New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has said that he is not corrupt and that he has never taken a bribe.
Speaking in an interview on Good Evening Ghana on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, Agyapong said that he will never engage in activities that will make him rich at the expense of the people of Ghana.
He then proceeded to narrate how he rejected a $3 million bribe from an Indian businessman who wanted to get a government project with his help.
“I met an Indian last week and he said there is a project that he thinks I can influence. The actual cost of the project is ($)26 million.
“The guy comes to say that he can do it for $9 (million) and of course as a businessman, he has to make a profit with whoever introduced him, $3 (million), making $12 (million). Then he said to me, I’m going to give you $3 million so I will add it to the $12 (million) to make $15 million and I said no to him.
“I said Ghana first, I don’t want the $3 million if you know you can do the job for $12 million so be it. The young men that come from America with their tickets and everything whatever you want to give to them it is okay but me I will not take any money,” he narrated.
Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, said that the business told him that he (Agyapong) is the only person, he has met in Africa who has rejected such a huge amount of money.
“The Indian man, who was there with his young engineer son, said wow, I have goose pimples. I have worked in Africa for 22 years and I have never seen an African reject $3 million like you did,” he said.
A presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has refuted rumors that he will most likely withdraw from the party’s upcoming primary elections because he is acting on the instructions of another contender.
According to him, those claims are false and thus urged his teeming supporters to treat such reports with contempt.
He emphatically said that “Read my lips, I am not doing the bidding of anybody. I am genuinely contesting to become the President because I can do it better.”
He noted that “I am 62 years old, and I believe I am old and experienced enough to also contest and become the President of our country on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party in 2024”.
Speaking on Net2 TV, he insisted that his decision to become the president in 2024 on the ticket of the NPP is non-negotiable.
“I am surprised because the support is coming from angles and corners. Even those in NDC and my own NPP members are supporting my bid”.
“Some people that I don’t know in person, I am told, have erected my billboards in the Northern parts of the country to support my ambition”, he said with a smile on his face.
Sounding happy, he said other people have printed his (Kennedy’s) campaign T-Shirts and caps to help him, stressing that he would surely become president in 2024.
According to him, he would win the upcoming NPP presidential primaries and go ahead to win the ultimate (presidential elections), slated for December 2024.
On another engagement, speaking to a cross-section of his supporters in the United States, Agyapong stressed that he was more of a leader than a politician, explaining that as a leader, he was focused more on national development whereas politicians are focused on the next election.
He said, “I don’t want to be president for eight years, I only want to be president for four years, challenge me and see how it will be done, and there is a difference between a leader and a politician”.
“A leader is the one who thinks of the development of his country and takes bold decisions irrespective of the repercussions. And the politician is the one who thinks of tomorrow’s election and therefore is not bold to take decisions”.
“And so, I don’t think of tomorrow’s election, I think of today and how I can make a difference,” he stressed adding that even if he was going to spend the full eight-year constitutional term, “Ghanaians will decide after four years, I won’t be afraid, I will invest in Ghana and create employment for the youth,” he said to a loud applause.
Mr. Agyapong, who is hoping to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as leader of the NPP going into the 2024 elections has a hallmark of speaking truth to power without fear or favour irrespective of which political party is in power is a rare positive trait among his peers.
A visually impaired supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that he is unable to retrieve his GHc50,000 investment with Data Bank as a result of government’s ongoing Domestic Debt Exchange Program.
Speaking in an interview on Akoma FM, Agya Bray, who sells medical products, said that he went to the bank to withdraw his investment, which had matured, only to be told that there were no funds available.
He added that the bank told him that if he insists on getting his money back, he will have to lose GHc16,000 of his investment.
“I did not invest in a government bond. In 2007, I invested ¢500,000,000 (GHc50,000) in products of Ofori-Atta’s Bank (Data Bank), called the M-Fund and F-Fund. I went there for my money this past Tuesday, and they said that they don’t have any money for me.
“They told me that they can’t give me any money, and they were saying some things about haircuts and the IMF bailout the government was seeking. And I asked them why the government should be using my money to borrow from the IMF.
“Then they told me that if I wanted my money, they would let someone pay me, but I am going to lose ¢160,000,000 (GH¢16,000),” he said in Twi.
The NPP supporter said that he has always voted for the party, but if people like him lose their money due to the government’s debt exchange programme, they will abstain from voting in the upcoming 2024 elections.
The new Minority Leader of Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has outlined three specific areas that he hopes to focus on in the immediate terms.
Addressing a brief press conference in parliament on Thursday, January 26, 2023, the Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam stated that among the things he intends to do as leader, is to unite the caucus.
He then outlined his three roadmaps, starting with a stern warning to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as well as the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“I will focus the next month to tackle three things. First, I wish to, first of all, send a message to the NPP that the people of Ghana are calling on them to downsize their government to reflect the mood of the country. You are asking people to forgo their coupons or interests, you are asking the ordinary Ghanaian to sacrifice their payout, and so therefore if His Excellency the president intends to reshuffle his government, let it be known that we in the NDC will not accept an attempt to increase the size of government,” he said.
Cassiel Ato Forson also sent a caution to the president to ensure that he does not increase his government size, adding that should that happen, such new additions will be resisted by the Minority.
“And if the current size of his ministers increases by one, that one person may not receive our cooperation. And in the end, we also wish to assure the people of Ghana that, as part of our engagement with the Finance Committee and the Health Committee, we have agreed to do public hearing on the audit of the COVID-19 expenditure beginning on the 7th of February, 2023. At that point, we will pay due diligence to the duties given to us by the people,” he added.
The Minority Leader concluded by indicating that they will embark on a roadshow across the country to educate Ghanaians on the impact of the current economic challenges.
“And then finally, we will also embark on a roadshow where we will galvanize the people of Ghana and educate them on what this economic crisis is going to take us through,” he said.
Cassiel Ato Forson takes over from Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader, while Kwame Governs Agbodza is the new Minority Chief Whip.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah will be the new Deputy Minority Leader, while the two deputy Minority Chief Whips, Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, have been retained.
If the government decides to include individual bondholders, he claims that vulnerable people would lose their “appetite and willingness” to save, and he adds that this would be a disastrous development for the nation.
Since they are investing their money in secured securities rather than hiding it under their mattresses, when people buy bonds, they are essentially saving money.
“If we touch the investments from these vulnerable groups, we are also making them lose the appetize and the desire for saving and that is the most dangerous thing that could happen to a country,” myjoyonline quoted the aspiring flagbearer.
He added that having a debate about including individual bondholders scheme is creating a platform for very serious negative discourse.
“In my view, having a debate about including individual bondholders and those involved in this collective scheme is creating a platform for very serious negative discourse which could potentially create both domestic and international problems for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, convener of the Individual Bondholders forum, Senyo Hosi, In a statement on January 24, 2023, commended the government for reaching an agreement with the government.
The amendment includes an agreement to pay a 5% coupon rate for each of the twelve new bonds, resulting in an effective coupon rate of 9%.
It also added “the removal or amendment of all clauses in the Exchange Memorandum that empower the Republic to at its sole discretion, vary the terms of the exchange.”
The individual bondholders stated that “with the banks onboarding the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, the government is set to reach its 80% target.”
“The development reaffirms the need for government to exclude individual Bondholders, including individuals and Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), who account for less than 11% of the eligible bonds. Unlike the banks and other institutions who are set to benefit from various regulatory incentives, Individual Bondholders have no fallback nor incentives and will be condemned to shackled penury,” parts of the statement read.
The next flagbearer should be chosen by the delegates of the ruling New Patriotic Party, who have been urged to put the party first and support Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
Mr. Kwadwo Owusu, a campaign team member for Hon Kennedy Agyapong who made the call emphasized that NPP can only retain power in the 2024 Presidential polls if the Assin Central MP is made to lead the party.
Mr. Owusu in a press release copied to OTEC News on Monday, January 23, 2023, said Kennedy Agyapong remains the best choice for the NPP.
“The overwhelming support base of Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong alone, speak volumes and has registered hope in the minds of the discerning delegates and the Ghanaian populace to be up and alert against people painting false pictures of reality by always bending facts to suit just their interests”.
“The inclusion of Kennedy Agyapong in the flagbearership race of the NPP; a business mogul, philanthropically inclined;(constructed 80-bed cardiothoracic center at the 37 military hospitals, donation of a Cancer treatment machine to Komfo Anokye teaching hospital, Kumasi. Massive support in cash and PPEs for the fight against covid-19 and many changes he has, and still affecting the livelihood of the ordinary Ghanaian.”
“Such a results-oriented, apt, and always ready to help, has succeeded in transmogrifying today’s politics from ‘sweet talks’
and conjuring unrealistic stories unto a fair field of realists, that is; bringing your track record to bear for critical scrutiny to prove your realness to settle on as the best choice to lead the NPP and Ghana”.
Mr. Kwadwo Owusu noted that the name Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is not just a genius, but a positive straight-up man full of a can-do spirit, who is always eager and willing to effect changes positively in the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He added that voting the Assin Central MP as the next flagbearer of the NPP will leapfrog the party’s votes come 2024.
Read the full statement below:
For Immediate release
22nd January 2023
NPP WILL MAKE KEN THE FLAGBEARER AND GHANAIANS MUST EMBRACE HIM AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
The overwhelming support base of Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong alone, speak volumes and has registered hope in the minds of the discerning delegates and the Ghanaian populace to be up and alert against people painting false pictures of reality by always bending facts to suit just their personal interests. Meanwhile, this agenda happens and changes only in the books and in the end, breeds nothing but political disheartening and jittering to survive.
The current political terrain does not support the usual deception people always drive through. And the sudden unleashed of political uneasiness in some quarters, is a result of the inclusion of the man Ken in the flagbearership race of the NPP; a business mogul, philanthropically inclined;(construction of 80-bed cardiothoracic center at the 37 military hospital, donation of a Cancer treatment machine to Komfo Anokye teaching hospital, Kumasi. Massive support in cash and PPEs for the fight against covid-19 and many changes he has, and still effecting in the livelihood of the ordinary Ghanaian.
Such a results-oriented, apt and always ready-to-help, has succeeded in transmogrifying today’s politics from ‘sweet talks’
and conjuring unrealistic stories unto a fair field of realists, that is; bringing your track record to bear for critical scrutiny to prove your realness to settle on as the best choice to lead the NPP and Ghana.
The name Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is not just genius, but a positive straight-up man full of a can-do spirit, always eager and willing to effect changes positively in the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian. Government does the higher rate of employment, yet, Ken with what God has blessed him with, keeps forcing day in, day out, to turn things around for the people of Ghana when he can, and Ghanaians nationwide attest to his kind-heartedness and altruistic nature of such character with a high level of benevolence.
Ken has done a lot for Ghana and the NPP and still bankrolls the party till today, and the little said about NPP’s days in opposition, the better, because, everyone knows that, NPP has been an albatros on the neck of Hon Ken and he must be supported with every support available.
In all of these; this same man has employed numerous Ghanaians and still employing.
Tt is only fair and proper to give him(Ken) the chance to lead and do more for the NPP and Ghana as a whole, and I encourage all and sundry to wake up and support Ken.
