”
She, therefore, prayed the court to allow them more time to be able to produce the accused who is said to have undergone some medical procedure.
Lawyer Dr Abdul Basit Bamba and Lawyer Agbesi Dzakpasu, counsel for Alex Mould and Accused respectively added their voices for more time.
Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, who was one of 15 newly sworn-in Justices of the Court of Appeal by the President, said “I will give you time.”
While making a biblical allusion she said the Bible calls for fulfilment of righteousness and that “I can only give you time after the Christmas.”
The newly promoted Justice of the Court of Appeal said “You have until the holidays are over to produce the accused or provide a compelling evidence why you need more time to produce accused.”
Daniel Axim, the second accused person was present in court.
Forfeiture of sureties
The accused person has for the past year (October 2021) failed to appear in court for the trial to progress after she was given permission by the court to travel out of the country for a medical examination.
Ruling on an application for forfeiture of recognisance of sureties filed by the Attorney General’s department, Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe said, it is clear that the accused is no longer reasonably missing the trial for medical reasons.
The court said the sureties have since stopped bringing any medical letters to the court on the accused person.
Justice Asare-Botwe said the accused person had breached the terms of her bond and a liability accrues on the sureties.
Justice Afia Asare-Botwe, said, Forfeiture of bail bond becomes effective the moment the accused person jumps bail and the surety is unable to produce him or her.
The court said, it has drawn the conclusion that Mrs Attionu Tamakloe who is standing trial with one another has absconded as she has not shown up at the time she was supposed to.
The court also said, “the authorities have also made it clear that, if this happens you should give the sureties time to produce the accused person.”
Consequently, the court said, “I have given the sureties on or before 22 December, 2022, to produce the accused person.”
Trial in absentia
The court is expected to consider the application for trial in absentia if the accused failed to show up.
Arguments
Moving the application for Forfeiture of recognizance of the sureties, Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney argues that the Ex MASLOC Boss having failed to return for the trial after being given leave to travel simply means that she has abandoned.
The lawyer for Gavivina said the application for the release of the passport to the accused person was not sent to him and he had no idea.
He added that the State did not oppose the application so he cannot be held responsible for her absence and that, the State has all the apparatuses to ensure the accused attends court.
The lawyer for Alex Mould, Dr Abdul Aziz Bamba argued that the State should take action to extradite the accused to come down and face trial.
He added that he is informed the accused is unwell and is seeking medical assistance in the States.
He argued that the Supreme Court has ruled that the court cannot commit a surety to prison and that, the execution of bail bond is a contract and one cannot put one in prison for failing to fulfil a contract.
Background
Sedina Attionu is on trial with Daniel Axim, a former Operations Manager of MASLOC, on 78 counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, stealing, and contravention of the public procurement act, among other charges.
The two have denied any wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution has accused Mrs Attionu of engaging in some illegalities leading to the alleged stealing and financial loss.
For instance, it has accused Mrs Attionu of embezzling GH¢500,000 that was paid by a company which benefitted from MASLOC support in 2014.
It is also the case of the prosecution that in 2013 following a fire disaster at the Kantamanto Market, then-President John Mahama directed MASLOC to provide assistance of GH¢1.46 million to victims of the disaster but Mrs Attionu embezzled part of the money.
The Minority NDC Caucus in Parliament is set to hold nationwide roadshows to promote a better understanding of the Debt Exchange Programme.
The Programme is a government initiative seeking to classify domestic bonds into four categories to create fiscal space as part of preparations to qualify Ghana for an International Monetary Fund facility.
Among other things, the roadshows would rally Ghanaians to demand a more favorable resolution to the alleged unprecedented economic crisis Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia-led Economic Management team has plunged the country into.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament, in Accra on Monday, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority Leader, said: “The inclusion of individual bondholders in the Domestic Debt Exchange is the biggest transfer of funds from the pockets of Ghanaians to the government.”
“ This will leave affected persons, mainly the middle class, improvised while worsening the plight of the poor. This must immediately be stopped.”
“We wish to take this opportunity to indicate our intention to embark on nationwide roadshows to foster a deeper understanding of this matter and rally Ghanaians to demand a more favorable resolution of the economic crisis….”
Mr Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, called on President Akufo-Addo to suspend the ongoing Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
He, therefore, urged the President to engage in more comprehensive consultations on the matter with all stakeholders and the Ghanaian people.
Meanwhile, the Government on Monday announced an extension of the Debt Exchange Programme to Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Samuel Koku Anyidoho, the former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has shared his views on the story of the eight students of Chiana Senior High School who insulted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a viral video.
Koku Anyidoho in a social media post lambasted the girls, stating that they were lucky to find themselves in a jurisdiction where laws on such issues are not in the extreme.
Koku Anyidoho also noted that the girls should thank their stars for having a president who is kind enough to intervene in the decision by the Ghana Education Service to dismiss them.
He expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo over his decision to ask the GES to reverse its earlier decision on the girls.
“Honestly, these girls are damn lucky. In other jurisdictions, they would have been flogged publicly. What nonsense!! You joke with insulting the President & making it public? Ah! Ah! Ah! I guess we must thank President Akufo-Addo for having a kind heart to forgive them. Thanks Prez,” Anyidoho tweeted.
President Akufo-Addo intervened in the matter after his ‘attention was drawn’ to the move by the Ghana Education Service to sack the students.
The move by the president has been welcomed by the Education Ministry which has instructed the GES to review its decision.
The GES has consequently announced that it will work with the authorities of the school to find an alternative punishment for the implicated students.
Samuel Koku Anyidoho, the former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has shared his views on the story of the eight students of Chiana Senior High School who insulted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a viral video.
Koku Anyidoho in a social media post lambasted the girls, stating that they were lucky to find themselves in a jurisdiction where laws on such issues are not in the extreme.
Koku Anyidoho also noted that the girls should thank their stars for having a president who is kind enough to intervene in the decision by the Ghana Education Service to dismiss them.
He expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo over his decision to ask the GES to reverse its earlier decision on the girls.
“Honestly, these girls are damn lucky. In other jurisdictions, they would have been flogged publicly. What nonsense!! You joke with insulting the President & making it public? Ah! Ah! Ah! I guess we must thank President Akufo-Addo for having a kind heart to forgive them. Thanks Prez,” Anyidoho tweeted.
President Akufo-Addo intervened in the matter after his ‘attention was drawn’ to the move by the Ghana Education Service to sack the students.
The move by the president has been welcomed by the Education Ministry which has instructed the GES to review its decision.
The GES has consequently announced that it will work with the authorities of the school to find an alternative punishment for the implicated students.
Honestly, these girls are damn lucky. In other jurisdictions, they wld have been flogged publicly. What nonsense!! U joke with insulting the President & making it public? Ah! Ah! Ah! I guess we must thank President Akufo-Addo for having a kind heart to forgive them.Thanks Prez???? pic.twitter.com/OrRsm7lc3c— Samuel Koku Anyidoho???????? (@KokuAnyidoho) January 14, 2023
A national organiser aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended national delegate congress, Henry Osei Akoto, has disagreed with a stalwart of the party on John Dramani Mahama’s achievements in the Volta Region.
In an earlier interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Dr. Obed Asamoah said that President Mahama didn’t do anything for the region, which is considered the powerhouse of the NDC.
This, he added, was responsible for the low numbers that the NDC received in the 2020 election, as compared to earlier feats by the founder of the NDC, Jerry John Rawlings, and President John Evans Atta Mills.
Dr. Obed Asamoah also blamed the former president for the NDC’s inability to retain the Hohoe seat, which, for the first time, was won by the New Patriotic Party’s John Peter Amewu.
But the 2020 parliamentary candidate for the Oforikrom Constituency, Henry Osei Akoto, has disagreed with the former Attorney General.
