New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, Alan Kyerematen has urged Volta region residents to unite behind him as the party’s flagbearer and presidential candidate in the 2024 elections.
He vows to continue the positive work of late President Jerry John Rawlings in the region.
Addressing delegates in Aflao, Ketu South, Dzodze, and Sogakope, Kyerematen, also known as Alan Cash, expresses his resemblance to Rawlings and appeals for the same love and support from Voltarians.
Despite the perception of the region as an NPP ‘no go area,’ Kyerematen believes the political landscape will change once he leads the party, relying on the people’s affection for him.
He urges delegates to vote for a tried and tested leader with national appeal, emphasizing the importance of defeating the NDC and “breaking the eight.” Kyerematen assures delegates of improved fortunes and proposes a monthly salary scheme for party executives.
Supporting him on the tour are John Peter Amewu, Minister for Railways and MP for Hohoe, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar, former Minister for Zongo Development, Mr. Yaw Boabeng Asamoah, and several NPP Regional executives.
Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, has refuted claims suggesting that government plans to win the 2024 elections through the back door.
According to Mr Dery, contrary to claims, government has nothing up its sleeves ahead of the next polls.
Interacting with the media in Parliament today, the minister said: “Let me make it absolutely clear, “this government is not going to tamper with 2024 elections.”
His comment comes after a controversial leaked tape gone viral on social media hinted at plans to have the current IGP removed as his presence would affect the chances of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) retaining power.
Per portions of the tape, some anonymous individuals expressed concern over the ability of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to break the 8 should Dr Akuffo Dampare remain in office.
“Alhaji, my only problem (is) this current IGP, if we do (make) a mistake and take him to the elections, it will not help us. It will not help us at all and I will not mind if the position is not given to me but that man is changed; because he will not help us, he will not help us at all. He won’t help the party at all.
“I know there are others who are also good for this position, if I don’t get and this man is changed and those people that we think they are our men get I (it is ok)… Because we need to break this 8. That is important, we need to break the 8,” a voice was heard saying.
But the Interior Minister shot down this claims, stating that the government has been impressed with the work of the current Police administration.
According to the minister, the mantra ‘law is a respecter of no persons’ has been personified under the leadership of Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
“We have made a lot of progress. We have a police system that is professional that will arrest you whether you are an MP, Minister. They will arrest you even if you are a police officer,” he said.
Mr Ambrose Dery further indicated that President Akufo-Addo remains committed to providing Ghanaians a security system that treats all equal before the law.
“What the President of this country made clear right back to the manifesto of the election before the first term was that there was a fear syndrome in Ghana and part of the fear syndrome was that people thought that we had a security system that was not across the board. It favoured a class of people in office who were too big to be touched and therefore the tenant of rule of law that we are equal before the law was not tenable.”
“As far as I am concerned. We have made a lot of progress along that line,” he added.
Dr George Akuffo Dampare was sworn in as the 23rd Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service in October 2021.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker, has handed over a number of motorcycles to 30 polling station coordinators in the Western Region.
During the presentation, Mr. Duker emphasized the importance of a strong political party and urged the coordinators to work diligently, re-energize their skills, and support the NPP’s vision and programs leading up to the 2024 elections.
He highlighted the critical role of polling station coordinators in shaping the NPP’s image and conducting effective political campaigns aligned with the party’s development agenda.
Mr. Duker stressed the NPP’s commitment to promoting Ghana’s development and highlighted key initiatives such as the provision of ambulances, one-constituency projects, free SHS education, and the ongoing dualization of the Takoradi-Tarkwa road.
As Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Duker emphasized the need for a strong political machinery and organization to fulfill the party’s mandate.
He encouraged the coordinators to advocate for and spread the positive achievements of the NPP.
Mr. Duker also shared his own contributions to the constituency, including improvements in NPP’s organization in the 1990s, achievements in the health and education sectors as an MP, and his support for Medeama SC in winning the league trophy in sports.
“We need to enhance our lobbying skills and reach out to the people. Yes, we need an effective and mobile coordinator. This bike is not for your personal use, it’s for serious political campaigns for the NPP in Tarkwa-Nsuaem.
A hopeful contender for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer position, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has launched his campaign for the 2024 general elections.
The ceremony was held at the Silicon Production House at Tesano, Accra.
Renowned business magnate, Sir Sam Jonah, has unequivocally refuted rumors suggesting his potential candidacy as former President John Mahama’s running mate for the upcoming 2024 elections.
The former head of the Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited has firmly stated that he has no interest in pursuing such a role.
In a statement on Metro TV’s ‘Good Evening Ghana’ he said, “Anyone who knows me well will attest to the fact that I have no interest whatsoever in going into the murky world of politics.”
According to Mr Sam Jonah, he turned down offers to be Vice President under former President Jerry John Rawlings in the 1990s.
“As a matter of fact, if I was interested, I would have been Vice President in 1992 and 1996 when I was offered the position on a silver platter,” he explained.
Some media outlets have speculated that Mr Jonah will be the NDC flagbearer John Mahama’s running mate, but he has described it as “worthless speculation.”
The last time former President Mahama contested in the presidential elections, he chose former Education Minister, Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his running mate.
Mr. Sam Jonah is widely recognized globally as an esteemed business icon, renowned for his remarkable achievements. His notable career began in 1986 when he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer at Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited. Under his leadership, the company expanded from a single-mine operation into a multinational corporation.
A significant milestone was reached in 1996 when Ashanti became the first operating African company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, while already having listings in London and Ghana.
In May 2004, Mr. Jonah took on the role of Executive President at AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, following the merger of Ashanti with AngloGold Limited. This new entity became the world’s second-largest gold producer.
Mr. Jonah’s contributions to the business world have been widely recognized. In 2003, he was honored with an Honorary Knighthood as Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II and Head of the Commonwealth. Furthermore, he was bestowed with Ghana’s highest national award, the Companion of the Order of the Star, in 2006.
His impact and influence have been acknowledged on multiple occasions. In December 2004, CNN and Time Magazine included him in their list of the world’s top 25 most influential business people, applauding his leadership, ethical practices, marketing expertise, and innovative approaches. Additionally, Mr. Jonah has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including five Lifetime Achievement awards, the most recent being the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
Prominent investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has revealed his plans to unveil a documentary that will have a profound impact on Ghana.
Anas stated that the documentary, focused on certain politicians in the country, will be released before the 2024 elections. He emphasized that significant effort has gone into its production, which is why he hasn’t released any work on Ghana in recent months.
During an interview with DW Africa, the renowned journalist expressed his determination to shake the foundation of Ghana with this upcoming investigative piece.
“The work that I am doing now might be the last before we get into the elections. But already the signs are very clear and I can tell you that the foundation would be shaken once again.
“There are a couple of international ones that are about to be released. But this one talking to you as a Ghanaian, I mean the foundation of Ghana would be shaken,” he said.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas acknowledged that he is taking thorough measures with the upcoming documentary to ensure its impact is similar to his previous work, which resulted in the removal of former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Ade Boahen.
However, it is worth noting that Anas has faced criticism from a segment of the public recently, particularly following his unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.
In the defamation case, the Accra High Court judge criticized Anas, accusing him of engaging in “investigative terrorism” rather than investigative journalism.
Furthermore, Anas faced backlash for his documentary titled ‘Galamsey Economy,’ which implicated Charles Adu Boahen and allegedly led to his dismissal. Some critics accused Anas of entrapping the former minister.
NPP President hopeful, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, who was refused audience by the party’s Elections Committee for not completing his nomination forms has managed to successfully submit his forms.
Scrutiny by the elections committee earlier revealed that the forms had not been filled completely.
The acceptance comes barely 10 hours after he was turned away by the committee today
Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku was expected to be the first aspirant to submit his forms but that has not been the case.
He now joins the likes of former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who submitted their forms last week.
Also, former Agric Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto has also submitted his nomination forms.
Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, the former NEPAD Minister, faced a setback in his bid to file his nomination forms for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Primaries.
On Monday, June 19, when he arrived at the party’s headquarters, he was turned away.
Initially expected to be the first aspirant to submit his forms, Dr. Apraku was informed by the party’s Elections Committee that his forms were incomplete. Consequently, he was asked to return on another day before the deadline, which falls on Saturday, June 24.
Dr. Apraku has expressed his aspiration to lead the NPP, positioning himself as a potential successor to leaders such as John Agyekum Kufuor and President Akufo-Addo.
In an interview on TV3‘s The Keypoints, the former Offinso North Member of Parliament said: “I feel there is time for everything and I sincerely believe this is the time.”
Last week, former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia submitted the forms they picked at GH¢50,000 each.
New leaders have been elected by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency chairmen in the Greater Accra Region to guide the caucus for the next four years.
The ceremony, held on June 15, 2023, at the Best Western Plus Hotel, saw the NDC chairmen appointing six members to lead the association.
Benjamin Danso, the constituency chairman of Krowor, was chosen as the chairman of the Association, while Harry Otu Hesse, the constituency chairman of Ayawaso Central, became the vice chairman.
Gregory Quarshie, the constituency chairman of Okaikoi North, took on the role of Secretary, and Yussif Saeed, the Okaikoi South Constituency Chairman, was elected as the Convener. Mohammed Ramne (Alabi), the Ayawaso East constituency chairman, became the Deputy Convener, and Isaac Kportsu, the constituency chairman of Shai Osudoku, assumed the role of treasurer.
