“It is encouraging for my government and party, the New Patriotic Party, to recall that the rate of growth of the economy, 5.6%, against the background of the exceptionally difficult circumstances of the COVID-era, is still considerably better than the 3.4% we inherited (in 2016) in calmer times from our predecessor administration.”
These were the words of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, when he delivered the keynote address at the National Labour Conference, held in Kwahu Nkwatia, in the Eastern Region, on Monday 28thFebruary 2022.
According to President Akufo-Addo, Ghanaians “should not forget that, prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, we witnessed average annual GDP growth rates of seven per cent (7%) in 2017, 2018, 2019 and part of 2020, when our economy was then, generally, acknowledged as one of the fastest-growing in the world.”
Speaking at the event, he indicated that the proactive decisions taken by the government to fight the pandemic, as well as revitalising and transforming the economy, with the one hundred-billion-cedi Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) ‘Obaatampa’ Programme, to create jobs and prosperity for Ghanaians over a three-year period, have begun yielding results.
The first phase of the Ghana CARES programme, the phase of stabilisation, came to end in 2020.
The second phase, which started in 2021, aims at revitalising and transforming the economy between 2021 and 2023 and is focused on supporting commercial farming and attracting educated youth into agriculture, building Ghana’s light manufacturing sector, developing the engineering/machine tools and ICT/digital economy, developing Ghana’s housing and construction industry, reviewing and optimiSing the implementation of government flagships and key programmes, creating jobs for young people, and expanding opportunities for the vulnerable in society, including physically challenged persons.
“As a result of this programme and the policies being implemented by Government, the economy grew at a provisional 5.2% in the first three quarters of 2021. This growth is expected to be sustained in the medium term,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “The overall real GDP for the medium term is projected to grow at an average rate of 5.6%, and we remain committed to returning to the fiscal deficit target threshold, as enshrined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Act 982, from this year.”
Government, he reassured, will continue to demonstrate the ability, resolve and determination to change the trajectory of our economy in order to help us recover faster from the effects of COVID-19
The Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa has expressed shock at the low rate at which communicators of the party are projecting the achievements of the government in their communities.
Mr Buaben Asamoa said the party’s communicators are not boldly speaking about the good works done by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and also the proposed policies including the E-levy, in their communities.
He said at a press conference in Kumasi on Friday February 18 that he is picking up signals that the party’s commentators and other executives aren’t doing enough to explain the policies to the chiefs and people within the communities.
The former Member of Parliament for Adentan said ” You should continue to serve the NPP irrespective of the results of the [internal] elections. That brings me to the other thing we are talking about, e-levy.
“You will be surprised how many of NPP officers at local level and communicators are not talking enough about government policies especially the E-levy.
“I was in a couple of funerals yesterday in the region and I took time off to speak to lot of people. Opinion I am getting all the way from the chiefs I interacted with, opinion leaders from across the country and the local people is that the NPP in the community is not stepping out to project the NPP .
“The NPP in the communities must step out and boldly project the party and its achievements , it is so important. Many people have accepted the E-levy in principle but they still need to be spoken with and engagement must continue.
“That is where I pick these conversations up that we members of the NPP ought to be talking more about the E-levy at local level. So some of the information may not be very clear but the reason, we believe at national level, at government level is clear.
“It is an opportunity to transform local, indigenous capital into local production, creating high skills and then you will have high paying private sector jobs . Because the E-levy will act as a catalyst to drive private sector investments both local and foreign into the productive areas
NDC scribe accuses government of unaccounted for profligacy
Asiedu Nketia says government must account for previous expenditures
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress has restated the opposition of the party towards the Electronic Transactions Bill (E-levy).
According to the NDC scribe, the government has wasted enough funds in the last few years and has doggedly refused to account for them even in a democracy, hence they cannot be trusted with more money.
Asiedu Nketia specifically cited the issue of hiring luxurious private jets for presidential travels despite Ghana having a functional presidential jet.
He further lamented how the government over the last year refused several Parliamentary invitations to account for the travels citing security implications.null
“All the monies they started collecting, they said they are running a democratic system. In which democracy would you call a Minister to come and account for some government expenditure and he will face you and say that we are not going to account to anybody?” Asiedu Nketia questioned.
According to him, the government was telling Ghanaians by their refusal to account for the travels, that: “when it comes to the comfort and security of the President, monies don’t matter… and we are not going to tell you anything and we are even preparing to buy a bigger jet.
“If you are preparing to buy a bigger jet, then you should know that you cannot convince anybody that the nation is in any difficulty,” he stated in a Joy News interview on January 31, 2022.
The issue of Akufo-Addo’s travels via chartered private jets dominated news headlines in 2021 as North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa repeatedly mounted ‘surveillance’ on Akufo-Addo’s mode of travel.
He accused the government of profligacy because there was a functional presidential jet yet the presidency opted for expensive flights. His attempts to summon relevant ministers to speak on the cost implications yielded no results as the topic was classified as ‘security information.
Mr. Koku Anyidoho has assigned reasons for distancing himself from the activities of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a party he once served as the former Deputy General Secretary.
According to Mr. Anyidoho, there is a frosty relationship between him and the current General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
He said he took a back seat from all activities of the party because Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia once told him in the face that he (Koku) had no locus in the party.
Mr. Anyidoho assigned this reason for distancing himself from all activities of the NDC in an interview with Kwame Obeng Mensah, host of Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.
He said: “Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia in the middle of a media interview at the Police Criminal Investigations Department head office in Accra at the time of the arrest of the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo over the supposed treasonable tape walked to the media personnel and told them to shun my company because I have no locus in the party after losing my position as deputy General Secretary.”
Mr. Anyidoho said that act by Mr. Asiedu Nketia was disrespectful to him.
“He told the reporters to disregard me because I have no locus indicating that I am nobody in the party,” he stressed.
He added that he was shocked when the man, who was once his boss at the party’s headquarters did that.
Mr. Anyidoho explained that this is “the reason I’ve distanced myself from the party’s activities and now focusing on building the Atta Mills Institute, showcasing the legacies of the late President John Evans Atta-Mills”.
“Who am I to speak for a party of which I have no locus”? he quizzed.
He explained that Mr. Asiedu Nketia seems not to have forgiven him for taking the bold decision to contest him in the last national executive election.
Explaining why he contested his former boss, Mr. Anyidoho said: ‘Mr. Asiedu-Nketia had an earlier arrangement with me saying he was not interested in contesting for the position and that he had given me his blessings.
For some reason, he made a U-turn that he was still interested in the position so I took the decision to go all out not to disappoint my supporters in the party
Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has wondered why some Minority MPs are still against the e-levy when, according to him, they took part in its approval along with the 2022 budget.
At a capacity-building workshop organised for the Majority Caucus in Parliament and some Ministers of State on Saturday, 22 January 2022, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said “it is a difficulty for me when people are kicking against the e-levy when you know that in the adoption of the motion to approve the budget, we approved of that. So, it means that the first step has already been surmounted.”
“Then the e-levy has been factored into the various estimates that we have approved for all the sectors”, he explained.
“That is the second thing we did”, he said, adding: “The third step is: when we encapsulated everything into the Appropriation Bill and passed the Bill unanimously”.
“What does it mean? You have approved of the e-levy.”
“So, when we have done all these three and turn around and say that you [NDC MPs] are opposed to the Bill, then, perhaps, you didn’t know what you were doing,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has advised the government to cut down on expenditure in certain areas as contained in the 2022 budget.
Once the government does that, there will be no need to reintroduce the electronic levy when parliament resumes in January 2022, Mr Ablakwa said.
According to the opposition MP, the Akufo-Addo administration is expecting to raise some GHS6.9billion from the e-levy but Mr Ablakwa said there are outrageous expenditure items that far exceed this revenue target and which can be shelved so that there will be absolutely no need for the government to “recycle the obnoxious e-levy and re-present it in 2022.”
Mr Ablwaka has identified some of these expenditures that, in his view, must be reduced.
First, he wants the government to cut down on the allocation of GHS3,130,633,000 to the Office of Government Machinery (OGM).
This provision, he said, is almost half of what the e-levy is expected to rake in.
In a statement, the lawmaker said: “The OGM has been an unbridled tax guzzler under this regime. Adding over GHS450million to last year’s allocation in a period of pandemic recovery and austerity is extremely inconsiderate. If the allocation to the Health Ministry during a pandemic could be slashed by some GHS2billion compared with 2021 figures, there can be no justification for the self-serving lion share allocation to the OGM. All the suffering Ghanaian people ask, is for President Akufo-Addo to remember he once promised to protect the public purse and so needs to be faithful to Ghana’s Presidential Jet as his predecessors did, and desist from profligate and sybaritic charters of ultra-luxury US14,000.00 an hour executive jets. And if the President will lead by example as he calls on us all to burden share, the OGM certainly does not need this colossal GHS3.1billion allocation which consumes about half of all E-Levy expected revenues.”
Mr Ablakwa further said approvals granted on page 291, Appendix 10C of the budget document for the current Accra International Conference Centre to be razed down for the construction of a new edifice at 116 million Euros “in an opaque non-competitive arrangement must be halted.”
He also noted that prestige and sentimental projects such as approvals to construct a “Standard Stadium” each in Abuakwa South and Sunyani and the construction of regional conference centres and theatres for creative arts contained on page 293 of the Budget should be cancelled because again they do not reflect the times.
Under the current economic circumstances, Mr Ablakwa quizzed if the nation still needs five new university campuses for STEM.
“Can we not scale down to two or one and adopt an incrementalist approach when the economic horizon improves? Don’t forget double-track still plagues the education sector due to an acute lack of facilities,” he said.
He also noted that the intention to establish new diplomatic missions in Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico could wait for better times in the future.
He suggested that in any case, Ghana can learn from Mexico, Columbia, Chile and Peru who all share one diplomatic mission in Accra as members of the Pacific Alliance. “It is time to rethink the old dinosaur framework for establishing physical diplomatic missions in favour of a more modern smart diplomatic presence,” he added.
The North Tongu legislator continued that considering that there is no allocation in the 2022 budget for constructing the Keta Port, which cannot be argued against in a period of austerity, the logical consequence is to demand the termination of the appointment of CEO of a non-existing port. In his view, that office remains “an embarrassing drain of scarce taxpayer cedis.”
The statement also said: “The staff strength at the Office of Government Machinery is projected to increase again to 2,111 from 1,597 in 2021. (See page 273 of 2022 Budget). This is curious considering that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had only recently told the Ghanaian youth not to put their hopes in public sector jobs as the public sector is bloated. It seems to me that caution doesn’t apply to party apparatchiks who will be engaged in 2022 to occupy the 514 spaces specially created at the OGM for them. Such policy duplicity does not help the credibility of the government and it doesn’t help the government’s expenditure control either.
“I am particularly frightened by the quantum leap in the Contingency Vote from an allocation of GHS186,829,891 in 2021 to a staggering GHS993,007,000 in 2022. (Almost a billion Cedis). That is a jaw-dropping addition of 806,177,109 in just a year. This represents an inconceivable 431.5% increase.
The irony is that despite all the propaganda about E-Levy serving as the main funding source for YouStart – which is the government’s flagship for job creation, Appendix 4C at page 252 reveals that the government allocated only GHS385,088,000 as it expects donor partners to come up with a greater share of GHS614,912,000 to achieve its GHS1billion target. So, this is a government that couldn’t dedicate GHS1billion for its grand job creation agenda as it depends on the benevolence of foreigners to help our youth find jobs, and yet it could allocate a similar amount of a billion for its use as contingency.”
Mr Ablakwa said Parliament can also make a contribution to the expenditure downsizing by reducing the scope and quantity of MPs constituency offices it intends to construct in all 275 constituencies over the next three years.
He suggested that “a sluggish 5- to 6-year arrangement with a reduced scope of works in instalments beginning from the farthest/hardest-to-reach constituencies, preferably in the northern and Oti regions should be more appropriate. That will be a worthy contribution of the legislature towards frugality in a period of austerity and harsh economic conditions.” He stated that if the nation gets its priorities right by taking a hard and sincere look at public expenditure and eliminates blatant corruption, Ghana would not need an “obnoxious, divisive and regressive e-levy
Govt announces YouStart initiative to encourage entrepreneurshiphttps
Govt touts e-levy, says revenue will be used to solve unemployment
Minority opposes e-levy
North Tongu Member of Parliament(MP), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has claimed that the government intends to engage the services of New Patriotic Party members in 2022 despite the finance minister’s comment that the government payroll is full.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta urged graduates to venture into entrepreneurship as the government could not afford to put them on its wage bill anymore.
“That payroll is full because we are spending some 60% of our revenue on remunerating some 650,000 people. That is not sustainable,” he disclosed.
The minister further indicated to the graduating students that, “you have the skills set to be able to do what you have to do. Our responsibility as a government is to create the environment and the macro stability, currency stability and ensure that you have access to the relevant skills and financing”.
But in an opinion titled “Beyond The Obnoxious E-Levy, A Hard And Frank Look At Public Expenditure”, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa mentioned that the government was planning to clandestinely recruit its party apparatchiks under the Office of Government Machinery (OGM).null
“The staff strength at the Office of Government Machinery is projected to increase again to 2,111 from 1,597 in 2021. (See page 273 of 2022 Budget). This is curious considering that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had only recently told the Ghanaian youth not to put their hopes in public sector jobs as the public sector is bloated. It seems to me that caution doesn’t apply to party apparatchiks who will be engaged in 2022 to occupy the 514 spaces specially created at the OGM for them. Such policy duplicity does not help the credibility of government and it doesn’t help government’s expenditure control either”, he chastised.
In 2017, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, who is now a Senior Presidential Advisor, also said the Ghanaian economy as it is cannot support new employment opportunities in the public sector as it is choked.
Giving hints of a possible downsizing in the public sector under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme, he said the government might consider laying off some workers in the public sector, according to online news portal graphic.com.gh.
Below is Okudzeto Ablakwa’s full statement:
BEYOND THE OBNOXIOUS E-LEVY, A HARD AND FRANK LOOK AT PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
As the dust settles on what appears to be a moribund E-Levy after the hugely unpopular tax policy crash-landed in Parliament on Monday, we must begin to pay considerable attention to government’s expenditure agenda as contained in the 2022 Budget.
The Akufo-Addo administration was expecting to raise some GHS6.9billion from the E-Levy. Even though many analysts say it was an ambitious projection that couldn’t have been met, it is not difficult to identify outrageous expenditure items that far exceed this revenue target and which can be shelved so that there will be absolutely no need for government to recycle the obnoxious E-Levy and re-present it in 2022.https://c473d9c86affbdecb9b9f0765e40afe6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Respectfully, my well considered suggestions on expenditure items that need to be cut are as follows:
1) The elephantine allocation of GHS3,130,633,000 to the Office of Government Machinery. This provision is almost half of the entire E-Levy projected collections. The OGM has been an unbridled tax guzzler under this regime. Adding over GHS450million to last year’s allocation in a period of pandemic recovery and austerity is extremely inconsiderate.
If allocation to the Health Ministry during a pandemic could be slashed by some GHS2billion compared with 2021 figures, there can be no justification for the self-serving lion share allocation to the OGM. All the suffering Ghanaian people ask, is for President Akufo-Addo to remember he once promised to protect the public purse and so needs to be faithful to Ghana’s Presidential Jet as his predecessors did, and desist from profligate and sybaritic charters of ultra-luxury US14,000.00 an hour executive jets. And if the President will lead by example as he calls on us all to burden share, the OGM certainly does not need this colossal GHS3.1billion allocation which consumes about half of all E-Levy expected revenues.
2) Approvals granted at page 291, Appendix 10C of the Budget document for the current Accra International Conference Centre to be razed down for the construction of a new edifice at a fantastic 116million Euros in an opaque non-competitive arrangement must be halted. Government claims we are in a period of austerity and yet its expenditure patterns are not consistent with their public pronouncements.
3) Prestige and sentimental projects such as approvals to construct a “Standard Stadium” each in Abuakwa South and Sunyani and then the construction of regional conference centres and theatres for creative arts contained at page 293 of the Budget, again do not reflect the times.
4) We need to have an objective discussion if considering current economic circumstances, we still need FIVE new university campuses for STEM? Can we not scale down to two or one and adopt an incrementalist approach when the economic horizon improves? Don’t forget double-track still plagues the education sector due to an acute lack of facilities.
5) It’s most surprising that an austerity Budget will contain approvals for fanciful projects such as: “Boankra Green Technology City and Tourism Village.” It appears the grotesque wish list has no end in sight.null
6) As I made clear during the parliamentary debate on the estimates for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the intention to establish new diplomatic missions in Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico could wait for better times in the future. In any case, we can learn from Mexico, Columbia, Chile and Peru who all share one diplomatic mission in Accra as members of the Pacific Alliance. It is time to rethink the old dinosaur framework for establishing physical diplomatic missions in favour of a more modern smart diplomatic presence.
7) Considering that there’s no allocation in the 2022 Budget for constructing the Keta Port, which cannot be argued against in a period of austerity, the logical consequence is to demand the termination of the ridiculous appointment of CEO of a non-existing port. That office remains an embarrassing drain of scarce taxpayer Cedis.
8)The staff strength at the Office of Government Machinery is projected to increase again to 2,111 from 1,597 in 2021. (See page 273 of 2022 Budget). This is curious considering that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had only recently told the Ghanaian youth not to put their hopes in public sector jobs as the public sector is bloated. It seems to me that caution doesn’t apply to party apparatchiks who will be engaged in 2022 to occupy the 514 spaces specially created at the OGM for them. Such policy duplicity does not help the credibility of government and it doesn’t help government’s expenditure control either.
9) I am particularly frightened by the quantum leap in the Contingency Vote from an allocation of GHS186,829,891 in 2021 to a staggering GHS993,007,000 in 2022. (Almost a billion Cedis). That is a jaw-dropping addition of 806,177,109 in just a year. This represents an inconceivable 431.5% increase.
The irony is that despite all the propaganda about E-Levy serving as the main funding source for YouStart – which is government’s flagship for job creation, Appendix 4C at page 252 reveals that government allocated only GHS385,088,000 as it expects Donor Partners to come up with a greater share of GHS614,912,000 to achieve its GHS1billion target. So this is a government that couldn’t dedicate GHS1billion for its grand job creation agenda as it depends on the benevolence of foreigners to help our youth find jobs, and yet it could allocate a similar amount of a billion for its use as contingency.
10) Finally, it is my considered view that Parliament can also make a contribution to the expenditure downsizing I advocate by reducing the scope and quantity of MPs constituency offices it intends to construct in all 275 constituencies over the next three years. Perhaps a sluggish 5-6 year arrangement with a reduced scope of works in installments beginning from the most far/hard to reach constituencies, preferably in the northern and Oti regions should be more appropriate. That will be a worthy contribution of the legislature towards frugality in a period of austerity and harsh economic conditions.
Clearly, if we get our priorities right by taking a hard and sincere look at public expenditure and eliminating blatant corruption, Ghana which according to World Bank data already has a high tax to GDP ratio of 12.2% compared with an average of 11.7% among our lower middle-income peers, we obviously wouldn’t need an obnoxious, divisive and regressive E-Levy.null
Special greetings of the season.
May we use the many blessings God has endowed us with to transform our dear nation and bring happiness and empowerment to all.
Social Commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, says Ghanaians should stop having hope in any government that will promise to come and reduce fuel prices.
Allotey Jacobs noted that all previous and successive governments act the same when it comes to the issue of fuel prices.
He was commenting on the recent brouhaha in Parliament resulting in a scuffle between the Members of Parliament.
On Monday, the MPs traded blows in an attempt to prevent one another from advancing their moves in the House.
Allotey Jacobs, discussing the incident during Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, specifically touched on the fuel prices that have got many Ghanaians, particularly vehicle drivers, to complain bitterly about the Akufo-Addo government.
Some commercial vehicle drivers, locally called ‘trotro drivers’, recently embarked on a nationwide strike in protest against the increment in fuel prices.
The strike was ended on a notice that their Union leaders had had a meeting with the Presidency to intervene in their situation.
Allotey Jacobs has cautioned Ghanaians not to trust the politician, stressing “. . don’t believe the politician. Anything the politician will do to convince the masses to tow their line, so they march forward for them to come into power, they will do it”.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, Allotey Jacobs warned; ”This is what Ghanaians should bear in mind that, from one regime to another, nobody will come and tell you that I will reduce the price. So, let us look at it holistically that what is our flagship or what is our policy that we use to help our tax regime for every successive government to get adequate revenue to do good works. If you are a patriot, this is what you should think about, not to cut your colleague with a blade.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed the desire to hand over power to an NPP government in 2025 but indicated that internal party actions leading to the next election will actualise that dream or not.
“Every step taken now leading to 2024 is going to be decisive either to give us victory or not,” he told party delegates in Kumasi on Sunday.
The New Patriotic Party is in Kumasi for it’s annual delegates conference to take stock, amend portions of it’s constitution and touch base with it’s grassroots.
The president said competition within the party could not be avoided but “it help the party and not hinder it so we can break the eight.” But he reckoned that it would require discipline and a united front; promising a level playing field for all presidential aspirants to produce an acceptable leader to be backed by all.
Economy
On the economy, the president said he was aware of the situation in the country and the difficulties people were going through as a result of the economic slowdown caused by the COVID 19 pandemic.
However, he said it was not time to through our hands in despair as a people indication his government was determined to bring Ghanaians out of the situation.
The president said the solution lied with the “Obatampa” economic programme which if followed through will lead to progress and prosperity for all.null
Touting his economic achievement in the last five years, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said his government has spent more money on education, health, agriculture, infrastructure especially roads than any other government under the fourth republic.
He said most of the programmes and projects being executed were thought through while in opposition challanging the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to point to one social intervention they rolled out while in government. Majority in parliament
President Akufo-Addo seized the opportunity to clarify what appear to be a wrong impression about the majority and minority status in parliament.
Himself, once an MP said the standing orders of Parliament focused on majority groupings and not party saying as things now NPP are the majority groupings following the addition of the Fomena MP.
He commended NPP parliamentarians for supporting government business and passing the appropriation budget last Friday with the hope of navigating the final fave of the bill.
Veep Bawumia
The Vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia jabbed the NDC by making mockery of it’s 2020 presidential election petition describing it as “fundamental incompetence.”
He said after deceiving it’s followers of winning the election, the NDC came to court to change the narratives that indeed no one won the election.
To him, the NPP has become the most important driver of the Ghanaian vision and developmental agenda and responsible for most important policies that touched on the lives of everybody.
The Vice president said comparing the NPP and the NDC was like comparing day and night.
Focusing more on the NDC the Vice-president said the opposition party has no transformational policy unlike the NPP which has rolled out at least 25 social interventions to reduce the suffering of Ghanaians.
He reckoned that the government had not solved all the problems facing Ghanaians but per the macro economic indicators, the NPP has performed better.
For instance, he said inflation as of today stood at 12.2 per cent while under the NDC in 2016 it was 15.4.
According to him, average bank lending rate under the NPP is 21 per cent while under NDC it was 32 per cent.
To him, average exchange rate depreciation over the last four years is the lowest since 1992 while trade balance has recorded surpluses consistently for four conservative years.
On jobs, the vice president said the government has created at least 750,000 to the unemployed youth.
Kufuor
In a message sent to the conference, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, called for reconciliation among the rank and file of the party membership.
“With unity and committed fellowship, the party and government’s attractiveness will be urgently restored and deepened,” he said.
Former president Kufuor said the party must urge party headquarters to urgently equip itself with a professional strategic team to ensure that it’s opponents do not outsmart the party in the current battle of wits which is pervading in the national political arena.
He said this has to be sustained to guarantee victory for the party in the 2024 general elections.
The former president said under no circumstances must leadership of both party and government become detached from the grassroots since it will destroy the tradition’s of Democratic genome.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliament Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, appealed for a serious introspection of things that were holding the party down.
According to him, if the NPP is able to unleash it’s full potential it will be difficult for any other political party to operate in contemporary time.
But he insisted that this could only be realised if the party members were able to burry their hatred against each other after primaries.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the increasingly monetization that accompanied the party’s internal elections called for refection on the appropriate methods in choosing party leaders at all ranks of it’s structure.
He said the current system only helps to widen and deepen the gaps rather than helping to build a united party.
The Majority Leader reckoned that the current system only breeds factionalism which is tearing the party apart.
The Suame legislator applauded the people of Ashanti for playing a central role in the party’s last election and it was time to connect with the grassroots.
He described the region as the nerve centre of the party saying that Kumasi was always crucial in determining who wins any general elections.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, however, that as a party it was time to confront the reality and not assume that everything was right.
Wontumi
The Ashanti regional Chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), in a characteristic mood touted Ghana as a better place to be even better than the USA and the UK under the COVID-19 regime.
He reiterated the need for unity because according to him, “development will not fall from heaven.”
He reassured party faithful that the party was working hard to win the 2024 election and beyond because “it’s a movement and cannot be stopped.”
Chairman Wontumi as he is affectionately called said not even the NDC could stop it.
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) John Boadu has said that his party is better at organizing elections and collating results than the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking during the national delegates conference of the NPP in Kumasi on Sunday December 19, he said the NDC has not been able to collate the results for both the 2016 and 202 general elections.
“NDC has still not been able to collates it s 2016 and 2020 election results,” he said.
For his part, the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu lamented the actions of some leaders of the NPP that cost the party more parliamentary seats during the 2020 elections.
He said bitterness, division and the failure to unite the supporters after internal elections were some of the issues that affected the party.
He also raised issues against the way primaries are conducted to elect parliamentary candidates for the party.
The Suame Lawmaker noted that currently, defending the government in Parliament has become the work for a few lawmakers because the experienced ones who would have done that were dropped in the primaries.
“The history of 2008 should guide us,” he said.
He added “I want to sound this caution because we have enough time to correct them.”
“The lies, the hatred will not advance the interest of the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo great tradition,” he further stated.
The National Chairman of the NPP Freddie Blay noted that his party is in a contest with a formidable opposition party that is ready to take advantage of their weakness.
He has therefore asked the NPP to remain united, eschew arrogance and keep its base stronger in order to withstand the opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking at the national delegates conference in Kumasi on Sunday December 19, he said “if we are united, if we eschew arrogance, if we work with our people, if we keep base, come 2024 we shall still retain power.”
Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) assured the party that they will win the 2024 elections.
He said during the national delegates conference that the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot stop the governing party from wining the next elections.
“It is a movement and no one can stop us,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Joseph Boahen Aidoo also said the NPP has learned its lessons out of government and in government.
Speaking to TV3’sa Roland Walker in Kumasi in the ongoing national delegates conference of the NPP, he said “We have gone out of government before and we have come to power so we have learned lessons
The Ashanti regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Patriotic Party Bernard Antwi Bosiako known popularly as Chairman Wontumi says Ghana is currently better than the United States of America and the United Kingdom because of the governance of President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the progress Ghana has seen since the NPP won power in 2016 has been unprecedented. “Ghana is now better than United States, Ghana is better than UK because of the development Akufo-Addo is bringing to Ghanaians, everyone can see it,” he said at the party’s ongoing National Delegates Conference in Kumasi.