When you have the facts and can speak to them with evidence, you only explain to people and when questions emerged to that effect, you do justice to it with supporting evidence but you don’t dissipate time and energy campaigning, knowing very well that, you can push through lies, deception and propaganda to blackmail innocent Ghanaians to suit your personal interest.
Ghanaians are wild awake, we have to broaden our horizons and therefore Ken must be allowed without any hindrances to contest, win decisively to lead the NPP into the 2024 Presidential Election and win as well to become the president.
God bless our homeland Ghana and make us great and strong.
Some Youth in the West Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region believe to be supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party over the weekend nearly attacked their Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Aremeyaw Somo Lucky, who was at a radio station upon the invitation of the morning show host to discuss development issues confronting his municipality.
The angry mob gathered while the programme was ongoing, mobilized themselves, and besieged the forecourt of Tizaa Radio Station to protest against the MCE about some utterances they claimed he made on the show.
According to reports, two members of the group then walked into the studio and ordered the live programme to be truncated before chasing out the MCE.
They reportedly dragged the MCE from the studio to face the angry youth who were chanting violently and demanding permission from their leaders to “teach him a lesson”.
The MCE was however saved from being lynched by the timely intervention of some elders of Nalerigu after a long deliberation with the leaders of the NPP youth group.
Reports further indicated that the angry youth accused the MCE of defending the Regional Minister, Yidana Zakaria, who they have accused of diverting development projects meant for Nalerigu, the regional capital to Walewale, his home district.
Since 2021, tension has continued to increase between the youth of Nalerigu and the Regional Minister.
The minister is being blamed by the youth for the government’s decision to site some of the Regional Departments outside the capital town, Nalerigu.
On Sunday, January 22, 2023, a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Kennedy Agyapong visited the Glorious Word Power Ministry International, a Christian denomination founded and led by Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah.
Kennedy Agyapong who was given the opportunity to share a sermon with the congregants built his preaching on the Bible’s position on how fake prophets will abound in the end times.
The Assin Central lawmaker referenced a 2019 campaign he embarked against some Christians leaders he believed to be charlatans who were parading as prophets.
Kennedy Agyapong said that some Christians misconstrued his crusade as one against the Christian faith explaining that he was doing what a good Christian ought to do which is expose people whose actions bring shame to the faith.
He stated emphatically that he believes in the Bible and is a devout Christian but will not sit unconcerned for some persons to fleece people in the name of Christianity.
“The topic I intend to teach is the same verse Reverend Owusu Bempah chose. In 2019, I started a crusade to expose pastors and prophets who are fake. Some of the affected persons were preaching that I was anti-Christ so when I went to certain churches, the pastors told me I was anti-Christ.
“The topic by Reverend Owusu Bempah shows you what I was trying to do. My first verse is 1st Kings 19:24-40 and it talks about Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. We are in the end times and that is exactly what we are experiencing.
“We have good prophets and bad ones. Just as the disciples asked Jesus to show them how to pray. We should ask Reverend Owusu Bempah how we can detect the good prophets. If he had lied, I would have exposed him but his topic aligns with mine. He has shown the difference between genuine prophets and bad ones,” he said.
Kennedy Agyapong’s visit to the Glorious Word Power Ministry International follows a similar visit to the Parliament House Chapel weeks back.
On December 31, 2022 Kennedy Agyapong visited the church owned by Prophet Amoako Atta who is on record to have prophesied that the Assin Central MP will one day run the affairs of this country.
Kennedy Agyapong is the second high-profile member of the NPP to have visited Reverend Owusu Bempah’s church after Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on December 25, 2022.
A new survey conducted by Global Info Analytics, a polling company in Ghana, has revealed that 71% of citizens are of the view that, Ghana is headed in the wrong direction.
On the question of whether the NPP can “break the eight”, 24% of voters believe the party can “break-the-eight” whilst 59% said they can’t and 17% had no opinion.
The poll shows the president’s job approval rating has made a significant recovery from 26% in October, leaping to 32% in January 2023, whilst his disapproval declined sharply from 69% in October to 59% in January 2023.
The vice president enjoys 32% approval and 58% disapproval. In the case of Alan Kyerematen, 35% of voters approved of his performance as Trade and Industry minister whilst 45% disapprove of his performance.
A new survey conducted by Global Info Analytics, a polling company in Ghana, has revealed that 71% of citizens are of the view that, Ghana is headed in the wrong direction.
The poll also revealed that 60% of New Patriotic Party (NPP) affiliates disapprove of the path the country is headed while 81% of affiliates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) also say the party is on the wrong path.
On the question of whether the NPP can “break the eight”, 24% of voters believe the party can “break-the-eight” whilst 59% said they can’t and 17% had no opinion.
The poll shows the president’s job approval rating has made a significant recovery from 26% in October, leaping to 32% in January 2023, whilst his disapproval declined sharply from 69% in October to 59% in January 2023.
The vice president enjoys 32% approval and 58% disapproval. In the case of Alan Kyerematen, 35% of voters approved of his performance as Trade and Industry minister whilst 45% disapprove of his performance.
The poll used a sample size of 5,844. The sample size was allocated to all the regions based on the total number of voters in each of the regions as per the Electoral Commission’s 2020 register.
A random selection of 30% of constituencies from each region was then selected and allocated the regional quota based on the total voters in each of those constituencies.
Respondents were selected randomly in the streets, homes and workplaces.
In the race to lead the NPP for the 2024 elections, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are tied with no clear favourite.
The poll conducted between 31st December 2022 and 15th January 2023, shows the race to lead the NPP is a dead heat among NPP voters as Dr Bawumia has lost the slender lead he enjoyed in October 2022 over Mr Kyeremanten.
The poll now shows Dr Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen are level at 40% apiece among NPP voters.
However, among general voters, Mr Kyerematen’s lead over Dr Bawumia has been cut from 41% to 32% compared to 44% to 31% in October 2022. New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, is in third place with 14% of the votes.
The NPP is yet to set a date for its presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the 2024 elections.
Mr Kyerematen who resigned from his post is likely to face off with the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former Railways Minister Joe Ghartey who has also declared his intention to contest for the slot.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has his stance on same-sex relationships, a subject that has recently gained attention.
Dame said based on his religious, moral and cultural viewpoints, he was totally against anything that promoted same-sex ideology.
“I am seriously anti-gay, that’s a point. 100%. I had the opportunity to express it in a programme that I did in 2006,” he told Paul Adom-Otchere on the January 17 edition of Good Evening Ghana programme.
“I think that it is abominable, that is my view, Christian, moral, cultural, however you want to term it,” he added.
Asked how he would handle a relation who subscribes to the ideology, he responded: “I will actually make a conscious effort to rid the person of such a situation.”
Dame was responding to questions on the anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) bill, a private members’ initiative, that is currently before Parliament.
He is due to appear before the parliamentary committee sitting publicly to receive views on the bill which has split public opinion, between hardliners who are in full support of the bill and the human rights advocates who argue that the bill in its current form is repressive and dangerous.
Dame observed that the bill in its current form needed some amount of reworking in parts citing the fact that it imposes a financial burden on the state and also contains sections that are repetitions of existing laws.
The bill, officially known as ‘The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill’ was laid before the House last year and referred to the Committee for among others, public consultation.
It was sponsored by eight MPs, seven from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere Afram Plains and a staunch member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Fuseini Donkor has envisaged that nothing can stop Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia from becoming the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
He disclosed that over the period, Dr Bawumia has become popular at the grassroots level in the party and that is easy to be manifested during the polls.
According to him, current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is aware the party does not like it when a sitting president imposes a presidential candidate on them the reason, he is very tactical in openly supporting his popular Vice President.
According to him, Former President Kufuor tried to impose John Alan Kyeremanten on the party in 2008 but failed because the party members did buy into that idea.
Speaking on Nhyira Fm monitored by MyNewsGh.com in Kumasi, Fuseini Donkor revealed that, “Kufuor felt Ghana would be safe in the hands of Alan than Nana Addo but the party also said they knew him (Akufo-Addo) long ago so the party defied President Kufuor”.
He further explained that, because the NPP party does not want Presidents to choose a leader for them, “that is why they (Akufo-Addo and co) were smart enough to lay the foundation on the grounds for Bawumia. So on the grounds, they’ve already built everything for Bawumia”
The Ashanti Region New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Chairmen Association has requested that the party hold its flagbearer election immediately.
According to the association, if the election is conducted early, it will give them enough time to prepare and market the party’s flagbearer before the 2024 elections.
In a press release, the group also indicated that another reason they want an early congress is to afford the party enough time to resolve outstanding conflicts and challenges resulting from the elections.
They added that a formal petition will be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC)for consideration.
Read the full statement below:
ASHANTI NPP CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMEN ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR EARLY CONGRESS
WE THE Ashanti Regional Constituency Chairmen Association would like to add our voices to the call for the party to organise early congress to elect the flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.
There is no doubt that the 2024 elections will be a crucial one which will require comprehensive processes and preparations.
Our decision to support this call for early congress is therefore based on a number of valid and genuine considerations.
Some of these include:
1. An early congress will afford the party enough time to prepare and market the eventual winner and flagbearer ahead of the elections. This will help ensure that we do not repeat the 2008 experience which gravely affected the party leading to its eventual defeat.
2. As expected in any democratic electoral process across the world, elections like these have the potential to foment internal rifts and troubles amongst supporters of opposing candidates, therefore an early congress will afford the party the opportunity to address some of these fallout and build united front to achieve victory.
3. We also believe that an early congress will afford the party enough time resolve outstanding conflicts and challenges resulting out of the elections.
4. An early congress will also give government and the sitting President the peace of mind to implement its policies and programmes, whilst carrying the entire party machinery along.
In conclusion, we members of the Ashanti Regional NPP Constituency Chairmen Association will present a formal petition to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for consideration in the upcoming meeting slated for January 31.
Signed
Mr. Dominic Bosompim 0244258138
Chairman, Odotobri Constituency
Dean, Constituency Chairmen Association Ashanti Region
Former Railways Development Minister, Joe Ghartey has blamed the New Patriotic Party government’s inability to redeem its promise of building sky trains in Accra on external forces with an emphasis on budget constraints.
The Essikado-Ketan lawmaker said the project which was expected to reduce traffic congestion in Accra stalled when the terms of the contract and the total contract sum were laid bare.
Speaking about the project on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ghartey said the Railway Ministry’s budget limits for the 2018 fiscal year were a little below what the contract was projected to cost.
“We were approached by South Africans who said they could build the sky trains on a BOT [Build, Operate, Transfer] basis, and the amount of money that they were talking about per kilometer, we did not have it in the budget. What I had been given was a limit of $2 billion and that was supposed to be used for the Tema-Mpakadan railway line and the Western railway line.”
He further elaborated that the number of years the South African contractor and investors wanted to operate the trains before transferring the project to the state was a major disincentive for the continuation of discussions.
“So these people came in 2018 and said they would build the sky trains on the build, operate and transfer basis, and so we signed an MoU with them, and they came back after doing some initial studies and said they are in a position to raise money for the project, and so we should sign a concessional agreement for the trains to be transferred to us after 30 years and that was something we had to look into.”
