The Office of the President, John Mahama, has formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to launch an immediate investigation into the deaths of Ghanaians during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
In a letter addressed to the IGP, the Office described the incidents as “a lasting scar on our democratic process,” emphasizing the need for justice for the victims and their families.
The letter recommended key measures to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation, including the “establishment of a dedicated investigative taskforce” within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to focus solely on the cases for “undivided attention and efficient handling of the matter.”
It further proposed “collaboration with witnesses and families,” urging investigators to conduct “thorough interviews with eyewitnesses, victims’ families, and other relevant individuals who may provide crucial information.”
Additionally, the statement called for a “review of electoral security arrangements” to examine the actions of security personnel deployed at the affected polling stations to determine “their involvement or oversight” in the tragic incidents.
The letter also emphasized the importance of forensic analysis, urging the use of “advanced forensic techniques to analyze any physical evidence from the crime scenes, including bullet casings, weaponry, and other materials.”
The President’s Office encouraged collaboration with electoral bodies, stating, “Work with the Electoral Commission and other relevant agencies to review reports from the 2020 and 2024 elections for additional context.”
To ensure public trust, the Office of the President requested “periodic updates on the progress of the investigation,” stressing that it would help “keep stakeholders informed and assure the public of your commitment to uncovering the truth.”
Speaking at the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving event at the National Mosque in Accra on Friday, January 10, Mr. Mahama reiterated the need for justice.
“If these continue and justice is not served, then what it does is, it breeds impunity. And that’s why, as a party, we have said that we must investigate and find out what led to these killings so that we can take action so that they don’t happen again.”
The call comes after the deaths of approximately eight Ghanaians during the 2020 elections and about six more in the recently concluded 2024 polls. Several electorates were injured during these two electoral processes.
The Office of the President expressed confidence in the professionalism of the CID, stating, “We are confident in the competence and professionalism of the Criminal Investigations Department and trust that your efforts will yield the necessary results to bring justice to the victims and their families while preserving the integrity of Ghana’s democratic process.”
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has announced that investigations are ongoing into how Richard Ahiagbah, Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was able to vote in the 2020 general elections despite not being listed on the voters’ register.
The controversy erupted after Ahiagbah confirmed that he voted in the 2020 elections even though his name was absent from the official register.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had previously accused Mr Ahiagbah of double registration, alleging that he attempted to register at a Ketu South electoral registration center.
In his account, Mr Ahiagbah stated that upon visiting his polling station, he was informed by Electoral Commission officials that his name was not in the register.
Despite this, an EC official recorded his identification number and other pertinent details at the bottom of the register, allowing him to cast his vote.
During a briefing to Parliament regarding preparations for the 2024 elections, Mrs. Mensa expressed concern over the incident. She assured the public that the matter is under thorough investigation.
“He was not on the register but he was able to vote in 2020. It is something that we are looking into and we can assure you that in due course, we will come up with our findings and let you know,” she stated.
Mensa emphasized that ensuring such irregularities do not occur in the upcoming elections is a priority for the Commission.
“I can assure you that before the elections, we will give you a little update on how that happened,” she added.
The Volta Regional Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have called on the Ghana Police Service to take action against Richard Ahiagbah, the Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for allegedly violating the country’s electoral laws.
This call stems from an incident during the 2020 general elections, where Mr. Ahiagbah, despite acknowledging that his name was not found in the voter register for the Ketu South constituency, was permitted to cast his ballot.
The NDC’s demand for action comes in the wake of the recent arrest of Hopeson Adorye, a prominent member of the Movement for Change, on charges related to claims of detonating dynamite in the Volta Region during the 2016 general elections.
In an interview with Accra-based TV3 on Friday, May 24, the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, James Gunu, emphasized that, similar to Hopeson Adorye, Richard Ahiagbah should be arrested for alleged involvement in electoral fraud.
“Richard Ahiagbah, a stalwart of the NPP confessed that though he was not a registered voter in 2020, he voted. That is another confession and that is criminal just as the throwing of dynamites. Now Hopeson has been arrested and granted bail, but we cannot leave the other person who has confessed because we cannot live in a selective justice system.”
“If Hopseson Adorye is guilty, Richard Ahiagbah is equally guilty of electoral fraud and I expect the Ghana Police Service to pick him up and investigate him because he personally confessed this,” he stated.
He stressed the importance of thorough investigations into all allegations to ensure electoral justice, asserting that law enforcement should not only apprehend individuals but also conduct comprehensive inquiries into the matter.
Two years ago, a faction identifying itself as the Concerned Citizens of Okyeman criticized Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for alleged deception during the 2020 general elections.
The group accused Otchere-Darko, a prominent member of the ruling NPP, of manipulating them into demonstrating against former President John Dramani Mahama, only to disregard them following the election victory.
In a Facebook post dated Friday, May 27, 2022, the Okyeman Youth for Development, one of the participating groups in the demonstration, expressed disillusionment with Otchere-Darko’s leadership, asserting that they had been abandoned after serving his interests.
The statement cautioned NPP delegates against blindly following Otchere-Darko’s directives and urged them to prioritize competence and trustworthiness in their decision-making processes.
The 2020 demonstration organized by these groups was sparked by Mr. Mahama’s sharing of an article on Facebook that labeled certain government officials involved in the controversial Agyapa deal as ‘Sakawa-Akyem boys’, inciting outrage among NPP members and other factions during the election campaign.
Protestors gathered in Asamankese, donning red and black attire and brandishing placards condemning what they perceived as tribalism from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and expressing support for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
President Akufo-Addo, addressing the issue during a meeting with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference in August 2020, condemned the ethnocentric remarks while urging a cessation of such divisive language in politics.
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has attributed Ghana’s recent economic challenges to a combination of factors, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and fiscal imprudence during the 2020 election period.
Speaking on the Point of View with Bernard Avle on Monday, March 18, Georgieva emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from past experiences and applying them to future policy-making.
She underscored the effectiveness of robust macroeconomic and financial governance in navigating economic uncertainties.
Georgieva stressed the necessity of implementing strong fiscal and monetary strategies capable of withstanding global financial pressures and fostering sustainable growth.
“The best avenue to pursue that is to get your policies in good order, get your institutions to deliver transparently for the economy for people. Nothing is more effective than strong macroeconomic and financial performance in a country.
“We have seen in Ghana, yes it was the COVID-19 shock that brought so much hardship on people. But it was also the excessive spending during the general elections period. Learn lessons from the past, apply for the future,” she quoted by Citinewsroom.com to have said.
Georgieva also emphasized the significance of inclusivity, particularly in response to Ghana’s Parliament passing the anti-gay bill.
She voiced support for a more inclusive society, highlighting that greater inclusivity contributes to a nation’s overall success.
“I understand that people in Ghana have taken the bill to the court. All I can say is that a more inclusive society is a more successful society. You want Ghana to flourish, make it so that everybody can contribute to the fullest of this country.”
The various difficulties and obstacles with the housing situation in Ghana is not faced by just the average Ghanaian but even yet-to-be political leaders, who ordinarily are believed to have some influence due to their social capital in the political sphere.
Member of Parliament for Ayensuano Constituency in the Eastern Region, Teddy Safori Addi has been a victim and in an interview on Ahotor FM, he recounts the heart-wrenching experience of his family’s eviction from their cherished home.
The unfortunate incident happened six months away from the country’s 2020 general elections. At the time, Mr Safori Addi was involved in campaigning to win the Ayensuano Constituency seat for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
While on the job, Mr Addi said he received a phone call from his wife and to his surprise, was greeted with tears. His landlord had arrived to eject his wife from their abode.
“Six months before the election, my landlord ejected my wife and children in 2020. While I was campaigning, my wife called me in tears, informing me that the landlord had arrived to evict us,” he narrated.
Mr Addi’s eyes watered as he shared this poignant memory.