In a post shared on social media rebutting the claims of the law luminary and politician, Henry Osei Akoto stated that John Mahama undertook hundreds of projects in the party’s nationally acclaimed “world bank.”
“Respectfully, in response to my senior comrade, Dr. Obed Asamoah, about Mahama not doing anything for Volta, I beg to differ.
“John Dramani Mahama as president did over 30 projects under health, over 129 under education, about 60 projects in the transport sector, 16 projects in the ICT sector, and many other countless projects in different sectors.
“Any doubting Thomas can provide evidence to the contrary!” he wrote.
He further provided a list of the projects cutting across the transport, health, education, ICT, and many other sectors of the economy.
The Leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has begun mending fences with its aspirants and supporters aggrieved by the electioneering and aftermath of the just-ended national delegates conference.
As part of the reconciliation moves by the party, some national executives, led by their newly elected chairman, Jonhson Asiedu Nketiah met some malcontents of the party in the Ashanti Region to settle any grudges they hold against other party members.
The delegation engaged in a constructive dialogue with the Ashanti Regional Executives, Members of the Ashanti Caucus, Regional Council of Elders and other identifiable groups within Ashanti NDC aimed at uniting the base of the party and building peace as the party prepares for the must-win 2024 General Elections.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah after the meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2023, told OTEC News’ Jacob Agyenim Boateng that, the party has made significant progress towards reconciliation in the Ashanti Region.
He described the Ashanti Region as one of the most important areas for the NDC, adding that they will work harder to win more votes come 2024 general polls.
“We take Ashanti Region to be a very important area going into the 2024 polls.”
“We as NDC executives believe the party can not afford to leave any situation of conflict unresolved in the region,” he said.
“We have been here since morning, sat through a series of meeting to ensure the party is united more than ever, and am happy to report we have chalked significant success as far as reconciling in the region is concerned,” he added.
The team, which was led by the National Chairman of the NDC, Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, together with other senior party elders, included Hon. Kofi Totobi Kwakye and Col. Rtd. Larry Gbevlo Lartey.
The delegation also included other National Executives, such as the General Secretary, Hon. Fifi Fiave Kwetey, Deputy General Secretary, Hon. Barbara Serwaa Asamoah and Deputy National Organizer, Kobby Barlon. Also present at the meeting were Chairmen from eight other Regions.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah however called on party faithful to unite and remain committed to the party and the rank and file of the party to rally behind the new leaders to succeed.
The NDC chairman bemoaned the abysmal performance of the governing New Patriotic Party NPP and urged party members to rather focus on winning power in the 2024 polls.
“The Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government has supervised the worst economic conditions in several decades and brought Ghanaians hardship, that is the very reason why the NDC must unite more than ever to win power in 2024.”
Between theNational Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to be politically accepted on any regional level in the country, is a big deal.
But even more specific and significant for these two leading political parties in the country are what kind of numbers or voter turnouts they religiously receive from these regions, collectively.
As is widely known or accepted, the people of the Volta Region have historically always warmed up towards the NDC more, just as the Ashanti Region does for the NPP.
In more specific terms, these regions have become unconventionally known as the ‘world banks’ of these political parties. And rightly so, they have been for many years.
For instance, in the Ashanti Region, out of the 46 constituencies in the region, the NDC currently only has 4 seats to its name. That number has remained the highest number of seats the NDC has had in the region since 1996.
In the Volta Region, until 2020, the NPP had never won a seat. Currently, the tally is 17 to 1 seat in the region for the NDC and the NPP respectively. Previously, since 1996, the NDC had always won all the seats in the region (16 seats in 1996, 15 seats in 2000, 15 seats in 2004, 15 seats in 2008, 18 seats in 2012, and 18 seats in 2016).
Let us not forget also that the founding fathers of both the NDC and the NPP have formed a great part of why there is such a voting pattern for their parties in both the Volta and Ashanti Regions. Jerry John Rawlings of the NDC hails from the Volta Region, while the Danquah-Dombo-Busia trio of the NPP are predominantly from the Ashanti Region.
Could the narrative be taking an interesting twist, or turn, or direction? Well, it may depend on how you take a look at it.
And it would have been a fairer assessment if this was with respect to both regions but interestingly, the bus seems to be stopping more with the Volta Region.
It all started with the conversations on who has done what, and who has done more or not for the region. Ordinarily, that should have been an easy pass for the NDC, who are more preferred in the region, but some questions have arisen on whether or not they actually deserve such a comfortable acclamation.
What exactly did Mahama do for Volta Region? – Obed Asamoah asks:
As the NDC, just as the NPP, prepares to elect a new flagbearer to lead it into the 2024 general elections, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, has become one of the people to draw in this whole ‘what have you done for the Volta Region’ conversation.
He has asked for answers from former President John Dramani Mahama on exactly what he has done for the Volta Region.
He questioned what the 2020 flagbearer of the party did for the region that is considered the stronghold of their party, while he was in political office, and for which reason he would seek their votes again to lead the NDC into election 2024.
According to Dr. Asamoah, Mahama’s failure to establish tangible developmental projects in the Volta Region resulted in residents voting against the NDC.
Supporting his claim, Dr. Obed Asamoah said the evidence can be seen from how much, in terms of numbers, the percentage of voter turnout from the region in the 2020 elections were, as compared to those of his predecessors; the late John Evans Atta Mills and the late Jerry John Rawlings.
“Vote Region is supposed to be the World Bank of the NDC. What exactly did Mahama do for the Volta Region?
“Remember in the last election, he did not get the kind of votes Jerry and the others were getting; 80, 90 percent (in presidential elections),” he said.
But then something that had happened a few months earlier seems to lend support to the questions being posed by the NDC stalwart.
In November 2022, during the 60th anniversary of the Hogbetsotso Za of the Anlo people, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, made an appearance upon an invitation.
During his address, he courted the anger of residents present, becoming a victim of a booing incident targeted at the presidency, after he started making statements about the achievements of his party, the NPP, in the Volta Region.
As Agbotadua Kumassah, a member of the Hogbetsotso Planning Committee explained later, the people gathered at the grounds of the event started getting agitated when the vice president started talking about the economy.
He explained that the people, being well-aware that some of the things he was saying were false, started to boo at him.
“When he entered the economic situation, that is when the problem started. He mentioned, among others, that they built more airports than any other government, they built more roads than any other government and the people who were there did not see the roads, the airports, the roads he was referring to.
“So, that brought some agitation and it became very difficult to control the people because what he was saying, none of them happened in the area,” he explained.
Agbotadua Kumassah also explained that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s explanations on the government’s works in the digitization field, compounded the anger of the people, leading to them booing at him.
But how true or not are the things he said about what they had been doing?
NPP’s development feats in Volta Region evident – Makafui Woanya:
Being the man at the helm of things in the region for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Makafui Woanya, the regional chairman, has said countless times that his party has been able to perform creditably in the region albeit not so welcomed politically.
He explained in a graphic.com.gh report on January 5, 2023, that the NPP government has been able to revive and perform remarkable progress in some key infrastructural development projects in the region.
Some of these, he mentioned, are the steadily progressing Eastern Corridor Road Project, which is nearing completion; and the ongoing Southern Sector Water Systems Extensions Project.
“The University of Health and Allied Sciences, which the NDC is always quick to claim as their baby, is seeing massive infrastructural expansion,” he explained.
NPP drew its biggest strength from the Volta Region:
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has not been left out of the narratives or claims of what each party has been doing in the Volta Region.
In August 2020, the president said that the NPP considers the Volta Region as a “hallowed ground” that is symbolic of its struggle during the days of the party’s formation.
He added that history had even confirmed that the region had endorsed the NPP, and served as a place of refuge for its political fugitives during its darkest days, and for which reason the party can never discriminate against them.