Ahead of the conference, President Akufo-Addo has challenged members of the party to prove to Ghanaians that they understand democracy.
“The party is having its national delegates conference. Some people want to tempt us but they cannot match us. We have what it takes to make us achieve what we want. The person you choose to succeed me will become President after I leave office. All Ghanaians are observing the conference. I am pleading with you all to be disciplined. I also want you all to show unity among ourselves,” the President said this at Juaben in the Ashanti Region when he commissioned the party’s constituency office complex. He added: “Let’s comport ourselves to ensure everything goes on smoothly. No party has been able to do what we have been able to do by organizing constituency, and national delegates conferences. We are also proving to Ghanaians that we are pioneers of democracy. I am therefore appealing to you all to be disciplined especially as it is happening in our stronghold.”
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako is the Ashanti Region Chairman of the NPP
Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) has assured the party that they will win the 2024 elections.
He said during the national delegates conference of the NPP in Kumasi on Sunday December 19 that the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot stop the governing party from winning the next elections.
“It is a movement and no one can stop us,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Joseph Boahen Aidoo also said the NPP has learned its lessons out of government and in government.
Speaking to TV3’sa Roland Walker in Kumasi in the ongoing national delegates conference of the NPP, he said “We have gone out of government before and we have come to power so we have learned lessons.”
former Member of Parliament for Tema East, Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has asked the NPP to remain united after the national delegate conference on Sunday December 18.
He cautioned members of the party against making utterances that give the main opposition party political weapons to use against them ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The former Deputy Transport Minister told TV3 in an interview that “I want to see us at the end of this conference more united, we need to see ourselves as one NPP family.
“The target is how continue to be in power , the polices and programmes of his excellency Nana Addo and Dr Bawumia are so phenomenal.
“The party people will cotinine to see that it is only when you are in power that we can do a lot for our people. I will appeal to our part rank ad file, they need to to be a bit cautious.
“Sometimes some of our commentaries, some of our pronouncements are not good enough because the more you start making negative kinds of commentaries you energize the opposition.”
The NPP are expected to take key decision during the conference.
Another stalwart of NPP based in the United States, Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy penciled a number of issues he believes the party has to address if they are to break the 8-year cycle.
Ahead of the event, Dr Arthur Kennedy in a statement said “The first issue we must address is that of who is entitled to vote for our National leaders and Presidential candidate.
“There are many proposals to enlarge the electorate. Some want ex-MPs, others want more Nasara co-ordinators etc.”
National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Freddie Blay, has said the governing NPP is the best to manage the economy of this country.
To that end, he called on the party to remain united ahead of the next general elections in order to continue staying in power to deliver good governance to Ghanaians.
Speaking during that NPP’s national delegates conference in Kumasi on Sunday December 19, he said “we have to remain united so that at the end of the four years the people will vote for us or whoever represents in the 2024 elections.”
He further noted that his party is in a contest with a formidable opposition party that is ready to take advantage of their weakness.
He has therefore asked the NPP to remain united, eschew arrogance and keep its base stronger in order to withstand the opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking at the national delegates conference in Kumasi on Sunday December 19, he said “if we are united, if we eschew arrogance, if we work with our people, if we keep base, come 2024 we shall still retain power.”
Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) assured the party that they would win the 2024 elections.
He said during the national delegates conference of the NPP in Kumasi on Sunday December 19 that the main opposition NDC cannot stop the governing party from wining the next elections.
“It is a movement and no one can stop us,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Joseph Boahen Aidoo also said the NPP has learned its lessons out of government and in government.
Speaking to TV3’sa Roland Walker in Kumasi in the ongoing national delegates conference of the NPP, he said “We have gone out of government before and we have come to power so we have learned lessons.”
Speaking at the New Patriotic Party’s national delegates conference in Kumasi on Sunday December 19, he said the petition was fundamentally incompetent.
“Interestingly, the NDC decided to challenge our victory at the Supreme Court . However rather than mounting a serious efforts they rather went to the Supreme Court to tell us that the electoral commission gave them tea without biscuits .
“You remember that when we went to the Supreme Court after the 2012 elections to challenge he result we presented over 10,000 oink sheets to support our case. we told the court the that we were relying on the data contained on the pink sheets because you and I were not there.
“When Asiedu Nketia went to the Suprema Court he was asked where is you evidence, where are your pink sheets, Asiedu Nketia said and I paraphrase him , Mr Lords the pink sheets are not there . Then why are you here? he said my Lords we are not here to challenge the results.
“Their election petition was fundamentally incompetent. The bottom line is that they had not evidence to challenge our victory not withstanding all the noise they made to deceive their supporters.”
Dr Bawumai further urged members and supporters of the NPP to remain united and rally behind the government.
“Ours is a government that is thinking outside the box to transform the country,” he said.
He added “For the first time in our hoistory Ghana has drone for medical delivery, Ghana is implementing one district one hospital under agenda 111
“By end of our second we would built more hospitals that any government. Our government is building one district one factory.
For the first time in our history students can apply students loan without a guarantor
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has told supporters of the New Patriotic Party in Kumasi at the ongoing National Delegates Conference that ‘breaking the 8’ will be difficult but a possibility if they work together.
The Vice President said the NPP has an enviable track record of performance as compared to the opposition National Democratic Congress.
“Breaking the 8 will not be easy, it has not been done before in our history but if we stand together it is possible and it will be done,” he said a thunderous applause from party supporters.
Also, the Ashanti regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Patriotic Party Bernard Antwi Bosiako known popularly as Chairman Wontumi says Ghana is currently better than the United States of America and the United Kingdom because of the governance of President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the progress Ghana has seen since the NPP won power in 2016 has been unprecedented.
“Ghana is now better than United States, Ghana is better than UK because of the development Akufo-Addo is bringing to Ghanaians, everyone can see it,” he said at the party’s ongoing National Delegates Conference in Kumasi
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has said the opposition lawmakers are not frustrating the business of government in Parliament following the equal numbers in the House.
Mr Iddrisu stated that the minority have since the beginning of this parliament demonstrated fidelity to the collective aspirations of the people of this country and most importantly to the constitution of the republic.
In commitment to these democratic tenets, he said, the MPs on some occasions have been the subject of attacks by otherwise concerned members of its own political party.
“It is therefore without basis for anyone to suggest that this minority group seeks to obstruct government business at the least opportunity,” he said in a statement.
His comment comes at a time the Speaker of Parliament Alaban Bagbin has made a commitment not to preside over a House to frustrate the business of government.
In Parliament on Thursday December 16, Mr Bagbin said “Hon. Members, to conclude on these matters, let me reiterate my solemn pledge to the people of Ghana which I canvassed in my first formal communication to this House.
“I would not superintend over a Parliament to frustrate Government business, But, I will equally not preside over a weak House or be tagged as an errand boy of the Executive arm of government.
“This House is fully focused in discharging its mandate and will do so without any fear or favour, affection or ill-will in ensuring the ultimate best interests of the Ghanaian people are served.
“Let us continue to strengthen our channels of communication, foster dialogue, encourage broader stakeholder consultation and allow the processes we have adopted for our burgeoning democracy to thrive.”
The Asantehene, Otumfou Osei Tutu II, had also asked Parliament not to frustrate government in its role of implementing policies.
The Asantehene made the statement at Manhyia on Sunday December 12 after the debate on the 2022 budget statement was characterised by back and forth between the Majority and Minority legislators.
“It is to our good that our representatives in Parliament subject national budget to the most vigorous scrutiny and to call for changes. Government must always also have the humility to acknowledge and embrace useful inputs from all sources.
“But our representatives need to also bear in mind that it is not the role to either determine policy for the executive or to frustrate them from performing their legitimate duty,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu’s statement said “The minority group in parliament have since the beginning of this parliament demonstrated fidelity to the collective aspirations of the people of this country and most importantly to the constitution of the republic. In commitment to these democratic tenets, the group on some occasions have been the subject of attacks by otherwise concerned members of its own political party. It is therefore without basis for anyone to suggest that this minority group seeks to obstruct government business at the least opportunity.
“On the contrary, we have at every instance demonstrated commitment to good governance, the 1992 constitution and the standing orders of parliament. An objective overview of the group’s stance on the current budget amplifies our fidelity to the national interest.
“Right after the Minister for Finance presented the government’s budget on behalf of the President, the minority group through its leadership indicated its opposition to aspects of the budget and called for a review, failure of which would compel the minority to reject the budget. Consistent with this call for a review which were not heeded to, the minority got the required votes to reject the budget policy on the 26th of November 2021. The Majority responded to this lawful rejection with an irregular and illegal procedure purporting to rescind the earlier rejection and the nation looked on as they debased, in their usual fashion, democratic tenets.
“The minority’s efforts to reverse such rape of the constitution and gross disrespect of parliament’s standing orders were frustrated by an extremely partisan majority group and 1st Deputy Speaker. Nonetheless the Minority group’s action compelled an engagement with the finance minister who have since made all concessions but one(The Killer E-Levy) on behalf of the President. He has written officially to parliament to modify the initial budget statement to reflect these concessions.
“Taking into consideration these concessions and modifications to the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, the Minority have since examined the sector ministries estimates, but remain vehemently opposed to that which the government remains adamant to withdraw, the killer E-Levy of 1.75%, which undoubtedly will subject Ghanaians to immense financial pressure and further thwart our nation’s ease of doing business and digitization drive.
“The Appropriation Bill for 2021 to cater for ordinary government business for 2022 has just been passed. The killer E-Levy bill has yet to be considered by Parliament. For the avoidance of doubt the Minority continues its opposition to the e-levy.
We in the Minority remain committed to exploring lawful and democratic means of getting the government to abandon this insensitive, obnoxious and regressive tax. Absolutely nothing can be more Ghanaian and progressive at this stage, than a demand that Government consider the economic challenges of the ordinary Ghanaian in rolling out taxes. We shall continue to hold government accountable and do so in the best interest of this country at all times. Thank you
Seasoned Journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says President Nana Akufo-Addo should expel from his government any of his appointees who aspire to become flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The NPP will on Saturday, December 18, 2021, hold a conference at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, to deliberate on party matters.
Ahead of the conference, the leadership has warned their members and supporters not to mount billboards nor campaign for any person.
“Prior to and during the conference from December 18 to 20, 2021, no billboards and or signboards, banners or any kind of outdoor signage with the images and or names of individual members, with or without the consent of the individual, shall be acceptable. This applies to the area within the Greater Kumasi Metropolis. All such displays, if put up already, should be removed,” a statement by the party read.
It continued; “Any person, with or without his or her consent, whose image is flaunted on any advocacy material and who does not take active steps to desist from any public display of aspiration for a position within the precincts of Greater Kumasi runs a higher risk of disqualification in the event nominations are declared open.”
This notwithstanding, there are reports of billboards showcasing some leading members of the party for Presidential positions being mounted in Kumasi ahead of the conference.
Recounting a similar thing that happened during the reign of Ex-President J.A Kufour, Kweku Baako charged President Akufo-Addo to crack the whip on his officials who cannot discipline themselves but reveal their intentions now to contest the flagbearership race.
Making his submissions on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, he said; “It was in 2007 that this thing started, meaning the third year in the second term. This is the first year in the secon term. It doesn’t make sense. I believe the President should begin to use reshuffle as part of his bargaining chip . . . He should start using it; crack the whip indirectly there and then!”
He urged the President not to favour any person stating emphatically that, “no matter how big you are, if in the first year, you can’t hold onto your Presidential ambitions in check, then you must as well just not be in the system . . . if they will prematurely ejaculate before even the third year, if I were the President, I would adopt this method . . . if you won’t reshuffle them, get them to resign”.
Former NDC General Secretary and now CEO of Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho has thrown the gauntlet to former President John Dramani Mahama for a sit-down talk regarding accusations levelled against him by some loyalists of the latter.
According to him, the conversation will bring closure to the never-ending saga of a supposed running battle with Mr Mahama.
Speaking on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia programme, he explained that several attempts to meet John Mahama has proven futile as the then Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah who was his friend had to write him off.
“I personally drove to Julius Debrah’s house at Dome demanding to see the former president but Julius told me that he was under immense pressure not to engage me.
“I just need to engage him for him to know that claims that i hate him are false and also let him know that all that boys have been telling him about me are lies.
“Kwame (referring to the host), for me to be at peace with John Mahama and for him to be president again, we must have that open conversation.
“I never went to John Mahama’s office when he was president, I was considered an enemy to him. But did he do anything to dispel that information?” he said
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has directed that all unvaccinated Ghanaians and people with residential status returning to the country to mandatorily be vaccinated on arrival.
Additionally, all persons 18 years or above arriving in the country are required to provide evidence of full vaccination for COVID-19.
The directive forms part of a review of the national COVID-19 preventive protocol instituted at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to limit the importation of COVID-19 and also prevent a possible rise in cases during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The government dreads a fourth wave may occur if these new measures are not enforced.
Delivering his submissions on the directive during Wednesday’s ”Kokrokoo” on Peace FM, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako seeks to find out how the Health Service is going to enforce this new order.
He asked if a Ghanaian national returning to Ghana could be prevented from entering the country on grounds that he or she must be compulsorily vaccinated before being granted a permit into his/her own country.null
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, he asked; “If a Ghanaian citizen is returning, can you stop him because he has not been vaccinated? Can you; a Ghanaian citizen entering his own jurisdiction?”
Admitting he supports the compulsory vaccination, he however thinks person(s) who may want to try the laws on the directive should be encouraged to do so to bring closure on the mandatory vaccination and its enforcement.
“I believe in the mandatory, compulsory vaccination. I believe in it but it doesn’t mean those who feel it’s unconstitutional don’t have the right to go and challenge it. And I think we should encourage those who are interested in doing that litigation to proceed. I believe so,” he said.
Koku Anyidoho has opened up with his relationship John Mahama
He said, the former President never invited him to his office
Anyidoho indicated people around him considered him as an enemy
Samuel Koku Anyidoho, CEO of the Atta Mills Institute, has revealed that he never entered the office of John Dramani Mahama, when he became the President after the passing of Prof John Evans Atta Mills in 2012.
According to him, people around the former President considered him as an enemy to John Mahama.
He said on Okay FM that, former President John Dramani Mahama never did anything to quash the misinformation of him being his enemy.
“President Mills passed on July 24, 2012, we buried him on August 10, 2012, so, we spent the last months of 2012 at the Castle; I never entered President Mahama’s office and before he moved to the Flagstaff House, I never entered his office,” Anyidoho explained.null
He noted that, if he [Anyidoho] asked the then Vice President Mahama whether or not he had an appointment with the late President Mills when he wanted to visit him as it is being speculated, then “he [Mahama] must have been a very weak Vice President”.
“I had no authority, no power to prevent Vice President John Dramani Mahama from seeing his boss the President,” he said.
“I am calling former President John Dramani Mahama to an open conversation if I ever disrespected him, I want him to tell the whole world. Your Excellency John Dramani Mahama, me [Samuel Koku S. Anyidoho], I’m calling you to an open conversation that, if I ever disrespected you as Vice President, come, meet me and let’s talk about it.
“Your boys have lied about me, created stories even to the point of the death of my daughter last year – one of your boys said I killed my daughter – I will meet you John Dramani Mahama in an open debate, speak to me and I will speak to you and I’ll tell you things that you did against Atta Mills, things you did against me…” Koku Anyidoho said. “If he does not dare come and speak to me, then he is not fit to be the President of Ghana again. If John Mahama does come and dispel the rumour about me, then he [can’t be the President again].”
Koku Anyidoho stressed that he tried to make a move through the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to have a discussion with John Dramani Mahama but he was rebuffed with the statement that, “Charlie we no go fit be buddies again.”
He said, they contacted him to contest Asiedu Nketia
And the Mahama camp also got people to contest Kwabena Adjei and Yaw Gyan
Koku Anyidoho, a former Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that former President John Dramani Mahama wanted some key members of the party who were occupying executive positions out during his time as the leader of the party.
He mentioned names like Kwabena Adjei, Asiedu Nketia and Yaw Gyan.
According to him, John Dramani Mahama and his group got people to contest both Kwabena Adjei and Yaw Gyan, so, they decided to persuade him [Koku Anyidoho] to contest Johnson Asiedu Nketia.null
He said, when he asked the rationale behind such motive, he was told that John Dramani Mahama wanted all Atta Mills people out from the party’s top leadership positions.
“John Mahama wanted to remove Kwabena Adjei, Asiedu Nketia and Yaw Gyan in 2014. President Mills had died on July 24, 2012, on the night, Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as the President and I [Samuel Koku Anyidoho] was in Parliament during the swearing-in, I stayed at the Castle for the period, that is, from July till December 2012. I worked and let me state that in the period, the new President never invited me to his office.
“I am a servant and when the master and the king does not invite you into his palace, you dare not go because you can lose your life…President Atta Mills will invite me to his office…I had no authority, no power to prevent Vice President John Dramani Mahama from seeing his boss the President…It is in that humble spirit that I could leave the presidency and go and work as Deputy to Johnson Asiedu Nketia, people didn’t understand it,” Koku Anyidoho explained to Okay FM on Wednesday, December 15.
“So, you John Dramani Mahama, after we won 2012 your agenda was to get rid of Kwabena Adjei, Asiedu Nketia and Yaw Gyan; so, you found people to contest them. You got somebody to contest Kwabena Adjei, you got somebody to Yaw Gyan, it was me, Koku Anyidoho, that your people came to and said I should contest Johnson Asiedu Nketia. This was in 2014.”
Anyidoho continued: “I asked the rationale behind it and I was told that John Dramani Mahama wants to kick out all those perceived to be in Atta Mills’ camp…You, Asiedu Nketia, you drove to me – let him come and swear on anything that he believes in – and thank me for not contesting him.null
“Let me tell you, he drove to me at the Castle…Kwadwo Asiedu Nketia, if you want to die today, pat yourself on your chest and say you did not come to me at the Castle, to thank me for not contesting you. He even told me that, he is going for the third time but not the fourth.
“So, come as my Deputy and after, you can take over as the General Secretary. On that day, he said, George Lawson and Kofi Adams did not respect him as Deputies and he cannot leave things with them to handle but for me [Koku Anyidoho] he can leave things for me to handle…”
“I did it because Asiedu Nketia said he will not go and said I should go. He came back later and betrayed himself, his trust and everything but I, Samuel Koku S. Anyidoho, I shall not contest again for the position of General Secretary of the NDC,” he stressed.
Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah has entreated the leadership of churches in the country to be concerned with the current governance being witnessed in the country.null
The Director of Elections for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who was speaking to the congregants of the Jehovah Shammah Temple of the Assemblies of God Church during a gathering to celebrate their 25th anniversary in Accra over the weekend, noted that the church has a critical role to play to put the leaders of the country to order whenever they went wayward.
“The church must speak truth, righteousness consistently; it has to be consistent,” Afriyie-Ankrah stated. “It doesn’t matter which party is in power because wrong is not determined by a political dispensation.”
“If something was wrong yesterday and it is happening today, it is still wrong,” he added.
His admonition comes at a time Ghanaians have kicked against the E-levy that has been suggested in the 2022 budget and economic policy of the Akufo-Addo administration.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said the revenue accrued from the levy next year will be used to support small businesses and embark on massive road construction.
But the opposition has said the 1.75% e-levy will double the hardship Ghanaians are battling, and went ahead to use it’s numbers in Parliament to reject the budget which was later overturned by the majority caucus.null
Recently commercial drivers embarked on a sit down strike across the country over the incessant fuel prices, which led to thousands of commuters in Accra and Kumasi walking miles to work.
It is on the back of these development that Afriyie-Ankrah wants the church, whose thousands of members are affected daily by these policies, to speak against the bad faith the government is showcasing.
“….And therefore the church has enormous power to influence policy direction. We must speak truth to power and call people to order when they’re going astray irrespective of their political persuasion,” he entreated.
To him, that is the only way by which the church will ensure that officials work in the interest of the people when in power.
“…And politicians, we are interested in numbers and votes so if you know that the whole Assemblies of God; the whole Church of Pentecost; the whole Charismatic movement, what you are doing is against them, and they’ll speak against it, you’ll be guided by what you do,” he emphasized.
“So it is not just for mere political purposes to benefit one party or the other, but it is meant to set the country on the path of righteousness.”null
“And that is why we have to be consistent, so when the NDC does something which is wrong, please speak it. And I want to commend Rev. Frimpong Manso. He has been very consistent. And that is how it should be. We have to be consistent; if NPP does it and it is wrong, we have to speak it otherwise we stand the danger of plunging this country into difficult situations.”
Award
Afriyie-Ankrah was at the church to receive a citation on behalf of former president John Mahama who had been recognised and honoured for his selfless leadership to the people of Ghana by the Assemblies of God Church.
Mr Mahama was presented with a citation by the Jehovah Shamah Temple of the church at its 25th Anniversary Celebration.
Receiving the citation on behalf of the 2020 NDC presidential candidate of the NDC were, Afriyie-Ankrah, Dr. Sherry Ayittey and NDC Deputy National Women’s Organiser, Maame Efua Sakyiwaa Houdjeto.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has disclosed that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin has reportedly minuted on the motion filed by the Minority in Parliament seeking to overturn the 2022 budget while he was on sick leave outside the country.××
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed concern that although the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, assumed full responsibility for the conduct of business in the Chamber, while the Rt. Hon. Speaker was away but the motion filed by the Minority to overturn the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government approved in the last sitting has been minuted on by Mr. Bagbin at the period he was supposed to be in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He mentioned if it turns out that Mr. Bagbin indeed admitted the motion, then it does not auger well for parliamentary practice in Ghana and if it appears fake also leaves room for probe.
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said: “The First Deputy Speaker is assuming full responsibility for the transaction of business in the Chamber, but my understanding is that the Rt. Hon. Speaker has minuted on the motion [from the Minority] that he has admitted it. If that is the case, then we are in for something dangerous.”
The Minority filed a motion challenging the conduct and ruling of the First Deputy Speaker on the approval of the 2022 budget on December 1.
However the motion was bounced by the First Deputy Speaker which provoked the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu to also release statement on Monday, December 13, 2021, serving notice of not relenting in its effort to challenge the First Deputy Speaker’s ruling on their motion to set aside the approval of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
According to him, he will pursue the motion when the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, returns from his medical trip on December 14, 2021.
He was of the opinion that the December 1, 2021 ruling by the First Deputy Speaker “contravenes the Rules, Conventions, and Practices of the House and was actuated by bias.”
“The NDC Minority Caucus which I lead, and my good self, vehemently disagree with your position on the motion and your conduct in this matter. We take the strong view that your conduct affronts Orders 79, 81, 82, and 90 of our standing orders and can no longer be tolerated.”
“In that regard, we are resolved to pursue this matter further with the Right Honourable Speaker upon his return.”
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has taken a strong exception to the dismissal of his motion by the Acting Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, by describing the latter’s decision as “abuse of discretionary power”.
Mr Osei-Owusu, who is the First Deputy Speaker, had refused the motion by the Tamale South Member of Parliament to overturn his own ruling of admitting a rejected motion on the 2022 budget statement and government’s economic policy.
But five days later after the Speaker had left for Dubai for a medical review, the Majority with Mr Osei-Owusu in the Speaker’s chair, admitted the motion and, in effect, approved the 2022 budget.
But Haruna Iddrisu sought to overturn that decision with his motion, which was refused in a letter signed by Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Nsiah.
But on Monday, the Minority Leader also had a reply for the First Deputy Speaker.
“Kindly take note that the NDC Minority Caucus which I lead and my good self vehemently disagree with your position on the motion and your conduct in this matter.
“We take the strong view that your conduct affronts Orders 79, 81, 82, and 90 of our Standing Orders and can no longer be tolerated.
“In that regard, we are resolved to pursue this matter further with the Right Honourable Speaker upon his return.”
Supporters of Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia were stopped from campaigning during Sunday’s Akwasidae festival hosted by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in the Ashanti Region.
The near clashes between the supporters from Dr. Bawumia and Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng was stopped by the timely intervention of security guards at the Manhyia Palace.
The arrival of Vice President Dr. Bawumia and government entourage to the Manhyia durbar grounds turn the 2021 Akwasidae festival celebration into a political campaign grounds amidst singing, drumming and open display of party colours, Ultimate FM’s Isaac Bediako Justice reported from the festival grounds.
The inner perimeter of the durbar grounds became more charged when the supporters of Dr. Bawumia openly displayed “break the 8 with Dr. Bawumia’’ banners.
The action by the Bawumia’s supporters provoked the Alan camp at the festival who also resorted to chanting at the National Executives.
According to the Alan Supporters, the National Executives have failed to ensure that party members comply with the directive of no campaign in order not to create tension within the party ahead of the various internal elections.
The two supporter groups have threaten a show down during their impending National delegates conference scheduled to happen in Kumasi on 23rd December 2021.
“We will not tolerate any act of “stupidity” here if they dare what they did in Manhyia today at the conference. We will react in equal measure to prove to them that Kumasi is our home,’’ the Alan supporter warned.
Baba Iddrisu, a supporter of Dr. Bawumia also replied that “we are aware of plans by Alan Kyeremanteng’s camp for the conference. So therefore, this is a warning to them. They will overpower us if we remain silent, don’t forget Ashanti Region is their stronghold.”
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Executives say the incident will not go unaddressed adding that “the right decision will be taken in preparation to have a successful National delegates conference.”
President Nana Akufo-Addo has said, as part of his fight against corruption, his government, through the Attorney General, is prosecuting some high-profile persons for various offences including fraud, economic crime, procurement breaches and money laundering.
Speaking at the National Anti-Corruption Conference on Friday, 10 December 2021, President Akufo-Addo said the Office of the Attorney General and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), in addition to the countless cases being prosecuted around the country, have successfully prosecuted a number of high-profile cases, including a case of stealing in the Republic vs. Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie & Others.
“Many other high-profile prosecutions involving corruption, economic crime, fraud, procurement breaches and money laundering, like the Republic vs. Alhaji Collins Dauda & 4 Others in the Saglemi Scandal; Republic vs. Ernest Thompson & Others; Republic vs. Dr Kwabena Duffuor & Others are ongoing. It is worthy to note that these cases have, as their sole object, the principle of holding public officers to account, and involve sums in excess of $850 million and GH₵2 billion,” he added.
The President also said the Attorney General, on behalf of the government, is currently leading the effort to enact a law on the conduct of public officers.
He said, “inasmuch as public officials are required to declare their assets upon taking office as a tool of fighting corruption, I am, however, of the candid opinion that existing legislation on corruption, relating to the conduct of public officers in Ghana, appears to be inadequate to deal extensively with public office accountability.”
According to the president, “the need to lay down a set of far-reaching and a more fit for purpose set of regulations for the conduct of public officers, which will give effect to the provisions of Chapter 24 of the Constitution on conduct of public officers, is, in my view, now self-evident”.
To this end, he revealed that the Attorney General, over the past four months, has undertaken various stakeholder consultations with a number of public sector organisations, civil society and other interest groups to this end.
When passed into law, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the Conduct of Public Officers Act will follow the example of legislation in other jurisdictions like the United States Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Public Officers Ethics Act of Kenya, and the U.K. Constitutional and Governance Act of 2010, in addressing issues regarding financial portfolios held by public officers before assuming public office, links to family business, improper enrichment, care of public property, professional practices, property, investments/shareholdings and other assets, self-dealing, partiality in the performance of duties, use of public or confidential information to further private interest, amongst others.