During the ceremony, the outgoing executives, Fiifi Taylor (former Okaikoi North constituency chairman) and William Olabode, officially handed over to the newly elected executives, urging them to work towards achieving the objectives of the caucus.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the constituency chairmen to discuss strategies for ensuring the victory of the NDC’s Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, in the 2024 General Election. They also deliberated on ways to secure more parliamentary seats in the Greater Accra Region.
Given the upcoming by-election in the Assin North constituency, the NDC Greater Accra Chairmen agreed to visit the constituency and support the party’s parliamentary candidate in emerging victorious.
The NDC Greater Accra Chairmen expressed their unwavering loyalty to the party’s leadership at both the national and regional levels.
The meeting saw the participation of 24 constituency chairmen out of a total of 33 NDC chairmen in the Greater Accra Region.
Former constituency chairmen and outgoing executives were also present to witness the swearing-in of the new association executives.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a presidential hopeful for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has provided a number of reasons why he should be given the nod to govern the country following the expiration of President Akufo-Addo’s second term.
Addressing party faithful after successfully filing his nomination forms on Friday, June 16, the Vice President noted that he is best placed to lead the party and the country as he has made sacrifices for both which have led to their respective growth.
For 22 years, according to the Dr Bawumia, he has never erred the party or prioritised his personal ambitions over the betterment of citizens and the ruling party.
“From the President Kufuor era as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, through our years in opposition and now in government. During this period, I have sacrificed for the party. I have defended the party in good and challenging times.
I have never wavered and I have a record of achievement and performance as Vice President of the Republic of Ghana,” he said.
He emphasised that through thick and thin “I have shown unflinching loyalty to our party and government.”
Some of the achievements of the Vice President include championing the country’s digital transformation such as mobile money interoperability between bank accounts and mobile wallets, digitization of the national identity card and Universal QR Code payment system.
Despite the successes chalked, Dr Bawumia admitted that much more needs to be done to ensure Ghana catches up with developed countries.
He asserted that “it is possible for Ghana to be like the advanced nations” and as such has pledged to ensure that Ghana is regarded as the digital hub of Africa in his administration.
The Vice President who has a “compelling vision for Ghana’s future” also seeks to make sure that Ghana makes judicious use of its minerals such as gold.
This comes at a time when Ghana has reclaimed its position as the largest gold producer in Africa from South Africa.
President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Joshua Mortoti made the pronouncement last Friday, 9th June 2023, stating that in 2022, Ghana’s gold production rose to 3.7 million ounces, a notable increase from the previous year’s 2.8 million ounces.
This growth has been attributed to advancements in both the large-scale and small-scale sectors of gold mining in the country.
Mortoti said member companies of the mines chamber had sold over 77,620 ounces of gold under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, a scheme launched by the Bank of Ghana to boost reserves. Ghana relinquished the top spot to South Africa in 2021.
NPP Flagbearership
Vice President Dr Bawumia is the second aspirant to file his nomination forms after former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen.
The Vice President is set to compete against eight other contenders in the flagbearership race. The contenders include former Energy Minister Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, MP for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General and MP for Essikado-Ketan Joe Ghartey, and energy expert Kwadwo Poku.
The rest of the contenders are former NPP General Secretary and presidential spokesperson Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, former Member of Parliament for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh, former Minister of State Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, and former Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
The party leadership has already announced that only five aspirants will be allowed to compete following the vetting process scheduled for July 3-6.
On Friday, July 21, the list of qualified presidential candidates will be made public, and three days later, the balloting for position on the ballot paper will take place.
A security policy expert, Anthony Acquaye, has cautioned that the judiciary’s handling of a case against former President John Dramani Mahama could potentially create chaos in the country if not approached with care.
The case, brought before the Supreme Court by Kenneth Kuranchie, challenges the former president’s constitutional right to seek re-election.
Mr Acquaye emphasized the need for cautious handling of such cases, stating that they serve as indicators that have the potential to disrupt a nation.
In a statement Acquaye highlighted the importance of carefully navigating through this case to avoid any destabilizing effects.
“It is important to stress that the early warning signs or indicators to throw a country into chaos is not far from us as a country.
“For this reason, I vehemently deem it important to use this medium to send a word of caution to all the security architectures in this country, including the judiciary, that it is eminent on their side to embrace the spirit of patriotism and put the peace and the stability of our dear country, Ghana, first in their forward decisions, and that any attempt to use the judiciary or legal approach to restrain or stop the former president John Dramani Mahama from contesting the 2024 general election will throw the country into chaos,” he said.
Anthony Acquaye is a security policy expert
The security policy expert added that while the role of the judiciary in the determination of such matters cannot be downplayed, it must be guided by recent disaffections it has received from the NDC.
He cited the most recent judgement by the Supreme Court that made the 2020 election of James Gyakye Quayson as a Member of Parliament null and void.
“Let me emphasize that the judiciary plays a crucial role in ensuring national security and its recent perception by the citizens as a biased institution is a clear warning sign that citizens may be forced to take the law into their own hands if it happens that the former president is restrained from contesting the 2024 general election by the Supreme Court.
“What is more dangerous in relation to this development is that in recent months, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in particular, has accused the judiciary of being biased because the party has lost a string of cases before the courts, including the most recent verdict on Hon James Gyakye Quayson, Member of Parliament for Assin North in the Central Region, who the NDC believe the government has manipulated the Supreme Court to order for his name to be removed from parliament,” he added.
Anthony Acquaye also stressed that he is greatly worried that there seems to be a trend where politicians think they can have their way to power using the judiciary.
Read his full statement below:
For immediate release
14th June, 2023
ANY ATTEMPT TO USE THE JUDICIARY TO PREVENT THE FORMER PRESIDENT, JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA FROM CONTESTING THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION WILL THROW THE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS ~ Security Analyst Warned. ……………………………………..
It is important to stress that, the early warning signs or indicators to throw a country into chaos is not far from us as a country. For this reason I vehemently deem it important to use this medium to send a word of caution to all the security architectures in this country including the judiciary that, it is eminent on their side to embrace the spirit of patriotism and put the peace and the stability of our dear country Ghana first in their forward decisions and that any attempt to use the judiciary or legal approach to restrain or stop the former president John Dramani Mahama from contesting the 2024 general election will throw the country into chaos.
Let me emphasize that, the judiciary plays a crucial role in ensuring national security and its recent perception by the citizens as biased institution is a clear warning sign that, citizens may be forced to take the law into their own hands if it happens that the former president is restrain from contesting the 2024 general election by the supreme court.
What is more dangerous in relation to this development is that, in recent months, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in particular has accused the judiciary of being biased because the party has lost a string of cases before the courts including the most recent verdict on Hon James Gyakye Quayson, member of parliament for Assin North in the Central region who, the NDC believe the government has manipulated the supreme court to order for his name to be removed from parliament.
Although judiciary role is paramount in helping to safeguard the security of the country, injustice delivery can throw the country into chaos. The ultimate responsibility to safeguard the peace of this country lies squarely at the feet of members of Ghana’s judiciary system who are entrusted by the law with the power to ensure effective justice delivery.
In fact, as a student of peace, I was taught of a number of approaches that can be use to ensure peace and among those approaches is the legal approach. It is also important to stress on the fact that, this same legal approach to peace can cause conflict or war if justice is denied.
I must say vehemently that, am really worried about this development in our body politics where politicians think they can have their way to power using the judiciary, most especially under a regime of governmednt beìng characterised by the realism sort of behaviour.
Witnessing the recent unanimous decision trend by the supreme court gives me a strong impression that anything can happen without the court considering the security implications of it’s decision.
I say with my strong analytical spectacle that Ghana must learn from the current state of Senegal.
Sign
Anthony Acquaye ( Masters in Security, KAIPTC) Security Policy Expert 0556783703
A former Member of Parliament for the Adentan Constituency, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, claims President Akufo-Addo has shown ingratitude towards Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry and a potential flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to Mr Buaben Asamoa, Alan Kyerematen made a significant sacrifice by putting aside his own presidential aspirations to support Akufo-Addo. There was an understanding between them that Akufo-Addo would eventually pass on the leadership of the party to Kyerematen after his tenure, he said.
Buaben Asamoa highlighted an incident during the 2007 and 2008 NPP primaries, where seventeen strong candidates, including twelve cabinet members, vied for the party’s nomination. Alan Kyerematen emerged as the runner-up, with then-Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama coming in third.
Despite his strong position, Kyerematen decided to forego his chance to compete in a runoff against Akufo-Addo. Instead, he expressed his support for Akufo-Addo’s bid in order to promote unity within the party and increase their chances of winning the general elections.
In an interview with Wontumi TV on May 19, 2023, Buaben Asamoa brought these details to light, expressing his concerns about the alleged lack of gratitude shown by President Akufo-Addo towards Kyerematen’s sacrifice and loyalty to the party.
“2007 and 2008, Alan really prepared and that particular primaries I am not sure we will witness its kind in Ghana ever again because it comprises seventeen strong candidates and about twelve of them were all cabinet members, there were a lot of big names who were contesting at that time.
“So, after Kufuor’s tenure, what happened? People accused Kufour of supporting Alan and opposed him that they won’t agree because they wanted Nana Addo, and Kufuor agreed. So, we went to Legon for the primaries and Alan became second among all the big men in the contest.