According to the MP for Ayensuano, he quickly directed his manager to go pick up his wife and children and transport them to a safe location. He joined his family after completing his campaign commitments,
And upon reuniting with his family, he shared a consoling message saying “Don’t worry, God knows best.”
A prominent figure within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Victor Smith, has called for an investigation into the citizenship status of other MPs following the removal of James Gyakye Quayson as Member of Parliament for Assin North, for failing to renounce his Canadian citizenship prior to the 2020 elections.
According to Mr Smith, he possesses information regarding an MP from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who applied for the renunciation of her US citizenship at a later date than Gyakye Quayson did for his Canadian citizenship.
The MP in question represents the Nsuta-Kwaman-Beposo Constituency and happens to be Adelaide Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim, the sister of NPP National Chairman Stephen Ntim.
“Gyakye Quayson is in court for something to do with dual nationality. There are a few people in there (parliament) and we have to investigate this. It is documented that one NPP MP, called Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim, a sister of the NPP chairman, had a similar issue.
“Even for her, she said she filed for her renunciation in 2020 before she went for the election. I’m almost certain that if we look at her document or that from the US Embassy, we would see that her renunciation did not take effect before we went into the election. But as for her, they have left her remaining as an MP,” he said in Twi in an Ahorot FM interview on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
Victor Smith, a former High Commissioner of Ghana to the United Kingdom, said that he is certain that the NPP MP did not get her renunciation certificate from the US government just like Gyakye Quayson before the 2020 election.
“In the case of Gyakye Quayson, they agreed that he has renounced his foreign citizenship but at the time he went for the election, the approval had not been given and so because of that he can’t be an MP,” he said.
He called on the NPP MP to prove him wrong saying, “I’m asking that this woman, Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim, the MP for Nsuta-Kwaman-Beposo, to bring documents to show that the time she went for election, the US government had approved her renunciation.”
The municipal elections, which have 8,000 seats, can sound frightening, but here’s what you need to know
Updates on the local elections in England have been coming in since the polls closed at 10 p.m. last night, starting in the early morning hours.
With the typical excitement of every democratic vote in the UK come large gains—some unexpected, others predicted.
This year, the local elections were set against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine and the lingering impact of the Covid pandemic.
But what were the key takeaways?
Blue Wall loses several bricks
Labour stormed through Tory heartland to make gains described as ‘hugely significant’ by Sir Keir.
Medway was among the local authority areas painted red, with Labour set to run the Kent council for the first time since 1998.
The party also gained East Staffordshire, where four years ago the Tories picked up a mighty 25 seats, when Labour was left with just 10.
Sir Keir told said ‘road to a better Britain’ begins now and will be ‘paved with Labour wins’.
He added: ‘We all know there’s no place for letting up. Let’s never mistake confidence for complacency.
‘But we are going to bottle this feeling we have today and then we’re going to turn it into a general election win next year.’
The Conservatives suffered huge losses in what has been Rishi Sunak’s first electoral test since being handed the keys to No 10.
They lost control of the likes of Welwyn Hatfield – in Energy Secretary Grant Shapps’ constituency – where both the Lib Dems and Labour made gains.
But the Prime Minister maintained that ‘progress’ is still being made for his party.
He told Sky News: ‘‘It’s always disappointing to lose hard-working Conservative councillors, they’re friends, they’re colleagues and I’m so grateful to them for everything they’ve done.
‘In terms of the results, it’s still early, we’ve just had a quarter of the results in, but what I am going to carry on doing is delivering on the people’s priorities – halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats. ‘That’s what people want us to do, that’s what I’m going to keep hard at doing.’
No ID, no vote
Last night, the elections watchdog said ‘regrettably’ some people were turned away from polling stations.
The local elections were the first of its kind to be carried out under new rules which required voters to carry photographic ID.
Critics say the move could discourage young people and disenfranchise minority voters, both of which are likely to be Labour voters.
Gillian Long, 42, said ID requirements are ‘a load of rubbish’ after she was stopped from voting by an administration error between her ID and the registration system in East Riding, Yorkshire.
Ms Long said her address ‘wasn’t down right on their system’ and fumed ‘If you want people to vote, you should make it as easy as possible, and they’ve added a barrier.’
Green history
The Green Party has secured sole control of an English council for the very first time.
They currently have the 18 seats on Mid Suffolk District Council needed for majority on the 34-seat authority, with four wards yet to declare.
Previously, the local authority was run by a 16-seat minority Conservative administration.
Andy Mellen, leader of the Green Party in Mid Suffolk, said: ‘We are looking forward to getting to work.’
The Green Party’s co-leader in England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay, said the party had seen ‘fantastic results’ in both rural and urban areas, winning seats from Labour as well as the Conservatives.
He added the victory in Mid Suffolk would ‘pave the way for electing the first Green MP in the area as well to really represent people on a national stage as well as locally’.
What about Scotland?
While Scotland is dealing with ample political drama of its own, it did not host any local elections yesterday.
But party members north of the border still kept a close eye on today’s unfolding proceedings.
Some results suggest, based of current results, Labour will win the next general election, but without an overall majority.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, said this shows Scots should vote SNP so Scotland can ‘pull the strings’ of a minority UK government.
In a statement he said: ‘It’s increasingly clear that the SNP can hold the balance of power after the next general election – putting Scotland in prime position to pull the strings of a minority UK government.
‘Voting SNP is the best way to beat the Tories in Scotland – and every vote for the SNP will be crucial to ensure Scotland wields real power and influence.’
But the rise of Labour’s popularity in England could sway voters away from the SNP, which has been tarnished by the ongoing investigation into the party’s finances.
Young minds of the future
A teenager only just able to vote has become of the country’s youngest councillors – and stolen the seat of his town’s mayor in the process. Labour in Redditch picked up six seats – including in Church Hill, where 18-year-old James Fardoe claimed the scalp of Tory Ann Isherwood.
His brother Jack wrote on Twitter: ‘Well done to my brother James Fardoe, who was elected in Church Hill in Redditch. Not only did he beat the incumbent mayor, but he is only 18.’
Reacting to his victory on Facebook, James wrote: ‘I would like to thank my opponent, Ann Isherwood, for all her work over the past four years, it was an honour to run against you and once again thank you for your hard work. I would also like to thank all of the Redditch Labour Party and all the volunteers that helped me in Church Hill, I appreciate all the support everyone gave me in this election.
‘I would lastly like to thank everyone who went out to vote yesterday, not just for Labour but all the other parties, who put their trust in democracy and the candidates.’
The newly-elected councillor campaigned for more parking spaces, more youth facilities and more support for local businesses.
Are the Tories really doomed at the next general election? Or could Keir’s lack of star power undermine his party’s efforts?
Republican wave
King Charles may have missed the majority of local election updates, as he is slightly busy with Coronation preparations today.
But there have been interest results in the ward of Highgrove House, the family residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which lies in the Cotswold District Council ward.
Liberal Democrat Chris Twells believes the country should follow the Irish model of a republic, has been elected to represent the Tetbury with Upton ward.
But he has faced calls to quit his seat in north-west England after winning a second election 160 miles away in Gloucestershire.
Mr Twells beat the Conservatives by 60 votes to secure the Tetbury with Upton ward a mere 12 months after he defeated Labour to gain the Ordsall ward for the Lib Dems at Salford City Council, Greater Manchester.
He is expected to stand down from the latte role
Dogs out in full force
While newshounds have stayed up all night to cover the results of the election, during the day it was an army of dogs who helped encourage people to vote.
As is British tradition, voters snap pics of their pups outside polling stations.
Many were shared to Twitter with the hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations.
Regardless of your politics, I’m sure we can all agree that there were a great selection of very good boys out in full force.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to expedite the payment of money for officials who were deployed to cover the 2020 general elections.
The EC announced earlier that it had begun processes towards the payment of a debt owed to some 220,000 electoral officers across the country in the December 2020 elections.
Debating on draft public elections regulations by the EC, the lawmaker said the EC must be adequately resourced to be able to carry out its mandate.