“The Bill provides a gamut of stringent administrative measures and sanctions to deal with violations of the law, ranging from a bar against holding public office for limited and indefinite periods to penal measures. The Bill also seeks to strengthen the role of CHRAJ in the investigation of allegations of contravention of or non-compliance with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, including conflict of interest, non-declaration of assets, and illicit enrichment,” the President added.
Updating the Conference about some of the important contributions of the Office of Attorney General in the detection and prosecution of high-profile corruption cases, as well as in the protection of the public purse, the President acknowledged that the state’s tight purse is very much affected by the award of judgment debts, in various unconscionable transactions.
“The recent example of a financial house claiming payment of interest of some GH¢1.3 billion after 11 years, from a transaction involving a meagre GH¢268,000 in 2008, even after the state had already paid some GH¢79 million, comes to mind”.
“Through the effort of the Attorney General, the Supreme Court declared further payment as unlawful, saving the State some two hundred and thirty million dollars (US$230 million),” he said.
He also told the gathering about how, on 31 July 2021, the Attorney General succeeded in setting aside a judgement debt in excess of US$15.3 million imposed by the High Court, Kumasi, in an action arising out of the activities of the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining about two years ago.
“Whether or not President Akufo-Addo is not the clearing agent of corruption does not lie in his mouth,” Sammy Gyamfi said.
National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has accused President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the biggest enabler of corruption Ghana has ever had.
His comment follows President Akufo-Addo’s assertion that all allegations of corruption leveled against his appointees so far, have been probed.
Speaking on Accra based Joy FM’s Top Story on Friday, December 10, 2021, Sammy Gyamfi said President Akufo-Addo has not shown positive attitude towards addressing corruption in the country.
“Whether or not President Akufo-Addo is not the clearing agent of corruption does not lie in his mouth. It has to do with his conduct, as it is said, action speaks louder than words and so what can the good people of Ghana reasonably infer or deduce from the conduct of President Akufo-Addo that is what matters. It is not about coming out to say I am not a clearing agent of corruption.
“It is about what your conduct says, it is about how you handle corruption matters and scandals and the kind of signals that is sent to the populace. And if you look at the countless cases of corruption we have witnessed under President Akufo-Addo and how same have been handled by him, you cannot but come to the inevitable conclusion that President Akufo-Addo is the chief corruption clearing agent. He is the mother serpent of corruption as Martin Amidu told us and he is the biggest enabler and promoter of corruption ever that we have had in this country,” he said.
Citing many corruption scandals such as the PPA scandal, the SSNIT scandal, the ‘Cocoa Nti’ scandal among others under the Akufo-Addo administration, Sammy Gyamfi indicated the government has failed in fighting corruption in Ghana.
“Why must the special prosecutor be the one prosecuting this case [the PPA scandal] if President Akufo-Addo is interested in fighting corruption. Who is prosecuting Dr. Opuni? Who is prosecuting Seidu Agongo? Who is prosecuting Sedinam Tamakloe? Who is prosecuting Ernest Thompson? Is it not the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice appointed by President Akufo-Addo?
“If his Attorney-General and Minister of Justice had prosecuted former appointees of the erstwhile NDC regime, why can’t they prosecute his own appointees who have been found by independent constitutional and investigative bodies to have engaged in corruption,” he added.
Reacting to the comments by Sammy Gyamfi, the Director of Communications of the NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoa said the country must build a resilient institution to fight against corruption in the long term and not leave the menace into the hands of presidents.
He noted independent institutions mandated by the Constitution to fight corruption must step up and deal with the canker.
“We shouldn’t leave this in the hands of presidents, we should build a system that is resilient that serves us over the long term, and the institutions vested with the authority and power to fight corruption must step up and deal with this canker once and for all because they have the freedom, they are free to do so particularly the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Contrary to assertions that Members of Parliament on the Minority side fighting against some taxes and levies introduced in the 2022 budget, are against taxation, John Asiedu Nketia says that is not so.
The General Secretary of the NDC explained that the party rather has a different approach to the subject of taxation.null
Speaking during a public forum on the 2021 ‘Awudie Budget’ organized by the NDC, he elaborated the stance of the party, stating that taxing people should benefit the nation and its people more than it impoverishes them.
“NDC is not against taxation. Indeed, our philosophy is based on taxation. We believe in redistributive justice and taxation is a means of achieving redistribution of wealth in the country. Our philosophy is hinged on the belief that what we have come together and we want to fight, we have different means: some will get rich, others will get richer, others will remain poor whatever happens but if we want to live in a group to ensure that everybody can have the basic needs in life, we believe that it is through taxation.
“Our principle of taxation is each according to his means. So, those who have bigger means will pay more than those who don’t have. And we are very conscious about what taxation and how those taxations are implemented. Because, if you put in taxation measure that works to put the greatest burden on the people who are already sinking then you are not helping to build a well-fed society,” he said.
The Minority in parliament had, on November 26, 2021, rejected the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in a historic event, but that decision was overturned days later on November 30, 2022, by the Majority.
Former Minister of Central Region, Kwamena Duncan, has rebuked the Minority over their behaviour in Parliament.
The Minority and Majority members have been having heated arguments regarding the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
As the Minority is against the budget, the Majority, on the otherhand, are in favour of it.
The drama began when the Minority on Friday, November 26 rejected the budget after the Majority staged a walkout from their chambers but their vote was counted as a breach of the standing orders of the Legislative House.
On Tuesday, November 30, the Majority, by a 138 representation in a quorum, approved the budget.
During a Parliamentary proceeding after the Majority vote, some members of the Minority attempted to attack the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu (Joe Wise) with one of them violently pulling the Speaker’s seat.
Discussing the Parliamentary brouhaha during Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Kwamena Duncan called out the conduct of the Minority, describing them as ”aggressors”.
Alluding to a similar incident during the formation of the 8th Parliament where the Minority misbehaved, Kwamena Duncan said; ”Since 7th January what we witnessed and they all came out and said that oh we are sorry for what we have done, and we thought that they have learned some lessons out of what they did. It is even worse today and those who are the aggressors are the NDC Members of Parliament. The least thing, they want to unleash violence. Go back to 1996 and see those who were there, whether that was their enterprise in Parliament.”
He dreaded the Parliament of today may degenerate into anarchy.
“The Parliament we have today that people queued up to elect their representatives, today, the least thing, they descend into anarchy and violence. That a Member of Parliament can climb to where the Speaker is sitting to pull the Speaker’s seat and this country is muted over this matter. It’s not been called out and shamed. Now, Parliament has become a place where it easily degenerates into anything,” he stated.
Tamale Central Lawmaker, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has said that as far as the Minority is concerned, the 2022 budget statement remains rejected.
For the budget to be accepted, he said, the Minister of Finance would have to relay the entire document in Parliament with the changes duly reflected.
“As far as we are concerned the 2022/2023 budget statement was rejected,” he said on the New Day show on TV3 Tuesday December 7, adding that “that is our position.”
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta announced some changes in the budget document at a press conference in Accra on Monday December 6.
He said “With regards to Agyapa Royalties Ltd, he said “we shall amend paragraphs 442 and 443 to take out references to mineral royalties collateralisation. It is important to note that, any reference to Agyapa was for informational purposes, and as such was not reflected in the fiscal framework;
“In respect of the unfortunate tidal waves which rendered about 3,000 people homeless in Keta, we shall make the necessary budgetary allocations of at least GHS10 million to complete the Feasibility and Engineering studies for the coastal communities adversely affected.
“We will broaden the scope of the study to consider a more comprehensive solution to protect Ghana’s 540 Km of coastline, including the 149 Km between Aflao and Prampram. Meanwhile, NADMO has responded to the humanitarian crisis created by the tidal waves on the Keta coastline;
“Relating to the Aker Energy transaction, we shall amend paragraph 829 of the 2022 Budget on the acquisition of a stake from Aker Energy and AGM Petroleum by GNPC, to reflect the resolution of Parliament dated 6th July, 2021 that “the terms and conditions of the loan for the acquisition of the shares shall be brought to Parliament for consideration pursuant to article 181 of the Constitution; and
“On the benchmark values, we shall avert any hardships to importers and consumers while safeguarding the interest of local manufacturing industries to secure and expand jobs for our people. This administrative exercise which reviewed 43 out of 81 line items, has the objective to promote local manufacturing and the 1D1F policy, including the assembling of vehicles. It is important to note that this adjustment affects only 11.4% of the total CIF value, of which 50% is for vehicles. From our analysis, the potential increase in retail prices should be relatively insignificant and therefore inflation should be muted.
“The YouStart policy will also support our accomplished Traders with appropriate training and access to capital to become Manufacturers in order to expand the industrial base of our society and our import substitution strategy, in line with our Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. We will work with the relevant Committees of Parliament to reflect these modifications in the 2022 Budget as is the usual practice, before the Appropriation Bill is passed. Any other concerns which may emerge shall be addressed during the discussions of the estimates by the Committees, as has been the tradition.
“On the matter of the E-levy, having regard to its serious fiscal implications, we will continue our consultations with the Minority Caucus in Parliament and other relevant stakeholders, with a view to achieving consensus and reverting to the House in the shortest possible time.
These changes became necessary following the spirited objections raised against the budget by the Minority in Parliament.
The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is marking the first anniversary of what it describes as the controversial 2020 General Elections.
They said President Akufo-Addo secured his victory in that election on the bloody altar of violence and mayhem.
A statement issued and signed by the party’s General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia on Monday December 6 said “For us in the National Democratic Congress, who were the victims at the hands of the NPP goons who have been unlawfully integrated into the security services, that day will always remain a terrible blot on the much-acclaimed democratic credentials of Ghana whose genesis we in the NDC are proud to be associated with.
“It is a matter of grave irony that the one person who, before the elections of 2016, was touted as the best thing that could happen to Ghana’s leadership, turned out to be a politician whose style of governance is dominated by intolerance, violence and machoism. It was during the first term of President Akufo-Addo that the politically-motivated murder of Ahmed Suale took place. Ahmed Suale was murdered almost 3 years ago, and yet nobody knows when his murderers would be apprehended and brought to trial. But that is not all.”
It added that “In the first year of the 2nd term of President Akufo-Addo, another obviously politically-motivated murder has been committed, this time in Ejura in the Ashanti Region. The callous murder of Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Kaaka and the apparent silence and inaction of the security agencies to find his killers, has fortified us in our belief that President Akufo-Addo is not fully committed to his oath to preserve the lives of Ghanaians, and that anyone who dissents cannot count on his protection.
“It is a matter of great regret that a President who in his professional career, spent several years defending human rights issues would, upon the assumption of the highest office in the land, preside over such egregious violations of the rights of citizens.”
“Today, we recall, with grave sadness and sorrow that eight (8) Ghanaians were needlessly murdered by agents of the state under the ultimate control of the Presidency during the 2020 general elections. What is even more baffling over and beyond the tardiness of the Akufo-Addo government in bringing to book the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, is the fact that the President has never for once acknowledged that his victory was secured over the lifeless bodies of his fellow citizens.
“The National Democratic Congress wishes to place on record its promise to the families of the deceased and the injured that, at the earliest possible opportunity, we shall seek justice for the bereaved and the injured, and take all appropriate steps to ensure that compensation is paid to the families of those who were murdered or needlessly assaulted by NPP hoodlums. These dead persons, in our humble opinion, are the martyrs of the 4th Republic. And we will never forget them.
“Let it also never be forgotten that this ready resort to violence on the part of President Akufo-Addo and his NPP predates his accession to the Presidency. For even in opposition, violence was freely employed by he and his supporters to cow his adversaries in his own party into submission. And it is this clearly visible trait that has plunged the country into the confusion surrounding the approval of the 2022 Budget.
“We now have a President who obviously does not believe in dialogue nor negotiations and would, at any stage of engagement, seek to employ the tactics of a wannabe dictator to bully his way through. Unfortunately, in a real democracy, such methods do not yield peace or stability. And fortunately, the people of Ghana awarded the NDC with enough seats in Parliament to ward off the President’s intolerant approach to governance.
“We in the National Democratic Congress wish to place on record our unblemished admiration for our 137 MPs who, in the face of naked power play and threats, have stood up to be counted. We honour them most especially for their forthright rejection of the E-levy. By ensuring the successful election of the vintage Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament, the gallant NDC MPs have carved out a name for themselves and posterity.
“The people of Ghana are now assured that Parliament has assumed its proper role as an oversight institution that checks the excesses of the government of President Akufo-Addo. The National Democratic Congress salutes all Ghanaians who, despite the threats to their much cherished rights, despite the unjustified killing of as many as eight citizens, despite the intolerance of the Akufo-Addo government, went to the polls and cast their votes a year ago.
“We pledge to fight as hard as possible within the law, to prevent the current government from bastardising our democracy; and we promise that no sacrifice on our part would be too much for us to bear in order to secure for ourselves and our posterity, the benefits of the democracy that we toiled so hard to establish.”7
According to him, some sessions which involve heated debate has sometimes culminated in threats of physical harm and abuse.
Speaking on the News File segment on Joy News, Afenyo Markin alleged that the recent impasse over the 2022 budget statement has revealed a plot by the minority to physically abuse, Joseph Osei-Owusu who presided over a ruling as the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
“Sometimes I sit in the chamber and I fear for my own life. I fear for my life because one moment we are debating then you threaten someone that I will beat you. You should call them out. Sam George is apologizing on behalf of the minority and majority, we don’t need you to apologise for us. With all due respect, apologize for your caucus. NPP has been gentle,” he said.null
Meanwhile, Parliament has come under intense criticism over the behaviour of the both Majority and the Minority clashing heads as a result of a ruling by 1st Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu who was acting as speaker.
Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George, making his submission on the News File segment, rendered an apology on behalf of the house.
His apology was, however, rejected by the Deputy Majority leader, Afenyo Markin, who implied that the chaos was orchestrated by the NDC side of the house.
“Sam George is apologizing on behalf of the minority and majority, we don’t need you to apologise for us. With all due respect, apologize for your caucus. NPP has been gentle,” Afenyo Markin stressed.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has disclosed that he is willing to accept a reduction of the controversial e-levy.
According to the Tamale South MP, he has shifted from his previous stance of no e-levy at all to a reduction of the initial 1.75%.
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary launch of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications in Accra on Thursday, the Tamale South MP, the Minority Caucus in Parliament will accept a reduction of the proposed e-levy to 1% from the original 1.75%.
“A week ago, it was no no no, we won’t accept e-levy but having listened to officials in government, including the Minister of Finance, I am convinced to accept a departure from my original “no” to accepting a one percent e-levy,” Iddrisu said at the launch.
He noted that when the e-levy is pegged at one percent, it will be a great contribution to fiscal consolidation and would ensure the economy did not collapse going forward. The digital economy, according to Haruna Iddrisu, was doing well and had facilitated a revolution in financial inclusion, hence it was unwise to overburden the telecommunication sector.
“We are not against it but we want it fixed at one percent. We fear for double taxation because we already have the communication services tax,” he said.
Haruna Iddrisu and his Minority Caucus initially disagreed with the deduction fee for business transactions not exceeding the GHC100.00 threshold a day and called for it to be pegged at GHC500.00.
He, in a similar vein, suggested that the money be pegged at GHC300.00 after revising his notes.
Leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has asked that attention should be moved to how the 2022 budget statement and economic policy of government will address the myriads of issues confronting the country.
The lawyer, taking to social media after the majority side approved the budget, said the fuss around the rejection or otherwise of the budget should be shelved.
“There’s really nothing to be particularly excited about either Friday’s unlawful rejection or Tuesday’s passing of the budget. What’s relevant is how this budget may seek to tackle the economic issues like unemployment which confront the nation.
How will it ease hardships?” he said in a tweet on Wednesday December 1, 2021.
There’s really nothing to be particularly excited about either Friday’s unlawful rejection or Tuesday’s passing of the budget. What’s relevant is how this budget may seek to tackle the economic issues like unemployment which confront the nation.
How will it ease hardships?
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) December 1, 2021
A one-sided majority side voted to approve the 2022 budget after the minority side refused to show up in the Chambers. In a dramatic fashion, the first deputy speaker, Joe Osei Owusu counted himself as the 138th MP to make up the majority to take a decision per constitutional requirement in Article 104.
“Honourable members, the numbers presented to me by the clerks at table is 137 of you plus me, MP for Bekwai, 138. Honourable members, for the avoidance of doubt. Let me read out the Constitutional requirement, so that there is no confusion as to who can vote…what numbers are required to vote to take a decision. Article 104 (1) except as otherwise provided in the constitution matters of parliament shall be determined by the majority of members present and voting.
“The majority of members present and voting with at least half of all members of parliament present. What this means is that before you take a decision, there must be at least majority of all members present. With me we are 138 members. That’s a majority,” he explained.
Article 104 (1) states “Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, matters in Parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority of members present and voting, with at least half of all the members of Parliament present”.
But the conduct of the acting speaker has been criticized by the minority who have described it as an illegality.
Captain Smart says some NPP MPs wanted to vote against the 2022 budget
He said the party was saved by backbencher, Mpraeso MP
He claims the MP suggested the Majority walk out of the chamber
Godsbrain Blessed Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, the host of Onua FM’s Morning Show, is alleging that about a dozen NPP MPs wanted to vote against the 2022 budget which was presented to Parliament by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Speaking on the Monday, November 29 edition of his show, Smart stated that the party was saved by a backbencher, Davis Opoku Ansah, who is the MP for Mpraeso.
“Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, noted the budget was a useless budget; he cries in chambers anytime he reads the budget but he cannot say it. The Mpraeso MP studied the trend and noted that if the approval of the budget goes into voting, it would be even.
“Some NPP MPs about twelve of them wanted to vote against the budget…almost twelve of NPP MPs wanted to vote against the budget when the approval process had entered into voting…so, what happened was that the Mpraeso MP saved the party…how I wish I had the power like I would have made the Mpraeso MP a senior minister immediately.
“How come the Mpraeso MP, who is a backbencher, instructed the Majority to stage a walkout, can you imagine?” he asked.
Parliament has approved the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government presented by Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta on November 17.
The budget was approved in the absence of MPs from the Minority, who declined to participate in the business of the day.
In their absence, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta re-submitted the 2022 Budget, which was unanimously approved by the Majority MPs.
The sitting on Tuesday was delayed by hours of meetings between the Majority and Minority leadership aimed at exploring how to cure what has been termed by the Majority as unconstitutionality by Speaker Alban Bagbin.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, has thrown out the Minority caucus’ motion that sought to quash the approval of the 2022 budget by the Majority caucus.
The Majority caucus, on Tuesday, 30 November 2021, approved the 2022 budget without the Minority caucus, who have argued that the move was unconstitutional because the required 138 quorum was lacking at the time.
In parliament today, Wednesday, 1 December 2021, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu moved a motion for the Speaker to rescind the decision to approve the budget.
But First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who presided over the business of the house in the stead of Speaker Alban Bagbin, who is Dubai for a medical review, threw the Minority’s motion out.
He argued that a Deputy Speaker could not be described as a speaker hence, the arguments being made by the Minority that the number of MPs in the chamber during the approval of the budget was not enough could not hold water.
Mr Osei-Owusu said: “I am a Member of Parliament; the Second Deputy Speaker is a Member of Parliament. Our work is to assist the Speaker. Any attempt to read and interpret the Constitution to include Deputy Speakers is a misreading of the Constitution”.
“When the Speaker is not around, either of us can preside, so, like any other member, that member does not lose his right of being a member of the house.”
Unhappy with the ruling, Asawase MP Mubarak Muntaka stood on his feet and angrily shouted: “You’re not the Speaker and cannot make a determination”.
This resulted in a near brawl as some Minority MPs rushed onto Mr Osei-Owusu but the marshals intervened.
General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has justified his presence in Parliament on Friday when debate on the 2022 budget was supposed to be finalised.
“I came to sit in the public gallery. I wasn’t speaking to anybody. I was just sitting down observing things. So how do you see me and just say ‘Asiedu Nketia is in the Chamber, so must leave’ when other members of the public gallery were still in the gallery?” he told Joy News after he exited the Chamber.
Asiedu Nketia’s presence in Parliament on Friday, November 27, 2021, generated a lot of drama.
The NDC General-Secretary, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Service Board visited the House to observe proceedings but his presence was disapproved by the Majority Caucus.
Prior to the vote to approve the 2022 budget, the Finance Minister appealed to the Speaker to allow him to further engage the leadership of Parliament over the budget. But the appeal was turned down by the MPs through a voice vote.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, then challenged the Speaker’s ruling and called for a division. A division is a form of voting from MPs whilst ensuring that all non-MPs are cleared from the lobby.
In view of that, the Speaker directed that all non-MPs will have to vacate Parliament for that form of voting to take place.
At this time, the Finance Minister was in the chamber, yet was not a Member of Parliament. His presence was opposed by the Minority MPs.
They contended that Ken Ofori-Atta was a Minister, hence, his ineligibility to be in the chamber.
After noticing that the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress was in the public gallery, the Majority also demanded the removal of Asiedu Nketia from Parliament.
Whilst the NDC MPs remained calm, their colleagues on the other side created a chaotic scene, banging on the table and accusing the Speaker of bias.
Minutes later, the leadership of the Majority side staged a walkout. The Speaker then suspended the proceedings.
Several minutes later, the Speaker returned and asked if there was a quorum for business to continue. After establishing that proceedings could continue, he put out the question again – whether the appeal from the Finance Minister should be considered.
After the Minority had their way through a voice vote, he therefore proceeded to the main agenda of the day; the approval of the budget.
Alban Bagbin subjected the approval of the budget to a voice vote and the Minority had their way.
Speaking on whether or not the Speaker was right in ordering the Finance Minister to exit the Chamber, Asiedu Nketiah stated that once the Majority had specifically requested for a division, it was only right that everyone in the Chamber who was not an MP exited on the orders of the Speaker.
“There’s a procedure for division in the standing orders and that needed to be followed. If the Speaker ordered that those Ministers who are not members of Parliament must leave upon the ringing of the bells for a division by the Majority themselves, the orders must be obeyed.
“When there was a voice vote, did you see the Speaker walking out any Ministers? But if you specifically call for a division then the procedure for division in the standing orders must be followed; it means that the lobbies must be cleared and anybody who does not have a vote must leave,” he added.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is charging government appointed heads of various public institutions to play a major role in trumpeting of government’s achievements to the public to defuse propaganda of their political opponents.
According to him, the heads of entities are better communicators because they are abreast with facts due to the data they have in their possession which should be made known to the public to counter the deliberate misinformation and propaganda of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He believes that government communication should not be left to party communicators alone as head of the state institutions have crucial role to play to dispel misinformation by their opponents.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a 3-day retreat for board chairpersons, heads and deputy heads of government institutions at Nkwatia-Kwahu on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia told the heads of state agencies that they should make conscious efforts to also come out and speak.
“You’re at the forefront of the communication in this country and for this government. I know that we can also talk about party communicators and so on but I don’t see any better communicators than the heads of these institutions. You’re the best communicators this party can have because you’re possessed with all the information.
“You know, sometimes you see our party communicators struggling in some issues because they just don’t have the data and they’re confronted in the studio and they don’t have the data to response to issues. But our opponents are very good in propaganda. They’re very very good you know. They’ll just throw out falsehood and if you’re not able to counter it, it takes the aura of truth. But you’re in the best position to counter this propaganda because you’ve the data.
“So, I want to basically emphasis that we expect you to let the people know all the good works that are taking place in your various entities,” Dr. Bawumia stated.
The Vice President cited an instance that after his recent public lecture at Ashesi University where the NDC came out and said John Mahama has made all the investment in fibre optics that’s why the NPP government is benefiting from John Mahama investments.
He noted John Mahama has not done any investment in the fibre optic space which has yielded results in the ongoing digitisation of the country since 88.4 percent of the fibre optics networks were licensing of fibre optic companies were done by President Akufo-Addo govenrment per data available at the National Communications Authority (NCA).
“I’m sure you heard what they said that they’ve invested in fibre optics and now we’re benefiting from it. I said wait a second, I can’t remember any investment of John Mahama in the fibre optics space.
“So, I called NCA and I said give me the data on fibre optics in Ghana. It was very interesting when the data was provided. Currently, NCA has provided 6 fibre optics licensing since Ghana begun, just 6 fibre optics licensing. The first was provided under President Kufuor, which was Vodacom. Of all the 6, 5 was provided under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP.
“So under the NPP since 2017, we’ve licensed entities for a total fibre optics network in Ghana that is being licensed by the government is 6,343 kilometres that’s the total. What the NPP has licensed since 2017 of the 6,343 is 5,610 that’s 88.4 percent of this data and that is data that is in possession of us. We’ve to make that data clearly known,” he mentioned.
The Vice President wondered how Nana Addo’s government would be benefiting from John Mahama investments in the digitisation space when the NPP government invested majority in the fibre optics network of the country.
“How can we provide 88.4 percent of the fibre optics network of Ghana and you say digitisation is riding on your investment when we even started the whole process in 2017? So the data is in your respective entities and you come out and let the people know when they’re issues. Don’t leave it to party communicators alone to do the battle, you’ve the data so let’s help in educating the people otherwise propaganda will take over,” Dr. Bawumia added when asking the heads of state agencies to response to misinformation of the public by their political opponents
The general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the Speaker of Parliament has been passing comments that sometimes are strictly unnecessary
John Boadu, the general secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin is only a beneficiary of a position he never worked for; the reason for some of his comments in recent times.
According to him, comments from the Speaker of Parliament indicating that he (Alban Bagbin) has the “powers to remove the president but the president cannot remove him” is unfortunate and serves no purpose.
“The Speaker as we all know is only benefitting from what he didn’t work for and as a result, he has been passing comments that sometimes are strictly unnecessary. For instance, he passed a comment that he has the capacity to impeach or remove the president and the president cannot remove you (Alban Bagbin) is totally unnecessary because he forgets that as a Speaker, he doesn’t even have a vote.”
“So, on what basis is he saying that or he’s going to supervise a distorted proposal for impeachment or what? I think it’s time he recognises that he’s benefitting from something he didn’t work for,” he stated.
Road tolls
On the suspension road tolls, Boadu stated that although Parliament has the sole responsibility to enact or suspend laws, the government also has the responsibility to institute administrative measures to curb any form of confusion and conflicts that will emerge as a result of the policies of the government.
“With the removal of road tolls, I think strictly and technically speaking, it is Parliament that enacts and suspend laws so nobody is lost to it. But in the interim as we wait for Parliament, particularly when the government has put in a proposal of a reduction or zero-rated tolls, for instance, it is necessary for the government to put in administrative measures in other not to create confusion. Because if the minister had not operationalised the non-collection of tolls at that time, there’ll have been a lot of confusion at our toll booths,” he said.
Cessation of road tolls
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Attah directed the cessation of road tolls effective Thursday, 18 November 2021.
This followed an announcement by the government that abolished all tolls on public roads and bridges in the 2022 Budget Statement.
However, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin directed the Roads and Highways Minister to reverse the directive on the cessation of road tolls until Parliament provides appropriate legislation.
