The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged to use its victory in the December 7 general elections as a foundation to advance Ghana’s development and prosperity.
During a press conference at the party’s headquarters on Sunday, December 8, General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey affirmed the party’s readiness to govern responsibly and fulfill its mandate to the people.
Kwetey urged the Electoral Commission (EC), led by Jean Mensa, to announce the election results without unnecessary delays, emphasizing the importance of transparency and timeliness.
He described the NDC’s win as a clear and indisputable reflection of the will of Ghanaians, highlighting the party’s confidence in the electoral outcome.
“We have secured a very significant majority and a majority that we aim to use responsibly and for the progress of the people of Ghana.
“The process as far as the presidential result is also concerned, we will urge the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa and her team to make sure the declaration is not unduly delayed because we know for a fact that nothing can be done about it because it is already in the bag.”
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has expressed doubt over a recent prophecy predicting the flagbearer of the party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia the next president of Ghana.
The prophecy which was given by the founder and leader of Power Chapel Worldwide, Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng indicated that said that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will be crowned the winner of the 2024 presidential elections on December 9.
However, Justin Frimpong Kodua, who shares a personal relationship with the individual behind the prophecy, has suggested that the revelation might have been influenced by their connection.
Rev. Kusi Boateng, has shared that his spiritual son, Justin Frimpong Kodua met him in chambers asking “Papa, are you sure of what you are saying?…do you want to tell them about the banter you had with me?”.
“After I prophesied that Dr. Bawumia would win the election, my son, the General Secretary, came to me and said, Papa, are you sure of what you are saying?…do you want to tell them about the banter you had with me?
“He said, Papa, I have seen you do some crazy things, but this one is too crazy. Please, if it is because of me, let me just do my work so that if I fail, I fail alone. I don’t want to go with you. So that when I fail, I will be there to protect you.’ I said, ‘You cannot protect me.”
He warned that the ruling NPP might lose a substantial number of parliamentary seats to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) if they do not exercise caution.
Additionally, he urged the NDC to stay alert to prevent facing a similar situation.
“The people that they say are my party members, NPP people, if they don’t take care, they will lose almost 7 to 10 seats, but then if NDC also don’t take care, NPP will take over between 19 to 24 seats from them. The election is on the 7th, on the 8th the result will not come, everybody shall be jittery.
“The result will come on the 9th. Some people will try to cause mayhem so that people shall die, and interestingly, they will call people on the street, and on the first day, only 1000 people will show up; no one will show up on the second day, and there shall be peace.
“And the result is obvious. Things are difficult; I know that there are two people coming, but the Lord has told me that by December 9, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia shall be crowned the president of Ghana,” he prophesied amid cheers from the congregation.
Secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has “strongly condemns the unconstitutional change in government” in Niger, according to a statement released by his spokesperson on Wednesday.
The coup was declared on national television by Nigerien soldiers, who claimed to have suspended all institutions, dissolved the constitution, and locked the country’s borders.
In a statement released by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Mr. Guterres said he was “deeply disturbed” by President Mohamed Bazoum’s incarceration and was “concerned for his safety and well-being.”
“The Secretary-General calls for an immediate end to all actions undermining democratic principles in Niger,” Mr Dujarric added.
KenyanPresident William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga have been commended by the East African bloc Igad for agreeing to hold negotiations in an effort to put a stop to two weeks of demonstrations against rising living expenses and electoral reforms.
As a result of what he called President Ruto’s “olive branch,” Odinga claimed on Sunday that his Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition had decided to postpone the rallies it had scheduled for Monday.
In a Twitter post, Igad executive secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said the two leaders’ move would help “resolve differences on national issues through peaceful means and preserve Kenya’s unity and constitutional order”.
The cancelled opposition demonstrations would have been the latest in a series of protests held on Mondays and Thursdays.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has accused former President John Mahama and General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia of destroying the party, per the latter’s latest revelation.
According to Koku, the duo have abused the NDC constitution in their bid to control the party.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah, who is challenging incumbent National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo for the position, has revealed that there was some misunderstanding after former President Mahama through the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, proposed that the Director of Elections and Director of IT should be appointed after the presidential primaries.
He explained that the proposal was purposely made because the flagbearer should be able to have a say in who he would like to work with in that regard.
In the audio believed to have been leaked, Asiedu Nketiah said that the proposal did not go well with the National Chairman, Ofosu-Ampofo, who at the time expressed his displeasure.