“It was here in this region that people were most passionate about the political tradition. It was from here that the first people had to flee into political exile after independence, and it was in this region that many chiefs had to flee into political exile, and some died there.
“Many people forget that when J.B. Danquah, the first in the trinity of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia political tradition contested Kwame Nkrumah for the presidency, on Ghana becoming a republic in 1960, Danquah did not win in his home constituency in Akyem Abuakwa.
“But he won in two constituencies, one is right here in Anlo and the other is Ho West. If there was a little brittle tribal bone within my makeup, which there is not, I would not choose the Volta Region as a target. History would not allow me,” he said during a durbar of chiefs of the Anlo State at Anloga, during a working tour of the area.
John Mahama answers questions about what NDC has done for Volta Region:
Dr. Obed Asamoah’s questions have however not been left hanging because like a premonition, the former president, John Dramani Mahama, had touted his achievements in the Volta Region in 2021.
So, two clear years before such a question would be posed, the former president had already spelt out some of the achievements he had made in its ‘world bank.’
Among the tall list of things he said his government had achieved, were in educational infrastructure, health projects, roads, water and sanitation, among many others.
And much later, while speaking at a grand durbar to mark the climax of the Asogli Yam Festival in Ho, President John Mahama lamented the number of abandoned projects in the region, assuring the people that the next NDC government would complete them all.
“Projects started by the NDC have been abandoned and others that are to be completed in the region are being done at a slow pace. For some of the projects, this government asked contractors to stop work.
“But I make a commitment of the NDC that, God willing and thanks to your votes, in 2025, all these projects will resume,” he assured.
Volta must carry NDC as a religion – Fifi Kwetey:
Being the newly-elected General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, who is also the former Member of Parliament for Ketu South, appears to have a strong say on whose side the Volta Region should stick with.
In a GNA report of Thursday, January 12, 2023, Fifi Kwetey said the region must cement its place as an unmovable bastion of the NDC.
Admitting that the region’s hold as the fortress of the NDC has weakened in recent times, also because indigenes have become increasingly discouraged from identifying with it, he urged them not to lose sight of the fact that the NDC is a party birthed from their backyard.
“Volta is the region where saviours of the nation come from as far as this country is concerned but we need to know who we are, and somehow, we know who we are, and we need to start appreciating who we are.
“Volta must appreciate NDC and back it no matter what. It should become like a religion. We need to let our people appreciate that this is what we are. And I believe if we knew who we were, the situation where the love for this party would start dwindling in this region should not happen,” he said.
The general elections of 2024 is less than 2 years away and although both the NDC and the NPP have each successfully elected new party executives, there are still a few major political hurdles to surmount before the big day in December 2024.
New flagbearers and the election of parliamentary candidates that will represent the parties at the constituency levels in the country will solidify the preparedness of each side of the political coin towards the general polls but it cannot be lost on anyone that with the historic breakthrough that the NPP has made into the Volta Region by winning its first ever seat in parliament, the battle lines are surely drawn.
The Volta Region will play a central role in the elections and whoever emerges the winner will have to command a lot of influence from this region.
Between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to be politically accepted on any regional level in the country, is a big deal.
But even more specific and significant for these two leading political parties in the country are what kind of numbers or voter turnouts they religiously receive from these regions, collectively.
As is widely known or accepted, the people of the Volta Region have historically always warmed up towards the NDC more, just as the Ashanti Region does for the NPP.
In more specific terms, these regions have become unconventionally known as the ‘world banks’ of these political parties. And rightly so, they have been for many years.
For instance, in the Ashanti Region, out of the 46 constituencies in the region, the NDC currently only has 4 seats to its name. That number has remained the highest number of seats the NDC has had in the region since 1996.
In the Volta Region, until 2020, the NPP had never won a seat. Currently, the tally is 17 to 1 seat in the region for the NDC and the NPP respectively. Previously, since 1996, the NDC had always won all the seats in the region (16 seats in 1996, 15 seats in 2000, 15 seats in 2004, 15 seats in 2008, 18 seats in 2012, and 18 seats in 2016).
Let us not forget also that the founding fathers of both the NDC and the NPP have formed a great part of why there is such a voting pattern for their parties in both the Volta and Ashanti Regions. Jerry John Rawlings of the NDC hails from the Volta Region, while the Danquah-Dombo-Busia trio of the NPP are predominantly from the Ashanti Region.
Could the narrative be taking an interesting twist, or turn, or direction? Well, it may depend on how you take a look at it.
And it would have been a fairer assessment if this was with respect to both regions but interestingly, the bus seems to be stopping more with the Volta Region.
It all started with the conversations on who has done what, and who has done more or not for the region. Ordinarily, that should have been an easy pass for the NDC, who are more preferred in the region, but some questions have arisen on whether or not they actually deserve such a comfortable acclamation.
What exactly did Mahama do for Volta Region? – Obed Asamoah asks:
As the NDC, just as the NPP, prepares to elect a new flagbearer to lead it into the 2024 general elections, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, has become one of the people to draw in this whole ‘what have you done for the Volta Region’ conversation.
He has asked for answers from former President John Dramani Mahama on exactly what he has done for the Volta Region.
He questioned what the 2020 flagbearer of the party did for the region that is considered the stronghold of their party, while he was in political office, and for which reason he would seek their votes again to lead the NDC into election 2024.
According to Dr. Asamoah, Mahama’s failure to establish tangible developmental projects in the Volta Region resulted in residents voting against the NDC.
Supporting his claim, Dr. Obed Asamoah said the evidence can be seen from how much, in terms of numbers, the percentage of voter turnout from the region in the 2020 elections were, as compared to those of his predecessors; the late John Evans Atta Mills and the late Jerry John Rawlings.
“Vote Region is supposed to be the World Bank of the NDC. What exactly did Mahama do for the Volta Region?
“Remember in the last election, he did not get the kind of votes Jerry and the others were getting; 80, 90 percent (in presidential elections),” he said.
But then something that had happened a few months earlier seems to lend support to the questions being posed by the NDC stalwart.
In November 2022, during the 60th anniversary of the Hogbetsotso Za of the Anlo people, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, made an appearance upon an invitation.
During his address, he courted the anger of residents present, becoming a victim of a booing incident targeted at the presidency, after he started making statements about the achievements of his party, the NPP, in the Volta Region.
As Agbotadua Kumassah, a member of the Hogbetsotso Planning Committee explained later, the people gathered at the grounds of the event started getting agitated when the vice president started talking about the economy.
He explained that the people, being well-aware that some of the things he was saying were false, started to boo at him.
“When he entered the economic situation, that is when the problem started. He mentioned, among others, that they built more airports than any other government, they built more roads than any other government and the people who were there did not see the roads, the airports, the roads he was referring to.
“So, that brought some agitation and it became very difficult to control the people because what he was saying, none of them happened in the area,” he explained.
Agbotadua Kumassah also explained that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s explanations on the government’s works in the digitization field, compounded the anger of the people, leading to them booing at him.
But how true or not are the things he said about what they had been doing?
NPP’s development feats in Volta Region evident – Makafui Woanya:
Being the man at the helm of things in the region for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Makafui Woanya, the regional chairman, has said countless times that his party has been able to perform creditably in the region albeit not so welcomed politically.
He explained in a graphic.com.gh report on January 5, 2023, that the NPP government has been able to revive and perform remarkable progress in some key infrastructural development projects in the region.
Some of these, he mentioned, are the steadily progressing Eastern Corridor Road Project, which is nearing completion; and the ongoing Southern Sector Water Systems Extensions Project.
“The University of Health and Allied Sciences, which the NDC is always quick to claim as their baby, is seeing massive infrastructural expansion,” he explained.
NPP drew its biggest strength from the Volta Region:
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has not been left out of the narratives or claims of what each party has been doing in the Volta Region.