“Minister of Finance, the Electoral Commission hasn’t even paid the members it used for the 2020 elections. Go and do what is right for them to pay them,” the former Minority Leader said on the floor of Parliament on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Minority inParliamenton Thursday opposed a briefing by officials of the Electoral Commission and the National Identification Authority (NIA) on the proposed constitutional instrument by the EC due to the absence of the EC boss, Jean Mensa.
The group resisted the presentation by the officials which resulted in a scuffle between them and the majority caucus at a committee meeting.
The Minority has over the period expressed its displeasure with the CI by the EC which seeks to use the Ghana Card as the sole document for registration onto the voters register for the upcoming General Elections.
Former Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) Dr. Kpessa-Whyte has questioned Rojo Mettle-Nunoo on whether he was working for or against John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 elections.
He is of the belief that Rojo might have worked against John Dramani Mahama in the Electoral Commission’s strong room considering how fast he has switched to support Dr. Kwabena Duffour who is hoping to lead the NDC in election 2024.
“Sir with all due respect, your decision to sign a letter suggesting that you are supporting anybody else besides John Mahama did not only raise serious questions but also lacks emotional intelligence. When did you decide not to support John Mahama again given that you were one of his representatives (myself included) in the Electoral Commission Strongroom? Were you representing His Excellency John Mahama to fail in the 2020 elections so you can opt for another candidate for 2024?
Don’t you think you have a moral obligation to stand with John Mahama given your own testimony that the NPP and Nana Addo conspired with the Electoral Commission to steal John Mahama’s victory? I hope these questions will provide you some opportunity to reflect on the implications of your decision,” he said.
Read Kpessa-Whyte’s Letter to Rojo
*Kpessa-Whyte Writes*:
Dear Comrade Rojo Mettle-Nunoo
I wish to make a few remarks and observations about a recent letter you signed on behalf of friend of Dr. Kwabena Duffour to our party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders. The letter in question is dated December 23, 2022.
*For the avoidance of doubt, I am an ardent and unrepentant supporter of His Excellency John Mahama and firm believer that he, more than anyone else, is our party’s surest bet for 2024 presidential elections, as well as, the person who has what it takes to lead our country’s “second liberation” struggle.*
Just as I support His Excellency John Mahama, I will respect the choices made by others including you. What is unacceptable is the attempt to play victim in your letter when there is no reason to do that. In your letter, you claim that the organizers of the party’s recent congress gave His Excellency John Mahama undue advantage to market himself over others.
I find your claims to be fallacious at best. The party’s recent congress did not depart from the protocols of previous congresses. As far as I know, since the early 2000s former presidents have always attended and addressed the party’s congress. In my opinion, the organizers and His Excellency John Mahama followed the tradition and that should be applauded rather than condemned.
Sir, your claim is even more problematic given that the party has not given any indications of when presidential primaries will be held let alone open nominations for candidates to file and campaign. Is it your intention to deny Excellency John Mahama his rightful place as former president in the affairs of the NDC just because a member of the party has interest in contesting the presidential primaries?
Sir with all due respect, your decision to sign a letter suggesting that you are supporting anybody else besides John Mahama did not only raise serious questions but also lacks emotional intelligence. When did you decide not to support John Mahama again given that you were one of his representatives (myself included) in the Electoral Commission Strongroom? Were you representing His Excellency John Mahama to fail in the 2020 elections so you can opt for another candidate for 2024? Don’t you think you have a moral obligation to stand with John Mahama given your own testimony that the NPP and Nana Addo conspired with the Electoral Commission to steal John Mahama’s victory? I hope these questions will provide you some opportunity to reflect on the implications of your decision.
I sincerely hope that you will understand why I share my observations about your letter to the Council of Elders in public. Ideally, I would have called to express my concerns privately but since you led the way by sharing your letter to the party’s Council of Elders in public. I cannot but follow your lead.
Sir, note that while we are all free to make choices, in the end, *integrity matters*, so we must all be guided accordingly.
One of the many models used by the New Patriotic Party during the 2020 general elections has made shocking revelations as to how his image ended up on billboards and posters.
Nicholas Teye, a 35-year-old Senior High School teacher, appeared on a billboard with the inscription “Remember me. My livelihood depends on your vote.”
Speaking to the media, Mr Teye said he was initially told that together with some other people, their photos were being used for calendars and magazines and there is a reward of GH¢300 attached to it.
According to him, before given the amount agreed upon, he was asked to sign an undertaking that stated that he has allowed his photo to be used for the NPP 2020 campaign.
“I was very angry when I read the notice because I told them they should have informed me earlier before snapping the photo, so I did not sign and I left.”
However, he returned to take the money after realising he was in economic distress.
“When I got home, my wife and the woman who helped me with funds to pay for the NABCO training said I should go for the money…I later went and signed for the GH ¢300…,” Nicholas Teye stressed.
Currently, Nicholas Teye, has to disguise himself before going to public spaces, as his life is reportedly under threat.
He said individuals displeased with the current running of the economy by the Akufo-Addo-led government have threatened his life.
“My major challenge is the threat. So any time I have to go out I have to put on a nose mask and sometimes a cap,” he said.
The Petitioner in the 2020 Election Petition, John Dramani Mahama, is expected to file witness statements and the accompanying affidavits on his petition at the Supreme Court registry today, Thursday, January 21, 2021.
The Supreme court on Wednesday ordered the petitioner to do so by 12 noon on January 21, 2021.
The respondents will also file their processes on January 22, 2021. Meanwhile, should the parties after receiving the processes have any more processes, they should file by January 25.
A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court presided by Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has adopted five major issues that the Supreme Court would be considering for the 2020 Presidential elections.
The apex court after a pre-trial on Wednesday said the Court would be considering the following issues of whether or not the petition reveals any reasonable course of action.
The court will also be determining whether or not any of the candidates obtained majority votes, to be declared winner.
Another issue the apex court would be dealing with is whether or not the EC met the provision of Article 63 (3) of the constitution.
The panel said it will also determine whether or not the EC violated Article 63 (3) of the constitution and whether or not the allegation of the vote padding if considered will affect the vote obtained by the winner.
The hearing at the Supreme Court will commence on January 26, 2021.
Government has announced that only the state broadcaster Ghana Broadcasting Corporation would be allowed access to the main chamber of parliament to cover the inauguration of President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa AKufo-Addo.
It further announced that a media village has been erected at the precinct of parliament to host other media platforms, due to space and security reasons.
President Akufo-Addo will be inaugurated and sworn in on Thursday, January 7, in Parliament due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He is the second sitting president after John Agyekum Kufuor to be sworn-in, in the same manner after being re-elected.
Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday Deputy Information Minister Pius Hadzide noted: “media personnel will operate within the media village that has been erected in the precinct of parliament.â€
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor-Botchway indicated that “the inauguration committee has been working with parliament towards ensuring a successful event.â€
President Akufo-Addo is currently delivering his last State of the Nation address for his four-ear stewardship before his new government is formed.
Some prominent Ghanaians have called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to establish an independent body to investigate all acts of violence and threats of violence associated with the December 7, 2020 elections leading to the death of eight Ghanaians.
According to the renowned Ghanaians namely; Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby and Kweku Adu Gyamfi Opoku, these investigations must lead to prosecution of all those who will be identified as the purveyors of the “senseless violence which characterised the elections.â€
In a statement jointly signed by the four men, they said the state and its organs must demonstrate that the people of Ghana reject vigilantism in all forms.
According to the four, the culture of silence, especially the erosion of fundamental freedoms of free assembly, free speech and free expression is creeping back into the country and they demand a stop to it because it threatens “the very foundations of our democratic experiment and portend no good for a people struggling to overcome serious economic and social challenges.â€
Read the full statement below:
BRING BACK OUR FREEDOMS NOW
Over 25 years ago, we acted together with like-minded Ghanaians, including the current President of the Republic of Ghana, as the Alliance For Change to defend the Rights to Free Assembly & Free Speech guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution. We organised the historic Kumepreko March of May 11 1995 first in Accra and later in other Regional capitals, to assert our right to peaceful demonstrations.