Asiedu Nketiah also alleged that the chairman had also said that he could do as he pleased in his capacity as chair until the flagbearer election is held and John Mahama cannot stop him.
“Former President Mahama sent Julius Debrah (the former chief of staff during Mahama’s administration) to plead with the party leadership not to appoint a director of elections and a director of IT until the party completes its presidential primaries because the flagbearer of the party must have a say on who becomes the director of elections and the director of IT. As soon as Julius finished speaking, Ampofo said he considers the submission offensive to him and his authority as the leader of the NDC party,” Asiedu Nketiah alleged.
“Ampofo said that Mahama can only become the leader of the party after the flagbearer election has been held. Until then, he [Ofosu-Ampofo] remains the only leader of the party, and so he can do as he pleases as he [Mahama] cannot stop him because he [Mahama] is an ordinary party member of the NDC,” Asiedu Nketiah added.
Asiedu Nketiah explained that this comment caused some misunderstanding between the Mahama and Ofosu camps.
“The position of Ofosu-Ampofo brought about a serious misunderstanding at the meeting. The meeting thus became a fight between the Mahama faction and the Ofosu Ampofo faction. I [Asiedu Nketiah] sat down quietly and listened to all that was going on,” Asiedu Nketiah added.
But commenting on the matter on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV on Thursday, Koku Anyidoho stated that it’s important that Mr. Mahama and Asiedu Nketiah are stopped in their tracks now from further destroying the great NDC party.
“Look at what Asiedu Nketiah is telling us—that John Mahama sent Julius Debrah to the National Executive Committee (NEC) that they should reserve some positions and when he becomes flagbearer he will appoint those people. Since when? Which article in the NDC constitution gives that power to Mahama, who at the time was yet to be elected a flagbearer? I say confidently that John Mahama and Asiedu Nketia have destroyed the NDC. When I say this, I’m tagged as “anti-John Mahama. I’m not anti-Mahama; I’m pro-NDC and will always seek the interest of the party.”
“I didn’t see Rawlings abuse the NDC, I didn’t see John Evans Attah Mills abuse the NDC constitution. So why should I allow John Mahama to abuse the NDC constitution? Asiedu Nketiah in the tape was telling us that the 2020 election was for Mahama and so he had a right to make appointments in the party. Since when did an election belong to an individual and not rather for the party? Since when did the NDC election become John Mahama’s election? Mahama and Asiedu Nketiah have acted in ways that have destroyed the party, today, Asiedu Nketiah has exposed John Mahama and himself.”
A general secretary aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has descended heavily on the media in Ghana, describing it as being overly considerate of the government of the day.
He explained that the contribution of the media has added to the current mess that the country is facing, as it has refused to be as critical as it is supposed to be, at least in terms of how it performed in the NDC era of governance.
Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk with host Edward Smith Anamale, the former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC stated that the media in Ghana today has been pampering the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
“The reason we are in this state is because a lot of media people have pampered this government; a lot of media people. When they started messing around, instead of media people speaking the truth to them, the media people became gatekeepers.
“So, things that if half of it happened under NDC, they’ll come out strongly, at a point they said if they want to talk then it is because they want to be the devil’s advocate. Really? You are only a devil when it’s about the NPP? What devil’s advocate? Facts are facts,” he stated.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah further stressed that if only the media in Ghana could be half as critical as it was of the erstwhile NDC government and stop the ‘false equivalents’ between the two governments, it would put the incumbent on their toes to deliver better.
“The same way that NDC was held to account when we were in power, if half of it had been done to NPP today, we won’t be where we are today, but because they know that when they mess up, when (sic) comes to show, media people will be asking funny questions and trying to be doing false equivalents; NDC and NPP are the same. We can never be the same,” he stated.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned its members not to exhibit signs of complacency ahead of the 2024 elections.
The party contends that all and sundry must contribute as the NDC aims at winning the next polls.
Speaking to Citi News after launching his campaign to contest the General Secretary position, Director of Elections for the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah urged his supporters to stay focused.
“The governing party will be very desperate in trying to deploy other means so for me, if genuine elections are held today, the NPP will struggle to get 40 percent, but we know they won’t do genuine elections. That is why the NDC must not be complacent and say that we have won already. I don’t want to hear that. We must fight to the finish. We want to win an overwhelming victory that nobody can do anything about it.”
The Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo wants delegates to retain him as the chairman of the party.
He argues the party requires a formidable team to rescue the country from the current government.