According to the Speaker, the minister lacks the legal mandate to issue such a directive and has suggested that the minister initiates legislation under a certificate of urgency to seek the approval of the House
Vice Presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Bawumia has lambasted the Mahama led government for its incessant penchant to tax almost every and anything.
He has observed that if the government finds a way, it will even impose taxes on the air Ghanaians breathe.
The renowned Economist while addressing students and lecturers of the E.P. College of Education, Amedzofe in the Volta region, Wednesday pointed out that the current slump in the economy had been occasioned by the government’s mismanagement, corruption and incompetence.
Dr Bawumia noted that in the government’s desperate bid to find a way out, it has resorted to imprudently imposing taxes on every conceivable item.
“In response to the reckless management of our country’s economy and resources, which has led Ghana back to the doorsteps of the IMF, the government resorted to imposing taxes on every conceivable item in attempt to raise resources to fill the deep hole their incompetence and corruption had dug.”
“In their desperation to fill the hole they have dug, the government imposed taxes on condoms, cutlasses, savings; today they are imposing taxes on pensions and allowances. Anything they think they can impose taxes on, they are imposing taxes on it – even if they think they could impose taxes on the air we breathe today, they would have imposed taxes on it,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia noted that as a result of the desperation to raise revenue, chiefly because the government’s reckless borrowing and corruption had created a huge hole, the government was failing to see the dangers their unquenchable thirst for taxes were spelling for the economy.
“In so doing, they do not even understand that this is actually hurting the economy but they are so desperate for revenue that they are not even thinking about the economy”, he said
A former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho has told members of the NDC who are insulting Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, a daughter of the late founder of the party, Jerry John Rawlings, for asking the leadership of the NDC to bring back her mother Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
Zanetor who is also the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle made the appeal at the commemoration of the one year anniversary of the late former president at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Friday November 12.
According to Zenetor, for the NDC to win the 2024 elections , her mother must rejoin the party.
“We cannot do it alone. It would take all of us. You don’t have to have a title or be an executive. And I would like to use this occasion to also express my appreciation to the leadership of the NDC, to the rank and file, for the support and the show of love. And so, on behalf of my mother, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, my siblings and myself, we say Thank You.
“I would like to use the opportunity to ask that as we remember the old man, thinking that he ll not pass what he did, let us recognize the fact that we don’t know when our last day would be, let’s make amends with those we have wronged. On this particular occasion, I’d say the thing that nobody wants to say: Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is an integral part of this party. Let us do what we have to do bring her back.”
Nana Konadu broke away from the NDC to form her own party, the National Democratic Party, NDP which has so far contested two national elections.
In a tweet, Mr Anyidoho said “Let nobody claiming to be a supporter of NDC, dare insult Honourable Ezanetor Rawlings, for asking the Party to, reach out to, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. United we stand; divided we fall. The spirit of JJ Rawlings lives o.
LET NOBODY CLAIMING TO BE A SUPPORTER OF NDC, DARE INSULT HONOURABLE EZANETOR RAWLINGS, FOR ASKING THE PARTY TO, REACH OUT TO, NANA KONADU AGYEMAN RAWLINGS. UNITED WE STAND; DIVIDED WE FALL. THE SPIRIT OF JJ RAWLINGS LIVES ON👏🙏 PIC.TWITTER.COM/D71ALH9MJP— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) November 15, 2021
He added “Those who don’t appreciate history, have no Understanding of the paths of life. Asomdwehene Atta-Mills, worked hard to bring Reform Party & DFP back into the fold of NDC to win in 2008 & 2012. NDC, bring back NDP for the sake of the future. Pride must be swallowed ooo! Ayoo.”
THOSE WHO DON’T APPRECIATE HISTORY, HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE PATHS OF LIFE. ASOMDWEHENE ATTA-MILLS, WORKED HARD TO BRING REFORM PARTY & DFP BACK INTO THE FOLD OF NDC TO WIN IN 2008 & 2012. NDC, BRING BACK NDP FOR THE SAKE OF THE FUTURE👏. PRIDE MUST BE SWALLOWED OOO! AYOO🙏 PIC.TWITTER.COM/IMXBKU0U4O— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) November 15, 2021
The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor, has said the party is open to discussing the return of Mrs Konadu Agyeman Rawlings if she applies to rejoin the party.
Speaking on Morning Starr, Monday 15th November 2021, the Deputy General Secretary in-Charge of Operation stated that Article 8 of the NDC’s constitution spells out how one can join the party.
According to him, the wife of the founder of the NDC would not be prevented from joining the NDC if she had a change of mind to rejoin just as she willingly resigned.
“The right to association is an inalienable right that has been bestowed to every citizen of this country and with such rights, its commission or omission can only be exercised by that person. So as we saw with Madam Konadu leaving the party, it was in exercise of her right that is why for now she is not a member of NDC and belongs to a different party.
“If she has realized that her action and her commission haven’t helped her in achieving her political or any objectives that she might have, it is just fair she comes back to the competition of the NDC. Relying on the republic of Ghana Constitution to commission, she can go through the procedure of becoming a member of the NDC. She has to apply and the leadership will consider the application and just follow the procedure,” he added.
The first born of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has made a passionate call to the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to make amends and bring back her mother, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings to the party again.
Addressing a gathering to commemorate the first Anniversary of the passing of the former president on Friday, November 12, 2021, Zanetor indicated conflicts are part of humans but there is also reconciliation at a point.
“I want to use this opportunity to ask that as we remember the old man who we never expected to pass when he did, let’s make amends. Let us approach those we have wronged.
“At this juncture I would want to say what no one wants to hear. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings is an integral part of the party. Let us do all we can to bring her back. In every family there is conflict, but there are also elders who will mediate the conflict. We are calling on our elders, this is the time. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but if we want victory to rescue the people of Ghana from their current situation, let us do what we have to do,” she requested.
Yaw Buaben Asamoa, Director of Communications for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has slated former President John Dramani Mahama for speaking to issues as if he has not run affairs of the country before.
According to him, Mr Mahama sometimes portrays the character of someone yet to ascend to the highest office of the land; forgetting that he was once a Vice-President, an acting President and later President of Ghana.
Speaking on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, the NPP Communications Director pointed out that as President, Mr Mahama had the chance to create the new regions to bring development down to the grassroots level but lacked the will and know-how to execute it.
” . . He (John Mahama) has no right to speak ill of President Akufo-Addo with regards to the creation of the new regions when he could not help the people with their request for new regions.
“He sometimes talks as if he has not been a President of this country before,” he chided.null
Mr Buaben Asamoa urged the former President to acknowledge the effort of President Akufo-Addo to go through the legal process and commit resources to create the new regions as he promised the people in the new regions.
“After creating the new regions, the President didn’t go to sleep but he invested funds to make the new regions see the same development as the old regions. The President has moved a step further to spreading the various sectors to cover all the other districts other than the district capital to ensure that development reaches out to all corners of the regions,” he argued.
“We have to remind former President Mahama about all the feats of President Akufo-Addo as he [Mahama] moves around with his ‘Thank You’ tour, saying something bad about the new regions that he couldn’t create while in office as President,” he indicated.
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged Ghanaians, especially politicians, to inculcate moral values and high standards in the quest to build a society underpinned by a common set of aims and beliefs.
He has also charged politicians, in particular, to emulate the Akufo-Addo government by backing up their claims of fighting corruption through deeds, not just words, to make Ghana a better place.
Speaking at the 76th Graduation ceremony of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon on Saturday, 13th November 2021, Vice President Bawumia said in today’s world, it has become important that countries deliberately develop a society of persons who are not merely prepared for jobs but are also set for ongoing growth in all aspects of life to make a difference in the world.
“As Ghanaians, we could build a distinct moral identity and constitute a reference point for people of other nations. We must endeavour, both in our public and private lives, to do what is morally right and eschew what is morally evil. A high sense of morality is “sine qua non” of good citizenship. That much, not material wealth, not prosperity religion, is what we need in order to build a good society” he emphasized.
Corruption
Zeroing in on corruption, Vice President Bawumia said several pronouncements have been made in the past indicating a desire to fight it, but these have largely failed, hence the decision by the Akufo-Addo government to digitize the process of accessing government services and reduce the human interface, which lends itself to corruption.
“One of the major moral cankers facing our society is that of corruption. It is one of the things that every political party talks about but very little has been done about it in the past. We have killed people in the past and it has not worked. We have passed many laws and they have not been enforced. We have appealed to people’s sense of morality and it has not worked.
“When we came into office, one of the approaches we took to address the issue of corruption is to put in place systems that eliminate corruption through digitalization. Through digitalization, we have been able to tackle corruption at the Passport Office, Ports, GRA – TIN is now the Ghanacard number, SSNIT, NHIS, you can purchase electricity credits using your mobile phone. Every public sector worker will be uniquely identified by the Ghanacard number – no more double salaries.
“The Motor Insurance database, containing the data of all the insurance companies, has ensured that now we don’t have fake insurance certificates. You can dial a short code and check the insurance status of a car before you board. The data of the Births and Deaths Registry is being digitized, to take out fake birth certificates. And now, with the Ghana.Gov platform, you can access all Government services and make the necessary payments without any major human interventions, drastically reducing corruption.”
“We are building a new system to underpin the economy,” he explained. “A system that makes for greater transparency, promotes accountability and efficiency in every aspect of public interactions. It is a system that minimizes incentives to pay bribes and opportunities for corruption in the delivery of public services.”
Touching on the theme for the celebration, “faith-based education, morality and nation-building”, Dr Bawumia indicated that individual and national, concerted efforts would be required to rekindle the core societal values of the country.
“We need to work consciously on the nation’s value systems to enhance the moral temper of the country to help accelerate national development. Our values are very important, and we should hold on to them.
“As data indicates, a majority of Ghanaians are religious. Therefore, religion does not only have a profound influence on our moral values and life but also on the development of our country.”
217 graduates received recognition for their hard work, ranging from Certificate in Ministry (16), Bachelor of Theology (55), Master of Arts in Ministry (91), Master of Divinity (41), Master of Theology (11) and Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (3).
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s promise to protect the public purse has become an “illusion”, the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has observed.
Its president, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, at this year’s plenary assembly of the association in Wa, capital of the Upper West Region, said: “Though poverty stares us in the face, it appears lost to those with power”.
“The expressed commitment of the president of the republic to protect the public purse – a promise that citizens welcomed – seems to be an illusion now”, Most Rev. Philip Naameh noted.
He wondered: “Are those managing the public purse not concerned about [the] waste and misapplication of resources that belong to all Ghanaians?”
“Can this be referred to as irresponsible use of power or the lack of compassion and empathy?” he asked.
The cleric said “those who are entrusted with power that comes from our collective will must know that what they do with that, shapes what we all will become in the future”.
A post-election report by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana’s Afrobarometer in August 2021 said while Ghanaians are split in their opinion on the Akufo-Addo government’s ability to ensure that rule of law is upheld, the majority (62 per cent), however, are not confident in the ability of the president and his government to protect the country’s financial resources and curb corruption in the next four years.
Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo said in May this year that his government has achieved a lot in terms of fighting corruption.
In an interview with CNN on Monday, 3 May 2021, President Akufo-Addo said he was content with the progress he has made so far since, in his view, Ghana’s anti-corruption ranking has “gone up several notches.”
“Am I satisfied that we’ve been effective? I will say yes”, the President answered a direct question.
“A lot has been done, and it is reflected in Ghana’s growing position and rankings of corruption in the world”, he noted.
“We’ve gone up several notches since I came into office because we are dealing with these matters at the basic level,” explained the President.
According to him, Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions “were very poorly resourced” prior to his assumption of office.
“We can talk all we like about corruption and make all the wonderful statements but if the instruments at your disposal for dealing with it are weak and blunt, you will get no result,” Mr Akufo-Addo noted.
Concerning the forcing out of Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, the President said: “There’s a time for retiring which is prescrib
The three-time Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) began his nationwide tour to thank Ghanaians for the votes he polled in the December 7, 2020 elections in August, five months after his petition challenging the results of the polls was dismissed.
Though he eventually lost to incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a second successive defeat to his successor since beating him in 2012, the former President decided to thank voters for their support.
He began his tour in the Upper East Region specifically on Tuesday, August 17 and has since visited 15 regions of Ghana.
The Greater Accra Region will be the last for the former president.
Coincidentally, Mr Mahama beat Nana Akufo-Addo in this Region as he polled 1,326,489 votes to beat the other 11 contenders.
Mr Akufo-Addo polled 1,253,179 in the Greater Accra Region.
Meanwhile, Mr Mahama is making room for a limited number of guests for his ‘ThankGhana’ event on Wednesday, November 10.
The Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) wing of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the public lecture delivered by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at the Ashesi University on Tuesday November 2.
TEIN noted that the Vice President is now shifting the goalposts by, in their view, moving away from the politics of economics to be focusing on digitalisation.
A statement signed by the National Deputy TEIN Coordinator, Mr Ekow Djan said “While in opposition we were made to believe he was the Economist who had the solutions to all our challenges. Today, he’s no more interested in Economics rather, Information Technology (IT).
“Dr. Bawumia never mentioned “Digitalization/Digitization” while a Running Mate in opposition— he was always on Exchange rate, Borrowing, Revenue generation. What has become of the dollar to cedi rate? Is he not aware his administration has borrowed more than any administration? Our Dept to GDP ratio is close to 80%.
“And he still has the effrontery to speak in this country? Well, the Ghanaian voter is discerning. Our Economy is nothing to write home about.
“Probably that’s the more reason why he’s abandoned Economics and conferred onto himself “Honorary Minister for Communication and Digitization”.
“We could only wish him well in his new office. Upon all the unfulfilled promises, Vice President Bawumia has once again chosen to promise unborn babies to issue them Ghana Cards. Governance is a serious business— [Former] President Mahama will always be vindicated.”
The Vice President during the lecture said there was a link between economy and digitalisation for which he keeps touting the efforts by the government to build a digital economy.
He said among other things that “There is a lot to say about these but today, I want to focus my remarks on how we are transforming Ghana’s economy through digitization because it is important that we highlight the critical nature of digitizing the economy and how it underpins the reforms that the citizenry expect of government.
” We can only build a vibrant modern nation if we have strong systems and institutions that work. Otherwise we will be stuck in a vicious cycle of rhetoric and underdevelopment.
“Under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, we have focused on pursuing digitization as part of our economic strategy because the Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us and we must be part of the modern world. There is a growing body of empirical evidence that illustrates the capacity of digital technology to create jobs, significantly boost productivity, increase income and support wealth creation.
“The World Bank in a 2020 report observed that well-functioning digital economies are expected to achieve faster growth, offer more innovative services and create more jobs. The World Economic Forum’s Global Information Report estimates that “an increase of 10% in a country’s digitization score fuels a 0.75% growth in GDP per capita”.
“It is therefore clear that going forward, countries that fail to digitalize their economies are likely to be uncompetitive in the emerging global digital revolution.”
He added “On coming into office, we moved quickly with the issuance of biometric national ID cards (The Ghanacard) to the population. The Ghanacard project was initiated by President Kufuor but abandoned for 8 years.
“The card has world class features. It captures 10 fingerprints as well as the iris of individuals. It is also consistent with the ECOWAS standards and bears the ECOWAS logo. It is compatible with any reader which is compliant with EMV contactless communication protocol.
“So far, 15.5 million people have been enrolled on the Ghanacard by the NIA and most of the population will be enrolled by 2022. NIA will open an additional 291 offices tomorrow across all districts and regions to complete the exercise.
“The issuance of the Ghanacard has provided Ghana with a database that will be the anchor for all transactions in the future, providing unique identity to all individuals.”
He avers that it is only hard facts and data that can counter their efforts, adding that these figures are available thanks to the governing New Patriotic Party’s record in development which is way ahead of the NDC.
“Our record will always be superior to the record of the NDC. The NDC is very good at propaganda. They are specialized in that, but the only way to counter the propaganda is with facts and data. They are very afraid of facts and data.”
Bawumia was speaking on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at the end of a three-day orientation programme held for newly-appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, MMDCEs, in Accra.
He added that with the development efforts that the government was undertaking nationwide, it was the responsibility of MMDCEs to disseminate information to the local levels where they are the political heads.
By so doing, they will scuttle the robust propaganda machinery of the NDC and also put the NPP in good stead to win the 2024 General Elections.
“This coming election in 2024 is going to be fought at the local level, it is not going to be fought in Accra, so you know the projects, the NDC cannot sit in Accra and lie about projects when you in your regions and districts can tell the people what we have done.
“When you do that, they can go and check and the NDC cannot come back with propaganda. We have to be proactive and tell the people,” Bawumia added.
This is not the first time the Veep is taking potshots at the NDC, he serially accused the party of incompetence prior to becoming Vice-President and has also been highly critical of then-President John Dramani Mahama.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) must blame itself for its loss of the 2020 general elections since it failed to assign competent agents to police all the 38,000 polling stations across the country.
In his view, the NDC and its leadership must take the full blame for their defeat and stop pointing accusing fingers at the Electoral Commission.
The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr John Boadu, made the comments in an interview with Kwame Appiah Kubi on Accra100.5FM’s morning show Ghana Yensom on Friday, 29 October 2021.
According to him, the leadership of the NDC, during the last election, was so incompetent that they assigned national officers “who went to drink tea and biscuit” at the national collation centre otherwise known as the Strong Room at the Electoral Commission’s headquarters in Accra.
“What was the NDC, as the largest opposition political party, supposed to do when it got wind of the fact that some ballots have allegedly been stuffed ahead of the elections?” he asked.
Mr Boadu further questioned why the NDC failed to raise some of these concerns during the hearing of the 2020 election petition at the Supreme Court.
“Is it a case that the NDC wanted the NPP to prove their claims in court for them?” he wondered.
Mr Boadu said it was shameful that the NDC does not want to concede 10 months after the last elections but rather accusing the EC of not doing its work.
He reminded the EC not to waste its time on the “frivolous claims of the NDC.”
“As a party, all we know is that we have won an election and we are doing everything to reorganise the party’s base for the 2024 elections,” he said.
The NDC has accused the EC of rigging the 2020 polls for the government.
Meanwhile, the EC has invited the police to probe a claim by former President John Mahama that the election management body thumb-printed one million excess ballot papers and stuffed them in favour of the NPP.
John Dramani Mahama, the 2020 flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has hinted that the party will do everything possible to make the 2024 general elections transparent, fair, and clean.
He said, “the party would not allow anybody to cheat them in the 2024 general elections, and that they would also not do anything to cheat any party.”
Mr Mahama said these at the Asogli Palace in Ho in the Volta region, when he paid a courtesy call on Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State as part of his ‘Thank you’ tour.
He noted, “my ‘do or die’ comment meant the deployment of processes for transparency and fair elections far from the use of violence”.
The former President said he and the NDC were highly indebted to the people of the Volta region for their continuous support throughout the years.
Mr Mahama said the party appreciated the support of the chiefs and the people of the region and would not take it for granted as he uses Togbe Afede to reach out the chieftains in the region.
He said though the region had been split, looking at the 2016 election, the votes they had in the current Volta region went up by 113,000 votes and, “this was despite all the intimidation during the voter card registration, closer of the borders and invasion of the region by military.”
He said the NDC got 84.4 per cent of votes in the Volta region, which was the highest votes than any other region in the country.
Mr Mahama said the region had done a lot to propel the fortunes of the NDC to the height it was today and assured the chiefs that when the party comes back to power in 2024, the region would have its fair share of the national cake.
He described as a palpable false that the region did not see any development under the party when they were in power, saying, the region had witnessed massive socio-economic development ranging from health, education, water, electricity, roads among others.
The former President commended Togbe Afede for his role in enhancing the development of the country, citing the Asogli power plant, which he said played a crucial role in supporting the country during the power crisis.
He lamented the loud silence of the National House of Chiefs on topical issues prevailing in the country upon his exit indicating traditional leadership as the last bastion of hope for the country and must not disappoint.
Togbe Afede XIV, was grateful to the former President and his entourage for the visit and recognising his contribution to the development of the country.
He said the development of the country required a collaborative effort, therefore, calculated steps should be taken to discontinue the winner takes all approach.
Togbe said the outbreak of the novel coronavirus had exposed the vulnerability of Ghana and other countries as the economies were not strong to support the citizenry in the crisis.
“That is why there is the urgent need to focus on the development of our country. We have done enough politics over the years, it is time the focus be shifted to our developmental needs,” he said.
The former President was accompanied by his 2020 running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opku-Agyamang, Mr Asiedu, Nketia, General Secretary of the Party, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Chairman of the Party among others.
The Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah has refuted claims by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission that the 2020 polls was free, fair, transparent.
In a statement, Mr Afriyie Ankrah also dismissed reports by Madam Jean Mensa that the polls saved the country some GHC90 million despite the challenges of COVID-19.
“An EC as an unbiased umpire after an election will be candid, sober, reflective, admit shortcomings, challenges and difficulties so as to put in place mechanisms to ensure a better performance in subsequent elections; but if in the face of overwhelming evidence of very serious anomalies and discrepancies in the 2020 Elections, Madam Jean Mensah can describe these Elections as one of the best in the history of this country, then God help Ghana.”
“If anyone thinks that the NDC will sit down and allow themselves to be brutalised and murdered in the 2024 elections as it happened in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Bye-elections and the recent 2020 elections, that person should have his/her head properly examined,” the statement added.
Speaking to members of the ECOWAS Parliament at Winneba on Wednesday, Jean Mensa said described the 2020 polls as the must successful in Ghana’s history.
According to her, the elections last year were so successful that the BBC described it as boring. Addressing the high-level seminar of ECOWAS parliament in Winneba, the EC Chair stated, the recently released census results vindicate the number captured during the compilation of the new voters’ register.
“Indeed, our elections of 2020 were solely financed by the government of Ghana. I am happy to note, that this reduced the cost of our election by 41% compared to 2016 notwithstanding inflation and price highs and the fact that we incurred additional cost owing to the COVID-19 protocols we deployed throughout the election.
“We cut the cost per voter from 13 dollars per head in 2016 to 7 dollars 70 cents per head at the time when the cost of elections is rising world over. Needless to say, these were no easy feat, it took the herculean effort of our entire team and the helping hand of the almighty God to establish these achievements. We were met with many challenges but we surmounted most of them and those we could not overcome we learnt from them”.
Read the full statement by Mr Afriyie Ankrah below:
RESPONSE TO THE PRESENTATION MADE BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER MADAM JEAN MENSAH AT THE HIGH-LEVEL REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARY SEMINAR OF THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT IN WINNEBA- GHANA ON WEDNESDAY 19TH OCTOBER, 2021
Our attention has been drawn to recent pronouncements by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Madam Jean Mensah at the just ended High-level Regional Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Winneba. The E.C chair made outright false and fallacious statements aimed at misleading the participants at the just ended programme.
The EC Chair, falsely claimed that the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections were historic, credible and cost-effective. These assertions by the EC Chairperson are once again a manifestation of her arrogant posturing and arbitrary attitude towards the entire electoral process in Ghana. It is indeed shocking that Madam Jean Mensah would describe the 2020 elections as the best in the history of this country. The utterances are very significant because they have serious consequences for the stability and sustenance of our democracy.
One would expect that an Electoral Commission as an unbiased umpire after an election will be candid, sober, reflective, admit shortcomings, challenges and difficulties so as to put in place mechanisms to ensure a better performance in subsequent elections; but if in the face of overwhelming evidence of very serious anomalies and discrepancies in the 2020 Elections, Madam Jean Mensah can describe these Elections as one of the best in the history of this country, then God help Ghana. An election that saw 8 people losing their lives, innocent Ghanaians murdered in cold blood????
By coincidence, Mrs Jean Mensah was addressing an institution, which, for the sake of peace in the ECOWAS sub-region, has made specific treaties to prevent violent conflicts emanating from elections and to ensure peace in the region. A cursory look at events prior to, during and after the elections, point to the fact that Mrs Jean Mensah had violated both our National laws and various aspects of the ECOWAS treaty obligations.
First of all, the EC breached an Important ECOWAS Protocol
Article 2 Clause 1 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (A/SP1/12/01) unequivocally states that no substantial modification shall be made to the electoral laws of a Member Country in the last six (6) months before an election. This was one of the arguments that Opposition Parties and numerous CSOs and Governance Experts raised during the discussions on the need for a new Voters Register. The contention of the Opposition and many large sections of the Ghanaian Society was that, in the previous year, Millions of Ghana Cedis had been spent on upgrading the Old Register. Therefore, having spent such millions approved by Parliament to buy this new equipment, there was no need for a New Register. Madam Jean Mensah and her EC ignored all these sounds admonishings and went ahead with her procurements in the face of protestations by well-meaning Ghanaian citizens.
It is amazing that after blatantly disregarding their protocol, Madam Jean Mensah would stand before the same ECOWAS to allude to these false assertions.
Secondly, the EC made a deliberate effort to weaken IPAC and destroy the culture of consensus-building that has characterized deliberations at IPAC since its inception in 1993
Madam Jean Mensah and her Electoral Commission have completely destroyed the spirit of consensus and mutual respect that existed at IPAC and has turned IPAC into a forum where she dictates what she likes, which is often in line with what her appointing authority the NPP Government wants and would not listen to any suggestion whatsoever from the main opposition Party.
For the first time in the history of the EC, Political parties were not involved in the drafting of the C.I (127) as was the practice in the past, where the initial processes and consultations were all done together with the Political Parties at the Committee level before it was brought to the Plenary and subsequently to Parliament. It is therefore not surprising that there were numerous flaws and errors in the C.I (127) and it had to be returned to the EC on more than one occasion.
It is instructive to note that a Deputy Commissioner of the EC, Dr. Bossman Asare is on record to have said publicly that the NDC is an existential threat to Ghana’s democracy.
Madam Jean Mensah in order to bypass IPAC and to have her own way, set up a so called Eminent Advisory Committee. The NDC cautioned this committee that the motives for setting up that committee was to use them to validate some of the ills of the EC but they did not listen. One wonders where these Eminent Advisory Committee members are now and what they have to say about all the anomalies that occurred during the Elections, including the murder of 8 innocent Ghanaians.
A hasty, flawed Voter Registration Exercise
This exercise had numerous issues such as multiple registrations, duplicate serial numbers, faulty equipment, missing names on the register etc. and for the first time in our history, unprecedented violence, massive bloodshed and even deaths.
Minister of State Hawa Koomson and her thugs openly fired shots at innocent people at various polling stations, young Silas was killed in Banda and many others suffered various levels and degrees of injuries but nothing has been done to any of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
EC Caused Financial Loss to the State and did not Save Ghana any $90million dollars.
Madam Jean Mensah also claimed that she saved the country $90 million. She is the only one who knows the basis of this assertion because as far as we are concerned there has not been any independent audit of the finances of the Electoral Commission. Within the context of her claims on expenditure and savings, several CSOs led by IMANI Ghana came out with documentary evidence showing that the procurements she carried out lacked transparency and even cited her for corruption due to bloated figures. Until we have independent scrutiny of her accounts, she cannot claim to have saved any money for Ghana.