“That time vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama, may his soul rest in peace, was third and Alan was second, so they were supposed to go into a run-off but Alan sacrificed it for Akufo-Addo saying, my senior brother Nana Addo, I have given you the go-ahead. So, go and contest for the presidency so that the unity among us and the party will be stronger and for us to win the elections as well so I am sacrificing for you,” he said.
Asamoa alleged that president Akufo-Addo is now supporting a different candidate to succeed him, going against the party’s traditional practice of supporting the runner-up from the previous election.
In addition, Buaben Asamoa pointed out the irony of the situation, recalling that Akufo-Addo himself once criticized former President Kufour for allegedly supporting Alan Kyerematen instead of him during his own bid for the presidency in the 2007, and 2008 primaries.
“But if you check now, his senior brother’s (Akufo-Addo) time is up and he is about to leave, we have heard that he has mounted behind a different candidate to come and contest, and the party is saying that as tradition demands like we used to do in the olden days as we did for you president, and in your own words, you said after Alan sacrificed for you, he has done well, in his own words, so in future when you complete your tenure you will allow Alan to continue because it will be his time ….and we left everything and supported you. But now that it is time for you to act according to the norms, the same thing that you complained about Kufour doing to you, today you are….” he lamented.
Buaben Asamoa highlighted the promise Akufo-Addo made to Kyerematen, where he acknowledged the sacrifice and indicated that when his own tenure came to an end, he would support Kyerematen to lead the party. He then expressed disappointment that Akufo-Addo seemingly reneged on his promise, contrary to the norms and principles of the party.
Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu has cast aspersions on the integrity of NPP flagbearer hopeful, Mr. Boakye Agyarko over some unsavoury comments made by the latter.
This stems from comments made by the two two years ago over who to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections.
The Majority leader on the matter advised that it would be beneficial for their party not to choose an Akan as flagbearer.
“Inwardly, I know I have the competence to lead the party but it is wise that after two Akans – former President Kufuor and current President Akufo-Addo to present a flagbearer candidate with different ethnicity. I think it is not good for a party that has been accused by some of being overly Akanistic in nature. But not everybody would agree with me and that is the beauty of democracy”, he said.
In response, Mr Boakye Agyarko, a former Energy Minister, said he was disappointed with Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu since he was bringing “noise into the party”.
“I am totally disappointed with the Majority leader. Are you the one going to bring this noise into the party? I use to remember conversations I used to have with him, whiles I was based in the USA, on the phone all the time. You let some of our children ‘some bloody fool bring such noise into the party,” Mr Boakye Agyarko said.
Two years later in a rebuttal while speaking on Angel FM Kumasi, the Majority leader suggested that the unsavory words used by Mr Agyarko do not make him fit to be a leader.
“You insult by telling the Majority Leader what he is saying is bloody fool talk. Is that the hallmark of a leader?” Hon Osei-Kyei-Mensah is quoted by GhNews to have quizzed.
“Boakye Agyarko sat on Oman FM and described what I said as bloody fool talk. I said I didn’t want it, but the same Boakye Agyarko says he wants to lead the party so we should vote for him. Is he telling us what he is doing is not engaged in bloody fool talk? Is it, not idiotic talk for him to say we should vote for him?” Hon Osei-Kyei-Mensah further stated.
As the 2024 general elections draw nigh, more projections for a win for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) troop in.
Among the recent individuals to declare victory for the NPP is former head of monitory at Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu.
In an interview with Peace FM on its “Kokrokoo” programme, Mr Owusu said the winner of the elections has already been chosen by God and that there isn’t much the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) can do about it.
“Nana Akufo-Addo has broken the record already. He will hand over to his own party…The 2024 elections have already been decided…God has already chosen the one who will lead this country,” he said.
According to him, he would not have been disturbed should Mahama have been chosen by God to lead the country due to his experience, but that is not the case, he said.
To buttress his point, he reiterated that “NPP will win the next 2024 elections, come what may”.
Prior to this, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong noted that by all means, the NPP will remain in power come 2025.
His statement met stern opposition from the NDC who described the MP’s words as “treasonable”.
On the matter, the Police is said to have they find no fault with Mr Acheampong’s comment, however, advised that politicians refrain from inciting the public to engage in violence in the next polls.
The Economic Intelligence Unit has noted that the current economic hardship and fall in standard of living will cause electorates to abandon the New Patriotic Party (NPP) come 2024.
In its latest assessment, the EIU has projected a change in government – where the ruling party hands over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“Our baseline forecast is that economic hardships, the fallout from debt restructuring and poor governance will create an anti-incumbency wave and push the electorate to seek change.
“The NDC therefore stands a strong chance of winning the 2024 presidential poll,” parts of the report read.
Also, the NDC is tipped to have the “majority” in Parliament.
The 8th Parliament is a hung Parliament
The London-based analyst reiterated that the shift in power shall be “driven by anti-incumbency sentiment and public discontent with the current government over worsening living standards.”
The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, has also communicated that the NPP will work tirelessly to ensure the NPP retains power.
The recent report however does not indicate whether whoever stands as flagbearer for the NDC could increase or thwart the party’s chances.
In EIU’s previous report, it did indicate that the opposition party can revitalise the prospect of victory with a fresh presidential candidate. But that projection was quashed by the National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, who said former President John Mahama remains the best candidate.
Meanwhile, EIU expects “policy to continue to focus on ensuring macroeconomic stability,” irrespective of who retains power.
Also, it anticipates that the new government “will face similar economic challenges to those its predecessor did” however, the “overall political stability will be maintained, as Ghana’s main parties and citizens have faith in the country’s well-established democratic institutions and confidence that any transfer of power will be fair”.
A prospective presidential contender for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has criticized those who think he is unqualified to represent the party in the 2024 elections.
The vociferous Assin Central Member of Parliament said his critics say he is not “presidential material” because he does not speak impeccable English like some of his contenders.
According to him, the youth needs a candidate who will provide them with jobs and alleviate their sufferings and not a candidate who is only interested in wearing expensive suits and always speaking the Queen’s English.
Kennedy Agyapong also said it seems his opponents want to undermine all the sacrifices he had made for the NPP over the years.
“Who in the party has worked more than me? I have made lots of sacrifices for the party by using my money to fund party activities. Today they are saying I’m not presidential material. What is presidential material? Is presidential material someone who can speak good English, wears suits and does not care about the welfare of the youth?”
“Between someone who says good to see you and the other who encourages you to get up to go to work, which one of them is presidential material? We want jobs, we are not joking at all. We are tired of listening to big English all the time,” he asserted.
Mr. Ohene Agyapong called on the delegates to make a wise choice by electing a formidable candidate who can lead the party to help the party win the 2024 general elections.
“My advice goes to all the delegates to try and make the right choice in the election of a presidential candidate for the party. You will bear the brunt if you make wrong choices that will send the party into opposition. Make no mistake during the primaries to elect just any candidate. I will use the little money I have for myself till I die and not spend on party members anymore,” the MP said.
The outspoken lawmaker said this when he addressed NPP delegates in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
A member of New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) communications team, Ellen Ama Ofosuaa Daaku, says the ruling party is working to resolve all of its challenges before the 2024 elections.
Speaking on TV3, she said this is to ensure “Ghanaians vote for us again.”
She noted that in a worse case scenario, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot be considered an alternative.
According to her, “the NDC must put themselves together and make themselves a credible alternative.”
Madam Ellen Ama Ofosuaa Daaku asserted that the NDC has already accepted defeat, linking this to the presence of the Electoral Commission Chair, Jean Mensa.
The NPP is putting everything in place to make sure Ghanaians vote for us again in 2024. The NDC is not a credible alternative – Ellen Daaku#TV3NewDaypic.twitter.com/Ks51E0V1VS
“As it is now, it looks like they have already psyching their party followers because of Madam Jean Mensa who is still the EC chair, we are going to lose,” she said.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who is yet to declare his presidential ambition has received enormous support and endorsement from political figures ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on the other hand, as expected, believes the Vice President poses no threat to their quest for power come 2025.
But pollster, Ben Ephson, who has waded into the conversation asserts strongly that victory will be the New Patriotic Party’s, however, on the condition that Dr Bawumia is made flagbearer.
According to Mr Ephson, the Vice President is assured of victory for two reasons – he is accepted by the Christian community and the fact that all Muslims would choose to have one of their own as President.
In an interview with Onua TV in early April, Mr Ben Ephson said “If Bawumia is made the flagbearer of NPP, he comes with two main advantages; that is many Christians feel comfortable with him even though he is a Muslim and Muslims who used to vote for the NDC would switch and vote for NPP.”
The Managing Editor of Dispatch also noted that the Muslim community would side with the ruling party as they feel used by the NDC over its inability to provide a Muslim running mate.
“The Muslims have now noticed that the NDC has taken them for granted for far too long because they don’t take Muslims for even running mate,” he asserted.
Although Vice President Dr Bawumia has not made an official statement on running in the next presidential election, some Ghanaians believe the Vice President is lacing his boots to do so.
They hold this assertion because of the statement – “It is Possible!” – shared by Dr Bawumia on his social media pages on April 4, 2023. He has on several occasions spoken about the NPP’s ability to break the 8-cycle governance.
Should the Vice President register interest, he is expected to go up against former Trade Minister, John Alan Kyerematen, former Agric Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto, former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Presidential Spokesperson and General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyepong, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey, who is also the MP for Essikado-Ketan; a former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, and a former Minister of State, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, who is also a former MP for Offinso North.
