The current economic situation in the nation would have been worse under an NDC administration, according to Justin Frimpong Koduah, general secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The country has seen a downturn since 2022 with the government embarking on a debt restructuring exercise, and it’s also seeking a $3 billion bailout from theInternational Monetary Fund(IMF).
Speaking on Face to Face on Citi TV with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mr. Koduah stated that Ghanaians still have confidence in the government despite the economic challenges expressing hope that they will break the eight in the 2024 polls.
The NPP’s chief scribe indicated that even without the impact of COVID-19 coupled with the Russian-Ukraine war, the NDC wouldn’t have been able to manage the economy.
“Ghanaians still have confidence in this government despite the economic challenges, because they know that between the NDC and the NPP, NPP are better managers of the economy than the NDC. Ghanaians also appreciate the fact that had it not been NPP in power, and if it were the NDC, the situation would have been worse off than what we are experiencing now. I’m telling you if NDC were in government, the situation would have been worse off”.
He added, “Even without any COVID-19 or Russian-Ukraine war, they [NDC] wouldn’t have been able to manage the economy well. We saw what happened under H. E. President John Mahama’s tenure– four years of ‘Dumsor, the scrapping of the teacher/nursing trainee allowances, among others”.
Mr. Koduah called on Ghanaians to exercise restraint assuring that the country will come out of the challenges soon.
He said Ghana had been touted as the fastest-growing economy before COVID-19 struck.
“Ghana was touted as the fast-growing economy in the world until COVID-19. At the end of the day, we will come out of the challenges, unlike the NDC which told Ghanaians that children should stay home and not be allowed to go to school during COVID-19. When we discovered oil, they termed it as coconut oil ‘adwengu’. The same NDC told Ghanaians that free SHS is not possible. Can you tell us that they are better managers of the economy than NPP?” the NPP chief scribe stated.
Parliament on Friday, March 31, passed the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill 2022 and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022.
The financial bills seek to raise about 4 billion Ghana Cedis annually as part of domestic revenue mobilisation.
The bills are also crucial to aid the government’s quest to facilitate the Board Approval for the $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme staff-level agreement.
Many industry players have kicked against the passage of the new taxes arguing that it will kill businesses.
Former deputy minister of Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu has outlined economic performance indicators that show that the governing New Patriotic Party has been a “huge joke in government.”
In a social media post dated April 4, Kwakye Ofosu described the overall performance of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Ado government as one of “rubbish governance.”
He said the economy had been destroyed, the economy bankrupted as a result of wastage by the government tasking that the NPP be kicked out of office as quickly as possible.
“The NPP has been a huge joke in government. They have offered rubbish governance, destroyed our economy, rendered us bankrupt, defaulted on our debt, destroyed our currency, wasted billions of public funds, and imposed the worst ever economic hardships on us and should be booted out at the earliest opportunity,” his post read.
Ghana is meanwhile undergoing external debt restructuring as part of conditionalities for an International Monetary Fund loan facility of US$3 billion.
Government approached the fund last year amid an economic squeeze brought on by a depreciating currency, galloping inflation, rise in the general cost of living, government being shut out of the international capital market and suffering multiple economic downgrades.
Whiles the opposition insisted that the headwinds were as a result of wanton borrowing and mismanagement, the government blamed the malaise on the aftershocks of COVID-19 as well as the Russia-Ukraine war.
Government and the NPP have serially promised to do all it takes to put the economy back on track.
Claims that the Akufo-Addo-led administration disregarded requests to shrink its size have been disputed by Stephen Ntim, national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, Akufo-Addo has been listening to Ghanaians about how to manage expenditures while maintaining a dynamic team of ministers and appointees to deliver its mandate.
Speaking at a press conference, he said, “Therefore, it is not true that the government has ignored calls to reduce its size. Instead, the government has been listening to Ghanaians, establishing a more robust control mechanism to manage expenditure while maintaining a dynamic team of ministers and appointees to deliver on its mandate.”
He also dismissed claims that the government has appointed people to needless positions, adding that the NDC government employed more presidential staffers.
“The NDC has been promoting the view that this government has appointed people to needless positions and is paying them for doing nothing. It must be stated on record that many of the workers at the Presidency are public sector employees. Today, out of the 995 workers at the Presidency, 658 (66%) are public sector employees.
“The NDC government had more presidential staffers than this administration. While we have 44 presidential staffers and 1 Minister of State at the Presidency, the Mahama-NDC Administration had 61 presidential staffers, 6 Ministers of State, and the 3 “wise men,” he added.
Alfred Kojo Thompson, a senior communications member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has raised concern over the rising number of candidates filing nominations to serve in Parliament.
Inferring from the mad rush of some aspirants to grab a spot at the various constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Mr. Thompson said that it has become evident that individual interest is prioritized ahead of the national interest and has become a problem challenging the current Parliament.
“It’s becoming a problem with Parliament these days where we all…everybody is complaining and so we need to get people there who will really look at the national interest and not the individual or party interest.”
In a no holds barred conversation with Kwasi Afriyie on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on Tuesday, 4th April 2023, the NPP Senior Communicationist questioned the processes involved in conducting such vettings.
“Greater Accra, they have 111 people chasing 31 seats, then central region 56 chasing 23 seats. So you see that they are poised for the fact that let’s go there. I’m wondering whether really speaking when we do the vetting we really do it well to make sure that we get the right people or get a square pegs in a square holes”
He alluded also that nominations are seeing an increase of this kind because competent and worthy people of these positions are rejected for known faces and suggested that this has become the norm where these popular people drive the party to victory.
“Yeah, or we just bring people in to just go and fill the seats for us because we are popular, we can win.”
He tasked Members of Parliament to be mindful of the reason they are instituted in Parliament and work accordingly to put forward the country’s interest.
“We have to start working on a nationalistic level rather than party level…you go there on behalf of a party but the first and most important thing is to make sure that you are working for the nation because whatever you go and do there will affect the growth of the nation.”
He, however, urged that parties have to collectively work to see national interest propagated rather than its party.
TheNew Patriotic Party (NPP) needs to concentrate on restoring its majority advantage in Parliament, according to Sammi Awuku, Director General of Ghana’s National Lottery Authority.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, April 4, the former National Organiser of the NPP said he anticipates a battle for several parliamentary seats in the 2024 elections.
He, however, added that the NPP will beat the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) through various strategies that will be deployed by the NPP.
“I think that the NPP must focus on regaining our lost seats because there will be a battle for Parliament. But I think we [NPP] will beat the NDC through strategy.”
Mr Awuku also hinted at the possibility of contesting for the Akropong parliamentary seat on the ticket of the NPP.
According to him, several Chiefs and Opinion Leaders in the area are convincing him to contest for the Akropong seat.
The NPP controlled 169 parliamentary seats after the 2016 polls while the NDC had 106.
However, after the 2020 polls, the NPP lost its strong grip on Parliament reducing its seats to 137 while the NDC also had 137 seats and one independent candidate.
Visiting the market arena today, Friday, 24 March 2023, to inspect the extent of destruction, Mr Kyerematen expressed sadness at the spectacle.
Accompanied by the Fire Service Commander and the security heads at the Kejetia Market Company Limited, Mr Kyerematen and his team visited all the burnt portions of the market.
Addressing the market queens and traders as well as the crowd that thronged the arena, Mr Kyerematen promised to engage government to ensure implementation of the measures in the report on the fire outbreak.
“I will liaise with government authorities as they investigate the cause of the fire and ask that they implement remedial measures swiftly to forestall the recurrence of such a tragedy”, the NPP flagbearer aspirant stated.
Mr Kyerematen asked the traders to keep hope in government and wait for the report of the investigation before they think of going back to the burnt area.
He noted that once there was fire there should be investigations.
Mr Kyerematen asked the traders to conduct their activities in accordance with the laid down regulations at the market.
“We should not allow what happened here to happen again because this very place is where you get your livelihoods from your trading activities”, Mr Kyerematen said.
Receiving the cash donation on behalf of the victims, representative of the Market Queen, Nana Sakina, commended the NPP flagbearer aspirant for the gesture.
Nana Sakina noted that it was quite refreshing that having visited them recently to learn about their challenges, including those who plied their trade at the race course market, Mr Kyerematen had cut short his tour of the country to sympathise with them as well as make a cash donation.
“You’ve shown that you are caring and considerate and for you to cut short your nationwide tour to visit us in our time of need shows you are a good man. We pray God’s favour for you as you seek to lead the NPP and Ghana”, she intimated.
Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, an aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPPpost )’s as flagbearer, has offered his opinions on the subject of LGBTQI+ rights in Ghana. According to him, criminalizing the behavior is not the best course of action.
While identifying as a conservative and citing theological justifications for his aversion to the practice, Mr. Agyapong said he respects people’s rights and is against its promotion.
He stressed the need to speak out against it when being interviewed on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, but he also made clear that he is not in favor of eradicating the LGBTQI+ community.