He also explained that the state needed to run all the necessary feasibility studies to ascertain the viability of the project which was hindered by the outbreak of Covid-19, making it impossible for the South African firm to come down to conduct the studies.
“In 2019 and 2020, the world including South Africa was under lockdown, so these people could not come to do the feasibility studies and that is why I decided to focus on the railway and kept the sky trains on hold.”
The government of Ghana signed the agreement with the South African group, Africa Investment (Ai) SkyTrain Consortium, for the construction of the Accra Sky Train Project in November 2018.
Africa Investment (Ai) SkyTrain Consortium was expected to conduct extensive feasibility studies in nine months and commission the construction by 2020 but none of that is yet to happen five years on.
Ghana bought $2m shares in Sky Train company established in Mauritius – Auditor General
It later turned out that an amount of US$2 million Ghana paid in 2019 as premium to acquire ordinary shares for the development of the Accra Sky Train Project became a net liability.
This was contained in a report by the Auditor General on the Public Accounts of Ghana’s Public Boards, Corporations and other Statutory Institutions for the period ended December 31, 2021.
In the report, it emerged that Africa Investor Holdings Limited incorporated a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in Mauritius for the purposes of establishing Ghana Sky Train Limited, to develop the Accra Sky Train Project through a concession on Design, Build, Finance and Operate arrangement.
According to the Auditor General’s report, the Government of Ghana through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund paid US$2 million to Africa Investor Holdings Limited as full consideration for 10 ordinary shares at US$1.00 per share in Ai Sky Train Consortium Holdings (the SPV).
Thus, the premium paid for each share was US$199,999.
The SPV reported a net liability on 31 December 2020.
The Auditor General noted that the investment in the SPV could not be recovered if the Accra Sky Train Project is unable to secure the licencing, and the Executive and Parliamentary approvals.
“We urged Management to continue to monitor the feasibility and the recoverability of the investment in the SPV and make the necessary provisions based on the outcome of the feasibility studies. Management noted the recommendation for compliance”, the audit report recommended.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has advised the Member of Parliament of North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa to cease spreading what he views to be misinformation about the National Cathedral and its board of trustees and rather pursue a presidential ambition.
Speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV, Wontumi stated that Haruna Iddrisu will be the NDC’s flagbearer in a few years and that Ablakwa stands a chance of becoming his running mate if he plays his cards well.
“See, Mahama will lose in the 2024 elections, so, Okudzato Ablakwa has to be humble so that when Haruna Iddrisu is becoming a flagbearer he will consider you as his running mate. But now you’re tarnishing your image. Mahama cannot come again. He has already been president and vice so that’s the end for him,” Wontumi said.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has been a staunch advocate against the construction of the National Cathedral, on grounds that the timing, location and process are wrong.
He made some allegations against Reverend Kusi Boateng, secretary to the Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral in a social media post dated January 16, 2023.
In an explosive set of allegations which he describes as the Tsar Bomba of all scandals, Ablakwa claimed that Reverend Kusi Boateng holds multiple passports and identification cards with some bearing the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“You will recall that in my earlier exposé of the scandalous GHS2.6million cash transfer from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited, I pointed out that incorporation documents reveal that the three directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited are Johannes Eshun, Sheila Eshun and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“I also later revealed that Rev. Johannes Eshun is a branch pastor of National Cathedral Executive Council Member/Director, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng’s Power Chapel Worldwide.
“Hitherto, the third director—Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi has remained a mystery figure.
“I am now able to reveal the true identity of this mystery director of JNS, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“Definitely, the code has finally been cracked and it shocks to the marrow!
“Unimpeachable and incontrovertible evidence confirms that Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the famous Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member/Director.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no distinct Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is a criminal creation of Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng. The two are therefore one and the same.
“Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi thought he had outwitted every Ghanaian, particularly our authorities whom he dribbled for many years; but the day of reckoning is finally here.
“From unassailable and irreproachable documents in my possession, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi uses multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth as his special modus operandi,” he wrote on Facebook.
Nana Obiri Boahen, the former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed his displeasure with President Akufo-Addo’s choice of Ken Ofori-Atta as caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry.
Nana Obiri Boahen asserted that the president erred in appointing Ken Ofori-Atta to the trade and industry ministry in place of Alan Kyerematen. He stated that while legally and constitutionally, the president’s choice was correct, it was wrong politically and morally.
Speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV, he added that it confuses him that the president’s advisors sat unconcerned for such a decision to be taken given that the finance minister was already experiencing backlash from a section of the public.
“With all due respect and with all humility to the president, that decision for the president to allow Ken Ofori Atta to take charge was wrong. Constitutionally the president was right, legally the president was right, but politically it was wrong and morally it was wrong. Constitutionally, if a cabinet minister is not around, a cabinet minister must replace him.
“Legally he is also right but politically it was dangerous and incorrect. That discretion was not well exercised. The minister of finance is facing backslash and his own MPs are calling for his sacking, so appointing such a person will cause confusion.
“Morally in terms of politics, it is sending a wrong signal, so I’m happy that he has been changed. But I’m surprised that the advisors of the president couldn’t prompt him,” he said.
He continued by expressing his happiness at Abu Jinapor’s appointment as the new caretaker minister at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Abu Jinapor has replaced Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who was given stewardship of the trades ministry a few days ago after the resignation of Alan Kyerematen.
A statement which was issued by the Director of Communication at the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, indicated that the appointment of Abu Jinapor as caretaker trade minister will take effect from Monday, January 16, 2023.
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, has appealed to all executives and party members in the Central Region to forgive each other if anyone has wronged them in one way or the other.
He said, though many executives and party members in one way or another may have stepped on somebody’s toes during the parties, branch, constituency, regional and national elections, they should all forgive and forget and rally together to break the eight which is the party’s objective.
Speaking in an interview with Kasapa News’ Yaw Boagyan after a reconciliation engagement with the party’s Central Regional Executives both current and former, current and former MMDCES, current and past Chief Executive Officers, current and former Members of Parliament, he stressed that they should all fight together to break the eight, as current executives cannot do it without their contribution.
According to him, all indication shows that the New Patriotic Party shall break the eight to make Ghana proud.
He called for unity among the party members, especially the outgone National and Regional Executives.’
The Central Regional Chairman for the New Patriotic Party, Robert Kutin for his part said the party cannot break the eight if they do away with peace and unity and further called for a united front to win the upcoming 2024 general election.
The analysis which was conducted by the group’s members serving on the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism focused on key information on the 1D1F in the Annual Budget Statements (2017 – 2023), the Macro-Ecomomic Impact of two Different Industrial Development Pathways in Ghana (Report) – 2020, Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), Ministry of Finance (Financial statement 2023, World Bank Country (Ghana) Report 2017, and the Ministry of Trade & Industry website had one key objective.
It was meant to determine whether each of the five key objectives of the 1D1F policy initiative has been met, or it’s in the process of being met or has not been met at all.
Background
The One-District-One-Factory policy initiative is a key component of the Industrial Transformation Agenda of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government.
The concept was first introduced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives by the NPP Administration, as part of an integrated programme for Accelerated Growth and Industrial Development. It was originally designated as the Rural Enterprises Development Programme was later rebranded as the District Industrialization Programme (DIP).
It was designed as a comprehensive programme for rural industrialization, involving the setting up of at least one medium to large-scale factory in each of the administrative districts of Ghana.
The 1D1F Programme was launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on August 25, 2017, at Ekumfi in the Central Region.
Among the five key objectives of the programme are:
1. To create massive employment, particularly for the youth in rural and peri-urban communities, thereby improving income levels and standard of living, as well as reducing rural-urban migration;
2. To add value to the natural resources of each district and exploit the economic potential of each district based on its comparative advantage;
3. To ensure an even and spatial spread of industries and thereby stimulate economic activity and growth in different parts of the country;
4. To enhance the production of local substitutes for imported goods, thereby, conserving scarce foreign exchange; and
5. To promote exports and increase foreign exchange earnings to support the government’s development agenda.
The Findings
The analysis on the five key objectives of the 1D1F which commenced in September 2022 and ended in December 2022, concluded that “In the light of the limited time remaining of the party in government, and considering that only a limited number of factories, whether green or brownfields are running, it can be concluded that the policy is not working and has not made any progress in the quest to moving the country from an agro-based economy to an even semi-industrialized economy”.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Friday, January 13, 2023, over the outcome of the analysis, the NDC MP for Ellembelle and Ranking Member of the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the state of the 1D1F is very bad considering the millions of Ghana Cedis that have been invested into the policy initiative.
Accompanied by the NDC MP for Bole and deputy Ranking Member of the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Hon. Yusif Sulemana, the duo took turns explaining the findings on each of the five key objectives of the 1D1F Programme.
Employment
Speaking on the 1D1F objective of creating massive employment for the youth, Hon. Buah contended that the findings of the analysis revealed that it was very difficult to see how this objective was being achieved considering the outcome of the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) which noted that only 13.8% in rural areas are employed, with the majority outside of the labour force.
“Another critical finding worthy to note is that, according to the 2023 Budget Statement, there are sixteen (16) Government flagship programmes for 2023. A budget of GH¢9.2 billion has been allocated for these projects. Surprisingly, only about GH¢203million representing 2.2% has been allocated to fund 1D1F projects, a clear indication that the Nana Addo/Bawumia-led NPP Government is not serious about its industrial transformation agenda they have been making so much noise about. More funding for these projects in the rural areas will create the needed jobs, thereby, helping to alleviate poverty. On the face of the records based on the analysis done, the Nana Addo/Bawumia-led NPP Government is not committed to its own flagship 1D1F policy initiative”, he noted.
Value Addition
With regards to the 1D1F objective of value addition to the natural resources of each district, Hon. Buah noted that it was only agro-processing and chemicals and pharmaceuticals that benefitted immensely from government stimulus package initiative, with a paltry resources going into livestock, plastics and packaging, electricals and electronics and garments & textiles.
“This clearly contradicts the objective of adding value to our natural resources based on comparative advantage and on the objective of even and spatial distribution of factories. This means that there is no significant impact of value addition to our natural resources”, he noted.
Even and spatial distribution
Touching on the third objective of even and spatial distribution of factories, the Ellembelle lawmaker indicated that about 70% of the industries under the 1D1F programme are located in the regional capitals of Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern regions.
For instance, he noted that the data revealed that 76 of the projects are located in the Greater Accra Region, followed by the Ashanti Region which has 54 factories while the Eastern Region has 37 projects. However, the Savannah Region has 4 projects while North East and Oti Regions have three projects apiece, thereby, defeating the objective of the policy initiative. Besides, majority of the factories under the 1D1F programme were existing factories that were only given some financial support for expansion and captured under the programme as a beneficiary of the initiative, he stressed.
Enhancing local production
Further commenting on the 1D1F programme, Hon. Buah noted that the objective of enhancing the production of local substitutes for imported goods, thereby, conserving scarce foreign exchange has also not been met considering the fact that imports of local substitutes such as rice and sugar have continued to skyrocket since 2017, with the forecast showing the same trend beyond 2023.