In August 2020, the president said that the NPP considers the Volta Region as a “hallowed ground” that is symbolic of its struggle during the days of the party’s formation.
He added that history had even confirmed that the region had endorsed the NPP, and served as a place of refuge for its political fugitives during its darkest days, and for which reason the party can never discriminate against them.
“It was here in this region that people were most passionate about the political tradition. It was from here that the first people had to flee into political exile after independence, and it was in this region that many chiefs had to flee into political exile, and some died there.
“Many people forget that when J.B. Danquah, the first in the trinity of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia political tradition contested Kwame Nkrumah for the presidency, on Ghana becoming a republic in 1960, Danquah did not win in his home constituency in Akyem Abuakwa.
“But he won in two constituencies, one is right here in Anlo and the other is Ho West. If there was a little brittle tribal bone within my makeup, which there is not, I would not choose the Volta Region as a target. History would not allow me,” he said during a durbar of chiefs of the Anlo State at Anloga, during a working tour of the area.
John Mahama answers questions about what NDC has done for Volta Region:
Dr. Obed Asamoah’s questions have however not been left hanging because like a premonition, the former president, John Dramani Mahama, had touted his achievements in the Volta Region in 2021.
So, two clear years before such a question would be posed, the former president had already spelt out some of the achievements he had made in its ‘world bank.’
Among the tall list of things he said his government had achieved, were in educational infrastructure, health projects, roads, water and sanitation, among many others.
And much later, while speaking at a grand durbar to mark the climax of the Asogli Yam Festival in Ho, President John Mahama lamented the number of abandoned projects in the region, assuring the people that the next NDC government would complete them all.
“Projects started by the NDC have been abandoned and others that are to be completed in the region are being done at a slow pace. For some of the projects, this government asked contractors to stop work.
“But I make a commitment of the NDC that, God willing and thanks to your votes, in 2025, all these projects will resume,” he assured.
Being the newly-elected General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, who is also the former Member of Parliament for Ketu South, appears to have a strong say on whose side the Volta Region should stick with.
In a GNA report of Thursday, January 12, 2023, Fifi Kwetey said the region must cement its place as an unmovable bastion of the NDC.
Admitting that the region’s hold as the fortress of the NDC has weakened in recent times, also because indigenes have become increasingly discouraged from identifying with it, he urged them not to lose sight of the fact that the NDC is a party birthed from their backyard.
“Volta is the region where saviours of the nation come from as far as this country is concerned but we need to know who we are, and somehow, we know who we are, and we need to start appreciating who we are.
“Volta must appreciate NDC and back it no matter what. It should become like a religion. We need to let our people appreciate that this is what we are. And I believe if we knew who we were, the situation where the love for this party would start dwindling in this region should not happen,” he said.
The general elections of 2024 is less than 2 years away and although both the NDC and the NPP have each successfully elected new party executives, there are still a few major political hurdles to surmount before the big day in December 2024.
New flagbearers and the election of parliamentary candidates that will represent the parties at the constituency levels in the country will solidify the preparedness of each side of the political coin towards the general polls but it cannot be lost on anyone that with the historic breakthrough that the NPP has made into the Volta Region by winning its first ever seat in parliament, the battle lines are surely drawn.
The Volta Region will play a central role in the elections and whoever emerges the winner will have to command a lot of influence from this region.
Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the Volta Region as the part of Ghana where saviours of the nation come from.
“Volta is the region, where saviours of the nation come from as far as this country is concerned but we need to know who we are, and somehow, we know, who we are, and we need to start appreciating who we are.
“Volta must appreciate NDC and back it no matter what. It should become like a religion. We need to let our people appreciate that this is what we are.
“And I believe if we knew who we were, the situation where the love for this party would start dwindling in this Region should not happen,” he said during a retreat for regional executives at Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality.
He is concerned that unlike the Ashanti and Eastern regions which are strongholds of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the NDC’s fortunes in the Volta Region are dwindling.
“Because somehow, they (Ashanti and Eastern) appreciate it, and believe in their party as a religion. Your Religion may not be the best religion, yet that is your religion. It is your responsibility to make sure you fix it, and you change it.”
Kwetey also tasked the rank and file to rededicate themselves to supporting the party and do all it takes to ensure that they sell the NDC gospel as the party gears up to wrestle power after the 2024 elections.
At the opening of the four-day event which was on the theme “Empowering Our Base for Victory in 2024,” Dan Abodakpi, Chairman of the National Council of Elders tasked party executives to unite with MPs and other stakeholders particularly the grassroots to be able to remain formidable.
Fifi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said that the Volta Region as the portion of Ghana where heros of the country come from.
“Volta is the region, where saviours of the nation come from as far as this country is concerned but we need to know who we are, and somehow, we know, who we are, and we need to start appreciating who we are.
“Volta must appreciate NDC and back it no matter what. It should become like a religion. We need to let our people appreciate that this is what we are.
“And I believe if we knew who we were, the situation where the love for this party would start dwindling in this Region should not happen,” he said during a retreat for regional executives at Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality.
He is concerned that unlike the Ashanti and Eastern regions which are strongholds of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the NDC’s fortunes in the Volta Region are dwindling.
“Because somehow, they (Ashanti and Eastern) appreciate it, and believe in their party as a religion. Your Religion may not be the best religion, yet that is your religion. It is your responsibility to make sure you fix it, and you change it.”
Kwetey also tasked the rank and file to rededicate themselves to supporting the party and do all it takes to ensure that they sell the NDC gospel as the party gears up to wrestle power after the 2024 elections.
At the opening of the four-day event which was on the theme “Empowering Our Base for Victory in 2024,” Dan Abodakpi, Chairman of the National Council of Elders tasked party executives to unite with MPs and other stakeholders particularly the grassroots to be able to remain formidable.
General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said the Volta Region must cement its place as an unmovable bastion for the Party.
Fifi Kwetey said the Region’s hold as the fortress for the NDC had weakened in recent times as indigenes had become increasingly discouraged from identifying with the Party, while strongholds of the main political opponent, the NPP, remained fruitful.
Mr Kwetey was opening a regional retreat for Regional Executives of the Party at Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region, which is on the theme “Empowering Our Base for Victory in 2024.”
He said the Volta Region remained the birthplace and base of the NDC and should be maintained as the Party lost its monopoly over the northern parts of the country.
“Volta is the Region, where saviours of the nation come from as far as this country is concerned but we need to know who we are, and somehow, we know, who we are, and we need to start appreciating who we are.
“Volta must appreciate NDC and back it no matter what. It should become like a religion. We need to let our people appreciate that this is what we are. And I believe if we knew who we were, the situation where the love for this party would start dwindling in this Region should not happen.
He said a careful watch of what happens in Ashanti Region, and the Eastern Region, indicates that no matter how poor the NPP may perform, they understand that their Party is the NPP, and nothing changes that.
“Because somehow, they appreciate it, and believe in their party as a religion. Your Religion may not be the best religion, yet that is your religion. It is your responsibility to make sure you fix it, and you change it.”
The General Secretary went on to say, that “we need to let our people appreciate that this is who we are. There is nothing shameful about it.
You talk to some of our young people from Volta and they think it is something of pride to say ‘yea, we are not like our forefathers and uncles, and we believe that we should not continue with that.”
He alleged that NPP had managed to discourage natives of the region from adopting the Party and was robbing the region of its political lineage.
It is our job to ensure that our children remain loyal to this foundation to make it better. The NDC should be much more than a Party for us. It should be a religion.”
Mr Kwetey called for “better coordination” to be able work towards the Party’s needs, adding that Voltarians remained the most faithful to the Party, and sustained its popularity across the Country.
He said the Region must therefore become more creative to be able to lead the Party, and that the Party should work closer with the diaspora, and ensure such communities duly benefited from power.