“I’m very conservative, so although I respect people’s rights, I’m not going to advocate for that kind of behaviour, you understand. I think that we should not criminalize it, and we should not advocate it. It should not be in our faces,” he said.
“We should speak against it because when God created Adam, he did not create another Adam… He created Eve. So I think it’s important to know that all of us are products of women, and so sometimes I worry about that. But, I am not prepared to be part of the argument that says they should be annihilated from the face of the earth.”
He stressed that the nation faces pressing social issues such as drug addiction and other challenges, and it is crucial for leaders to set the right example for the youth.
Mr Agyapong acknowledged that the country should not condone such behaviour and called for leaders to advise and educate the public on the issue.
“We have major social issues in this country, and there are many others. We have drug menace and other things happening around the country, and of course, with social media and the explosion of the world now, it is incumbent on us as leaders of our country to advise, lead by example and set the right examples for our youth. This is not a behaviour that we can condone. It has to be condemned but it does not mean that when we find a homosexual, that person should be stoned.”
The proposed anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, known as the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill,” seeks to legislate against homosexuality and related activities in Ghana, among other things. The bill was sponsored by private members and introduced into parliament in 2021.
As claimed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo manipulated his delivery of the State of the Nation message to Parliament.
The largest opposition group claims that the President ignored the nation’s grave situation and solely focused on glorifying himself.
Presenting what it called the “true state of the nation”, the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, touched on various issues, ranging from the bad state of the economy, the oversize government to the growing spate of corruption and described the current state of the nation as one of “hopelessness, recklessness and corrupt, with a leadership paralysis”.
Attendance
The event, which took place at the UPSA Auditorium yesterday, brought together the rank and file of the NDC, including members of its Functional Executive Committee (FEC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), regional executives and Members of Parliament (MP).
Notable personalities were the running mate to John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 presidential elections, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang; a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong; the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson; the General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey; a member of the Council of Elders, Kofi Totobi Quakyi, and an aspiring flag bearer of the party, Dr Kwabena Duffuor.
The auditorium was filled with an enthusiastic crowd who clapped and cheered intermittently as the presentation was made.
Flowery speeches
Mr Nketiah said “the true state of our dear nation no longer lies in flowery speeches laced in political chicanery that never accepted responsibility for anything but in taking the bull by the horns”.
He called on President Akufo-Addo to demonstrate leadership by taking immediate steps to cut down the size of his government to signal a new beginning.
“We further expect the government to be tolerant of dissent, heed calls for the implementation of the Constitutional Review recommendations, eschew profligacy, desist from nepotism and corruption, sanction corrupt officials and be honest about the true state of our nation,” he said.
Mr Nketiah stressed that it was unacceptable that in the midst of the economic crisis the country was going through, and despite the numerous calls by many groups, the President remained adamant to cut down the size of his government.
He said some appointees at the Presidency had no business keeping their positions when they added nothing unique to the country’s governance.
Economy
Turning to claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) inherited a bad economy, Mr Nketiah said the NDC-led government rather handed over an economy with better indicators.
He noted that it was bad governance, wasteful expenditure and a bloated government that put the economy in a crisis situation.
The NDC chairman said the public debt increased from GH₵120 billion in 2016 to GH₵600 million currently, with the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio also increasing from 56 per cent to 103 per cent within the same period.
Again, he said the budget deficit of 6.2 per cent in 2016 had increased to 12 per cent currently, while inflation also skyrocketed from 15.2 per cent in 2016 to 52 per cent.
Touching further on economic indicators, he said the lending rate, which stood at 25 per cent in 2016, increased to between 38 and 45 per cent, with the rate of exchange depreciating from 9.6 per cent in 2016 to 23 per cent in the first two months of 2023.
Mr Nketiah said the downgrading of the country’s economy from B- in 2016 to below junk status was ample testimony of a country that had failed to honour its debt obligations.
In terms of the rate of unemployment, he said the situation worsened from 8.4 per cent to 14 per cent as of 2021, as captured by the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC).
He said the debilitating economic conditions, in addition to the high taxes and high cost of power, had led to the laying off of workers by businesses, while some of them had relocated to some African countries.
“The growth of the agricultural sector reduced from 2.7 per cent in 2016 to 0.7 per cent in 2022, despite the so-called planting for food and jobs (PFJ); growth in the manufacturing sector reduced from 7.9 per cent to 4.5 per cent in 2022, in spite of the one district, one factory (1D1F); growth in the construction sector declined from 8.4 per cent in 2016 to 4.2 per cent in 2022, despite the claim that the government built 11,000 kilometres of road. This is the true state of the nation,” he said.
The NDC Chairman said the President also failed to tell Ghanaians the state of the country in terms of the fight against corruption.
“Instead of confronting the canker head-on, President Akufo-Addo has constituted himself into a corruption clearing agent, ever willing to whitewash himself and any of his appointees who dabbles in corruption, even before investigative processes commence,” he said.
For instance, he cited President Akufo-Addo’s declaration of “nothing dishonourable was done with the COVID-19 Funds” as one of the issues among the litany of failed attempts to conceal the rot that had left many scandalised following the publication of the Special Audit into COVID-19 funds by the Auditor-General.
“How does President Akufo-Addo reasonably expect Ghanaians to accept as honourable the Auditor-General’s finding that COVID-19-related payments totalling over GH₵543 million were made to various service providers outside of the Ghana Integrated Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378)?” he quizzed.
He stressed that the government’s management of the COVID-19 funds could not be said to be honourable when the Auditor-General could not verify bills and validate dubious payments amounting to over GH₵37.6 million by the Ministry of Finance to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private individual water providers under the ‘free water’ initiative.
Following the passing of one of its founding members, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will fly all of its flags at half-mast.
Dr. Akoto Osei, a leading member of the NPP and former Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, died on Monday, March 20, 2023.
The NPP extended its condolences to Akoto Osei’s family and friends.
The party described the late former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry as “a renowned statesman.”
It said he served the country “with distinction as a Minister of State at the Finance Ministry during the Kufour administration, and later as a Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation in the first term of the Akufo-Addo administration. The late distinguished banker, as he was known to all, embodied humility, dedication and selflessness in his service to Party and country.”
“The Party extends its heartfelt condolences to his immediate family and also commiserates with the rest of the nation for the painful loss of this illustrious citizen. In honour of his memory, the NPP directs that all Party flags at the national headquarters and in the respective regions and constituencies be flown at half-mast for the next seven days.”
Dr. Akoto Osei was the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Constituency for 16 years and the Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation during President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s first term, from 2017 to 2021.
Osei worked as deputy minister for Finance and Economic Planning in May 2003 and was a major economic adviser to the government.
He was later elevated to substantive Minister for Finance and Economic Planning after the death of the then Minister Kwadwo Baah Wiredu.
He served in that role until January 6, 2009, when the government was handed over to the National Democratic Congress which had won the 2008 General Elections.
In February 2017, Osei was sworn in as Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation after being nominated by President Nana Akufo-Addo and going through the vetting process in the parliament of Ghana.
The ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation was a newly created Ministry to evaluate, monitor and plan review summits and forums in fulfilment of the government’s policies on evaluating the progress of its own ministries.
In May 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo named Anthony Akoto Osei as part of the nineteen ministers who would form his cabinet.
The names of the 19 ministers were submitted to the Parliament of Ghana and announced by the then Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye.
As a Cabinet minister, Anthony Akoto Osei was part of the inner circle of the president and aided in key decision-making activities in the country.
A member of parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has stated that the defamation case he won against investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas should not be seen as a victory for him but a win forprofessional journalism and all those who have been harmed by Anas’ investigative reporting.
In a statement, Mr Agyapong said “It is important that as we digest the judgment, we focus on the real essence and not view it as a victory for Ken.
“It is indeed a victory for professional journalism as well as individuals and governments across Africa who have suffered unjustly from this style of investigative journalism.”
The Accra High Court on Wednesday, March 15 dismissed the GH¢25 million defamation suit against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong brought by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The judge, Justice Eric Baah, held that Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove that Ken Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman” – but rather, the documentary exposed shady deals that Anas and his associates were involved in.
This was after Anas, in 2018, sued the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker for allegedly defaming him.
Anas prayed to the court to award GH¢25 million against Mr Agyapong to compensate him for the defamatory material published against him by the MP.
The court concluded that what Anas is engaged in is not investigative journalism but rather “investigative terrorism” and that Agyapong was justified to call Anas “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil”.
“I find the claims by the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed,”Justice Baah ruled.
But Anas said he disagreed with the judge both on law and on the facts of the case.
He accused Justice Baah of delving into the arena of criminal prosecution against him despite the matter being a civil case.
“My team and I and the lawyers have carefully studied the judgment delivered by the court and we are unanimous that the judge made an overreach and descended into the arena and made criminal pronouncements about me as If I was standing a criminal trial.
“He also justified the MP accusing me of the murder of JB Danquah, murder of 20 Chinese nationals. We are filing an appeal because there was no evidence provided,” Anas said in a video recording responding to the judgment.”