Today, in the wake of a fiercely competitive general election which has witnessed the killing of innocent citizens and a creeping return of intimidation and acts of state brutalities, we the undersigned, feel compelled to speak out loudly & clearly in defence of the Rights to Free Assembly, Free Speech & Fearless Choice of Leader. We make this statement in these extraordinary times. We are again in dangerous times and how we emerge will depend on the willingness of Ghanaians to stand up and be counted. We have been here before, and we triumphed. So we are confident that Ghanaians will rise again to defeat the forces of repression and gain our basic freedoms.
For the very first time in the fourth republican dispensation, as many as eight (8) Ghanaians have lost their lives in election related violence. Since December 7th, 2020, when the people went to the polls to elect a president and members of parliament, national political discourse has been characterized by allegations of electoral fraud and a crazy rhetoric of threats of arson and death. These undoubtedly threaten the very foundations of our democratic experiment and portend no good for a people struggling to overcome serious economic and social challenges.
From the onset of peaceful protests over the election results, those who have sought to express their concerns publicly have been met with opprobrium by sections of the media, state repression and now death threats from those with a vested interest in preserving the status quo and sweeping the glaring malfeasance of the Electoral Commission under the rug. We note in particular that very high-profile leaders of the governing party have called on their members to burn the houses of leading members of the opposition and to kill their opponents. This development is particularly troubling to the extent that it sets our country on the dangerous path to Armageddon.
We call on all the political players in the country to pull back from the brink and to find reasonable and practical ways of resolving all the disputes springing out of the December 7th elections. To this end, we welcome the referral of the major disputes & disagreements on the elections, to the Supreme Court & other relevant courts for adjudication and resolution.
Just as happened in 1995 when 4 Ghanaians were killed at the Kumepreko March, we demand that President Akufo-Addo establishes an Independent body to investigate all acts of violence and threats of violence associated with the elections, especially the cause of the death of eight innocent Ghanaians. These investigations must lead to prosecution of all those who will be identified as the purveyors of the senseless violence which characterized the elections. The state and its organs must demonstrate that the people of Ghana reject vigilantism in all its forms.
Last but certainly not the least, we demand that the President takes immediate steps to return our dear nation to the practice of democracy we fought for together in 1995. Specifically, we ask for the immediate reversal of the creeping environment of THE CULTURE OF SILENCE, ESPECIALLY THE EROSION OF FUNDAMENTAL Freedoms of FREE ASSEMBLY, FREE SPEECH & FREE EXPRESSION.
Mr President, please put the leash back on the totally out of order security apparatus
LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM & JUSTICE
LONG LIVE THE 4TH REPUBLIC OF GHANA
SIGNED ON MONDAY 04TH JANUARY,2021 BY:
KWEKU ADU GYAMFI OPOKU DR NYAHO NYAHO-TAMAKLOE KWESI PRATT, JNR DR CHARLES WEREKO-BROBBY
In line with Article 67 of the 1992 of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will today in Parliamentdeliver his last State of the Nation Address for his first term in office.
“The President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliamentand before a dissolution of Parliament, deliver to Parliament a message on the state of the nation,†reads the provision in the constitution.
Thus, the president will today deliver a review of governments works in the year 2020, as well as give an overall account of his first term in office to parliament today.
In a statement, the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament has directed that the event set to commence at 10:00 am is strictly by invitation due to COVID-19 and the need to adhere to required protocols.
With the 2020 elections out of the way, the current Parliament is set to be dissolved on January 6, 2021 for the inauguration of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic on January 7.
President Akufo-Addo will also be sworn in as president for another term later that same day having been declared winner of the 2020 presidential polls by the EC.
It has been revealed that the Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co law firm led by respected lawyer, Akoto Ampaw will represent President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the election petition filed by former President John Mahama.
According to a Starfmonline report, Mr. Akoto Ampaw who was a key cog in the President’s team of lawyers that challenged the 2012 election results will again represent Nana Akufo-Addo at the Supreme Court.
The firm filed its notice of appearance informing the apex court of its decision to represent its respondent on January 4, 2020.
The filing of the “Notice of Appearanceâ€, is in fulfillment of Article 64 of the 1992 Constitution and the Supreme Court Rules 1996, (C. I. 16) as amended by C. I. 74 and C. I. 99.
John Dramani Mahama on December 30, 2020, filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the outcome of the presidential elections.
In a statement after filing the petition, the NDC which he represented in the 2020 elections said: “The Petition was filed pursuant to the partys audit of the 2020 Presidential results and extensive consultations with the National Executive Committee and Council of Elders of the party.
The first respondent in the petition case (Electoral Commission) will also be represented by Amenuvor & Associates with its lead counsel, Justin Amenuvor in the case which is set to begin after the inauguration of the President.
John Dramani Mahama per the suit filed at the apex court will have lawyer Tony Lithur as his lead attorney
Court has been forced to adjourn a case against some twenty minority Members of Parliament (MP) charged over their march to the Electoral Commission (EC) head office.
The adjournment, although without a new set date, came as a result of the MPs failing to show up in court.
The police prosecutor on Monday indicated his readiness to proceed with the case, however, none of the accused persons or their lawyers were present.
The charged minority MPs walked from Parliament to the EC Head Office and broke through a police barricade to present a petition to the EC on December 22, 2020.
The police in a statement of offence accused the minority MPs of failing to notify the police before holding a special event contrary to sections 1, 2 and 9 of the Public Order Act.
Also, the NDC MPS were charged with unlawful assembly contrary to section 202 of the Criminal Offences Act.
“You are hereby commanded in the name of the republic to appear before this court at Accra on the 4th of January 2021,†the summons distributed in the pigeonholes (shelves) of each of the 20 MPs read.
The MPs are Haruna Iddrisu, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Samuel George, John Abdulai Jinapor, Rockson Defiamekpor, Ras Mubarak, Mutawakilu Adam, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Dr Kwabena Donkor, A.B. Fuseini, Kwabena Minta Akando, Yusif Issaka Jaja, Isaac Adongo, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, James Klutse Avedzi, James Agalga, Collins Dauda, Abdul Rashi Pelpuo, Richard Quashigah and Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
Meanwhile, the Deputy General Secretary of the party, Peter Boamah Otokunor, was also charged with the same offence.
MP for Kumbungu Ras Mubarak had earlier indicated that his minority colleagues will not honour a police summon served on them to appear before the Accra Circuit Court.
The Ghana Police Service has indicated in a statement that it is deploying Security personnel including the Military and allied Security agencies for the inauguration of the President-elect.
According to the Police, this is to ensure the safety of state property and the general maintenance of law and order in the country.
The statement indicated that all VVIPs will be provided with protection on the day of the inauguration and the same attention will be given to the entire State House Complex; Accra International Conference Centre; Accra Sports Stadium and the Black Star Square.
The President-elect for Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on January 7 be sworn in at the Parliament house.
Prior to the swearing-in, Members of Parliament will elect a speaker who will lead the 8th Parliament which experts say promises to be one to watch.
The Ghana Police Service has said it is among other measures drawing a manpower strength of six thousand (6,000) personnel from its outfit, the Ghana Armed Forces and allied agencies to provide security for the swearing-in ceremonies of the President-Elect, Vice President-Elect, Speakers and Members of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2021.
In a news release detailing security arrangement mapped out for the event, the Police Service said it will ensure the provision of a conducive environment around all dignitaries attending the inaugural ceremonies and other related events whiles ensuring all VVIPs in attendance are offered close protection as appropriate.
The Service has thus asked the public to stay off the immediate vicinities of the Accra International Conference Center, the Accra Sports Stadium, the Black Star Square and the Entire State House Complex on January 6 and January 7 when the ceremonies will take place.