“This is why President Mahama constructed the Komenda Sugar Factory to save us some foreign exchange and also contribute to making the Cedi stronger. Seven years in power, what has happened to President Mahama’s Komenda Sugar Factory? The current troubles with the Cedi alone show that this is an abysmal failure. There is no production of local substitutes and there is no conservation of scarce foreign exchange. Importing 4.21 million metric tons of sugar and 10 million metric tonNE of rice in 2022 alone indicates that nothing has changed, and this objective has not been met. Another finding which should be of concern to all is that there is a huge gap between agriculture, industry and services, three of the main sectors of the economy. The data revealed that the 1D1F is not bridging the gap between agriculture and industry. While agriculture is projected to experience growth in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 and beyond, industry is projected to drop steeply”, he underscored.
Promoting Exports
He also noted that the objective of promoting exports and increase foreign exchange earnings to support the government’s development agenda is also in tatters as Ghana continues to export raw materials and intermediate goods, and import more consumer and capital goods.
Considering how the policy initiative has turned out to be, the Ellembelle lawmaker said it was important for the NPP government to account to the taxpayers for a failed policy initiative.
Private legal practitioner, Gabby Otchere-Darko, has indicated that the refusal by individual bondholders to accept government’s debt exchange programme will worsen the country’s economic crisis.
According to the NPP stalwart, the widespread rejection by the bondholders will not augur well for the country, hence the need for them to soften their stance.
In a series of tweets on Sunday evening, he explained that even though the terms of the debt exchange programme will affect individual bondholders, it is a necessary step which must be taken to salvage the economy.
He said if the bondholders fail to cooperate with government, their bonds may be affected in the future in addition to a further deterioration of the economy.
“Ghana is in a very difficult place. What we are seeing with the mobilisation of agitation on individual bondholders poses a real and serious risk worse than what we witnessed when opposition to E-Levy succeeded in derailing an already shaky macroeconomic situation from 2021”, portions of his tweets read.
“The debt exchange programme is voluntary for individual bondholders but a very necessary evil for our economy.
Its success is critical to restoring macroeconomic stability, securing an IMF prog. It hits those of us holding bonds very hard. A straight no to it is no solution!”, Mr Otchere-Darko stressed.
“If the no-compromise opposition to it wins, what then has been achieved? It may lead to national debt default.
So what then happens to the value of your bonds after! Potentially worthless. If participation is low, we jeopardize resolving the economic crisis and hardships”, he wrote.
In concluding his comments on the matter, he said, “I’m sorry but we have to face the hard/painful truths. We ain’t sitting pretty.
Our focus must be on how the burden to individual bondholders may be possibly eased; but not to take the hardline position of simply saying no to particpation. It will come back to hit us harder!”.
While noting the possible dangers if the programme does not go through, he called on individual bondholders to rally behind government to help restore the economy.
The remarks by the founder of the Danquah Institute comes in the wake of growing public agitations from individual bondholders about government’s proposed domestic debt exchange programme.
In a bid to rescue the economy and secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), government has proposed that all bondholders will not receive any interests on their bonds for the 2023 financial year.
The payment of dividends, according to government is likley to begin next year, 2024 at a discounted rate of 5%.
In relation to this, bondholders who may want to transfer or even forfeit their bonds will not even be able to get the full principal they initially invested as bonds.
This proposal, since its announcement has been rejected by many bondholders who have subsequently expressed frustration about the development.
In their view, if the proposal is implemented, they will suffer a great deal of loss, with many of them stating that their investments may even become unprofitable.
Some of the aggrieved bondholders, who recently interacted with JoyNews have thrown their hands in despair, with others contemplating suicide.
The affected investors say with government’s intended management of their bonds, they may not even be able to meet their expenses such as rent, feeding and the payment of fees for their wards.
They have therefore called on government and other relevant stakeholders to intervene in the matter.
In this regard, policy analyst, Senyo Hosi, who is part of the crusade is currently mobilising all affected bondholders to collectively resist the move by government.
Speaking on JoyNews‘ PM Express last week, he stated that the proposal by government is ‘insensitive’ and must be outrightly resisted.
Meanwhile, government insists the debt exchange programme is the way to go in rescuing the economy.
Government Communications Team Member, Eric Okyei Baffour, has urged the governing New Patriotic Party members to unite and help break the 8 cycle.
According to him, the governing NPP has solved many of the country’s problems, hence, the reason fo the unity to ensure the party wins the 2024 elections.
He said, “Our responsibility is to do whatever is necessary to make sure that victory is forthcoming. We have to continue our way forward in Ghana. We cannot accept the backsliding that takes place every now and then. It doesn’t benefit our nation.”
He urged members of the party to go out and propagate the good works of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the ordinary Ghanaian to appreciate and vote massively for the NPP to continue managing the country.
He asserted that the NPP administration would lead Ghanaians to a better life and support companies despite the country’s current economic difficulties. Speaking with Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Adwenekasa on Accra-based Original FM91.9 he said, “Hold on, don’t give up, hope is near.”
Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that a close family member of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told him that the current happenings in the country are not ordinary.
Speaking in a JoyNews interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said that the problems the president is facing in governing the country have spiritual connotations.
“He (the family relation) said, “Doc what is happening to your brother (Akufo-Addo)?” And I said I don’t know; you are there with him.
“And his conclusion to me was that he thinks what is going on now is spiritual. This is exactly what he told me just some few days ago,” he said.
The statesman said that if the president or the country is under a spiritual attack “then we have to sit up properly.”
“Because some of the things that Nana Addo does, I don’t understand them, honestly,” he added.
The statesman said that he will for now withhold the identity of the family member but will disclose it in the future.
Between theNational Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to be politically accepted on any regional level in the country, is a big deal.
But even more specific and significant for these two leading political parties in the country are what kind of numbers or voter turnouts they religiously receive from these regions, collectively.
As is widely known or accepted, the people of the Volta Region have historically always warmed up towards the NDC more, just as the Ashanti Region does for the NPP.
In more specific terms, these regions have become unconventionally known as the ‘world banks’ of these political parties. And rightly so, they have been for many years.
For instance, in the Ashanti Region, out of the 46 constituencies in the region, the NDC currently only has 4 seats to its name. That number has remained the highest number of seats the NDC has had in the region since 1996.
In the Volta Region, until 2020, the NPP had never won a seat. Currently, the tally is 17 to 1 seat in the region for the NDC and the NPP respectively. Previously, since 1996, the NDC had always won all the seats in the region (16 seats in 1996, 15 seats in 2000, 15 seats in 2004, 15 seats in 2008, 18 seats in 2012, and 18 seats in 2016).
Let us not forget also that the founding fathers of both the NDC and the NPP have formed a great part of why there is such a voting pattern for their parties in both the Volta and Ashanti Regions. Jerry John Rawlings of the NDC hails from the Volta Region, while the Danquah-Dombo-Busia trio of the NPP are predominantly from the Ashanti Region.
Could the narrative be taking an interesting twist, or turn, or direction? Well, it may depend on how you take a look at it.
And it would have been a fairer assessment if this was with respect to both regions but interestingly, the bus seems to be stopping more with the Volta Region.
It all started with the conversations on who has done what, and who has done more or not for the region. Ordinarily, that should have been an easy pass for the NDC, who are more preferred in the region, but some questions have arisen on whether or not they actually deserve such a comfortable acclamation.
What exactly did Mahama do for Volta Region? – Obed Asamoah asks:
As the NDC, just as the NPP, prepares to elect a new flagbearer to lead it into the 2024 general elections, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, has become one of the people to draw in this whole ‘what have you done for the Volta Region’ conversation.
He has asked for answers from former President John Dramani Mahama on exactly what he has done for the Volta Region.
He questioned what the 2020 flagbearer of the party did for the region that is considered the stronghold of their party, while he was in political office, and for which reason he would seek their votes again to lead the NDC into election 2024.
According to Dr. Asamoah, Mahama’s failure to establish tangible developmental projects in the Volta Region resulted in residents voting against the NDC.
Supporting his claim, Dr. Obed Asamoah said the evidence can be seen from how much, in terms of numbers, the percentage of voter turnout from the region in the 2020 elections were, as compared to those of his predecessors; the late John Evans Atta Mills and the late Jerry John Rawlings.
“Vote Region is supposed to be the World Bank of the NDC. What exactly did Mahama do for the Volta Region?
“Remember in the last election, he did not get the kind of votes Jerry and the others were getting; 80, 90 percent (in presidential elections),” he said.
But then something that had happened a few months earlier seems to lend support to the questions being posed by the NDC stalwart.
In November 2022, during the 60th anniversary of the Hogbetsotso Za of the Anlo people, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, made an appearance upon an invitation.
During his address, he courted the anger of residents present, becoming a victim of a booing incident targeted at the presidency, after he started making statements about the achievements of his party, the NPP, in the Volta Region.
As Agbotadua Kumassah, a member of the Hogbetsotso Planning Committee explained later, the people gathered at the grounds of the event started getting agitated when the vice president started talking about the economy.
He explained that the people, being well-aware that some of the things he was saying were false, started to boo at him.
“When he entered the economic situation, that is when the problem started. He mentioned, among others, that they built more airports than any other government, they built more roads than any other government and the people who were there did not see the roads, the airports, the roads he was referring to.
“So, that brought some agitation and it became very difficult to control the people because what he was saying, none of them happened in the area,” he explained.
Agbotadua Kumassah also explained that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s explanations on the government’s works in the digitization field, compounded the anger of the people, leading to them booing at him.
But how true or not are the things he said about what they had been doing?
NPP’s development feats in Volta Region evident – Makafui Woanya:
Being the man at the helm of things in the region for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Makafui Woanya, the regional chairman, has said countless times that his party has been able to perform creditably in the region albeit not so welcomed politically.
He explained in a graphic.com.gh report on January 5, 2023, that the NPP government has been able to revive and perform remarkable progress in some key infrastructural development projects in the region.
Some of these, he mentioned, are the steadily progressing Eastern Corridor Road Project, which is nearing completion; and the ongoing Southern Sector Water Systems Extensions Project.
“The University of Health and Allied Sciences, which the NDC is always quick to claim as their baby, is seeing massive infrastructural expansion,” he explained.
NPP drew its biggest strength from the Volta Region:
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has not been left out of the narratives or claims of what each party has been doing in the Volta Region.
In August 2020, the president said that the NPP considers the Volta Region as a “hallowed ground” that is symbolic of its struggle during the days of the party’s formation.
He added that history had even confirmed that the region had endorsed the NPP, and served as a place of refuge for its political fugitives during its darkest days, and for which reason the party can never discriminate against them.
“It was here in this region that people were most passionate about the political tradition. It was from here that the first people had to flee into political exile after independence, and it was in this region that many chiefs had to flee into political exile, and some died there.
“Many people forget that when J.B. Danquah, the first in the trinity of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia political tradition contested Kwame Nkrumah for the presidency, on Ghana becoming a republic in 1960, Danquah did not win in his home constituency in Akyem Abuakwa.
“But he won in two constituencies, one is right here in Anlo and the other is Ho West. If there was a little brittle tribal bone within my makeup, which there is not, I would not choose the Volta Region as a target. History would not allow me,” he said during a durbar of chiefs of the Anlo State at Anloga, during a working tour of the area.