“I respectfully urge and entreat all delegates to vote for me come December 17. Be assured that, a vote for me is a vote for unity, a stronger party, inclusiveness, hard work and ultimately, it is a vote for victory in 2024. I am the people’s chairman and I have an unfinished agenda. Vote for me for victory for the NDC in 2024 and form the next government.”
A former Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has presented the party to Ghanaians as the calvary that will save the country from its current economic woes.
The aspirant for the position of the General Secretary of the party stated that the challenges people are going through currently would not come to an end through any special help from above.
Rather, he said, the NDC is the right party to bring the needed relief to Ghanaians as they have been hoping for.
Speaking during the presentation of his nomination forms at the party headquarters in Accra, Elvia Afriyie Ankrah explained that the struggles for democracy could not just be allowed to be wasted by non-performing leaders.
“The sacrifices of the 1980s were endured by all primarily because farmers from Yeji to Dodi Papase, where I was born, fishermen and women from Elmina to Denu, market women from Makola to Kumasi, all knew then that if they could endure it one more time, they will be able to build a democracy, an economy and an enabling environment that will allow the fourth republic to thrive and last for the benefit of all.
“However, that fourth republic is under attack by a clueless bunch of people led by a man who could only be described as the greatest mistake of our democracy and the worst experiment of the fourth republic. As catastrophic as that is, the real nightmare is that we still must endure it till 2024 before help comes,” he said.
He, however, stated that the return of the NDC to power would restore the needed confidence that Ghanaians hope to have in the country.
He added that together with his party members, the NDC would restore hope to Ghanaians.
“However, there’s no special help coming from above, ladies and gentlemen; there’s no calvary coming with the sunset or the roaring seas. We, the National Democratic Congress, are the calvary. You and I are the only ones who can save this country one more time. And you, the delegates, are the ones upon whose shoulder rest the sole responsibility to restore hope and give Ghanaians the much-needed assurance of a better tomorrow,” he said.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah will face competition from Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, the current Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, and Fifi Kwetey, a former Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Deputy Minister of Finance for the slot of the party’s General Secretary.
Kwabena Agyepong who served as Press Secretary to former president John Agyekum Kufuor between 2001 and 2006 has said he declined a ministerial appointment offered to him by his boss after serving for almost six years.
The decision to not accept the appointment, according to Kwabena Agyepong was informed by the quest to exit from the administration and focus on some other equally important activities.
“It was fine,” he said in response to whether or not it was a peaceful exit. “I just felt I had to leave politics, so, although the president called me and offered me a deputy ministerial position, I respectfully declined.”
Sharing his work experience with the former president, Mr. Agyepong told Deloris Frimpong Manso on The Delay Show that his boss was indeed a diplomat.
“Mr. Kufuor is a very quintessential diplomat and democrat. He worked with the IGP the previous government appointed for over six months when he assumed office. Persons who occupied some of the key positions experienced same. He did so just to get a smooth transition,” the former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) remarked.
Meanwhile, Agyepong has said he never acquired any property during his tenure as Press Secretary to Mr. Kufuor.
Establishing that the desire to do politics was borne out of passion, selflessness, and service to the country, Agyepong expressed optimism in becoming president of Ghana as he readies to contest in the NPP presidential primaries.
“Our budget is always in deficit; we need to cut our coat according to the size of cloth we have. We need to be truthful to Ghanaians for instance if we cannot construct new roads and put together a proper plan review. We like constructing new things without providing any form of maintenance for the old ones.
“The value system in this country has disappeared, it has collapsed. Those are the changes I believe it is time for a new dawn, a new dimension, and a new direction,” Mr. Agyepong said while underscoring the need to serve instead of amassing wealth to the detriment of the Ghanaian people.
The Coalition for Cocoa Sector Reforms (CCSR) GH has called on government through COCOBOD to reconsider the 2022/23 producer price announced to avoid negative implications impact the new GH¢800.00 per bag of cocoa beans will have.
“Farmers over the last two decades were always assured of over $100.00 out of the world market price for each bag of cocoa sold through the FOB pricing mechanism used in setting the price for the commodity. It is however unfortunate and surprising that government this year awarded to farmers, less than $80.00 for a bag of cocoa”
“This is rather a decrease in producer price than an increase hence COCOBOD must come again. In these times of increasing inflation, prices of inputs, fuel and economic hardship, this treatment to our hardworking cocoa farmers must change”.
This was in a statement jointly signed by Ayisi Kumah Thomas Kwesi, and Mr Hedidor Alexander Yaw, President and Secretary of the coalition respectively and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
The statement said the producer price announced by the Minister of Food and Agriculture was not only low, but demotivating and should therefore be reviewed.