Moreover; Parliament had approved tens of millions of Ghana cedis for the EC to upgrade existing infrastructure at the time. What has happened to all that equipment that she spent tens of millions of Ghana cedis on.
Her unsubstantiated and unverified claims are akin to a student writing an exam, generating her own marking scheme and subsequently claiming she got 100% in the exams. How ridiculous!!!
Printing of Illegal Secret Ballot Papers
For the first time in the history of Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Ghana, Political Parties (specifically the NDC) was not given the ballot statistics required for Party Agents to track the number of ballot papers to be printed for each Polling Station before printing began. The NDC had to call a Press Conference to drum home these issues for the right thing to be done. Subsequently, the Party managed to get this information from the various Printing houses.
Also notable of concern is the printing of excess ballots. Ballots were printed in excess of the required 5% of total registered voters in each polling station to cater for spoilt ballots. Furthermore, the NDC discovered over 1 million ballot papers that were secretly printed for Ashanti Region alone. When the officials were queried, they unintelligently replied that they were meant for run-offs. Further checks led to the discovery of excess secret ballots for other Constituencies in Greater Accra (Okaikoi North, Ablekuma South, Korle Klottey, Tema East, Adenta, Madina, Ledzokuku, Krowor, La Dadekotopon, Ableuma Central). All these ballots were subsequently destroyed in the presence of the Security Services and there is sufficient video evidence to support these claims.
Use of Illegal Statement of Polls Form 8B.
After the Special Voting exercise, it was realized that the approved Form 8B by Parliament was altered by taking out the column C6 which serves the purposes of ballot accounting to ensure transparency. The EC Chairperson was then directed by the Minister of National Security and Chief of Staff in an emergency meeting on the 2nd of December, 2020 to address this illegality but she did not heed to their directive. She rather replaced that column with the so called Stamp, just a day before the main elections.
During our Pink Sheet auditing process, the Party observed that some of these forms either had no Stamps or were not filled, while others were not signed. All these created loopholes and made it difficult for Agents to do proper ballot accounting which paved the way for various forms of manipulation and ballot stuffing.
The strange Introduction of Regional Collation Centres
The introduction of the Regional Collation Centres created a lot of opacity in the process, as corroborated by the EU 2020 elections report on page 41. We are convinced beyond any shred of doubt that the creation of that layer gave room for the manipulation of figures and this was manifested in the hasty and arithmetically incoherent and mathematically implausible results she announced.
Multiple Results declaration
If there was any record or history that Madam Jean Mensah and the EC has achieved, it is in the record of being the first Electoral Commissioner to declare results which initially totaled under 100% and after the subsequent so-called correction the total exceeded over 100%. This is the first EC that has declared six (6) different results with multiple corrections which were also wrong and to date, Ghanaians still do not know the actual or right figure/result she used to declare the so called winner. This is unprecedented in the history of Ghana’s electoral system.
SALL Disenfranchisement
If there is anything that is the manifestation of the perversity, absurdity and blatant disregard for the rule of law and due processes, it is evident in the way the people of SALL were treated. The EC Chairperson gave several assurances to the people of SALL that they were going to be involved in both Presidential and Parliamentary elections, only to issue an administrative fiat 24 hours to the Elections to disenfranchise tens of thousands of qualified Ghanaian Voters from exercising their franchise. The parochial purpose of this unpatriotic act was just to enable Mr. Peter Amewu to win the Hohoe Parliamentary seat for the NPP, and in the face of such a blatant aberration and bare face illegality, she has the guts to describe this election as a perfect one?????!!!!
As rightly put by Legal Practitioner Prof. Kwaku Asare, “SALL is the cardinal sin of the 4thh Republic”.
Electoral Violence and intimidation
When confronted with numerous cases of electoral violence in the 2020 general elections, Jean Mensah’s response was that they did not occur at the polling stations and therefore the Electoral officers could not be held responsible. Indeed, nothing could be further from the truth. Almost all the cases of violence and murder occurred at the collation centres. Are the collations centres not part of the electoral architecture? Is it not the Electoral Commission which is in charge of the elections? She made similar statements during the violence in Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election. That indifferent attitude and nonchalant posturing is what emboldened these thugs to go and master their art of murder, thuggery and violence and subsequently resulted in the murder of 8 innocent Ghanaians.
With this same posturing if care is not taken we may record even more acts of murder and violence in the 2024 Elections.
The blood of all these 8 innocent citizens is surely on the head of Madam Jean Mensah and Nana Akufo Addo, the ultimate beneficiaries of these heinous crimes; so she should not come out in October (10 months after the Elections) and just say in a blasé manner that the Police should investigate. Madam Jean Mensah never acted like a mother. Would she have behaved this same way if these victims were her relatives? This indifferent attitude will only open way for more violence in 2024 if care is not taken and she has to be called to order by all well-meaning citizens.
In any case if the elections were as free and fair as she claimed and she had nothing to hide, why did she refuse to testify in court and had to hide behind technicalities when she was required to give account of her stewardship during the Election Petition? Any truthful person would have taken advantage of that opportunity to come into the dock and vindicate him or herself as was done by her predecessor Dr. Afari Gyan during the 2013 Election Petition.
Madam Jean Mensah’s posturing and attitude are a threat to our Democracy and the earlier she is called to order the better. If anyone thinks that the NDC will sit down and allow themselves to be brutalized and murdered in the 2024 Elections as it happened in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Bye-elections and the recent 2020 Elections, that person should have his/her head properly examined.
In conclusion, we call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to rise up and speak out now to save this dear nation of ours!
Mahama has expressed regret that the EC appears to have taken a stance against the NDC, although it is expected to be neutral.
Former President and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for the 2020 general election, John Dramani Mahama has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to work towards redeeming its image in the next general polls in 2024.
Mahama said the EC under the leadership of Jean Mensa superintended over the country’s worst elections in 2020 and so will have to work hard to repair the poor image it has created for itself.
Speaking in an interview with Volta Region-based Global FM, as part of his ‘Thank You Tour’ of the region, John Mahama expressed regret that the EC appears to have taken a stance against the NDC, although it is expected to be neutral.
“During the Ayawaso West Wuogon violence probe, they asked her [Jean Mensa] about violence in the election, and she said they didn’t see any violence. She has a mindset towards rigging the election against the NDC. You have an EC who says the NDC is an existential threat to Ghana’s democracy, and yet she is still at the Commission and making decisions with respect to fair elections.”
“They conducted one of the worst elections [in 2020]. I don’t have the power to remove them, and it is likely that they will be the EC commissioners for 2024. They should use 2024 to redeem themselves,” he added.
John Mahama further disclosed the NDC is continuing with its stakeholder engagements on its electoral reform proposals ahead of the 2024 elections.
“We set up a committee to come up with proposed electoral reforms. We came up with proposals which we have presented to the EC, and we have done some activations. We’ve met the religious groups and various groups and trying to explain to them why if these proposals are carried out, it will lead to a better electoral outcome in Ghana than we’ve seen in the past,” Mahama said.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the decision taken by his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama, to build the Komenda Sugar factory, without first establishing a sugarcane plantation, betrays every principle of construction.
“It is like building a house, and say you are going to start from the roof before you have a foundation. How does the house get built? You going to start from the roof, when you haven’t built the foundation?” President Akufo-Addo asked.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “You would think that every industrial activity would begin with, first of all, what you want to do, what you want to produce. Once you identify that, then clearly, your next step has to be what are the inputs, what are the things that you need to be able to feed into your factory, to get to your outputs and you are therefore to be satisfied when you start producing your production, those inputs are there.”
But this, he said, is not John Mahama’s way of doing things, as “he will rather build the roof, once the roof has been built then he will come down and then build the foundation. You know that a house built on that principle will collapse, just as Komenda collapsed.”
The President made this known on Monday, 18thOctober 2021, during an interview on Eagle FM, at the commencement of his 2-day working visit to the Central Region, in response to comments made by the former President last Friday.
It will be recalled that during an interview on Cape FM, former President Mahama stated that “I’m not that foolish to set up a factory and have no plan for the provision of raw materials. I knew what the vision was. It was to get the raw materials first”, despite having not set up a single sugarcane plantation to serve as a raw material source for the factory.
Information from an October 2017 Technical Audit Team, made up of experts from the academia, industry, and independent sugarcane consultants, revealed that a test run was never completed before the Komenda Sugar Factory was commissioned in May 2016, due to the unavailability of sufficient sugarcane for the test run.
In addition, the factory, on commissioning, was not in a position to produce the required refinedsulphurlesswhite sugar due to the absence of 35 component parts/units, which were not fully installed before the test run including for melt clarification, vertical crystallizers, molasses weighing system, bagasse compressor and a dosing system. The Effluent Treatment Plant had also not been constructed at the time of the commissioning.
President Akufo-Addo also revealed that a preliminary assessment of the value of the factory revealed that the factory had been overvalued to the tune of some US$12 million.
The Report of a Forensic Audit has been submitted to EOCO, which has written to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice to conduct further investigations for possible prosecution.
Revival Plan
Towards the revival of the factory, the President revealed that a Strategic Investor, ParkAgrotechGhana Limited, had been selected as the preferred Strategic Investor for the Komenda Sugar Factory, and their recommendation was approved by Cabinet.
However, negotiations between the Transaction Advisor (Price Water House) and the Strategic Investorhasbeen unduly prolonged due to a number of demands made by the Strategic Investor, as well as the effects of the emergence of COVID-19 Pandemic, which restricted consultations between the investor and the Transaction Advisor.
With the delays in concluding negotiations between the Transaction Advisor and the Strategic Investor, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, after given the required notice, terminated the negotiations with the Strategic Investor on 1stSeptember 2021 fortheirfailure to fulfil the conditions precedent to the offer made to them.
The President indicated that the services of the Technical Partner with expertise in the sugar industry has been engaged to manage the technical operations of the factory. In addition, traditional authorities in Komenda and the adjoining districts have been engaged to acquire large tracts of land for sugarcane plantation.
President Akufo-Addo was expectant that the Komenda Sugar Factory will commence commercial production in the first quarter of 2022
John Mahama met the NDC party stakeholders this afternoon as part of his Thank You tour in the Central Region. He reacted once again to the 2020 election petition. Mahama compared and contrasted the 2012 election to the 2020 election petition.
Mahama explained that the judges were unjust. He recounted how the then Chief Justice, Madam Georgina Theodora, excluded herself from the panel of judges who presided the 2012 election. Mahama disclosed that he was shocked when he saw the current Chief Justice, Justice Kwesi Anin Yeboah on the panel.
Mahama added that when he saw the remaining six supreme court justices who presided the hearings, his heart skipped a beat. He revealed that he lost hope in the justice system at that particular instance. He stated boldly that he was not surprised at the consistent unanimous 7 votes.
• Former president Mahama kicks against new Agyapa deal
• Ghana won’t be able to pay its debts if government’s trend is not halted, Mahama
• The Akufo-Addo-led government introduced the Agyapa deal to help leverage Ghana’s gold royalties
Plans by government to re-introduce the Agyapa royalties deal have been opposed by former president, John Dramani Mahama, who insists the government is mortgaging the entire wealth of the country.
According to him, the deal is inconsiderate as government is invariably putting the future of the youth at risk.
“They [Akufo-Addo government] are mortgaging Ghana for everything. They have sold everything for loans. Now they don’t have anything to sell anymore. It is our gold that is left, that is the Agyapa they want to do.
“Because they see that they’ve sold the utensils, they’ve sold the chairs in the hall, the bed in the bedroom has been sold, now they are looking for the next item to sell. They have settled on the windows to sell. That is our gold, which they want to sell this time. They want to use that to go and collect over one billion dollars,” he lamented in an interview on Cape 99.3FM.
He said even though the government has benefited and accrued the most revenue from Ghana’s resources, the country has nothing to show for it.
According to a citinewsroom report, the former president said that the Akufo-Addo-led government wants to mortgage the 10% stake it receives as gold royalties for loans to spend today.
“Even though the ESLA bond we brought was supposed to be for five (5) years, today, the last ESLA bond they did, they have extended it to between 20-30 years. It means you and I, our children and our grandchildren will continue paying the loan until beyond 2030. GETFund has been mortgaged for the next 15 years. This means all contributions we pay for GETFund will only go toward paying loans and not for anything else,” he explained.
The 2020 National Democratic Congress presidential candidate added that “Our children will pay and pay and pay but won’t be able to finish paying. Our grandchildren will take over from them and continue paying the debts.”
He said the country will get to a point where it cannot pay its debts if the trend the government is setting is not stopped.
The woes of the Agyapa royalties deal were compounded by a risk assessment conducted by former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu after widespread criticisms by stakeholders who insist it was not in the best interest of the country.
The deal which was introduced by the Akufo-Addo government to help leverage Ghana’s gold royalties was suspended after these.
Former President John Mahama has said his government had plans of establishing a sugar cane farm around the Komenda sugar factory to provide the raw materials for production but that part of the project has been ignored by the Akufo-Addo government since taking office in 2017.
He told Cape93.3FM in an interview in the Central Region during his Thank You tour on Friday, 15 October 2021 that his vision for setting up the factory was to cut down on the almost $300 million spent annually to import sugar into Ghana.
“Phase I of the project was to build the factory and with phase II, the government of India gave us another $24 million for sugar cultivation and the out-growers”, Mr Mahama explained to Ohene Kwame David.
“When this government came, they said the sugar factory wasn’t their priority and, so, they didn’t apply for the $24 million and, so, they left it and the factory is just sitting there”, he bemoaned.
According to the 2020 flag bearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), the second phase of the project was designed to provide the raw material for the factory to make it self-sustaining.
“Do you think I’m a fool to build a factory and not make provisions for raw materials? I’m not that foolish. I did economics in the sixth form”, Mr Mahama pointed out.
“So, I knew what the vision was: get the factory first and, so, when we start producing, we’ll have a processing plant”.
“So, it was one of our priority projects”, he added.
He said: “There’s about 3,000 acres of land at Komenda, so, we planned doing a nucleus farm to feed the factory with raw materials and use the remaining balance of the $24 million to buy sugar from the out-growers in the area.”
“We’ll give them the planting materials because our sugar cane variety is very thin compared to the very think hybrid variety which has a lot of sugar in it”, he noted.
“So, the factory would buy the sugar cane from the out-growers”, he said.
“This government forgot about the second part”, he said, emphasising that “the Komenda Sugar Factory project has two parts: the plant and the sugar cane growing but they forgot about the second part, that is why the factory is sitting there idle and now they want to privatise it”.
“But even if you privatise it, you still need the support of the farmers to grow the sugar cane”.
“If we come back into government, by the grace of God, and they have not sold the factory yet, it’s a factory that can work to produce a very good percentage of Ghana’s sugar requirement and provide the youth in the area with jobs”, Mr Mahama said
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama is deceiving himself and his supporters regarding the outcome of the 2020 general elections which he lost.
Director of Communications of the NPP, Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa noted that Mr Mahama’s posture does not edify the sacrifices of Ghanaian voters who defied the existence of the coronavirus to exercise their franchise during the polls.
His comments come after Mr Mahama has attempted to discredit the work done by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Adukwie Mensa in the 2020polls.
Mr Mahama said that he will score Mrs Aduwkei Mensa F on how she conducted last year’s elected.
“2020 was Ghana’s worst election. If I was marking her, I would have given her an F. She is marking her own paper after examination so she can give herself any mark she likes.
“Tell me which election in Ghana was ballot papers printed yet one million ballot papers were found elsewhere… We didn’t witness this under Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan. She [Jean Mensa] knew there was ballot stuffing,” he said as part of his thank you tour.
His comments come after Mrs Mensa has expressed pride in the process and outcome of the December 7, 2020 elections of Ghana, recommending same to other West African nations.
She said Ghana’s latest election has become a case study for most advanced democracies in the world that they are ready to take a leaf or two from it.
She made this known on Wednesday, October 13 while speaking at the opening of the High Level Meeting of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in Winneba, Central Region.
“To the glory of God, I am pleased to say that Ghana held an election in December 2020 that prove the story of elections in our sub-region can indeed be an inspiration.
“That our story as West African states has been one that brings hope to our youth and light to the coming generations and that we can provide best practices the most advanced democracies of the world can learn from. Yes, we can!”
She described the elections as “historic” in many ways.
“I humbly refer to Ghana’s 2020 elections as historic for the transparency, the credibility, the cost-effectiveness, the high turn-out and the peaceful conduct that characterized it.
“So orderly, so methodical, so calm were the polls on the 7th of December, 2020 that BBC could find no other way to describe our elections than boring.”
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Friday October 15, Mr Buaben Asamoa who is also a former lawmaker for Adenta said “Only losing candidate Mahama and his cabal in the NDC continue to deceive themselves about the outcome of the 2020 elections . The heart-warming record of achievement that the conduct of the elections chalked deserves better from the one who seeks to lead the country coming next elections.
“In fact, his posture on the election does not edify the sacrifice of Ghanaian voters who queued in defiance of covid-19 to register and vote. Often, the same breadth, he reminds Ghanaian families of the pain of losing loving ones during post votes collation by mischievously referring to the regrettable deaths .
“President Akufo-Addo is on record as saying that not a drop of Ghanaian blood is worth exchanging for electoral victory and the steps he took against vigilantes literally ensured them the most peaceful voting process ever. In the 2020 elections we didn’t hear anything about vigilante groups, the BBC described the elections as boring, as the electoral commissioner has said.
“True leadership will not focus on the unfortunate and painful situation for political gains to the detriment of national peace of mind . In any event, former President and candidate Mahama has a very poor record in terms of political violence. He is the one who brushed aside the infractions of the Talensi by-election when guns were flowing about including the vehicle of his party’s National Chairman.
• Sammy Gyamfi has admitted that the NDC was not vigilant enough in the 2020 elections
• He has accused the EC and NPP of colluding to rig the polls
• He says the NDC has learnt its lessons and will be extra vigilant in the 2024 elections
Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress has conceded that the party shot itself in the foot in the 2020 elections.
Gyamfi said on Metro TV’s One On One show which aired on Monday (October 11, 2021), that the party’s vigilance at the polling stations was far from satisfactory.
The NDC’s failure to be vigilant and the connivance of the Electoral Commission and the governing New Patriotic Party, Sammy Gyamfi believes led to the defeat the party recorded.
He however assured that lessons have been learned and that the NDC will be extra vigilant at the polling station in 2024.null
Reiterating John Mahama’s ‘do or die’ comment, Sammy Gyamfi said that the NDC will activate all legal ballot protective measures during the 2024 elections.
“But for the fact that we made certain mistakes which the NPP capitalized on with the help of the Jean Mensa-led commission, we would have won power. I believe that we could have been more vigilant at the polling station where I believe a lot of ballot stuffing took place. That is why we are saying that we’ve learned from our mistakes and we are going to be extra vigilant in 2024. It’s going to be do or die.”
Sammy Gyamfi also downplayed suggestions by Vice President Bawumia that the party played the tribal card in the 2020 elections.
He defended that the party executed an issue-based campaign that was devoid of personal and tribal attacks.
“I don’t know how anybody can accuse the NDC or John Mahama of playing tribal politics because the NDC is the only national mass political party in the country. The party is made up of people from mass and diverse backgrounds in the country.
“From 1992 till now, we’ve chosen leaders from various backgrounds. Rawlings from the Volta Region, Professor Mills from the Central Region and President Mahama from the North. I’m not sure our brothers from the NPP can say same. They have only chosen southerners to be their presidential candidates. If you take the vice-presidential position too, you’ll see the same trend. We don’t discriminate. We see Ghanaians as one people,” he said.
“The President won the elections for Sam Pyne,” says Bernard Allotey Jacobs, during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme Wednesday morning.
According to Allotey Jacobs, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s statements regarding threats to reject the nomination of the NPP Ashanti Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne as Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) made a huge difference for the nominee.
Issues have been raised about the Assembly incurring a ¢50 million debt since the regime of Ex-President J.A. Kufuor.
In an interview with Citi News, the KMA Presiding Member, Stephen Ofori said the Assembly members had reached a consensus to not approve any nominee unless all debts hanging on the Assembly were cleared by the government.
The President, delivering a speech during his four-day official visit to the Ashanti Region, pleaded with the Assembly not to refuse the nominee stating it is unfair to attach him to an issue that happened in the past.
To Allotey Jacobs, Sam Pyne owes the President a pool of gratitude.
“The President won the elections for Sam Pyne. You see the President is the ultimate. When the Presiding Member saw things weren’t favouring his expectations, that’s why he said they should lay aside the debt and threats. No, because immediately the President steps in, all must bow!”, he asserted.
A former Minister for Youth Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has hit back at critics who believe the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) are the same in terms of corruption fight.
“Stop saying the NPP and NDC are the same. There is a vast difference when it comes to fighting corruption. The NDC is better than the NPP,” he argued in an interview.
Ankrah who is also the Director of Elections for the NDC made a strong case for the NDC, saying the socialist party rather prioritizes the wellbeing of Ghanaians whenever they are in power.
To him, the Akufo-Addo-led NPP is seen rather as promoters of corruption.
He made mention of the hounding of former Auditor General, Daniel Yao Domelovo, from office as a clear case of sweeping corrupt deals under the carpet.
“There is no one that was fighting corruption better than Domelovo. He was doing his job well but when the top government officials who survive on shady deals saw he was exposing them then they fought him out of office, ” the former Minister said in Akan.
Afriyie Ankrah believes a government cannot escape corrupt persons but he is of the view that the leader of the government must crack the whip whenever there are such infractions.
When that doesn’t happen, Ankrah argues the topmost official of government cannot escape blame.
It is for that matter that he mentioned the resignation of former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu was as a result of the impediments the government put his way when he was investigating the infamous Agyapa deal which was around some persons closer to President Akufo-Addo.
“What happened to the Agyapa deal? What happened to the PDS deal?” he quizzed as he cast doubts at the competency of Nana Akufo-Addo in fighting corruption.
“When Boakye Agyarko was fired over the AMERI deal, the president said his men misled him. If a president can be misled like this then it shows that he is incompetent,” he added.
Afriyie Ankrah said the failure of the Akufo-Addo government to punish persons who were implicated in the missing oil at BOST a few years back shows that “President Akufo-Addo is a promoter and facilitator of corruption”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, 5th October 2021, inspected ongoing work on the retooling and re-equipping of the Kwahu-Atibie Hospital, and also on work on the $$77 million 47-kilometre Mpraeso-Hweehwee-Oyimso.
At the commencement of his 3-day tour of the Eastern Region, President Akufo-Addo visited the Atibie Hospital, which is part of a €40 million contract award to Messrs Contracta Construzion Italia S.R.L. for the retooling and equipping of four selected health facilities in the Eastern Region.
This project, which officially commenced in October 2019, involves work on the KOM Presbyterian Clinic at Aburi, Atibie Hospital in Kwahu, Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, and the Kibi Government Hospital.
With the project nearly 70% complete, it is expected to be completed on 24th November 2021.
The scope of work being undertaken by the contractors includes works on the OPD, OBS & Gynae Ward, Maternity, Laboratory Unit, Administration, Conference Room, Pharmacy Unit, Theatre Suites and Labour Ward, Surgical Ward, NICU, CSSD, Children Ward, Kitchen, Laundry, Water Supply, Medical Gas System, and A&E Expansion and Imaging Centre.
At Mpraeso, the President inspected work on the reconstruction of the Mpraeso-Hweehwee-Oyimso Road (47.0km), whose contract was awarded on 21st December 2020 and is expected to be completed on 17th July 2023.
The road is located in the Kwahu East and Kwahu South Districts in the Eastern Region, with residents in communities such as Mpraeso, Nkwatia, Abetifi, Abene, Hweehwee, Kwaku Safo, Yaw Tenkorang, Oboyan No. 1, Oboyan No. 2, Abotrensa, Dwerebease and Onyimso set to be beneficiaries of the project.
It is expected that, when completed, it will bring relief to both motorists and pedestrians, reduce vehicle operating cost, reduce travelling time, facilitate the movement of goods and services, as well as serve as an alternative link to the Ashanti region through Oyimso to Asante Akyem Agogo
Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa has said that the decision by the government to purchase a new presidential jet was informed by security advice that was given by Defence Minister, Dominic Nitwul.null
The government has announced plans to purchase a new presidential jet for the president’s foreign travels.
This was disclosed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin at the Jubilee House Monday, September 27 during the Presidency’s weekly press briefing.
According to Mr Arhin, the government of Ghana, through the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul has already started the processes for the procurement of the new jet.
“You would recollect that when the government of President Kufuor left office in 2008, it had procured two jets – the current Falcon and a bigger one but for one reason or the other, the bigger jet was cancelled, and we were left with just one. That has happened, but you will recall that the Defence Minister stated clearly that the government has decided to buy a bigger jet to save us from all these troubles.”
“I don’t want to go into the details, but I am sure that when the minister gets the opportunity, he will give further information on what the government is doing in that respect, but I am sure of the fact that government is already in the process of getting a bigger jet for use”, he told pressmen Monday.null
This revelation comes at a time when the presidency has dismissed claims made by Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that Akufo-Addo uses luxury chartered jets while on foreign travels which according to him has cost Ghana GH¢10 million so far.
The presidency has however failed to disclose the cost of the president’s travel.
When the North Tongu MP filed an urgent question on the floor of parliament to have the Minister of Finance respond to the cost of the president’s foreign travels the first time, the minister asked for more time to get the figures but he later appeared before the House and said the issue was a matter of National Security.
The MP says he will not relent in his efforts to demand accountability from the government on the matter.
The government has been criticsed for this move. For instance, Mr Abraham Amaliba, a member of the legal team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said “said purchasing a new jet is needles because the current Falcon jet is fit for purpose.
“This aircraft I’m told has a life span of 30 years and we have just done eleven so it is a baby in the aviation industry so why will we be citing one or two instances where it develops a fault and based on that we want to buy a new jet
“We all know this plane is good, it can do long-distance travel but I just think that we have a president who has a different taste altogether.”
But reacting to these concerns, Mr Buaben Asamoa who is a former lawmaker for Adentan said “I think at some point we must agree that somebody takes that ultimate decision. The ultimate decision-maker is the manager of the president’s safety and security.
“Those managers are saying that we didn’t have an aircraft that is reliable, we don’t have an aircraft that is serviceable, we don’t have an aircraft with enough capacity to deal with the state’s requirement of the presidency. All these are being said by the manager through the defence Minister.”
The Governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) General Secretary is of the belief that removing his party from government after Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s tenure will affect several aspects of the country’s fabric.
According to him, the government has put in place some great social intervention programmes that need to be sustained and that can only be done by the NPP government.
He mentioned the Free Senior High School, Nation Builders Corps, and allowances of Nursing and Teacher Trainees as programmes that will suffer a collapse if the NPP is not retained.
John Boadu was addressing the Regional Delegates in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
“NPP has made such an investment, such that all our Senior High School students are going to school for free. Our opponents have said time and time again that they don’t have the capacity to maintain that system that we are operating.
“What it means is that, if we don’t break the 8, you won’t continue to have the free SHS that you’re having. Our opponents have indicated over the years that they cannot pay training college allowances, both nurses and teachers. So, if you don’t break the 8, you are not going to continue to enjoy it”. He said.