He added “…I disagreed with the judge’s ruling both on law and the facts. when I started this work 21 years ago, I never assumed that it would be an easy road yet it is the evidence in my work and the commitment to truth and justice that has always led and prevailed against all the forces that have worked to pull us down”.
The Member of Parliament(MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has asserted that theNew Patriotic Party(NPP) did not win the 2020 elections fairly.
According to him, he will reveal how the current administration rigged the 2020 presidential election inAkufo-Addo‘s favor.
The ruling New Patriotic Party MP for Assin Central has made these allegations in an interview on NET 2 TV.
Do you remember the lawsuit filed by the NDC against EC boss Jean Mensah to have the 2020 election results annulled? As we know, the NDC could not win that case.
They thought the election results weren’t correct, which sparked a debate. Akufo-Addo got 6,730,413 votes, while John Mahama got 6,214,889 votes.
Kennedy Agyapong effectively rebuked his government by threatening to air its dirty laundry in public if they try to collapse his business.
His anger stems from the government’s pervasive incompetence and the current state of the economy, which has severely affected his chain of businesses including allegations by him that the Government wants to collapse his business.
A former chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Klotey Korley Constituency, Mr. Nii Noi Nortey, has urged young people to disregard the promises made by former President John Dramani Mahama, reiterating the fact that he has nothing better to provide Ghanaians.
According to Mr. Nii Noi Nortey, choosing Mr. Mahama is not only scary but also empty.
“Any time Mahama is talking, you could see how desperate he is… He is soo desperate that he can even insult without thinking. He does not have a single solution to the country’s problems. Mahama is just desperate to rule the country again, hence his penchant for making false claims of having all the answers to the country’s problems. Was it not under Mahama Ghana faced multiple problems like dumsor collapsing numerous businesses, poor infrastructure and the like?”
Speaking at TESCON general meeting atAccra Technical University College, Mr. Nii Noi added; “We want to hear something new and different from John Mahama. we want to hear him say he will do tertiary education free, we want to hear he will take care of our children right from birth to 18 years, we want to hear him say he will take full medical bill of our aged mothers and fathers…we want to hear something new and different ideas from him and not always trying to rubbish someone’s good initiatives.”
He asked Mr. Mahama and the NDC to mention a single social intervention they have made for Ghanaians.
“Why am I saying this? Because anytime NPP is in power we come up with soo many social interactions namely, Female Maternal Care for our pregnant mothers, NHIS for free medical care, Free SHS and more.”
“The incompetence of Mr. Mahama rather eroded the gains made by the erstwhile Kufuor government, thereby worsening the plight of the people. In the midst of the challenge, we are still constructing roads, building schools, paying nursing and teachers allowance…”
Mr. Nii Noi also stated the need for all TESCON members to sacrifice and have an enduring heart to achieve victory for the NPP.
“With you all around I believe we will break the eight. The good people of Ghana will retain the NPP government because of our good work. Put your energy and strength into this constituency and we will reward you because NPP rewards hard work.
Get us the numbers get us the people and help us break the 8,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Development Authority, Jerry Ahmed Shaib also advised the youth to ignore former President Mahama’s promises and champion President Akufo Addo’s works to every student on campus.
If you prefer the return of dumsor, let’s welcome Mahama’s empty promises back. John Mahama is not the option.”
He also urged them to vote for Nii Noi Nortey when nomination is opened.
“In 2024, look out for those who are vibrant, those you see relationships in them, affable and reliable. We’re looking for a candidate who will do the talk, who will give us power and snatch this seat from the NDC. Look out for the right candidate.
According to Ambrose Dery, minister of the interior, due to equipment purchases made by the security forces, criminals can no longer hold the nation hostage.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during a debate on the President’s State of Nation Address, Mr. Dery assures the public that NADMO is now ready to deal with disasters such as earthquakes.
“Ghana now, Mr. Speaker, we do not have a threat of being held hostage by criminals. Is it perfect, no, we intend to continue to do more and Mr. Speaker let’s use this opportunity to appeal to the public. That we should not shield suspects even if they are relatives. Because if we do that then it means that they will harm us, and harm other people.
“So we will like to say that we will continue to depend on them and that security is a collective responsibility. With the numbers we need more even though the recruitment on the Immigration, Fire Service, Prisons and all have been unprecedented as compared to the past,” the Interior Minister stated.
He however stated that despite the number of recruitment the nation still needs more.
“Because each person does want to have a police station established. Mr. Speaker the other agencies under the Ministry of Interior are doing very well. Right now with NADMO, we are moving into the contingency plan in the short term,” Mr. Dery indicated.
Kennedy Agyapong, a member of parliament for Assin Central, is appealing for the reinstatement of every person who was fired from their job after being involved in what he calls Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ “awful” investigation.
His remarks follow his victory over a defamation suit filed against him by Anas.
On Wednesday, March 15, the Accra High Court dismissed the GH¢25 million defamation suit against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong brought by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The judge, Justice Eric Baah, held that Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove that Ken Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman” – but rather, the documentary exposed shady deals that Anas and his associates were involved in.
This was after Anas, in 2018, sued the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for allegedly defaming him.
Anas prayed to the court to award GH¢25 million against Mr Agyapong to compensate him for the defamatory material published against him by the MP.
The court concluded that what Anas is engaged in is not investigative journalism but rather “investigative terrorism” and that Agyapong was justified to call Anas “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil”.
“I find the claims by the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed,” Justice Baah ruled.
Mr Agyapong dedicated his victory to victims of Anas’ work including former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kwasi Nyantakyi who was captured in Anas’ investigative work dubbed “Number 12” which uncovered rots in Ghana football.
Speaking to journalists after the court hearing, Mr Kennedy Agyapong said “we have to be bold to speak the truth, Anas goes ahead to [allegedly] defame people and gets away. It is only in this country that a journalist covers his face to go and give witness while Supreme Court judges are sitting there.
“Anas has to come out and apologize. All I am saying is the victory is for Kwasi Nyantakyi.”
“All those who were sacked over Anas terrible should be reinstated,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Tiger Eye PI, the investigative firm belonging to Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has said that they are disappointed in the court ruling.
In a statement reacting to the ruling, Tiger Eye PI said: “We find the court decision an unfortunate travesty of justice and very inimical to the administration of justice and fairness. If for nothing at all made an allegation of murder against Anas.”
It added: “Tiger Eye PI and our CEO Anas Aremeyaw remain resolute in our fight against corruption in the Ghanaian society.”
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency chairman for New Juaben North has pledged to resign from politics should Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia be defeated in the NPP flagbearership contest.
According to Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, Dr. Bawumia’s defeat will merely confirm that politics is in fact a game of deception.
He was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen.
“Mark it on the wall, I swear by the grave of my father who passed when I was 10 that I will quit politics because it will give me a clear picture that there is indeed no truth in politics,” he stated without mincing words.
Former New Juaben North Chairman
About five leading members of the governing NPP including former Energy Minister; Boakye Agyarko, former Agric Minister; Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Trade Minister; Alan Kyerematen, and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong have all expressed interest in contesting the flagbearership slot of the party.
Many have also tipped Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the position but he is yet to officially make his intentions known.
But Mr Boateng-Agyemang has expressed conviction Dr Bawumia will gain a resounding victory, adding the grounds are fertile for him.
“I know what is happening on the grounds and you can go and conduct a survey to ascertain that fact,” he added.
Veteran Ghanaian broadcaster and MC Kwesi Kyei Darkwa well known as KKD has revealed that the New Patriotic Party government has banned him as a guest on GTV.
KKD is of the opinion that the government has asked GTV through its management and producers to stop him from coming on the morning show.
“You have instructed them not to allow KKD to appear on GTV anymore”, KKD says.
He also chided those behind his ban saying when they were in opposition, they were happy when some individuals including himself were criticizing other governments but when it got to a time to criticize the same people they are now hunting him down.
“At the time you needed people to speak against the government, you were talking about integrity but when we started speaking when you were stealing, you instructed them not to allow KKD to appear on GTV anymore,” KKD revealed on Onua TV.
Speaking in an interview on Onua TV with Captain Smart, KKD stressed that, GTV is a state-owned broadcasting network, adding that there is no need for such a decision to be made; describing it as funny.
“GTV is for the country and since they said that I have never mentioned it anywhere. But it’s funny. They have asked them not to allow me there and that is why I have not been there”, he said.
“If they deny saying this, let them ask the Director-General of GTV, and the producers at GTV about what they told me that has made me not go there again” he challenged.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former minister of food and agriculture, is convinced he would prevail in the flagbearership race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He expressed confidence that he would receive a resounding majority of the party’s delegate votes to lead the party in the general elections of 2024.
According to him, the delegates will choose a competent person to lead the party.
“Well you go into a contest to win, so I’m in the contest hoping to win, and I know that God will bless me to win this contest,” Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said.
Speaking on the Point of View on Citi TV, with Bernard Avle,Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said he’s not worried that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is in the race adding that he does not have any advantage over him and the other hopefuls.