John Mahama answers questions about what NDC has done for Volta Region:
Dr. Obed Asamoah’s questions have however not been left hanging because like a premonition, the former president, John Dramani Mahama, had touted his achievements in the Volta Region in 2021.
So, two clear years before such a question would be posed, the former president had already spelt out some of the achievements he had made in its ‘world bank.’
Among the tall list of things he said his government had achieved, were in educational infrastructure, health projects, roads, water and sanitation, among many others.
And much later, while speaking at a grand durbar to mark the climax of the Asogli Yam Festival in Ho, President John Mahama lamented the number of abandoned projects in the region, assuring the people that the next NDC government would complete them all.
“Projects started by the NDC have been abandoned and others that are to be completed in the region are being done at a slow pace. For some of the projects, this government asked contractors to stop work.
“But I make a commitment of the NDC that, God willing and thanks to your votes, in 2025, all these projects will resume,” he assured.
Volta must carry NDC as a religion – Fifi Kwetey:
Being the newly-elected General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, who is also the former Member of Parliament for Ketu South, appears to have a strong say on whose side the Volta Region should stick with.
In a GNA report of Thursday, January 12, 2023, Fifi Kwetey said the region must cement its place as an unmovable bastion of the NDC.
Admitting that the region’s hold as the fortress of the NDC has weakened in recent times, also because indigenes have become increasingly discouraged from identifying with it, he urged them not to lose sight of the fact that the NDC is a party birthed from their backyard.
“Volta is the region where saviours of the nation come from as far as this country is concerned but we need to know who we are, and somehow, we know who we are, and we need to start appreciating who we are.
“Volta must appreciate NDC and back it no matter what. It should become like a religion. We need to let our people appreciate that this is what we are. And I believe if we knew who we were, the situation where the love for this party would start dwindling in this region should not happen,” he said.
The general elections of 2024 is less than 2 years away and although both the NDC and the NPP have each successfully elected new party executives, there are still a few major political hurdles to surmount before the big day in December 2024.
New flagbearers and the election of parliamentary candidates that will represent the parties at the constituency levels in the country will solidify the preparedness of each side of the political coin towards the general polls but it cannot be lost on anyone that with the historic breakthrough that the NPP has made into the Volta Region by winning its first ever seat in parliament, the battle lines are surely drawn.
The Volta Region will play a central role in the elections and whoever emerges the winner will have to command a lot of influence from this region.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has emphasized the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) ‘we have the men’ slogan with respect to the upcoming 2024 flagbearerhip race.
According to him, most of the aspirants who are rumoured to be interested or have openly declared their intentions have what it takes to represent the party and to ‘break the 8,’ i.e. win the 2024 elections.
In an interview with pro-NPP network Asaase Radio (January 12, 2023), the Member of Parliament for Suame said even though a number of aspirants are in the race, one name stood above all but that he wa refraining from mentioning it yet.
“I can say that many of them that I have assessed have the potential of helping us break the 8 [but] there may be a primo among them.
“In terms of competence and qualification, I can vouch for many of them who have come up, like [Vice-President Mahamudu] Bawumia, Alan Kyerematen, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Boakye Agyarko … Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Agyepong, Kofi Konadu Apraku …” he said.
The comments by the MP, who also doubles as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, comes on the back of two cabinet-level resignations in respect of Alan Kyeremayen and Owusu Afriyie Akoto, outgoing Ministers of Trade and Industry and Agriculture respectively.
The former resigned last week and has since announced his ambition to contest the NPP flagbearership. The latter’s resignation took place earlier this week and was accepted on Thursday, January 12.
Both the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP are expected to elect their flagbearers ahead of keenly-awaited 2024 elections.
Former president John Dramani Mahama is seen as a frontrunner to lead the NDC for a third successive bid as candidate.
In the case of the NPP, aside from Alan, Bawumia and the, former Minister of Agric, Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong are among some of the candidates expected to contest for the slot.
Pollster and political analyst, Ben Ephson has slammed New Patriotic Party(NPP) Flagbearer hopeful, Alan Kyerematen over his comment that some policy decisions of President Akufo-Addo were wrong.
The immediate-past Trade and Industry Minister in his address to officially declare his intention to contest the flagbearership race of the governing NPP, commended the President for laying a good foundation for the country’s development.
He, however, stated that he disagreed with some of the policy decisions of the President.
The former Ghana’s Ambassador to the US said a future Alan Kyerematen led-government will mainstream the private sector as the engine of his transformation agenda and also run a lean government if given the nod.
“The President has laid a strong foundation for the socio-economic development of our country, although I believe there are things that could have been done differently. My vision is to build a superstructure on this foundation that will bring prosperity to our nation.”
But speaking to Naa Dedei Tettey on Morning Starr on Starr 103.5FM Wednesday, Pollster Ben Ehpson questioned why Alan Kyerematen did not resign as Trade and Industry Minister over these disagreements with the President as a matter of principle.
“If you are a minister and the President is exiting and you want to campaign and in your speech you say that certain things that were done could have been done better, maybe in the coming days he’ll want to go further. But I thought that it was a bit unnecessary, maybe he has his own campaign strategy and so that is the only part that I was a bit surprised about.”
“You are not going to run a campaign on you, Alan Kyeremateng. You are going to campaign on the record of the NPP government for the past six to seven years. I’m sure people are going to ask him to give examples of what has not been done right. If he disagreed vehemently with what had not been done right what prevented him from resigning? If you thought it was so bad that in your first address announcing your desire to contest you are taking the President on, you have not been sentenced by any court to be a minister, he could have just said because of a few things, Mr President I can’t take up your job.”
Aspiring flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, has outlined a five-year strategic plan which he describes as Great Transformational Plan (GTP) to develop Ghana.
Addressing the nation Tuesday night, the former Trade and Industry Minister called on Ghanaians to make bold sacrifices in preparation for a promising future.
The Plan, which is expected to span from 2025 to 2030, he said, assures the attainment of an independent future.
The seven pillars of his plan, he itemised in his address to Ghanaians, are; the primacy of the Private Sector in our national development agenda, attitude to work and enforcement of discipline, corruption and petty theft or thievery, the arrogance of power, passion for excellence, focus more on getting things done than talking, and the too divisive nature of politics in Ghana.
“The primacy of the Private Sector in our national development agenda. The Government’s focus must be to facilitate the process of making our private sector competitive, by creating an enabling environment for businesses.
“Attitude to work and enforcement of discipline. We as a people should appreciate the need for discipline in all spheres of our national lives and change our attitude to work. It is your duty to ensure that you earn your living from the efforts of your labour.
Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse, deny our country the benefit of utilizing its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country.
The arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country. In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness.
Passion for excellence. As a country we must celebrate competence and excellence and not mediocrity.
As a people, we must focus more on getting things done than talking. Ghana is gradually becoming a NATO country – “No Action Talk Only”. What Ghana needs now are solutions and actions not debates.
And last but not the least, our politics in Ghana is too divisive. This keeps out some of our best talents in offering themselves for political appointments,” parts of his speech read.
The politician also used the platform to officially announce his Presidential dreams with the confirmation of his availability for the upcoming NPP presidential primaries. He pledged to be a transformational leader if given the mandate first within the NPP and Ghanaian voters at large.
“If by the will of God and through your goodwill, I am voted first, as the flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as President of the Republic in the next general elections, I will become the transformational leader of our time, who will build on the foundations laid by successive leaders of our nation over the last 65 years.
“To achieve this strategic goal of transforming our dear country to become the shining star of the new Africa, I will as President, launch and lead the execution of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) of Ghana which will span the period 2025 to 2030”, the outgoing Trade and Industry Minister confirmed.
Mr Kyerematen tendered in his resignation letter as Trade and Industry Minister on Thursday January 5, 2023, which has since been accepted by President Akufo-Addo.
The Director of Communications of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has said the music video shot by American rapper Meek Mill at the Jubilee House was not sanctioned by the Presidency.
”Meek Mill’s music video was not sanctioned by the Presidency. Its permission was not sought whatsoever for the use of the video. The musician has realized his indiscretion, apologised & taken down the video,” Mr Ahiagba explained in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, Meek Mill has apologised for his controversial music video capturing parts of Ghana’s seat of government.
Since the video surfaced on social media, Sunday, January 8, 2023, citizens and politicians have criticised the Ghanaian government, personnel at the presidency and the artiste for the “desecration” and breach of security protocol.
Mill deleted the viral video on Monday, January 9, 2023.
Also in a series of tweets Monday evening, the Philadelphia rap star apologised in no equivocal terms.
“To the people of Ghana,” he began, “No video I drop is ever meant to disrespect the people of Ghana…”
“The fastest way to make connection[s] is [through] music and I wanted to do that with displaying [my] art…,” he explained.
“I’m in my 30’s from America and didn’t know much about the lifestyle [culture] here,” he revealed.
“My apologies to the people [in case of] any disrespect!” he stressed in the follow-up tweet.
An entrepreneur passionate about bridging the gap between Blacks in Africa and those in the diaspora, especially in America, he highlighted that: “We [are] still gonna push to [create] the connection between Black people in America and Africa… What I’m trying to do is more than a video and you should see [what’s] coming soon!”
“My apologies to the [presidential] office also!” he noted.
Meek Mill responding to a food blogger by name Zubaida A-Rahman saying he is “not the one everyone’s mad at,” explained the officials at the presidential palace that fateful day when the video was taken did not know “it was [a] video footage when we asked to shoot. [What we used was] a small camera and one kid [shot it].”
Furthermore, he stated the reason behind the footage. He and his crew, according to him, were amazed at the edifice. Prior, they did not know such architectural and developmental advancements existed in these parts.
“In America,” he said, “We didn’t know this existed and [we were] excited to show [it to others] because they don’t show Ghana on our [American] media much!”
“I’ll take responsibility for my mistake!” the Dream Chasers founder stated, adding it was “not intentional” to dishonour the apex office and Ghana.
The 35-year-old again was categorical in saying he desires no detrimental misunderstanding between Black communities on the continent and beyond. He sees the current controversial situation as a learning curve.
“I’m just not here for [anymore] separation of anything Black… We [are] already separated [by land and history] enough and don’t understand each other’s cultures… Let’s use this [situation] to help fix that and not [be] more judgement[al] towards each other!” he tweeted.
He emphasized that the economy will have fully recovered from both internal and foreign shocks by April of this year.
“The year of austerity in 2023. But for the Ghanaian economy, it should also be the year of macro stability and predictability. Although it won’t be simple, businesses thrive on stability, and because of that, I see a slow but steady rebound for the economy starting in April “GhanaWeb read what Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko wrote in a post.
Read the full story originally published on January 5, 2023 by www.ghanaweb.com.
Leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has labelled 2023 a year of austerity with a projection that proper economic recovery will kick in from April.
In his view, even though austerity is expected, 2023 should also be a year of macro stability and predictability for the economy.
Gabby’s views were contained in a January 3, 2023 tweet which read: “2023 is the Year of Austerity. But it should also be the year of macro stability and predictability for the Ghanaian economy.
“It will not be easy, but businesses thrive on stability and with that I can see a slow but gradual recovery for the economy from April.”