The aforementioned areas according to the Ghana Police Service will be secured and patrolled by security personnel who would also mount crash barriers at vantage points to cordon off and control movement to the venues. The police adds that it will only admit into the areas persons bearing invitation cards or accreditations into the specified venues on January 6 and January 7, whiles also conducting covert and overt operations in communities surrounding the State House Complex.
On COVID-19 protocols, the Police says it will ensure strict enforcement of all COVID-19 protocols including mask wearing for all attending dignitaries and role players. There will be field clinics, ambulances on standby and fire service stations at strategic locations to ensure medical emergency and fire safety during the event.
In addition to providing security, the Ghana Police Service will also support protocol duties of the State Protocol Department by performing ceremonial duties which will include Bearing of the State Sword, Performance by the Police Band, Escort by the Police Mounted Squadron and motorcade.
The Police Service indicates that there will be planned road closures, restrictions and diversions in parts of Accra occasioned by the ceremonies of which details will be made available to the public on January 5, 2021.
Signed by its Director of Public Affairs, SP Sheila Abayie-Buckman, the Ghana Police Service in the release has urged the public to cooperate with the security arrangements for the inaugural ceremonies of January 7, 2021 in support of the constitutional framework of government.
A former Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Sylvester Mensah has asked the general public who have little or no confidence in the Supreme Court following the election petition against the 2020 election results which is expected to be filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to give the apex court the benefit of the doubt to handle the case well.
Mr Mensah who is a leading member of the NDC noted that no court would want to “injure its reputation in a high public interest case of this nature that touches the democratic pulse of the nation, Ghana.”
“The long awaited NDC petition on the 2020 general election results declaration comedy of errors, spiced with deliberate manipulations and calculated infractions is upon us today.”
“Even though most Ghanaians have little or no confidence in the Apex Court by reason of its composition and some previous election related judgements, we must continue to give the Apex Court the benefit of the doubt, as citizens who believe in the rule of law.”
“No Court would want to injure its reputation in a high public interest case of this nature that touches the democratic pulse of the nation, Ghana! On we go, history behind us and posterity impatient to make an opinion,†he wrote on his Facebook page.
Barring any last minute change in decision the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be filing a petition at the Supreme Court today Wednesday December 30, 2020 to challenge the results of the 2020 general elections.
The party has rejected results of the elections since they were declared on Wednesday, December 9 by Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) Jean Mensa.
Protests have been staged nationwide by supporters of the party to express their sentiments.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a firm decision to head to the Supreme Court to contest results of the December 7 elections.
The decision was taken on Tuesday, December 29.
“The NEC decided that the NDC will contest the results of the rigged elections in the Supreme Court and other appropriate fora,†a statement issued by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia after a NEC meeting announced.
“In addition, the party will continue all legitimate actions, including protestations, to press home its demands for the government of President Akufo-Addo to enforce the rule of law and protect life and property in Ghana and, in particular, to take all necessary measures to bring to swift justice those responsible for the murders and injuries and destruction of properties before, during and in the aftermath of the general elections.â€
The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed that his party is challenging the results of the 2020 elections in the Supreme Court.
Mr Mahama said in a tweet “The National Democratic Congress has decided to proceed to the Supreme Court to contest the results of the rigged elections of December 7.”
“The decision follows a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our party on Tuesday in Accra. RespectMyVote.â€
He added “While in court, the NDC will continue all legitimate actions, including protests, to demand the enforcement of the rule of law and protection of life and property of the good people of Ghana.â€
The party has rejected results of the elections since they were declared on Wednesday, December 9 by Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) Jean Mensa.
Protests have been staged nationwide by supporters of the party to express their sentiments.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a firm decision to head to the Supreme Court to contest results of the December 7 elections.
The decision was taken on Tuesday, December 29.
“The NEC decided that the NDC will contest the results of the rigged elections in the Supreme Court and other appropriate fora,†a statement issued by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia after a NEC meeting announced.
“In addition, the party will continue all legitimate actions, including protestations, to press home its demands for the government of President Akufo-Addo to enforce the rule of law and protect life and property in Ghana and, in particular, to take all necessary measures to bring to swift justice those responsible for the murders and injuries and destruction of properties before, during and in the aftermath of the general elections.â€
Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, the immediate past chairman of the Church of Pentecost, has called on the clergy to refrain from prophesying outcomes of general elections.
Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah said this at the thanksgiving service organized by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday, December 27, 2020, in Accra to thank God for a successful election.
Delivering a sermon at the Thanksgiving Service, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah noted that such prophecies have the tendencies of causing tension in the nation.
“Unfortunately, one of the women prophetess mentioned in the bible called Noadiah followed money and gave a false prophecy about one leader called Nehemiah. It is my plea to those who call themselves prophets in our country that they will exercise patience and wisdom and not to prophesy on who is becoming President and who will not, and not to prophesy on the evils that some people are going through, whether they are going to die or not but give us the mind of God that will grow our economy and grow our nation. May the Lord have mercy on us,†he said.
According to Opoku Onyinah, one of the offices which have been abused from ancient days to contemporary times is the office of the prophet.
He noted that there are true prophets, but the true prophet must be an epitome of wisdom such that his or her ministry must not bring confusion into a nation.
“Why should even GUM have over 100,000 votes to place third, it appears that some people were saying that they were tired of the politics that some members of the NPP and NDC were playing… The NDC also needs to take this into consideration. With the draw game that we have now, the Lord is saying the two parties need to work together,†he said.
The Assembly Press, a state-owned publishing company has indicated that it is ready to make copies of the gazetted 2020 parliamentary election results to the public but must be on the request of the Electoral Commission (EC).
David Asante, the Managing Director of Assembly Press told Joy News in a report monitored by GhanaWeb that his outfit has completed work on the document but is awaiting the permission of the EC to execute distribution.
“If you are telling me that the EC has released a document saying we should go ahead and give them to the public, it is that simple. The next business day, we will make it available on the shelves for the public to pick it up,†Asante said.
He explained: “Tuesday is the next working day, we will make it available.â€
David Asante hinted that the Assembly Press will ensure that copies are uploaded onto its website.
This brings finality to all the controversy: namely that the results of the 2020 parliamentary elections have not been gazetted.
Earlier on Thursday, there were heavy military and police presence at the premises of the Assembly Press, Kinbu, Accra near the Accra Polytechnic, ready to ward off potential demonstrators who might want to obtain copies of the Government Gazette.
According to some NDC supporters, when they arrived at the premises of Assembly Press upon a press statement by the EC on Thursday 24 December that the results had been gazetted, the staff on duty told them the Gazette was not available.
The Gazette publication of the parliamentary election results is in line with Constitutional Instrument (CI) 135, which mandates the EC to gazette the results of every presidential and parliamentary election after the winners have been declared.
Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has joined Christians worldwide to mark the yuletide.
Christmas is observed by Christians the world over, to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ some thousands of years ago. This day is significant because, it is believed that Christ was the prophesied savior of the world.
Mr. Bawumia, to mark the day in solidarity with the Christian community sent well wishes in a post on his Twitter page.
He, together with his wife who was tagged in the post wrote;
“For all things, we give thanks to God. Indeed, we have a lot to be thankful to God for. As the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Samira and I wish all Christians a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, may God bless us all.â€
It is a fact that the law and the courts are the remedies to disputed elections. It is the belief in the integrity of the law and the courts that sustains democracy and stability.
As much as street protests may be used to create awareness and draw the attention of the international community, it would yield nothing if the National Democratic Congress, NDC refuses to go to court. The same street protest was executed during the botched new voters’ register brouhaha. Eventually, it was the courts that decided. The law is supreme.
If the street protest is a recommended approach towards redress, it is bound to fail. Furthermore, if it is part of advocacy activity leading to the courts as the final arbiter, then it is a very expensive approach.
If the NDC believes it has gathered an overwhelming evidence, it would be practically impossible for the courts to rule otherwise. The judicial system by its construct and design, deals with facts presented but not the truth necessarily before them.