The four-day retreat would help strategise towards the coming general elections which the Party hopes to win, and present are some National and Regional Executives and some Members of Parliament from the Region.
Mr Dan Agbodakpi, Chairman of the National Council of Elders who chaired the opening said Party executives must work in unity with MPs and other stakeholders particularly the grassroots to be able to remain formidable.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has responded to former president John Dramani Mahama’s recent accusation of corruption on the part of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The said allegation was contained in a Facebook post Mahama authored in the wake of Akufo-Addo’s statement at an event in Koforidua that Akonta Mining Limited was not engaged in galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) anywhere in the country at the time he was speaking.
The comoany is owned by Ashanti Regional chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, real name Bernard Antwi Boasiako.
“It is unacceptable that President Nana Akufo-Addo has consistently put pressure on state anti-corruption institutions by announcing clearance of appointees and companies that are under investigation for wrongdoing,” Mahama said.
Mahama added that the actions and words of Akufo-Addo were inimical to the fight against corruption in Ghana.
In his response to Mahama, Jinapor stressed that Akufo-Addo’s six-year record in fighting corruption was better that the eight years of the Mills / Mahama administration (2013 – 2017).
“Permit me to assert, without a shred of equivocation that the record of President Akufo-Addo’s Government in the past six years of fighting corruption far surpasses the NDC’s eight-year record.”
He defended his view by stressing thus: “Needless to point out that President Akufo-Addo’s extraordinary funding of anti-corruption institutions, the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which as I speak, is investigating this matter…
“… the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), rapid investigations of allegations of corruption, and many more are testament to his remarkable record in the fight against corruption.”
The minister also reiterated that the Akonta Mining probe was still ongoing with the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) seized with the matter.
Founder and leader of Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, wants politicians to be at the forefront of the fight against corruption.
He said the rate at which politicians are amassing wealth and how they fund campaigns, fighting against corruption will not end anytime soon.
According to him, it is important that politicians fight corruption because the country is fast sinking due to the rate of the act.
He made these comments during his address to the leadership of the NDC when they joined his congregation for a thanksgiving service on Sunday, January 8, 2023. “It’s obvious the greatest enemy of this nation is corruption, but looking at the way political parties fund their activities and campaigns, our view is that we are not going to [win the] fight [against] corruption anytime soon.
Those political businesses who fund politicians end up hijacking the wealth of the nation. Politicians should help us fight this because our nation is sinking too fast, and we cannot continue in this direction,” Citinewsroom.coom quoted the founder and leader of the Perez Chapel International.
Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, National Chairman of the NDC, led the delegation to join the Christian community to thank God for helping the Party to have a successful congress late last year.
Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the Party, Madam Shirley Ayittey, Second Vice Chairman, Mr Godwin Ako Gunn, Second Deputy National Communication Officer, Mr Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, Greater Accra Regional Chairman, and some NDC Members of Parliament (MPs) were at the service.
Two more persons have been arrested in connection with the violent disturbances that occurred during the National Democratic Congress’ National Youth and Women’s Congress held on 10th December 2022, at Cape Coast in the Central Region.
The suspect Iddrisu Abass alias Jango who is believed to be the ring leader and suspect Dawda Mohammed Nazir were arrested at Kintampo and Wenchi in the Bono and Bono East Regions respectively on 8th January 2023.
This brings to four the number of suspects arrested so far in connection with the disturbances.
In the course of the arrest, suspect Jango shot and wounded one of the police officers. The officers returned fire and shot him in the legs.
Both the injured officer and the injured suspect are receiving medical attention and are in stable condition.
“Following the arrest, some youth of Wenchi massed up to attack the police team, but police have since restored law, order, and security in the area. The targeted intelligence operations are still ongoing to arrest the remaining 12 suspects to face justice,” police added in a statement.
Some Members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) say they are not perturbed about the push for an Alan-Bawumia presidential ticket ahead of the 2024 elections.
Recently there have been open campaigns for former Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who both have an interest in contesting the presidential primaries of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Many have also attributed the decision by Mr. Kyerematen to resign as a move to give him full concentration for the race.
Some political analysts have proposed that Dr. Bawumia should be paired with Alan to form a formidable team ahead of the 2024 general elections.
But reacting to the development, the NDC says whoever the NPP chooses as a flagbearer will not shake the NDC.
The Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said, the former Trade Minister failed to impact the nation positively during his tenure hence cannot pull any surprises.
“The Alan-Bawumia [push] can be as many as ten, take it from me, we [NDC] do not care. We know them, nothing comes out of an empty sack. Alan Kyerematen has been the Trade Minister for more than six, or seven years, what has happened? He has not impacted positively on this nation. So why should we be afraid of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen or Bawumia?” the legislator asked.
Mr. Akandoh added that the Vice President, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, has been deceiving Ghanaians since 2016, stressing that Ghanaians cannot be caught up in his web anymore.
“You know Bawumia [Vice President], what I’m happy about is that Ghanaians know him better, he came to lie to us before 2016, and he went scot-free. He lied again in 2020, but this time round, the first fool may not be a fool, the second fool may not be a fool but the third one,” he stated.
Two individuals sought by the Ghana Police Service in relation to the violent disturbances that took place during the National Youth and Women’s Congress of the NDC have been arrested.
The disruptions on December 10 at Cape Coast, according to the police, who had already issued a wanted notice for these individuals, resulted in the injuries of three people and the destruction of property.
Abdul Halid Shaibu alias Oluu and Ibrahim Razak, two suspects who were among the 16 people sought for their alleged involvement in the disturbances, were captured on January 7, 2023, in Tamale, in the Northern Region, as a result of focused intelligence operations.
The two suspects are being detained in jail and helping the police with their investigations, according to a statement from the police.
They added that “the 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 police stated that targeted intelligence operations are still ongoing to arrest the remaining 14 suspects.
They assured the public that they would work to ensure the suspects face justice.
Party members who are interested in running on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2024 presidential election must pay filing fees of ¢500,000 and nomination fees of ¢30,000 each.
On Saturday, May 6, voting for both the presidential and parliamentary candidates will take place simultaneously.
The party’s Functional and National Executive Committee (NEC) made this decision during a meeting on January 5th.
It was resolved at the same meeting that candidates for parliament would also have to pay ¢5,000 for nomination forms and ¢40,000 as a filing fee.
North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will choose its flagbearer for the 2024 elections in March of this year.
According to him, “the functional executive committee (FEC) and the National Executive Council (NEC) will meet and agree with the publication of the timetable for the election of the flagbearer”.
“In March we are going for an election. An election to choose the flagbearer after the flagbearer is elected, he has to choose his running mate, but let me be clear here, the time timetable isn’t out yet, but these are the discussions going on behind the scene”.
Mr. Ablakwa also stated that the election of the flagbearer should have taken place on December 7, 2022, a delay he feels is a violation of the party’s constitution.
He is confident that former President John Mahama will receive 95% of the valid votes cast.
“Remember that, our constitution says when we are in opposition we must elect our flagbearer 2 years before the main election, so technically speaking we are late, we should’ve done this election on December 7, 2022… For this reason, I don’t expect it to go beyond March,” he told the morning show host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV Kwesi Parker-Wilson.
During the polls for the flagbearership competition, former Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor and former Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Kojo Bonsu are anticipated to challenge former President Mahama.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has charged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with undergoing a significant reform and galvanization of its institutions prior to the 2024 General Elections.
The congressman warned the party in an open letter dated January 1, 2023 that 2023 will be crucial to the NDC’s survival and its prospects of regaining electoral power in 2024.
His letter on social media networks mentioned recent political forecasts from the 2022 31st watchnight services and observed that gaining political power was not reliant on prophecies.
Sam George made a veiled allusion to the reality that, despite his religious convictions and his belief in prophecy, the pastors’ most recent sermons were essentially hollow.