“The incumbency of the Vice President does not worry me at all, it doesn’t give any advantage over others. The party people know who is who. You just have to make sure that they know you are in the race. Most of our delegates are rural people, they benefitted from Planting for Food and Jobs. They are part of the 1.7 million farmers that have benefitted from the PFJ. So they relate to what I’m doing,” a flagbearer hopeful of NPP said.
He added, “NPP is not an ethnic party, it’s a national party so if the delegates decide who is competent enough to lead them, they will vote for the person. So what is it about tribalism and all that, I can’t understand it”.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto who has been silent after resigning explained that he does not want to break the party’s rules by campaigning vigorously.
“The party has regulations, and I’m the last person to break regulations which state that until the party sets a date and invites potential contestants to come and pick forms and so on and so forth, there should be no campaigning. This has been grossly overlooked by a lot of people, I wasn’t going to stampede into that. But it doesn’t mean that I’m not working,” he explained.
According to former president John Dramani Mahama, the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will finish off abandoned projects rather than start new ones.
John Mahamaasserts that the administration cannot wait to launch fresh initiatives due to the nation’s economic state.
Speaking to delegates in the Tano North constituency as part of a campaign tour in the Ahafo Region, Mahama, a flagbearer aspirant of the NDC, said that when the party takes office, it will ensure that all abandoned infrastructural works are completed.
“With the economic crisis that we currently have, by the time the NDC comes into power in 2025, we are still going to have a restricted fiscal space because of the economic difficulties. A new NDC will not be in a hurry to start new projects. What we will do is that the projects that have been ongoing and have been abandoned and uncompleted, we will take an inventory of all of them and with the little resources, we will dedicate it to finishing them.”
Former President John Mahama has accused the Akufo-Addo administration of abandoning many of the projects started during his government’s tenure.
The former President says he finds it disappointing that a number of the projects remain uncompleted since his administration left office in January 2017.
According to him, schools and road projects among others initiated during his time as President have been left unattended to.
John Dramani Mahama has been describing this situation with development projects as very unfortunate.
The former president is campaigning to lead his party the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 general elections.
But the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed former President John Dramani Mahama’s claims that government has abandoned several projects initiated by the previous NDC administration in the country.
A private practitioner, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw, has criticized Kennedy Agyapong, a candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer position, for threatening to collapse the party.
He asserts that Kennedy Agyapong lacks the authority or constitutional right to initiate such action against theparty.
In an interview with Sompa FM (March 10), Kennedy Agyapong claimed that there was a plot by the government to collapse his companies, before sounding a word of caution that if the plot is pursued, he will reveal secrets that will collapse the NPP.
“You are going there because Kwame Agyapong is a loudmouth. You want to collapse my companies because I want to contest. I’m being nice and charitable to the NPP but they shouldn’t dare me. Anybody who tries to kill my companies because I’m contesting for elections, I will kill the party.
“The things I know and will say will kill the party. I’ve gone through a lot from January till date but I’ve been very nice. If you want to collapse my company because of one person then I will also kill the company. I’m not afraid of anyone,” he fumed.
While appearing as a guest on Mmra Abrabo Mu nsem on Wontumi TV on March 13, 2023, Maurice Ampaw urged Kennedy Agyapong to become acquainted with the law in order to avoid exposing his ignorance to Ghanaians.
“NPP is nobody’s property, Kennedy Agyapong listen to me, NPP is not for you. How dare you? That you will collapse the party…don’t let me come directly at you, you dare not.
“You cannot… it is the party members who are afraid of you. NPP party is a public entity, I’m teaching you law today. NPP party is a political party and in law, a political party is a public institution, it is not owned…NPP is not owned by one person.
“All Ghanaians have an interest in what goes on in NPP, and the same with NDC that’s why I can speak about the NDC, because both political parties, through your activities win power to govern us.
“So, Ghanaians have an interest, and that’s why I can talk about NDC because whatever happens in NDC, one day they will win power. So, if we don’t have a say in what goes on in NDC, we will get bad leadership to control our resources.
“That’s why I said Kennedy Agyapong, know the law, go and learn about the law because you can’t collapse the NPP party.”
He also dared Kennedy Agyapong to reveal whatever secrets he claims to have against the party.
“Whatever secret you have, come and say it. You’re loud Kennedy Agyapong, use that to scare the foot soldiers.
“And those that are following Kennedy Agyapong, thinking that he is their saviour he can’t come and save anybody. He’s a populist.”
Ampaw asked Agyapong to look and learn from fellow aspirants: “Look at the other presidential candidates, look at Alan Kyerematen, look at Bawumia, on a quiet note. They’re working, and Kennedy, he’s just making noise. For you, every day you’re accusing Nana Addo, what at all has Nana Addo done to you?” he asked.
Former Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has stated that he has been quietly campaigning after retirement.
He claims to have toured the entire country in order to rally New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates ahead of the party’s primaries.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has announced his intention to lead the NPP in the 2024 election.
He told journalists that he is waiting for the party to officially announce a date for the primaries before launching his campaign.
“I have been running around the country now for six years. Every year except 2020 that COVIDprevented me, I had been going around the country as the Minister for Agriculture because I have been waiting for the party to come out with a date for the primaries, and then I will draw up my programme accordingly. It doesn’t mean, my supporters are asleep. They are very active in all the 16 regions.”
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto officially resigned to focus on his Presidential ambition as he wants to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2024 general elections.
He served as a Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region for two terms.
In Parliament, he held the position of Deputy Ranking Member and subsequently the substantive Ranking Member for the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs until 2017 when he was appointed the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
In November 2022, in the midst of economic challenges and rising food prices, Dr Afriyie Akoto implemented the controversial Planting for Food and Jobs policy at the premises of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to sell cheaper foods to Ghanaians.
Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper,Kweku Baako, has been instructed the military to uphold the principle of discipline that guides their activities.
The veteran journalist cautioned the military to exercise control and discretion in all of their activities in response to a radio discussion on the March 7 raid that ended in soldiers brutalizing some Ashaiman locals.
Baako was reacting specifically to a comment by New Patriotic Party (NPP) national organizer, Henry Nana Boakye, who in his submission refused to cleary condemn the actions of the military.
“Nana B is entitled to his inability or unwillingness to blame the modus operandi of the military at Ashaiman. I, however, wish to advice Nana B to tell the military to adhere to the regime of discipline required of the Armed Forces as an institution.
“A lot more is expected of the institution of the armed forces than the residents of Ashaiman in terms of discipline,” Baako texted in into the show.
Police have announced the arrest of six persons in connection with the death of young soldier Sherrif Imoro, which incident triggered the military swoop.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, according to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is merely inventing justifications for his absence from Monday’s Independence Day celebrations.
Ghana celebrated its 66th Independence Anniversary in Adaklu in the Volta Region on March 6, 2023.
The former President accused the NPP of turning the celebrations into a jamboree and also accused the party of busing its supporters to the venue for the celebration.
He added that he had been ridiculed by supporters of the NPP as he was seated in an obscure place on some occasions, hence his decision to boycott such events since 2018.
Reacting to the former President’s comment, the Director of Communicationsfor the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah said the reasons given by John Mahama are unfathomable.
“The former President is justifying all excuses to explain why he didn’t show up at the celebration of the Independence Day in the Volta Region and the previous ones he failed to attend. It’s most unfortunate because he’s only interested in going to the Volta region for votes. Just recently, you went there to launch your campaign. The people of Volta Region haven’t had the opportunity to host Independence Day before. He just left there a few days ago, if nothing at all, for the people of Volta Region whose chiefs and elders were assembled to celebrate, he could have showed up,” Mr. Ahiagbah.
The governingNew Patriotic Party(NPP), according to the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has no strategy in place to modernize and advance the nation.
In its message to mark Ghana’s 66th independence anniversary, the party noted that the Nana-led administration had put the country on autopilot.
“Today, Ghana under the NPP Government has no Plan in place to develop this nation, they have put the Country on ‘Auto Pilot’ and only use Adhoc measures as and when they deem fit.
Today Ghana has run to the IMF for an economic bailout, there is an IMF supervisor at the Bank of Ghana to give us instructions on our fiscal instructions, we are being asked by the IMF to reduce our debt and unfortunately, Ghanaians are bearing the brunt of this exercise under a strange and Alien Scheme called the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP).”
It said the country cannot honour its financial obligations to contractors.
It averred that there is nothing to celebrate this year and asked Ghanaians to boycott the celebration.
“As a Country, we cannot even honour our financial obligations to local and domestic contractors, vendors, suppliers, interest payments on loans taken, etc., so what are we celebrating, there is nothing to celebrate because we in the CPPbelieve that we have been made economic captives, who are reeling under the subjugation of poverty and Economic control.
We should come together as a country to boycott the Independence Day Celebrations because the Akufo Addo-led NPP government’s actions have eroded the meaning of what Ghana Independence Day stands for. This is the time for a sober reflection towards getting some solutions to our problems as a nation.