The ruling party has announced that nominations for the Presidential primaries will open on May 26, 2023, and close on June 24, 2023. On November 4, 2022, the NPP will hold its National Congress to elect its flagbearer for the next general elections.
Member of parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro, Sylvester Matthew Tetteh, has criticized member of parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, for chastising the Akufo-Addo-led administration over the current state of the economy.
Speaking on a panel discussion on TV3’s ‘The Big Issue’ programme, on Monday, Sam George said that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government are full of thieves, whose only aim is to steal from the people of Ghana.
He said that after stealing all the country’s resources, the government is now going into the pockets of Ghanaians to also steal them through its domestic exchange programme,
“The recklessness and callousness of these bunch of kleptocrats that we have running this country are…,” Sam George was saying before he was interjected by Sylvester Tetteh.
The MP for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro described Sam George’s comments as uncivilised and urged the host of the programme to check him.
“The words being used are not the best… We should have a very civil conversation… you come to a programmeand all you get is insults,” he said.
Sam George rebutted; “there can be no civility when you are stealing from me, you are stealing from my parent, you are stealing from our grandparents and you say I should be civil”.
Sylvester Tetteh, who was getting frustrated, berated Sam George for his comments saying, “a lot of people are watching including our kids. You don’t come on TV and come and insult people.
“We come and sit on national television and all we heap on the good people of this country is full of insults. Why are you not discussing issues, the content of the subject matter you are not discussing it and you come here and insult people? What kind of attitude is this.”
TheNew Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) 1st Vice-Chairman for the Central Region’s Mfantseman Constituency, Gabriel Amoah, has stepped down.
The 44-year-old entrepreneur told the Ghana News Agency he tendered in his resignation letter on Friday, March 31, and was received by Mr Evans Osei, the Constituency Secretary and copied to all appropriate quarters.
Though he could not deny or confirm his widely speculated intention to contest the Parliamentary slot, he was optimistic about working hard with the constituency leadership to stretch the NPP’s political fortunes in the 2024 election.
Having served the party with dedication and commitment across the ranks, Mr. Amoah said it behoved on him to go all out to mobilise the grassroots to make the constituency a stronghold of the NPP.
Elated with his resignation, he said: “After a painstaking effort and a wide consultation and deliberations across the party, I have decided to resign to work assiduously to maintain the political gains of the party in the constituency.
“I want to use this platform to remind all that energizing the base of the party is key and fundamental to the victory of the NPP in the 2024 elections.”
To him, Mfantseman is the heartbeat of the NPP and political activism in Ghana hence, he was prepared to sacrifice his resources not only to save the party in the area but make the party more attractive.
Considering the interesting history of parliamentary candidates of NPP in the Constituency, Mr. Amoah called on the supporters of the party to embark on a massive grassroots mobilization campaign to get more people on board.
That, he said, was the surest way to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the 2024 elections.
For the youth, he said: “As the youth of the NPP, we may have a tougher responsibility, but breaking the eight is a must-do for us. We must convince Ghanaians that changing a productive regime merely because it has lasted for eight years is not healthy for a country that seeks progress.
“We must prove beyond any reasonable doubt to Ghanaians why the party must not go after its two-term regime cycle. Beyond singing the chorus of ‘Breaking the Eight’, we must critically engage our minds forthwith,” he added.
The prospectiveNational Democratic Congress(NDC) flagbearer, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, has stated that only a serious-minded person with the required skills and credentials could handle the nation’s economic situation.
He noted that state resources have been wasted by the NPP which has led to the country’s economic downturn.
Addressing the NDC party executives in Tamale, the flagbearer hopeful told party faithful that the race to salvage Ghanaians from the current economic hardship must be devoid of attacks on personalities.
He added that the party needs peace and unity in order to get the needed win from the NPP.
Dr Duffuor further urged party executives to vote for him on May 13th to save the country from the NPP.
The northern regional chairman of the NDC, Ali Adolf who received the campaign team at the party secretariat urged Dr. Duffuor to still support the party rank and file even if it does not go in his favour during the party’s primaries.
Dr. Duffuor and his team moved to the Tamale South constituency where a huge crowd met him.
He lashed out at the Akufo-Addo led government for mismanaging Ghana’s economy.
The team also moved to Mion, Saboba, Tatali, and Bimbilla constituencies where party delegates and party executives welcomed Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his team.
He noted that state resources have been wasted by the NPP which has led to the country’s economic downturn.
Addressing the NDC party executives in Tamale, the flagbearer hopeful told party faithful that the race to salvage Ghanaians from the current economic hardship must be devoid of attacks on personalities.
He added that the party needs peace and unity in order to get the needed win from the NPP.
Dr Duffuor further urged party executivesto vote for him on May 13th to save the country from the NPP.
The northern regional chairman of the NDC, Ali Adolf who received the campaign team at the party secretariat urged Dr. Duffuor to still support the party rank and file even if it does not go in his favour during the party’s primaries.
Dr. Duffuor and his team moved to the Tamale South constituency where a huge crowd met him.
He lashed out at the Akufo-Addo led government for mismanaging Ghana’s economy.
The team also moved to Mion, Saboba, Tatali, and Bimbilla constituencies where party delegates and party executives welcomed Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his team.
In the world of politics, rhetoric is a powerful tool that is often used to sway public opinion and win elections.
It is the art of using language effectively to persuade or influence others, and it is an essential part of any politician’s arsenal.
But to discredit Dr. Bawumia’s credibility on mere political rhetoric is an exercise in futility. This is because rhetoric, in and of itself, is not a reliable indicator of a politician’s credibility.
While it is true that some politicians use rhetoric to manipulate or deceive their audiences, it is equally true that many politicians use it as a means of communicating their ideas clearly and compellingly.
Dr. Bawumia is a politician who has a reputation for being a skilled orator who can connect with his audience on a deep emotional level, using vivid language and powerful *metaphors* to convey his ideas. His speeches are often described as inspiring and motivating, and he has a large following of supporters who are drawn to his charisma and energy.
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
However, some of Dr. Bawumia’s opponents have criticized him for relying too heavily on rhetoric and not providing enough substance in his arguments.
They argue that his speeches are full of empty promises and vague generalizations and that he lacks the intellectual depth to provide real solutions to the problems facing the country.
While it is true that Dr. Bawumia’s speeches are often heavy on emotion and light on specifics, this does not necessarily mean that he lacks credibility. Many successful politicians throughout history have relied on rhetoric as a means of inspiring their followers and winning elections.
The key to evaluating a politician’s credibility is to look beyond their rhetoric and examine their actions and accomplishments. In the case of Dr. Bawumia, he has a long record of public service and has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the Ghanaian people.
He has championed causes such as gold for oil, digitization in healthcare delivery, and job creation, and has a track record of getting things done.
US Vice Prez Kamala Harris and Vice President Bawumia
It is worth noting that, Dr. Bawumia has a reputation for being humble and submissive to his compatriots. He has never been involved in any major scandals or controversies and has always been open and forthcoming about his positions and policies.
This kind of integrity is a rare commodity in politics, and it is something that should be valued and appreciated.
In all, while it is important to be critical of politicians and hold them accountable for their actions, discrediting Dr. Bawumia’s credibility based on his political rhetoric is misguided. Rhetoric is a powerful tool that can be used for good or for ill, and it is up to us as party people and as citizens to evaluate a politician’s credibility based on their actions and accomplishments, rather than on the way they present their ideas.
Dr. Bawumia has a long record of public service and a reputation for humbleness and transparency, and these are the qualities that should matter most to us when evaluating his candidacy.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Former National Communication Officer of theNational Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah has cast a shade at former President Mahama over his ‘I would cancel ex-gratia’ comment.
Dr. Kwabena Duffour, notJohn Dramani Mahama, who has tasted ex gratia and may not have the hunger to do so, is the best candidate to lead a government to annul ex gratia, according to a member of the Dr. Duffour campaign team.
Speaking on a Kumasi-based radio station, Mr. Nkansah said the NDC and Ghana have reached a point where people must be doers and not talkatives.
He spoke to Julius Caesar Anadem on the Abusua Nkomo Show.
“We have reached a point in our democracy that we can’t throw money away just like that. We need people who are committed to the course of making this country better. Dr Duffour is a doer and has shown this over the years,” he said.
“Duffour is well accomplished, when he was finance minister he never took salary, he did not take ex gratia, so if we want someone who can be trusted to cancel ex gratia who will it be?” he questioned
“He has not taken ex gratia before so obviously he will not condone the payment of it. So when Duffour comes and tells Ghanaians to sacrifice they will heed. He has done his bit for Ghanaian politics and is considered an angel in politics”
“Even before he becomes flagbearer of the party, he has introduced the Ahoto Project, can’t people see the signs already,” Solomon Nkansah said.
At the launch of his campaign former President John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap the payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive and article 71 should he be re-elected in the 2024 elections.
Mr. Mahama said he will take the necessary steps to scrap the payment as soon as he assumes power.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency chairman for New Juaben North has pledged to resign from politics should Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia be defeated in the NPP flagbearership contest.
According to Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, Dr. Bawumia’s defeat will merely confirm that politics is in fact a game of deception.
He was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen.