“Our focus must be on reviving our Branches and empowering them to mobilise and protect the ballot.
“No prophecy would win us 2024, only hardwork, mobilisation, a crisp political message, concise communication, protecting the ballots cast at the polling station and effective and timeous result collation would win us 2024,” his post read.
Read his full post below:
Dear NDC,
Welcome to 2023. I would go straight to the point. This year is critical to our survival as a Party and #Project2024.
As a student of scripture, I place premium on prophecy as GOD’s express guidance to humanity. Let’s be clear though, prophecy brings fresh revelation, illuminates unknown paths and does not create confusion.
None of the several prophesies from the last 2 days does any of the above. All the so called prophesies are well established and known facts to discerning political minds. Nothing revealing or illuminating on the unknown.
Our focus must be on reviving our Branches and empowering them to mobilise and protect the ballot. No prophecy would win us 2024, only hardwork, mobilisation, a crisp political message, concise communication, protecting the ballots cast at the polling station and effective and timeous result collation would win us 2024.
We shall pray and seek the face of GOD for our presumptive Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama but that would only be effective if we do the things listed above. Ghanaians would not forgive us if we fail them again.
Let’s get to work in our Branches. Happy New Year Comrades! Let’s go!!!
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, believes that former President John Mahama will easily win reelection as the NDC’s 2024 flagbearer.
He predicts that the former President will win with almost 95% of the total valid ballots cast.
This was included in a list of forecasts the congressman posted on his Facebook wall on the first day of the year in 2023.
Regarding the party’s primaries, he voiced confidence that Mahama would win.
“Former President John Mahama will emerge victorious from the 2023 NDC Flagbearer Primaries with more than 95% of valid votes cast”, he noted in the first paragraph of his 2023 forecasts.
Mr. Ablakwa added, “Former President John Mahama expected to retain Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his Running Mate for the 2024 presidential election”.
Mr. Ablakwa also predicted that the National Cathedral’s contentious contractors will give up on the project, which has been a cause of protests around the country.
He also said that the nation’s economic problems will continue to worsen, which would increase public dissent.
Former president John Dramani Mahama is now preparing to lead the National Democratic Congress in an attempt to unseat the NPP in the 2024 elections.
Even if he hasn’t openly stated it, there have been numerous convincing indications that he intends to lead the party, including a vast majority of NDC MPs who have consistently stated that they will support the former president.
Even though Mahama has not yet made a public statement about his future plans, Mr. Ablakwa’s forecasts are related to the support Mahama has attracted.
However, despite the support that John Mahama’s candidacy is receiving, some NDC members believe that the NDC would have a better chance of winning the 2024 elections if a fresh candidate other than Mahama were to emerge.
According to these dissenters, Mahama’s appeal has dwindled amongst Ghanaians due to the many scandals that rocked his government between 2012 and 2016 when he was voted out of power.
They therefore want a new face to shoulder the responsibility of the party’s flagbearership going into the 2024 general election.
In line with these calls, former mayor for Kumasi, Mr Kojo Bonsu and former Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor are currently warmimg up to unseat John Mahama.
A flyer of Dr Duffuor which has been circulated by some party faithful in recent times
But the chances of these two men have been dismissed by many party supporters and some analysts who say that, both gentlemen do not have the wherewithal to deflate the clout and appeal of John Mahama in the party.
Rumors from close sources within the NDC however have it that, the party’s presidential primaries will be organized in March this year to allow the NDC ample time to campaign and prepare for the 2024 contest.
If the majority of the population is unemployed, the country’s democracy cannot be maintained, according to Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He claims that if the majority of people are having trouble finding work so they can support themselves, protests will be rampant.
Without work for the youth, he continued, the government will be unable to maintain peace, and if jobs are produced for them, no youth will participate in protests.
In order to prevent protests, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah urged the Akufo-Addo administration to avoid spending money on riot gear for the police and increase employment opportunities for young people.
“If you are in a country and more of your people are jobless, you cannot sustain any democracy. You cannot continue to sustain peace in that country. And that is why I believe strongly that instead of spending more money on buying riot gear for the police to foil demonstrations, it is better to find jobs for the youth so that when they are engaged, they will not find the need to demonstrate,” the NDC chairman said.
During an 80-female graduation ceremony in Anfoega, in the Volta Region, he made these remarks.
The 80 female graduates received training in beautician and fashion design thanks to Joycelyn Tetteh, a North Dayi member of parliament.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah applauded the legislator for her initiative in empowering women with the needed skills, admonishing other MPs to emulate the initiative in their various constituencies.
On her part, the MP said the necessary logistics have been provided for females, adding, “we will monitor them for five months to know if they are doing well or not, then we will advise ourselves on the way forward”.
Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Lamtiig Apanga, has refuted the perception by some individuals that there’s a need for one’s family members to be in the profession to have higher chances of being admitted to the law school.
According to him, some people are holding back on their ambitions to pursue law because of this perception.
He explained that one’s mother, and father don’t determine one’s admission to the Ghana Law School, rather, it depends on the individual’s intellect, confidence and ability to express themselves excellently.
“…Those questions they ask if anybody in your family is a lawyer are not the reasons people are taken or not taken.
“The perception that you need to be an extraordinary person to read the law you need to have some extraordinary qualities to read the law or some family relations has kept some people away, he said in an interview with dreamz FM in Bolga in the Upper East Region.
Lawyer Lamtiig Apanga, who has declared his intentions to contest the parliamentary primaries on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nabdam Constituency in the Upper East Region said he has an agenda to churn out 10 lawyers in 10 years.
He believes this vision can be achieved because he is currently mentoring three of them who are currently in law school.
A few days after Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), wedded Irene Amankwaa, in a private ceremony, the couple have made their second official appearance in church.
In some pictures made available to GhanaWeb, the couple clad in fashionable white fabrics were spotted in the church to give thanks for a successful wedding.
The stylish fabrics sewed by the couple caught the attention of many who were at the church.
On December 21, 2022, Sammy and Irene wowed netizens with stunning photos of their private marriage in Accra.
The pair wore a vibrant green kente cloth for their traditional wedding, as shown in some rare photos made available to GhanaWeb.
The pair sat elegantly and dashingly during the proceedings, and couldn’t refrain from smiling.
The newlyweds further cemented their place as the most fashionable couple to close the year 2022 in style with their second series of photographs, this time donning exquisite coffee-coloured attire.
Some of the senior guys in the NDC, like the former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, the newly elected NDC Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, and Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, among others, were all present to support Sammy and Irene on their big day.
A Presidential Staffer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, says the Ho Airport is now a white elephant and that the under utilisation is causing financial loss to the state.
The facility was built by the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
According to the Director of Local Government, Decentralisation and Local and Rural Development at the presidency, a lot of people advised against the construction of the airport but the then government refused to listen and went ahead with its construction.
Mr Aboagye made this point to justify the National Cathedral project while speaking on the Key Points show on TV3 on Saturday, December 24, 2022.
“Where was the justification when we spent US$25 million to build the Ho Airport which is now a white elephant? US$25 million dollars was spent at the time the people of Ho did not have a market.
At the time the airport was going to be built a lot of people asked economic questions about why they were going to put the airport there.
“Togbe Afede advised that half of the money for the Ho Airport should be used to construct the road to Ho but he was not listened to and today, that Airport is a white elephant.”
He stressed “the Ho airport was built at a time this country had dumsor, this county had health insurance that was near collapse, this country at that had 88 districts without hospitals.
“The construction of the airport had economic value, the same way the cathedral has economic value.”
But Mr. Aboagye insists that the National Cathedral will have economic benefits to the State because it will be self-financing when completed.
Several busloads of migrants were dropped off in front of Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, DC, on Christmas Eve in 18 degree weather late Saturday.