Ghana had a torrid 2022 amid an economic crisis that forced government to seek an International Monetary Fund (IMF) facility at a time the cedi was rapidly depreciating, inflation was galloping and government was faced with multiple downgrades by rating agencies.
The government has serially blamed the crisis partly on the aftershocks of the COVID pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
It has promised to turn around the economic fortunes of the country after sealing a Staff-Level agreement with the IMF with the hope that funds from the US$3 billion facility will be released early this year.
According to JoyNews sources, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the minister of food and agriculture, may submit his resignation today.
This comes four days after Trade Minister, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, resigned from the government.
It is not clear yet the rationale behind Dr Akoto’s expected move.
Presidential Affairs correspondent, Elton Brobbey, says the Minister is expected to meet President Akufo-Addo later this afternoon to formally communicate his intention.
“We are told that there has been verbal communication regarding this matter so it is not a surprise to President Akufo-Addo. But what we are picking up is that at 2 pm when he meets the President, he will formally announce his resignation,” he said on Tuesday.
Dr Afriyie Akoto has been tipped as one of the personalities eyeing the flagbrearership position of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 elections.
Critics say this may be a tactic to allow him to concentrate on the leadership ambition of his party.
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, the New Patriotic Party‘s regional chairman for Ashanti, has cleared himself of charges that he violated the party’s code of conduct.
A representative for the chairman claims that, in contrast to charges that he actively supported Vice President Dr. Dollar
Mahamudu Bawumia at a dinner party, he was merely making an implicit comment in favor of the head of the economic management.
Andy Owusu reportedly stated in an interview on Akoma FM that “the BMW Bawumia Must Win chant was meaning that Bawumia must win against the dollar but not what people were thinking,” according to a report by 3news.com spotted by GhanaWeb.
“We all know that Dr Bawumia is the one who declared war against the Dollar so when the Dollar started dropping, we believed it was Dr Bawumia who was winning so at the dinner party, all our chanting and prayers was that BMW meaning ‘Bawumia Must Win’ against the Dollar but not in effect the flagbearer position,” the spokesperson of the regional chairman said.
NPP last year issued a directive to its members and officers asking everyone to desist from engaging in open campaigning until nominations officially open for the party’s internal primaries.
According to the party, a myriad of sanctions exists for individuals who will breach the code which is aimed at promoting tolerance and unity.
But in a recent viral video, Chairman Wontumi was seen at a dinner party attended by Members of Parliament, Constituency chairpersons and party faithfuls of the NPP leading a chant.
The “BMW” chant which was led by the Ashanti Regional chairman of the NPP translates into “Bawumia Must Win” and is known as a parlance for supporters of the vice president’s flagbearership campaign.
Vice President Bawumia together with the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and the now-resigned Minister for Trade and Industry, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen are tipped as the lead contenders for the upcoming contest.
‘Bawumia must win against the dollar’ – Wontumi clarifies controversial BMW chant.
He claims that the administration in which he served as vice president over the past six years had built more highways, airports, and interchanges than earlier administrations.
On December 29, 2022, the Second Gentleman was giving a speech during a ceremony of thanksgiving that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had arranged in Accra.
“We have built more roads…, there is no government that has built more roads than the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“We have built more factories than any other government since independence. We have built more airports than any other government,” he told teeming supporters clad in white and the party’s colours.
In the case of interchanges, he ranked the NPP the most prolific in terms of the Fourth Republic: “We have built more interchanges than any other government in the 4th Republic.”
Special prayers were said for the party’s upcoming activities especially as relates to election of a presidential candidate for the 2024 polls and parliamentary candidates across the 275 constituencies.
On his part, General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong assured that the NPP will succeed in its planned activities and sought the face of God in their programmes for 2023.
“No harm will befall us [NPP] in the coming year [2023], as we prepare to elect our presidential candidate as well as parliamentary candidates.
“We pray to God to see us through the incoming primaries. God is our only hope, we pray to him to protect us and make our primaries a successful one devoid of any untoward issues. We are praying and pleading to God to shower his blessings on NPP,” he prayed.
The Ashanti Regional Women’s Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ama Ampomah has appealed to persons hawking in front of streets around the Kejetia Redeveloped market to turn to the Race Course and take over sheds that are lying unoccupied.
The Women’s leader speaking to the media on Wednesday afternoon after presenting food items and organising a buffet for 68 market queens at the race course said she was surprised to see about 600 sheds and shops unoccupied at the arena.
She noted that spaces available could cater for all hawkers seen selling around the streets of Dr Mensah, Hello fm and other streets in the Central Business District of the Kumasi Metropolis.
“I am shocked seeing all these sheds unoccupied and I would therefore appeal to all hawkers in and around Adum and Kejetia to come here and occupy sheds here so that we can continue our trading activities in decent atmospheres”, Nana Ama Ampomah appealed.
SUPPORT The Women’s Organiser also appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and all stakeholders including the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) to work out a plan to encourage the hawkers to take spaces at the race course.
The Women’s Organiser also asked the NPP regional executives to take interest in the matter and carry out some sensitization efforts to get hawkers in the metropolis to occupy spaces at the Kumasi race course market.
The Women’s Organiser also promised to lobby for funds from the Micro and Small Loans Scheme (MASLOC) to resource market Queens who needs such to expand their businesses.
“I know you need funds to expand your businesses and as Women’s leader I promise to use my influence to lobby the MASLOC secretariat to advance some support to you”
APPRECIATION Nana Yaa Foriwaa, Race Course Market Queen commended the Regional Women’s Organiser for visiting them every year to show them kindness and to eat with them.
She also praised for her listening to their concerns and touring to the arena to see things for herself.
Madam Foriwaa said she was happy that assurances had been given them to attend to their issues including lobbying for them to get loans from MASLOC and also the bad bridge leading to the main arena.
“We are happy that our lady, Nana Ama Ampomah has once again taken time to eat with us and to tour the place where we trade so she could best help to carry our concerns to government and those who matter for redress and we know when this place is well set up many would rush to come here”, the Queen Mother stated.
Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party has cautioned the Bono Regional chairman of the party, Kwame Baffoe Abronye against making disparaging remarks about the government in the media.
Justin Kodua is unhappy with the constant bastardization of the government and cry of neglect by Abronye and wants him to put an end to it before the party strikes.
Speaking on Okay FM, Justin Kodua noted with concern that Abronye has resorted to the media to express his grievances when he is aware of the structures in the party for addressing such issues.
He cautioned Abronye against making further comments, stating that he is not the only member of the party who has been denied a job or contract by the government.
Justin Kodua advised all members of the party to use the laid down structures and procedures to address their issues.
“When you are made a leader you hear a lot of things. There will be issues but you don’t have to allow emotions cloud your judgment else you will end up saying something and regret it later.
“Abronye is a Regional chair and knows the party’s structures and constitution so you don’t have to wash our dirty linen in public. The party is there so if you have an issue, make use of the structures and not go on radio. We will not entertain such behavior. What he is doing is wrong and we have to tell him.
“We have our reservations about one thing or the other but as long as we are in government, there is the possibility that your issue may be addressed. If we all decide to run to the media and talk about our issues, would you the media be able to contain us? He is a regional chairman so he should act accordingly. I don’t believe in us coming on the radio every day”, he said.
On Okay FM and mostly Oman FM, Abronye has persistently hit out at the government, claiming that some persons who worked for the party to come to power have been alienated from the government.
In September this year, Abronye disclosed that he regrets playing supporting and campaigning for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
In a panel discussion on Hot FM, Abronye said that he was deceived into supporting Nana Akufo-Addo and will not be in a hurry to declare support for any of the flagbearer hopefuls.
She had a dinner with the widows, disabled and children numbering about 250.
She also donated items such as baskets, kettles, mosquito nets and stationaries to the participants.
According to her, the kind gesture was to put smiles on the faces of the less vulnerable in the society in the Christmas season.
She said the season is a period where we need to show love towards others.
“Today is exactly 20 years I started this program, I was motivated and inspired to start this project when some years ago I donated my Christmas gift given to us at work to a good friend of mine”.
She continues that “the next morning this man sat in front of my office in tears waiting for me to thank me, so I realized that the little I did for him helped him and he was grateful, this was the reason why I decided to embark on this charity project”
“We started this in 2002 and we are still doing it till now, so the purpose of the program is to show love to the disabled, widows, and children among us, due to the covid we couldn’t do it in 2020 and 2021”
Bismark Boateng, the chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ayawaso Central constituency, believes breaking the 8-year jinx is a possibility for the party in 2024.
The party’s chair indicated that the unprecedented achievements of President Akufo-Addo will make it easier for the NPP to win the 2024 general elections.
According to him, what the party needs are to unite its front, avoid the infightings and any differences and unite its front for victory in 2024.
In his opinion, the party should improve its communication and communicate its achievements so that Ghanaians are aware of what the president has accomplished, making it easier for them to vote for the NPP in 2024.
He was speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm.
He admitted that there had been some economic challenges, but the current administration is putting in measures to address these challenges.
“Breaking the eight is possible. Nothing has changed. The belief we had and the factors that gave us hope of breaking the eight have not changed. We still have hope. We are doing a lot to make this country run smoothly. We must deal with our conflicts and remain united in order to break the eight.”
Despite financial difficulties, the president is building roads. Despite the fact that we are experiencing hardship, we are seeing massive works across the country. President Akufo-Addo has accomplished much, and we are confident that we will surpass the eight-year mark as a result of his efforts.
A potential flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has stated that if elected president, he will take steps to regularize galamsey.
Speaking in an Nsem PII TV video sighted by GhanaWeb, Ken Agyapong said that he is not going to destroy the business of galamseyers but rather provide them with the needed training and legalise their activities so that they can mine in an environmentally friendly way.
“The way galamseyers are destroying our water bodies, they should be registered under one body so that they can be regulated to make sure that they don’t destroy our forest, they don’t destroy our water bodies.
“When I come (become president), I will not say that their (the galamseyers’) work should be destroyed but we are going to regularise them, legalise their activities and give them the needed training,” he said Twi.
Ken Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, who was interacting with some Ghanaians in Nevada, USA, insisted that just as small-scale mining is done in America without destroying the environment, it can also be done in Ghana.
He added that allowing Ghanaians to own small-scale mining sites is better than fronting for foreigners to mine illegally.
The MP also said that one of the main reasons why galamsey is prevalent in Ghana is because there is no political will to stop it.
He added that politicians from both the NPP and the opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC), are involved in the menace.
A member of parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has criticized the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration’s National Buildings Corps (NABCO) initiative as a poor choice of strategy.
According to him, most of the trainees under the programme, who were posted to government agencies, were paid for no work done.
Speaking to some Ghanaians in Nevada, USA, in an audio-visual shared by Nsem Pii TV, Ken Agyapong said that the government should have used the money for the programme to establish factories that will provide decent employment to Ghanaian youth.
“The youth must take their destiny into their own hands, (but) then again, what police did we implement (to help with unemployment)? I think that we made was with the introduction of NABCO.
“NABCO trainees were posted to government offices and ministries where they were doing nothing and being paid GH¢700 every month.