Indeed, the Nana Akufo Addo Government has made the toil of our fathers very meaningless, as we ask Ghanaians to boycott the Celebrations, we are urging all comrades in the CPP to do same as solidarity with the people of Ghana.
It is laughable that a Government that has been touting a ‘Ghana Beyond AID’ is the one chasing the IMF for Economic Bail Out. It is also sad that a government in dire need of financial support is not ready to downsize government and reduce expenditure. We should with all our strength and might boycott the Independence Day Celebrations.
The CPP is asking if is it worth it for the Nana Akufo Addo government to use the taxpayer’s money to remunerate cronies, family members and political hangers-on sitting on Government payroll.
It has become obvious that the CPP is the only Party that has the blueprint to salvage this Nation from this economic quagmire we find ourselves in. When voted for in 2024 we will reshape the destiny of this nation, and showcase a new leadership style of Commitment, Concentration and Selflessness, bringing back the Confidence of the Ghanaian in every sphere of our lives.”
The minority in parliament has refuted the claim made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that if Nigerians kept the APC in office, the party will likewise be kept in power.
The Deputy Minority leader,Alexander Afenyo-Markin was reacting to comments by Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim that the NDC will be occupying the majority side after the 2024 elections.
According to Mr. Afenyo-Amarkin, APC candidate, Tinubu has ‘broken the 8’ in Nigeria and thus a similar thing can happen in Ghana.
However, Member of Parliament for Bodi, Sampson Ahi quickly shredded the claim of the Deputy Majority leader.
According to him, the APC is rather attempting to break the 16 years of continuous rule of the PDP and not 8 years.
Mr. Ahi consequently told the NPP to abandon the campaign since the dynamics in Nigeria are totally different.
“I’ve heard from my colleagues from the other side that in Nigeria they have broken the ‘8’, and that will reflect in Ghana. Mr. Speaker, I want them to know that in Nigeria they don’t ‘break the 8’ they break 16, it’s 16 years. Because Obasanjo did eight years, Yar’Adua came in and did four years, Goodluck Jonathan did four years all under PDP, that was 16 years.
“So APC is struggling to break 16 and not eight. So the two scenarios are different. So prepare your handing over notes you will leave office come January 2025. You are leaving office, don’t compare Nigeria to Ghana. There is a vast difference between Ghana and Nigeria,” the lawmaker stated.
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has urged the New Patriotic Party(NPP) to prioritize the national interest over partisanship when choosing a flagbearer.
He says the party should make a choice competent enough to serve as President.
NPP flagbearer aspirant, Francis Addai-Nimoh, in the company of his campaign team and supporters, paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace.
The visit was to make clear his intention of contesting NPP’s flagbearership.
The Asantehene says though the election is internal, it has an impact on the country as a whole.
He wants aspirants to, therefore, foster peace by running clean campaigns devoid of insults.
“I am advising you to do a clean campaign ahead of the primaries,” he said.
He also urged the NPP delegates to choose a candidate that would be accepted by the mass Ghanaians.
The former Member of Parliament for the Mampong Constituency made his first attempt in NPP’s flagbearer race in 2014.
He came third among seven contestants in the primaries.
Mr. Addai-Nimoh was, however, out of the government formed after the party won elections in 2016.
For the reason, he believes his candidature is needed to win the NPP power in 2024.
He appealed to party delegates to vote for a new candidate to head the party in order to break the eight.
According to him, the party requires a fresh face who has not served in the present administration, who is spotless , and who can bring the party together in preparation for the 2024 general elections.
MP for Subin Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Eugene Boakye Antwi wants to know what is special about Finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, that, he is still occupying the office despite the numerous calls for his dismissal or resignation.
The Member of Parliament says there are equally people in the New Patriotic Party that have the capacity to run affairs at the ministry.
The former Works and Housing minister’s outburst come on the back of the suffering Ofori-Atta’s stewardship has subjected Ghanaians to, but still occupying the office as if there were no men in the party who can oversee the Ghanaian economy.
According to him, it still boggles the minds of many as to why the President’s cousin is still the one leading negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the $3 billion bailout whilst Ghanaians have expressed their discontentment with his leadership.
Mr. Boakye Antwi who joined a couple of MPs from the Majority caucus few months ago to demand the Finance Minister’s dismissal or resignation has averred the fact that Mr. Ofori-Atta has been able to manage a bank does not guarantee that he can manage an economy like Ghana since the two are different.
He opined there are men in the NPP with common sense who have become MPs and can equally be Finance ministers.
Eugene Boakye Antwi was speaking on Accra-based Citi TV with Umaru Sanda Amadu.
“What is so special about Ken Ofori-Atta that the ordinary NPP member doesn’t have?
“We cannot all run banks but some of us have common sense, that is why we are Members of Parliament.”
“When I go to Subin, I see poverty, I see hardship, and I see people suffering and all these are due to the economy and the person running the economy,” he said on Face to Face.
According to Joseph Osei-Owusu, the chairman of the parliamentary appointments committee, some of the president‘s nominees for ministerial positions may be approved by secret ballot.
He said the Minority’s refusal to support the approval process at the Committee level will force a secret ballot when the report is presented to the House this week.
“Our recommendation will be that, the Majority says yes, the Minority says no. If we recommend approval by consensus, then, the decision is taken by voice vote. But when it’s recommended by a majority decision, then the report is adopted by a secret ballot.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on February 7, 2023, nominated six members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to replace some outgoing ministers.
They have subsequently been vetted by the Appointments Committee awaiting approval byParliament.
But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had earlier directed the Minority Caucus in Parliament not to approve the new ministerial nominees.
NDC described the nominations as insensitive and will affect government spending in the midst of an economic mess created by president Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said: “the NDC has long expressed concern over the very large size of the current government and shares the views of most Ghanaians, including civil society, that it must be reduced bearing in mind the current massive economic mess the country has been plunged into by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.”
The party said it has appealed to the government and president Akufo-Addo on numerous occasions to cut down on the number of appointees, but the president has remained adamant.
It said the option available to the party to attempt to compel the president to cut down the size of his government is to direct members of the party in Parliament to reject the nominees.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential hopeful, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has condemned the culture of monetization that has characterized the party’s internal elections and Ghana’s electoral politics at large.
Paying a surprise visit to the studios of Peace FM during “Kokrokoo” morning show on Friday, February 24, the former General Secretary of the NPP and currently vying for the flagbearer position of the party asked the delegates and electorates to resist the monetary enticements by politicians.
” . . as politicians, we should be distributing inspiration, not money. Our statements and behaviour should motivate people . . . if you are a Minister, you have to be sensitive to the Ghanaian people,” he advised.
He urged the delegates to engage in a lifestyle audit whenever an aspirant offers them money in exchange for votes.
“Sometimes, even the party people should be asking how they are getting those monies,” he said.
Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong also admonished his colleague aspirants to discourage vote-buying stressing “politics is not a job but a calling”, hence seeking to be elected should be an act of service to the people.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) deputy director of communications, Ernest Owusu Bempah, claims that the NPP is unconcerned by former President John Dramani Mahama’s plan to run for president.
He was hopeful that Ghanaians “will not choose a dead goat over a limping elephant,” in the upcoming general elections.
Mr. Bempah said the 2024 elections will be based on track record which Ghanaians can easily attest to the hardships and mess they went through under Mr. Mahama’s tenure and reject him on that score.
He said persons, especially young people with financial difficulties couldn’t go to school during Mahama’s administration but president Akufo-Addo’s government has made free SHS a reality and has so far catered for some five million students.
Reacting to Mahama’s decision to run for president in the 2024 elections, Mr Owusu Bempah told journalists that “we all know our political history, what has Mahama got to offer the people of Ghana? As Vice President, as a caretaker president and the sitting president, for six years, he ran the economy like a casino economy. His key legacy was dumsor which was a nightmare for every Ghanaian. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost.”
He said the Mahama administration was so bad at managing the economy that the “economy was on its knees when there was no global crisis”.
“We handed over an economy that had discovered oil in commercial quantity, GDP was about 14 percent when we were leaving power but when Mahama took over before 2012, GDP dropped to 3.5 percent, that tells how he ran the economy down. This is the economy that NDC left, with abysmal performance in all sectors,” Mr. Bempah further lamented the damage done by Mahama’s administration.
Mr. Bempah also intimated that the mess caused by John Mahama was so widespread that the suffering it brought was cross-sectoral.
“The ordinary barber, the hairdresser, the trotro driver suffered. We were not in a pandemic, yet this was the growth, it was terrible under NDC. In 2013 depreciation of the Cedi was 14.5 percent, in 2014 it was 31.3 percent depreciation. We are talking about the dead goat. Most of the Ghanaian industry collapsed under NDC regime, from PNDC to Mahama NDC, so I am daring them to come and tell us that it is not right.
“In the banking sector, the interest rate was about 35 to 40 percent under Mahama, high cost of borrowing, there was no crisis, and corruption was the order of the day. Mahama institutionalized corruption in this country, they made corruption part of our body politics, to the extent that the leader himself was part, such as Kanazoe fiasco, Airbus scandal, Isofotone. A company cited by Bloomberg and New York Times as one of the most corrupt companies in the world was awarded the $280 million contract to build the circle interchange.”