An initial two busloads were taken to local shelters, according to an administration official. More buses arrived outside the vice president’s residence later Saturday evening. A CNN team saw migrants being dropped off, with some migrants wearing only T-shirts in the freezing weather. They were given blankets and put on another bus that went to a local church.
Tatiana Laborde, managing director of SAMU First Response, said her group was prepared for Saturday night’s arrivals. Busloads of migrants have been arriving in Washington weekly since April.
“The DC community has been welcoming buses from Texas anytime they’ve come since April,” she said. “Christmas Eve and freezing cold weather is no different. We are always here welcoming folks with open arms.”
It’s not clear who is responsible for sending the migrants to the Naval Observatory, though CNN reported earlier this year that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had sent buses of migrants north, including to a location outside Harris’ home.
Abbott is one of at least three Republican governors who have taken credit for busing or flying migrants north this year to protest the Biden administration’s immigration policies. He previously confirmed in September that his state had sent the buses to Harris’ residence at that time.
Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has described as ridiculous the Ghana Revenue Authority’s decision to ensure Ghanaians get a tax clearance certificate for the registration of vehicles and renewal of professional driving licences.
He said the revenue collection authority cannot forcibly take the meagre money unemployed people have for tax clearance.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, the Adaklu MP entreated all to reject the move by the government to introduce a tax clearance certificate requirement for the registration of vehicles and the renewal of professional driving licences.
“Mr Speaker, as I speak, there is no GRA office in Adaklu; you are telling me that the trotro operator should look for a GRA office before registering for a driver’s licence,” he said.
“I agree if the professionals should have tax clearance before they re-register for certificate. It is absurd to ask ordinary Ghanaians to get a tax clearance before obtaining driver’s licences, the guy is unemployed, so which tax do you want him to declare? We must all oppose because you can not squeeze tax out of people who are unemployed,” Kwame Governs Agbodza stated.
According to the Ghana Revenue Authority, a tax clearance certificate is issued by the Commissioner General to confirm a taxpayer has met all applicable tax obligations, i.e., filing of returns and payment of taxes, or has satisfactory arrangements for installment payments for arrears with the GRA at the date of issuance.
The Ghana Revenue Authority has now moved from issuing physical TCCs to Electronic Tax Clearance Certificates (E-TCC) to fasten the tax payment process.
A contender in the just-ended National Youth Organizer election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Brogya Genfi, has warned that issues that characterized the party’s National Youth Organizer election if not immediately resolved could cause division in the party.
Brogya Genfi who narrowly lost to incumbent George Opare Addo is in court to restrain the latter from holding himself as the National Youth Organizer of the party.
Speaking to Starr News, Brogya Genfi said the issues must be resolved now to ensure the needed unity and cohesion in the party to enable the NDC to wrestle power from the governing New Patriotic party come the 2024 election.
“… for example, the Eastern Regional Youth election has been annulled, why, because the Regional Youth Organizer is my supporter. Because he’s from the home region of the National Youth Organizer and he’s not supporting him, he’s gone to court to annul the election. That can also breed division and so that must be looked at. So it’s not just about the action I have taken.”
He added: “I would love to have an opportunity with the former President(Mahama) for an extensive discussion on the way forward for the party.”
Meanwhile, the NDC at its National Delegates Congress over the weekend defied a court injunction secured by Brogya Genfi and swore in George Opare Addo as its Youth Organiser.
Photos of the marriage ceremony between the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, and his bride, Irene Amankwaa Karikari, have popped up on social media.
The now-revealed fiancée of Sammy Gyamfi is also believed to be a staunch member of the NDC.
The private event, being held at Chain Homes in Tse Ado, is attended by former president John Dramani Mahama, the new National Chairman of the NDC, Asiedu Nketiah, as well as his predecessor, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.
According to mynewsgh.com, the marriage, which was scheduled earlier in late November 2022, was postponed until after the NDC’s National Delegates Congress, where the groom was seeking re-election as National Communications Officer.
Sammy Gyamfi later went unopposed after his opponent was disqualified, going on to win.
Sammy Gyamfi also has a son who celebrated his 10th birthday recently.
See the first photos as acquired by GhanaWeb below:
Ahead of the 2020 elections, National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, vowed to marry should his party, led by former President John Dramani Mahama, win the elections.
Mr Gyamfi who was optimistic that his party would win the polls, said he would climax the election victory with his wedding ceremony.
However, to his utmost disappointment, the NDC lost the elections to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), thus, he was unable to fulfill his promise.
Two years on, photos and videos of a private wedding ceremony of Mr Gyamfi have popped up on social media.
According to reports, this happened on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
The occasion was graced by high ranking members of the party, including the former President John Dramani Mahama, National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, outgoing Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, etc.
See the first photos as acquired by GhanaWeb below:
NDC’s Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has tied the knot.
It is reported that he married one Irene Amankwaa Karikari.
There is little information on Mr Gyamfi’s newly weded wife, but reports have it that just like Mr Gyamfi, Irene is a lawyer as well as a politician who works with the NDC.
Per details on her Facebook account, it is recorded that the said Irene hails from Sunyani.
Information on her parents, education and professional life is currently unknown to the media.
If she indeed got married, Irene Amankwaa Karikari will now go by the name, Mrs Irene Gyamfi.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has hailed Ghanaians for their contributions at the recently concluded National Democratic Congress (NDC) Delegates Congress.
Mr. Mahama also commended Ghanaians for responding to his appeal and helping the largest opposition party raise some GHC 1,083,000 in donations in 12 days to assist in hosting its 10th National Delegates Congress.
In a Facebook post on Monday, December 19, 2022, Mr. Mahama said: “I wish to express my appreciation to all donors who helped us make up the shortfall in our budget for the Congress.”
He noted that “this is a demonstration of the love Ghanaians generally and members of the NDC have for our party and the worthy cause we are embarking on.”
Mr. Mahama solicited funds to help with the party’s 10th National Delegates Congress, held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, where the NDC elected a new set of national executives for the party.
The former president, through social media, invited 500,000 willing Ghanaians, NDC supporters, sympathisers and friends to donate a minimum of GHC 10 each to help the NDC fund the congress.
The National Chairman of the (NDC) has received criticism from senior psychologist Professor Joseph Osafo for his remarks encouraging violence.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah in his victory speech after being declared winner of the Chairmanship position at the recently held 10th National Delegates Congress said:
“We are prepared to sacrifice everything; and I mean everything, including our lives, to achieve victory … wherever impunity becomes law, resistance becomes a duty,” he noted.
“Looking at the array of executives elected today, I have no doubt the party wants us to carry the battle to the elephant. We cannot let the country and we cannot let the party down. We are not taking the confidence for granted. Ghana is in a crisis and the NDC is also at a crossroads.
“What we need is unity. We pledge on behalf of myself and the new executives that in the coming days, our first assignment is to work to unite the party and bring everybody on board, even as we march forward to defeat the elephant and set the nation on the path of progress,” he added.
Prof Joseph Osafo contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ asked General Mosquito to apologise to Ghanaians.
“He should apologise … I don’t think we need to beat war drums. I totally disagree with him … we are growing in our democratic culture so we don’t need comments like this.”
He has, however, commended the party for a successful congress.
A former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho has stated that Johnson Asiedu Nketia’s chairmanship victory is not enough grounds to commit suicide.
According to the former Communications Director at the Presidency, even though he didn’t want Mr. Nketia to win, he is not peeved about his victory.
Mr Koku Anyidoho added that this will not prevent him from criticising the party, when it falters.
He added that persons who think the outcome of the elections will cause him to commit suicide are joking.
“I didn’t want Mosquito to win: he won and so I shd commit suicide? Ampofo didn’t want Mosquito to win; has he committed suicide? rubbish to say that I predicted a loss for Mosquito and he won so I shd keep quiet.