It is not impossible for the NDC to present its overwhelming evidence and facts as something similar was executed during the 2012 petition at the Supreme Court. It would be easier limited to the nine regions NDC is claiming to have won
Therefore, if the writ is filed properly, this case would be a test of integrity of Ghanaians through the Supreme Court Judges as far as future of democracy is concerned. It would determine whether the country condones stealing in the light of the judicial precedence. Indeed, it is a crossroad in ensuring promotion of a stable democracy.
Even if NDC loses, the outcome would yield significant reforms to Ghana’s electoral system and processes. The primary function of a political party is to either secure power through legitimate means or to contribute to deepening democracy through reforms. History will not forgive NDC if they failed to execute this task for the benefit of its members, and Ghanaians.
It is with much hope that, the NDC would pursue the right path in seeking redress.
he presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama and some members of the party have visited the families of those who lost their lives in clashes that erupted in the Odododiodoo constituency during the just-ended 2020 general elections.
Mr Mahama was accompanied by his running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and the Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye on Tuesday, 22 December 2020.
Two persons were confirmed dead in Odododiodoo after a gunfight and clashes erupted between the supporters of the two main political parties in the area on Monday, 7 December 2020.
The incumbent MP, who was re-elected, was arrested in connection with the clashes.
North Tongu lawmaker, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said he has officially petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to invite the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to explain the causes of shootings and killings that occurred during the recently-held presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mr Ablakwa said in a statement that these alleged killings must be investigated thoroughly and the culprits punished severely.
He said “I formally requested that the IGP be summoned to appear before the House as the head of the 2020 Elections Security Task Force responsible for the numerous security infractions and excesses that have led to the brutal killings of at 6 young Ghanaians and left cores fighting for their lives in hospitals across the country.
“Every death would be thoroughly probed and every bullet fired shall be pursued to a logical conclusion. Hopefully, justice would be manifestly done. Violence and reckless killings must have no place during elections or any other period under this democracy. Condolences to all bereaved families and get well swishes go out to the injured.â€
The Ghana Police Service had announced in a statement on Wednesday, December 9 that a total of 61 electoral and post-electoral incidents were recorded nationwide.
The statement further noted that there were several fake news about supposed electoral violence.
The statement said 21 of the incidents are true cases of electoral violence, six of which involved gunshots, resulting in the death of five.
“The National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF) has policed the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections professionally and lauds the public for their cooperation with pre-election security measures put in place and executed through the electioneering period.
“However, between 0700 hours of 7th December, 2020 and 1000 hours of 9th December, 2020; the Joint Operation Centre of the NESTF has recorded a total of sixty-one (61) electoral and post electoral incidents nationwide. Twenty-one of the incidents are true cases of electoral violence, six of which involve gunshots resulting in the death of five.
“The cases involving gunshots occurred as follows: Central region, Awutu Senya East constituency: 2 injured from a shooting incident by civilian(s) in the community during election period on 07-12-20.
“Greater Accra region, Odododiodio constituency: 2 dead and 6 injured from a shooting incident by civilian(s) in the community during post-election period on 07-12-20. iii. Greater Accra region, Ablekuma Central: 4 injured including a policeman from a shooting incident at the collation centre during postelection period on 08-12-20.
“Bono East region, Techiman South constituency: 2 dead and 4 injured from shooting by security personnel at the collation centre during post-election period on 08-12-20. Northern region, Savelugu Constituency: a shooting incident by civilian(s) at the Police Station, when people besieged the station during post-election period on 08-12-20. In case of reply the Number and date of this letter should be quoted.
“Northern region, Savelugu Constituency: 1 dead and 3 injured from a shooting incident by civilian(s) in the community during post-election period on 08-12-20. The NESTF deems the incidents recorded to be incidents that could have been avoided and therefore condemns their occurrence and promises to investigate each one of them.â€
Juliet Amoah, the Executive Director of Pensplusbytes, a media capacity-building organisation has indicated that their findings from the just-ended 2020 elections have established that many reporters were only interested in scoops.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Juliet Amoah explained that “some journalists got caught in the euphoria of scoops…†so, most of them took their information from social media and presented them as facts.
“Of course, there came the issue of not fact-checking enough…†she said.
She further stated that there were no clear lines between the interactions on [a] traditional media and non-traditional media.
“What happens with what the online news portals were doing […] was reporting from what they saw online and [on] other blogs, and some journalists were taking information from there and passing it on,†Juliet Amoah noted.
The media, after the 2020 elections, have been accused by the opposition NDC of churning out figures which were not accurate – figures which they used to project Nana Akufo-Addo, the candidate of the incumbent NPP as the winner of the presidential election.
Due to this development, some journalists have been physically attacked or vilified.
The General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu, has condemned the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its leadership for inciting the youth to hit the streets in protest to the outcome of the just-ended general elections.
According to Mr Boadu, the children of former President John Mahama, who got defeated for the second time by President Nana Akufo-Addo, must join the street protests sparked by the NDC, since, according to him, they are meant to inure to the “selfish†interest of their father.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, 15 December 2020, Mr Boadu indicated that Mr Mahama should have asked his children, who are wallowing in comfort, to join the youth marching on the streets against the results.
“We won’t allow someone because of his selfish interest and because he wants to contest the elections again, he says children should hit the streets and make noise. Then his children must also join but they are living in comfort in this country, some of them are outside the country,†Mr Boadu noted.
“So, if Ghana burns, you and I and our children will sufferâ€, he said.
“I don’t think we must condone such statements,†he added.
He, therefore, called on the National Peace Council, National House of Chiefs, Civil Society Organisations and the media to tell Mr Mahama to concede defeat and accept the outcome of the polls.
“Even the media houses: don’t sit on the fence. Tell him point-blank that he has lost the elections and, so, he should concede,†Mr Boadu noted.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has justified the street protests by supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the results of the December 7 elections as announced by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
He said demonstrations are not illegal therefore, the party cannot be criticised for resorting to that modus operandi to make its concerns known.
The former Deputy Minister of Education said the NDC will go to the Supreme Court to challenge the outcome of the elections if it has to do so.
His comments come on the heels of the main opposition party receiving flak from a cross section of the Ghanaian public for calling on its members to hit the streets to reject the poll results rather than resorting to the courts to address those grievances.
The Presidential Candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama said the party will not accept the results of the polls because in their view, the elections management body manipulated the figures in favour of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Monday December 14, Mr Ablakwa said “These are not unconstitutional. I hear a lot of commentaries on why NDC will not go to court.
“We will go to court when we have to but it is also peoples legitimate right to protest, to picket, to engage in civil disobedience.â€
He said “As our flagbearer announced, there is a forensic audit team that is looking at all the pink sheets putting our case together for a possible change challenge at the Supreme Court if we have to go there.â€
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has admonished supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), victors of the December 7 polls, to be measured in their celebrations.
“To the victorious party, the Council wishes to appeal to them to be measured in their celebrations in order not to provoke their opponents to violent retaliatory responses,†the Council said in a press release issued on Monday, December 14, 2020.
The Council said in the statement that following the declaration of the December 7, there have been demonstrations by the opposition National Demonstration Congress (NDC) supporters seems to have heightened tension.
“The rights to peaceful demonstrations by aggrieved parties to the electoral dispute must be upheld and protected by the security agencies, especially Ghana Police Service without any hindrances.
“While calling on the security agencies to remain professional and be measured in their responses to acts of indiscipline by demonstrators in these tensed moments, we are equally calling on all aggrieved parties to be responsible in the exercise of their constitutional rights to demonstrate peacefully without disturbing the peace of the country,†the GPCC said in the statement.
Official figures released by the EC for the 2020 elections says the NPP candidate, President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the polls after obtaining 51.48% of total votes cast while the candidate for the NDC, John Dramani Mahama obtained 47.86% of the total votes.
Also according to the results, none of the two parties currently has a clear Majority in Parliament.