He therefore advised Ghanaians to be wise because “Mahama is coming for just four years” and “what will he do in four years that he couldn’t have done in his six years as president?”
A flagbearer candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has said that it would be better for Ghana if some ministries were consolidated.
The former General Secretary of the NPP, in an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show, said not only will this be economical but will go a long way to send a strong moral message to Ghanaians that leadership is indeed tightening its belt and is serious about working towards attaining economic recovery.
“Ghana’s government is too big, and I have said this a long time ago, I think it has become a bit more fashionable for other people to say. As far back as 2015 when I was General Secretary of the NPP, I said that the framers of the constitution did not put in the 19 limits for cabinet ministers for nothing, they were giving us an idea of the size of government.”
“When I become President, I will not exceed this limit. A lot of the ministries have to be consolidated to reduce the numbers. There are others I think should not exist in the first place, Parliamentary Affairs, and even Chieftaincy used to be a secretariat at the Presidency.
“I think the natural home of Youth and Sport is Education, Transport should have Aviation and Railways. We can isolate Roads and Highwaysbecause of their central role in the development of the country. Fisheries should be a department under Agriculture.”
He also said Ministries do not need more than one deputy.
“The President even has just a vice. So, 38 ministers, if we add the 16 regional ministers, we have 54 ministers. This is something any President should be able to work with.”
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyeponghas revealed that he purposefully chose not to publicly address his 2015 suspension from the party in order to protect the NPP’s chances in the general elections of 2016.
He described the suspension as illegitimate and unfortunate which had the potential to mar the party’s fortunes in the 2016 elections adding that his silence at the time largely cemented the gains of the party prior to his suspension.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, February 23, Mr Agyepong said “we all know what happened in 2015 with my illegitimate and unfortunate suspension from office as General Secretary and I chose not to speak at the time not because I endorsed what happened but because of my love for this party and also because we had done all the groundwork with our internal arrangements and successful campaigns across the constituencies with just five constituencies left to cover.”
The former Press Secretary of former President John Kufuor stressed that he wasn’t hurt by the party’s disregard for its constitutional provisions but was hurt by the lies that were spewed just to legitimize the illegitimate decision of the party’s leadership.
“The fact that there was a lack of adherence to our party’s constitution is what hurts. What hurt me was the dirty propaganda and things that were said about me when they were clearly not true and this gave me the opportunity to speak to the party people who love me and had voted for me massively and trusted me and so I had to go round and explain to them what had happened because I didn’t want to endanger our victory in 2016.”
“When you’re a General Secretary, you’re a full-time employee of the party and you’re not expected to do anything other than dedicating all your time to the party,” he added.
To assist the family of the late Christian Atsu’s family, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership has donated GH10,000 in cash.
General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua, alongside National Organiser of the party, Henry Nana Boakye, Nasara coordinator, Aziz Haruna Futah and other officials commiserated with the family of the late footballer.
The remains of former Ghana international footballer Christian Atsu who died in a devastating earthquake in Turkey arrived on Sunday.
Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 44,000 people in both countries.
Meanwhile, former Black Stars Captain, Stephen Appiah led a host of his national team players to visit the grieving Atsu family.
Ghana players, Rabiu Mohammed, Jerry Akaminko, Kwadwo Asamoah, Derek Boateng and actress, Lydia Forson were all in attendance.
Others include the Uncle of Stephen Appiah, Nii Kwadwo Appiah (Father of Jamestown Stool) and wife of Appiah, Hannah Bentil.
Earlier, ex-Black Stars coach, CK Akonnor paid his respect to the Atsu family.
The military’s attempts to detain the recently skinned Bawku Naaba by the Nayiri have sparked tension in various areas of the North East Region as youth took to the streets to protest.
In the Nalerigu and Walewale communities, the youth burnt lorry tyres amidst chanting of war songs to drum home their anger.
Some New Patriotic Party (NPP) billboards were also destroyed by the youth.
Sources within the youth groups indicate their disappointment in government and the military for the recent peaceful instability in Bawku and Nalerigu.
They have warned they will use every available means to protest any attempt to arrest the Nayiri and the rival Bawku chief.
The King of the Maprugu Traditional area, Naa Bohugu Mahami I, on Wednesday, February 15 reportedly enskinned Alhaji Seidu Abagre as the new chief for Bawku at the Nayiri Palace in Nalerigu.
But government declared the installation as null and void, ordering the arrest of the new chief.
Attempts by the military to effect the arrest Sunday evening was met with fierce resistance from the youth.
On Monday morning, the youth expressed their anger by hitting the streets.
A member of parliament representing the Subin Constituency, Eungen Boakye Antwi, has issued a warning to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, failure for the party to work more in order to recover the faltering economy will make it exceedingly difficult for the party to win the general elections in 2024.
“Posterity will judge us, we said it and may be the president didn’t listen or we said something but, in the end, the economy was turned around.
“… but because of how things are going. We’re not in good standing, look at the bond issues and all the things that are going on. We’re not in good standing at all.
“Should we tell them or blow them? How we’re running the economy, if we continue like that, will it go well for us in 2024? You don’t need Kyei-Mensah-Bonsuor Eugene Boakye to come and talk to you.
“You’re a Ghanaian, how things are going, if we continue this way, will it help us? No, so if someone is an NPP person and does not understand this philosophy then maybe the person has his/her personal opinion,” he said.
The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah has responded to former President John Dramani Mahama on his comment that “President Akufo-Addo’s administration is not only indifferent in the fight against corruption – they are collaborators!”
Responding to him also in a tweet, Mr Ahiagbah said “At least President Akufo-Addo is clear about his incorruptibility. #Ghana”
Mr Dame wrote against the decision by the Auditor-General to publish the report on Covid expenditure.
Per Article 187(5) of the Constitution, Mr Dame explained, the Auditor-General is mandated to submit his report to Parliament to draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited?
The Auditor-General report stated that “During our review, we noted that senior management staff and other supporting staff of the Ministry of Information paid themselves a total amount of GH¢151,500.00 as COVID-19 risk allowance for coming to work during the lockdown.”
It further indicated that the Ministry of Health (MoH) entered a contract signed on 15 December 2021 for the supply of 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances valued at US$4,049,460.12 out of which US$607,419.02 was paid to vide PV No. IPF 22-007 of 2 September 2022 is to be delivered by 15 January 2022.
However, the report said, the ambulances remained undelivered as of 28 November 2022.
But the Attorney General in his letter said ” “I observe that the report of the special audit on the Government’s COVID-19 transactions has been published on the website of the Audit Service. In light of the constitutional provisions pertaining to the duty of the Auditor-General after the preparation of audit reports, I consider a publication of the COVID-19 audit report or indeed any audit report particularly when the same has not been either considered by Parliament or referred to a committee of Parliament, premature.”
Mr Dame has however justified the letter he wrote.
He stated that it is astonishing that CDD-Ghana disputes the propriety of the Attorney-General rendering legal advice to the Auditor-General, and construes same as “an interference with the independence of the auditor general”.
A proper reading of the Constitution, especially the provisions on the Public Services of Ghana, leads to the inescapable conclusion that the Attorney-General is fully vested with the constitutional function of giving legal advice to all the Public Services specifically listed in Article 190(1) of the Constitution, including the Audit Service, and such other public services as will be established by law.
Article 295 indicates that the public services listed in article 190 and other public services established by Parliament pursuant to its legislative powers, are part of the civil offices of Government.
In the face of the explicit constitutional mandate of the Attorney-General under article 88 of the Constitution as principal legal adviser to the Government, it is incomprehensible and rather illogical how an assertion may be made that the Attorney-General has no capacity to render legal advice to the Auditor-General.
Such an assertion can only be as a result of a simplistic and limited view of relevant provisions of the Constitution of Ghana.
According to Ernest Owusu Bempah, the NPP’s deputy communications officer, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has handled the economy successfully despite the difficulties.
He said the party will win the 2024 general elections after assuring that the Akufo-Addoadministration will tackle the economic challenges that have arisen as a result of external factors including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, February 15, he said “During the Mahama administration, Ghana’s economy was running at a 3 percent growth rate. Under the NPP before Covid it was doing 8 percent, that tells you how we managed the economy better than the NDC.”
He added “NPP has been able to captain the country through the storm even though there are challenges. One can imagine if Mahama and his NDC were leading this country Ghanaians by now will be wallowing in abject poverty, people wouldn’t be able to afford three square meals a day.
“There will be total darkness because of dumsor, joblessness will be the order of the day, the youth will be perplexed if Mahama had been the leader of this country at this time.
“Despite all the challenges now, school children are going to school for free, and road networks are being built across the country.
“If it happened during the Mahama era you wouldn’t see all of these, they will blame it on the challenge. But we believe that as a political party before the 2024 elections, these challenges shall pass and NPP will come out united with leadership to win the elections and break the 8.