It said the analysis carried out by the Coalition showed that, further reduction of Cocoa price was disincentive to cocoa farmers and would lower productivity, given the fact that both Cost of living and Cost of production had increased astronomically in Ghana, owing to inflation and rapid depreciation of the cedi against the Dollar.
It said hopes of cocoa farmers would be shattered by the new price especially when neighbouring Ivory Coast who had comparatively maintained relative stable currency and economy.
“It is clear and beyond all doubts that with this lowering of cocoa prices (dollar terms), Government and COCOBOD will render Cocoa farming unattractive to the youth by worsening the economic plight of cocoa farmers.”
“Cocoa farmers are already impoverished and overwhelmed by our current economic situation and to further reduce the price of Cocoa will worsen their plight.”
“This is an industry that has supported this country for over 30years with revenue from exports, but there seems to be a clear lack of foresight, or an ill-will in the management and sustenance of the sector by its current managers: COCOBOD. ”
The statement said the decision of reducing cocoa price (in dollar terms) came in the midst of reports of cocoa farmers selling their arable land to illegal mining operatives (Galamsey), neighboring country Ivory Coast raising its farm gate price to CFA900 equivalent to GH¢852.00, increasing prices of inputs, increased unemployment, and ageing farmer population.
The statement said about 19,000 acres of cocoa lands were lost to galamsey activities last year and it would not be surprising that the figure would be tripled in the ensuing year, while cocoa beans would be further smuggled along the border towns, with farms receiving little or no investments.
It said the credibility of COCOBOD in acquiring future loans would be impaired and eventually the industry would suffer existential threat and called on government to review the current situation
“We believe that any government interested in discouraging smuggling, fighting against galamsey, increasing annual cocoa volumes, and improving the lives of its gallant cocoa farmers should rather increase prices to discourage negative tendencies and sustain the economy.”
“Before the dust could settle on the topic of this Cocoa price reduction, BOG came with a hike in monetary policy rate to tighten the economy”.
“This came after drawing down on the $1.13bn syndicated cocoa loan to be used to shore up its Forex reserves and stabilize our currency. The hike in monetary policy rate which will directly or indirectly increase lending rates, the cost of goods and services including cost of cocoa inputs. Closure of shops in Kumasi and the intentions of GUTA to also close shops in Accra is evident of an expected increased cost of living which farmers cannot escape”.
It said the once revered once revered cocoa industry that had pillared the country for over three decades and hitherto provided dignified living conditions to its farmers, purchasing clerks and District
Managers of LBC’s, Depot Keepers and Port Officers, was suffering an imminent collapse if good measures were not taken.
“In this period of rising youth unemployment, it will be sad to witness the collapse of another vibrant sector of our economy and we therefore call on all stakeholders in the supply chain to throw their weight behind CCSR GH to compel government and COCOBOD to review the price or come out with a bonus package.”
“Though the significant depreciation of the cedi has been a major contributory factor to the degrading economic fundamentals, the dichotomy is that increased exchange differential gives government room to relieve cocoa farmers with a higher producer price for the season. The voices of Cocoa farmers must be heard for if there’s No cocoa, there will not be COCOBOD.”
Contender for General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has said his ability to speak in various local languages is a major boost for his campaign to be elected General Secretary of the opposition NDC.
Speaking on Asempa FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah said he considers his local langauge skills a major selling point to delegates across the country with whom he relates well, although he didn’t mention any other candidate’s name.
“I can speak many local languages. Everywhere I go I speak their language.”, he boosted of his human relations and language skills.
The NDC General Secretary hopeful said a similar language statement he made in the past was misconstrued to mean another contender cannot speak Twi but according to him, he didn’t mention anyone’s name or referred to any person.
Another contender, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey has been accused of being unable to speak the popular local language Twi or Akan lanaguages. His critics said this could affect his relationship with the predominantly Akan speaking Radio and TV stations across the country.
However, Mr. Ankrah said he never referred to any other aspirant when he was touting his local language skills.
He said he was only “marketing” himself and language was one of his skills and selling advantages.
“I didn’t say someone cannot speak Twi… I said Twi language is my plus… it is one of my major selling points. I speak Ga.. I speak Ewe, I speak Twi…. … There is no constituency in Ghana that I don’t have a contact…” He said.
Mr. Afriyie Ankrah spoke Ga, Ewe and Twi to listeners of Ekosii Sen to prove his point.
The race to replace Johnson Asiedu Nketia as General Secretary has become very heated.