The NPP won 137 seats in Parliament while the NDC won 136 seats with one seat occupied by an independent candidate. A party needs at least 138 seats to form a Majority government.
The results for Sene West, which is being contested, is yet to be released.
The NDC says the elections have been stolen for the incumbent party.
Read the full statement below.
CALL FOR CALMNESS BY ALL GHANAIANS IN THE CURRENT POST-ELECTION AGITATIONS
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), has over the Iast few days after the declaration of the December 7, Presidential election result observed some unfortunate development in the political environments that border on peace, security, and stability of our nation with grave concerns and would wish to call the attention of all stakeholders to the following issues with the view to addressing them to avoid, monition of the already tensed environment.
1.. The rights to peaceful demonstrations by aggrieved parties to the electoral dispute must be upheld and protected by the security agencies, especially Ghana Police Service without any hindrances. While calling on the security agencies to remain professional and be measured in their responses to acts of indiscipline by demonstrators in these tensed moments, we are equally calling on all aggrieved parties to be responsible in the exercise of their constitutional rights to demonstrate peacefully without disturbing the peace of the country.
2. In the same vein, we wish to encourage the losing parties to strongly consider the constitutional option of proceeding to the Supreme Court with all the evidence they gathered to seek a review of the decision of the EC. While at this we also wish to appeal to the leadership of the losing parties to call on their supporters nationwide to be circumspect and responsible in the exercise of their rights to free expression and demonstration without the destruction of lives and properties, for we have only one nation to live in.
3. To the victorious party, the Council wishes to appeal to them to be measured in their celebrations in order not to provoke their opponents to violent retaliatory responses.
4. Finally, we wish to call on all our member Churches and by extension all peace-loving Ghanaians not to relent in their prayer efforts by continually praying congregationally and individually until calmness is restored to all parts of the country.
God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong. Long live Ghana!
More than 300 residents of Anlo Afiadenyigba township in the Keta Municipality have besieged the Afiadenyigba Police Station demanding the sacking of officers from the town.
The attack on the police station happened hours after the MP-Elect of the Keta Municipal Assembly, Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, was attacked in his house which is only a two-minute walk from the Police station.
Most of the residents who were clad in red outfits accused the police of doing nothing to rescue the MP-elect at the time of the attack at 2 am.
According to the residents and a relative to the MP-elect, when the MP-elect came to the station to seek for the intervention from the officers on duty, he was told that they [officers] have no gun to withstand the gunmen.
The residents also accused one particular officer who is popularly called Eric for knowing something about the attack on the MP-elect.
A resident, Rita Atsufui alleged to GhanaWeb that “Eric is known for associating himself with criminals in the Municipal and that he does not take cases brought against his criminal friends serious.
“…he should go, we don’t want him here anymore. Eric is a thief, he’s a criminal….who doesn’t know him? He sleeps with small small girls here…,” she alleged in the interview with GhanaWeb.
Meanwhile, the officers who were on duty before the MP-elect came to them for help have been driven out of the town by colleagues officers from a nearby station after several hours of a standoff with resilient residents.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will today, Friday, December 11, 2020, hold an Islamic thanksgiving prayer for victory in the December 7, 2020, presidential and parliamentary elections.
The event is scheduled to take place at the Central Mosque in Abossey Okai, Accra.
A flyer of the event sighted by GhanaWeb indicates that the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, will lead the thanksgiving prayers after Friday congregational prayers at the Central Mosque.
President-elected Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Vice President-elect, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia are expected to be at the event.
The NPP will hold a Christian thanksgiving service on Sunday, December 13, 2020, reports indicate.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has declared incumbent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo winner of the presidential election on Wednesday, stating that the incumbent President won with 6,730,587 votes, which represents 51.302 per cent of the total valid votes cast.
Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, according to the EC, obtained 6,213,182 votes, representing 47.359 per cent.
However, the NDC has contested the results, alleging that the EC stole the elections for the NPP.
The Electoral Commission has announced the certified Parliamentary results of the 2020 election across 275 constituencies.
According to a statement issued by the EC on Thursday, December 10, 2020, the New Patriotic Party has won 137 seats in Parliament while the National Democratic Congress has won 136 seats.
One independent candidate has however won a seat in Parliament while one outstanding result is yet to be provided from the Sene West Constituency.
The Ashanti Region gained the most seats with 42 won for the NPP while the NDC gained 20 seats from the Greater Accra Region.
Ghanaians went to the polls on December 7, 2020, for the eighth time since 1992 to elect a President and 275 Members of Parliament as part of a four-year constitutional mandate.
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Jean Mensa on Wednesday, December 9, announced that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party polled 6,730,413, representing 51.595 percent while John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress garnered 6,214,889 representing 47.366 percent in the 8th election in the 4th Republic that had 12 candidates.
The parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Upper West Denkyira in the just-ended general elections, Daniel Ohene Darko, has won the seat.
Mr Ohene Darko polled 18,446 votes while the candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party, Samuel Nsowah Dzan polled 17,925.
The declaration of the disputed parliamentary result for the constituency followed a meeting between officials of the Electoral Commission and the two main political parties, NDC and NDC.
This means the NDC has increased its number of seats to 136.
There are three more disputed parliamentary results to be declared.
They include Savelugu, Sene West and Techiman South.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged supporters of the party in those constituencies to “stand their ground†and insist the right things are done.
The Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh has squashed claims that military men were deployed at various polling centres on December 7 to oversee the electoral process.
According to him, the allegations are false as some military men spotted at some centres on the day, were only there to serve as a back-up in emergency cases.
At a press briefing Thursday, December 10, 2020, the IGP noted that the general election was supervised by the Police Service and other security agencies without the involvement of the military.
Mr Oppong-Boanuh, while addressing the media said, “It is important to highlight that we rolled out a four-tier deployment strategy for the elections which revolved around static duties at the polling stations and the collation centres, Mobile patrols, Rapid Response Teams and Reserved Teams. The core election duty was at the polling stations and the collation centres where personnel of the various security agencies were deployed without the involvement of the military.”
The IGP furthered that, “The military, together with the various Operation Units of the Ghana Police Service were deployed for back-up in emergency situations. The military was not involved in the duties at the polling stations but were called in under rapid response and emergency situations only. The impression being created that the military was used at the polling stations is therefore not correct.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has said about five people have died from electoral and post-electoral incidents nationwide.
The security agency pointed out that 21 of the incidents were through electoral violence while 6 involved gunshots resulting in the death of 5.
The cases according to the Police happened in the Awutu Senya East, Odododiodio, Ablekuma Central constituencies among others across the country.
Some streets in Tamale have been filled to capacity as NPP supporters clad in NPP branded shirts and paraphernalia jubilate and jam to loud music.
Motorists have been spotted riding carelessly at crossroads within the Tamale Central, and excited over the party’s victory in the just-ended Presidential elections, with little care about their safety, traffic rules, and regulations.
Major streets in the central business area were blocked, causing night traffic, while they engaged in uncontrolled jubilation in the absence of security personnel.
Streets like Lamashegu, Dungu, and Fuoh have been calm and almost empty.
Other party supporters including some NDC members joined the jubilation as a mark of tolerance and reconciliation.
Mr. Alhassan Yakubu, an NDC sympathizer who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, said although the NPP Presidential candidate had been declared the winner in the Presidential election, it takes consolation of having a majority in Parliament.
Cletus Apul Avoka, Member of Parliament-elect for the Zebilla Constituency, has pledged to work hard to unite the people of the area.
“A unified people can work together and propel the development of the area,†he said.
Mr. Avoka was speaking to the constituents after he won the 2020 parliamentary election in Zebilla.
The long-serving Member of Parliament beat the Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, Frank Adongo Fuseini of the New Patriotic Party to reclaim the seat.
Mr. Avoka polled 33,616 votes while the incumbent, Mr. Adongo obtained 15,997 votes.