“The NDC, John Mahama as an alternative is empty, they have been therefore when there were no crisis, we saw what they did and they have nothing.”
The Secretary-General of the National Tenant Union of Ghana, Frederick Opoku, has refuted claims that the National Rental Assistance Scheme of the government will solely benefit supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking in an interview on ‘The Lowdown’ programme on GhanaWeb TV, Frederick Opoku said that the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who has been championing the scheme, has assured that every Ghanaian, no matter their political affiliation, benefits from the programme.
“The government involving the private sector and the Tenant Union of Ghana to be fully involved and also monitor, evaluate and comment is enough for us to believe that nothing is going to be hidden.
“On the day that they were launching this (scheme), at the foul glare of the vice president, I was very categorical that, Mr Vice President, Madam Chief of Staff, we know that people don’t trust whatever the government brings and that we fear that everything must be transparent, credible so that people will have trust in the system and the scheme.
“And we were given the assurance even when the vice president had the stage. And in fact, from there we realise that they meant business. And this time round we don’t foresee it becoming like others or the usual,” he said.
The secretary-general, who made the remarks while answering a question on the politicization of the scheme by GhanaWeb’s Daniel Oduro, added that the only thing needed by Ghanaians from both the private sector and the public sector, who want to benefit from the scheme, is that proof that they can repay the assistance given to them on a monthly basis.
About National Rental Assistance Scheme:
Government through the Ministry of Works and Housing on January 31, 2023, launched the National Rental Assistance Scheme with a GH¢30 million commitment under a pilot phase.
The pilot phase will cover the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, Bono East, and Northern regions.
Under the scheme, rent payment advances will be made for applicants who are either in the process of renewing, renting a room/apartment or a complete house.
Government adds that the scheme will provide low-interest loans to eligible Ghanaians to enable them to pay rent advances, which will be repaid on a monthly basis to match the tenure of the rent.
GhanaWeb Business examines the simple steps and requirements for enrolling in the NRAS.
How to qualify:
To qualify for the scheme, an applicant must show proof of employment covering 3 months of payslips, proof of income (3 months of official bank statements or mobile money statements), or an audited financial statement (for business owners).
Other requirments:
• Applicants must be Ghanaian
• Possess a valid Ghana Card
• Must be an adult of eighteen (18) years and above
• Verifiable employment and earned income
• Rent payable must not exceed 30 percent of the household income
Application process and how to apply
• The qualified person is expected to identify a property of their preference and notify the NRAS of same through a formal online application. (https://www.nras.gov.gh)
• An applicant must also complete an online or paper application form or submit two forms of national identification. They will also pay an application processing fee of 100 cedis.
• If an application is approved, National Rental Assistance Scheme will arrange with your chosen landlord and pay the rent advance directly and sign all required tenancy documentation.
• It will take about 5 to 10 business days for the NRAS to evaluate your affordability for the rent amount being sought and notify you of your application’s acceptance or denial.
• Once this process is complete, the tenant takes possession of the rental property thereafter and rent payment is always due on the first of each month to the NRAS.
Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, one of the leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta would have resigned if he was the current president.
According to him, it is enough that there are many disgruntled members of the party, mainly their Members of Parliament, who have expressed their no-confidence in the performance of the Minister of Finance.
He added that were he in the shoes ofPresident Akufo-Addo, what he would have done was to give into their demands and get the finance minister off the job, a report by citinewsroom.com has said.
“If I were the president [Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo], I would have listened to the MPs and sacked Ofori-Atta,” he is quoted to have said in an interview with GTV.
It will be recalled that there were over 80 MPs on the Majority side of parliament who recently addressed the press, announcing their disaffection with the Minister of Finance.
The MPs then called on the president to sack Ken Ofori-Atta or risk having them no longer participate in any government business that would be brought before parliament.
Although this is yet to happen, as President Akufo-Addo has severally indicated that he finds nothing wrong with the work of his appointee, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku has said that there is the need for the president to examine the sentiments of the MPs and those of the general public.
“In politics, you have to be sensitive to public opinion. Sometimes, it may not be the truth, but that is the sentiments, and the sentiments of the people need to be examined, and acted upon if it is possible. It’s a great deal for the NPP MPs to come out there to say they don’t want our finance minister, their own Finance Minister that they have worked with in the past.
“In democracy, we have to be sensitive to the people. Lack of action exacerbates the problem, so you cut it off and cut your losses and I would have cut my losses and said please you have done enough, the environment is hostile to you so go. I would have changed him,” he is quoted to have said.
The race for the top-spot of the NPP party elections is yet to be officially opened but so far, a number of names have popped up, indicating that they are also interested in the spot.
Some of the names that come up have been Alan Kyerematen, the immediate-past Minister of Trade and Industry; Dr Akoto Owusu Afriyie, the former Minister of Food and Agriculture; Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former MP for Ashanti Mampong; and the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The success of the presidential and parliamentary primaries will determine whether the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will win the 2024 elections, according to National Chairman of the party, Stephen Ntim.
According to him, the two elections that will elect the party’s Flagbearer and Members of Parliamentwill largely impact the electoral fortunes of the party, hence the need for the party to conduct itself properly during and after the primaries.
Speaking at a brainstorming session by the Council of Elders of the Greater Accra Region at Peduase in Aburi, Chairman Ntim on that account made a passionate appeal to all prospective aspirants, their supporters, party members, and all stakeholders of the Party to respect the rules of engagement.
“We should always be guided by the supreme interest of the party and eschew all acts that have the tendency of dividing our ranks. We cannot have an effective and well-organized party to break the eight if we do not prioritize the party’s interest. Our victory in 2024 will largely depend on how we conduct ourselves in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries.
“It is in view of the importance of these primaries on our electoral fortunes that the National Council of the Party formulated a Code of Conduct to regulate our conduct during the period preceding the opening of nominations for these primaries. It is also worth reminding all party members that the Code of Conduct is still in force, and as national officers, we will continue to monitor its implementation to ensure maximum conformity. This is crucial to help us close our ranks going into the 2024 general elections and to be able to break the eight,” Chairman Ntim stated.
According to him, other factors go into the selection of the presidential candidate of the party other than the person who can gunner more votes from delegates.
Dr Apreku, who made these remarks in a GHOne TV interview , added that the party believes in a system of hierarchy where people are in line to take up positions available in the party.
“… there is this sense in our part of the world that this older and this the one whose turn has come and that is the one.
“For me and Nana Akufo-Addo we come from Prof Adu Boahen. And I have always been behind Nana Akufo-Addo, his excellency the president. We have had excellent relations both in Parliament and as ministers.
“It has always been the case that he will go before I go… and I think when he finishes, I will inherit him,” he said.
Dr Apreku, a former Minister for Regional Cooperation under ex-President John Agyekum Kufour, reiterated that it is his turn to be the presidential candidate of the NPP and that he is the right person to replace Akufo-Addo as the party goes into the 2024 elections.
Dr Apreku is expected to face stiff competition from the likes of former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen Assin, Central MP Ken Agyapong, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and ex-Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh for the flagbearership position of the NPP.
Popular actor and film producer Fred Nuamah has declared his candidacy for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency seat in the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During the 2020 general elections, celebrated actor, John Dumelo contested for the seat on the ticket of the NDC but failed to secure the needed votes thus losing out to Lydia Seyram Alhassan of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It is currently unclear if Mr. Dumelo is eyeing the seat again.
Fred Nuamah, who is also a film director is best known for his role in the movie ‘The Game’.
He is the founder and CEO of Ghana Movie Awards & Ghana TV series awards, an annual award show that recognises excellence in the Ghanaian film industry.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership has stated that the party will focus its efforts on ensuring that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governs the nation effectively.
According to the National Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, all members of the party must support the agenda following the resolution of the issue of the leadership change in Parliament.
The party has indicated that the challenges confronting the reshuffle of the Minority leadership in Parliament have been addressed after a meeting among the national executives, the Council of Elders and the Minority caucus on Monday.
Speaking to the members of the caucus, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah urged the new leadership to work assiduously.
“We are going to refocus on the issue of bad governance in the country including works on the National Cathedral. We’ve cautioned the new leadership that, the record of the performance of the old leadership serves as a yardstick to the measurement of their own performance.”
Chairman of the Council of Elders for the NDC, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu said the party must win the next polls.
“From the reception the new leaders have received, this is not the beginning but the end of the meeting. The excitement shows that the issue has been resolved. There is no problem now. Our problem is to win the 2024 election.”
The meeting which took place at the DF Annan Auditorium in Parliament had stalwarts of the party including the Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and his General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, among others present.
Others at the meeting included former Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, and former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adzaho.
“You can see from the enthusiasm that the challenges that arose from the announcement of the new leadership of our Caucus have all been resolved”, Johnson Asiedu Nketia added.
A candidate for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential nomination, Alan Kyerematen, has acknowledged that the party is finding it challenging to develop a message for the 2024 general elections as a result of the deteriorating economy.