“Mark it on the wall, I swear by the grave of my father who passed when I was 10 that I will quit politics because it will give me a clear picture that there is indeed no truth in politics,” he stated without mincing words.
Former New Juaben North Chairman
About five leading members of the governing NPP including former Energy Minister; Boakye Agyarko, former Agric Minister; Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Trade Minister; Alan Kyerematen, and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong have all expressed interest in contesting the flagbearership slot of the party.
Many have also tipped Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the position but he is yet to officially make his intentions known.
But Mr Boateng-Agyemang has expressed conviction Dr Bawumia will gain a resounding victory, adding the grounds are fertile for him.
“I know what is happening on the grounds and you can go and conduct a survey to ascertain that fact,” he added.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former minister of food and agriculture, is convinced he would prevail in the flagbearership race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He expressed confidence that he would receive a resounding majority of the party’s delegate votes to lead the party in the general elections of 2024.
According to him, the delegates will choose a competent person to lead the party.
“Well you go into a contest to win, so I’m in the contest hoping to win, and I know that God will bless me to win this contest,” Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said.
Speaking on the Point of View on Citi TV, with Bernard Avle,Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said he’s not worried that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is in the race adding that he does not have any advantage over him and the other hopefuls.
“The incumbency of the Vice President does not worry me at all, it doesn’t give any advantage over others. The party people know who is who. You just have to make sure that they know you are in the race. Most of our delegates are rural people, they benefitted from Planting for Food and Jobs. They are part of the 1.7 million farmers that have benefitted from the PFJ. So they relate to what I’m doing,” a flagbearer hopeful of NPP said.
He added, “NPP is not an ethnic party, it’s a national party so if the delegates decide who is competent enough to lead them, they will vote for the person. So what is it about tribalism and all that, I can’t understand it”.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto who has been silent after resigning explained that he does not want to break the party’s rules by campaigning vigorously.
“The party has regulations, and I’m the last person to break regulations which state that until the party sets a date and invites potential contestants to come and pick forms and so on and so forth, there should be no campaigning. This has been grossly overlooked by a lot of people, I wasn’t going to stampede into that. But it doesn’t mean that I’m not working,” he explained.
Former president,John Dramani Mahama has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not compromise in its effort to gain power during the general elections of 2024.
On his campaign visit for the party’s flagbearership contest, he informed party supporters in the Tain and Banda constituency in theBono East Region that the NDC will prioritize the polling places in its effort to ensure its mandate after the vote.
Mahama, who is seeking a fourth straight shot at the presidency, use two controversial phrases in Ghana’s political phraseology to drive home the seriousness the NDC will deploy in 2024.
“I have no doubt that NDC will win the 2024 elections. So, the vote will be a do or die affair and we will be matching them boot to boot at the polling station.
“When the time comes, we will take names of polling station agents and I plead that we need educated persons who can do at least arithmetic, so, that you can decipher what we really got and to ensure the biometric details match the number of papers in a ballots box.
“It is not about who is older in the party. We need a knowledgeable person who can be trained to undertake the task. You can bring your wards who are educated to be trained for the purpose,” he stressed.
Mahama, who will come up against four other competitors said the NDC planned to have its own collated results by midnight of December 7.
“With that, when voting ends at 5 pm, we will be able to declare our victory by midnight. We would have our results. We won’t sleep on the evening of 7th December till we have assured ourselves of victory,” he added to massive applause.
Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, has threatened to sabotage the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by spilling its secrets if the government dares to collapse his companies.
In an interview with Sompa FM, The NPP presidential aspirant hopeful claimed that his party is plotting to collapse his companies.
He sounded a word of caution to the party if the persons deployed to cripple his companies are not withdrawn, he will embark on activities that will also kill the party.
“You are going there because Kwame Agyapong is a loudmouth. You want to collapse my companies because I want to contest. I’m being nice and charitable to the NPP but they shouldn’t dare me. Anybody who tries to kill my companies because I’m contesting for elections, I will kill the party.
“The things I know and will say will kill the company. I’ve gone through a lot from January till date but I’ve been very nice. If you want to collapse my company because of one person then I will also kill the company. I’m not afraid of anyone,” he fumed.
Kennedy Agyapong is hoping to lead the NPP into the 2024 election with a campaign to instill discipline and fight corruption.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful weighed in on the recently published Auditor-general’s report that pointed to fraud and impropriety in spending of COVID-19 funds.
“The performance of NPP during the COVID, I am not holding brief, we have made some mistakes that we all have to accept and I will be the first person to accept,” he said on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana program earlier this week.
“But if you compare the two governments, Akufo-Addo and Mahama, Mahama is not an alternative to Ghana because the man has been fortunate to succeed Atta Mills for two years,” he stated stressing that he has no justification to seek a final term in office.
When pushed by host Paul Adom-Otchere about Mahama’s claim that the NPP was corrupt, Agyapong responded: “NPP is corrupt, NDC is corrupt, that is why you haveKennedy Agyapong coming in.”
When he was reminded that he was an NPP man, he replied: “I am a disciplined NPP (member).”
Political analyst Michael Ebo Amoah has said that the New Patrotic Party (NPP) must elect Vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as its flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.
According to him, Dr Bawumia is the right candidate since he possesses much experience and strategies in making Ghana a better place.
Mr. Ebo Amoah was speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm about whether the description of Dr. Bawumia as E-Bawumia when he delivered his state of the nation address was an endorsement.
”From where I sit, it would be politically suicidal for the NPP to change Bawumia and bring another person. Just as former President John Dramani Mahama is the most marketed candidate for the NDC, Bawumia is the most marketed candidate for the NPP.
He indicated that the factors would go against the NPP if Dr. Bawumia is not elected as the presidentialcandidate.
“However, in the end, it is up to the delegates to make the final decision. From where I am, the delegates will vote for him. This is not based on any scientific research, but the delegates will choose Dr. Bawumia as the presidential candidate.”
The proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana for the 2024 elections, is merely intended to rig the polls, according to the National Communication Officer of the running National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Speaking in an interview on Good Morning Ghana, on Thursday, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, Sammy Gyamfi said that the new C.I. seeks to frustrate the process of the registration of new voters so that not all eligible voters will be captured.
“I have taken the time to go through the new C.I. which the EC is seeking to lay before Parliament in very, very good details and when I was done it was very clear to me that the real intention behind this new C.I. is to rig the 2024 elections.
“This new C.I. is the 1st step in the plot by the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission to rig the 2024 elections. It is as simple as that. The issues are not complex to understand at all and any objective well-meaning Ghanaian who studies this new C.I. will come to this inevitable conclusion.
“The newly proposed C.I. seeks to achieve two things, Number one is to suppress and disenfranchise many eligible voters and number two is the newly proposed C.I. seeks to enable the rigging of the election through fraudulent registrations that political parties cannot check,” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi shreds newly proposed C.I on Voters’ registration and exposes Jean Mensah plot or rig the 2024 elections. pic.twitter.com/IlOT0uStrE
Sammy Gyamfi explained that C.I. will “suppress and disenfranchise” eligible voters by the move to make the Ghana Card the only document acceptable for the registration of new voters.
He said that the proposal to use only regional and district offices of the EC for voter registration is an attempt to make the process less transparent which gives the EC the leeway to manipulate the data as it pleases.
He added that after the registration EC will choose the registration centres for voters which will be an illegality and will allow it to influence the elections.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa, has called on Members of Parliament to support the new CI, which seeks to make the Ghana Card the main source of identification for registering new voters.
She says this is very important due to the evolving electoral process.
“Honourable members, it is in this vein that we urge you to support the decision of the EC to rely on the Ghana card as the main source of identification for those who wish to register as voters. Our country has evolved; it is important that our electoral process evolve to meet the exigencies of time,” she said.
Jean Mensa was speaking during her appearance in Parliament to brief the committee of the whole on the controversial proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) seeking to make the Ghana Card the only identification document to be used to guarantee citizenship if passed.
The new Constitutional Instrument (CI) proposed by the Electoral Commission (EC) won’t deprive Ghanaians of their right to vote in the general elections of 2024, according to the majority in parliament.
The EC with its new C.I is seeking to use the Ghana Card as the source document for registration onto the voters register.
Addressing the media, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsustated that the new policy aims at sanitising the electoral process.
“This is a system that has come to sanitise and purify our system. There are various institutions which recognise the integrity of the National Identification Authority and indeed the Ghana Cards and have resorted to the use of the Ghana Cards,” he said.
The EC is proposing a new constitutional instrument through which it intends to make the Ghana card the sole identification document for voter registration.
The Minority, which is rejecting this move by the EC, is also casting doubts on the capacity of the NIA to issue Ghana cards to all applicants who have registered for the cards.
Member of Parliament from Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, asserts that the minority caucus is devoted to ensuring fairness in the 2024 elections.
He claims that although the caucus is aware of efforts to deny voting rights to some Ghanaians, such an action will be opposed.
“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the people of this country are not unjustifiably disenfranchised,” he said on JoyNews on Wednesday.
Mr Muhammed explained that the NDC is prepared to accept the outcome of the 2024 elections if it is transparent.
“We will not allow anybody to be disenfranchised in this country. Let’s go into the elections freely and fairly, don’t disenfranchise anybody,” he said.
His comments come on the back of the push by the Electoral Commission (EC) for the Constitutional Instrument (CI) which would make the Ghana Card the sole document for the registration of voters.