He noted that that the people of the Northern part of Ghana are greater beneficiaries of the social intervention programmes and it’s imperative that they provided the needed support to ensure the NPP “breaks the eight”.
“It is important that you, up north are major beneficiaries of the planting of food and jobs and it is important that we keep our government in place in order for us to continue to benefit”.
John Boadu charged the delegates and supporters of the NPP to work hard in order for the party to hang on to power and transform the fortunes of the Ghanaian people.
• Boakye Agyarko has advised NPP not to impose a candidate on the party
• He said, imposition is not in the party’s DNA
• Boakye Agyarko has declared his intention to contest NPP’s flagbearship race
Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, has cautioned, the governing NPP not to impose a candidate on the party as it prepares to elect a candidate to break the eight-year presidential cycle in 2024.
Speaking to Joy FM in a report sighted by GhanaWeb, the former energy minister said, no coronation or imposition has been accepted by the rank and file of the party.
He said imposing a candidate on the party is against the DNA of the governing party.
To him, the governing party has a tradition of allowing candidates to be elected by the party’s delegates, citing the contests between former President Kufuor and then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in 2000, as well as, candidates Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen in 2008.
Boakye Agyarko explained, “You can go back to be beginning at our tradition, JB Danquah had to contest and he almost lost. Busia had to contest.
“Victor Owusu was contested by the likes of J.H Mensah and Dr. Kwame Sarfo Adu. Prof Adu Boahene was contested by the likes of Kodua, Kufuor and all of that. Kufour was contested famously by Akufo-Addo and Akufo-Addo was also contested by Alan Kyerematen.”
Agyarko added, “the process must be respected to throw up the leader of the party.”
So far Boakye Agyarko has joined the likes of Vice President Dr. Bawumia, the Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng and the Agric Minister, Dr. Afriyie Akoto to contest for the flagbearership race of the party.
Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, told journalists on September 27, 2021, that Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, has already begun the processes for Ghana to procure the new jet.
Reacting to the development on Joy FM’s Newsfile, Sammy Gyamfi described the move as an insult to the sensibilities and plight of Ghanaians.null
“I submit forcefully that the decision by Akufo-Addo-Bawumia NPP-led government to buy a new presidential jet is a misplaced priority and will amount to a waste of the public purse if it is allowed. The mere thought of it at this time is insensitive to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian and an insult to our sensibilities,” Sammy Gyamfi said on the program on October 3, 2021.
Already, some members of the minority caucus of the 8th Parliament have filed urged questions requesting for full disclosure of cost for President Akufo-Addo international trips.
MP for North Tongu, Samual Okudzeto Ablakwa, has on numerous occasions stated that the current presidential jet, the Falcon was efficient enough for the president’s trips instead of chartered flights which was been paid by the State.
Meanwhile, government on its part has justified that the current presidential jet is not fit enough for purpose hence its decision to move ahead to purchase a new one.
The General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress has described the report by the three-member committee of inquiry into the disturbances at Ejura as a fiasco that will not yield any results.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia was emphatic that, “no public official has been punished for wrongdoing under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo. This report is no exception”.
Speaking in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show ‘Ghana Montie’, General Mosquito as affectionately called questioned the committee’s report which concludes that the activism of Ibrahim Mohammed, popularly known as Kaaka, cannot be linked to his death.
“So, who killed him?” he asked host, Mac Jerry Osei Agyemang.
But the report explained that the death of Kaaka could more likely be linked to a family feud.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as a “blatant lie”, claims by one Ernest Owusu Bempah that former President John Dramani Mahama and the party’s national chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, masterminded the recent alleged kidnapping of a “fake” pregnant woman in Takoradi in the Western region.
The NDC, in a statement, said the tone and substance of the baseless accusation show that Mr Owusu Bempah had the support of the government “to spew this wicked, malicious and contemptuous accusation in order to reduce the heat the government has drawn to itself as a result of its manhandling of national security challenges and the apparent loss of a firm grip on governance”.
The statement noted that Mr Mahama and Mr Ofosu-Ampofo do not have any hand whatsoever in the happenings in the Western Region, nor are they linked in any way to any of the characters in that alleged kidnapping saga.
The party has, thus, called on its supporters and the public to treat the claim by Mr Owusu Bempah with utter contempt as there is no merit in same.
The party further called on its supporters to constantly hold the Akufo-Addo government to account and to remind the government to honour its sacred duty of securing the lives and properties of Ghanaians.
According to the police, 28-year-old Josephine Panyin Mensah faked her nine-month pregnancy and kidnapping to save her marriage.
Before she confessed, Mr Bempah, at a press conference, accused Mr Mahama and the NDC National Chairman of being behind her kidnapping.
Ms Mensah, now a suspect, appeared in court for the first time on Monday, 27 September 2021, but pleaded not guilty.
She is facing two charges of deceiving a public officer and publication of false news with intent to cause fear and panic.
She was admitted to a bail bond of GHS 50,000 with two sureties
The Agric Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto says former President John Mahama’s brother is stealing government’s subsidised fertilizers meant for smallholder farmers in the country.××
According to the minister, John Mahama’s brother has found his way to be benefiting from the government’s subsidised fertilizers meant for smallholder farmers although he is not qualify because he is into large scale or commercial farming.
The Minister explained that the subsidised fertilizers are meant for poor farmers cultivating about 2 or 3-acre farms and not farmers like Mahama’s brother who is a commercial farmer, cultivating 300 acres and can raise funds to purchase fertilizer for his farm.
“The subsidies are meant for farmers with 2, 3 acres which is the bulk of smallholders and not for 300 acres for goodness sake. So he has actually scrounged on poor farmers to start with, if he was able to do 300 acres with subsidised fertilizer”, Dr. Akoto told Joynews PM Express host, Evans Mensah.
The Agric minister was reacting to former President Mahama’s allegation that the country was facing imminent food shortage.
“So what Mr Mahama is saying cannot be true. In any case, we are talking about millions and millions of farmers. For him to make that conclusion from one observation, it means that when it comes to statistics he has absolutely no clue,”
This revelation was on the back of claims made by the former President that Ghana is most likely to experience food shortage next year because the government flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme is a failure.
According to Mr. Manama, his brother who cultivates 300 acres farm is now not getting government’s subsidized fertilizer to farm and has affected his output by reducing his farm size to 80 acres thereby government should inject more capital into it flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) in other for his brother to continue to enjoy the government subsidy.
“My brother is a farmer and he tells me this year, he has not received any fertiliser supply from the government and so he bought his own fertiliser and a bag of fertiliser is very expensive. Normally, he cultivates 300 acres of maize each year.
“But this year, he had to reduce it, he was not able to cultivate even 80 acres. So there’s a possibility of food shortage next year because the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme has failed,” the former President exposed how his brother is enjoying from the poor farmers in the country.
The Agric Minister insists that Mahama’s brother is only ‘stealing’ from the poor farmer
The Vice President of the United States of America (USA), Kamala Harris has noted that Ghanaians voted during free and fair elections held last year.
According to her, this demonstrated the nation’s commitment to democratic principles and institutions.
She said this on Thursday, 23rd September 2021, when she held bilateral talks with President Akufo-Addo at the White House, with the aim of stringing the ties of cooperation and friendship that exist between the two countries.
“Last December, the people of Ghana voted in a free and fair election that demonstrated your nation’s commitment to democratic principles and institutions,” she told President Akufo-Addo.
She further commended President Akufo-Addo for creating the enabling environment for American businesses to thrive in the oil-producing West African country.
She stated that American companies continue to ramp up in Ghana, understanding the significance of the work that they do there to America’s economy much less to the partnership between Ghana and the United States.null
Welcoming President Akufo-Addo to the White House, Mrs. Harris indicated that the meeting with the Ghanaian President “is a reaffirmation of the strength of the relationship between the United States and Ghana, and of course we have deep in historical ties or official bilateral relationship began in 1957.”
She stressed that “American companies continue to ramp up in Ghana, understanding the significance of the work that they do there to America’s economy much less to the partnership between Ghana and the United States.”
“And they do this also because we are confident in the Government of Ghana and the environment, Mr. President, that you have created, which allows for some confidence in the respect and upholding of the rule of law and human rights. And so, with all of that, we look forward to continue to work together.”
On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked Vice President Harris for the invitation, and stressed that Ghana and the United States of America share very much the same commitments.
“We want to develop our nation as a democracy as a country where freedom and respect for human rights and the rule of law are paramount to our system of governance,” he said.null
Whilst expressing gratitude for the support of the United States towards helping to defeat the pandemic in Ghana, he indicated that the “other main preoccupation for us is the co-operation that we have to put together to defeat the Jihadist insurgency in the Sahel.”
It is an area, he said, that requires the support of the United States Government.
“We are looking for support for our armed forces and for the intelligence agencies of our area that they can be in stronger positions. Many of those leading the Jihadist insurrections in West Africa are the people who came from Iraq after they were driven out from Iraq, so I think if there’s information here that can assist us to be able to track down and be able to deal with these people,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo was hopeful that Ghana and America, now and in the coming years, will continue to “advance our mutual causes, and also strengthen the relations between our two countries.”
Former Central Regional Chairman of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has called for maximum support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to be the next President of Ghana.
Although Dr. Bawumia hasn’t been elected or declared flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party(NPP), some party supporters have already begun campaigning for him.
There are speculations he might stand for Presidential candidate during the party’s primaries.
Speaking during the Wednesday edition of Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, Allotey Jacobs was of a strong belief that Dr. Bawumia will make a good President.
“I want to see Vice President Bawumia as the next President . . . It’s a fact. There’s a magic in him that he can use to help Ghana to move Ghana forward. Let’s see what is in him!”, he emphasized.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho, believes whoever in the opposition party in favour of potential candidates for leadership positions going unopposed are simply hollow-hearted members.
Mr Anyidoho, who claimed he was brandished a traitor for insisting that candidates should not be imposed on the party as the norm used to be since 1992 when the NDC was formed, revealed that in the past, parliamentary candidates, national officers and even flagbearers were imposed on the party until the 2000 electoral defeat.
Speaking on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, the former NDC Deputy Chief Scribe held the view that imposition of candidates should never be countenanced, as even the late John Evans Atta Mills, when he was a sitting President, allowed others to compete against him.
To him, anyone championing the imposition of candidates within the umbrella fratenity are not “true and loyal NDC members”.
“If you ask me as a true and loyal NDC member, at all times, let there be a contest. President Mills even as a sitting President was contested. When he was being contested, did he ever complained? I was his spokesperson; did I ever go after anybody for contesting President Atta Mills? He threatened to dismiss me if I had gone after Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.”
“ . . for me, any attempt by anybody today to advocate the imposition of a flagbearer, are from persons who are not dyed-in-the-wool NDC members; they should go back to where they came from. Anybody who says that the NDC should impose a candidate on the party is not a true member of the NDC . . . because true NDC members in 2000 decided to move away from this imposition; they don’t want impositions of candidates any longer,” he cautioned.
Touching on the rumoured reports of Dr Kwabena Duffuor’s desire to contest NDC’s Presidential Primaries, Koku Anyidoho said that the former Finance Minister is one of President Atta Mills’ legacy equation as he was instrumental in the single digit inflation achievement of the former President.
“But if you ask me, again talking about Mills’ legacy, and a certain Dr Kwabena Duffuor was part of that legacy equation, when it comes to the economy; the 34 months’ single digit inflation, the introduction of single spine pay structure within the challenge the country faced at that time and then the inherited debts that Atta Mills Administration came to meet, and being able to reach out to the international donor communities to be able to look favourably upon Ghana. Ghana became the shining star in terms of economic management, because Prof. Mills had his own economic advisory team,” he mentioned.
He professed his love for Dr Duffuor for the fact that he [Dr Kwabena Duffuor] is among the people with the ability to succeed; thus, he has established businesses and that makes him possess the qualities to lead the NDC.
“ . . and for me I love people who are able to establish because it is not easy to establish; Dr Kwabena Duffuor has established businesses and now he is the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He owns it and he heads it as well. If you give that man and they are putting him out there and they are saying that he has certain qualities, you can’t rap those qualities away from him. Indeed, he has those qualities; you don’t have to manufacture those qualities,” he professed.
General Secretary for the governing New Patriotic PartyJohn Boadu cannot fathom why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has failed to build the political party but focuses on attacking the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, the New Patriotic Party is focused on building the party into one formidable political party that cannot be easily beaten in elections.
He noted that currently, the NPP is registering its members and securing its base ahead of the 2024 elections.
Prior to the registration, the NPP held its Constituency Delegates Conferences across the country; a move that solidifies the party and brings an end to several challenges at the constituency level.
However, not much is been heard about the National Democratic Congress (NDC) than attacks and name-calling over the 2020 elections the party lost.
“We have won two elections. We have won the Presidential election twice in a row. In the first election, we beat their candidate 1.5 million plus, in the second election, we beat him 500,000 plus votes.
“We are coming again and we will beat them in the next election. This is because what makes the people of Ghana vote for us, the NDC hasn’t studied to know it,” he said in an interview on Accra-based OKAY FM.
“While the NDC continues to make noise, the NPP is working on its base as a political party. The party has organized its constituency conferences and is currently registering members of the political party.
“In the month of October, the party will be organizing regional conferences to assess and deliberate issues on the state of the political party in all the regions and by December we will be organizing our National Annual Delegates Conference,” he added.
The youth of Odododiodoo, one of the three constituencies that make to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have staged an angry protest over speculations about the supposed appointment of former Deputy Greater Accra Minister, Elizabeth Kwatsoo Sackey at Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE).
For close to three hours, the youth, made up of angry members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) blocked the Atta Mills High Street which is in the heart of the capital Accra, burning car tyres amid chanting of war songs and shouts of ‘no Adjei Sowah, no vote’ and no Adjei Sowah, no Mayor’.
This was to shore up support for their preferred candidate for position who interestingly is the current and sitting Accra Mayor, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah.
According to the youth most of who wore an were clad in red arm and neck bands, they will not accept any appointment short of the mention of Adjei Sowah as Accra Mayor since the rumour mill is awashed with speculation about some persons scheming to have their man removed and replaced with Elizabeth Sackey.
Key among the protesters was popular boxer cum musician, Braimah Kamoko famously known as Bukom Banku who said they will kick against the appointment of any person if not Adjei Sowah.
It took the intervention of officers and men from the Jamestown Police to plead with them to stop the burning of the tyres on the road and also to allow traffic flow.
In a statement the Concerned Youth noted “the Accra Metropolitan Assembly arguable is a pulsating heart of the Greater Accra Region and for that matter, it deserves a mastermind who can fix its daily conundrums and deservedly, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah fits the bill perfectly in my estimation.”
*Concerns*
It said “our effusion about who becomes Mayor of Accra may be coming late in the day but it is important to note that whoever the appointing authority nominates is vested not only with role carved by the local government act that sets it up but also for the politics of it. Men say that a stitch in time saves nine, and so we need to take a thousand stitches today to save nine tomorrow.”
“We have resolved in our thinking and humbly opine that Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah, the current Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly would best fit the portfolio and can serve the President’s vision of Accra and that of the people”, they noted, saying “our resolve herein is based on the successes Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah has chalked in supporting the President’s agenda and vision for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
Credentials
As a true grassroot and a loyalist of the Danquah Busia Dombo tradition, they said Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah delivered Greater Accra against all odds by winning 21 seats as Regional Secretary in the 2016 elections, a portfolio he had held for two terms running.
They therefore insisted that his appointment and having received a 100% confirmation on 24th March, 2017 did not come as a fluke.
Apart from that, they said “Adjei Sowah has always prioritized sanitation which has long been an issue in Accra, at the nexus of public safety, public health, the informal economy (which employs about 75 percent of Accra’s residents), and emissions contributing to climate change. He’s constantly emphasized inclusivity and equity which remains as his core of work” and that he “has been aligned to Accra’s development and budget framework to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that has helped to maintain principles amid this COVID-19 pandemic.
Under his tenure, the youth said Accra has committed to publishing a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) to report on the progress towards equity and sustainability which is first of a kind.
“Because of his all embracing attitude and staunch believer of traditional values, he has built an enviable rapport with the traditional authorities in Ga and has always championed development in diverse ways”, they stated.
For them, it therefore not come as a surprise when the Ga Traditional Council petitioned the President to consider the renomination of Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah.
They could not but touted his credentials, saying “under the ambit of Mohammed Nii Adjei, the three constituencies under the Accra Metropolitan Assembly can now boast of a newly built constituency offices which have been commissioned and currently in use in the enhancement of activities for the NPP. The periods of renting constituency offices in these three constituencies are now a thing of the past.”
“We strongly admire the tactful contributions during the just ended 2020 election. In spite of his ill health during that period, he never reneged on sitting at the table to draw strategies and to show the way during the electioneering period. Indeed, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah is a masterpiece and we are fortunate to have him”, they noted, whilst stating with emphasis “ as a group, our interest is not to question or rundown the competencies of the other aspirants in this contest but it is proper to know who and what they are bringing to the table. We are not looking forward to an armchair Mayor or one that will only be a puppet and to succumb to the whims and caprices of some selfish party elders within Greater Accra Region.”
Demands
“We want a leader who will be at the beck and call for all manner of person irrespective of the Party coloring.
We want a leader who is firm, courageous and up to task for the job ahead.
We want a leading who can lead us to break the eight as espoused by all party faithful. If all of these are anything to go by then, our surest bet to envisioning this vision can be possible only through the leadership of Hon. Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah.
Its Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah we know and it him we know can lead and deliver the daunting task ahead”, they insisted
The New Patriotic Party has accused former President John Mahama of attacking the electoral commission in order to gain support for the internal presidential primaries of the National Democratic Congress.
According to the Communications Director of the party Yaw Buaben Asamoa the NDC failed to prove before the Supreme Court that the EC rigged the polls.
“In the event, it is obvious that these allegations are being made ahead of the internal primaries of the NDC. In seeking the chairmanship of his party, the NDC General Secretary is choosing to denigrate the conduct of the 2020 Elections to curry favour with his grassroots. Yet, he was the star NDC witness who confessed in the Supreme Court that they had not won the election and went further to do the calculations that showed that the NDC had indeed lost miserably. Noted though is that he is expert at manipulating grassroots opinion, so his opponents better watch out.
“On the other hand, the premature presidential campaign embarked on by former President Mahama has led to his potential opponents coming out of the woodwork to define the kind of leader they will be seeking in 2024. Opponents of early aspirant Mahama believe the NDC will benefit more from a ‘thinking’ leadership, which will make them ‘credible’. Clearly then, not everyone in the NDC is for needless attacks on the Electoral Commission. Such a strategy may not necessarily be intelligent, according to those who do not support the de-facto candidate. The people who do not support Mahama’s repeated attempts to lead the NDC understand that such attacks may not be in line with a thinking approach to the issues that will drive the 2024 elections,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
On the NPP, he announced plans for the party’s coming mass registration exercise.
“Its purpose is to determine the size of our support within polling station areas. In other words, we want to know the number of people who are likely to vote for the NPP in any polling station area. This data will help Polling Station Executives, Coordinators and Constituency Executives with planning for elections, campaigning and logistics. Many Constituencies are doing very well so far.
“The mass registration list is not only meant to be used for voting for Party Officers. National Council, using Article 18 of the NPP Constitution will issue guidelines for Polling Station, Coordinator, Constituency Officer, Regional Executive and National Executive Elections. So we are assuring all our polling station executives, Coordinators, and Constituency Executives to open up, work hard and try and capture as many persons who are likely to vote NPP as possible. The names should also go into the books that have been provided. Over 40,000 books have been dispatched and distributed to Polling Stations throughout the country.
“All polling station executives should have a schedule that makes them available to support this process with the book in a transparent visible place for all desirous of putting their names down to do so”.
Below are details of the statement by the NPP
PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE NPP ADDRESSED BY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, YAW BUABEN ASAMOA
Friday, 17th September, 2021
PARTY REGISTRATION, MMDCEs SELECTION AND IMPACT OF GIADEC
Good afternoon friends of the Media, I bid you a warm welcome to this Friday afternoon interaction.
INTRODUCTION
Today, we will highlight ongoing private sector initiatives that are part of the long term NPP plan to transform the economy to one that adds value to our natural products. NPP has a plan. That plan is to invest in skills through appropriate education, focus on post-harvest security through 1D1F, expand light and heavy industry through the bauxite value chain and increase access to reliable energy and transportation. This plan will generate jobs and incomes over a wide range of activities in the private sector.
For example, the aim in the cocoa sector is to process over 50% of cocoa locally into finished and semi-finished products in order to get a healthy share of the multi-billion dollar market for cocoa products.
Essentially, the prices for raw materials stagnate or roughly remain static whilst that of finished products keep going up. We will be able to buy less and less of what we import if our economy does not process more. Ghana and Ivory Coast produce over 60% of cocoa beans but earnings account for less than 5% of the international market. In 1974, one could buy a Volkswagen Golf car for approximately four thousand Euro in today’s prices. Now, it costs over twenty thousand Euros. So one needs over five times more cocoa money to afford the same thing.
Ladies and gentlemen, to keep up with pricing, we need to add more value. The private sector is best placed to do that. We are therefore complimenting the NPP Government for the private sector initiatives that are set to make a real difference to how jobs and incomes are created in this country.
In the last two weeks, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre hosted an investment summit dubbed “Sparkup; 2021” aimed at further marketing Ghana as the preferred destination for FDI, H.E the President then hosted the “Presidential Business Summit”, bringing together titans of business to dialogue with the Government, after which the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) new partner was unveiled.
MASS REGISTRATION
Before I look at these a bit more however, ladies and gentlemen, let me address a couple of matters. First is the mass registration exercise of the NPP. Its purpose is to determine the size of our support within polling station areas. In other words, we want to know the number of people who are likely to vote for the NPP in any polling station area. This data will help Polling Station Executives, Coordinators and Constituency Executives with planning for elections, campaigning and logistics. Many Constituencies are doing very well so far.
The mass registration list is not only meant to be used for voting for Party Officers. National Council, using Article 18 of the NPP Constitution will issue guidelines for Polling Station, Coordinator, Constituency Officer, Regional Executive and National Executive Elections. So we are assuring all our polling station executives, Coordinators, and Constituency Executives to open up, work hard and try and capture as many persons who are likely to vote NPP as possible. The names should also go into the books that have been provided. Over 40,000 books have been dispatched and distributed to Polling Stations throughout the country.
All polling station executives should have a schedule that makes them available to support this process with the book in a transparent visible place for all desirous of putting their names down to do so.
The second thing is the eminent publication of the list of MMDCEs. Having patiently waited for the list, we expect the nominees to be accepted in good faith. Every nominee on the list as will be published is a nominee of H.E the President. Therefore, the expectation is that the Party grassroots will respect the choices and receive and support the approval of these nominees for the benefit of the Party. We recognise that not everybody in every Assembly will have their preferred choice. However, we also believe that as much as possible, every eligible candidate has had a fair bite of the selection process.
Ladies and gentlemen, now that the selection process is over, we urge all former contestants and stakeholders to adopt the nominees as their own, encourage smooth confirmation processes, and support approved MMDCEs to deliver the best to their areas. Once the list is published, competition in any form, ought to end.
We urge everybody to be calm and to act in ways that promote good relations at a working level in order to give the nominees the best possible opportunity to work in the interest of the grassroots of the nation. Having said that, we also advise the nominees to, as much as possible, open up and provide space for all shades of opinion in their work.
NDC ELECTION 2020 PROPAGANDA
Ladies and gentlemen, the third issue is external to the NPP. The NDC leadership, especially General Secretary Asiedu Nketiah and former President Mahama, keep making wild allegations about the conduct of the 2020 General Elections. Having lied to their people about winning, they went to the Supreme Court with no evidence of any grievance apart from a declaration that had already been corrected.
When the NPP petitioned the Supreme Court in 2012-2013, we specified in detail over twenty two different electoral infractions including over voting, ghost polling stations and unsigned pink sheets. Every allegation we made was backed by a pink sheet. Without any evidence whatsoever, no pink sheets or collated figures of their own, these leading members of the NDC continue to make wild, speculative allegations.
Unfortunately for them, the integrity of the 2020 electoral process was accepted by the international community, corroborated by local independent observers and called for the NPP by prominent local media. Nine months after the elections, the matter is closed as Ghanaians have shifted their attention to pressing matters of governance.
In the event, it is obvious that these allegations are being made ahead of the internal primaries of the NDC. In seeking the chairmanship of his party, the NDC General Secretary is choosing to denigrate the conduct of the 2020 Elections to curry favour with his grassroots. Yet, he was the star NDC witness who confessed in the Supreme Court that they had not won the election and went further to do the calculations that showed that the NDC had indeed lost miserably. Noted though is that he is expert at manipulating grassroots opinion, so his opponents better watch out.
On the other hand, the premature presidential campaign embarked on by former President Mahama has led to his potential opponents coming out of the woodwork to define the kind of leader they will be seeking in 2024. Opponents of early aspirant Mahama believe the NDC will benefit more from a ‘thinking’ leadership, which will make them ‘credible’. Clearly then, not everyone in the NDC is for needless attacks on the Electoral Commission. Such a strategy may not necessarily be intelligent, according to those who do not support the de-facto candidate. The people who do not support Mahama’s repeated attempts to lead the NDC understand that such attacks may not be in line with a thinking approach to the issues that will drive the 2024 elections.
NPP PLAN FOR JOBS
Ladies and gentlemen, those issues include incomes and jobs. Jobs put money in pockets. Jobs for the many youth and skilled people the country is developing. Value addition through industrialisation creates jobs. Aggressive industrialisation will also boost infrastructure, especially railways, ports and energy generation and expand our GDP. We will export more, earn more foreign exchange and borrow less. That is the goal of the NPP.
An integrated aluminium industry has been a dream of the Gold Coast before Ghana. Bauxite mining since the 1940s could have earned Ghana a lot of value. Indeed, it is in expectation of that value that in the early 1960s, Ghana in partnership with international partners developed the Akosombo Dam and established VALCO. Unfortunately, a refinery was not built. So Ghana did not achieve full value. Rather, raw bauxite continued to be exported cheap and the expensive refined product imported by VALCO for smelting.
GIADEC intends to inject six billion dollars of investment into the aluminium processing sector alone. Its partner industry, Iron and Steel, will also inject massive amounts of capital. The Ghana Integrated Iron & Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) has announced already assessed reserves of 6 billion metric tonnes of iron ore.
CONCLUSION
Ladies and gentlemen, that is a completely new opportunity for Ghana. It is in the expectation of the difference such huge projects can make to the economy and living standards of Ghanaians that we hope will differentiate NPP from other parties. The NPP has a consistent approach, increasing national wealth through investments in human capital, value for money infrastructure and private sector led value addition to our natural products.
We believe this vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid, is that which will finally enable Ghana break through the ranks of industrialised nations from Africa and into the world. With NPP, the future is purposeful and hopeful.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has revealed that going forward, it would be compelled by circumstances to arm its polling agents with bulletproof vests and other ammunitions to fight oppressors and also resist illegalities from so-called security operatives on the election day.
The decision, according to the party’s Director of Elections, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah stems from lessons learnt by the party from the 2020 general elections which was characterized by pockets of violence, resulting in the death of eight persons.