“The money the government used (for NABCO) could have been used to establish industries that could have provided 20,000 permanent employment out of the 100,000 trainees to reduce the number of unemployed youth,” he said in Twi.
Agyapong, who has indicated his intention of contesting in the presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), noted that President Akufo-Addo should be praised for some of his policy initiatives, including the One District, One Factory programme.
He remarked, “This administration is borrowing endlessly. It must be paid for by someone. My grandkids will cover the cost of any bonds you take out instead of me.
“You succeeded in dividing the nation more sharply than ever before. Who will listen to you if there are fights in the House of Commons?
We don’t need every member of parliament or party member to be macho in order to demonstrate how strong he is for the party. We want jawing,” he said.
The Akufo-Addo administration is currently borrowing as though there is no tomorrow, an Economist and New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart, Mr. Kwame Pianim, has said.
Speaking on the New Day show on TV3 with host Berla Mundi on Wednesday, December 221, he said “COVID-19 should have taught us that cut your coat according to your cloth. There is no father Christmas.
“This government is borrowing as if there is no end. Somebody has to pay for it. If you take a bond, I am not going to pay for it, my grandchildren are going to pay for it.”
Making a projection for the next year, he said “You managed to divide the country in a way it has never been so divided. Fisticuffs in Parliament, who is going to listen to you?
“Every parliamentarian, every foot soldier of the party wants to show how strong he is for the party by being macho, we don’t need that. We want jaw jawing.”
Asked about his view on whether or not Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta has managed the economy better, he answered “No, he hasn’t done a good job, he is over-borrowing, we are not getting value for money.
Mr. Painim also rejected the E-levy proposal in the budget statement for the 2022 fiscal year.
“There is so much money you tap into, don’t go and touch technology,” he said.
A representative for Assin Central parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, visited the national leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday, December 20, as a courtesy call in order to learn about recent events there.
Mr. Agyapong was full of praise for the national officers for how they have taken steps to bring the party and government together for a common purpose.
He said closeness in party and government is important for ensuring unity since it affords the opportunity for the government and other officials to liaise with each other in the implementation of policies and ideologies.
He eulogized the national executives and urged them to do more in strengthening the ties between the party and the government as it helps to augment unity. Mr. Agyapong said he is concerned very much for party unity and urged all those who aspire to lead it to do their best in that regard.
He pledged his support for anyone who would be endorsed to lead the party and said, once he would need everyone’s support should he become the next leader, he is ever prepared to help others.
He said the NPP cannot afford to relinquish political power as the alternative party would be worse and scary. He advised the NPP not to waste time on the newly elected NDC national executives especially Mr. Asiedu Nketiah and Fiifi Kwetey as they are only propagandists.
Mr. Agyapong recalled in 2008 when these same people out of their propaganda, fabricated documents and assigned money in false bank accounts for him and other NPP appointees at the time and made Ghanaians believe that they had stolen money from the state.
Hon. Agyapong said that, although these stories were deliberately fabricated by the NDC but many Ghanaians bought into and it affected the fortunes of the NPP. He has therefore cautioned his party members to take the fight to the NDC this time round but not to sit down to remain callous while they lie to Ghanaians.
The current National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the opposition party, Joshua Akamba, has urged party delegates to support national executives who are running for re-election.
According to him, the election of George Opare Addo and Dr. Hannah Bissiw as National Youth Organiser and National Women Organiser, respectively, are indications that the delegates appreciate the work done by the current executives prior to the 2020 general elections.
Joshua Akamba explained that his sterling performance as the National Organizer has helped the NDC attain equal seats in parliament with the majority, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He added that with his help, the party has been able to shore up the electoral deficit in the country.
This, he added, was also because he personally bought pickup trucks for regional organizers of the party, as well as lobbying for motorcycles for all 275 constituency organisers to enable them to campaign for the party.
Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Joshua Akamba said that a vote against him would be an injustice to the party.
“The delegates won’t make that mistake.
“The delegates are discerning, and they believe in experience. Now, Opare Addo has won. Hanna Bissiw has won. Elorm, who is an old person, has won, so it should tell you that people want us to win power for us to salvage this country, and they won’t make the mistake of changing us.
“The delegates know that the strategies of the party gave us equal numbers in parliament. The devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know. That is exactly what I am telling the people—that I am the devil they know and I am better than the angel they don’t know,” he told host Kwesi Parker-Wilson of the Oyerepa Breakfast Show.
Joshua Akamba further stated that the work of a national organizer is not on Facebook or WhatsApp, arguing that his contenders who have taken their campaign and work to social media lack appreciation for the work they are vying for.
He assured the delegates that he would continue to work assiduously to ensure victory for the party in 2024.
The request is an addition to the one made by the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) to the business community to modify prices for goods and services in light of the Cedi’s recent performance against the US dollar.
This year, the cedi to dollar exchange rate reached $1 to GH15, but it now trades slightly above GH12.50 to the dollar.
In a statement issued over the weekend, GUTA urged the Government to continue with more efforts to sustain the program and bring relief to the business community.
“As the value of the Cedi begins to appreciate, GUTA wishes to appeal to members of the business community to also adjust prices of goods and services accordingly, to make the consuming public feel the impact of this positive trend,” the statement added.
“We hope to see further and continuous appreciation of the Cedi and envisage that the economy will turn around in the shortest possible time,” GUTA said.
The currency, having lost more than 50% of its value in the year, gained 10% against the dollar.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr. Eric Agyei observed that although the Cedi was performing better as against the Dollar, most business owners have refused to reduce the prices of their goods and services.
Citing fuel prices, he observed that although fuel prices have reduced, the ‘trotro’ drivers have refused to reduce the price of transportation fares, therefore calling on the institutions that matter in terms of the regulation of prices to come in immediately to ensure that the prices of goods and services are adjusted.
“Last week, I went to buy fuel and there is a significant change in the price, but ‘trotro’ drivers do not want to reduce the fares, so the Institutions that matter in terms of price regulation must come in because it is not everything that the government can come in and that is why the government has sectors, and all the prices must come down because when things go up, they increase prices, but when things go down, you say you will not reduce prices and we have to look at that,” he said.
Meanwhile, he assured that the cedi will keep appreciating for sometime due to some measures put in place by the government.
A popular member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Alhaji Ahmed Bandoh, has expressed grief over what he describes as neglect by the party.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Bahmed Travel and Tours, the NPP has failed to come through for him in his time of need.
Alhaji Bandoh alias Bahmed is currently on admission at the Police Hospital in Accra after his left leg was amputated.
In a report by Graphic.com.gh sighted by GhanaWeb, the former Board NPP has visited him at the hospital even though some top officials of the party are aware of his current predicament.
“I have been loyal to the NPP party, and former President Kuffuor will bear me witness. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey of blessed memory would have done same,” a dejected Alhaji Bandoh said.
“No party member has been here to at least sympathize with me, but l can say on authority that l have paid my dues as far as this party is concerned,” he added.
Describing the party’s action as heartless, Alhaji Bandoh urged the youth to take a cue from his situation.
According to him, the NPP is likely to fail in the next elections if the party continues to treat its stalwarts this way.
“The youth should take a cue from what I am going through, with this kind of attitude towards people like me who have struggled and toiled for the party, l don’t think they can break the eight as they profess. The leadership of the party is heartless,” he stated.
On how he ended up with an amputated leg, Alhaji Bandoh said a sore developed on his legs a few days after he felt a cut while putting on his football boots.
The sore got out of hand a few weeks later requiring his left leg to be amputated.
The businessman has served in various capacities for the NPP including serving as the NPP’s campaign coordinator in the La Dadekotopon Constituency in the 2002 elections.
Ahead of the 2024 general elections, Alhaji Bandoh announced that he was going to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, has promised to cover the printing costs of all the New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates’ albums for the 275 seats in the nation before the party’s flagbearer primary.
The seasoned politician made this pledge during his official meeting with the new national executives of the party at the National Headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra.
In addition to the pledge, the minister, also known as Alan Cash, donated an amount of one hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GHc100,000) to the HQ to support the day-to-day administration and management of the party’s activities as well as its executives.
The meeting, which was to interact with the hierarchy of the party in line with solidifying relationships between them and the government, saw scores of top-ranking officials join the minister.
Addressing the assembled party faithful, Alan Kyerematen urged the leadership of the party to earn the trust of grassroots voters by conducting a fair and unbiased election.
He called on them to rally behind the leadership of the party and the government in these difficult economic times.
“We can only break the eight if we stay together and act as a unit. We can survive through cooperation and commitment to our various duties. The national executives will organize one of the best national delegate conferences in recent years. To this end, I am going to fund the entire printing cost of all 275 constituency delegates’ albums.
“It is to help the party conduct the election… A free and fair election will trickle down to the average voter since they won’t feel manipulated or machinated,” Alan Kyerematen told the assembled party sympathisers.
The soft-spoken trade and industry minister also urged members to support the government in its industrial transformation drive and job creation and to discuss how the party can win the 2024 general elections.
He used the platform to also highlight the success stories of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme, among a host of other activities that the party can take advantage of and communicate to Ghanaians the benefits that they can derive from them.
Accompanying the minister were Sylvester Tetteh, MP for Ngleshie Amanfrom; Carlos Ahenkora, MP for Tema West; Catherine Afeku, former Minister for Tourism; Yaw Buaben Asamoa, former MP for Adenta; Dr Alhassan Samare, former Upper East Regional Minister; Alhaji Mumin COP aka Jack Sparrow, a senior NPP member in the Northern Region and Board chairman of GNPA; and some others.
Alan Kyerematen has already contested in three previous flagbearer primaries and has been heavily tipped by political experts to replace President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the presidential candidate of the NPP in the 2024 general elections.
So far, names such as the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, have come up as potential contenders for the vacant position.
He claims that in order to lessen the burden on the government, reduce the national debt, and minimize public sector corruption, successive governments have not been able to provide the conditions for everyone to participate in the development process.
Togbe Afede claimed in a piece spotted by GhanaWeb Business that the few programs aimed at assisting the private sector have become politicized over time.
“Tax waivers, duty exemptions and other incentives have become a privilege reserved for loyal party supporters instead of being targeted at sectors of the economy that need support to become globally competitive,” he stressed.
He also noted that great ideas and initiatives by entrepreneurs and the private sector have not been supported merely due to selfish or political reasons.
“Crony capitalism has spelt doom for the genuine entrepreneurs, ensuring the happiness of a few, and discontent, misery and suffering of the majority,” he wrote.
“Poorly planned initiatives like NABCO have been the preferred short-term political reaction to the unemployment problem. But these, we all know, do not create real jobs, and thus cannot provide sustainable solutions to the youth unemployment problem,” he noted.
The NPP claims that the Minority’s actions on the floor of Parliament on December 7, 2022, were a result of the NDC’s local politics.
This depiction of the Minority’s conduct was made by Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, the NPP’s director of communications, during a Saturday news analysis segment of Joy FM’s News File programme in Accra.
He noted that the NDC‘s action was a needless political exercise.
According to him, the Majority was right in walking out of the process to vote on the censure motion.
He commended the Majority for their boycott of the vote on the censure motion by the Minority.