This, the Minority side of the House has vehemently resisted.
However, when the EC boss appeared before Parliament on Tuesday, February 28, she attributed her push for the CI to the 40,000 names expunged from the voter register due to the guarantor system.
This number she believes has the capacity to decide who leads the country.
Meanwhile, the former Deputy of Trade and Industry Minister alleged that the EC is being managed by New Patriotic Party activists who will do anything in their power to ensure the party wins elections.
“That is why we told Jean Mensa that if there is chaos and anarchy as a result of either her incompetence or because she is an NPP activist. …It was proven in court during the petition that she is indeed a family member of the first lady. She is not only a member but an activist.
“Dr Bossman Asare was my two years senior in Legon, I was in the psychology department, he was in the political science department, and he was an NPP activist. When I came to the department to do my PhD, he was the head of the department and he was the TESCON patron,” he emphasised.
He added that he had already noted that the ruling party has begun suggesting that since APC of Nigeria has been able to break the eight; they are confident that it will be the same for Ghana.
“I have heard some of them say, in Nigeria, they have broken the eight…Ghana is not Nigeria and this country is not owned by anybody,” he said.
The Tamale Central MP said Ghana’s democracy has an outstanding track record.
“Even Nigerians themselves will tell you the systems they have in place are not the best. In this country our democracy is tried and tested…you now have MPs say that Nigerians have broken the eight, we will also break the eight. They are not interested in breaking the economy, they are interested in breaking the eight. They care less about the suffering of the people of this country,” he said.
According to former president, JohnDramani, the Ghana needs an experienced administration to lead it out of its current economic woes.
According to him, he can no longer sit on the sidelines and proffer solutions but get involved in the governance of the country owing to the level of damage prevailing in the system.
“At this stage, Ghana demands experience not experiment,” he noted, stressing “Ghana does not need a try me too leader.”
He told an NDC gathering at the launch of his presidential campaign that he’s sat back and taken stock of the extent of work ahead and assured: “I’m ready and able to be the kind of president that Ghanaians are looking for.”
Former president John Dramani Mahama has hit the ground running in a bid to lead the main opposition NDC in the 2024 general elections.
The former leader is currently launching his campaign for the Flagbearer slot at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Sokode near Ho.
Dr. Kwabena Duffour, a former Finance Minister, Kojo Bonsu, a former Mayor of Kumasi, and Ernest Kobeah, a 43-year-old businessman based in the United Kingdom, are all jostling for that slot in the opposition party.
The party is billed to conduct its presidential primaries on May 13, 2023.
Executive Director of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Professor Kenneth Attafuah, has reaffirmed that his organization is ready to issue two million Ghana cards in six months without holding a mass registration process.
The Electoral Commission (EC) is proposing a new constitutional instrument through which it intends to make the Ghana card the sole identification document for voter registration.
The Minority which is rejecting this move by the EC, is also casting doubts on the capacity of the NIA to issue Ghana cards to all applicants who have registered for the cards.
But speaking on the Point of View hosted by Bernard Avle, the NIA boss assured that without pressure on the necks of NIA staff, his team can printtwo million cards within six months to applicants.
“We can do two million cards easily in six months just operating normally. Last year, when we were not doing any mass registration, when we were not doing anything special, just operating normally, we registered over 1.5 million. So if we put our minds to it, knowing what’s at stake, knowing some of the concerns of Ghanaians, and wanting to serve, this is something we can easily design a model to address”.
He added, “within six months we can meet the expectations of Ghanaians, six months without pressure or massive mobilisation, we are doing our work at our own pace, we can deliver the 2 million cards”.
Professor Attafuah further stressed that his outfit has the capacity to print “500,000 cards in 11 days. The printers are there, and the staff are available”.
In an effort to represent theNational Democratic Congress (NDC) as the party’s nominee in the general elections of 2024, the former president John Dramani Mahama will launch his campaign today, March 2, 2023.
‘Building the Ghana we want together’ will be the theme for launching his campaign which will take place in the Cedi Auditorium at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, in the Volta Region.
Aside from the former president, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, a former Finance Minister, Kojo Bonsu, a former Mayor of Kumasi, and Ernest Kobeah, a 43-year-old businessman based in the United Kingdom, are all running for the job.
The party is anticipated to conduct its presidential primaries on May 13, 2023.
After losing the previous two elections in 2016 and 2020, John Mahama intends to run for president again in the 2024 polls.
The former President, however, is confident that he has what it takes to assist the nation out of its current economic crisis.
Mahama’s former campaign manager, Joshua Alabi, and some Regional Chairmen of the National Democratic Congress picked up presidential nomination forms on his behalf.
Observers are backing calls for Mr. Mahama to go unopposed in the NDC’s upcoming presidential election.
Although the rules of the NDC permit an open contest for all qualified members of the party, allowing Mahama to go unopposed they believe will save the party both resources and time.
A political scientist and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Abdul Jalilu Ateku, says he does not foresee any significant threat to the victory of Mahama in the NDC’s primaries.
Dr. Ateku anticipated that the former President will win by a landslide victory in the internal polls.
He said none of the presidential hopefuls who have declared their intentions to contest on the ticket of the opposition NDC comes out stronger than Mr. Mahama.
But the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said it is not perturbed about the decision of John Dramani Mahama to run for president.
Director of Communications for the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah said the party is not worried about a man who has no track record to show when he was president.
“We have beaten him twice, so you just conclude for yourself if we are afraid of him. It is all mathematical, and we have defeated him twice. He is even afraid to plainly declare whether he is going to contest or not. We are ready for him.”
The president of the IMANI Institute for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, believes that granting the NIA control over Ghana’s 2024 elections will save the state money rather than the EC.
According to Mr. Cudjoe, the Electoral Commission’s insistence on the Ghana card as the sole document to add eligible voters to the electoral role due to NIA’s fool-proof authentication system as the EC claims should relieve the state of some financial burden especially in these hard times.
In a Facebook post made by the IMANI boss, he said the initiative will save Ghana about GH₵700 million.
“The Electoral Commission (EC) believes the National Identification Authourity’s ( NIA) Card is the only fool-proof card every Ghanaian needs to be registered on the voter roll. In fact, in the last election 10 million out of 13.2 million voters registered with the NIA card. So why not allow the NIA to manage the elections without the need of the EC?
“NIA’s officers can be deployed with their verification machines. Afterall the NIA card has every holder’s biometric details and needed profile such as age, sex, occupation etc. The system will accept only card holders aged 18 and above.
“We will be saving at least GHS 700m out of a potential GHS 1.5bn that may be budgeted for the EC to manage the elections. We also stand to save millions of dollars that the EC might suggest may be needed to upgrade their biometric verification systems,” he wrote.
The EC Chair during a briefing to Parliament Tuesday, February 28, 2023 told the House the use of the Ghana Card as the sole identification document for continuous voters’ registration will guarantee the credibility and integrity of the country’s voter register and aid elections as a whole.
Mrs. Mensa told the MPs the Ghana card will prune the register of any excesses that may compromise thedocument’s integrity.
While eliminating the guarantor system which was prone to abuse and promote conflicts and violence, she said it would also prevent costly, time-consuming and tedious follow-up exercises by the district registration review committee established nationwide.
Whilst some MPs raised concerns about the possibility of the new C.I disenfranchising eligible voters, Mrs. Adukwei Mensa said that will not be the case.
“The continuous registration process on the contrary will be inclusive as it will make it possible to capture all those who would otherwise have been excluded in a limited registration process.
“The exercise is not a periodic or limited one that could lead to disenfranchising persons who do not possess the Ghana Card.
“More especially it will prevent unqualified persons from influencing our elections and having a say as to who should govern our country. This is an issue that borders on the sovereignty of our nation. Simply put, only eligible Ghanaians must be entitled to vote,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Professor Ken Attafuah, insisted that his outfit was ready to issue Ghana cards to eligible citizens voters to aid the EC in the registration process.
The Electoral Commission (EC) chair, Jean Mensa, has received a severe warning from the National Democratic Congress(NDC) in the North to ensure fairness in the 2024 general elections.
The EC has stated that it’s taking steps to make the Ghana card the only document for registration.
But the party says the steps taken by the EC chair are a recipe for chaos and has thus served notice that the party will not tolerate it.
These comments were made at Yendi in the Northern region by the Regional Organiser of the party, Abdallah Baba Zee, when the party embarked on a health walk in the Yendi constituency.
“We the NDC are sending a word of caution to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission to be very careful about the steps she is taking. The EC is seeking to use the Ghana Card as the only document for the limited registration. The constituency center is the only place for registration. We are sending a strong warning to the EC chair that we will not sit down for such to happen. It has the potential of disenfranchising many Ghanaians, and we will not accept it,” Abdallah Baba Zee said.
Three people have picked nomination forms to contest for the primaries of the NDC in the Yendi constituency.
The Regional Organiser commended the Regional Chairmen and the 137 MPs who supported former President John Dramani Mahama in the picking of nominations.
He however admonished the constituency executives for purpose of unity in the party not to openly support any of the aspirants and also urge the aspirants to be decorous in their campaign messages.
“I want to admonish the constituency executives here in Yendi not to openly throw their support for any of the aspirants as this could affect the unity in the party. Again to the aspirants, I want to caution that as you go about your campaign, please be mindful of your language. This is an internal election, and we will surely need one another in the general elections. Let’s use language that is not divisive but preach peace and unity,” he said.