“Going forward, we have learnt lessons and maybe we have to give bulletproof vests and guns to our people to defend themselves at the collation centres. Nobody is going to allow what happened in Tachiman South to happen again”, he revealed on Kumasi-based Orange Fm
At least, eight people including children and a pregnant woman were shot and killed by security personnel deployed to protect lives and properties on the December 7 last year at various constituencies.
The government through the Interior Ministry has launched investigations into the incident that has left several others with varying degrees of injuries.
The 2020 Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has assured the people of Techiman which recorded such deaths that the next NDC administration will ensure a speedy investigation of the December 2020 election-related killings in Techiman and punish the culprits.
According to Mr. Mahama, if the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government reneges on its duty of punishing those responsible for the shooting and killing of the three persons in Techiman during the elections, the NDC will investigate and punish all such persons.
The 2020 elections, for the first time, saw the killings of eight defenceless citizens, among whom were children, with Techiman South recording a number of casualties.
But nine months after the incident and with no one held responsible for the crimes, Mr. Mahama has insisted that it is important for justice to be done in order to forestall such occurrences from being repeated in future.
“We have said that justice must not only be done but be seen to be done. It is important that those who committed those crimes are punished lest they will repeat the same action tomorrow. This is the nature of impunity.”
“Because Techiman occurred and nothing happened, that’s what encouraged the Ejura [killings]. And when it continues and no one is punished then there are disturbances…”
But the Former Deputy Youth and Sports Minister intimated that “The do or die spirit will be at work. …we are not going be complacent and allow NPP to steal our votes. Let’s all wake up to protect the votes cast as said by President Mahama”, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah charged NDC supporter
Nana Akomea says Mahama must quickly withdraw the comments if it is an expression that connotes death and violence.
A former Director of Communications for the governing New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Nana Akomea, has urged former President John Dramani Mahama to withdraw the do-or-die comment he made in relation to the 2024 election.
According to Nana Akomea, Mr. Mahama must quickly withdraw the comments if it is an expression that connotes death and violence.
While on his ‘Thank You’ tour in the Bono Region, the 2020 presidential candidate of the NDC said his party will be more vigilant during the 2024 general elections.
“The 2020 elections were rigged for the NPP. We have however accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court for the sake of peace. However, come 2024, the NDC will be extra vigilant at the polling stations because that is where the elections are won.”
“So at the polling station [in the next election], it will be do or die. I am not saying all die be die. I’m saying it will be ‘do or die’ because the right thing must be done,” Mahama said.
However, critics believe the statement is in bad taste and have demanded a retraction.
Mr. Mahama has justified the comments indicating it is an idiomatic expression that cannot be equated to the all-die-be comment made by the then-candidate Akufo-Addo in the run-up to the 2012 elections.
“It is an idiomatic expression. In the English Language, we have idioms in there. I think those who left school early do not understand idiomatic expressions. Do or die means a critical assignment you have, and you must do the needful or perish. What it means is that [officials of the] NDC shouldn’t wait and go to the Supreme Court again.”
“So we have to do whatever we need to do at the polling station and the collation centres. So I won’t retract. The next election for NDC is going to be a do-or-die affair because we have to do the right thing at the polling stations. So I’m telling all our party executives that they must be at the polling stations and make sure the right thing is done. They must also be at the collation centres and make sure the right thing is done.”
But Nana Akomea disagrees with the justification.
He insists the comment by Mr. Mahama only endorses electoral violence.
“He should come out very quickly to say the expression I used, if it connotes violence and death, that is not what I meant and I withdraw it. It is not weakness, it is strength. We are sad about the unfortunate death at Techiman, but what John Dramani Mahama is saying is actually justifying the thing.”
• Sammy Gyamfi has accused President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia of engaging in ‘malata’ economic analysis
• He said most of the things they talk about are now worse off under their tenure
• He noted, the fundamentals of the economy are weaker
Sammy Gyamfi, the national communications officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said, prior to the 2016 general elections, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia were always engaging in ‘malata’ economic analysis which made Ghanaians voted for them.
He said, after winning the elections in 2016 and in 2020, the duo have not been able to make Ghana the paradise they promised Ghanaians but rather things are worst as compared to the situation before the 2016 elections.
Speaking on Pan African TV, Gyamfi noted, the price of fuel which was GH¢16.00 per gallon in 2016 is almost GH¢30.00 in 2021, the prices of cement, iron rods and other building materials have shot up, putting a huge burden on Ghanaians.
He said, there is no ambiguity in former President, John Dramani Mahama’s description of the Ghanaian economy under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as being in shambles.
“Our debt position is the worst ever in the history of this fourth republic, our budget deficit for the last fiscal year, 2020 is the worst ever in the history of this country, cost of living is the worst ever. What is the price of a gallon of petrol today, that gallon of petrol which was sold at just about GH¢16.00 in 2016 is today selling at almost GH¢30…Look at the exchange rate, the dollar which was selling at about GH¢4.00 in 2016 is today selling at over GH¢6.00,” Gyamfi explained.
He indicated, Ghanaians would not have believed if they were told the cedi to the dollar will be more than GH¢6.00 but “under Dr Bawumia, the so-called ‘economic wizard’, ‘economic messiah’ of the NPP, the dollar is over GH¢6.00…”
He said the amount of money the Akufo-Addo led government is spending on debt servicing alone is unprecedented.
“The amount of money spent on debt servicing alone is unprecedented. Never in the history of this country have we seen that total revenue as a country is consumed by only two budget items; compensation and interest payment,” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi reechoed Dr Bawumia’s famous statement ‘when the fundamentals are weak, the interest rate will expose you’ indicating that, the handlers of the economy have lost control that is why the cedi is in ‘free-fall’.
“Today by [Dr Bawumia’s] standard, the fundamentals are weaker than they were in 2016 because if you look at the rate of depreciation today, it is unprecedented. Apart from the exchange rate, is the budget deficit which is a fact, 11%, unprecedented; apart from that is the rising unemployment…it is worse off than it was in 2016 when they were making a lot of noise about the creation of jobs.
“Apart from that, when you go to the market and you engage in the malata economic analysis Dr Bawumia and President Akufo-Addo used to engage in 2016 when they were in opposition, you would realize that we are worse off…,” Sammy Gyamfi argued.
The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has hit hard at the General Secretary of the ruling party John Boadu describing him as a failure.
According to him, Mr Boadu has no right criticise former President John Mahama because he failed to protect his party’s seat in Parliament during the 2020 electioneering.
“What I want to tell the NPP General Secretary John Boadu who’s suddenly had a penchant for wearing suits and addressing press conferences and insulting ex-President Mahama is that he was elected General Secretary when the NPP had 169 seats in Parliament. He has failed woefully to protect the 169 seats and it has today dropped to 137 seats. If we are talking about competency and who is able to manage, John Boadu should not come and compare himself to Mr Mahama,” he told a gathering in Kumasi during Mr Mahama’s Thank You tour of the region
He stressed: “We went to the polls together and we are all witnesses to the logistics that the NPP deployed. We know the huge sums of monies the NPP spent during the elections and we also know all the things they shared to win votes. If you are a General Secretary and you are given all these things and you lose most of the seats you had and the NPP is using force to declare themselves the Majority in Parliament. How dare John Boadu to insult Mahama. I think that he has performed so abysmally that if it were to be the NDC, he would not have been given the chance or platform to be addressing press conference in the name of the party.”
The NPP General Secretary has in recent times held series of press conferences attacking Mr Mahama and his utterances on the economy.
“Former President Mahama and Seth Terkper are on public record as being the worse duo to have ever been in charge of the Ghanaian economy at the same time.
“This pair is a dangerous pair, yet in their public forum on 6th September 2021, this pair sought to create the impression that they had the best of times running this Ghanaian economy,”
“Unfortunately for them the facts shows otherwise. Much as John Mahama seek his re-election on a campaign platform of going back to the IMF, he attempts to confuse history by painting a rosy picture. He said he is somebody who loves history but he confuses history by attempting to paint a rosy picture of his disastrous management of the Ghanaian economy between 2012 and 2016,” Mr Boadu said at a press briefing last week
A faction within the youth base of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region, has passed a vote of no confidence in former President John Mahama and called for a new flag bearer for the party ahead of the 2024 general election. The group insists a new face is needed to rally the party’s support base into a “formidable” force for the next election.
The disgruntled youth, in a press statement, also accused Mr Mahama of neglecting the Ashanti Region when he won power in 2012.
“How come only Tamale metropolis had three cabinet ministers yet the biggest region in the country, Ashanti was neglected?” the group asked.
“In fact, at the start of the administration, there was only one minister from Ashanti Region – the Minister of Environment Science and Technology, Professor Oteng Agyei – who was sacked bitterly and mysteriously just some few months into the administration,” the statement signed by the convenor, Mr Kweku Asare Mensah said.
“How come John Mahama appointed five cabinet ministers from Central Region in addition to having the vice-president from same region?”
“How come there were also five cabinet ministers from Eastern Region in addition to the chief of staff?”
“John Mahama, who could neglect theAshanti Regionthis much now pretends to be the ‘lover boy’ just to deceive us and neglect the region again”.
“Our message to him is simple: He shouldn’t count on us because he neglected us when he had the power”.
“NDC needs new leadership direction, a leader who is in to build a more formidable party not one who is only in for his personal good,” the group said.
“John Mahama is scheduled to hit the region on 13 September with his Thank You tour, but the youth of the party is sending a signal that they are fed up with him”, the group added.
The National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP) Henry Nana Boakye has unleashed his fury on the ”Fix the Country” leader, Barker-Vormaqor and his likes who are enthused over the Military takeover in the People’s Republic of Guinea and also wishing for same to happen in Ghana.
Mr. Barker-Vormaqor, in a Facebook post, complimented the Guinean soldiers for seizing power and detaining the country’s President Alpha Condé who ruled for 10 years, serving from 2010 to 2021, and changed the constitution to run for a third term.
“Neho! I welcome the news of a military coup in Guinea. Still waiting on confirmation of its success. Hopefully a new transition process is put in place quickly. Guinea shall work again”, he said.
Joining a panel discussion on Peace FM’s morning show ”Kokrokoo”, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly called Nana B wasn’t enthralled by Mr. Barker-Vormaqor’s comments.
Narrating how it looked like during the Military rule, Nana B disclosed his father, Edward Osei Boakye, a successful businessman, had his businesses taken away from him by the coup orchestrators; not to talk about the many Ghanaians who suffered other losses during the coup era.
He also reminded the coup proponents of the excruciating pains some Ghanaians went through and the numerous deaths under the coup regime, therefore wondering why any person would wish for the return of coup days in Ghana.
”Today, you’re in Ghana and eat in the morning, afternoon and evening; you have freedom of speech. Nobody disturbs you, today, every person can wake up and freely go about his or her work and you’re wishing for coup d’état in Ghana? It will be upon your head! Have you ever witnessed a coup d’état before? Have you seen people in pain before? Do you know the number of people who have died? You don’t know!
”Then you start a movement called Fix the Country and later on, you’re telling us that we should embrace and celebrate coup d’état in another hoping for it to happen here. God will let it all come upon their own heads!!”, he fumed.
”Do you know how people have suffered because of this (coup d’état)?”, he questioned.
”Sometimes, I’m even amazed that some are even lawyers and making such utterances. Coup is never a panacea for any problems in any country. Never!”
”Because Nana Addo is President, they’re calling for coup. We experienced dumsor for 4 years, did anybody call for coup d’état? Never!”, Nana B exclaimed
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has taken a swipe at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its 2020 presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama.
The party’s General Secretary John Boadu, who slammed the NDC, advised them to invest in polling agents who can calculate the results in an election instead of ‘machomen.’
Using the 2020 election petition to argue his case, he claimed the NDC went to the Supreme court without any evidence to back their case.
In his view, it would be painful for people to wake up at dawn and go out and vote for a party that lacks what it takes to collate its own results.null
He said, “unlike the NDC, the NPP is a party that when you vote for, in six hours, we can collate our own results and know what we got. But if you vote for the NDC na d a simple architecture they can not invest in at the polling stations, then they don’t deserve your vote.
I would advise the NDC to invest in a simple Makola Calculator’ instead of investing in machomen and people who cannot add one plus one,” he said.
“The NPP is a competent party. It is the only party when you vote for you are assured of accountability and will have no regrets. Mahama must exercise patience and invest in the technology to collate his results. He should stop investing in machomen if he wants to win,” he concluded.
Charles Owusu has condemned the ‘do or die’ affair comment by Ex-President John Dramani Mahama on Akina Radio in the Bono-East Region during his ‘Thank You’ tour.
Speaking to an obviously shocked Presenter, the former President said; ”We learn from the past so we [NDC] have learned our lessons from the 2020 election. The next elections will be won or lost at the polling station”.
“If otherwise, it will be a do or die affair at the polling station. The right thing must be done. We will win our election at the polling station.”
“We will do everything to make sure the election is transparent and fair. We don’t want to cheat them, so they shouldn’t. We won’t wait for any Supreme Court, no!”
Responding to John Mahama’s comments during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, the former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu asked him to desist from making utterances that could potentially foment mayhem.
“I don’t think anybody should entertain these statements and come to explain to us what he (Mahama) said. It’s plain language. Nobody will go into the 2024 elections to die for any person to become President in this country,” he cautioned.
He further schooled Mr. Mahama on the importance of life over death saying, “what we can’t use money to buy, we can’t use power or money to protect it. That’s life; nothing on earth is important than it. Your legacy in the world is your life. Power doesn’t guarantee your life”.
“With all due respect, Mr. President, what you said was inappropriate,” he stressed.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to continue with projects started by the current government if he is given the chance to lead the country after the 2024 general election.null
Addressing the Bono Regional House of Chiefs in Sunyani on his “Thank You Tour,” the 2020 Flagbearer of the NDC accused the government of neglecting projects started by his administration thereby causing financial loss to the State.
Former President Mahama was accompanied by the 2020 Vice Presidential Candidate of the NDC, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and some National and Regional Executives of the party when he paid a courtesy call on the Bono Regional House of Chiefs.
It was to seek the blessing of the House as he began the Bono Regional leg of his Thank You Tour.
In his address, the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs appealed to Mr. Mahama to endeavour to continue projects started by the previous governments to ensure continuity of developmental initiatives if he came back to power in the 2024 general election.
He also called on the government to set up a Committee to investigate the violence that occurred in the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.null
Former President Mahama thanked the people of the Bono Region for showing support to the NDC during the 2020 elections.
Touching on the issue of abandoned projects, he accused the current Akufo Addo led administration of neglecting projects started by his administration and pledged to do better if given the nod in 2024.
On job creation, Mr. Mahama insisted that the current government has not done enough.
“The NDC is open to dialogue on youth employment so as to address challenges in that area,” he stated.
The team also paid a courtesy call on the Bono Regional Chief Imam, where special prayers were said for Former President Mahama and the NDC.
The former President and leader of the NDC is on a thank-you tour of the middle belt of Ghana which includes Bono, Ashanti, Bono East.
John Dramani Mahama has been speaking on the 2020 election and the casualties recorded hinting of a do or die election in 2024.
“Everything that happens you learn lessons from them. For us, we have learnt lessons from the 2020 elections. The elections will be won or lost at the polling station. So it will be a do or die affair at the polling station, I didn’t say all die be die, I said do or die.
The right thing must be done. In 2024, the polling stations is where we will win the elections. We won’t wait and go to the Supreme Court. Collation center and polling station, we will do everything to make sure the election is transparent, free and fair. We wouldn’t want to cheat NPP and we also don’t want anyone to cheat us. The elections should be transparent so that the person the people of Ghana want to be their leader will be made their leader.”
But reacting to the former President’s declaration in a post shared on Facebook, Allotey Jacobs said “May you never trust the words of a desperate man”.
Meanwhile, the former President has been criticized for his comment with several Ghanaians believing that a statesman should not make such comments.
Former President John Mahama has been personally involved in corruption so he cannot declare he is incorruptible just as President Nana Akufo-Addo has done on many occasions, the General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said.
At a press conference on Thursday, 26 August 2021, Mr John Boadu said: “Former President Mahama asserts without proof that the NPP has stolen Ghana’s money and that he can ensure accountability through elections”.
“Is that the same Mahama whose government signed onto a half-baked contract of $1.2 billion for the Ghana Retail Payments Systems Infrastructure?” he asked, adding: “Sibton Switch Systems Ltd has just lost an arbitration demand for $478 million from Ghana for revoking that agreement”.
According to him, “the NPP government saved the country billions of dollars which have helped the government channel resources into projects like Free SHS, Planting for Food and Job, 1D1F, etc.”
In his view, Mr Mahama’s involvement in many corruption cases robs him of the moral right to declare himself incorruptible.
“We all know that unlike President Akufo-Addo, candidate John Mahama cannot and has not been able to make any bold statement to tout his incorruptibility because of his personal involvement in a lot of the corruption scandals that plagued his administration,” he stated.
“He knows the institutions within the government responsible for investigation and prosecution”.
“He can report his so-called evidence of corruption allegations about the NPP to any of the enforcement agencies that Ghana can boast off, including the Special Prosecutor that he, Mahama, has advised to be independent,” Mr Boadu challenged.
The NPP’s comments come on the back of Mr Mahama’s recent remarks that Ghanaians should vote out the NPP so that the next government can hold the Akufo-Addo administration accountable for all their money they have stolen.
“If you participate in politics or are a participant in public service, one of the first things you must be willing to do is to be accountable to the people”, he said.
“The only way they could be accountable is for them to leave office so that the people of Ghana can ask them questions and audit them to make sure they account for the period they were in office”, Mr Mahama said.
Earlier, Mr Mahama said the Akufo-Addo-led administration has refused to account for how some GHS19 billion of the COVID-19 relief fund was spent despite several calls on the government to do so.
He said since the government has refused to audit the account, it will take another government to do so and make them account to the people of Ghana.
Speaking to the media in Tamale, as part of his ‘Thank You’ tour of the Northern Region, Mr Mahama said: “We suggested that the auditor-general should audit how COVID-19 funds were used because remember they took $200 million out of the stabilisation fund, then they got $1 billion from the IMF, $400 million from the World Bank and other monies used for COVID relief and when you have taken such public monies, you must account for it.”
“When you spend public money, you must be audited and, so, we asked for an audit of the COVID relief, unfortunately, the auditor-general was hounded out of office but the finance minister came to parliament and gave us an overall picture of much they spent and he said GHS19 billion was spent on COVID relief”, Mr Mahama noted.
Every Ghanaian, he said, “wants to know how that GHS19 billion was spent and it is obvious that this government is not interested in auditing that fund.” According to the 2020 flag bearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), it will take a new government to come and audit and say: ‘You said you spent GHS19 billion, how was the GHS19 billion spent?’”
“They say they fed how many people, for how many days? When we saw the figure for which they said they spent money providing food, it was just laughable; that’s why I say there must be accountability after every period of time and the only person that can hold them accountable is if a new dispensation comes and says: ‘How did you spend this? Explain it to the people of Ghana’; otherwise, then the intention is to go beyond eight years and sweep all this misspending under the carpet and give an easy pass to people who have made money illegally from the coffers of the people of Ghana.”
Mr Mahama noted that the government has used COVID-19 as an excuse for a lot of things, including the “current hardships that we face
According to him, the EC’s posture was amusing because IPAC was the same body that the EC has routinely referred to as toothless and thus, one which cannot dictate to them.
Speaking at a press conference held on August 24 to discuss electoral reforms that the party had arrived at after their review of the 2020 general elections, Asiedu Nketia held that IPAC in its current state was not an avenue that could address their concerns.
“Of all the people who have advised the IPAC route, none of them amuses me than that which was coming from the commission itself.
“Have you noted the number of times the Commission has told political parties that IPAC is toothless, IPAC cannot suggest anything to them, they have absolute independence?” he quizzed.
“So is it the commission that is saying that now let’s go back to that useless body? To discuss what and what will the outcome represent? So electoral commission never ceases to amuse some of us, honestly.
“On one hand, they will say IPAC cannot dictate anything to us. And when we are saying the population that put you there, let is discuss these things and let’s get them implemented, you are still calling that we should go back to IPAC,” he added.
He also accused the EC of abandoning IPAC at a point rather establishing a Committee of Eminent Persons it chose to confer with.
The General Secretary echoes sentiments expressed by the party’s flagbearer in the 2020 elections and former president of the republic, John Dramani Mahama, who described the EC’s advice to go to IPAC with their reforms as absurd.null
Speaking in an interview available to GhanaWeb during his ‘Thank You Tour’ in the Upper East Region, John Dramani Mahama described the directive of the EC as “the most absurd request.”
“Where is the inter-party advisory committee, where is their offices, where does it exist?” he added.
“IPAC is an advisory committee to the EC and IPAC is housed by the EC and it’s the EC that calls IPAC meetings. So how can you ask that the letter be given to IPAC? Who is IPAC?” he further explained in an interview with GBC URA Radio in Upper East.
The NDC flagbearer went on to state that the directive of the EC is an indication that the commission is being unreceptive to the party.
“These are some of the absurd things this committee does that make us feel it’s hostile to our party, I mean, the right place to send the letter is to the Electoral Commission,” he said.
• The former President says the NDC will win the next elections on electoral grounds
• The NDC contested the last elections in court
• According to him, the EC is acting hostile to the NDC
The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the party has learnt lessons from the 2020 elections and will make sure they win the next elections on electoral grounds.
According to John Dramani Mahama, the Electoral Commission has proven on countless occasions to be hostile to the NDC in recent times hence the party has also taken strategic steps to win the next elections fairly.
He noted that one of the strategic steps of the party is to ensure that they win the next elections at the polling station and not to resort to the Supreme Court.null
The NDC lost their case against the Electoral Commission at the Supreme Court after alleging some irregularities in the declaration of the New Patriotic Party candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president for the second term.
However, for the former president who still has ambitions of becoming a president for the second term, said the party will not slack in their bid to relinquish power from the incumbent party.
“The posture of the Electoral Commission before, during and after the elections has just shown a certain hostility against our party but we’ve learnt our lessons,” the NDC flagbearer said in an interview monitored by Ghanaweb.
He went on to say, “Elections are won on the grounds, not Supreme Court. Next time we will take due notice of that. We are going to fight and make sure the right things are done.”
John Mahama made the statement in an interview with GBC URA Radio in Upper East Region during his ‘Thank You Tour’ of the region on Tuesday.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has called the bluff of his expulsion letter from the party signed by the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.null
According to the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Atta Mills Institute, he remains a loyal member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as he has not received any letter of dismissal from the party.
Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ Morning Show for the first time on his expulsion from the NDC, Koku Anyidoho noted that even though he has heard rumours that he has been sacked from the party, he ignored it until he heard the General Secretary of the party kept giving voice to it.
He added that he is forced to comment on his dismissal from the NDC based on the fact that the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has been mentioning his name and giving reference to his working relationship with President Atta Mills at the Presidency in a manner he describes as “insanely”.
“I was going to ignore it until the General Secretary kept giving voice to it and mentioning my name and making reference to my working relationship with President Mills at the Presidency; making certain insanely comment about my relationship with the President when he was not there. I have evidence of what the General Secretary said about me, and all those documents are with my lawyers,” he fumed.
He insisted that being methodical and clinical with his work ethic, he has written personal letters to the General Secretary of the NDC and other relevant persons and units in the NDC to demand the letter of his expulsion as well as the process which led to his dismissal.
” . . I wrote a personal letter to him [Asiedu Nketia] and I have copied all the necessary offices; the National Chairman, the Council of Elders, the Speaker of Parliament because he belongs to our party, Hon. E.T. Mensah [a member of the Council of State], the Minority Leader, the Volta Regional Chairman Caucus because that is the region I come from. I have been very methodical. I wrote to him last week and he has still not responded . . . he said that he has sacked me from the NDC and I have not received any letter to that effect; no process has been served on me and nobody has asked me any question,” he explained.null
Explaining his stance in the opposition NDC, Koku Anyidoho maintained that article 47 and 49 of the NDC constitution empower him to exercise his fundamental human right and freedom enshrined in the 1992 constitution which demand that he gets a fair hearing before a judgment is passed.
“There was no fair-hearing in my case. There is no evidence that someone called me before any committee; nobody called me,” he indicated.
Hinting that, it is a requirement in the NDC constitution for any party member who has been expelled to be given 14 days to challenge the decision that has been taken; thus, there should be a process that will review that decision of the disciplinary committee.
He reiterated that nobody can sack him from the NDC since he has done nothing wrong in the party; stressing that he is ready to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he has done nothing against the constitution of the NDC.
“I have no record of indiscipline and so they should tell me what is indiscipline . . . for now, nobody has expelled me from the NDC; I remain a loyal member of the NDC,” he insisted
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said that the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has, through policies implemented, delivered largely on its promise of reducing the suffering of Ghanaians “even though we have a lot more to do in that direction.”
In a Facebook post, Dr Bawumia reminded the youth that the NPP promised to “reduce the suffering Ghanaians were going through under the economic mismanagement of the NDC.”
He said after four years in office, “even though many Ghanaians are facing challenging times” which he said is as a result “of the economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the government has largely reduced the suffering of Ghanaians.
To prove his point Dr Bawumia has listed what the NPP has done to alleviate the suffering of Ghanaians since coming into office compared with the status quo ante.
Dr Bawumia’s post was made to commemorate International Youth Day which was marked on Thursday, 12 August 2021.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said on Thursday, 5 August 2021, during the New Patriotic Party’s 29th-anniversary celebration at the party’s Accra headquarters that he is confident another NPP administration will succeed his government.
“Today, the challenges that confront our country, the difficulties that we have been plunged into by the COVID-19 pandemic are going to give us the opportunity to grow stronger and stronger and that strengthening of our party and its organs means one thing, and I am very confident of it that on December 7, 2024, the new NPP presidential candidate is going to win the election”, he said.
Mr Akufo-Addo said: “Our objective and responsibility are to do whatever is necessary to make sure that that victory is forthcoming”.
“We have to continue our way forward in Ghana”.
“We cannot continue to accept the backsliding that takes place every now and then”.
“It hasn’t benefited our nation and will not benefit our nation”, Mr Akufo-Addo noted.
According to him, the “foundations that we are laying today for the prosperity of our nation will be shaken if again through our own fault we allow the path of progress to be diverted.”
Speaking at the same event, the party’s Chairman, Mr Freddie Blay, said: “I want to charge the members of the party to prioritise unity over parochial interest”.
“This is the only way that we will still be on top of government and our contract with the people of Ghana in terms of its development.”
“This is the only party that can deliver that, and we must keep it so, and we must be very united irrespective of our own personal interests,” he said
The presiding judge at the Cape Coast High Court, Justice Kwasi Boakye in his ruling on the Assin North case made reference to the 2020 election petition filed at the Supreme Court of Ghana by the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in last year’s elections, John Dramani Mahama.
In his ruling which cancelled the Parliamentary elections in Assin North, the judge, Kwasi Boakye said “the court will not permit a plaintiff to be driven from the Judgment seat without considering his right to be heard, except in cases where the cause of action is obviously and almost incontestably bad”
It was at this point that the judge made reference to Mr Mahama’s petition saying “See the case of John Dramani Mahama vs Electoral Commission and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Writ No J1 ?05|2021 dated 4th March 2021.”