This, he said, was because the president has had an agreement with the Majority for the finance minister to present the budget, go through the appropriations and negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
He explained with these agreements in mind, the president was not going to sack the finance minister.
The president per the constitution has the power to let a minister who has been censured stay or go, he also noted.
He said the NDC was just on a wild goose chase, adding that the NDC reduced the motion to personality wrangling.
He again assured that the president was committed to solving the economic woes of the country.
He called on the NDC to apologise to the vast majority of Ghanaians for taking them through a needless exercise
Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Wontumi has filed a lawsuit against musician and activist, Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus.
A High Court recently found A Plus and three others guilty of contempt for holding media discussions following a defamation suit filed by Wontumi against socialite, Valentina Agyeiwaa alias Afia Schwarzenegger.
However, in a fresh suit filed at the Tema High Court, Wontumi says A Plus in various social media posts made contemptuous statements against the presiding judge who found A Plus and the three others guilty of contempt.
“That my counsel shall contend that the description of the judgment by the respondent as ridiculous and shameful is highly scandalous of this court. That by such statement and description, the respondent is saying that this Honourable Court’s judgement is foolish and stupid judgement. This is a direct insult to the trial judge,” portions of the writ sighted by GhanaWeb read.
Wontumi emphasised that the action of A Plus smacks of disrespect to the court and “will lower the authority of the court in the eyes of right thinking members of society.”
Wontumi in July this year sued Afia Schwarzenegger, Nana Ama McBrown, Kwame Obeng Asare aka A Plus, Emmanuel Barnes (Mr Logic) and Dr. Fadda Dickson Narh for contempt after a discussion about him on United Showbiz.
The court after trial acquitted and discharged Fadda Dickson but found the remaining four guilty of contempt.
The court also fined all four GH¢65,000.00 each while Afia Schwarzenegger was handed an extra 10-day jail term.
Read full details of Wontumi’s fresh suit against A Plus below:
Nana Obiri Boahen, a former deputy general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has condemned the accusations leveled at former President John Agyekum Kufuor for his statements on the current state of the nation.
Speaking in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Obiri Boahen said that no member of the NPP can say that the things Kufuor talked about are false.
He added that the hardships in the country are real and the former president should be allowed to express his views.
“The other time. I said that ‘akpeteshie’ (local alcohol) is now GHS4 per tot. Yesterday, I heard that in Sunyani, it is now selling GHS5 per tot and the full bottle is being sold at many places for GHS25. So, the reality of the situation on the ground is that the hardship is becoming scary.
“Yesterday, I read what President Kufuor said at a meeting with IMANI and it is generating a lot of issues. If President Kufuor speaks, who am I to criticise him? And I will never doubt anything President Kufuor says because of his experience in politics.
“No NPP member will not be cornered about the things Kufuor said… I have seen that people have started insulting him, what did he say wrong? Did he insult someone, did he talk against someone,” he said in Twi.
The former NPP General Secretary added that Ghanaians should brace for more hardships because prices of goods and services tend to go up during festive periods.
Founding Member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has expressed disappointment over the decision by some ministers and members of the majority caucus in parliament to travel to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup pending the budget debate.
According to the NPP stalwart, the absence of the MPs in parliament for the 2023 budget debate who left for Qatar is nauseating considering the current state of affairs in the country.
“It is so nauseating and irresponsible that MPs who also double as ministers of state chose to travel to Qatar to watch football matches and without a sense of shame, sent images of their presence at matches as supporters.
“It is worthy of special note that the President of Ecuador politely declined FIFA invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the ongoing world cup, which featured the match between Qatar and Equador; his reason for declining the invitation was simple and responsible – due to pressing national issues in Ecuador,” he shared in a piece published by 3news.com.
Read the full statement by Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe below:
It is nauseating – Nyaho-Tamakloe slams NPP MPs who abandoned budget debate for Qatar
Founding Member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has expressed disappointment over the decision by some ministers and members of the majority caucus in parliament to travel to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup pending the budget debate.
According to the NPP stalwart, the absence of the MPs in parliament for the 2023 budget debate who left for Qatar is nauseating considering the current state of affairs in the country.
““It is so nauseating and irresponsible that MPs who also double as ministers of state chose to travel to Qatar to watch football matches and without a sense of shame, sent images of their presence at matches as supporters.
“It is worthy of special note that the President of Ecuador politely declined FIFA invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the ongoing world cup, which featured the match between Qatar and Equador; his reason for declining the invitation was simple and responsible – due to pressing national issues in Ecuador,” he shared in a piece published by 3news.com.
Read the full statement by Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe below:
It is nauseating – Nyaho-Tamakloe slams NPP MPs who abandoned budget debate for Qatar
Founding Member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has expressed disappointment over the decision by some ministers and members of the majority caucus in parliament to travel to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup pending the budget debate.
According to the NPP stalwart, the absence of the MPs in parliament for the 2023 budget debate who left for Qatar is nauseating considering the current state of affairs in the country.
““It is so nauseating and irresponsible that MPs who also double as ministers of state chose to travel to Qatar to watch football matches and without a sense of shame, sent images of their presence at matches as supporters.
“It is worthy of special note that the President of Ecuador politely declined FIFA invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the ongoing world cup, which featured the match between Qatar and Equador; his reason for declining the invitation was simple and responsible – due to pressing national issues in Ecuador,” he shared in a piece published by 3news.com.
Read the full statement by Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe below:
WITHER GHANA’S PARLIAMENT??
1) Governance architecture of democracies thoughout history has recognised separation of powers for the sole objective of checks on each arm of government. It is for this reason that framers of Ghana’s 4th Republican Constitution created the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary.
2) Among these three arms, no one can doubt the pivotal role of Parliament as the most important body in a constitutional democracy where the rule of law is the most important ingredient in the growth and development of the governance system we have given to ourselves as a people after decades of political instability with attendant deterioration in all facets of society.
3) The unique role of Parliament is underscored by many provisions in the 1992 Constitution. It is Parliament alone that has the sole authority, among other powers to do the following:
a) enact laws;
b) approve all appointments of ministers and judges;
c) approve government’s budget;
d) approve loans, bonds, taxes and exemptions.
4) Recent happenings and a sober reflection of the performance of Parliamentarians are a matter of grave concern. Unbriddled partisanship coupled with lack of collective responsibility is undermining and ruining the role of the august body in our governance system. As elected representative of the people, it appears our MPs are at a loss and insensitive to the mood of the nation. The excruciating hardships and state of despondency do not ring alarm bells.
May we ask our MPs some few key questions. Who approved all the loans and bonds so far taken by this govt? Who approved the reappointment of Ken Ofori Atta in 2021 when it obvious then that he had ruined the economy with his failed policies?
5) It is shocking to note that in the midst of the crisis facing this country, where leadership of the country is at a loss on what to do, our MPs have also failed to come to the rescue by failing to do their work as overseers of the executive.
The poor attendance by our elected representatives to debate the 2023 budget and carry on with related statutory functions are a matter for sad commentary.
It is so nauseating and irresponsible that MPs who also double ministers of state chose to travel to Qatar to watch football matches and without a sense of shame sent images of their presence at matches as supporters.
It is worthy of special note that the President of Equador politely declined FIFA invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the ongoing world cup, which featured the match between Qatar and Equador; his reason for declining the invitation was simple and responsible – due to pressing national issues in Equador.
6) Our MPs must be reminded that Parliament is the only governance institution that suffers when there is political upheaval as our recent past has shown. The survival and success of the 4th Republic depend on Parliament.
The present crop of MPs do not have the mandate of the people to destroy their hopes and aspirations. MPs who cannot cope with this commitment do not have a place in this important institution and must not offer themselves for re-election. Pure and simple. Ghana needs serious and responsible leaders in all segments of governance.
The former Deputy National General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticized the decision of the government to fire the one-time parliamentary aspirant of the party for Kpone Katamanso, Hopeson Adorye.
According to Nana Obiri Boahen, the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Hopeson Adorye do not augur well for the NPP and might lead to unnecessary divisions in the party.
Speaking in an Okay FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Obiri Boahen said that the issue with Hopeson Adorye could have been settled without him being fired.
“For me, honestly speaking it (the firing of Hopeson Adorye) is not the best. It can bring confusion to the party.
“You can call him (Hopeson Adorye) on the quiet and talk to him about where he has faulted and even put him on secondment at other agencies such as NADMO (National Disaster Management Organisation) or Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
“So, he will be working at NADMO and still be on the National Security payroll. He will be soliciting information and then he will be campaigning for Alan Kyerematen. We need to tread carefully,” he said in Twi.
Citing similar issues that happened in 2007, Obiri Boahen further suggested that the party deals meticulously with such matters to ensure that the party is not ultimately affected.
“In 2007, we saw this kind of division with members of the party claiming to be members of different factions in the NPP. And we forgot the common enemy and before we will realized it, we were in opposition,” he added.
Hopeson Adorye, who was previously the Deputy National Security Coordinator in Charge of Airports, announced on live radio in November that he had been fired from the National Security Secretariat.
He said during a discussion on Oman FM’s Boiling Point programme, on which he is a regular guest; that he had been fired purposefully because of his support for Alan Kyerematen.
Adorye is a vocal supporter of the Trade and Industry Minister in respect of the minister’s rumoured bid to lead the NPP as flagbearer when elections take place next year.
“God will cater for us, we will eat, uncle (referring to the show host), God has got us. How we toiled in opposition for Akufo-Addo to come to power, we will do same for Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to come.
“I’m not a zombie, uncle, I was told that my support is not towards a particular camp so I should be dismissed, I have been dismissed. ‘Your appointment has been terminated with immediate effect.’ That is why I am stressing that God will cater for us, we will never die,” he stressed.
This occurred on November 24, 2022, roughly a week after he presented the 2023 budget statement to the legislature.
It is anticipated that the government’s projected debt restructuring program’s specifics would be revealed by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Before the presentation, Moody’s Investor Services issued a warning that the government’s anticipated debt restructuring program is likely to cause private creditors and investors to suffer significant losses on their investments.
According to the firm’s latest verdict on Ghana from an earlier Caa2 rating to Ca rating which is a further junk territory, it expects that the debt restructuring programme will impact both local and foreign currency holders.
Meanwhile, the finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has also come under a lot of backlash and pressure from both within and outside his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to either resign or be sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his handling of the economy.
John Mahama, a former president of Ghana, has urged the current administration of the New Patriotic Party to “take farming and farming-related industry seriously.”
Mahama stated that “with Ghana’s economy on the verge of collapse” it is time to prioritise “agribusiness and support with favourable financing for farmers and all actors in the agricultural value chain” in a message on Facebook honouring farmers as the country observed National Farmers Day.
“With Ghana’s economy at the brink of collapse, as proven by Rating Agencies through their unending downgrades, and the hardship it has brought to many homes, this is the time for government to begin to take farmers and farming related businesses serious. This is the surest way we can reduce imports, strengthen the struggling cedi and save Ghana’s economy. I urge government to prioritise agribusiness and support with favourable financing for farmers and all actors in the agricultural value chain,” he stated.
Meanwhile, this year’s celebration was under the theme “Accelerating agriculture through value addition”.