Among persons who have expressed interest in the position including, former Obuasi district chairman of the NDC, Abdul Ishaq Farrakhan; ex-Deputy Minister of Finance, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey; current Deputy General Secretary of the party, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
Mr. Fiifi Kwettey and Elvis Ankrah both won opinion polls conducted by Kevin Taylor and Ghanaweb respectively.
Workers of Metro Mass Transit Limited are embarking on a sit down strike over their two months unpaid salaries.
The workers also say that the nationwide strike action is as a result of five years of incompetent administration by the management of the company.
They want the immediate removal of the management team.
Anthony Secretary to the Senior Staff division of the Union, Anthony Appiah spoke to Citi News saying, “everything of ours is not working. If you have been given room for five years as executives and for the first time in the history of this company, there are three managing directors and we are not seeing anything from them in terms of growth, workers’ welfare and service to the nation, we have to embark on a sit-down strike.”
In Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, both senior and junior workers at the depot of the company joined in the nationwide sit-down strike over their conditions of service.
According to them, aside from not receiving salaries for months, several other pertinent concerns that have been raised over the years have not been addressed.
A visit to the Metro Mass terminal in Kumasi by Citi News‘ Middle Belt Bureau Chief, Edward Oppong Marfo showed that indeed the drivers have refused to work as all vehicles have been parked.
Management members at the terminal have also laid down their tools, saying the failure to resolve their concerns has made life unbearable for them.
“For about three months now, about 90 percent of workers have not been paid, and they haven’t given us any tangible reason. It’s pathetic”, one of the management members spoke toCiti News on condition of anonymity.
In my candid opinion, former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay’s law firm should not have accepted to defend accused persons in the ongoing illegal mining case pending before the Accra High Court, Mr Obiri Boahen, a former General Secretary of the NPP has said.
In a radio interview monitored by Graphic Online on Accra based Okay FM on Wednesday morning, Nana Obiri Boahen said Mr Blay’s firm should have allowed other lawyers to stand in for the accused persons.
On Tuesday in court, Lucy Ekeleba Blay, a private legal practitioner, told the court that she was holding brief for Mr Freddy Blay in the case of the four accomplices of En Huang, popularly known as Aisha Huang, who has been charged with the others for engaging illegal mining activities in Ghana.
The four accomplices are Gao Jin Cheng, Lu Qi Jun, Haibin Go and Zhang Zhipeng.
Mr Freddie Blay is the lead counsel for the firm in which Lucy Ekeleba Blay works.
Already, Mr Blay has clarified that he is not the one who is personally handling the case but confirms that it is the law firm he belongs to that is handling the case.
UK’s largest container port set to come to a ‘standstill’ due to strikes after Unite backs action
The prospect of disruption at the port responsible for handling almost half of the country’s container traffic will send shivers down the supply chain, risking a repeat of the damaging cargo backlogs witnessed last year.
A union has revealed plans for a strike next month that it says will bring operations at the UK‘s largest container port to a “standstill”.
Unite made the threat while revealing the results of a ballot among its members at Felixstowe, ultimately employed by international port operator CK Hutchison.
The union said workers backed industrial action over pay by 92% on an 81% turnout.
“The dispute is a result of the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company offering a pay increase of just 5% to its workers,” Unite said.
“This is an effective pay cut, with the real (RPI) rate of inflation currently standing at 11.9%.
“Last year, the workforce received a below inflation pay increase of 1.4%”.
The proposed action, which Unite expected would begin next month without substantial progress in resolving the dispute, is part of a wider union campaign for wage settlements to protect their members from the cost of living crisis.
It has already included rail and Tube strikes – with the prospect of more travel disruption to come
Rail strikes go ahead
Felixstowe was yet to comment, but the prospect of halts to operations would have devastating effects for the UK supply chain, as it handles almost half the country’s container traffic.
It is also no stranger to disruption, as backlogs set in ahead of Christmas last year because of a shortage of HGV drivers.
Hong-Kong-based CK Hutchison is one of the world’s leading container terminal and port service operators.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The bottom line is this is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to give its workers a pay rise.
“Instead, it chose to give bonanza pay-outs to shareholders touching £100m.
“Unite is focused on defending the jobs, pay, and conditions of its members, and we will be giving 100% support to our members at Felixstowe.
“Workers should not be paying the price for the pandemic with a pay cut.
“Unite has undertaken 360 disputes in a matter of months, and we will do all in our power to defend workers.”
No specific dates for the proposed action have been announced.