Speaking during a visit to the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council as part of his campaign tour, the former Trade and Industry Minister hailed the performance of President Nana Akufo-Addo but stated that the poor state of the economy will make it difficult for the NPP to convince Ghanaians to retain them in the 2024 general elections.
“Akufo-Addo has done well, when the NPP came, there was no free SHS, but we have brought it, planting for food and jobs, we have brought it, One District, One Factory, we have brought it, I can recount a number of the policies, but we all know that times are hard. We are all in difficulty, we have worked hard but due to the economic hardship, our key message for campaigning as a party for the 2024 election has become difficult for us.
“But you see, one of our main challenges as a country is how successive governments abandon policies they inherit from another government. This is what has derailed our development efforts. So I would wish that for the first time in the history of the country, allow the NPP to continue, so our policies can gain roots while we do away with the bad policies. If we mean well for the country this is what must happen,” Mr Kyerematen said in Twi.
Mr Kyerematen also urged the Chiefs to advise the delegates to select a flagbearer who would be acceptable to the entire country.
“The country is expecting a turnaround based on a big vision to be delivered with competence,” he said.
Mr Kyerematen said the overreliance on the government to build industries to create jobs needed to change to a more efficient way of empowering the private sector to create jobs for the people.
Mr Kyerematen noted that as Minister for Trade and Industry under President JA Kufuor, he initiated the Presidential Special Initiatives (PSI) in four different sectors of the economy, which could have yielded over $60 billion a year to the country, had the NDC not terminated them after taking over in 2008.
Dr. Amoako Baah, a prominent member of the ruling New Patriotic Party and a political analyst, has said that President Akufo-Addo is the reason why the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries haven’t been scheduled yet.
Speaking to Selorm Adonoo on Eyewitness News, Dr. Amoako Baah said there “is a contention between the president and the party [with regard to the date for the primaries]. The president wants to hold the primaries in February next year which he said, his 2024 budget would have been passed by then. The MPs on the hand, also want the primaries held in August 2023, to give them enough room to do whatever it is that they have to do to keep the party in good sharp.”
He described it as absolutely absurd to have president Akufo-Addo to be deciding the timelines for the party.
“It doesn’t make sense and the party should not tolerate it, the party does not belong to the president and the party cannot go according to his timetable.”
Dr. Amoako Baah also alleged that the president has threatened to mastermind the defeat of some of the NPP MPs.
“Were you not there or have you not read when the Subin MP [Eugene Boakye Antwi] said the president threatened to mastermind his defeat, how can an outgoing president hold the whole country to ransom?”
Two different meetings held by the National Council of the NPP to set a date for the primaries ended inconclusively.
Pressure is mounting on the NPP to announce a date for its two most important internal elections on its calendar.
A bloc within the party made up of some MPs is pushing for an early Congress whilst others want the party to abide by the provisions of its constitution.
Per the NPP’s constitution, the party is supposed to elect its flagbearer 12 months to an election when in power and two years when in opposition.
The flagbearer candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Member of Parliament for Assin Central in Central Region, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has asked party followers and Ghanaians to have faith in his goals and objectives.
Though official nominations have not been opened, flagbearer hopefuls are moving and sending their campaign signals out.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a businessman and politician, is one of them.
He appealed to Ghanaians to have confidence in him and make him the party’s flagbearer and the country’s president come 2024.
Mr. Agyapong made this appeal when he appeared on ‘Good Evening Ghana’ on Metro TV in Ghana.
According to him, he is a man who understands Ghanaian languages and problems and can also solve the problems of the people.
He also added that even if those who vote for him age, their children will largely benefit from their support for him.
Ken Agyapong added that he will exonerate himself from the case of Ahmed Suale’s death when he becomes president of Ghana. Though he affirmed that police investigations could not point fingers at him for the death of the investigative journalist, he will show interest in the case when he is voted President of Ghana.
More than 600 New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates from the Krachi East Constituency have formally endorsed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for presidency.
The executives include Electoral Area Coordinators, Polling station Executives, Constituency Executives, and the former Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Michael Yaw Gyato.
Addressing the group at the Church of Pentecost Dambai Central Chapel, the former MP tasked the Executives to carefully weigh the merits of the Vice President’s flagbearership and vote for him to lead the party to victory in 2024.
He called on the rank and file of the party in the constituency to ignore the propaganda machinery of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party that describes the NPP as an Akan party.
Mr Gyato said the NPP has the most credible record of embracing every ethnic group in the country and tapping wide range knowledge of expertise from members and therefore would not reduce membership to only one ethnic group.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the former MP refuted the perception that the NPP is an Akan party. He said NPP cuts across all ethnic persuasions and always give opportunities to members in all its endeavours.
He explained that the founding fathers of the party were not only Akans and that the foundation of the party was built on solid inter-ethnic persuasion without any prejudice to ethnic groups.
Mr Gyato said the labelling of the NPP as an Akan party, especially by the people of northern decent and most instructively from the NDC was a smear campaign to create false impression to northerners that Akans in the NPP party dictated the pace in the party.
He thanked the National Muslim Conference and the various Muslim groups around the country and diaspora for allowing their son to bridge the religion in Ghana.
Some die-hard executives also believed that to “break the eight years” in office for political parties in the 4th Republic, the Vice President, Dr Mahamud Bawumia remains the preferred candidate for December 2024 polls.
Kennedy Agyapong, the presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has stated that he must run for president in 2024 if his party is to secure an unprecedented third consecutive term in office.
According to him, the NPP will struggle to win the 2024 presidential elections if he is not the substantive flagbearer of the party.
“We have two years to make a difference in society in terms of development. If were are able to do it I think Ghanaians will give us another chance.
“But you know with, me we will break the 8… without Ken Agyapong well it will be tough,” he said during a Good Evening Ghana interview monitored by GhanaWeb on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
“With Ken Agyapong as the number one on the ticket, we will break the 8,” Ken Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, stressed.
The MP for Assin Central is expected to face stiff competition from the likes of the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and ex- Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh for the flagbearership position of the NPP.
The ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) National Executive Committee and National Council will meet today to decide when to hold the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries.
The meeting will also announce a date for the opening of nomination for both elections.
The much-anticipated meeting was postponed from January 31st to today following the absence of many of the Council members.
Reports attributed to the Council said the party has set November 2023 to elect its presidential candidate, January 2024 to elect parliamentary candidates for constituencies with sitting NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) and April 2024 for constituencies without sitting NPP MPs.
But in a statement, the NPP said timelines in the above were not accurate and dates were yet to be concluded.
The former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen has declared his intention to contest the flagbearership slot and lead the NPP. He will contest former Agriculture Minister, Dr Akoto Afriyie and former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko who have all declared their intention to contest.
On Wednesday, February 1, a former Member of Parliament for the Mampong Constituency, Francis Addai-Nimoh formally announced his intention to contest the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearership race when nominations are opened.
The former legislator said preliminary research conducted by his team coupled with consultation and advice from some elders of the party, psyched himself to bring on board his professional knowledge and values to retain political power.
Flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has spoken out against the criticism of Black Stars players.
He argues that the amounts paid to players as winning bonuses are justified and necessary in order to incentivize them to play for their country.
Agyapong contends that players should be compensated fairly because they take on enormous financial risks by competing for their country.
“I don’t have a problem paying them to play for us. We have to encourage these stars to come home and play for us.
“Those in the foreign teams make so much money. Some make $40,000 a week, he comes here and the whole period they give him $40,000 and we are complaining.
“If this guy hurts himself and cannot play again, he loses $40,000 a week. I don’t mind paying whatever they deserve because it will motivate them to come home and serve. Ghanaians should stop complaining,” he said.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, Alan Kyerematen has made a strong case for the delegates of the party to choose him as their candidate for the 2024 elections.
Speaking in an interview on Angel FM on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Alan said that the party needs a candidate who can win not less than 80 percent of the votes in the Ashanti Region.
The former trade and industry minister added that not only can he win the party over 80 percent of the votes in the Ashanti Region but he can pull a good number of votes for strongholds of the largest opposition party, the NDC.
“We are not just looking for a flagbearer, we are looking for someone who can help the NPP retain power… Everybody knows that the Ashanti Region is the backbone of the NPP… And so for a difficult election, which I perceive is going to happen in 2024, you need a candidate that is going to win at least 80 percent of the votes in the Ashanti Region to guarantee us victory.
“You need a candidate who can do two things, consolidate your base and reduce the strength of your opponent. We all know that the base of the NDC is the Volta Region but many people have been asking why Voltarians like me so much.
“Everybody in Ghana knows that the people of the Volta Region have taken me to be one of them. I believe that I am the candidate who can win 80 percent of the votes in the Ashanti Region and also compete with the NDC in the Volta Region for their votes to be reduced,” he said in Twi.
Alan added that he has name recognition and he is known in every corner of Ghana.
“I have been working with Akufo-Addo all these years and there is no village where Akufo-Addo is known where I’m not known,” he said.
The former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, is expected to face stiff competition from the likes of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, for the flagbearership position of the NPP.