The Cape Coast Court High court on Wednesday July 28 annulled the 2020 parliamentary election result.
A cost of 10, 000 has been awarded against the Electoral commission and 30 thousand against Joe Gyekye Quayson who until the cancellation of the result was the Assin North MP.
Justice Kwasi Boakye said Mr. Quayson was “restrained from holding himself out as Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency within the Central Region of the Republic of Ghana and further presenting himself to be sworn in as Member of Parliament-elect as such until the final determination of the petition.”
One Michael Ankoma-Nimfah, a mason and resident of Assin Bereku filed a petition against over dual citizenship.null
The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of using the courts to attempt to win majority seats in Parliament.
He said there is an attempt to change the 137-137 seats for both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP by the governing party through the use of the courts.
Mr Iddrisu indicated that the NDC MPs will resist any such attempt by n filing an appeal against the Cape Coast ruling that cancelled the 2020 parliamentary election results.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday July 28, he indicated that the courts are now being used to tilt the balance of power in Parliament following the equal numbers being controlled by both the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“We in the Minority remain unshaken, we are confident that is our seat and will remain our seat, and we will contest the ruling. The judge erred both in law and in fact. It is a travesty of justice but what is worrying, we don’t want to believe that the courts of Ghana have been captured and that the courts of Ghana have become forums being used surreptitiously to tilt the balance of power.
“We are equal, 137-137. What is happening is the courts now being used to tilt the balance of power and to weaken time tested historical notion of checks and balances. Justice must not only be done, but must be manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.”null
A United States –based Ghanaian Professor Kwasku Asare also expressed same concerns saying, the “ Quayson court, as in the Sakande court, erred in interpreting Article 94(2)(a) and compounded the error by equating allegiance to citizenship.
“Natural born Ghanaians owe an indivisible, indelible and permanent allegiance to Ghana and Ghana only. Those interested in this can read Judge Coke in the famous Calvin case, as further restated by Blackstone. Or if you want something with ECOWAS flavor, see Dr. Willie Ogebide v. Mr. Arigbe Osula (2004) 12 NWLR Part 886.
“Article 94(2)(a) preceded Article 8(2), which allowed dual citizenship. It is misinterpretation on steroids to hold that Article 94(2)(a) was meant to disqualify dual citizens from holding public office when that same Constitution, prior to Act 527, outlawed dual citizenship.
“The Judge must stay his ruling and refer the matter to the Supreme Court for interpretation.
“It is because of these errors, motivated by the politicization of citizenship, that we have moved for the repeal of Article 94(2)(a) and other Articles, inserted in 1996, that allow dual citizenship but impose public-office holding restrictions unrelated to Article 94(2)(a).”
• Kweku Baako has responded to Kennedy Agyapong’s statement of corruption against him
• Baako insists Agyapong has no concrete evidence as he wants the public to believe
• The veteran journalist challenged the MP to provide the evidence he claimed to be in his possession
The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr, has responded to Kennedy Agyapong’s utterances barely a day after the legislator questioned his integrity as a veteran journalist.
Kweku Baako has described the comments as “crude nonsense”.
Kennedy Agyapong had in a submission on ‘The Seat Show’ on Net2 TV, Monday, July 19, cautioned members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stay away from Kweku Baako and investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, claiming that the two had planned the downfall of the party.
“I’m warning the NPP to be careful with Kweku Baako and Anas else they will topple their government. What has he achieved in this country? He moves around and speaks like he knows more than anyone in this world,” the Assin Central MP said while threatening to show a video to back his claim.
The legislator also served a notice that his legal tussle with Kweku Baako will not see an end soon as he believes the charges levelled against him by the journalist holds no water.
It will be recalled that Kweku Baako sued Kennedy Agyapong at the High Court on charges of defamation. The court ruled in Baako’s favour but Kennedy Agyapong has appealed the case with a ruling yet to be delivered on the matter.
Without any equivocation, Kennedy Agyapong said he will not make any payment to Baako as he remains convinced that he has a strong defense.
Responding to the allegations that he seeks the downfall of NPP, Kweku Baako in a Facebook post said the accusations meted out by Kennedy Agyapong are only empty rants. According to him, Kennedy Agyapong has no piece of evidence to substantiate his claim.
The veteran journalist further stated that the MP, despite suffering a humiliating defeat at the High Court appears to have “grown some balls” by dragging his name and seemingly attempting to cause enmity between himself and the Akufo-Addo-led government.
Parts of the statement on Facebook read, “After suffering a humiliating defeat at the High Court, and pending the outcome of his weak and incompetent appeal at the Court of Appeal, this man appears to have grown ‘some balls’ and has re-started spewing the usual ugly noises of allegations of me being involved in corruption and clandestine activities to undermine the Akufo-Addo Administration; similar allegations he proved chronically incompetent and unable to substantiate in the Court of Competent Jurisdiction.”
Pending the appeal in court, Baako indicated in the post that he [Baako] is immune to Agyapong’s “useless, ugly and noisy public stunts.” He dared that if truly the Kennedy Agyapong was a man of courage and conviction, he should make his evidence public for all to see.
“I am told he claims he has some “video evidence” of my involvement in some corrupt, illegal and criminal activities. He had none to support his bogus, malicious and mischievous allegations at the High Court. If he is truly a man of COURAGE OF CONVICTION, I challenge him to make his so-called evidence public for all to see and hear!”
Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has asked constituency Chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remain united and not indulge in anything that will divide the party.
Remaining united, he said, would make it possible for the party to be strategically positioned to retain power in 2024.
He stated that it was only by retaining power that the NPP would be able to continue with its good work to make life better for Ghanaians.
Dr Bawumia made the call in an address read on his behalf by a former National First Vice-Chairman of the party, Mr Fred Oware, at the inauguration of a seven-member steering committee for the constituency welfare fund and workshop in Koforidua last Saturday.
The meeting, which was on the theme: “Motivating the Base, the role of the party,” brought together constituency chairmen from all the 275 constituencies throughout the country to deliberate on their welfare.
The fund is to be generated through monthly contributions by constituency chairmen to be later extended to other party officials.
Members
According to the Vice-President, the constituency chairmen had taken a laudable initiative and called for the roping in of polling station executives of the NPP in order to generate enough funds to cater for many members in distress.
Dr Bawumia, who indicated that he would contribute to the fund, said there were many members who had been working tirelessly for the party at the base.
The National Chairman of the party, Mr Freddie Blay, said he was excited about the establishment of the welfare fund and indicated that it had come at the right time to cater for the needs of its members and called for its sustainability.
The National Organiser of the party, Mr Sammy Awuku, said he was worried about the use of funeral grounds as a platform to campaign for the party’s flag-bearer position and called for an end to such a campaign.
The Chairman of the NPP Constituency Officers Welfare Group, Dr Godfred Akyea-Darkwah, explained that the fund would welcome contributions of the base in order to reduce dependency of the party on government.
Party’s constitution
A former Energy Minister, Mr Boakye Agyarko, said it was necessary to take good care of party members, stressing that “the party must also understand the needs of the people.”
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, some of the constituency chairmen expressed their appreciation for the institution of the welfare fund which they said could cater for their medical needs.
•Boakye Agyarko says serving the country must be the ultimate aim of any politician
•He says serving the country requires sacrifices and that every politician must embrace it
•He says the NDC unlike the NPP has not accepted this reality
Boakye Agyarko, the former Energy Minister has said the desire to serve and contribute to the development of the country should be the prime motivation for anyone who decides to venture into politics.
According to him, serving the country requires sacrifices and that before deciding to veer into politics, one should recognize that the national interest will at each reign supreme.
Addressing members of the UPSA chapter of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON), Boakye Agyarko said that while the majority of the members of the New Patriotic Party has embraced this concept, the same cannot be said for their opponent, the National Democratic Congress.null
He asserts that the NDC has not come to terms with this notion as their members, he claims to hold a divergent view to what he is advancing.
He beseeched Heaven not to entrust the running of the country into the hands of any NDC leader as they will act in ways that in his wisdom will delay the scupper the country’s progress.
“All of us participate in politics to build a nation. A nation that can provide the greater comfort that we are looking for. A better future for ourselves and our succeeding generations. That is why we all participate in politics. I can imagine that some of our friends from the opposite side may have a different reason for getting into politics. The NDC think differently but not us.
“We participate in politics for the full purpose of building a good nation that we can live in. The primary assumption here is that the goodness we are looking for comes from good governance. Indeed, the Bible teaches us that when the righteous rule, the people rejoice but when the wicked rule, the people groan. It is not only Christians who believe this. Muslims also have their teachings.
“May the Lord bless and not give us the rule of NDC. We are going to achieve good governance by having a party such as ours in power. If we are going to be in power, we have to look at our dynamics,” he said.null
Boakye Agyarko in motivating the youth to bear the cross of Ghana and NPP said that being a member of the party comes with its unique challenge but the willingness to serve should always take precedence.
“Serving this party I can tell you is not an easy task. It involves a lot of difficulties because you are working with humans with various interests,” he said
“Regardless of the challenges, I will rather belong to this party and be ill-treated or maltreated than join any other organization out there calling itself a political party. When I go to Boiling Point on Oman FM, I greet party people and I say my party is right or wrong I stand by it. When I say this, it doesn’t mean your party will not wrong you, for NPP they will wrong you but it’s your party and I urge you that anytime your party wrongs you, have it as your mantra that it’s your party,” he said.
The National Democratic Congress says it will resist all attempts by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to use technicalities to remove Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), Joe Gyaakye Quayson, from Office.
A Cape Coast High Court on Tuesday deferred judgment on the matter to the 28th of June because the MP had invoked the supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme court on the matter.
Even though the Supreme Court has set the 27th of July for its decision, National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, says the people of Assin North should not be denied a representation because the NPP needs to increase its numbers in Parliament.
At a post-court interview with the media, the NDC chair stressed they have identified the machinations against the MP and the party has been very worried about the direction the case was going.
The NDC, he indicates, has been very uncomfortable with the judge’s earlier decision to pronounce judgment on the 14th of July and their belief was that there were some pieces of evidence that would have been adduced before the court if the court had allowed oral submissions to be made before it.
“If he had allowed oral evidence to be adduced during the trial process, we could have justified why we think that our member of Parliament for Assin North was duly and properly elected as well,” he stated.
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo explained to the press that the NDC’s legal team and the Vetting Committee of the party thoroughly examined documentation of all those who were domiciled outside the country and were seeking to contest elections in the country.
He claimed: “We went through their documentation and we were satisfied. In fact, that committee was chaired by no other person than the current speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Alban Bagbin. The venerable personality scrutinized all the processes of our legal team to satisfy the party that Joe Quayson, the MP for Assin North, was very qualified under the electoral laws of Ghana and should contest the elections. And again, the issues were even raised before the electoral commission and the commission also adjudicated on the matter and cleared him even before he filed his nomination.”
He further stated with emphasis that the NDC had a firm belief that the back and forth in court was a ploy to reduce the numbers of the NDC in parliament.
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo further submitted that Mr. Joe Quayson, having come from Canada, another jurisdiction, references to the jurisprudence of Canada was also critical in deciding the matter.
He says given the opportunity for the legal team of the Assin North MP to give oral submissions, they could adduce evidence as to when Joe Quayson actually renounced his citizenship, with all the documents that would be attached.
He said: “Our legal team has them and this will go a long way to exonerate him and justify why the party feels and why the EC itself accepted the nomination for him to file and contest.”
He added, “mind you, this is an election petition, the people of Assin North queued from morning to evening to elect an MP of their choice and we will not allow any technicalities whatsoever to be used to deprive us of our MP”
“We know all the machinations that are going on. They are very comfortable with the hanged parliament the country has now and they are trying every possible means, including legal gymnastics, to deprive the NDC of our numbers we have in Parliament.”
Michael Ankomah Nimfah, a resident of Assin North, petitioned a Cape Coast High Court over the qualification of the Assin North MP. According to him, the MP did not qualify to contest the 2020 elections at that time he filed to contest the elections
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says his party is helping the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah to redeem his image following bribery allegations levelled against him.null
The NDC Chief Scribe says the NDC’s press conference earlier today was to help analyse measures to adopt to help protect the credibility of the Judicial Service which is being soiled by bribery allegations.
There have been allegations against Chief justice by one lawyer Akwasi Afrifa who claims Anin-Yeboah demanded US $5 million from Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta VI.
This became public when the Kumasi-based lawyer responded to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC) after a petition was brought against him by Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta VI.
In his response, Akwasi Afrifa alleged that the chief told him at the end of July 2020 that friends of his who were highly connected politically had taken him to see the Chief Justice who agreed to help him win his case on the condition that he drops him (Akwesi Afrifa) as the lawyer handling a case for him and engage Akoto Ampaw Esq in his stead.
“He [the chief] further informed me that the Chief Justice had demanded a bribe of USD$5,000,000.00 for a successful outcome of his case and that he had already paid USD$500,000.00 to the Chief Justice”, Akwesi Afrifa alleged Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta VI had told him.
But addressing the press at the party’s headquarters, General Secretary for the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia urged the Chief Justice to step aside for investigations to be launched into the matter.
But reacting to the presser, Asiedu Nketia said “We [the NDC] want to help the Chief Justice to redeem his image.”
“We called the press to suggest ways the Chief Justice can use to clear himself. Probably someone wants to drag his name in the mud. We are rather helping him because the allegations are from someone and we don’t know who is telling the truth,” he added.null
To him, the Chief whose matter is in the court may be taking advantage of his relationship with the Chief Justice to dent his image, adding ” so when we are asking questions we are helping to bring clarity to the issue.”
Investigations
The NDC has charged the General Legal Council to stay away from investigating the bribery allegations leveled against Chief justice.
Asiedu Nketiah believes CHRAJ can do a better job than the Criminal Investigative Department of the Ghana Police Service the Anin-Yeboah has tasked to probe the matter.
At the press conference, Asiedu Nketiah stated, “We disagree with the referral of these allegations to the General Legal Council’s Disciplinary Committee by the Chief Justice, for the sole reason that it is an offshoot of a body Chaired by the person at the center of these allegations-the Chief Justice.”
“The likelihood for an impartial and balanced investigation by them into this matter would be quite minimal so long as the Chief Justice remains at post,” he argued.
He added, “Conversely, CHRAJ, which has an enviable reputation of looking into similar cases of alleged corruption against highly placed state and government officials would be better placed to conduct such a serious inquiry.”
Below is the NDC statement;null
SPEECH DELIVERED BY HON. JOHNSON ASIEDU NKETIA, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS ON ACCUSATIONS OF BRIBERY AGAINST THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA.
13th July, 2021.
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen of the media. Let me welcome you to this urgent encounter at which we intend to share our thoughts on a matter of grave national importance.
In the last few days, we have learnt about damning allegations made against the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, His Lordship Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, by a prominent Lawyer, Akwasi Afrifa Esq., to the effect that his client whose case he was conducting had informed him that the Chief Justice demanded a bribe of USD$5 million to fix the verdict of a case before the Supreme Court. He also alleges that the Chief Justice demanded the replacement of he Akwasi Afrifa with Akoto Ampaw Esq. as Lawyer in the case as a precondition for ensuring victory in the case for his client.
We have also taken notice of a denial by the Chief in question, Nana Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta VI and the Chief Justice of the said allegations and the subsequent request of the latter for investigations into the matter by the CID of the Ghana Police Service.
Distinguished friends from the media, the allegations made against the Chief Justice are very grave and rock the very foundations of the Judiciary, which is an indispensable and independent arm of government. Any suggestion that the head of such an institution has sought to compromise his office to undermine the integrity of judgements made by the courts, warrants the most serious attention. This is because any doubts harbored over the integrity of the Judiciary and its leadership, has the potential to completely erode public confidence in the administration of justice in Ghana and our governance institutions as a whole.
Over the years, we have collectively worked hard to build a Judiciary with an enviable reputation as a country. Our Judiciary has produced some of the best Jurists on the African continent and I dare say, in the world. Ghanaian Jurists have served in top positions in the judiciaries of other African countries and in many reputable international institutions. The role an effective, independent and impartial Judiciary plays in attracting investment, ensuring national stability and improvement in the general well-being of the citizenry cannot be over emphasised.
As the political tradition that birthed the fourth republic, we are deeply concerned that if this matter is not handled with utmost transparency and the required seriousness, it could compromise public confidence in the judiciary and roll back the many gains that we have made in our forward march as a viable democratic state.null
In this regard, and without taking sides or commenting on the merit or otherwise of the said allegations of bribery against the Chief Justice, we believe that an investigation by the Police CID would be woefully inadequate to assure the Ghanaian public that a thorough inquiry has been conducted into the matter.
We are of the considered view that the recent history of the Police CID with respect to investigations into allegations against high-ranking officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government would not afford the sort of confidence that must be engendered in an investigation such as this considering the elevated position of the person against whom these allegations have been made.
We recall how corruption cases like the Australia Visa fraud scandal, the Galamsey fraud scandal, the 500 missing excavators scandal, just to mention a few ended in clear cover-ups when handled by the Police CID. The magnitude and gravity of this matter calls for utmost transparency and confidence building which the CID cannot muster at the moment.
We in the NDC hold the view, that though these allegations have a component of criminality, it is in equal measure about alleged misconduct on the part of a judge and as such it would ordinarily fall within the ambit of the Judicial Service to take steps to unravel the truth about this matter and take disciplinary action if proven to be true. This is exactly what was done in the bribery expose’ of ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas against some Judges few years ago.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the difficulty however with this is that the investigations would concern the Chief Justice who is the subject of the bribery allegations in this matter and in whom disciplinary authority against Judicial Officers is vested under Section 18 of the Judicial Service Act. Therefore, good governance dictates that the Chief Justice steps aside during the pendency of the investigations by the Judicial Service relative to the issue of alleged misconduct on his part as a Supreme Court Judge. The Chief Justice cannot be a judge in his own cause hence cannot setup a committee to investigate allegations of misconduct against himself.
Also, we think that due to the considerable public interest involved in this matter, another effective and transparent approach in the circumstance would be a full-blown public inquiry. This can be done by invoking Article 278 of the 1992 Constitution under which Parliament can by a resolution compel the President to set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the matters at hand in a transparent manner and make a faithful determination thereof.
Friends, we are now confronted with a very dicey situation, where it is the word of lawyer Akwasi Afrifa on the one hand against the word of the Chief Justice and the Chief who is alleged to have paid the bribe in question on the other hand. As I have already explained, this issue has dire consequences for the reputation of not just the Judiciary but our revered Chieftaincy institution and the country as a whole. The question is, whose account among the three should we believe as a country? Who is telling us the truth? Is it the Chief Justice and Nana Ogyeedom or is it Lawyer Kwasi Afrifa? We believe that only credible and transparent investigations can establish the truth in this matter. And we hold the opinion that the transparent approach of a Public enquiry is the best way to go. This approach we believe is in the interest of the Chief Justice who stands accused and his accuser.
Conversely, CHRAJ, which has an enviable reputation of looking into similar cases of alleged corruption against highly placed state and government officials would be better placed to conduct such a serious inquiry.null
We also disagree with the referral of these allegations to the General Legal Council’s Disciplinary Committee by the Chief Justice, for the sole reason that it is an offshoot of a body Chaired by the person at the center of these allegations-the Chief Justice. The likelihood for an impartial and balanced investigation by them into this matter would be quite minimal so long as the Chief Justice remains at post. We therefore believe that the GLC should stay its hands over this matter pending the final determination of the issue by independent state organizations cloaked with requisite authority to do so.
Best practice would require that the Chief Justice steps aside temporarily until the matters are looked into and a clear outcome emerges and we believe this instance calls for such an action.
Friends from the media, in making these calls, we are guided by the supreme interest of governance and the preservation of the image of critical state institutions like the Judiciary and its leaders especially the Chief Justice. No iota of doubt must remain about its integrity and credibility and it is absolutely imperative that everything is done to guarantee this.
The former 2nd Vice Chairperson of the largest opposition party NDC, Anita De Soso has called on the general public to say a word of prayer for President Nana Akufo-Addo. Anita De Soso says, what is happening now in Ghana is not normal under President Akufo-Addo which he needs deliverance.
Speaking to Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye of Kessben Maakye, she noted that President Akufo-Addo is under serious calamities and he needs prayers from all Ghanaians. Madam De Soso cautioned Akufo-Addo’s government not to incur the people’s wrath after news broke to pay salaries to Spouses of President.
Former Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Okoe Boye has admonished his party to be awakened to the tactics of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in pitching Ghanaians against the government’s decision to pay salaries to First and Second Ladies.
Parliament has officially approved the payment of salaries to wives of the President and Vice President.
However, the government’s decision has been condemned by some members of the general public.
With some arguing for and against the decision, a member of the NDC, Sam George has threatened court action against the decision.
Sam George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, argued; ”As far as I am aware there was no arrangement for that, the President’s wife and the vice President’s wife are not article 71 holders.
“I am a Member of Parliament, I personally do not subscribe to that, whether it is an NDC President or an NPP President, your wife is not a Public Officer, you wife is your wife. Are we also going to say that the Spouse of the Chief Justice , the spouse of the Speaker must also be paid? Where do we draw the line. Already they get allowances, they get protection from the state at the expense of the taxpayer and I don’t have a problem with that.”
Discussing the issue on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, Dr. Okoe Boye stated that the NDC has developed a strategy that is defeating the purpose for the Parliamentary approval of the First and Second Ladies’ salaries.
According to him, the NDC is waging an ”emotional war” and so called the NPP to counteract the opposition’s cunning ways in order to help Ghanaians comprehend the significance of the government’s decision.
”..what I have realized that the NDC is waging an emotional war, our response sometimes must be an emotional strategy. When I say ’emotional strategy’, we can consider options like coming out to tell Parliament that get a bill and now cancel everything so that we listen to the kind of comments that will come from their wives”, he said.
He expounded that the opposition party has decided to ”target the hearts of people”, therefore the NPP ”must be conscious and quickly adjust ourselves, because on the books, everything is right. It went to Parliament…but they’re targeting people on their heart and, as a psychologist, I know when the hearts of people are targeted; it’s difficult to get them to appreciate reasoning”.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has once again taken a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama over the construction of some interchanges in the country.
According to the President, his government is building three interchanges with an amount of $289 million, while the erstwhile Mahama administration built only one interchange with almost the same amount.
President Akufo-Addo made the comparison when he commissioned the four-tier Pokuase Interchange on Friday, July 9, 2021.
“It is important to put on record that the original contract design [for the Pokuase interchange] was for a three-tier interchange, however through efficient management by my government the interchange was modified to a four-tier interchange within the same contract sum.”
“Indeed, $289 million has been used by the Akufo-Addo government to construct three interchanges (at Pokuase, Obetsebi Lamptey, and Tamale) as opposed to $260 million used by the Mahama government to construct only the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange. These are further examples of the fact that we in the NPP are good protectors of the public purse,” he argued.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Akufo-Addo used the opportunity to appeal to drivers to adhere to all road safety measures to ensure the safe use of the facility.
“I appeal to the users of this facility, especially drivers, to adhere to the various road safety measures put in place for the safe use of the facility. The modernization of Ghana is steadily gathering momentum, and I entreat all Ghanaians to join hands in building the Ghana we want.”
About the project The Pokuase Interchange is a four-tier interchange situated at Pokuase Junction, connecting motorists to Awoshie, Kwabenya, Amasaman and Achimota.
The project is being undertaken by Messrs China Zhongmei Engineering Company Limited.
The sod-cutting ceremony for work to start was done in July 2018, with the project initially expected to be completed in October 2020, but that was changed to March 2021.
The government, in May 2021, promised that the project would be completed in the first week of July 2021.
Regardless of the roles presidential spouses may play in supporting their husbands, Prof Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana has said “I personally do not think such roles should warrant salaries”.
It recently came to light, through anti-graft campaigner Vitus Azeem, that the Article 71 Emoluments Committee has recommended the payment of cabinet minister-level salaries to the presidential spouses.
In an article on the subject, Prof Gyampo said: “Their husbands are paid well enough to be able to cater for them”, arguing: “The current situation, not backed by law, would also open the floodgates to deepen more nepotistic appointments to the offices of the First and Second Ladies in a manner that may not augur well for the fight against corruption”.
1. There may be nothing wrong to evolve a convention to pay some allowances to the wives of former heads of state, who may have passed away. I am told Rawlings actually [started] this gesture and out of his sense of magnanimity and compassion Kufuor continued, and it’s been extended to include the wives of sitting Presidents and Veeps. The payment of these allowances over the years, have not been backed by any specific law but have been treated as benefits of the principals themselves.
2. The current Ntiamoah Baidu Commission, I am told, only made a recommendation to formalise the already existing arrangement, and this was approved by Parliament. It may therefore not be entirely accurate for anyone to suggest that President Akufo-Addo has personally decidedthat the first and second ladies should be paid like cabinet ministers.
3. Those in support of this whole idea believe it makes sense to give some allowances or salaries to wives of those top officials who actually work and support what their husbands do. It’s been argued that some run foundations in support of the poor and others represent their husbands at public functions etc. Given the supposed role they play, some believe it shouldn’t be a big deal for the First and Second Ladies to be paid SALARIES, not allowances.
5. Regardless of the role they may play in supporting their husbands, I personally do not think such roles they play should warrant salaries. Their husbands are paid well enough to be able to cater for them. The current situation, not backed by law, would also open the floodgates to deepen more nepotistic appointments to the offices of the First and Second Ladies in a manner that may not augur well for the fight against corruption.
6. But if as a nation, we think we have gotten to that epoch in our governance process where such personalities have to be paid salaries, the decision shouldn’t be based on such a porous recommendation and an illegal parliamentary approval process. Rather, we must do the following:
A. Agree on the exact and specific roles to be played by First and Second Ladies to shape the conduct of governance in Ghana’s body politic.
C. Determine what other logistics and incentives they may be entitled to and make provisions for these in budgets
D. Amend the list of article 71 officeholders to include First and Second Ladies
E. Empower them to work also as public officials
Until these are done, we must prioritise and stop the pressure we keep piling on the Consolidated Fund.
7. On the loans for MPs to procure new vehicles, this is sad and only goes to typify our feature as extravagant poor people. Some public officials purchase second-hand vehicles that are ten years old and still pride themselves with the “newness” of such vehicles which they call “brand new second-hand”. Other public officials keep their official vehicles for four years and purchase them at a pittance afterwards.
8. If loans can truly be sourced for this very wastefully needless purpose of buying brand new vehicles, such a facility must be given to the Korlebu Teaching Hospital to procure needed health infrastructure, and bill patients who go use such facilities to defray the loan. The fact that the loan may be re-paid by the MPs shouldn’t be the focus of any discussion. For, as constituent servants, MPs cannot continue to live in luxury whiles hospitals for their constituents remain death traps. If there is any loan facility, it must be given to only new MPs.
9. We must rethink our priorities as a country. Let the Consolidated Fund be freed from politically luxurious and frivolous expenses and let there be enough resources for President Akufo Addo to use in embarking projects that benefit ordinary needs of the Ghanaian and leaves a good legacy.
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