“How many of us have not predicted wins in our lives and lost?,” he said in a tweet on Sunday.
Mr Anyidoho denied allegations that there is a rift between him and his former boss, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
Speaking to JoyNews, he said despite his issues with the party, Mr Asiedu Nketia asked him to join a committee that would facilitate the nomination of a flagbearer for the 2020 general elections.
“When we entered 2019, Asiedu Nketiah called me that ‘Koku, we’re going to form a committee to work around nominating our flagbearer. Can you come and serve on the committee?’ I said fine. So I went and served on the committee.
“The records are there. So the committee that elected President Mahama to run again, I was a member of that committee. If I was bitter that committee would have had records,” he said.
According to Koku, his former boss admitted that the party had realised his “neutrality” in the party was “needed so that the other candidates can warm up to the committee.”
Mr Anyidoho was formally expelled from the NDC in a letter dated July 27, 2021, after investigations were conducted to ascertain the veracity of allegations levelled against him by two members of the party.
The allegations included misconduct and anti-party behaviour.
Despite the expulsion, Mr Anyidoho continues to proclaim his love for the party and has said that he will not leave. He also disputes he has been properly expelled from the party.
Former President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana School of Law, Wonder Victor Kutor has been elected as one of the five members to serve on the National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the just-ended National Delegates Congress.
At 31, Wonder Kutor’s election makes him one of the youngest persons to have assumed that high-level position in the party in view of the fact that it is a position normally vied and occupied by older members of the party.
Not only did he make history by being elected as one of the youngest but he secured the highest votes amongst the aspirants.
He went into the contest against 18 other aspirants for the position out of which, he together and four others got the nod.
He polled 1596 votes to be the first in the contest which also saw stalwarts like Araba Tagoe garnering 1017, Cecilia Asaga getting 845, Victoria Kumah-Mintah with 716 and Ephraim Nii Tan Sackey making 506 of the votes and elected in that order for the NEC membership positions.
Commenting on his election, Wonder Kutor told Journalists the delegates bought into his message which is to work hard to get the NDC elected and be in power for at least 16 years.
“I am expressing gratitude to all the delegates who welcomed me across the country and in some cases met me late in the night and in vehicles.
“I also congratulate my colleagues and most importantly, the newly elected Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
Newly-elected National Chairman of the opposition NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia says he will not throw away his long-time relationship with Samuel Ofosu Ampofo in the name of internal party elections.
General mosquito, as he is popularly known, ousted Mr Ofosu Ampofo to become the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Chairman.
During the 10th National Delegates Congress, Asiedu Nketiah secured 65.17% of the votes to eliminate competition at the ongoing 2022 National Delegates Congress of the Party.
The lead-up to the contest was fierce and witnessed scathing attacks from all sides.
During his final speech as National Chairman on Saturday prior to the election, Mr Ofosu Ampofo alluded to not being bitten by a mosquito that can be seen.
It turned out he was going to be given a whipping by General Mosquito.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo left the election grounds two hours before the announcement of the results and did not return until the elected officers were sworn into office.
However, during his swearing-in speech, Asiedu Nketia expressed his willingness to safeguard the friendship he has built with his former boss and friend for over two decades.
“I will like to thank, most importantly, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo who has been my friend for 25 years. I value the friendship, so I don’t think we are going to sacrifice that friendship because of this contest,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo got 2,892 votes representing 33.81% of the votes cast.
About an hour to the end of the collation, Mr Ofosu Ampofo was spotted leaving the stadium in his vehicle.
But General Mosquito insisted that this election calls for unity among the party’s rank and file toward victory in 2024.
According to him, this is the only way Ghana’s economic crisis can be lessened.
Former Finance Minister Seth Tekper has attributed the resurgence of the cedi to the Staff Level Agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In an interview on the sidelines of the NDC’s 10th National Delegates Congress in Accra on Saturday, he said the agreement has boosted investor confidence.
“The Government must expedite action on its domestic and external debt restructuring Programme to sustain the gains, he said.
The government announced Tuesday, December 13, 2022, that it had reached a Staff-Level Agreement on a three-year US$3 billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF), with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to support the country’s economic policies and reforms.
The agreement was reached after a visit by the IMF team led by Mr Stéphane Roudet, Mission Chief for Ghana, from December 1 to 13, 2022, to discuss with the Ghanaian authorities IMF support for their policy and reform plans.
The loan support programme is aimed at restoring Ghana’s macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, protecting the vulnerable, preserving financial stability, and laying the foundation for strong and inclusive recovery and growth.
However, the staff-level agreement is subject to IMF Management and Executive Board approval and receipt of the necessary financing assurances by Ghana’s partners and creditors.
Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) planning committee, Alex Segbefia, has revealed that the NDC’s 2020 election petition was to challenge the poll figures from the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to Mr Segbefia, there had been misconceptions among the citizenry about the case that the NDC took to court, and what was petitioned in court.
He explained on JoyNews’The Probe on Sunday, that both of the aforementioned issues were entirely different.
“We didn’t go to court on our figures, we went to court challenging the figures that were from the EC,” he told host, Blessed Sogah.
Mr Segbefia further emphasised that the problem was not based on the figures that various political parties believed they attained during the elections.
Rather, the party’s lack of confidence in the results provided by the EC was the key focus of the election lawsuit.
Although he agreed that the NDC needed figures to challenge the EC’s poll figures, he questioned the EC’s credibility by citing an instance where the figures recorded in a polling station’s pink sheet did not add up.
“We had a pink sheet from the same polling station registered, all signed with different figures, what does that tell you about how many sheets were in circulation? Whose pink sheet were you going to rely on and what did that mean?”
From this disclosure, Mr Segbefiah asserted that the 2020 election petition was lost because of a misconception about the case that the NDC took to court.
Retained Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, doubts the incumbent NDC National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, was voted out of office due to underperformance.
She believes the party recognises the outgone chairman’s contribution adding that he “held the party very effectively.”
”Both have their strength in leading the party. One was very calm, the other one is fire-drunk so if party people believe that at this point where we find ourselves, it is a firebrand that we need to lead the party. I think it’s well accepted but I don’t think that the other person lost because he didn’t perform. Everybody knows that he’s played his role very well, he led the party very effectively,” she said.
According to the politician, both individuals are strong leaders with different leadership styles.
She also shared that the party will be channeling their support towards the new chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia with the 2024 general elections as the goal.
“We are all going to give him the necessary support; the support that we gave to the outgone national chairman for him to succeed, we are going to give the new chairman the same support,” she added.
NDC delegates converged at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, December 17, 2022, to elect new national executives.
The outcome of votes as suggested by some experts and party people renders the NDC formidable to match the stalwarts of the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections.
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu has couched an identity for himself with the symbolic smocks he wears at virtually every major party event.
Among the numerous smocks he wears, there’s one particular smock he is noted for donning for some of these events.
The smock is a black one with party colours, which also contains emblems.
Speaking in an interview, he revealed that he often appears in this symbolic smock whenever there is a battle.
He explained at the National Delegates Congress, he chose to wear his symbolic smock to indicate his readiness for the battle – elections.
“I wear this type of costume occasionally, when the occasion demands. It is our traditional war battle dress, so when you are going into battle you wear it and you know I’m referred to as the General of NDC for a good reason because people think that whenever there is crisis, I am the one who is called upon to take the lead. Traditionally this is the regalia of a war general and so on occasion like this is the dress…,” he said.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has been elected National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress.
At the National Congress held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, Asiedu Nketiah secured 65.17% of the total vote cast to win the election.
His closest competitor, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo polled just 33.81% of the total vote cast.
According to the Electoral Commission, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah garnered 5,569 while the incumbent Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo managed 2,892 votes.