The Convention People’s Party candidate, Mr. Benjamin Anafo secured 842 votes, while the National Democratic Congress candidate, Karim Mahamadu Aduku obtained 174 votes.
“This is the beginning of many things to happen. We are going to close our ranks, I am going to work with everybody in the Constituency for the purpose of bringing development to the doorstep of the people,” Mr Avoka said.
Mr. Avoka thanked the people of Zebilla for the confidence reposed in him one more time.
He also thanked the media, the security personnel, the Electoral Commission, and other election observers for the professionalism they showed, which he said attributed to a “peaceful election in the Zebilla Constituency”.
The Zebilla Constituency has been one of the strongholds of the NDC since 1992.
The parliamentary seat was occupied by Mr Avoka until in 2004 when he lost it to Mr John Akparibo Ndebugre of the PNC.
In 2008, Mr. Avoka reclaimed the seat and lost it again in 2016 to Mr Frank Fuseini Adongo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who won the seat for the first time and lost it in the just ended 2020 elections.
The eighth parliament of the Fourth Republic (7 January 2021 to 6 January 2025) will have 37 female Members of Parliament (MP).
They will constitute 12.75 per cent of MPs.
There were 36 women MPs in the 7th Parliament (2017-2021) initially, but Lydia Alhassan won the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, and that number increased to 37.
Both outcomes from the 2016 and 2020 elections fall short of the minimum UN recommended threshold of 30 per cent deemed satisfactory by activists at the Beijing Conference on Women held in 1995.
There were 16 women MPs out of 200 MPs of the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic (eight percent). That number has seen a steady climb through the years to the 37 out of 275 (13 percent) that will occupy the eighth Parliament.
Find below the list of MPs representing the two parties:
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on supporters of the New Patriotic Party to remain calm while, they wait for the Electoral Commission to declare the final presidential results.
In a Facebook post, he said supported do not need to be aggressive when they win an election.
“Dear NPP Supporter, when you win an election, you don’t need to be aggressive. Be of good character and wait for the Electoral Commission to declare. He posted
He also urged supporters to be sensitive and public order and safety while they jubilate.
The National Democratic Congress is asserting that they have won 141 parliamentary seats out of the total 275 constituency seats in parliament.
Addressing the media at a press conference today, the General Secretary of the party Asiedu Nketia stated that this win gives the NDC “absolute control of the Houseâ€.
He stated that as per the laws of the country, the NDC party now holds the power to select the next Speaker of Parliament, the Deputy speaker and all chairmen of the Parliamentary select committees.
“We can report that out of the 275 constituencies, the NDC has won 141 and that puts us in a clear majority…our collation so far indicates that our candidate John Mahama is ahead.â€
“We are expecting the Electoral Commission to very soon come out to declare him President of Ghana,†Asiedu Nketia added.
The General Secretary said that an NDC majority in parliament will enable their presidential candidate John Mahama in governing the country if declared president of the country.
Asiedu Nketia cautioned media houses from prematurely announcing the winner of the parliamentary elections before it is confirmed by the EC.
Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for the Karaga Constituency in the Northern Region Alhaji Dr Mohammed Anim Adam Anta has said that his victory is a humbling one considering the fact that he is the first to ever win the Karaga seat for the New Patriotic Party.
Alhaji Dr Mohammed Anim Adam Anta beat off stiff opposition from the National Democratic Congress'(NDC) Iddrissu Dawuda in the just ended Parliamentary race.
Reacting to his victory in a post on Facebook, the Member of Parliament-elect said his victory is a demonstration of the fact that the people of Karaga value development and hard work.
He was grateful for the opportunity to serve his people indicating that he dedicates the seat to “the chiefs and people of Karaga and especially to those young men and women who spent their priceless time working with me in the communities, in the streets and wherever we could reach out to our people to deliver our message of hopeâ€.
“All praise be to Allah and with humility, I submit myself to His will. Thank you Karaga!For the first time, NPP has won the Karaga seat in Parliament with a margin of almost 9,000, and the President, Nana Akufo-Addo won the popular residential votes by a margin of 8,000 votes. This is historic as it is humbling. The victory by far demonstrates the value of development and hard work. Thanks to all those who have supported me on this journey my family, friends and party folks. This victory really belongs to all the chiefs and people of Karaga and especially to those young men and women who spent their priceless time working with me in the communities, in the streets and wherever we could reach out to our people to deliver our message of hope. Cheers,†he said in a post on his Facebook page sighted by MyNewsGh.com.
Some presiding officers have been detained for presenting results of their polling stations late at the Ledzokuku collation centre.
According to Citi News report, the seven presiding officers went home to sleep after allegedly meeting long queues on Monday night at the coalition Centre at Teshie Police station.
Their action delayed the coalition of results which started at 7 pm on Election Day till this morning due to their absence.
They, however, returned this morning but their excuse did not go down well with the security personnel which then lead to their arrest.
Lawyer Andrew Egyapa Mercer has retained his seat as the Member of Parliament for Sekondi Constituency for the next four years.
Out of the 91 polling stations in the Constituency, Mercer won 87 with his closest rival, Charles Hagan, who stood on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), winning the rest.
Egyapa Mercer retained the seat with a total number of 17,259 votes.
Total Valid Votes: 27,961 Total Invalid Votes: 367
Parliamentary
Andrew Agyapa Mercer (NPP): 17, 259
Charles Hagan (NDC): 10,310
Eleanor Appiah (GUM): 468
Total Valid Cast: 28,087 Total Invalid Votes: 237
Since the creation of the Sekondi Constituency seat in 1992, the National Democratic Congress have won it only once in 1992 and have since lost it to the New Patriotic Party in subsequent elections.
Three blind electorates on Monday voted smoothly with the braille at the Ebenezer Day Care Centre B at the Ayawaso East Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.
Madam Francisca Atakpa, Presiding Officer, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the polling station had recorded three blind electorates who went through the process with the braille to exercise their franchise.
She said the Electoral Commission provided the brail for people with disability, adding that: “It’s their civic responsibility to vote as a citizen and they shouldn’t be deprived of that, so this was provided for them to ensure a smooth process.”
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hit hard at the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for claiming that they are winning majority seats in Parliament in the December 7 elections.
General Secretary of the NPP John Boadu said at a press conference Tuesday dawn that the NDC has no proper system for collating election results, hence they are churning out inaccurate results.
His comments come on the heels of claims by the Director of Elections for the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, that his party has managed to snatch 36 constituencies from the NPP in the 2020 elections.
He said this while addressing a press conference at 12:00am Tuesday, December 8. Mr Afriyie Ankrah noted that the NDC is winning the presidential elections, hence all supporters must be vigilant as counting continues.
The former Ministry of Youth and Sports said any other results contrary to what he has put out should not be taken seriously.
But John Boadu said: “They have no proper system of collation. They rely on fake results. They need to take Ghanaians seriously and check their facts before they speak.
“It is obvious from the results collated so far that the NPP will still maintain a majority in Parliament.â€
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged all agents and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remain vigilante as the votes are being counted.
Counting of the ballots has started after polls closed at 5:00pm on Monday, December 7.
Mr Akufo-Addo in a tweet said, “Remain vigilant at all stages of the counting process. Let us protect the ballot. #StayVigilant #4MoreForNana.â€
Remain vigilant at all stages of the counting process. Let us protect the ballot. #StayVigilant #4MoreForNana He added: “It is time to be vigilant. Follow the counting process closely. Protect the ballot. #StayVigilant #4MoreForNana.â€
A 106 year-old veteran was among the enthusiastic voters at Koforidua in the Eastern Region who came out to vote on Monday to select a President and a Parliamentarian for the next four years.
The veteran from the 2nd World War by name Daniel Kwodwo Okai voted at the Methodist Chapel B polling station.
Though his name was in the register, it took three attempts before the verification machine was able to verify him.
This, according to the electoral officers was due to his weak muscles, reports Catherine Ablorh.
He was assisted by his daughter, Emelia Okai and Alexander Abradu, the presiding officer.