The Constituency Communications Officer for NDC in the Yendi constituency, Adam Halid, said the health walk is to re-energize the base of the party for 2024.
He said the party is poised to win the Yendi seat for the NDC and slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its woeful performance.
“We are re-energizing the party to get ready for 2024. We are very poised to win the seat. The NPP has woefully failed the good people of Yendi. The president himself came and took the Overlord of Dagbon Yaa Naa to the Dagbon state senior high school to cut the sod for the Yendi water project, for three years now, nothing is happening,” he said.
On his part, Fataw Osman Jofa who is in the race again preached peace and unity among the aspirants.
He promised to fix the Yendi water project within six months if he wins.
“I want to call on my brothers who have also picked nomination forms to please let there be peace and unity among us. Our biggest concern is to win the seat from the incompetent government of the NPP.
“I want to say that the president has failed the good people of Yendi because the former President John Dramani Mahama was almost done with the documents of the Yendi water project and this president has failed to deliver. He cut the sod on three different occasions but nothing is being done. When I get the chance, I want to assure the good people of Yendi that within six months we will fix the water challenges,” he said.
According to a member of parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority will oppose any attempt by the Electoral Commission (EC) to utilize the Ghana Card as the only form of identity for voter registration.
He says any such move by the EC will hurt the right to vote and be voted for.
Speaking on the Big Issue via telephone on TV3 Monday, February 27, the former Minority Leader indicated that there are 3.5million people who are without Ghana Card.
He questioned whether the EC is going to deny all these 3.5 million people from exercising their right to vote because they do not have a Ghana Card.
“There is the right to vote and be voted for, the NDC will defend that right,” he said.
“We are contesting the use of Ghana Card as the sole reference for purposes of getting registered as a voter,” he said.
He stressed “the right to vote and be voted for is sacred. 3.5 million people don’t have the card, can you tell these 3.5 million persons not to vote?”
The Minority have been raising issues against the proposed CI.
On Thursday, February 23, they rejected officials from the EC and the National Identification (NIA) who were in Parliament to brief the House on the proposed CI.
They were expecting Madam Jean Mensa herself to appear.
But a statement issued by the Commission on Monday, February 27 said “The EC received a letter from Parliament on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 inviting the Commission to brief the leadership of the House on the draft CI on the registration of voters on Thursday 23 February 2024.
“At the time the chairperson had traveled to Nigeria at the invitation of ECOWAS/ECONEC for a peer exchange and election observation mission. That notwithstanding Dr Bossman Asare Deputy Chair for Corporate Service attended the meeting together with other directors of the commission.
“Surprisingly, the meeting was canceled as the Minority side insisted on the presence of the EC Chairperson at the meeting. We wish to state that contrary to the news item that the EC chair has returned to Ghana, the chairperson is still in Nigeria. She has not returned to Ghana.”
The EC added “The Commission, especially its chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC.
“The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.
“The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting at a time the chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”
The Election Commission (EC) has debunked reports that its Chairperson, Jean Mensa, rejected Parliament’s invitation.
The EC disclosed in a statement that the letter inviting the Chairperson to brief Parliamenton the draft CI on the registration of voters was received a day prior to the scheduled briefing when Jean Mensa was already out of the jurisdiction.
“The Commission especially its Chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC. The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.
“The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting, at a time when the Chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel, she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”
The EC added that the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, is yet to return to Ghana contrary to reports that she had returned from her trip to Nigeria.
A former general secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Titus Beyuo, has said that he has been an official member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) since 2013.
According to him, he started as a student politician and was part of student unions while at the University of Ghana. However, he remained neutral because of the leadership positions he held.
“I became a card-bearing member of the NDC in 2013. Some NDC members, when they heard that I was standing on the ticket of the NDC were shocked because I was very hard on the NDC. But I needed to stay neutral because of the leadership roles I held. The only party card I have ever held is NDC,” he said on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Friday.
Dr Beyuo disclosed this after he picked forms to contest in parliamentary primaries of the NDC in theLambussie-Karni Constituency in the Upper West Region.
He said the decision was taken after a prolonged period of introspection and extensive consultations with family, friends and critical stakeholders.
“Arriving at this decision was an uphill task, but the support and encouragement received from my family, traditional leaders in the Lambussie Traditional Council, party leadership at the national, regional, constituency and branch levels, and friends during the consultative process, made this less difficult,” he stated.
Dr Beyuo has, therefore, promised to wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party and contribute to the developmental agenda of the next NDC government for the people of Ghana and Lambussie.
Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a flagbearer candidate for theNew Patriotic Party (NPP), is optimistic about his chances of being chosen to stand in for the ruling party in the 2024 presidential elections.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, Mr. Agyepong said his message resonates “very strongly with Ghanaians.”
“I am the one who is known better in the party, my roots are deeper in this party than most. And I am very confident of what I am doing.”
He, however, admitted that the journey won’t be a walk in the park, and is willing to give it his best shot.
” Of course, we don’t take anything for granted in this elation. I respect the sanctity of our electoral system and I do believe that Ghanaians will not mortgage their future. They will listen to us, evaluate us and will be able to make a choice.”
The former Press Secretary of former President John Kufuor added that Ghana is better off having some ministries consolidated.
He said not only will this be economical but will go a long way to send a strong moral message to Ghanaians that leadership is indeed tightening its belt and is serious about working towards attaining economic recovery.
“Ghana’s government is too big, and I have said this a long time ago, I think it has become a bit more fashionable for other people to say. As far back as 2015 when I was General Secretary of the NPP, I said that the framers of the constitution did not put in the 19 limits for cabinet ministers for nothing, they were giving us an idea of the size of government.”
The general secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Janet Nabla, has stated that while Ghana has a solid constitution, its implementation requires strong men and women in positions of leadership.
Contributing to a discussion on the 30th anniversary of Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana, on TV3’s Big Issue, Thursday, February 23, she said “we need strongmen to implement our constitution and Ghana will be better.”
She further indicated that Ghana does not need Regional Ministers.
“We don’t need regional ministers,” she stressed.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Parliamentary democracy, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has said that Ghana has had eight successive elections and four government change-overs between the two major political parties.
On account of that, he said that Ghana is now a consummate democratic dispensation.
However, he said elections and successful government changeovers are not the only determinants of a working democracy.
“We must focus on strengthening our democratic institutions if we want to have a sustainable democracy.
“Hon. Leaders of the House, Hon Members of Parliament, the Clerk to Parliament and staff of the Parliamentary Service, distinguished guests, I wish to declare the 30th-anniversary celebration of Ghana’s parliamentary democracy duly launched,” Mr Babin said during the launch of the anniversary ceremony in Accra on Wednesday, February 22.
The Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for his part called for an amendment to the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Although the Constitution has served well, he said, there are aspects that are no more relevant to the current realities.
“The 1992 constitution has no doubt served some good in the last three decades, I must, however, admit that some assumptions underpinning some reformations no longer hold or are not supported by current social-political realities,” the Minister for Parliamentray Affairs said while speaking at a ceremony to mark 30 years of Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana.
He added “This underlines the calls by various stakeholders for the review of the 1992 Constitution. It is time to re-engineer our constitutional architecture to conform to today’s realities.
“We need a constitutional order that frowns on a winner-takes-all syndrome and promotes collaboration, collectiveness and consensus building,” he said on Wednesday.
“We need a constitutional order that would mitigate the winner takes all attitude and prevent the do-or-die combat associated with our elections. We need a new constitutional order that would prevent the constant increase in the number of seats in Parliament.”
The Suame lawmaker stressed that “We need a new constitutional order that would put a cap in the number of ministers of state. We need a new constitutional order that would ensure that the Speaker of Parliament is a serving member of Parliament.”
The 1992 constitution, as the supreme law of the land, provides for the sharing of powers among a president, a parliament, a cabinet, a Council of State, and an independent judiciary.
Through its system of checks and balances, it avoids bestowing preponderant power on any specific branch of government.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyeponghas revealed that he purposefully chose not to publicly address his 2015 suspension from the party in order to protect the NPP’s chances in the general elections of 2016.
He described the suspension as illegitimate and unfortunate which had the potential to mar the party’s fortunes in the 2016 elections adding that his silence at the time largely cemented the gains of the party prior to his suspension.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, February 23, Mr Agyepong said “we all know what happened in 2015 with my illegitimate and unfortunate suspension from office as General Secretary and I chose not to speak at the time not because I endorsed what happened but because of my love for this party and also because we had done all the groundwork with our internal arrangements and successful campaigns across the constituencies with just five constituencies left to cover.”
The former Press Secretary of former President John Kufuor stressed that he wasn’t hurt by the party’s disregard for its constitutional provisions but was hurt by the lies that were spewed just to legitimize the illegitimate decision of the party’s leadership.
“The fact that there was a lack of adherence to our party’s constitution is what hurts. What hurt me was the dirty propaganda and things that were said about me when they were clearly not true and this gave me the opportunity to speak to the party people who love me and had voted for me massively and trusted me and so I had to go round and explain to them what had happened because I didn’t want to endanger our victory in 2016.”
“When you’re a General Secretary, you’re a full-time employee of the party and you’re not expected to do anything other than dedicating all your time to the party,” he added.
The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has refuted assertions that it urged former president John Dramani Mahamato run for president.
Some news portals across the country reported on February 21 that some four unions including theAbossey Okaispare parts dealers had visited the former president to petition him to run for president in the 2024 general elections.
Denying the reportage in a statement, the Association wrote that, “our attention has been drawn to a publication in some of the print media and on the radio that Abossey Okai Spare parts Dealers Association and some Union leaders have petitioned the former President ,His Excellency John Mahama urging him to contest for the Presidency in the 2024 general elections.”
The Association explained that the supposed executives of the Association that visited the former president are neither leaders of the group nor its members.
“We wish to state that those people who joined the group to meet the former President are not either the Executives or even members of the Abossey Okai Spare parts Dealers Association. It was some people from Abossey Okai who decided to join the group to meet the former President. And so, we are surprised that they paraded themselves as Abossey Okai Spare parts Dealers Association.”
“We wish to state that, Abossey Okai Spare parts Dealers Association is a non-political Association and will not embark on that action. Our office is open to every political party and that is the reason why in every election year, all the political parties troop to our office and have deliberations with us,” the statement added.
The Association further stressed that “we don’t dabble in politics and will continue to engage with every party in government to come out with policies that will have a positive impact on our business as it has always been.”
Prior to the elections on May 13, 2023, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended the parliamentary primaries in 27 constituencies.
General Secretary Fiifi Kwettey did not give any reasons for the suspensions in two separate releases on February 21 and 22, 2023.
“The National Democratic Congress wishes to announce…that all is set for the opening of nominations for the election of its Presidential candidate and Parliamentary Candidates for the 2024 General Elections.
“As such, effective, midnight of 22nd February, 2023, Nomination Forms for Parliamentary candidateswill be accessible to all persons for purchase on the official website of the party; www.ghanandc.com,” portions of the press statement said.
The General Secretary explained in the statement that the decision to suspend the parliamentary primaries in 27 constituencies was taken by the Functional Executive Committee (FEC).
NDC supporters in a festive mood at previous party functions. Source: Facebook/@OfficialNDCGhana
The first list contained 23 constituencies but on Wednesday, February 22, four new constituencies were added to the suspension list.
Here are the 27 constituencies where the opposition has suspended the parliamentary primaries in alphabetical order:
Adansi Asokwa
Afram Plains South
Ahafo Ano North
Ahafo Ano South West (Aduagyman)
Akontombra
Akwatia
Amasaman
Amenfi East
Asante Akim Central
Assin North
Ayawaso Central
Ayensuano
Binduri
Bosome Freho
Efutu
Evalue Gwira
Fomena
Gomoa Central
Gomoa East
Manhyia South
Manso Adubia
Odododiodio
Offinso North
Pusiga
Sekyere Afram Plains
Subin
Tarkwa Nsuaem
The NDC released another statement on February 22, 2023, announcing suspensions in 4 more constituencies.
Razak Kuampa Avoliya, NDC’s Suame Constituency Youth Organiser, has been granted a GH50,000 bail with two sureties by the Asokwa Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region after his arrest.
On February 8, 2023, Razak Avoliya was turned over to police by party officials and then arrested, charged, and jailed.
He has been apprehended for urging NDC supporters to commit mayhem against NPP members in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
The NDC National Organiser, Joseph Yammin said the party is happy about the development and urged the party supporters to continue to support their own in times like these.
Five lawyers represented the accused person in court today. The case has been adjourned to March 9, 2023.
The lawyer for the accused person, Evans Amankwah, in an interview with Citi News’ Ashanti Regional correspondent Hafiz Tijani said, “first of all we have to say a big thank you to the numerous supporters of NDC across the region and the nation. And a big thank you to Joseph Yammin”.
Joseph Yammin also said, “we are happy because that is what we have been seeking, we were disappointed when he was not first granted bail. But we believe in our lawyers and as you can see today, the whole court was parked with lawyers to defend our brother. And we are very grateful that the court and the judge found the wisdom in granting our brother the bail.”
NPP flagbearer hopeful, Alan Kyerematen says Ghana is not able to develop as it should due to the 8-year-cyle term citizens have imposed.
Speaking during a visit to the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council, on Saturday, Mr. Kyerematen said “One of our main challenges as a country is the tendency for successive governments not to continue with their predecessor’s programmes and projects. This is what has derailed our development efforts.”
He, therefore, entreated the public to allow the ruling New Patriotic Party to continue to stay in office to ensure it completes its developmental agenda.
Alan Kyerematen however, noted that the worsening economic conditions in the country may affect the party’s chances in the 2024 general elections.
“Akufo-Addo has done well. He has initiated numerous programmes such as; 1D1F, Planting for Food and Jobs, Free SHS, but we all know that currently, times are hard. Due to this hardship, our key message for campaigning as a party for the 2024 election has become difficult to identify. I won’t lie to you, times are hard and any truthful person will tell you this,” he said in Twi.
According to Mr Kyerematen, he is the most suitable person for the NPP’s flagbearer position.
Party members who are interested in running on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2024 presidential election must pay filing fees of ¢500,000 and nomination fees of ¢30,000 each.
On Saturday, May 6, voting for both the presidential and parliamentary candidates will take place simultaneously.
The party’s Functional and National Executive Committee (NEC) made this decision during a meeting on January 5th.
It was resolved at the same meeting that candidates for parliament would also have to pay ¢5,000 for nomination forms and ¢40,000 as a filing fee.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has charged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with undergoing a significant reform and galvanization of its institutions prior to the 2024 General Elections.
The congressman warned the party in an open letter dated January 1, 2023 that 2023 will be crucial to the NDC’s survival and its prospects of regaining electoral power in 2024.
His letter on social media networks mentioned recent political forecasts from the 2022 31st watchnight services and observed that gaining political power was not reliant on prophecies.
Sam George made a veiled allusion to the reality that, despite his religious convictions and his belief in prophecy, the pastors’ most recent sermons were essentially hollow.
“Our focus must be on reviving our Branches and empowering them to mobilise and protect the ballot.
“No prophecy would win us 2024, only hardwork, mobilisation, a crisp political message, concise communication, protecting the ballots cast at the polling station and effective and timeous result collation would win us 2024,” his post read.
Read his full post below:
Dear NDC,
Welcome to 2023. I would go straight to the point. This year is critical to our survival as a Party and #Project2024.
As a student of scripture, I place premium on prophecy as GOD’s express guidance to humanity. Let’s be clear though, prophecy brings fresh revelation, illuminates unknown paths and does not create confusion.
None of the several prophesies from the last 2 days does any of the above. All the so called prophesies are well established and known facts to discerning political minds. Nothing revealing or illuminating on the unknown.
Our focus must be on reviving our Branches and empowering them to mobilise and protect the ballot. No prophecy would win us 2024, only hardwork, mobilisation, a crisp political message, concise communication, protecting the ballots cast at the polling station and effective and timeous result collation would win us 2024.
We shall pray and seek the face of GOD for our presumptive Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama but that would only be effective if we do the things listed above. Ghanaians would not forgive us if we fail them again.
Let’s get to work in our Branches. Happy New Year Comrades! Let’s go!!!
In order to improve his chances of leading the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as flagbearer into the 2012 general elections, Alan Kyerematen’s campaign wrote a song during the 2010 NPP Primaries.
Mr Kyeremeten would eventually concede to Nana Akufo-Addo after the party election.
Years down the line, the Trade Minister’s trademark song was performed by a choir at former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s 84th birthday bash on December 8.
This comes at a time when the Minister is gunning for another chance at the NPP’s presidential candidature going into the 2024 general elections.
“Alan Kyerematen is the one we want,” is the refrain in the lyrics of the popular song.
The Minister was seen joining in on the chorus with his entourage while it was being performed.
Other names that have surfaced for the NPP leadership race include Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Agriculture Minister Osei Akoto among others.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Abu Jinapor has declared, in no uncertain terms, that he will support the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia when the “time comes, and he decides to run” for the flagbearership of the NPP.
Speaking in Kpalbe on Sunday, in the Savannah Region, during the visit of the Vice President, as part of his working visit to the North, Abu Jinapor, who is also the Member of Parliament for Damongo, said, in his view, the best person to lead the NPP to the 2024 elections if he decides to contest when the time comes is none, but Dr Bawumia.
“At this moment, considering many things, including his competence and hard work, there is no other person. When the time comes and His Excellency the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia decides to contest, I will support him fully and work hard together party stakeholders in the Savannah Region for his hard work, and competence.” Abu Jinapor said.
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister noted further that the 2024 Election won’t be an easy battle and for the NPP to retain power, the party needs someone like Dr. Bawumua, who will be widely accepted and can effectively communicate everything the government and the party have done.
“Dr Bawumia has served with humility and honour and I can say without a doubt that, he has Savannah, the north and Ghana at heart,” Abu Jinapor noted.
The Vice President resumed his working tour of the northern regions on Sunday in the Savannah Region.
As part of his programme, he paid courtesy calls on traditional rulers, and inspected government projects, including the Agenda 111 District Hospital in Kpalbe and the ongoing works on the Fufulso-Bunjai Road, before commissioning a market complex in Salaga.
Part of the Vice President’s delegation are; Minister of Interior Ambrose Dery, Minister of Defence Dominic Nitiwul, Presidential Advisor on Health Dr. Nsia Asare, and Former Chief Whip Frederick Opare Ansah.
